Happy 2nd Anniversary, 1114

Our second “house” anniversary has come with barely a mention. In the hustle and bustle of life we almost forgot.

If year one was the year of settling in, year two has been the year of the re-do. I made a lot of impulsive decorating decisions when we bought this house. Mainly out of necessity, because in case you are the only person on earth not to have been told, every wall in the whole house was grey. And not a beachy Hampton’s grey. A Folsom prison grey. We {and by we I do not mean me} painted every wall in this house. And now, in year two, we have repainted a few of them again. Obviously Bunky’s room had to be done and then I decided that the front room needed repainting also. Our bedroom also needs to be repainted, but Lofton is in no hurry to do it.

Year two has also been the year of the handy husband. I didn’t have an inkling of a clue that he was handy when I married him. I swear. But, in year two, he has put crown molding on all our “living” rooms plus the hall, he has replaced the wire columns with fiberglass columns, built a porch onto his “man shed”, and built me the most beautiful bookcases ever. The man is amazing.

There were also surprises galore in year two. If you will recall, in year one we realized we had gas heat. Well, in year two our furnace died. We spent one of the coldest nights of the year huddled in our bedroom with NO heat and an INFANT.

We also had a second pipe burst this winter. Luckily, one of our neighbors {whom I’m embarrassed to admit I’ve never actually met} cut off the water for us because we were at work. Thanks skinny guy who lives across the street! You’re the best.

In year two, we also had ANOTHER visit from Roto-Rooter. Here's to hoping in year three that Mrs. Rice cuts down her enormous oak tree. Those damn roots are putting a drain on our finances.

And, imagine my surprise yesterday, when I realized BEES were in our window. Yes, bees. Our windows are old and original to the house {built in 1910}. The old windows have old pulls to raise them {If they raised. Which they don’t. } The pulls necessitate having holes in the window frame. That, plus a split in the screen, allowed bees to infiltrate. I killed seven before Lofton came home to save me. It was almost the beginning of a horror movie. For now, the problem has been solved by a combo of lethal bee spray and painter's tape.

I can say without a doubt that home ownership has both its advantages… and its frustrations. But, without a doubt, this is the year our house became a home. Bringing Reese home to this place, to his room, to our house has been life-changing.

Happy Anniversary, 1114!

hat-a-riffic II

Reese's dad {who NEVER reads the blog} didn't like the first hat picture...
Hence the reason for hat-a-riffic II.


Equally as cute, just not as funny.

hat-a-riffic

I'm actually NOT going to blog everyday of our summer vacay, however these pictures were too cute to not share immediately.

I bought Reese a sun hat over the weekend {actually my mom bought it} for our trip to the lake this weekend. We had a little modeling session this morning. I won't say he loves the hat, but he will wear it, sans strap around his multiple necks. I don't particularly enjoy things around my neck either, so I'm not going to push the issue.

I love it!

rashes, rain, and relaxation

What have I done today on my first full day of summer break? Well...

I woke up to this:

He's adorable, isn't he? We are still battling a little fever. But hopefully he will soon be on the mend. Today is our last day of antibiotics. I, too, am having sinus issues so I understand his pain.

Part of the problem could be that we have been stuck in the house for DAYS. Will the rain ever end? I can only be so entertaining. My bag full of tricks is running low. We tried to take a family stroll yesterday, but it was interrupted by a downpour. We just sat on the porch and watched the rain.

Today we have been battling a little bit of a heat rash. I know, I just said we can't go outside and play. He got a heat rash from playing INSIDE. I didn't know it was possible either, but I checked with the doctor. Reese sweats. A lot. It's disgusting. Right now he is napping in his crib naked. He little hair was starting to CURL around the ears and nape of his neck from being so hot. It is quite the do, a Mohawk on top and curls around the ears. I might need to invest in a cute hat for him!

Lastly, I have been relaxing, doing what I assume other stay at home mom's do. Laundry, bill paying, cleaning and straightening up-- and lots of playing with Bunky!

Check back tomorrow for more exciting adventures! Just kidding. Did you sense my facetiousness?

{Sorry for the picture quality. They came from my phone-camera.}

face lift

After a year+ of blogging I felt like I needed a name. Something more significant than “The Beasley Family” or “Reese.” So, I’ve decided on “Time Well Wasted.” It’s an old Brad Paisley song and I think it is very appropriate for this little venture that started as a way to chronicle my pregnancy and has become a journal of our life and adventures in child raising.

Time well wasted. It means so many things to me. Part of the song says,

It was time well wasted

And there's no way I’d trade a few more dollars or things crossed off my listFor a day I'll never forget

No I didn't get a thing done

But I sure soaked up every minute of the memory we were makin'

And I count it all as time well wasted

That is such a reflection of us. Our favorite thing to do is nothing- sit at home, play with Reese, walk around the neighborhood, swing on the porch- we just like to be together.

