We've Been Exploring...

We've been spending most weekends since we got down here exploring what there is to do here in Cleveland. For starters, we've joined the YMCA which motivates John and I to actually exercise (surprisingly we have been going M-F) plus there are some fun things for Reagan to do there. We've spent the last couple Friday nights at open swim. It really is open swim, as we are typically almost the only people there. The less people that have to see us in our swimsuits the better I always say though! With that said, I'll post pictures of John and Reagan swimming! There are some benefits to being the one writing the blog and choosing the pictures.

Swimming with Daddy! She isn't to sure about being on her back!

She likes using the noodle!

Climbing out!

We've signed her up for swim lessons that start next week. We'll see how that goes because 30 minutes is a little past her tolerance of the water.

Also, the last two weekends, we've headed down to Chattanooga and hit up the Aquarium and the Children's Museum. We went to one each weekend because there is no way we are attempting to go to both places in the same day, unless we are in the mood for some serious crabbiness. Probably more so from me, than from Reagan! She is like the Energizer bunny!

Both places were really neat. We didn't have time to get through the whole aquarium before lunch time, but we did get passes so we are looking forward to heading down there again. As a side note, I have apparently been to this aquarium before as a kid, but like most of my childhood, I must have blocked it out because I don't remember ever going there! It was pretty dark inside the aquarium so we didn't get a whole lot of pictures, but I'll share a few we did take.

Checking out the butterfly exhibit with Mommy!

Looking at the butterflies that are about to hatch!

We momentarily considered leaving her in the shark cage! :)

Apparently they both forgot where I was and looked at some stranger to have their picture taken!

I'll save our visit to the Children's Museum for the next post. This one is already getting a little long, plus I don't want to use all my good stuff on one post :)

There Is A First For Everything...

I have to admit...I haven't been the best at documenting all of Reagan's "firsts". I wish I was and I really am going to try and get better at it. Not that anyone reading this will probably be that interested in them and I doubt Reagan will ask,"When did I...". I just feel like it is something I should be documenting as a Mom. So what interesting first did I choose to document on the blog...Reagan using utensils to eat for the first time! That is, if you don't count the times she has taken the baby spoon away from me and put it in her mouth as I am trying to feed her. This was the first time she used a utensil her size on her own though! I probably should have given her utensils before now because she has become quite efficient at shoveling food in her mouth with her hands. Sometimes the food even gets into her mouth instead of on the floor, in her chair or all over her clothes! Using utensils seem to just slow her down though, and there isn't anything Reagan does slow! She uses the fork or spoon to take a few bites, but quickly realizes it takes time and some skill to get the food on the utensil and into her mouth (without the food falling off). I should also mention that Reagan doesn't have much patience ( a trait I am sure she got from her daddy :) ) so she quickly reverts back to using her hands when she gets frustrated by the utensil. Oh well, I'm sure she will figure it out eventually, and if not we'll be the family that you stare at when you are at the restaurant and say "I can't believe they let their daughter eat like that. Didn't they ever teach her manners!" We don't mind being your entertainment! I'll add a few pictures for your enjoyment. That is, if you were actually able to read this entire post that was really much too long to just be about Reagan learning to use utensils!!!



Yes, she is actually trying to use the fork!



Why use a fork, when your hands are easier and you can just hold the fork!



When all else fails...just eat like this!

Changes, Changes, Changes...

Change is never easy, at least not for me, but change is what seems to be a constant in our lives right now. Obviously one change is the start of this blog. I figured with us being away from friends and family it would be a good way to keep everyone up to date on what we are doing. That is, if I can keep it updated! I thought it would also be a good way for myself to keep track of things we have done! Don't expect the posts to be too exciting, most will probably just be about Reagan. She is much cuter and interesting than us anyways, but there might be a rare occasion where I post something John or I are up to!

The biggest change is our recent move to Cleveland, TN. John took a new job here in July. Reagan and I stayed behind in Cincinnati while we waited for our house to sell. No one enjoyed being apart, so we were very happy when our house sold and Reagan and I were able to come down to Cleveland permanently. We were able to make the move over Labor Day weekend. It feels much better to have our family back together! With the move to a new town comes all the changes of finding new doctors, dentists, etc. Also, I never knew how many places had our address until I started changing them. Maybe that is another reason why I'm not a big fan of moving. Although we are all here in Cleveland, the moving isn't over yet! We are currently living in a temporary furnished apartment until we close on our house here. That means most of our stuff is in storage, but luckily we haven't found too many things that got put away in storage that we need now. Hopefully we will be moving into our new house in a couple months and then I can do the whole address change thing again!!

With our recent move to Cleveland, I also got a new job. I get to stay home with Reagan and anyone who knows her, knows that she is definitely my boss and in control! I really enjoyed my old job so leaving it was bittersweet. I enjoyed being a part of a "group", but I also feel very fortunate to be able to spend more time with Reagan while she is still little. I know this time will go much faster than I like so I am trying to enjoy every moment I get to spend with Reagan. Now we just have to discover what kind of fun things we can find to do in this new town.

I think that is enough change for me for awhile. I'll leave you with one (not so recent) picture of Reagan just because she is so cute. I really have to get better at taking more pictures!