The garden grows :)

When I went outside yesterday to check on my plants, I discovered that the tomatoes are already starting to produce! There are four tiny tomatoes growing on the cherry tomato plant, and all of the other plants are flowering like crazy. The Big Boy tomato plant is already almost as tall as its stake. My yummy tomato sandwich is getting closer and closer...

Beach Trip

On Saturday, we decided it was high time the Reese's went to the beach. The proximity to the beach is one of the saving graces of Jacksonville, and we had yet to go for a day trip. So, Chad hopped on his bike, and Nathan and I hopped into our car, and we all met at the beach. The trip was an easy one by car of only thirty minutes from our driveway to parking at the beach, including getting stuck in traffic from our neighborhood day of yard sales. Even by bike it was quite doable, taking under two hours.

The weather was glorious - upper 70s and sunny with a light breeze. The water was frigid - Nathan cried anytime a wave hit him. But other than the cold water, it was a fabulous day. Several dogs came by to say hello, and he thought he'd died and gone to heaven when they licked his face. Nathan played in the sand and crawled all over the place. Several nice ladies had dug a wading pool for their girls, and they invited us over to play. Nathan loved the warmer water and even tried to drink it. His faces were hysterical as he realized salt water doesn't taste good, and yet he tried it twice more. We had a nice picnic lunch, headed out, bought some delicious strawberries from a produce stand, and were at home unpacked by two in the afternoon. All in all, a very successful day that will be repeated many more times this summer and in summers to come. Sadly, we left the camera at home, but here are some pictures from last summer at the beach. Imagine Nathan taller and thinner, but still in the same swimsuit.

We've also added lots of new pictures to Picasa, so check the link to the right. Enjoy!

Silly Nathan

Nathan has been developing a few new favorite things to do. Heaven forbid we get bored with looking at the dogs next door and crawling around the yard all day long. Of late, he's been having fun smashing his face against the screen door and "helping" mom cook dinner. At least his new activities make for great pictures.

Bath time

Nathan and Chad take baths just about every evening before bed. Nathan loves his bathtime. He loves to play with his beloved Da-da, bubbles, water, toys, and everything else associated with bathtime. He has even mastered putting his face in the water and blowing bubbles - Day 1 of swimming lessons accomplished. He loves a good bath.

One morning last week, as Nathan was finishing up his breakfast, he started saying "Ba! Ba!" I wasn't quite sure what he meant, but I figured that when he got down, he'd crawl over to whatever "Ba!" was and all would be made clear. So, once he got down, he beelined it straight to our bathroom, where the beloved bathtub is. The "Ba! Ba!" grew in volume as he approached the tub - apparently it means bath. Then he tried to turn on the water and climb in. At 10:30 in the morning. I guess when you're fifteen months old, the word later means nothing.

Tomatoes

Chad and I both love fresh produce from the garden. Tomatoes in particular taste so much yummier when they've been picked recently, as compared to our Chilean tomatoes at Wal-Mart. One day, we'll have a nice, large garden to grow lots of tasty fruits and vegetables. As renters, though, it's hard to put all the time and effort into making a garden, especially given the poor soil here on the coast and the upcoming arrival of Reese baby #2. So, for the time-being, we are container gardeners. Last weekend, I planted our first tomatoes in their new homes, and the flowers are beginning to bud. I'm already dreaming of tomato sandwiches and salads...

Nathan's trip

So, Nathan is still a non-walker. He scoots along furniture fabulously, can pull himself up onto almost any piece of furniture we own, and even occasionally will stand up all by himself for brief periods of time with a very proud of himself look on his face. Nathan can walk when using your fingers for stabilization and support. But, no solo walking yet. He turned 15 months this past weekend. At this stage, I'm just hoping he figures it out by the time New Baby, as we affectionately call her, comes in September.

Last week, Chad went home teaching before Nathan had finished his dinner. When he got down from his high chair, he made it clearly known that it was not yet bedtime and that he wanted to go play outside. He was right - it wasn't bedtime yet, so we went outside. After paying a visit to the dogs next door and pulling flowers off the azalea bush, we started "walking" around the driveway, with Nathan using my fingers for help. Then, Nathan decided it was time to go find Da-da.

So, we went for a walk. We walked down our driveway and out into the street (we live on a cul-de-sac with no traffic - he was perfectly safe with me). Every few feet, he would excitedly squeal "Da-da!" fully expecting to see Chad any second. When we got to the end of our street, without hesitating, he turned onto the next road, making all the correct turns to, in fact, go find Da-da. We almost made it to the next intersecting street before he ran out of gas. He really thought that if we kept walking, we'd be able to find Da-da and all would be well with his little world. Ah, the innocent determination of the young...

The Big Announcement

No, we're not moving (yet). And when we do, it will just be to buy a home years from now. We're staying in Jacksonville. I finally live less than half an hour from the beach - do you really think I'd leave that???

No, Chad is keeping his job. He loves it and the people with whom he works. The patients, well, somedays he likes them and somedays he doesn't. But there are usually good stories out of it either way, at a bare minimum. Plus, for the first time in our married life, we are NOT living off of loans but off of his paycheck. It's a milestone in a young couple's life. Most people hit it before 30. Not us...

But yes, we are expecting a baby :) Baby Reese #2 will be making her debut in early/mid September. And yes, we are having a girl. We are all excited, though poor Nathan has no idea of the massive changes that are about to rock his sweet little world. I'm not so looking forward to being truly pregnant all summer long here in the South. And Chad's not so looking forward to having to deal with a teenage daughter. But we really are excited for our upcoming arrival and all that she will bring with her. And there will finally be pink at our house, not just blue and doggies!