Don't let the fun stop!

Well today was the finale in Reese's week long 2nd birthday celebration. We had her birthday party with all of her friends today. It was a lot of fun and she was beat by the end! It is amazing the games you come up with when kids, adults and hulahoops are involved! We ended up having a lot of the kids lay on the scooter and then pulling them by the hulahoops which was so fun to watch and the kids were all laughing and screaming!

Daddy pulling Reese and Edith pulling Charlie (just can't see him)

Playing follow the leader with Addie, Layne and Luke

So excited to eat some cake....All I can do not to touch it mom!

Everyone's together.

The cake was as good to eat as it looked...Reese was so excited for cake and wanted more than just one piece! Everyone joined in the opening of the presents which was really fun to watch! Jason and I were so appreciative of everyone who came especially Aunt B, Memi and Aunt Ashley who helped so much with the set up and keeping things under control!

Getting lots of help opening presents

The Party is over and we are pooped!

Run Baby Run!

Well, to begin, Jason and I just completed our first half marathon together...it was Jason's first half marathon ever! I am so impressed with him...I mean I always knew he could do it...he is an incredible athlete and always in great shape...but he has just never really enjoyed running! But, he decided to do it with me this year and I am so glad he did, he was my saving grace in the race! The race began and we were doing fantastic keeping pace to do one of my best times...and then the last 3.5 miles came! And now that brings me to some more exciting news!

We are expecting little Beckner number 2! That is right...that soon to be addition to the Beckner family and my incredibly encouraging husband gave me the push to finish! (Jason was so great...he would have finished at least 10 minutes ahead if it had not been for me needing to slow down a lot) It was great as we rounded to the finish line to see my mom and brother with Reese sitting high on Jonathan's shoulders!

After the race we had a very filling lunch at Cracker Barrel with Merry Michael, (who had her best half marathon time ever!) Bethany and Steve. I have to give a shout out to Bethany who completed her first half marathon as well...in great time...but this is my roommate who used to almost tear up at the thought of having to run a single mile! SO IMPRESSED!

So, back to the baby...we are due August 13th...14 weeks in now and feeling pretty good. Reese is very excited and likes to say good morning to the baby! She has also began to say she has a baby in her tummy...which is cute! Pictures from the race and baby will come (camera really broken)...we need to get a new camera...any suggestions are welcome! Well...there you go...run baby run!

Happy Birthday to our baby girl!

Well...it came and it went! Reese turned two years old on Friday! When people say times flies it really does. Reese has grown up so much and Jason and I could not be prouder! We began the celebration with our rendition of "Happy Birthday" to wake her up! She was quite excited about that. We enjoyed some good family time on Friday and then on Saturday my mom, sister, and a surprise visit from my brother, all came to celebrate with Reese. We went to Chucky Cheese...Reese loved it...really loved it! Reese is all of two years for sure...but, I think she thinks she is older than that! She is doing a lot, she loves singing her ABC's (along with Beyonce's "put a ring on it" and many other songs), she can count to 15 now and is just full of personality! We will continue the birthday celebration next weekend with Reese's friends! One interesting thing is that we have let Reese open a present a day for about the past 4 days...so now I think she expects to wake up and have a present! If only life was like that! On a sad note, our camera had a run in with the floor on Friday, so pictures from my mom's camera will come soon!

A little handyman and some laughs

Well, so of course about 30 minutes after Jason's plane took off for Dallas...a pipe busted under our sink! I feel like things secretly wait until Jason is gone and then they fall apart! Anyway...as I watched water gush onto the kitchen floor and frantically tried to figure out where it was coming from...I took a few deep breaths. I turned the water off (pretty happy with myself for doing it so quickly) and then I began to inspect the problem. Once I figured it out I decided that this was something I was going to try and fix before I call a plumber and $200 or more later had it fixed. Long story short...I went to the hardware store, purchased the parts and attempted to take off the "J" pipe and replace it. The problem was in trying to remove it I almost removed all of the other pipes. So, sadly I decided I was going to wait for Jason (since I was too scared to end up ruining the whole pipeline).

