The View From Here

Last Wednesday morning, Reagan & her parents departed on their first family vacation, headed for Point Clear, Alabama.  Have you ever heard of LAMMICO?  Basically they insure Louisiana doctors, and when said doctors are sued, their insurance company hires an attorney to handle the suit.  Mine & Reagan's dads are two such attorneys, so Reagan is learning what Jessica & I did early in life: if dad has to travel for work, we'll tag along & find an outlet mall.  So, we did.

After dropping the pups off at the vet & securing mommy a cup of Chick-fil-A coffee, we were ready to head out.  Still bound by her rear-facing car seat, Reagan watched as Louisiana disappeared and she headed east for the first time . . .

. . . while dad put on his "serious road trip in my new truck" driving face:

As has been our tradition for the many years we've driven to Destin, FL, we stopped in Hattiesburg, MS to eat lunch at Chesterfield's . . . but it was GONE.  Literally gone, a drugstore (think it was a CVS) in its place. 

Where is Chesterfield's?

Baffled but undeterred, we ate lunch at a burger place, and though I can't recall the name, it was not your average burger place.  They offer whole wheat buns, a delicious grilled chicken sandwich, sweet potato fries, and an assorted selection of dessert items.  Reagan was pleased.

Checking out the view from the front seat after lunch:

Happy to be facing forward:

Ok, I'm over it, put the phone down & let's get down the road dad . . . 

Obligatory tunnel pic (this one is different though because my freshly painted toes are in it):

We made it!

Traveling in Alabama was interesting.  They've got everything you need right there on the highway.

Books . . . 

& coffee! 

We went straight to the Tanger Outlet in Foley Wednesday afternoon.  You can't adequately cover a decent sized outlet mall in one day, especially with an infant, so we got a few good hours in before heading to the hotel Wednesday night where my dad & Trey were due to mingle with other Louisianians gathered for LAMMICO's yearly pow wow.  

Foley Sightings:

A few familiar characters:

Other familiar characters entertaining Reagan while the women darted to and from shops:

Before I continue, I must include the triumphant tale of my new purse.  When my mom & I walked into the Coach outlet Wednesday afternoon, we were each handed a coupon for 30% off our entire purchase, which my experience has taught me is pretty much par for the course at Coach outlets.  While browsing the store, a 50% off table caught my eye, and my breathing quickened even more when I saw, perched in the middle of the table, a purse I loved.  I handed it to Trey & told him to hold it until I decided what to do (I didn't want someone else to snag it while I did a little investigating).  I marched over to the counter &, assuming the answer would be 'No' but hoping for the best, I asked the sales clerk if the 30% off coupon could be applied to items that were already marked down . . . and she said yes!  Needless to say, I bought the purse & I love it, & now Trey has a lot of fun mimicking my reaction to the sales clerk, so we both left happy.     

Tired from Foley: Round I, the ladies hung out at the hotel Wednesday evening while the men did their fancy business stuff:

Wednesday night, Reagan got to sleep in the middle of her parents, and she slept pretty well.  She slept right through room service bringing mommy's breakfast Thursday morning.

YES!  (Notice the entire pot of coffee):

Tiny jelly!

A little morning reading in the big bed:

"Mom quit taking my picture; I just got up."

A room with a view:

Waiting while mommy finishes dressing for Foley: Round II:

Resting up for the marathon:

Ready to go!

Big bed time again:

A bath for the road:

Homeward bound:

AZ

Tuesday Morning

Last week I took Reagan to Tuesday Morning for the first time.

I rarely make it in there on a Tuesday morning (when they receive new shipments), but it's a goal of mine.  There's not as many flashy things to look at as there are in Target, but she enjoyed herself and even charmed a few employees.

When she grew restless, I gave her the dental floss I keep in my purse (yeah, I'm cool like that), & she happily played with it/gnawed on it while I finished shopping.  We had a little lesson about irony as she chewed on the plastic box of floss in her continued and valiant journey to cut some teeth.

I bought her these shoes . . .

. . . for $2.99.  I'm trying to school her in the art of bargain shopping & thought this would be a nice precursor to what lies ahead: her first trip to an outlet mall.  When she's a bit older, I hope to take her shopping with the bargain hunting queen, her Aunt Kathy.  At present, Reagan is too young to understand or appreciate the strategizing, the flurry of activity, the elation when the amount saved is calculated, & the legendary stories that accompany her aunt's purchases. 

