A Weekend of Firsts

We had a busy weekend celebrating lots of firsts.

On Thursday Reagan celebrated her first Thanksgiving. We packed up the car and headed to my Grandma Bricker's house near Victor/Ladora. We had a great turkey dinner with all the fixings. You can never go wrong with turkey, mashed potato's, green beans and pie! We even had a surprise visit from Dustin and Beth and their family. It is always fun to see them and my nieces and nephew. We all have a lot to be thankful this year. Most of all I am so thankful that God gave Adam and I a healthy little girl.

A few pictures of Reagan last Wednesday.





On Friday, Beth, my mom and I were one of those crazy Black Friday shoppers. We walked into Old Navy at 3:09 AM! We picked up our purchases and then waited in line for 2 hours before we finally reached the check out! The line pretty much wrapped itself around the store. When the check out was in sight we heard a lady yelling "20 dollars to trade spots in line, 20 dollars!" Other than that little show everyone was friendly and happy to be out. We hit about five more stores before heading home around 11. I am happy to say that I knocked out a lot of my shopping!

Reagan also got to do a little Black Friday shopping for her cousin Josh. We weren't planning on taking her out but saw an ad that was just too good to pass up! She loves being out in public and was happy to do a little shopping.

On Saturday Reagan got to experience her first trip to the Christmas Tree Farm. Adam and I were so excited to take her there this year and were very happy that the weather was so beautiful! It always takes us forever to pick out a tree and this year was no exception. We walked through the entire tree farm before going back where we started from to find just the right tree.



Adam and Reagan as we walked around the tree farm to find the perfect tree.



Reagan and I standing in front of our Christmas Tree.



I think one of Adam's favorite parts about going to the tree farm is getting to cut down the tree. He was a little disappointed this year when one of the workers came over half way through his sawing and say that he could take over from there.

Reagan got to meet Santa Claus for the first time. When I put her down on Santa's lap she took one look up at him and started to scream. Some how I knew this was going to be her reaction. Maybe next year we will get a picture of her smiling with Santa.





While she took her afternoon nap Adam and I got the tree set up and decorated. Here is a picture of Adam putting up the finishing touch.



When she woke up she wasn't so sure about this huge thing that was taking up our living room but after she got a little more comfortable she was quick to crawl over and check it out. She was a little upset that she couldn't reach the bulbs.





Last but not least, Reagan went to her first UNI Men's Basketball Game on Saturday night!! We weren't sure how she would do because she usually goes to bed between 6 and 6:30 but she took a two hour nap that afternoon and slept late. The one thing we knew that we had going for us is that we weren't at home. Usually if we are out and about she is good. She did great! As Adam said, there were a couple thousand people there and she just sat and watched the same few people. We didn't make it to the end of the game but made it home in time to catch the last few minutes on TV. We were happy to have a win! Not sure how many games Reagan and I will make it to but we can always cheer them on while watching them on TV.







I hope everyone had a very Happy Thanksgiving. We enjoyed our weekend of firsts, it was a few more things for us to be thankful for. Have a great week!

On the Move

Here are a few pictures that we took of Reagan this weekend. She is all over the place now that she can crawl. She has even started pulling herself up onto things. Tonight I found her in her crib up on her knees making her way to her feet so she could look out. We will be lowering her crib tomorrow (of course she learns this new trick the one night Adam is gone for a meeting)!





A new found interest has been Ellie. She likes to follow her around the house. Ellie doesn't know what to think about Reagan being mobile and tries to get away from her or sits and gaurds her basket full of toys and treats.

Christmas Decorating Phase 1

For about the last month every weekend we have talked about how nice the weather is and how we should be outside putting up our Christmas lights. And every weekend has come and gone and the lights have remained in their box down in the basement. When we saw that it was going to be in the 50's this weekend and we were going to be around we knew that we better get them up otherwise it was going to be cold and snowing when we finally got around to doing it.

Last year I begged Adam to string lights on our house so that they would all be uniform and outline the roof and gutters. After about six trips to Walmart, Target, Kmart and every other surrounding store to find clips to attach the lights to the gutters, purchase a ladder and buy enough lights, it was 30 degrees and snowing. It turned out just like I had imagined it but I could never ask Adam to do it again.

