LAKEWOOD MONTESORRI FALL FESTIVAL...

Mom skipped out of work early so we could play together at the LMS fall festival. I wish there would have been cooler weather so my costume would have been more comfortable, but we had plenty of beautiful sunshine instead.

I showed mom all the animals in the petting zoo and even chased a hen around the pen. She let me pet her a few times. I loved looking at the piglets most. They were so squealy.

After washing our hands we took a break and enjoyed a snowcone together. I picked blue. I'm really good at telling you what I want these days. I pick everything from my beverages to the color of my socks. FYI-I like fancy socks these days. My favorites are from Gymboree. They have stripes and dots and pictures of animals too. Mom is working on color coordinating...I just pick the ones I like. Orange pants and red socks is fine with me :)

After a trip or two around the grounds. I was exhausted! I had already had a long day at school so my temper was showing just a bit. I really wanted to climb and play on the big kid jungle gym and mom would not let me. She kept saying something about I would fall and my bumble bee wings would not save me. So, we headed inside (screaming and crying) to gather my things. I decided I would show off all I have learned instead. I showed mom that I know how to sort by color and count to 10. I can use tongs to transfer animals from a basket into a bowl and I can use a flannel board to tell a story with pictures. Mom was impressed! She has some PK kiddos that are still working on these skills when they come to class.

Mom enjoyed spending the time with me at school and I enjoyed sleeping all the way home!
As Mary on Jack's Big Music Show would say, "Whata Day!"

I'm a big boy now! So smart!

DRESSIN' UP...
It's fun to do! I've been trying on everything from my buzzing bee halloween costume to party favors for my big zoobilee party. Mom just keeps snapping pictures. No matter what I put on, she thinks I am the cutest big boy baby around!






















It's me!

OLDIES, BUT GOODIES!...
Happy Birthday Grandpa T! Grandpa Taylor is another year older (56)! We met Grandpa, Pepe and Dolly for a Mexican style celebration in Sugarland. I filled up on chips and queso and then topped it all off with a bowl full of cherries. YUM! I was the highlight of the evening calling everyone by name and telling them " I lav ooh." Everyone got loved on :) I'm such a sweet lil wild man! We are glad that Grandpa T is moving back to Houston. We have missed him!

I keep this 'ol group feelin' young :)

PUNKINS TO PARK...
After punkin picking we headed to the park to play. I had a great time and mom and dad did too. Mom always says we get 3 days of perfect weather in Houston. This was one of them! I showed mom and dad all around the park using my words like "I swing", "I drive", "nun, nun" (that's run, run) and many other combinations too. Mom can't believe that I am almost 2 years old and that I can understand and communicate as much as I do. I am a little man now. Mommy's big boy baby.



















"I drive"

LIL AGGIE!...
I know the family is divided, but mom would be so proud! She thinks I have the Aggie Heart no matter which university I attend. I am a sweeta peta!




















Thanks for my team spirit Kari.

SILLIES IN THE PUNKIN PATCH...

After a good breakfast at Skeeters we headed to the punkin patch by my school in Lakewood. I had a great time climbing aboard the pumpkins, pulling them around in the wagon and then using them as a drum set and later as a set of weights. As it turns out pumpkins are pretty heavy and can be used as a bowling ball too. This of course was my favorite game of all and led to a series of unexpected smiles and laughs for mom. Only trouble is, mom's camera was too slow to capture the moments. She got blurrrrrrrs. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed our time picking out the perfect punkin family. Do you think they look like us? "Mom" and "I" even have curly hair :)

This punkin is a hat and I am singing "habe burbay!"

SKEETERS...
We have a new Saturday morning routine. It includes a breakfast buffet and family time too. We meet Mowl-Mowl as I call her at Skeeters each Saturday and then color on the tables and park it on the floor. It is my job to arrange all the booster seats so that everyone has a cozy spot to sit. I hand pick the seats for my family and then call you by name and walk with you hand in hand to come to the floor. Mom thinks this is a bit like her PK job, but I enjoy it. We don't care what the other customers think, do we?

















Booster seats for everyone!

OCTOBER 31st OPTIONS...
If my costume isn't what I like come Halloween I've got options. I could always be Christopher Columbus or just go as myself...Lil Wild Man! Mom is hoping I will opt for being a bumble bee though. When she showed me the 4 magazines of costumes I said "nope" and shook my head at most of them. I narrowed it down pretty quickly to bumble bee or chef. I love to cook, but I've got the bumble bee sound down pat. Mom can't wait to see me buzz around town on Halloween. She may even let me eat a piece of candy :) THAT WOULD BE A TREAT!

