Little Reagan...

Reagan keeps telling me that she was a little tiny baby when she was "boring".....think she means "born"??

Ode to my Geoffrey....

today's our THIRTEEN year anniversary.....here's just a few reasons why I love my Geoffrey.

1. He loves God...and tries to do His will.
2. He never stops trying to make me laugh.
3. He's very humble.
4. He's way handsome.
5. He'll let the kids wrestle with him, even after working a 24 hour shift.
6. He's a great kisser.
7. He's the smartest person I know.
8. He gets embarassed when people do stupid things on television.
9. He's not afraid to cry.
10. He loves to drive our minivan.
11. He doesn't complain that the air conditioning no longer works in EITHER of his cars.
12. He's quirky.
13. He has an awesome vocabulary.
14. He's not afraid to carry my purse for me in public.
15. His idea of a great day at work is being able to pray with a patient before they have their surgery.
16. He's been through his share of hard "stuff"...but isn't bitter or resentful.
17. He tells me I'm beautiful....even when I look scary.
18. He realizes what really matters.....and reminds me of that when I lost perspective.
19. He's respectful.
20. His favorite job was driving the "short bus".
21. He painted my toes...and shaved my legs for me while I was pregnant.
22. He pawned his guitar and amp while we were in highschool to take me to my prom.
23. I've known him for half my life.
24. He gets better the longer I know him.
25. He teaches the kids about God...and forgiveness.
26. He lets me pick out his clothes, shoes, glasses...etc.
27. He lets me decorate the house the way I want to...and tells me how great it looks.
28. He never wants a present for any holidays....always tells me to use the money to "get something for the kids"
29. He appreciates me and values that I stay home with our three children.
30. He likes to mow the lawn...and worries if it doesn't look as green as Randy's....and digs up the dandelions compulsively.
31. He watered my flowers all summer long while I was pregged out...even though they're really not "his thing".
32. He's a hugger.
33. He never complains about spending time with my side of the family.
34. He takes the kids with him if he's running to the store.
35. He helps out around the house....usually.
36. He's hilarious.
37. He loves people.
38. He's dreamy.
39. He has little brown spots in his green eyes.
40. He thinks of others.
41. He gives great back rubs.
42. He loves his mom.
43. He's down to earth.
44. He has great hands.
45. He's quick to say "I'm sorry"
46. He's quick to say "I love you"
47. He's a great daddy.
48. He lets me drive the good car...always.
49. He cares about how I feel.
50. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Greyson Andrew...some more

Awesome to see this kid's working on some thighs already! Gotta love it...

Four Weeks Old!

Here's the little man on his fourth week birthday! He celebrated by heading to Kohl's with me and Reago...eating..and napping (in the downstairs....huge rain storm...thunder and lightning....AGAIN!) Last night he made somewhat of an attempt to sleep through the night. He woke me up (big time grunter) but then didn't want to eat...too sleepy. I consider it a start!

First day of First Grade...which was actually Monday

Brooks with Mrs. Martin on the first day of school....he comes home each day with a huge grin from ear to ear. I think he's likin' it...although it's tough to get much info out of a six year old boy. I need to make friends with one of the girls in his class...they tell all! :)

Yesterday while I was feeding Greyson (aka nursing) Reagan had her dolls out and was playing with them. I looked up to see her lifting her shirt and tucking it into her chin. She had a look of great concentration as she then pinched together her belly button area..and proceeded to "feed" her dolly. She told me she was thirsty........

Brooks.....

Brooks told Geoff yesterday that sometimes his "toots are hot!"......he wondered if they were "fever toots?"

We're a disgusting bunch.

Saturday Afternoon Snooze

This is what I came downstairs to this afternoon....couldn't resist the photo-op!

Two WEEKS in.....

Yes...yesterday Greyson was officially two weeks old. I had visions of dressing him up all cute-like in some adorable little outfit and posting it. Well..I didn't.
Anyways...here's an update, sans photo:

He eats like...every two hours..sometimes three.

He poops aLOT! and wets all the time, too.

He still continues to make ridiculous faces. For instance, he puckers up his lips alll the time, and looks like he's going to kiss something, or like maybe he's practicing whistling? All the while, he has the most serious look on his face it's a little sobering. Brooks and Reagan continue to ADORE him! Brooks held him for about 45 min. yesterday. He just kept looking at his little hands and body..and telling him how cutey he was! Reagan likes to give him lots of pats..but only wants to hold him for seconds.......cause he's sooo "heavy"!

He's a good little kid. Wish he liked his pacifier. (makes him gag!...what's up with that?) I just can't believe it's already been two weeks (and one day)

Friday night "tent night" at the Taylor household. And Geoff's OFF this weekend! things are lookin' good.

