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I keep getting hounded by a certain someone because I don't post enough entries about Reese.  So here goes...

Here's a few things you should know about my sweet 16 and a half month old...

She's quite the 'mean mugger'.

She loves stuffed animals and cuddling.  She'll flail her big leg over my lap, holding at least 2 animals, and get nice and comfy.

She's hard to keep up with.  One example...She'll sneak into the bathroom, grab a bunch of stuff from the trash can, and toss it into the toilet.  Another example...I have to lock everyone into the waiting room at Davis' therapy clinic because she likes to escape and run out into the parking lot.  And another...at a birthday party on Sunday, we lost sight of her.  We looked and looked and looked all over.  She had shut herself into the baby's room and was eating baby wipes.

Speaking of bathrooms - She loves toothbrushes and toothpaste.  I let her out of my sight for a couple minutes the other day and she had spread toothpaste all over our sofa.

She's obsessed with 'bubbies'.  She insists on wearing my bra around the house and if I'm really lucky, she'll pull my shirt down in public to try and get a glimpse of mine.

She loves to dance and twirl around.  It's my most favorite thing about her. 

Here are a couple new additions to her wardrobe.

She's fluent in the 'huh' language.  She never stops babbling, but we can't understand a word of it.

She loves her friendship bracelet.

She already throws really dramatic, frightening fits.  You know she means business when she tenses up her entire body (all the way to her fingertips and toes) and lets out a blood curdling squeal.

She LOVES to be outside.  Loves, loves, loves it.

Everything she touches goes into her mouth.  Dog treats.  Paper.  Acorns.  Matchbox cars.  Dirty socks.  Outlet protectors.  You name it.

Every time I look at her, I see this.  Why, oh why, is she growing up so fast?!?!  WHY?!?! 

Baseball

We really wanted to try 'normal' baseball league with Davis and were extremely nervous about how it was going to go.  He had his first practice on Tuesday night and it went really well.  The coaches are awesome.  They seemed really interested in learning about Davis' disability and let us know that they planned on treating him the same way they treat the rest of the boys.  Some of the kids asked why he ran the way he did and one of the coaches quickly put an end to the questioning.  He told us that he didn't want to leave any opportunity to put Davis on the spot and make him explain himself. 

Once I left practice, I had a big fear.  It wasn't that Davis can't run to first base as fast as the rest of the kids or that he can't throw, catch, or hit the ball as well as them.  It was that the other parents and the coaches might wonder why we would put Davis in this league.  And this came solely from my own insecurities. 

One of Justin's concrete sales reps works for one of the coaches and when Justin called him about it, he had really comforting things to say.  The coach told his employee that he was so pumped to have Davis on his team - that he felt like he was put on his team 'for a reason'.  He said he went home and told his wife that he wished the other boys had half the heart that Davis has for the game.  He thinks Davis is going to change people and really be a blessing for the whole league.  How about them apples?!?!  

I'll probably go through his entire life bearing the burden of fears like these.  And that's ok.  I know that Justin and I are doing the right thing.  And we'll never keep him from experiencing the stuff boys should experience just because of his Cerebral Palsy.  It's better to throw him out into the world, rather than hide him from it because he's a special boy and has a huge purpose! 

Now, I'm confident in knowing that he has a right to be there and I look forward to the rest of the season! 

Addition and Subtraction

We got a new puppers yesterday!  He's a two year old (really, he's 2...only my close pals will get that) sealed reverse brindle boxer and we lubbers him all the days and nights.  I posted an ad on Craigslist Friday night, a man named Justin from Covington called me in response to it on Saturday afternoon, and we picked him up yesterday morning. 

We've spent the last couple weeks looking for a boxer.  For one reason or another, it wasn't working out...mostly, we were being very picky.  Some of our veto reasons...it didn't have its tail docked, it was mixed with a pitbull, heartworm positive, too old, too young, too 'funny looking' (seriously.  how vain are we???), etc.  Last Wednesday, we met a 10 month old female sealed reverse brindle boxer and fell madly in love with her.  She was beautiful.  The people that came and looked at her after us brought their boxer and it was a done deal.  We lost and were so bummed out.  It also added to our 'must have' list.  I was, after that, on a mission to find a sealed reverse brindle. 

And the puppy fairy granted our overly unnecessary and ridiculously picky wishes with this perfect little boy, 'Tux' (his name was 'Tank', but we were out on that).  He needs to be neutered, but through the SPOT Program, we can have that done for about $40 at most vets.  He's also a little 'skiddish' and 'high anxiety', if you will.  I know he's had a stressful couple months (moving from a home into an apartment, watching his 2 brothers get sent away, and then moving in with a whole new family.  We're hoping he gets settled soon.  :)

What's the subtraction, you ask?

Big Wooder Davis lost his very, first tooth yesterday!  Such a big deal in the kid raising world!  He came running out of his room this morning, holding 3 crisp $1 bills.  He was so excited.  "I didn't even see her because she's so small."