Happy 17/18 Months, Raegan!

Raegan is almost 21 Months old...So, it's only fitting to be updating her 17  - 20 Month posts as well. 

You know when you get so behind that you feel completely overwhelmed with where to begin catching up?  That's been me.  Then, I got a new laptop.  Pics and videos became unorganized, stored in various locations (nightmare).  And, work got busy.  Then, the holidays.  Then, I forgot.  And the blog became lower and lower on the list of priorities.  Dreadful.  I'm working on building it back up.  I sooo don't like to start a new year behind on things.  I'm going to do my best. 

In the spirit of efficiency, I'm combining 2 months together and will post the other 2 months 'later'. 

This will be long - be warned.

17 Month:

We've rarely had the tv on around Rae, so you can imagine what went down one Sat morning when we happened to turn it on prior to switching over to the news.  OB - sessed.  Hence, why it hasn't been on much since. :)

One of the biggest things this month was her new obsession. And, when I say obsession, I mean obsession. 'Munks'. Chipmunks. We have lots of little chipmunks in our yard. She loves to look for them. Every time we are outside, pulling up in the driveway, etc - she yells for the munks to come out and play. "Munk! C'on! Paayy!"

"Where is that munk?" 

"MUUUNNNK!"

Tells us when she has to go potty

Still loves books...but often prefers magazines over books. 

Here she is catching up on the latest fashions:

Has playdates with her friends.  I finally remembered to take some pics at one from this month with Ainsley (my friend, Caroline's, little girl who was born the same day as Raegan).  Forgive the terrible quality of the pics.  Those little girls were moving quickly!

Loves to swing.  These pics were at my friend, Kim's, wedding.  The ceremony was held at Kim's parents' gorgeous home.  The weather was perfect.  The food was awesome.  The music was fun.  And, all Raegan cared about was the swing. :)

Spent lots of time with friends!  Rae has always loved meeting new people.  While it takes her 5 minutes or so to warm up - she ends up never wanting them to leave!  This month, she got to spend time with lots of mommy and daddy's friends.  Here are some shots from a few visits!

B B and 'Biiin' came to visit!

B B was so fun to play with!

Swinging with Julie (Juweeee) at Kim's wedding

Reading with Ben (Biiiin).

If Ben left the room and left her with B B and mommy, Rae yelled for Biiiin.  I think we talk a little too fast for Bitsy!

Loves to ride.  On a rainy day this past month, daddy introduced a new way to play with her leggo wagon.  It officially joined the ranks of any and all riding toys that she cries when you stop pulling or pushing her.  Good times...

Got to celebrate mommy's birthday with her...

...and share her cake!...

....and help blow out her candle!

Loves going to De De and Pop Pop's church in Savannah...especially loves with Ne Ne is in the nursery AND when Ry Ry lets her run down the halls.

Still loves the phone.  We usually call De De in the mornings on our way to mommy's work/gym and Rae's school.  So, naturally, every time she has a phone, she is calling 'De De'.

Heeeey De De!

A new discovery (for mommy and daddy) this month was that Rae loves Elmo. We were shopping for Raegan's cousin, Hannah Ryan, in Target.  Rae starts saying "a mo? a mo?  peeease?"  Took me forever to figure out what she was saying.  I look up, and there's A-B-C Elmo.  "Are you talking about Elmo, Raegan?"  "uh huh!  A mo!  Peeease?!?"  Suffice it to say that we left with an Elmo...or 4...

18th Month:

Had her first trip to the Dentist this year.  It was shocking that she had some build-up since she's soooo great with us while we are brushing her teeth (sarcasm).  I initiated the Dentist conversation with her Pediatrician.  When i asked if she had anyone she would recommend that I take Rae to, you can imagine my surprise when she named MY dentist for 18 years - DR BUZZ!  Beyond the fact that I never thought about him having a life outside of the walls of his practice in Savannah, I never imagined he would still be practicing....down the street in Franklin, TN! 

The Dentist story is a long one.  Suffice it to say that - It was so fun to see Dr Buzz again.  He remembered me immediately...even called me by my maiden name and asked how my parents and brother were.  The visit wasn't all rainbows and roses - Rae was a nightmare (nightmare.  hated it.  screamed bloody murder.  angry.  red faced.  awful).  But, she has no buildup a

Check out Dr Buzz's ride

Playing in the waiting room

Is saying everything. Names her friends at school. Calls Maggie and Hannah by name. Repeats everything we say. Puts together phrases and words “uh da stas” (up the stairs), “Bye Bye Ga b-bee”, "Uh oh, Nigh Nigh", "Go Pot-tee, Gab-bee", “No No Gab-bee”, “Hey Ma ma”. No is now “nope”.

