Three Years!

So here we are. Reid is three years old, meaning I have been a mother for three years (or almost four if you count pregnancy). Sometimes, it seems like yesterday that I was taking long runs/walks around Gainesville and Lake Eola, leisurely sipping wine, watching Bravo and MTV for hours before bed, bouncing around bars downtown, and all sorts of activities that are better done solo or with other adults. Now, most of my non-work hours are spent with little humans or chasing after highly coveted sleep. Sometimes, it feels like I have lived a lifetime between the time when I was childless and now. And, to be honest, there have been plenty of moments when I am overflowing with love and contentment in my new role as mother, but there have been hard times, too. There is never a moment when I wish I did not have my children; on the contrary, my children have my heart, and I do not believe I would find life worth living if I had to go on without them. Still, there are days when I am so tired, so overtouched, so frustrated, and so anxious that one more book, one more cup of water, one more "Reid, please sit down" or "Reid, please eat your dinner" or "Reid, no jumping on the couch" seems like a monumental ask. But then Reid says something funny or gives me a hug or loves on his sister or does one of the many other things he does that brighten my day, and my heart melts all over again. In the last three years, my little boy has forced me to stretch and grow and learn and love in ways I never could have imagined in my childless life. He is a force to be reckoned with - a wild and wonderful little boy. I am so grateful that I have had the past 3+ years with him, and I hope and pray I have many, many, many more (at least 70? :) ) birthdays with him. I love you to the moon and back (and even more than that), my sweet boy.

Reid's current favorites, as of 8 a.m. on 10/17/2018:
Favorite song: Tayo
Favorite show: Bus Tayo
Favorite animal: Lion
Favorite food: Grapes
Favorite paw patrol: Skye

Edited on 10/29/18 to add:
Favorite color: blue
Another favorite show: PJ Mask
Favorite game at the moment: Hungry, Hungry Hippos
Favorite book at the moment: Richard Scary Things That Go (he likes to find Goldbug) and Wheres Waldo (likes to find Waldo)
Favorite movie: Lion King

And here we go again..

Another month, another blog post. It seems like the days/weeks/months are flying by way too quickly. Addie is almost 6 months, and Reid is almost 3 years old. As A becomes more and more responsive and smiley, R is putting lots of complex sentences together, learning and singing new songs, and showing us just how big his imagination can grow. One of the best developments is an increasing connection between both kids. R is smitten with A and will go up to her and hug her and kiss on her without any sort of coaxing from yours truly. He loves when she makes eye contact with him and smiles at him and even seems to enjoy when she pulls his hair. Yesterday, we spent the day in Tampa/Suncity Center celebrating Gage's 5th birthday. According to Andy, Gage told Reid he was so lucky that he gets to spend all day with Adeline. So Sweet and so true. Adeline is lucky to spend the day with Reid, too. Yay for siblings!