Springing Forward

Yay! So much has been happening around here since my last update! First of all, we celebrated another major birthday-Jackson turned O-N-E!! Oh my! All of our Mississippi friends got "on board" and helped him celebrate a very happy first birthday! He is such a good boy-we filled the room with balloons, which is one of his favorite sights! (I think balloon may have been one of his top ten words-"Ba-oon!" ). The cake was super fun, he was a bit shy at first, but then after the first taste of sugar hit the taste buds, he dove right in! We did a time-capsule so that on his eighteenth birthday (2027), he will have a piece of history to unwrap. Our friends and family came up with the neatest ideas!! Since turning the big ONE, our little boy has kept us super busy! He has walked since 12 months, but has preferred crawling, climbing and cruising, till now.... We have a walker! His other favorite activities are playing outside on the slide, or in his car, strolling with us (while feverishly searching for a "do-dog"-another fav), dancing, emptying cabinets, taking baths, making mommy, daddy and sister laugh, and he has a ball in hand or is chasing one around the house at all times! He is also loves pushing cars and getting into whatever he can in Reagan's room! haha Jackson has a love for his paci's and is such a snuggler. He especially LOVES to give hugs! I just love watching Reagan and Jackson love on each other~!

Big Sister Reagan continues to blossom too! She has been taking gymnastics and enjoys the sport and her coaches! I love to watch her learn! She is constantly doing "donkey-kicks" and "sticking" her landings everywhere we go! The swing set has been a blast in this amazing weather! If we are not in the backyard, we are out front riding bikes and scooters, chasing bubbles, doing chalk art, or eating Popsicles. I think her training wheels will be coming off this summer! Reagan loves to play school daily! So I have to think how can I ask her to do something and make it school related. Example, "Its time to eat lunch." Reagan: No mommy say "Kids, please sit at the table its snack time!" You get it... :) She is trying her hardest to read. Such a sponge! Her vocabulary cracks us up! I love it most when she uses a big word but mis-pronounces it. She continues to use her hands when she talks...I have no idea where she got this from! She has a K3 program at the end of the month-such a milestone as a parent to attend their first on-stage performance!! Look out-she has been practicing!! :)

Our family's other BIG news is that my sister Tracie and her husband Craig, had their first baby -Bennett Brody! Aunt Roxanne (Roxie) is thrilled! Reagan thinks that "Big Cousin" is a major title and she is over the moon about him!! How is it that you can love someone so much before you even meet them? :)

Its funny how our lives have evolved since becoming parents. I am that parent with a fridge covered in art-work, certificates, letter worksheets, magnets...Gone are the days of a plain, boring, organized decor. I don't have a clue about lady gaga or justin beiber-now day's I'm more of a 'wheels on the bus' sorta girl! The vacuum stays parked next to where Jackson eats (he insists on using a fork). BUT, I LOVE IT! I love it all! I love each bit of proof that you see that we are indeed...parents! I love it that Ryan and I get to experience all of this together as a team! Tonight, Reagan was "helping" Jackson to all the gold fish he could eat and the two of them sat in the middle of the kitchen talking and playing. Ryan and I stopped moving, stood there arm-in-arm and just stared at them both thinking how blessed we are! If you are reading this as a parent you can relate to what we felt. Now, think that is how are Heavenly father feels about us!

So the Neuhaus' continue to move "spring" forward! Soon enough Ryan will be starting his last and final year of residency. He is such a hard worker and we are very proud of him! We are also very thankful for our small group here in Mississippi along with our best friends, including my Bible study girls! Its so fun that we get to experience this part of our lives together!

Blessings

Wow, a blog sounded fun at first, then I became of Mom of two... I will probably be the most sporadic "blogger" ever!

We just celebrated Reagan's 4th Birthday (gasp)! We certainly 'kicked up our boots'! She really enjoyed her pony party! The children (even Jackson) rode the pony, enjoyed the pinata (along with Ryan silly stringing the kids), and played in the arena till sundown! She loves preschool, especially computer and cooking class! Also art projects and hands-on activities have replaced nap time! Playing teacher and Mommy are probably one of her favorite pastimes! Gymnastics classes have just begun as well!

Jackson is getting ready to celebrate his first birthday! My baby! He is standing and cruising along the house. He is into everything, especially emptying drawers! haha He loves to initiate a game of peek-a-boo and is crazy about dogs, balloons and balls! "OH, OH, OH" is his most used phrased as he points to everything he sees! Waving bye bye and giving kisses amuses him! He is saying "Dada, duck, doggy, Mama, out, uh-o, and nana (banana). I can not cut up fruit fast enough for our growing little boy!

Ryan is back in Jackson full time after completing a four month rotation in Tupelo, MS where he received a lot of laproscopic surgical training. We miss the schedule there, but not the one-bedroom apartment! :) Now, he is back on the floors at the hospital. I am so proud of him!! Its hard to believe we are approaching the year and half mark till graduation!