Just showing my wild side!

101.6!...
It must be my lucky number! I just keep running fever. Mom thought I was well and was looking forward to a week with no Dr. appts (aside from the allergist,) but now here we go again. 3 days of fever with no other physical symptoms. I wasn't too hungry and did sleep some long naps, but I was ready to play too. Please pray I will feel like myself again soon. I don't know if I remember what I should feel like anymore. This has been going on since the 2nd week of August.

FALL IS FOR FOOTBALL...

The cooler weather is on its way and I am enjoying every minute of my outside time. Football is my new favorite passtime. I have a basket full of balls that are kicked, thrown, tossed and bounced daily. Mom and dad have spent many evenings chasing them down the driveway this month. Once, while riding my bike down the street with mom I saw a neighbor and his son playing football. I walked right on over and joined in. I am a pro now. I even know the lingo..."DOWN, SET, HIKE!" I love an audience as I spike or run after the ball. Mom just laughs because I am all bent over and trying to fit the too big football between my legs. Grandpa would be so proud!

This pic is for my football roster poster!

GRANDPA'S BACK IN TOWN...
Grandpa (I call him Po-Po) was in town on business. He has been out of the country for 3 weeks so it was time to get him some yummy Mexican food. It was a short visit this time. We hope to see him again soon. Plan for my party Po-P0...November 17th!
















I'm a wiggle worm.
Mom had to do some major entertaining this time.

STINKY BUS!...
This dog needed a bath...and now so do I! I love playing in the water and I really love to use the water hose. I try to turn it on myself these days. I like watering the flowers and myself too. Just don't get water near my ears--that leads to instant tears and panic.
















All Clean!

A 22 MONTH CELEBRATION!...
Another month closer to 2! We celebrated with brunch at the Omni. Grandma (Mowl-Mowl as I say it) was there to join in the fun.
Here are a few RGT stats. I am 36 and a bit inches tall. I weigh just shy of 34 pounds empty and I wear a size 8.5 wide shoe. Mom was shocked! At the beginning of August I wore a size 7.5. I am growing like a weed!
Check back for all my can-do's soon.
















"B-B's"...Berries!

GONE DRIVIN'...
These days I ride in style and all my friends like to come along too. I pick them all up from the play room and stuff them in one at a time before climbing into the driver's seat myself. Occasionaly I have to yell for help as one falls under the car, but as long as mom comes quickly we keep things cool. We drive and drive until my little "flinstone feet" are tired. Our walls have seen better moments, but mom doesn't mind. She loves watching me grow, make believe and just have a good 'ol time drivin'. I've been known to borrow mom's, dad's and mummaws's (that's Grandma Malone's newly appointed name--still working on the spelling) car. I love to steer and to honk the horn too. No knob or wheel is safe when I am driving.




















I'm all smiles here, but don't try to pull me out of the driver's seat!

PLAYING HOOKY!...

What do you do on your "sick days?" Mom and I play in the sprinkler...hives and all. It was a beautiful day and even Buster jumped in. We had to make the most of our time together. We only had one regret...we stayed sick. Times like these make mom realize how much she misses being at home with me.

This is great!

POOR BABY!...
Reagan has been in school less than 3 weeks and has already completed 2 rounds of antibiotics. Round 3...a call from the school. Reagan had 101.5 fever. Back to the doctor we go. Lots of "maybes." It might be a sinus infection relapse, maybe the flu, possibly a virus, but only time will tell. The very next morning...RASH...HIVES...FEVER and A FREAKED OUT MOM! Still no answers.
SICK STATUS UPDATE...
Everyone in the Taylor house is on medication now. Reagan ran a fever of around 102 for 2.5 days. He is now on a daily allergy medication and mom and dad are following with the same and antibiotics too. According to the docs RGT had a reaction to "something unknown" leading to the hives. Each time he gets warm, upset or excited the hives pop out often covering all of his face, belly, arms pits and more. He took an oral steroid for 3 days to help reduce the inflamation and the hives should be gone in about another week or so. Until then, we are hoping that the allergy medication helps with all the congestion and cough and such. His dr. does not want to put him on another antibiotic until the hives clear up. For now, the fever is gone and the hives are fewer in number. We have that to be thankful for. Please pray that this child will catch a break. He deserves to feel good!
UPDATE FOR THE UPDATE...
The hives are gone and so is the sick for now. Keep your fingers crossed. We have seen one allergist who believes Reagan has asthma and we will see another tomorrow for a second opinion. Chances are we will be doing an allergy screening panel to see what we can eliminate from his environment or diet to try to keep him well. The daily allergy medicine, Singular, was a bust. It actually had a side effect that made his cough worse. We may be moving to a nasal spray after we hear what Dr #2 has to say. It has been a long road of fever, coughs and lots and lots of snot,but I think we are going to make it.










