Reed's birthday celebrations

On Reed's birthday we had a lovely day together, taking our regular nice long walk in the middle of the day and then eating lunch while watching Scandal. On the night of his birthday we went to the boys' favorite ice cream place. Then we celebrated his birthday with our family on Sunday, May 8. I was going to make him a cake, but that half of a cake leftover from Theo's party was just sitting there, so I decided to start Reed on the tradition of hand-me-downs he is sure to enjoy for many more years to come.

On our walk

Eating birthday ice cream at Gannons 

Reed also enjoyed opening presents for his birthday. His brothers swiped the first present he opened, from Auntie Alexis, a super cool seacopter that they commandeered for their own use, but Reed enjoys his animal bath toys--especially putting them in a box, and taking them out of a box.

The big boys got in some good wrestling and tickling with Grandpa Greg.

Reed LOVES cake, as it turns out.

May birthday party #1

When I started talking to the boys about their birthdays, each wanted to invite friends from their (separate) classes. But just as soon as we talked about who to invite, the other complained about how he didn't want so-and-so (his brother's friend) at his birthday party. It became pretty apparent that we were going to have to have two parties, one for each of the boys and his friends from school. Plus the party we are having with our family and some friends both boys share on the actual birthday, plus a celebration for Reed, plus of course dear old forgotten Grandpa Stu and his forgotten birthday on the same day the boys happened to have been born five years ago. Oh, plus I'm bringing in treats for both of them on May 20, the day before their birthday, for their classmates to enjoy. So altogether that's about 7 birthday celebrations in the next two weeks. Bring on the cake!

Theo's friends Louca, Nathan and Johnny playing in the bounce house and in the yard.

Reed one-year well child visit

Reed's one-year pediatrician visit stats

22 pounds, 9 ounces (46th percentile)
28.8 inches (18th percentile)
18.3 head circumference (53rd percentile)

There's a new nurse at the pediatrician's office and I don't think she understands how to measure babies. One time she measured him as shorter than the last visit. No one seems to care but my guess is he's taller than she measured him.

Also: two "raging" ear infections, which appear to be persistent for the last eight weeks or so. We've moved up to Augmentin, as the others we've tried haven't worked, and we have an ENT appointment set up for June.

Big boys' stats at one year pediatrician visit: http://teamlovebo.blogspot.com/2012/05/one-year-observations.html

This is Reed gazing at his Daddy while he reads books to the older boys (note Beckett yelling at Daddy to start reading)

Cinco de Mayo in the 'hood

One of those moments when I wouldn't trade where we live for anywhere else. About a month ago, a neighbor with a food truck decided to put a Cinco de Mayo party together for the neighborhood. Last Thursday more than 100 people came out for backyard margaritas from a giant water cooler, a Mexican food truck, a wood fired pizza food truck, a Gannons ice cream cart, and lots  of lots of good neighborly times. I love our neighborhood! This was on the next block up from our house.

Reed is one!

Favorite toys are the toys that belong to his brothers.

He's so excited to be up at the train table with Theo, watching him play.

A rare moment of compatible playing with Beckett at the Batcave. What is happening is that Reed is sticking his hand through the hole, and Beckett is operating the switch that shuts it on Reed's hand. So Beckett has the chance to be aggressive and violent toward Reed, but in a way that Reed finds funny, not painful. The best possible play.

Fire truck fun

Last Saturday we happened upon the firefighters testing out their hoses and ladders on a beautiful day. They had their pumper truck hooked up to the fire hydrant, pumping water to the ladder truck, where there were two firefighters high up shooting water over the lake from the bucket and another firefighter shooting water from another hose. This is actually the second time we have seen this practice at our lake, but it is very impressive each time!