After having a fun fall including lots of Halloween activities with Tinkerbell and our Tiger, and a visit from my Mom, we headed to Florida last week. Got to see one of my good friends of twenty years get married, visit with family including a mini trip to Ft. Lauderdale to see my Aunt, Uncle and cousins. Reagan and Jackson travel so well and we love our family road trips!

Wishing everyone a very blessed Holiday season!

We remain thankful to God for all of his blessings and promises!

A recent conversation between Reagan & her preschool teachers...Ms. Dawn was discussing Easter and how the tomb was empty.
Reagan: "Its in the gaw-big (garbage).
Ms Dawn: "Whats in the garbage, Reagan?"
Reagan: "Our sins, Jesus frew our sins in the garbage"
Then with hands going, "But, I dont know where the garbage is in Heaven?"
Bless her little heart!

Her latest question: "If God created everything, who created God?"

Jackson is growing each day. He rolled over for the first time on Monday. He was laughing out loud today with Ryan. We are blessed that he is a good sleeper & enjoys his crib, though still enjoys a 2am meal. :)

Kid's Kloset

One of Reagan's favorite places to play is...her closet! Its like her own castle in which she can get lost in pretend play! Most often I find her standing in there decking herself out from top to bottom. Her attire usually includes "click clacks" (high heal shoes), some fru-fru outfit, lots and lots of lip gloss (wis-cup=lipstick), and accessories-rings, purses, earrings, bracelets...you name it! This is not something that I taught her to do (despite my girly ways). She really enjoys the fancy girly things-the more glitter the better! You just cant fight nature!!
Besides dress-up, she also loves taking care of her baby dolls, playing school with her stuffed animals, puzzles, or a daily art project. Coloring in the closet has to be more fun! So, Jackson and I spend lots of time sitting on the floor & getting lost in her world! Jackson watches everything she does and smiles, smiles, & smiles!
Besides the closet, we have spent a lot of time being creative indoors due to the cold weather. We've made tents, played cashier with ALL the items in my pantry, cooked, chased, ducked & goosed, played cards and board games and read to list a few (this sometimes all in one day!). As Reagan lapped my house the other night, I couldn't help but think, "Spring, where are you?!"

Winter WONDERful!

We have snow again in "the South!" What a fun surprise for Reagan this morning to wake up to a snow covered yard! She was so anxious to get outside. She wore her camo as it is one of the warmest outfits she owns...(snow just isn't supposed to happen here). She enjoyed making snow angels, and a snowman. Her and Ryan attempted sledding as well! Watching a three-year old enjoy snow is PRICELESS! She said she "likes the taste of snow!?!" I am still wondering what snow tastes like!?! :) We rolled a few extra snowballs and put them in the freezer so we can enjoy them later on a hot summer day and remember our fun winter!
Three is such a magical age! Everything Reagan experiences is new and she soaks it up. As a adults we tend to loose the splendor in the simple things. Having a sweet little girl to remind us to stop and "lay in the snow" is such a gift! Its "WONDERful!"

Hey "Ya'll"

We live with the most adorable, out-going, three-year old! Our daugther Reagan, is such a joy to us and constantly keeps Ryan and I laughing! So often, people tell me I need to chronicle her life and her stories...thus our blog! Now, I can share our life stories with you and hopefully you will laugh with us!

In addition to our sweet Reagan, we now a have a precious little boy, Jackson! He is such a handsome baby and we all three dote on him. I look forward to the day when I can share his stories with you...in the meantime, I will post his baby updates...

Ryan and I will celebrate our eighth anniversary this June! I am so in love with him and admire his strength and determination. Due to his profession, we have lived in Miami and Ft. Lauderdale, New York City, and now Mississippi (I think I was made to be a "Southern Girl")! During this adventure, we have learned that when we seek God and put Him first, God can truly bless us...

Speaking of blessings...we have be so blessed to find a church that has stirred my passion for Christ! The sermons will blow you away! Check it out at Pinelake.org! Through our church we have joined a small group. This small group is like a family. We gather once a week and discuss many topics, our latest is the book Crazy Love! These people are a group of people that you can be totally "real" with. Besides our amazing "not-so-small-small group", I am also privileged to be able to co-lead a Bible study with one of my best friends-Julie. This is our third semester and God has grown our group from 6 to now 17! These girls are like my sisters. Last semester, we read Sacred Marriage. Our desire is to know grow in our relationship with God, meanwhile supporting each other through the roller coasters of being Mom's of preschoolers! Which is also another group, I joined-MOPS! Many cities have MOPS meetings and I would encourage any MOP (Mother of a Preschooler) to join-its such a fun time!

One of the biggest blessings has been our group of friends. Ryan's hospital has a group called the Alliance. Its a group of Medical Residents, their spouses and our families. Through this group, we have found life-long friends. Our children have also found life-long friends!! This group hosts many family events, Girls Night Outs, Couples Nights...Going through residency with people that are experiencing the same things really bonds you! I LOVE these girls!!!

I have no idea how often I will post, but I hope to least entertain "ya'll" with our life here in Mississippi!
~Roxanne