Who Says You Can't Wear Jelly's In October?

Reagan LOVES her jelly's, and usually its not a problem, they are clear so they match everything. Throughout the summer I bought 2 pairs because she was always asking/insisting on wearing them. However, it is now October 12th. Jelly's are NOT in season. I have bought her a couple pairs of closed toes shoes and even boots, but she only wants to wear her jellys. Last weekend Darrin dressed her and put socks under her jellys. He did it as a joke to tease me, but once they were on she insisted on wearing them that way. What am I going to do! I gotta get this girl out of her jellys!

Here is a video I took of her saying her first and last name. Darrin taught her how to say it a few weeks ago but I am just now getting around to recording it. I lost my SLR camera charger so I pulled out my old digital today to get a video of her saying it. But retarded me forgot that I couldn't turn the camera. So you just have to listen and turn your head sideways!

My 2 Year Old/My Best Friend

Last week Reagan really tested showing me she definitely is two and WILL throw a fit. There were a couple of days I just didn't think I was going to make it. She was throwing herself on the floor, screaming for 30 minutes or longer, just out of frustration or not getting her way. And not only once a day, but a few times. So, the days seemed longer and I began thinking of what it was going to be like with 2 little monsters at home.

However, this week has been much, much better. Darrin has had to work until 9 every night, so it has just been Reagan and I. There have been very few fits and they don't last near as long. I'm not saying she is "cured" of the fit throwing, but for now, she is doing great. Today she had her 2 year check up. We are 2 months behind, but she only lacked one shot and if I waited until today she could get her flu shot at the same visit.

Her stats as of today:

Weight: 30.8 lbs, 88th percentile

Height: 37 1/4 in, 99th percentile

Head: 19 3/4 in.

I have mentioned our peditrition before, saying the one we have always used and whom I loved moved so we had to see a different doctor. I had seen her a few times and I wasn't very fond of her. I am very personable, I talk a lot and ask tons of questions and I like for who ever I am seeing to be the same way. This new doctor was very to the point, matter of fact, tough (by that I just mean not gentle with Reagan, almost forceful) and I was just not used to that. She has never complemented me before, asked my questions or concerns, or seem interested in what's going on in my life. But today, she was a completely different lady. She was very complementive. She told me that she could tell I was a wonderful mother, she could tell Reagan was a high maintenance child and that I was doing a great job, she was impressed with her words and phrasing, she said that she believes that Reagan will be very smart, she feels I do a great job at disciplining her as well as rewarding her, and a few other things as well.

To me that was a huge compliment, especially coming from her. I didn't expect it and it felt really good to hear her say that. I felt so proud, more so of Reagan than actually of myself.

On the way home I had the Taylor Swift CD in, (still Reagan's favorite, anytime she comes on the radio she yells TAAAYLOR right away). One of the last songs came on, "The Best Day" and I pretty much lost it. If you don't know the song, here are the lyrics: (I tried to just paste a chorus or phrase, but I liked them all.)

I'm five years old it's getting cold i've got my big coat on
i hear your laugh and look up smiling at you i run and run
past the pumpkin patch and the tractor rides look now the sky is gold
i hug your legs and fall asleep on the way home

i don't know why all the trees change in the fall
i know you're not scared of anything at all
don't know if snow white's house is near or far away
but i know i had the best day with you today

i'm thirteen now and don't know how my friends could be so mean
i come home crying and you hold me tight and grab the keys
and we drive and drive until we found a town far enough away
and we talk and window shop till i forgot all their names

i don't know who i'm gonna talk to now at school
but i know i'm laughing on the car ride home with you
don't know how long it's gonna take to feel ok
but i know i had the best day with you today

i have an excellent father
his strength is making me stronger
god smiles on my little brother
inside and out he's better than i am

i grew up in a pretty house and i had space to run
and i had the best days with you

there is a video i found from back when i was three
you set up a paint set in the kitchen and you're talking to me
it's the age of princesses and pirate ships and the seven dwarfs
daddy's smart and you're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world

now i know why all the trees change in the fall
i know you were on my side even when i was wrong
and i love you for giving me your eyes
staying back and watching me shine and i didn't know if you knew
so i'm taking this chance to say that i had the best day with you today

