BrotherlyCousinly Love

 
There is nothing like watching the bond of brothers grow.  Riley isn't overly interested in what is going on with Reid but everynight he kisses him goodnight on his forehead and sometimes leans in like he's hugging him.  At school Riley has to take Reid to his class before he will go into his own class.  When you aren't paying attention Riley will be squatted down real low talking sweetly to Reid saying things like, "Reid! Reid! Hey Reid! Goo Goo Gah Gah!"  And sometimes he likes to sing to Reid.  The other day I heard him sing just like this: "Jesus loves meLIFE is a Highway!" Reid's eyes follow Riley's every move and his face just lights up when Riley decides to pay him some attention!

All 3 of my babies resting at the same time!

Poor Reid!

Watching cousinly love is almost just as precious.  Ava-Reese is all about her Baby Cousin as she calls Reid.  She loves to play with his carseat.  She likes to try to hold him too.

3 of the sweetest kids I know!



Wouldn't trade their growing up together for anything in this world!!

Blessed, Blessed, Blessed to see this Brotherly AND Cousinly love!

Music To My Ears

Riley loves to sing.  His favorite song to sing is Rascal Flatt's "Life Is A Highway" from the Cars movie.  While he sings he often dances, plays his belly as a guitar, plays drums by making fists, or any combination of these. 

He likes to make up songs too while he's playing.  From the time Riley was born, I made up a song that I often sing to him.  He will ask for "Riley's Song" (yes in 3rd person):

Oh My Riley, Riley, Riley
You're so sweet.
Riley, Riley, Riley,
You can't be beat!
Riley, Riley, Riley,
You're the one.
Riley, Riley, Riley,
You're so much fun!

So lately before bed he has said, "I wanna sing Mommy's song." I'll ask him how it goes and he sings:

Mommmmmyy.....Mommmyyy....
I LOVE MY MOMMY!

Then he says he wants to sing Daddy's song:

Daddy loves basketball
Daddy loves football
Daddy loves racecars
Daddy loves Riley!
Daddy loves Mommy

Since Riley has been consistent in these 2 songs for Mommy and Daddy over the past week or so I figured I should document it so I don't EVER forget them!!

Riley at a recent trip to Chuck E. Cheese

Delivery...Reid is HERE!

First let me give a little TMI History.  The delivery of my first son was induced at 37 weeks (due to preeclampsia) using Cervidil overnight to thin the cervix.  There was no progression as of the following morning and I totally lost it when I found out I may potentially have to stay in Labor & Delivery on the hard, uncomfortable bed all day and go through the Cervidil again that night.  As I was crying, Jeremy said a prayer and not long after that as I rushed to go to the bathroom my water broke on its own so they started the pitocin.  I delivered Riley later that afternoon but had a partially bad epidural so I felt way too much.  And I ended up with really bad 3rd degree lacerations internally and externally.  I even had to have a shot post delivery directly into my cervix.  I had nightmares about delivery for months and was still in pain 6 months post delivery. 

Needless to say with my rough experience delivering only a 6lb 3oz baby, it took me awhile to move forward with expanding our family.  My pregnancy with Reid was much smoother compared to Riley's pregnancy.  However at 32 weeks he suddenly measured at 37.5 weeks!  As they were expecting me to have a really big baby a few weeks later we discussed a cesarean and scheduled it for 39 weeks.  Reid tried to come on his own a few times before that be we would get sent back home.

On Wednesday morning, April 27, 2011, we got up super early to head to the hospital.  My Mom spent the night with us so that she would be there when Riley woke up.  I was excited to have a c-section but still scared of the unknown since it would be my first delivery by this method.  My doctor would not be on call again for a week so a different doctor was delivering too.

Huge at 39 weeks!

 Jeremy said a prayer for us in the car.  When we arrived around 7:30 AM everything moved pretty quickly since we were scheduled for 9 AM.  The nurse anesthetist was very detailed, which I loved.  However I was still very anxious.  Suddenly my regular doctor popped in and said she had finished a c-section up early and was going to assist the scheduled doctor with my surgery!  This put me at ease immediately.  God knew just what I needed!  Getting stuck for the spinal wasn't a whole lot of fun but much easier than the alternative!  They told me I'd feel alot of pressure like an elephant or 2 1/2 year old child jumping on my my chest but I didn't feel anything bad whatsoever.  After my 1st delivery I am here to say that a c-section is THE way to go!!!!  Especially since Reid was a whopping 9lb 2oz!!!