Brooks and Reagan with Greyson

Just in case anyone was wondering. Yes, Greyson IS the easiest baby we've had so far. I can't believe how blessed we are to have a HEALTHY and happy baby. Sounds cliche....but when you've had different...you see where the cliche came from! Today's the first day Geoff had to return to work..and of course they started him off with a bang......24 hour shift. Those dirty rats! So far, so good. Reagan's decked out in her dragon costume..and Brooks is wearing his cape (also known as the throw from the upstairs couch). he's some sort of Rescue Hero.....or Spiderman guy...or something I don't quite "get" just yet. The Tigger movie's almost over...and I guess I'd best get upstairs cause Senor Greyson will soon be waking for some eats!
ttfn

Yes, He's actually here!!!

Greyson Andrew Taylor arrived at 8:56 on Thursday, July 26th.

He weighed in at 7 pounds, 10 ounces.....and he measured 19 inches in the hospital...and 21 inches two days later at the doctor's office. (exact science that baby measuring...hmmm..curious)

He's doing GREAT! Really...it's such a blessing to have a HEALTHY baby!!! He's eating, sleeping, pooping, and making goofy baby faces like a champ! Brooks thinks he's very "darling and tender" (and then he asked me what tender meant) Reagan loves him and wants to help ALL the time! We're super blessed!

The night before..the night before

It's the night before the night before my scheduled C-Section to deliver this third and final Taylor baby. Of course I can't sleep! (when IS the last time I slept more than four hours in a row?) yes...Geoff's been snoring since like, 10! (no bitterness there) Anyways...sometimes I feel soo anxious to have this baby I could just burst!
Tomorrow's my birthday...and then babyday! What a danged exciting time. Pictures will follow....eventually, I swear.

Questions I get asked on a daily basis....

Mom.......?

Which is sharper....plastic...or the road??
Who's faster....a putt putt car....or a monster truck??
(I had to go with the mosnster truck....but then I got a "why"?)

Reagan wants to know when she can have a dog and a turle.....and also a camper!?

When's the baby going to be here?
When's grandma and grandpa going to be here?
Is that grandma on the phone?

11 More Days til Baby

So...
We've bought a tons of diapers....washed all the baby clothes....folded them, put them away....made up the crib (with the adorable quilt from Land of Nod..thanks mom!)......set out the monitor........stocked up on wipes, pacifiers, .....car seats ready......what else? Well....Brooks is worried that we haven't gotten any formula yet. (yes, I plan to breast feed). Any suggestions??? I tried to remind him about the dairy farm we visited with his kindergarten class last year :)

P.S. He made it all the way around the block today withOUT his training wheels...or Geoff holding on to him. Go Brooks!

Aunt Sandy

I received a phone call from my sister Kathy's cell phone on Father's Day afternoon. She stated that it was urgent..and I needed to call her back as soon as possible. Before hanging up the phone, her voice starting wavering, and she said, "Sandy's dead, call me!".

I had been unable to find my home phone, so I scrambled for my cell. "What?......Sandy Murphy?" You'd have to understand my aunt Sandy to realize how unbelievable it was that she could have possible been the Sandy in question. You see, Aunt Sandy is the type of woman who has probably never had a pedicure, going to the city meant driving probably twenty some miles to Bozeman to get groceries...or "feed" ..and even then she had to really hustle, because she couldn't wait to return back home to the "country". The woman has killed rattlesnakes with shovels for goodness sake! She butchered chickens (and could even stomach frying one for lunch the very same afternoon) This was not a high maintenance woman! I guess what I'm trying to convey...is that she was the softest "tough" woman I've ever known. She really had a tender heart. She cared, really cared for people. It was the genuine type of caring...the kind where you felt 100% acceptance and love from her, regardless of how "different" the two of you might be from each other. When I was a young girl visiting her farm in the summers during summer vacation, I misunderstood. I thought that what made going to stay at Aunt Sandy's so great was fact that she lived on the most amazing plot of land in America, and had the most incredible neighbors, house, husband and animals. I really wanted to live there, too! I even thought I wanted to marry a farmer.....just like my Aunt Sandy! (can't you just picture me?) I realize now that what really made my Aunt Sandy special... was the fact that she was completely content in the old trailer house that she lived in, her ordinary farm, animals, and long, bumpy dirt road, BECAUSE of her love for the LORD...not that she necessarily genuinely had the best of the best. (Uncle Nolan excluded...he very well may just be) She got it. She found joy. She wasn't wrapped up in driving the right car, having the right clothes, living in the greatest house, having the "right" friends. She was content....she loved what she already had..and blessed others so richly with it! She didn't have the best "things"...or even the easiest life....but what she did with what she had is such an amazing testimony of the fulfillment we can find when we get things right with God....and give our lives completely to Him. The life she led points to what really counts when the hospital is forty miles away, the cell phones are out of range for service, so there's no way to call for help while her tender heart struggled its last. I'm so grateful that my Aunt Sandy "got it". I want for my life to reflect that I "get it" too....