Lately I have been thinking about how much fun Reagan and I have together, just the two of us, and wondering if I am going to miss the way it is now. She is not a baby, but a little girl and already my best friend. Now that she is really able to talk and communicate we have so much fun together. We went to the Olive Garden last night for dinner, just her and I, for the first time ever and we had a great time. We shop together, (she isn't very good, but she is getting better), have lunch out together, run errands together and pretty much spend our entire day together and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Reagan - I am so lucky that I get to spend my days with you and I am so proud of you already. I know our mother/daughter bond with only become stronger and you will continue to make me more and more proud. I thank God for blessing me with a daughter of my own and someone as special as you. Thank you for all the wonderful days of smiles and laughter, I have the best days with you. - Love Mommy

20 weeks! Halfway there!

Since I never really blogged about my pregnancy with Reagan I thought I would go back and add a little bit about my first 20 weeks pregnant with her. I was looking back over My Pregnancy Journal, since one day I will probably misplace it, and found where I had made a few notes.

Week 6 - First test, positive!

Week 7 - mood: down, frustrated. I am not going to write much about this week because it was a week from hell. I threw up all day everyday and the morning sickness and back pains never go away.

Week 8 - weight 96.5lbs(starting weight 105)

Week 9 - weight 94lbs; Jan 9th admitted to emergency room because of weight and dehydration. Received an IV and we were there 3 hours.

Week 10 - All I can eat is cheerios and banana.

Week 11 - Mood: Getting more positive, still sick all day, cravings cereal & macaroni and tomato.

Week 12 - Jan 28th-31st, hospitalized, feeling miserable, needed IV's.

Week 14 - Feb 10th-13th hospitalized again. The only time I feel better is when I am here. Plus, my wonderful husband never lets me stay the night alone. I love him.

One day to pack all of our stuff, leaving Panama tomorrow to head back to Dallas.

Week 16 - Daddy left for Tijuana :(

Week 17 - Stayed in College Station for the week to be with Sister. Went to the ER tonight, Feb 26th, threw up over 20 times today. Doctor was rude, hospital annoying. She told me she couldn't hear a heart beat, stayed 6 hours & went home. Thanks to Uncle Lance who stayed with me the whole time.

Week - 18 We had an apt today March 13, hoping to find out boy or girl. After doing a sonogram she said it was a little early and the legs weren't right but if she had to guess she would say GIRL!! (weight 109lbs)

Week 20 - (really closer to week 21) Starting to really look and feel pregnant. (weight 117lbs)

20 weeks with Reagan! (for some reason the coloring in this picture is terrible, kinda like my hair! Note to self: brown and short is NOT cute.)

20 weeks pregnant with Baby Boy! (weight 117 lbs, the exact same as with Reagan. I look bigger with her but I was just skinner then!)

With all that being said, I don't feel like I have very much room to complain. I didn't write in a journal this time, I blogged more about our events because we were busier. I can say that at 2 weeks I knew I was pregnant again. I was at the gym with my trainer and had to quit. The only time I suffered from acid reflux was when I was pregnant with Reagan and I was having it. I took a test and it said negative, but I knew I was pregnant and it was just too soon to tell.

I told Darrin at about 4-5 weeks I started my Zofran medication right away. I was to take a 1/2 pill every 6 hours and I could tell when it was time to take it again. I still threw up every morning and throughout the day I just felt nauseated and really tired. I am still taking the Zofran at night and durning the day BUT because it wasn't near as bad in the beginning, I knew for sure it was a boy!

#1 Aggie Fan!

And Another Makes Four!!

I can't believe it's been almost 19 weeks and I have yet to blog about our newest addition to the Snider family!! I found out around June 20th that I was pregnant, but I decided to wait until Father's Day to tell Darrin. I blogged about our day, but I wanted to hold off on our announcement for a few weeks. I knew that we would be going on vacation soon and we wanted to wait and tell everyone in person, rather than through our blog or facebook.

