I SLEEP WHERE?
A camping we will go; a camping we will go; high-ho-the-dairy-o a camping we will go...AND WE WILL LIKE IT!
We had our first camping adventures in Bastrop, Texas. Mom, dad and I were so excited. Mom picked out the tent of her dreams and made big plans to cook and enjoy campfire meals. Luckily Aunt Carley and Uncle JJ have more experience and a bit more sense in these situations. They have the practice that mom and dad plan to acquire in the WINTER! Whew was it hot! Memorial weekend brought record highs and with that I had mud trails running down my little cheeks. Mom and dad said I have never been dirtier, but I did not mind. I would have rather stayed dirty than face the solar shower again. 2 showers a day was just too much spraying of water for me. I tried to tell them through my screaming and crying petition that DIRT DON'T HURT, but they forced me clean anyway...at least until my feet hit the sand again.
We enjoyed the outdoors, the stars overhead and the time with family away from the hustle of Houston. We could have done with out the swarms of flies and hornets though they were invading our space and we tried it all to rid ourselves of them. Finally the ranger had to fog the site while we went fishing. I borrowed worms from a fellow camper and I caught a fish! I was so proud! Uncle JJ turned it into bait :( but he came home with a string of catfish...our fish tacos for dinner that evening. YUM! Wesley and I were into it all except the food. We filled our bellies with juice boxes and chex mix as mom introduced Wes to the good 'ol M&M. Wesley and I raced match box cars, colored pictures outside and rode our bikes into every lump of dirt and sand we could find. We ran, we cried and we enjoyed it all including the water fights straight out of the cooler. We were soaked! We are looking forward to fall and our next big adventure in the cooler outdoors. As for mom and dad...they are working off the many campfire smores and have finally located the long lost scorpian, centipede thing that we found in the car. I guess the heat was good for something...it cooked the bug and mom found the remains under the floorboard mat. GO MOM!

TO MARKET, TO MARKET...
Lala loves the farmers market and dad and I got to tag along. We picked up fresh organic fruits and veggies and dried fruits too. My favorite is pineapple--YUM! I had a great day with the fam exploring the market and then the backyard garden of paridise and birds too.

MOM'S DESERVE A MOTHER'S DAY!...
Mom and Mawmaws began celebrating Mother's Day a day early this year. They got manicures and pedicures and massages too. Mom said it was just what she needed. But, Sunday morning she got an even better treat. I surprised her with a card signed just by me and another gift certificate for a moment of relaxation and pedicure. Then, we were off to breakfast at Papa's brunch buffet and then to the Museum of Natural Science and Rose gardens as a family. Mom enjoys these family days. She loves spending time with her 2 most important guys. It always makes her smile. The sunshine was out and it was HOT, but we got learned so much about dinos inside. Dinosaurs are some of my favorite things to read about. I loved seeing all of them up close. It was a special day for both of us.



























We all need time to stop and smell the roses!

RELEASING LADYBUGS...SPLAT!...
Mom and I love to work in the "Taylor Garden." We get out our gloves and tools and dig and plant. (If you drive by you will notice that most of the dirt is dried and clumpy and the flowers are probably brown, but that doesn't stop us from trying again and again and again.) This last trip to the garden center we found ladybugs in a bag. 1,750 of them to be exact. We (Mom) just had to get them. She felt like it was a great buy--$8.00 for a lovely introduction to bugs and nature. So, we brought them home and followed all the directions. We kept them in the fridge over night and the next evening we were ready for our release. We even invited my friend and neighbor Austin and his parents to join in the fun. Mom cut open the bag and began to set the little red dots free to fly. I did what came natural--SPLAT! Who would want bugs on them...what was mom thinking? SPLAT, SPLAT, STOMP, SPLAT, STOMP! Mom and dad tried to convince me that these were "good bugs" and that our garden needed them, but I did not need them on me. I continued to SPLAT and STOMP while everyone else scooped the bugs and dumped them onto the base of plants in the yard. Mom decided that we should probably pick up the lesson next year. Those ladybugs pinch esp. when they are working in teams. All I can say is mom didn't look to happy with a bug between her eyes, down her shirt or in her hair. So, Maybe SPLAT wasn't such a bad idea after all!

MUFFINS WITH MOM...
Mom was so excited! I invited her to muffins with mom at school. I was a bit reluctant and then a bit reserved as the breakfast was served in the primary building. I'm just not used to being in there with the big kids. After my 3rd attempt to enter the building we suceeded and breakfast was served. I got mom and me some delicious muffins and ate every bite. I washed it all down with white milk served from a dixie cup. Mom was able to chit-chat with some other moms and enjoy a few extra morning minutes with her best boy. It was a great morning together!

BIG BOY BIKE...
I have worked my way up to my 3rd bike...not a trike anymore. I have training wheels now. Mom and dad were convinced that this is what I needed and what do you know; you can find just about everything you need while shopping at Target. The words "please mommy" do the trick everytime. Mom and dad were so confused though. They did not know what size I would need. One box said up to 38 inches and the other 38-48 inches and look at me I am 38 inches. So, the big boy bike is just that...a bit too big, but I don't mind. Dad and I worked with all the tools and into the night to assemble this monster. I just had to try it out. When night time came we flicked on the garage lights and I rode in the light of the garage for awhile. I just couldn't get enough. I still need a bit of practice on pushing my pedals, but I am a big boy now. Watch out neighbors. I will be cruising the sidewalks sooner that you know.

I'M A BEBE TOO...