Hot, itchy baby

FAMILY DAY!...
When do you actually enjoy sweating? When you have a family day at the zoo! Mom, Dad and I had a great time with all the animals. We rode the train for the first and last time before it is renovated next month. I did not like the dark tunnel, but I enjoyed making the train sounds and waving and telling others walking by, "hi!". I took my first, second and third carousel rides and begged to go again. I rode a monkey, an elephant and a zebra. Mom got stuck with a rhino while dad rode a snake. Dad and I had lots of fun with the goats too. They wore his sunglasses and dad braided their beards. They enjoyed the special attention. I can't wait until my birthday party in November. I know we will have a great time and the weather will be cooler too (we hope.)

Is this my dad or a ground hog?

26 AND ALMOST 2...

Uncle Jeff is 26! We celebrated at the Steamboat House. I ate a whole loaf of bread and all of the berries off of the dessert! Mom and dad said sometimes they just have to give in...to keep me quiet. I don't count on that happening again anytime soon. Happy birthday Uncle Jeff!

This statue is freaky!

GOOD 'OL FASHION RULE DAYS!...
This is me! I love my backpack, my lunchbox, my napmat (currently on my bed) and all my new friends at school. Mom will always cherish this picture. Her baby is a big boy and he loves to read and learn at school.

Looking so handsome and ready for school!

A "KID"AGAIN...
Mom says that we really need to have a garage sale. Our guest bedroom is piled high with all my baby toys and all her teaching supplies and such. I like to venture into this room time and again and pull out toys from the past. I had a blast with my walker for about a month. I can really ZOOM with that thing now. Here I am straight out of the bath having a blast!





















Me, a towel and a walker...I am getting old!

SCHOOL DAYS...SCHOOL DAYS...
6 am to 8 pm this kid is just the sweetest, cutest and MINE! School has been a transition that has lots of sunny sides and then some dark sides too. Reagan enjoys playing with his friends at school. He loves learning and the playground. His teachers say he is absolutely GREAT at school. He follows directions very well and is always so easy going and friendly. I have to say though, when he gets home he is exhausted, starving and ready to veg out for awhile. We watch a show or ride bikes and basically just try to keep him "fed and watered" until he goes to bed. Mondays are always the hardest. I find myself having to admit that I can't do it all. For those of you who know me well, this is hard for me. I simply can't be 100% mom, 100% teacher and wife and maid and so forth. Oprah once asked if a woman could have it all...I still answer no; at least not to the expectations I hold for myself in each position. I will always devote all of me to my family and do the best I can at the rest, but now I am at least asking for help. In comes dad. He has a new role in this transition too. Preston has done more dishes and such in the last month than in 9 years we have been together. We have to function as "TEAM TAYLOR" these days and I think we are successful so far.
Reagan takes his lunch to school each day and is so proud of his lunchbox and backpack. He carries his backpack stuffed with books and his meercat puppet, sunglasses and more. He loves being a big boy, but he is still my baby. When we unload at school in the morning and his feet hit the pavement he turns to me and says "up!" I love that he still needs us and that he still wants to be loved on. I get all kinds of kisses now that the tears have passed (RGT cried the first 2 weeks as I left.) We stop for treats on the way home or save a special snack for dessert. Reagan's first day was topped off with a slushy apple juice from Sonic...I needed icecream after my day in Pre-K!
So, sun up to sun down we go, go, go! I miss all my alone time with Reagan, but I know he is learning things at school that will build wonderful memories as well. I am looking forward to holidays and sadly my own "sick days" these are the days I will cherish; our back to the basics days. Me and my little man at home together.

Whew! Whata day!

MY DAD IS AN OLD MAN!...
Dad is 30! Mom and I surprised him with giant balloons. I used the zero like an innertube :) We celebrated with dinner at True Lucks and a yummy chocolate bag for dessert.

It's good to be young!