So here are the pictures that I left off from the blog telling Daddy we are having another baby! I wanted to think of a neat way to tell him, but I knew it had to be something quick. All the suggestions on the internet were these long drawn out ways and I knew Darrin would catch on. So I just decided to make him a Father's Day card, it read:

Happy Father's Day

We Love You

Love Mommy

Reagan

And Baby #2!!

At first he thought it was Reagan's baby, (the one he is holding)

then he started to catch on.

After, I let him open his last present, which were the 2 pregnancy tests that I had taken that said positive.

(I love all his facial expressions in these)

And now it's been more than 3 months since that day, and today, we found out Baby Snider #2 is a BOY!!! We have had a stressful couple of weeks prior to today. One of our blood screening test came back high for down syndrome, the second one came back negative for the down syndrome, but high for an open neural tube defect. We were supposed to go in for an ultrasound next week, but because of all the blood work they wanted us to see a specialist right away. We spoke with a genetics counselor today and had our ultrasound. Thankfully everything is okay and we have a perfectly healthy baby boy. I do have to go in to have another sonogram in 4 weeks to check the placenta, it was low, and to check the growth of the baby. But we are extremely blessed and excited to have a healthy baby boy.

Here is Reagan showing off her little brother!

And here are some pictures of the little guy. Can you believe we're having a boy?!!

Uncle Lance's Ring Day

Congratulations Uncle Lance, we are so proud of you! Can't wait to come watch you dunk your new ring! We are looking forward to a complete Aggie fun-filled weekend! WHOOP!!

Vivienne is here!

How many days was I home hoping that Jess would go into labor while I was there?? Roughly about 6 weeks, and the day I leave she goes into labor!! By the time we landed she had already had her!

Introducing Vivienne Armelle Allen

6 lbs, 11 oz & 20. 5 inches long

September, 13th 2010, 12:34 am

How beautiful is she? Such an absolute doll. Congratulations Josh and Jessica on another precious little girl. We are so happy for you and I can't wait to hold her. Until then, give her lots of kisses from her Aunt Erin!

We're Back!

We made it! We are back in the great state of California! The fight went great. It started off rough, I somehow managed to lose my cell phone soon as we checked in. I had to do some rearranging with our baggage and checking the car seat and I guess, I decided to check my phone as well. I remember I had gotten 3 text messages back to back, so I got out my phone to silence the ring and that was the last time I saw it. I noticed as soon as we walked off, but after looking everywhere it was no where to be found. Later on as we were waiting to board I heard my name being called over the loud speaker to come to the gate. There was a guy from the loading crew asking if that was my phone. He had called the last person I called, which was my sister, to find out whose phone it was. Phew, good thing I have a 1980's phone, no one was interested in pocketing it!

Then we were an hour delayed. They were supposedly waiting for the clean up crew to come clean the plane before we could board, so we got pushed back and hour. And since we flew American, we could not check in early and pick our seats. Reagan and I were (since this was her very first flight having her own seat) and Darrin was on another row. We decided once we got there to just pay an extra $29 dollars to move his seat to the front of the plane so someone would be happier about switching us. However, the idiot (for better/nicer way of wording it) did NOT want to switch with us! He was flying alone, and wanted to sit with me and a 2 year old? Ridiculous. So after he turned us down, Darrin continued to think about it and decided to ask him again to switch. Luckily, the guy changed his mind and allowed us to sit together, otherwise I would have been pissed! But the flight went great, Reagan slept the last hour and we made up for 30 minutes of the delayed time.

And the best part about it was getting out of the airport and feeling the cool temperature! I could have worn a light jacket it was so great, much different from the hot Texas heat!

We had such a wonderful time being home with everyone. Thank you so much Nonna, Paw Paw, Honey, Dustin and Tricia for all your help over the last several weeks. I appreciate all the home-cooked dinners and dinners out, all the times I was able to leave Reagan with one of you and have some alone/girl time, all the entertaining you guys did while I did nothing and just having the company.

Can't wait for Christmas to do it again! Love and miss you guys!

10 Year Class Reunion!

I can't believe we have been out of high school for 10 years already! We had a really great time at our reunion, it was nice to see some old faces. There weren't any real shockers, maybe facebook has a little to do with that. But we had a great date night out and thank goodness Jess was there to sip water with me!