Aunt Meme, Uncle Mean and Ella came for a visit. Mom was so excited she got to pull out all of my baby toys and gear. I was excited too. I had no idea how much mom had hidden from me. Seeing Elda enjoy it made me wonder if I would still like it too. I had to try it all out. The saucer was a real hit! I bounced and played in that thing for at least 30 minutes too bad I looked like a monkey on a coconut (that's what daddeye says.) My knees were kneeling on the bottom of the saucer. I have really grown. I am up to 38 and a half inches and 38 pounds shoes included.
I was a gentleman to say the least. I shared so well and showed Elda all my favorite Houston spots and passtimes. What can I say...I'm in love (with Meme too!)

THESE ARE A FEW OF HIS FAV-OR-IT THINGS...
-Dinosaurs, their roars and esp. the T-Rex. He calls it by name and pretends to be it eating through things often
-Sharks--they always come with music--dun,dun...dun, dun. He has never seen Jaws, but he knows the jist of it.
-McDonald's-cheeseburgers, apple dippers and applejuice...he knows the arches
-The Sun. Reagan has cried all week when it goes to "sleep" because he knows that means bedtime for him too. He has even reasoned that he should not take naps because there is sun out...not a moon...stinker...so smart! What a joy though when he wakes to see the sunshine. The smile on his face is priceless as he points and cheers for the sunshine.
-Thomas the Train--train tables, books and movies. He knows the characters by name.
-"The big book"--this is Preston's zoology book from college--it is about 3 inches thick and weighs a ton. Not your typical bedtime story. Reagan wants to read about as many animals as he can before and after each nap and bedtime/wakeup. He will tell you which ones he has seen at the Houston Zoo and details he remembers from the previous times we read.
-Gymnastics-Reagan loves his new class. He likes the rings, doing rolls and jumping on the tramp. NO FEAR! He jumps from great heights (a few feet up) into the foam pit and climbs out to do it all again.
-Creative, dramatic play-Reagan loves to pretend. He will turn in cozy coop into a firecar by plopping his firemans hat on top or get a wadden of towels out of the kitchen drawer to host his own car wash. He puts lacing strings into pans in his kitchen to cook noodles and pretends to eat bugs like he has seen on Survivor Man or Bear Vs. Wild. He will grab his doctor bag and remove "bugs" from your belly and more. Great bed side manner though...he will bring you a pillow and a blanket and tell you when you are sick. :)
-Reagan loves basketball and soccer. He likes to play in the front yard. Yesterday, we had just walked outside to play when I heard the famous, "Mommy, What's that?" I looked down and Reagan had found a TINY baby bird that apparently had been pushed out of its nest. The birds beak was larger than its head when open. So sweet, so sad. Dad got home and took all precautions to get it back to its nest. Only too bad for baby, it got pushed out again. Reagan was so concerned about the bird. He drew pictures of it, told stories about it and looked out the window waiting for its mommy to get it. My 2 year old has an "old soul or bleeding heart" just like his mommy.
-Cherry yogurt, chocolate milk, berry bowls and just about any other fruit, white string cheese or yellow Nemo cheese and ravoili--this is basically a list of the foods he eats at home. However, we have recently added Nemo gummy fruits as a treat alongside chex mix and Diego drinkable yogurt. Yes, I am raising a very particular pallet, but the good news is that he likes the healthy foods!

WE HAVE DANCERS IN THE FAMILY...

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UNCLE DUSTY IS A DRIVER...
We celebrated Uncle Dusty's 16th birthday at Bucca and followed it up with chocolate cake and ice cream. I was loving every bite and tried to convince mom to let me have a second scoop; it didn't work, but it was worth a try when dad and Uncle Dusty were getting more. I sure hope I grow tall like the Taylor men...I won't be "wasted height" as dad says. I will shoot and score :)

TYLER TOTS IN LOVE...
Reagan and Ella take on Tyler in love at the zoo, the park and all the places in between. Reagan showed his soft side taking care of "bebe Elda." When she cried he would whisper "it's okay, okay...," put his finger to his lip or give her a paci. He patted her, covered her with her blanket and held her hand as we drove from here to there. What a sweet boy he is! Reagan and Elda forever :)

ME-HE-KO...AN AWESOME ADVENTURE!...
From beginning to end Mexico posed amazing opportunities for adventure, fun and play and of course exhaustion! I guess we should have expected that traveling internationally with a 2 year old would be an experience in itself, but WHOA! Keeping a routine was difficult at best, but Reagan had so much fun, as did we. It was so peaceful in all the hustle to enjoy it all. It is our dream to travel and fill Reagan's life with experiences like these. We were so blessed to have this opportunity. Thank you Aunt Kay and Uncle Al! Reagan is trooper! Poor baby did not eat dinner until 8 pm each evening. He would literally take a few bites and fall to the side, laying on my shoulder ASLEEP in that instant. He took it all in stride and appreciated all the newness of each day. He did not want to miss a moment so naps were pretty much forgotten for a week. We all got a bit too much sun leading to the extreme...sun poisoning for mom, but after a day of rest we were at it again. We saw ocean life and wild life up close to Reagan's amazement and played in the ocean and sand until we just could not hold our heads up any longer. We dined on food that made us all wish we could stay longer and slept in luxury each evening. The views are some that we will never forget, the sounds are those that we want to remember each night as we sleep. We can't wait for the next amazing adventure in travel.

JOE SCRUGGS IN CONCERT!...
Reagan's first concert was a hit! Joe Scruggs and friends did an amazing job of entertaining all the Taylor Tot and his parents. We brought home a concert video and have played it time and again. Reagan even got his first concert T-shirt...it is a favortite these days. He has worn it to school 3 times now (which is not his typical attire.) We are looking forward to more big boy fun times with Reagan. I am amazed by how much our lives are changing. There are very few "baby" moments. We are out and about, trying out new things and learning all about our world. Reagan enjoys all the new experiences and looks forward to surprises!