Lots have inquired about the door. My awesome neighbor, John..came over and got it open for us. (You rock, John!) He had to take the door knob off and everything...he wasn't even mad, God-love-'im!



Last day of VBS today...it's a bazillion degrees with 900% humidity.



WHY do we live in Iowa again?

Brooks started VBS today. They're having the theme of some spy stuff, and space ships...? something like that. Naturally, he's very thrilled with all of it.
Today's the first day that it's really felt like summer for me. It's humid, yes...not terrible stinky sweaty humid...just humid humid..where you know you're not in Montana anymore. I think we'd best put up the pool this afternoon when Reagan wakes up.
Brooks accidentally locked his bedroom door this morning. I told him to go CLOSE his door..and he came out and proclaimed that he'd locked it! At first he seemed quite proud of that fact...he'd never done this before...but then he quickly realized what it actually means.....I just hope Geoff gets off alot sooner than he was anticipating (midnight)..he's on call today...cardiovascular, pew!
Oh..and I buzzed Brooks' hair yesterday. I thought he'd think it was cool to have a new summer do. Oh.....I was SO wrong! The kid cried for over 45 minutes. Luckily Noah, a buddy from church had the same "do" at VBS today. I think he's beginning to realize there Is life after a bad haircut (I actually think it looks pretty much like it usually does..just shorter on top...what does a mom know though?)

anyone know how to unlock a bedroom door??? It does have a little hole in the doorknob....but i already tried the bobby pin method.....hmmm.......?

Camping with Aunt B and Uncle Yance

Celebration

So...
I'm extra happy, because tonight is the LAST night Geoff has to work overnight! (ok, at least for a month) I can't tell ya how much I miss him in the evening...and how tough it is to keep quiet during the day while he sleeps! (not me, Reagan, actually..)

P.S.
My belly's HUGE. I think this boy must weigh eight pounds already. yikes

Reaganisms....

1. Instead of singing "Jesus died for all the children"....Reagan belts out "Jesus diaper all the children"

2. Favorite things to do : "pick" roley poleys with Brooks in the driveway, play with her dinosaur (it's hideously scary...I'll try to take a pic and post it..yikes) jump off the back or arm of the couch. jump down the stairs, jump off just about anything that makes you get that sick feeling in your pelvis like your stomach's going to fall out through it somehow, watch "Land Before Time", buckle her own seatbelt, take a reallllly long bath, any reason to put on a swimming suit, take cars away from Brooks, eating icecream, or pudding, or meeyogurt (I don't know why she thinks it's called this) make lists of who's a boy, and who's a girl, "say a pray", eat "scum-betti" (known in some circles as spaghetti), show off her brother in her belly, talk on the phone, wait outside for daddy to come home, crawl in bed with mom and dad anywhere between 5-6 in the morning..., tell ya she loves ya..she's purty great.

waiting for the day...

Last night after tucking Reagan in bed, I was going through the usual ritual of putting Brooks to bed as well. We said our prayer, talked a little, and began the tucking process. Suddenly...Brooks remembered that there was something really important he had "meant to ask me". He lifted up his pj shirt..and began looking all around his belly. He exclaimed to me, "oh...shucks...I can't find them now!" He then lifted his shirt up just a bit higher and shouted out "Oh..there they are!... Mom, ..what are these?" I'm sure you can imagine that he had discovered his nipples. Gotta love being the mom of a six year old boy.....usually :)

Playin' in the yard...

Reagan thought it best to put her coat on since it was sprinkling...so she could "go on a worm hunt."

Brooks always finding a reason to "spray the lawn"..."it looks dry, mom!"

best thing ever...

So....

I came home from a much needed pedicure last night. It was 5:12 and we desperately needed to be IN the van, and ON our way to the big T-Ball game. I hollered upstairs to Geoffrey. "Are we ready??" Geoffrey then replies, "just a minute." I then hear Brooks' sincere little voice following after his dad's. "Please come into my heart, Jesus, and take away my sins."

Okay....I can be late for a T-Ball game for THIS! I can't think of a more incredible way to be welcomed home. What a treat to make it home just in time to listen in on my sweet Brooksie's most important decision.

Kick off to a blog attempt

So...

wow...alot of pressure posting a "first" blog. It's not like I've been sitting around just waiting for the this opportunity to share some great, incredibly brilliant thought or idea...or even just some fresh perspective....just starting a blog, because a friend of mine suggested that I have a place to show pics of this new baby...(as well as Brooks and Reagan, naturally) There ya have it.