Ma-ma-ma-ma

About a month ago, both Eli and I thought we heard Emmanuel say "mama," but we didn't get too excited or overjoyed because we had heard that a baby never says "mama" first...it's always "dada."  So, we just went on about our business and every once in a while, I would still hear Emmanuel struggle to get "mama" out.

Well, folks, Emmanuel made it very clear yesterday that he is definitely saying "mama"!  

And, he is saying it all the time.  He calls everything "mama"! 

Eli and I even detect a hint of a southern drawl in his accent...perhaps it's a sign...

I don't know if I should be excited or sad that he is beginning to talk.  I'm excited because it will be great to communicate verbally with him.  Little kids say the funniest things!  But, this means that my little bitty 5 pound 9 ounce newborn boy is growing into a 20 pound toddler, who will grow into a 7 year-old who prefers his dad over his mom, a 13 year-old who prefers his friends over his parents, an 18 year-old who prefers his girlfriend over everyone...and well, you get the picture.  

At the end of the day, as our baby is growing up right before our eyes, we just pray that he grows to be a man who prefers Jesus over everything. 

The Last Few Weeks of my Little Life

I know it seems like I've just been hanging around these last few weeks...

But, the reality is that my mama and daddy have kept me so busy.  We had flights scheduled to go to Nashville to celebrate my Granny E's 60th Birthday, but all of sudden, I felt really hot to my mama (who panicked!)  As it turns out, I had my very first fever.  Mama postponed the flight, took me to the pediatrician (those receptionist ladies oohed and ahhed over me), and she said that I had a double ear infection. 

Well, this news set my mama off.  All she kept saying was, "But, he nurses ALL the time!  Everytime he sees me, he wants to nurse....I thought breastfed babies weren't supposed to get sick...and a double ear infection...you've got to be kidding me."  Well, eventually, daddy calmed mama down...and even though the pediatrician said that it was ok to fly...mama wasn't so sure...so we waited a couple of days. 

We finally got down to Nashville...and had just enough time to take Granny out to eat.  It was such a fast visit that mama didn't even get to see her siblings.  

After visiting Nash-vegas, we drove to Chatt-town.  My Uncle Wil was graduating from college and my cousin Melanie was turning 50.  I was scheduled to meet a lot of family that I had never seen before.  Here I am at Melanie's 50th Birthday Party with my Grammie Judy. 

My dad got to spend some time with his childhood buddies who also had babies last summer.  I am the oldest...and the shortest...but mama says that's ok because I've got swag....she says that I turn it on every morning or something like that!  

Here I am with my cousins, Brody and Kaylee...I just played and played with them.  This is our "rockstar" pose. 

So, while I was in Tennessee, I got worse, and ended up missing Uncle Wil's graduation and graduation party because I was in the emergency room (and you know my mama, being in the ER in Chatt-town did NOT make her happy!)  I did get to congratulate Uncle Wil the day after.  

We ended up driving back to Baltimore--it is supposed to be a 10 1/2 hour drive from Chatt-town, but with me...it was more like 16 hours.  Mama and daddy stopped at Applebee's to eat some dinner...unfortunately for my mama they brought her mashed potatoes instead of a baked potato...but as you can see, I LOVED them!  yummy, yummy!  I got mashed potatoes everywhere...on my face...on my clothes...in my mama's hair.  It was awesome! 

My mama and I went to this tot lot with our friends.  I had a lot of fun...even though mama used most of her wipes cleaning off all the toys.  Mrs. Jamie used a lot of her wipes, too.  I guess those toys must have been dirty...but we had fun! 

Dad and I still take naps together sometimes.  Mama can't believe how short my arms are...she says that they are a lot like my dads. 

Bella and I are hanging out a lot these days.  We both really like playing on the slides. 

We saw my Bauntie Michelle off to her Senior Prom.  Mama says she should be on ANTM. Mama also said that she should have dressed a little nicer to stand next to Michelle that night.  Michelle is my Bauntie--my Baltimore aunite.  She just visited her family in Sicily, and she brought me back a shirt that says "someone from Sicily loves me." 

My parents and their friends also took Ms. Brooke out to dinner because she just graduated with her MSW.  These are the same girls who ran in the race with mama a few weeks ago.

So, it has been a busy couple of weeks.  Mama said that if she had to do it over again, that we probably wouldn't have made the trip to Tennessee.  For some reason, she doesn't seem to like it when I'm sick and thinks that traveling all that way couldn't have made it any better.  She said it's called "a mama's intuition," and that she should trust it more.  I don't know what that is, so I just smile when she talks about it.  

These days, I'm THISCLOSE to walking...standing for about 10 seconds and falling on my bottom.  I've also said "mama mama mama" a lot lately...I'm also really silly and laugh out loud a lot when I'm comfortable.  