Before hanging lights this year we had to detangle all the lights and take off about 200 clips. We set out to hang lights on our first tree within minutes on the neighbors brought over a ladder for us to use, I guess he thought that the step stool we were using wasn't doing the job. After declining his offer, actually he saw our two hanging in the garage we went back to work. Not long after another neighbor brought over a couple of beers, he said that it looked like we needed a break. We must have been quite the sight for the neighbors! I am happy to say they were laughing with us and not at us because my cheeks hurt by the end of the night.

We decided simple was better this year. We put lights in the two trees out front, garland and lights around the garage door, a snowflake and snowman on the front step.






Next weekend we will make our annual trip to the Christmas Tree Farm to pick out our tree. This is always a favorite time of ours! I'll be sure to post pictures next weekend!

Happy

After church on Sunday's we usually do our weekly grocery run. Yesterday we were walking through the grocery store and I was holding Reagan. She loves to be out in public looking around at all the new sights and people. When we were walking down an aisle an elderly couple walked by us. She looked at them and gave the man a great big smile. As he passed by he said one word, happy. I couldn't believe my ears but quickly gave a reply and said she is. I would have loved to stop and tell him what that single word means to me and how much Reagan and my family means to me but before I knew it we both were going our separate ways.

My late grandfather gave me the nickname happy many years ago. I never really asked him why he gave me this name but was always proud to wear it. To this day my Grandma Bricker and several family members still call me happy.

Four Big Milestones In A Few Short Days

Reagan had a busy weekend! She learned how to crawl, wave bye-bye, give kisses and her third tooth came in!

We have been anticipating this big day for awhile now. Reagan has been rocking back and forth on her hands and knees for about a month or so. Last week she mastered the army crawl and as of Friday she began moving! She only continues to get more steady and less awkward as the days go on. We will be making a Target run to get a gate for our stairs and a few other baby proofing items later this week!!



Every morning I leave for work I wave bye-bye to Reagan. Last week she waved bye-bye to our daycare provider Julie when Adam picked her up. Not only that, I guess she "said" bye-bye as well. I was so disappointed that I missed it! However, she quickly picked up on it and is waving every time you say bye-bye now! I also give her a kiss when I leave. Now when we say Reagan kissy, she will lean in and give you a nice slobbery kiss! She continues to amaze us on what she picks up and comprehends!



Last but not least, Reagan's top right tooth finally came in! She has been working on this tooth for a good three months! She doesn't like us sticking our fingers in her mouth but we have been able to see the white coming through the gums for a couple of weeks. I will see what I can about getting a picture of her newest smile!

Giggle Like Nobodys Watching

While playing Peek-A-Boo with Reagan tonight we captured this on video. She was laughing so hard she got the hiccups!!

Our Little Lady Bug!

I bought Reagan's Halloween costume back in August when they first started putting Halloween things out. I saw it and thought that it was just too darn cute to pass up! I was proud of myself for actually sticking with my purchase and not buying another one down the road!





Here is Reagan in her Ladybug costume!

It was pretty chilly and windy here yesterday so we didn't take Reagan downtown to do some trick-or-treating with friends like we had previously planned. Instead we went trick-or-treating over to our neighbors house and got some cut pictures of Reagan and Boaz who was a Bumblebee. Boaz is exactly one year older than Reagan. Becky (Boaz's mom) is a stay at home mom so we spent a lot of time together this summer going for walks and getting some adult conversation in.



Checking each other out. If Reagan could talk I am sure she would be telling him that she likes his costume!



Reagan and Boaz.

At about 5:45 on Halloween night you start to see neighbors pulling out their lawn chairs and bringing out their bowls full of candy to sit outside on their lawns to hand out candy. We did it last year but figured it was just because it was so nice out. Guess not! So we pulled out the blankets and handed candy out to only about half the amount of kids. Not sure if the low turnout was do to the weather or the swine flu.



All bundled up to hand out candy to our Trick-Or-Treaters!