Loves "aaaaaaat" (art), to "cuudur", (color) and to hold a "pin" (pen) in her hand while pretending to "wuuk" (work). If she witnesses anyone using a pen, she immediately begins screaming "PIN! PIN! PIN! PEEES PEEES PEEES"

Has become a big fan of "wa ter" (she says this soo clearly). She asks for it more now than she asks for milk. 
She also likes playing with water bottles:

Is facing the front in the car seat now.  She loves it.



Would 'Ring Around the Rosies' all day long if you'd let her.  And she wants everyone in the room to participate.  Always.  As soon as we 'all fall down', she looks at us and says 'agiiiin'.

Still loves kitchen play, going on picnics, and feeding her baby.  I'm pretty sure I know what this is going to mean for Christmas this year...

Loves playing with mommy's 'gasses'

Has gotten really good at snacking 'on the go'.  Here she is with daddy, taking a pit stop at the zoo:

Speaking of the zoo, we took her on her first trip to the Nashville Zoo this past month.  The amount of pictures is obnoxious.  Posting just a few and one video of her favorite part of the zoo (the GOATS!)

Meerkats were a fave

"Daddy, can you see that meerkat?!?"

Waving to the gorilla

Clapping for the elephants

Clapping for the monkeys

Pointing at the tigers

Posing with the flamingos

Unsure about the giraffes

Looking for those meerkats again

Petting the goat

Finding the meerkats again

Ready to go home

Got bit for the first time at school this month. I can't even tell you how hard this was on Chuck. He wasn't prepared for this at all. Not that my heart is made of stone, but I didn't have as much of a hard time with it. I think it was because I knew it was bound to happen. That was until the biting became excessive...by one child in particular. He was little chomping on every kid EVERY day. It was rough for a while. But, it's over...for now anyway. Luckily, Rae hasn't chewed on anyone at school...just on us a few times at home - great.

Loves to sing and do the motions to her favorite songs: Bumble Bee, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Itsy Bitsy Spider, and Row Row Row Your Boat.

Raegan has also started being a really good helper.  Follows directions...and we take total advantage.  A good distraction from her doing something she's not supposed to be doing is to ask her to 'help' with something; She feels like such a big girl!  "Rae, can you please put your shoes on the stairs so we can take them up later?"  "Let's put up your bath toys so they are nice and dry for next time."

"Will you please help me decorate for fall?"  

BIG helper: 

De De and Pop Pop introduced Rae to box play this month.  While Chuck and I were in San Antonio for our anniversary, they sent pictures of Rae playing in boxes.  I forgot about it until I got a box in the mail, opened it, left it in the living room for a minute while I put the contents away....only to return and find this:

Has started getting a few little treats off mine and Chuck's plates.  Her favorite?  Bread and chocolate.  Shocking...

Thinks she owns her school. Wants to "wwaaaak" as soon as we get inside. And, immediately - without fail - she starts swinging that left arm (JUST her left one, and it's bent) while she runs down the hallways. I spend the mornings and the afternoons chasing her. That's before we get into the lobby where she wants to go behind Ms Marissa and Ms Liz's desks and get some special treatment...which, they give to her. Always. Rotten. Finally, she throws out an 18 syllable "Biiiiiiiieeeee" and we're on our way.

Chuck has realized that Rae is so great at understanding what we say, that he has recently put her to work.  His favorite request - 'Rae, will you please rub daddy's back?'  So sweet.

Our friends, Sean and Hannah, came into town this month for Chuck's golf member/guest tournament.  Lots of golf for the boys.  Lots of shopping/nails/and football watching for the girls!  Hannah taught Raegan so many things - including, but not limited to: how to say "Roll Tide, Roll!", how to get extremely frustrated at referees (i.e. face in hands accompanied by a huge sigh), and 'Push 'em back' cheer!  Now, every time we watch football, I'll say "push 'em back, push 'em back, waaayyy back!"  Raegan will inevitably start doing the arm motions and will then say "Han - nah!  Han - nah!"

Loved cuddling with Mr. Sean...wanted him to put her down that night instead of mommy or daddy...

I can't believe how time flies.  When trying to think back on what she was doing at 17 months, now that we're well into the 21st month, I couldn't believe how difficult it was to remember.  It makes me sad. 

I actually started packing up her old things...toys, clothes, etc...and storing them in order to make more space in her room and playroom.  I cried.

However, I know how blessed we are.  This is life.  It goes by quickly.  I'm grateful for the reminder of that.  I can say now that Months 17 and 18 were awesome - but 19 - 21 were even better. :)  Blog updates in progress.  2011 is a year of no overpromising and underdelivering...so I'm making no promises on when the updates will be posted.

In the meantime, let it be known that yesterday, 12/28/10, Raegan went potty in the big girl potty.  I was NOT prepared for that...haven't read up on anything 'potty-related'.  She's way ahead of me.  Suggestions for tactics, potty seats, rewards/no rewards are WELCOME! :)