AZ

8 Months

Today Reagan is 8 months old.

It's been a pretty ho-hum Saturday compared to last Saturday's mall trip & birthday celebration.  

Had a little breakfast:

Did our morning mobility routine:

Hung out in our bed a little:

Flashed our new face:

Contemplated Texas A&M joining the SEC:

And gnawed on a pear that was grown on Reagan's Great Uncle Thomas' pear tree:

As I post this, it's about 7:30 & I'm in my nightgown, face washed for bed.  Reagan & Sophie are both snoozing, & Trey is watching the DVDs of Dallas he recently ordered (I overheard him exclaim "Uh-oh.  J.R. kissed Pam!").  Between Reagan hitting the 8 month mark, the rain & cooler temps, & reliving Southfork's glory days, we've had all the excitement we can handle in one day.  Maybe next Saturday we'll delve into one of life's important questions with Reagan: Who shot J.R.?

AZ

The Wait is Almost Over

Yesterday afternoon, I got in my car & the temp read 88 degrees.  Last night, I saw Pete Carroll on TV looking cocky as ever.  It's almost time, & we are prepared.

My mom gave me these shoes last May right after Trey & I announced I was pregnant.  She later admitted she bought them when Trey & I were engaged.

The Name Game

As soon as I learned I was pregnant, I started thinking of baby names.  As a teacher, I have learned that it is imperative to give your children good, solid, phonetically sensical names; it is a blessing that will follow them through life.  Being me, I opened a new folder on my desktop where I kept a word document that was full of lists of names I liked; I added to it & rearranged it almost daily.  Once I knew I was having a girl & was free to replace 'it' with feminine pronouns, I got down to business & was able to eliminate several names I'd wrestled with for a few months.  When I knew I'd be finishing sentences that began with My daughter, ____________, there were a few names I just couldn't see in that blank.

Happy Birthday to Grandmama & Grandaddy Zeigler

Trey's parents both celebrated their birthdays this past week on August 6 & 8.  Reagan was born on my dad's birthday, & I think she will find a way to upstage all of her grandparents on their big day.

Celebrating Grandmama Cheryl's birthday Saturday at Waterfront Grill:

The view:

And the rest is pretty much Reagan action:

Hamburgers Monday night for Grandaddy Don's birthday (Reagan had already eaten, so she worked on her mobility while the rest of us enjoyed burgers):

Hanging out on the couch wither her grandfathers:

Helping Grandaddy Don open his birthday presents:

After the gift opening, we watched some recent videos of Reagan that Trey shot, & then we watched the video of Reagan Trey shot during dinner.  One thing Reagan will not lack as she ages is a healthy sense of self-importance.  

AZ

Firsts

A baby's first year is full of, well, firsts.  Reagan has experienced a few new ones lately.

She's finally big enough (& stable enough) to sit in the high chair I used as a baby.  My mom found it at an antique store.  It's a really nice looking high chair, & I'm sure it was back in 1980, but we stay pretty close to Reagan while she's in it since there are no straps or belts or buckles at all, anywhere.

First ride in Daddy's new truck.  

Lesson for Reagan: rear end someone, total vehicle, get nice shiny new truck.  To be fair to Trey, I myself totaled a vehicle (many years ago).  While I was initially anti-truck, I realized I now have a way to haul furniture home from Dallas, so all is well in our happy home.  Are you familiar with Weir's Furniture?  You should be! 

First family trip to the mall!  Until this past Saturday, I don't think Trey & I had been in the Pecanland Mall together since before we were married.  Trey had a bit too much fun with the stroller; I may be able to lure him back!

Reagan enjoyed the stroller racing & the figure 8s around clothing racks:

Finally, while she made it here in time for bowl season last year & witnessed the Tiger's Cotton Bowl victory . . . 

Reagan has another important first looming: 

her first FOOTBALL SEASON.

To be continued . . . 

It's a Girl

On August 2 of last year, Trey & I learned our first child was a girl, & we got our first glimpse of her face:

We left the doctor's office & met our families at Cracker Barrel for a little celebration.  

Today, my mom & I took Reagan to Cracker Barrel.  We had breakfast & coffee; she took a nap:

Coincidentally, on our drive to Bastrop this afternoon, my mom had the radio on XM 17, which I think is the 'Love' station, & Roberta Flack's "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" came on . . . technically a 'romantic' song, but it still made me smile when I heard it:

The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the empty skies, my love,
To the dark and the empty skies.

AZ