My two plumbers to the rescue...will only a bill of $10.00 for the pipe!

And on another note...whenever Jason goes out of town I can tell if really affects Reese(luckily it is not that often and his trips are short). She has just gotten to that age where she wants us all together. Jason and I are actually doing the study "Growing Kids God's Way" (it is so great and practical) and in the study it talks about the security children have from their parents being together. Anyway, when Jason did get home we had some quality time...turn up your volume!

January fun and other pics

So, like I have said in the past...this is not so much a blog as it is a place to put some of Reese's pictures and some of these are just too cute to pass up. Some are a few weeks back...

Reese and Uncle Jonathan

Reese heading down the big slide in our neighborhood park
Reese and James getting ready for dinner together

Reese and I went to Altanta and got to meet up with some of our friends, Gina and Noah; Lindsay and Bryson. Reese was the the only girl on this playdate!
Reese and Aunt Bethany taking a quick break on the floor
Reese trying to help daddy get out the door for work...someone loves their daddy!

Reese and Bebe in the very big Bouncy thing...Reese just ran back and forth laughing
Lindsay, Bryson, Reese and me

Things I have learned...

Ok, so with Reese being about one month away from being two years old it has got me thinking. There really are a lot of things that I did not fully understand until I became a mom…here goes!

1) People who leave grocery carts in the middle of a parking space! I mean it used to make me so mad…I used to think it is not that hard to just put the buggy in the buggy rack…until I was unloading a car in the freezing cold, or blazing hot and had little one with me as well. We have been in the store long enough and the idea that I would have to leave her in the car by herself…or roll her to the buggy rack then carry her back…to much! So, for those of you who just leave the buggy there…I get it! Now I just try to get the space right next to cart place.
2) People who said that taking a shower was their few moments of peace? What? I mean that statement alone made me sad for those people until I realized how true it is…
3) Mini vans…I am sorry, I know it sounds like a shallow thing…but honestly I never got them. I did not like them and I did not understand why people said they liked them. They are still not my vehicle of choice…but I totally get them now! All of the room…your child can get into the car themselves (unlike hiking up into a SUV) and they are just more accessible.
4) The love of a drive thru anything. I mean, I now imagine a world of drive thru post offices, drugstores, grocery stores, you name it…I want it.
5) Watching Sesame Street(or another pbs show)… I originally just thought that TV for children was wasteful and not educational! Ok, say what you want…but now I get it and I do think there is some value not to mention the value of my sanity for 30 minutes.
6) Pop Ice as a staple…for our house it has become that quite often. Now everytime Reese has a busted lip, here comes the pop ice…and pop ice chills the lip, stops the bleeding and Reese is in heaven.
7) Hand Sanitizer. Ok, so I have never been one of those germ-o-phobes until Reese turned about 6 months old and she began to touch everything and then put it, or her hands into her mouth and mine. Now as we approach 2 years old not much has changed…so we need stock in Purell.
8) Carrying wipes with you at all times. Who said wipes were just for dirty diapers. They are great for wiping hands down after playing and eating. They are actually great stain removers (fyi) for a lot of little spots on clothes and to clean of any place you may be going that needs a little touch up.

Well there it is. I know that all of you with 2, 3, 4 or however many children are reading this and thinking just wait until she has more than one. Well, all I have to say it you are probably right…but for now these are some things that I am finding new appreciation for as I continue to learn what being a mom is all about! And here is a picture of Little Miss Mischief herself!

Petting zoo fun

Well, I am a little behind...oh well. A little after Christmas we had the treat of getting to see the Parnell Family! It was so great to see them since they live even farther away than they used to...and Reese had not seen Avery or Griffin in quite awhile.

We went to the Oak Moutain petting zoo on the first available dry day here and had a blast. I would recommend it as a cheap (but stinky) thrill for little ones! They literally get to walk along with all of the donkeys, goats, ponys, and peacocks. Reese loved it and was not afraid of anything...she got a little too friendly with some of the goats as you can see.