Yesterday I was supposed to pay bills. I didn’t. And I was going to do laundry. But I didn’t. I played with my baby, watched four episodes of Southland with my husband, and took a family nap. It was perfect.

Time well wasted. It is a total reflection of my blog and my relationship with blogging. I love my blog. I love to write and this is a perfect outlet for my thoughts and a perfect way for me to share my life and showoff Reese. More than loving my blog though, I love to read other people’s blogs. It could easily consume hours of my day. And really, it’s more than being nosy. I learn so much from other people’s blogs- things about babies, families, recipes, and decorating. And most of the blogs I read are from regular people just like me. It’s fascinating reading. But time consuming. Lofton would tell you it is definitely time NOT well wasted.

So there you have it. My new blog name, Time Well Wasted.

Done

Woo- Hoo! School is out for the summer!

I got out a little earlier than the others, we are a bit under the weather here at the Beasley house. I say "WE" because when Reese is sick we all have problems. He has a little sinus infection and after a few doses of antibiotics he should be on the mend soon.

We plan on doing nothing this weekend but hang out with my parents. They are coming up tomorrow for the long weekend.

And according to the weather man we will be hanging out around the house next week too. Mr. Gloom and Doom Rich Thomas projects ran until sometime in June. So much for sunning in the backyard.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

There are so many tedious details and tasks that go into wrapping up a school year. There are papers to grade, report cards to print, and supplies to sort. It’s hard to get emotional or excited about the year ending. But, in my quiet moments in the car, or my five minutes in the shower, I’ve been doing some reflection on my school year.

This year has been a race. I started in August in a full sprint, trying to get everything organized and arranged before I left on leave. I returned in December in much the same way. I was racing to catch up on what I missed in my eight week absence, and literally racing everyday from the building to go pick up my precious cargo from across town.

I’m tired. I come home everyday exhausted. It’s hard to leave Reese every morning to come to work. Part of me wishes I was home. And then the other part of me wishes exactly the opposite. I love my job, and I feel like before I had the baby I could give work 110%. I have not been a 110% teacher this year. Depending on the day I’m may have been only giving 40 or 50%.

I know I’ve done my job, I just know that I haven’t done my BEST job. I’ve been blessed with an amazing class this year. God really took care of me in that aspect. But, as wonderful as this group of kids has been, I’m ready for a new crop of kids. I want a blank slate to train and to teach and to prepare for the next grade.

And I’m SO ready for long summer days. Lofton is already in a bad mood because I’m about to be home for two months. I’ve pointed out {more than once} that actually I am only paid to work nine months, my check is just divided across twelve months. It doesn’t seem to pacify him though.

I’m ready to enjoy mornings with Reese, not just hurry through feeding and getting dressed so I can rush out the door. I want to play in the mornings, and go on walks, and feed him his oatmeal for breakfast. I’m ready to be the person who rocks him to sleep for his naps. I’m ready to have play dates with friends {SHoUt oUt to Rush and Sydney Frances} and playtime in the pool. This baby is going to be a sun-loving water baby!

We joke at school that a teacher’s favorite day during the summer is Sunday, because they don’t have to go to work on Monday. I’m ready for my ten Sunday’s. T-minus one day to go!

The best reason to be a teacher is right here! Who wouldn't want to be with this boy everyday?

a quiet, rainy weekend

Rain, rain go away! It has been a perfect, albeit wet, weekend here in our corner of the woods.

Friday night started with our usual trip to Target to stock up on formula and baby food, then a few cocktails for Lofton and I on the porch. It was a long week for both of us! Only four more days for me though!

Reese surprised us by sleeping until 6:15 on Saturday morning, unfortunately my internal alarm clock woke me up at 5:30a.m. As soon as he was up we headed to Kroger. Did you know I LOVE to grocery shop super early in the morning? It's a little strange, but I hate to shop with crowds. When I was still in school {as a student} I would shop on Monday mornings when no one else was there, now that I work that isn't an option. Early Saturday mornings it is.

When we got home we headed to Will's preschool graduation. I can hardly believe that he is starting Kindergarten in August. It seems like just yesterday that I was keeping him. Lofton and I were talking last night about how quickly time flies.

It was four years ago exactly that I started keeping Will. Lofton was in Andalusia for forestry camp, we were planning the wedding, and I was living with Sabrina. Now we live ACROSS the street from Will, have been married for three years, and have our own little man.

The graduate, with a woman I don't know.