 Seeing Reid for the first time!

 Daddy finally holds Reid!

 Mommy finally gets to love on Reid too

 Nothing like holding your baby after 9 long months

 Family photo in recovery

 Proud big brother Riley holding Reid for first time

 Riley and Ava-Reese loving on Reid

 Our 2nd Little Gamecock

Birth Announcement Photo

Praise the Lord!  We are so truly blessed with 2 sweet, beautiful, healthy children!

RileyRegister-ster

Riley is almost 2 & 1/2 now.  He still occasionally talks about himself in 3rd person by calling himself in one long word, "RileyRegister-ster!" He's growing up though and for instance during dinner last night at a sushi restaurant as we were saying the blessing he took a bite of rice and says, "I like it!" right in the middle of the blessing! 

Milestones
We have only had the success of pottying in his potty 3 times in 1 week well over a month ago and he has lost most interest in that.  With Reid on the way I'm not pushing it too much.  Since Riley doesn't try to climb out of his crib we still have him sleeping in it because he tends to stand up and whine when going to sleep and we know in a toddler or regular bed that means he'll be getting up!  So we're putting that off for after he adjusts to Reid being here...in hopes of calling the crib a bed for "the baby" and for him to sleep in a "big boy bed."

Interests

• Playing the piano, guitar, and xylophone (he also calls piano) while singing songs he makes up
• Most sports...football, basketball, baseball, soccer, golf
• He currently likes his Daddy to hold the football while he runs and kicks it, amazingly up in the air
• He LOVED watching the Masters and I taught him a "golf clap"
• Chocolate pudding...not a day goes by that he doesn't ask for it!
• McDonald's Chicken Nuggets...since I couldn't seem to handle eating chicken when I was pregnant he has rarely liked eating chicken until he had McD's nuggets.  Now they're a favorite.
• Racing
• He is learning the race car drivers and cars; his favorite is Kyle Busch because he drives the "M-M-M's Toyota"
• Cars book...he can name every one of them from Lightning McQueen to Mater (and has never even seen the movie)
• Thomas the Train...we have to read that book everynight too

Funnies

• Riley says:
• Hey Good Wookin
• Hey Hot Momma
• How You DO-DOIN'
• Riley was dressed for Spring pictures at school so in the car Jeremy said, "Hey Good Lookin', Whatcha Got A Cookin'?"  Riley said, "Momma cooks spaghetti and hot dogs!"
• We were at a fundraiser and the Clemson Tiger was there so Riley kept saying, "Hey Boo Tiger!" and "Momma, Boo Tiger went Bye, Bye!"
• Riding in Aunt Carly's car Ava-Reese taught Riley how to push the button on the door to unlock, so as we are riding down the interstate Riley tries to actually open the door.  Needless to say we had to pull over and put the child safety locks on!
• During prayers at bedtime most nights Riley has to pray for Elmo and sometimes Cookie Monster.  He also likes to throw in random things like Gamecock football, his Bible, any one of the Thomas trains, etc.
• Riley talks to Garnet like she is going to start talking back.  He will show her stuff like a train and say, "Look Gah-net, Dennis!"  Or he'll say, "Gah-net I ate Sabi (Wasabi the restaurant)!"

Sweetness

• Riley loves to give me kisses.  He'll kiss both cheeks then will say spots and kiss them like: nose, hair, noggin' (head), eyes, shirt, etc.  We call him the kissing bandit!
• Riley will do something and then say, "I teach Reid that."
• Riley will tattle on Garnet and say things like, "Gah-net in Reid's room Mommy"
• Riley adores the Painters and usually asks for them in 1 word, "AuntCarlyTrentAReese"
• For Jeremy's 30th birthday Riley sang Happy Birthday to him and later to his great-grandma on the phone too!

Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

I believe our second son, Reid, is going to give us a run for our money!  This pregnancy has been so different from Riley's pregnancy.  Riley didn't kick a whole lot and is a laid back child.  He only weighed 6 lb 3oz at birth. Reid kicks all the time and is already a good whopping 8 lbs and we're only at 37 weeks!  Due to my difficult delivery and recovery with Riley, we have a c-section scheduled for Wed, April 27th at 9 a.m.  However, I have progressed to dilating to a 3 so the doctors believe I will either go into labor or my water will break on its own anyday.  Since I've started to have frequent headaches and my blood pressure is starting to rise, the doctor decided to write me out of work yesterday.  I am so relieved by that because being a pharmacist, mother to a toddler, wife to an accountant during tax season, and carrying a 37 week baby that is measuring at more like 39-40 weeks along with some extra (and heavy) fluid was getting to be a bit much!  So I'm just napping, watching TV, and catching up on some reading while waiting for little Reid to arrive!  And I'm blessed to have our sweet dog Garnet by my side every step of the way...usually snoring!

Oh B-A-B-Y!!

So after measuring normal every week, this week I go in for an OB visit and measure at 37.5 weeks when I'm only 32 weeks!  So I got to have an U/S and the result was excessive fluid (at 30 point something centimeters rather than the normal upper end of normal at 24) and a whopping 5 lb 3 oz BIG boy!  Riley was only 6 lb 3 oz at 37 weeks so there is no telling how big this boy will be!

Cousins

We are so blessed to have Riley and Ava-Reese growing up together.  They are 4 1/2 months apart in age and Riley says, "AReese best friend."  That sums it up pretty well I think!

 snow day-January 2011

 matching snowmen outfits at church-February 2011

 AR is the leader and Riley is the follower!

Doesn't get much cuter than this!

The Big 3-0

I absolutely can't believe I've hit 30!  I guess it is so true that time flies when you're having fun!  My birthday was celebrated with lunch and an awesome strawberry cream cheese cake at work.  This was followed by dinner at High Cotton in Greenville with Jeremy.  We loved High Cotton by the way!  And Saturday Jeremy brought home a peanut butter ice cream cake that our friend Brymer made.  And my family plans to celebrate with a home-cooked lunch by my Mom in the near future!

 peanut butter ice-cream cake

 Best strawberry cake ever!

most recent picture of myself...at the circus with Riley

So where am I at 30?  I'm married to my best friend.  We have a beautiful 2 year old son Riley and are expecting another son Reid soon.  We have an adorable dog, Garnet.  We have been blessed to join a church nearby and have begun making new friends there.  I am a pharmacist and absolutely love my current job.  We own our own house and vehicles.  We have paid both of our student loans off. My family is close to us.  So basically, I could hardly ask for anything more!  We are blessed to say the least.

So what have I learned in my 30 years?

• That truthful, honest people have few friends; fake people have many.
• Life is not about what others think but is what you make of it.
• Hard work pays off.
• God never leaves you.  You may try to leave Him but he NEVER leaves you!
• There are very few people you can really trust.
• Being a mother is my greatest but most difficult accomplishment to date.
• It's true, you really do start to hear yourself say things your parents said (and you never thought you'd ever say)
• A job is not worth having if you're not happy working it.
• There will never be enough time in 1 day.
• Once you have children time starts to literally fly by!
• It's not worth it to worry over other's judgements of you; the only judgement that really matters is God's and God's alone.

Blessed, so very blessed at 30.  Praying for 30 more years and looking forward to what God has in store for me!

Baby Bruder

As we await Baby Reid Bradley Register's arrival I am filled with anticipation.  There is so much to be done with cleaning our our guest bedroom and it's closet and office space.  Reid's furniture will be arriving in 2 weeks and I have so, so much left to do!  Everytime I get started I just feel so overwhelmed.  I have pictures and pictures and pictures in there left to organize.  I still have a box or 2 I've never unpacked from my parents house with high school annuals, and even more pictures and who knows what else!  I have been storing all of my seasonal decorations in that room and need to do something with my wedding dress that is hanging in his closet.  The list could go on...

