The Birthday Bash

We were very impressed with the WC Blair Recreation Centre that hosted Reagan's birthday party last year, so we decided to use them again this year. We were not disappointed! Everyone had such a good time. Miss Sam was the party leader (she is Reagan's teacher in the arts and crafts class we take on Mondays) and she had plenty of toys and games for the kids to play. She even prepared a couple of craft tables for the kids to color and use the dabbers to make their own Mickey Mouse ears. We sang songs, danced, and literally ran around like crazy people! But of course, everyone's favorite part of the play time was the PARACHUTE! Over, under, round and round. Reagan loved every minute of it! She was running around saying "Happy Birthday" and "I'm two!" We then moved into a different room for pizza, cake, ice cream and presents. Those kids worked up an appetite playing so hard... they devoured the pizza! Reagan did a great job of blowing out her candles all by herself. She got lots of amazing presents... I didn't think I was going to ever get her to stop playing with them long enough to get her ready to go to bed! And of course we had balloons. Tons of balloons. Everyone laughed and said that Reagan was going to fly away because she wanted to hold them ALL. It was a super fun day... we can't wait to do it again next year! HAPPY BIRTHDAY REAGAN!

I Love My Daughter

When we were getting in the car after gymnastics today, Reagan looked at me and said, "Mommy, I'm happy!" Then she gave me the biggest hug and kiss. I can't begin to describe to you in words the feeling of my heart swelling with love. It was the same as the moment when Dr. Abrahams first placed her in my arms the day she was born. There have been many of those moments over the last two years... daily dozens it seems. I never knew how much she would change my life. I have learned things about myself that I never realized before. I always thought that IF I ever had kids, I would have just one. I love being a mother so much now that I think I could have ten. I do realize the cost to raise children now-a-days, so we will probably keep it down to just two or three! Maybe four if I can convince Ryan!!! Yes, we have plans for more children in the future, but I am enjoying Reagan way too much right now to share her. It may sound crazy to you, but my daughter is my best friend. I can hope and dream that the relationship that she and I have right now will never change, but I am fully aware that "Gilmore Girls" is just a television show and that not all mother and daughters remain best friends for their entire lives. I can tell you that my other best friend is my mother, so I do hold out hope! Yep, one best friend 30 years younger than me, and one 30 years older. But I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't get me wrong... I have friends my own age! But I have discovered that my family is my life. That is one of the many things my daughter has made easier for me to see. Yes, I am a bit nostalgic right now as Reagan has turned two. I think that she can sense that she is growing up too fast and wants to hold onto being my baby as long as she can as well. She has been a lot more cuddly the past few days, which I have thoroughly enjoyed. Every hug, every kiss, every back rub, every arm pat, every smile are all tucked safely away into the corners of my heart so that my heart is full. I feel so thankful and blessed to have Reagan. It sounds so simple to say, but the feelings are stronger than I ever knew possible... I love my daughter.

Happy Birthday Dear Reagan

She's Two! I can not believe that it has been two years already. My baby is growing up WAY too fast! We will have a big birthday bash on Saturday, but we had to let her open a few presents on her actual birthday. Thank you Momsey and Pops for spoiling her rotten. She LOVES her first bike. And she was such a good helper to Ryan with putting it together. He couldn't have done it without her!

So Tired

She's plays wide open all day, and then she crashes. As you can see, it sometimes doesn't matter where she is. One minute Ryan is flying her around the house in her basket... the next minute she is asleep!

It's Been Awhile...

Yes, yes, I know. It has been awhile since I posted new pictures of Reagan. We have been super busy, and I have PLENTY of pictures to prove it. So get ready... I've got a month and a half of catching up to do! So scroll on down to check it out. I'll start with the Easter pictures and work my way back up to the present! Enjoy!

Who is That?

The fact that Reagan turns two this week has prompted Ryan and I to pull out our baby books and compare pictures of us at that age. HOLY COW! HE LOOKED LIKE A GIRL! He is the spitting image of Reagan, or Reagan is the spitting image of him at that age. Regardless of how you look at it, they could pass for twins. It's unreal. If I didn't know better, I would think that this is a picture of Reagan... not a 30-something year old picture of Ryan. WOW!

Chuck E Cheese

Since it was cold enough to SNOW IN THE MIDDLE OF APRIL this week, we needed a fun indoor activity to do. We took Reagan for dinner at Chuck E Cheese, and boy did she have fun. She rode on the carousel, rode a gigantic horse, went down the slide over and over again, and let her hair go wild from the static. By the end of the night, she could put the tokens in each machine by herself! She told each ride goodbye before we could leave, and we promised that we would go back to play again one day. Hopefully it won't be because it's snowing in the middle of July, but I'm beginning to think it could happen around here!

Hagrid the Owl

We ended our fun day at the zoo with a personal visit with Hagrid the Owl. Ryan was brave enough to do the honors of holding him while we posed for our picture. It really was a spectacular day!

Reagan's Favorite

The donkey was by far Reagan's favorite animal at the zoo. And he really liked her too. He loved it when she would rub his head and back, and it was the cutest thing when she gave him a kiss. A little dirty, but still adorably cute!

One Hump or Two?

I for one have never seen a camel before, and I never realized just how big they are. Especially compared to Reagan!

Let Me In!

Reagan was practically climbing though the fence trying to get to the reindeer!

From Hippos to Bears

The Vancouver Zoo has a little bit of it all. We were really impressed, and we will definitely go back again. Ryan liked the bear the best, but I was a bit partial to the hippos. I think it has something to do with that Hippopotamus song that was so popular in BC a couple of Christmases ago. If you know it, then you're singing it right now I'm sure!

The Ugly Duckling Becomes a Swan

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

Reagan loved the swans, especially when they would "honk"!

Elegant Giraffes

These giraffes were beautiful. Even Reagan was a bit mesmerized by them. There were two adults and a baby, so I am assuming that they were a family. It was really cool to watch Reagan as she took in all these exotic animals for the first time.

Fun Times at the Zoo!

The first weekend that we were back home in BC, Ryan took Reagan and I to the Vancouver Zoo for a fun and SUNNY afternoon. Reagan loved seeing all the animals, and she finally got to ride on a train!

The Last Picture

This was a perfect picture to be the last picture from our trip to the East Coast this time. I mentioned several times on different posts from the trip how much Mary Jane Coward helped us with providing fun toys and crafts for Reagan. She and her husband, Buddy, came to visit the last night that we were in town. Reagan had Mr. Buddy wrapped around her little finger almost instantly. And he was very excited to read "Goodnight Moon" for what was probably the 1000th time in his life!

Snuggling with Pops

I was sneaky enough to take this picture before Reagan tried to strike a pose! This was taken the day before Reagan & I left to go back home, and I think Pops was trying to get in as much snuggling as he could so that it would last him until the next time we see each other. Reagan was content to lay back and relax with him for close to an hour that day... that is unusual for this little girl who never stops to sit still. Thankfully, Pops nor Momsey will have to wait for very long to get more snuggle time with Reagan. Ryan, Reagan and I are excited to join them in Phoenix, Arizona this June to go to the Grand Canyon and to then motor home with them across the western US to Bodega Bay, California. I know that it will be a fun-filled two weeks of travel!

Weston

One of mommy's dear childhood friends, Elizabeth, came by for a visit with her youngest son Weston. Reagan was so happy to have a playmate for the afternoon, and I was so happy to spend time with my old playmate!