Well, folks....until next time.  Thanks for reading about my adventures! 

Quick Update

Hi, friends. 

I just wanted to give a quick update and ask for prayer.  Emmanuel had a double ear infection, we traveled to Tennessee (he got worse), we came back (he got better), then Eli got sick, and all last night I was throwing up (we think it was food poisoning).  

Please pray for our family's health.  I do promise to write more later, but I wanted to give a quick update as to why I haven't had a new post. 

Thanks, again, for your prayers!

Happy Mother's Day!

I just want to say Happy Mother's Day to some women who are really special in my life!  

First, I'd like to give a shout-out to my great-granny Myrt!  You are THE COOLEST great-granny I know.  I don't know any great-granny who would travel over 16 hours in the car with 4 kids under the age of 8 just to come and spend some time with me.  You have set the bar a little high for my regular grandmas...but it's ok if they can't compete...we all know old-school beats new school any day!  I love you, great-granny Myrt. 

I also want to give a shout-out to my grammie Judy.  You are always buying me books and toys and things...and you raised my dad, so you get extra sprinkles on whatever dessert you choose--I know that was some hard work! 

And, Granny E...you are always surprising my mama with something--which makes her scream and jump up and down, and I either cry or laugh at her.  I hear that you call me the bronze child or something, and I'm just trying to figure out how I can reach "golden" status.  I'm gonna have to talk to my cousin James IV about that one. 

And...here she is...my mama!  This picture was taken today after church, and we are all wearing purple (my baby vest is purple).  So, if that gives you any indication on what kind of mama I have...she matches our clothes...she makes my baby food...she always has extra cheerios for me...she sings to me and holds me tight...she even cleans my smelly poop (that's really not up her alley)...she prays for me...she wears me in a baby sling...she doesn't miss a beat, even though she hasn't slept in several months.  

Mama, I love you...I thank God that you are my mama.  I know sometimes you don't think you do a good job with me...but let me tell you a little secret...motherhood is not about perfection...it is about trusting God to raise me in a way that honors him...so when I put mashed potatoes in your hair or pee in your face...it's ok...that's just how I'm showing my love and finding my way.  I love you! 

Happy Mother's Day! 

Running for daddy!

On April 19, 2009, I had the privilege to run a 5K for HopeWell Cancer Support in memory of my daddy, James L. Reese, Jr.  This race meant a lot to me.  It was an emotional run.  It was amazing and inspiring to see people honor their loved ones.  There were moms strolling newborns and people walking with canes...there was even a couple in their late 80s who walked the whole course in memory of their son.  

Some of my dear friends in Baltimore and I who have lost loved ones or who have watched loved ones battle cancer ran together on a team.  Our team name was "For Our Families."  We made T-shirts honoring our loved ones.  Even Little E had a onesie honoring his late granddaddy!

And surprise, surprise...my mom flew up here to Baltimore and surprised me for the race!  She said that she was going to be there to cheer me on as I ran for her husband!  Isn't that awesome. I was happily surprised by her presence.  She was even at the finish line cheering me on like she used to do when I ran track in high school.  Some things never change!  My cousin, Ashley, came up from DC and spent the day with us.  She was gracious enough to be our photographer for the morning. 

Here we are the "For Our Families" Team.  Carmen, Jamie, Shana, and the fabulous Brooke. So, the reality is that we all think that we are fabulous...but Brooke wins the prize.  Anybody who comes to a 5K with their hair recently blown out and their movie star sunglasses wins the diva award in my book!

And where was Emmanuel?  Chilling with his granny on the steps getting ready to listen to all of the speeches.  Someone from my work took this great pic. 

The HopeWell community loves Emmanuel.  Sometimes he comes to work with mommy, so he is truly a part of the HopeWell family.  We had fun walking after the race. 

Another pic of the back of my shirt...

Emmanuel greeting me at the finish line.  I imagined that he said, "Great job, mama!"

This is a classic Carmen picture...big cheesy grin. 

We posed for a family pic before the big race!  Eli was so supportive and excited for me.  He made sure to be at different checkpoints rooting me on.  It was pretty easy to see him with his bright UT-orange hoodie on...that's my husband.  

Thank God my mom came...she ironed the designs on our team T-shirts...

and she pinned on my bib number.  

  
And, yes, that's me...blowing a kiss to the camera.  

So, how did I do.  I placed 6th out of the 90 women in my division.  There were a little over 1,000 runners total.  If I had trained just a little, I think I could have been a little more competitive, but that's ok.  I think that daddy would have been proud anyway.  Correction, he definitely would have been proud.  He always was...no matter what.  

Love you, dad.  

Thanks for everyone who supported me financially and with your prayers.