To focus on what I HAVE done:
went through all of my wrapping paper, tissue, and supplies
reorganized how I store all of the above and now have bins under my bed for this and will be selling my old storage system
Got all of the Christmas stuff stored and put away upstairs
Moved all of my piano books and reoganized those
Began a nice little pile of Reid's Christmas presents and diapers, etc. that have been bought so as soon as the closet is empty I can begin storing his stuff in there
Ordered and received Reid's airplane bedding
Picked out and ordered Reid's furniture

I was set on an airplane theme for Reid all along but was worried that Riley would be jealous.  I have included him in each step we've taken so everytime something has been delivered to our house I make sure he is with me to open it and he will say, "Baby Bruder's airplanes."  So I hope he is more excited than jealous!  We talk about Baby Bruder A LOT.  I am so anxious to see how Riley will do with him and how in the world I will manage to balance my time between them.  But I know gazillions of other people have done it before so we will too.

Keep us in your prayers with so much change coming in the next few months!

Merry, Merry White CHRISTmas!

We had such a blessed Christmas 2010.  My only regret is that it doesn't last long enough!  One of my favorite family traditions is to go visit with elderly family and friends, shut ins, or widows/widowers that we do not get to see often enough.  As we have gotten older and began growing our families we do not have enough time to visit as many folks as we would like to. This year we went out on the Saturday morning before Christmas. We got to visit Ann and Wayne Hyatt and Fannie Ruth stopped by while we were there.  Then as we were leaving it began to snow and rain as we headed to see Miss Mae Tucker.  Then we got to visit our Great-Great Aunt Alice.  Riley and Ava-Reese are her great-great-great nephew and niece!!

Ava-Reese, Carly, Aunt Alice, Riley, and I

Riley enjoyed "riding" Aunt Alice's giraffe!

The Sunday before Christmas we celebrated with Jeremy's Mom's family at Grammy's house.  Riley got an Elmo that is as big as he is and he LOVES it!

Christmas Eve we began with a visit to Gaga.  By the time we took a photo the kids were not into smiling!

4 generations-Gaga, Daddy, Leslie & Riley, Carly & Ava-Reese

Then I spent most of the day cooking while Riley got to play and take a nap.  Then Christmas Eve night we went to Jeremy's Uncle Mike & Aunt Susan's to celebrate with the Registers.  Riley was the center of attention and loved every minute!

Riley met Mike and Susan's dog Roxy and the dog was scared of Riley!

With Grandma Register Christmas Eve

I was so excited for Christmas morning.  I could not wait for Riley to see the presents Santa had left for him.  I was expecting him to dance in excitement but all he said was, "Thomas Choo-Choo" and went right to work playing with his trains.  He would hardly look at anything else until the next day!

Santa was very good to Riley and didn't forget Baby R either!

We went to breakfast at The Painter's house Christmas morning and enjoyed homemade gravy and biscuits, sausage quiche, baked grits, and sausage pinwheels! Yum!  Papa Cliff got to join us along with MeMa and B Pop so we did our gift exchange after breakfast.  Then we headed to the Stevens Christmas for lunch at Aunt Joan and Uncle Dennis' house!

Riley and Ava-Reese in matching outfits with Gators from B Pop!

On our way home from The Stevens' it began to snow and by late afternoon the snow started to stick so we all enjoyed our first White Christmas!  The next day we got out in it to play and Riley didn't know what to think!

My favorite moments from this holiday season:

• Jeremy finding Rascal Flats singing & Riley spontaneously joinging in..."I'll be home  for Christmas; You can count on me "
• Hearing Riley say "Lights! Lights! at night when he'd see Christmas lights on homes
• Setting up Riley's Little People Manger & telling him the true Christmas story in 2 year old terms
• Taking Riley and Ava-Reese to Hollywild to see the lights and animals
• While having his photo taken, Riley puckered up to give Santa a kiss!

• Throwing our work Christmas party and Riley hugging EVERYbody like he knew them!
• Eating dinner with Jeremy's family and Riley deciding to yell out "Chelsea!!" over and over and over for Johnny's new girlfriend
• Hearing Riley say, "Baby Bruder" in reference to his little brother on the way
• Riley rocking out with his guitar center stage for The Registers on Christmas Eve
• Riley dancing to Michael Jackson when Jeremy was finding songs with his new iTunes gift card
• hearing Riley tell me "Merry Christmas I Wuv You Mommy" on his own Christmas night

We are so truly blessed this Christmas.  Now New Year's has arrived and it is time to take down all of the decorations and pack them up until next year!  And it is definitely time to get ready for Baby R's arrival!