Lofton and I snuck Reese out as soon as Will walked across the stage. Reese was getting a little restless and a lot hungry. Our intent was to feed him and then head to Will's post-grad party. However, Reese surprised us again by taking a two hour nap. Whose kid is this?

Porch jumping during a rain break.

One funny story... Last night, Reese was doing this:

Pitching a fit in his jumper. Lofton and I were getting a good chuckle out of it. While Reese yells, he also flails his body around and raises his fists towards the ceiling like he is yelling at God. It's hysterically funny. In the process of entertaining his parents, Reese accidentally threw his body too hard forward into this:

His head hit that frog with a very loud smack. For a second I thought he knocked himself out. I, of course, scooped him out and smothered his boo-boo with kisses. Lofton laughed at me and told me to stop making our son into a pansy. Bunky then spent the rest of the night on the couch. Poor baby.

for nonna

My mom had surgery today. She's fine but she'll be out of commission for a little while. Bunky wanted to leave her a message to make her feel better, and since he can't talk this is what he came up with. Seriously. All by himself.

I wanted him to hold all the signs, but unfortunately my grand plan didn't workout. Imagine that.Little stinker.

personality plus

Oh the personality we are developing at seven months!
This child of mine is...

Fiesty and impatient like his Mama

A little grouchy like his Daddy Buck (love you dad and yes this face is now a CONSTANT when Reese is mad)

Sneaky...

and silly like his daddy.

And just plain squeezeable! {Please ignore my no makeup face and my very dirty hair.}

fabulous faces

Coming soon to a WWE ring near you...

Reese "The Beast" Beasley

hydrangeas

I went to get my nails done yesterday morning. When I came home Lofton and Bunky had planted five of these next to the back porch:

Hydrangeas are my favorite. {I stole this picture from the internet. Although, I'm sure once mine bloom they'll be equally as beautiful.} I have one in a pot on the front porch and it makes me smile everyday when I go outside to check the mail.

Happy Mother's Day to all my favorite moms. Especially my own. Clearly I'm biased, but she really is the best.

there was one little monkey...

Last night I needed to switch some laundry from the washer into the dryer. It was a quick task, but one I couldn’t do with my little wiggle worm in my arms. I deposited him into his crib for less than two minutes. I quickly threw the clothes in the dryer and went back to get Reese, whom I could hear laughing, from his crib.

I could not believe what I found when I walked back in. If I hadn’t been in such shock I would’ve raced to grab the camera.

My little baby boy was standing in his crib. STANDING!!! He was holding on to the railing, bouncing up and down one his chubby little feet {supported by his chubby little ankles}, and he was grinning from ear to ear. Clearly he was having the time of his life.

I immediately yelled, “Reese Beasley get down from there. That’s dangerous!” He was clearly confused… probably because he doesn’t realize his name is Reese. We're working on that.

On the top of today’s honey-do list for Lofton: Move crib mattress down

seven months

I say this every month, but I really cannot believe how quickly the time has flown. Reese is seven months old. SEVEN months. It blows my mind.

Every day is a new adventure with him. I have loved every stage, but THIS stage is so much fun. He is such a great baby. He loves to laugh and play. He grunts at us when he wants something and he chuckles like an old man. It is fantastic.

Reese has certainly developed a distinct personality over the last month or so. He is quite the impatient child. When he wants something, he wants it. Saturday morning I was folding laundry in his room and he was playing contently in his crib -or so I thought. Evidently he wanted out. Immediately. And when that didn't happen, he let me know very quickly how he felt about it!

He is eating some new foods. We have started turkey and rice at night with a container of fruit. And then he still eats oatmeal and fruit in the mornings with some juice. Very diluted juice. I'm concerned about tooth decay! And speaking of teeth, we have two. Those suckers are sharp. When he first started teething he liked to chew on my chin. No longer is that allowed!

Thirteen more days until I'm a stay at home mama. Not that I'm counting!

Absentminded

Having a baby has made me very scatterbrained. I read somewhere that it's normal to become forgetful when you are pregnant, I just didn't realize it would continue seven months after birth.

Friday afternoon, Bunky fell asleep in the car on the way home from school. This is a unusual occurrence. On a normal day, I cart him, my computer, his diaper bag, and my purse into the house at one time. Since he was out cold in his seat, I grabbed my things and lugged them into the kitchen, then ran back outside to grab him from the car. Just as I reached to door, the car doors re-locked. Fantastic safety mechanism if someone is about to break in your car and rob/kill you, not so fantastic when you're about to reach for your baby.

I panicked. A million things raced through my mind at once. Do I break a car window? Call Lofton? The police? How soon do kid's overheat? Then I realized the keys were fifteen feet away... still in the back door. So I just walked over and unlocked the car again.

Whew. Crisis averted.