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!

MY NEW DO...
The time had come for me to get my 1st haircut. Just a trim! Mr. Alan said he thinks my hair will always have curl. He agreed with mom and dad that we should not cut it short. It's just to pretty. So, I think I will go with the trend and keep it a bit longer for now.
Mom tried to make it straight the other night after my bath. I took one look in the mirror and shook my head "no." She quickly fixed it back to curly and asked me if that was better. I said "uh-huh." Mom knew then that I liked my hair. She agrees with me that it is part of my personality; a bit silly, but so soft and sweet!
Mr. Alan thought I should leave the curl all over, but mom and dad prefer it to be styled on top and curly on the sides and in the back. Don't tell Mr. Alan, but I like the way mom fixes my hair better :)
Mom got a new do too. Her hair is still growing out so it will be awhile before she likes her haircuts. I still love it though. Long or short her hair is my "security blanket."

I like my new do and all the attention too!

THEY LOVE ME!...
It's just the 3 of us and they love me! There were lots of hugs and kisses to celebrate my 21 month birthday. They just can't get over what a big boy I am. Mom calls me her "big boy baby.

Everyone smile pretty. This is a day to remember!

MS. SERA's MUSIC...
I have been taking music with Ms. Sera since I was 6 months old. Now that I am starting school I won't be in her Thursday classes anymore. Mom and I had a blast celebrating our last class together. I have learned SO much about movement, pitches, rhythm, beats and dancing. I am a regular "music man." Gymbo and I had a last dance and then a hug goodbye. I'm sure we can visit on the weekend, but until then Julia and Landon will have to hold down the class.





















Rat-a-tat-tat!

MY NEW NAP MAT...
I start school on Monday, August 20th at Lakewood Montessori. We have been doing a lot of "test drives" around our house to prepare. Mom has searched the internet for all the cool toddler "must haves. " I have a new nap mat, backpack, lunchbox, labels for my clothes, toys and books, snack cups and more. Do you think she is forgetting anything? Mom wants me to feel secure with my new teacher and school so we have been visiting several times this week. The first day mom played with me but now I am a champ. I know where to put my things when I enter the room and I am ready to play. Today mom got me started, gave me a quick kiss and then left me to play for awhile. I did not know it, but she watched me play on the video monitors for 2.5 hours. I did great! I'm sure all the teachers think mom is a nut, but I know she loves me most and is just making sure I am happy in my new situation. Please pray for me and my transition...and for mom too. I know she is going to have a hard time going back to work full time. We have had so much fun together this summer!















A test drive!

INTO IT ALL...
I tried it all in Arizona. I had my hands on everything from candles to remotes. I turned on and off the misters, the fountains and the fans each time we went outside. In the pool I had even more buttons. I could control lights, jets, and bubbles too. Inside I had even more to see and explore. I used the mega remote to try all kinds of tricks. Luckily mom was able to find a few shows for me to watch here and there. I was better with the remote than her. This is a picture of me with my favorite "no-no." I liked to take the T-Lites out of the crystal bowls and smell them.

BUSTED!

PADDLE THIS BOAT!...
WHEW! What a work out! Mom thought her legs might fall off, but we made it. I guess Grandpa was a good encourager on the lake. I loved the water and even cried a bit when it was time to abandon the boat. We were HOT! It was time to take a dip in the pool.

Safe in the life vest

and squished between mom and Grandpa too.

LEAVING LUXURY...
We had a wonderful time in Arizona. It was great to relax and enjoy the outdoors. I loved being on the water, in the pool and just hanging out. I didn't mind being hot...110 degrees hot! I was too busy having fun and being such a good boy. I impressed everyone with my manners and all around good behavior. I'm looking forward to my next big trip.

Kisses and Hugs before going home to Houston

ARIZONA WILDLIFE ZOO...
Oh Wow! Grandpa looked and looked on the internet for the best place to take a little guy like me. He found it! The Wildlife Zoo is home to some amphibians and animals that mom and I had never seen in person before. We were impressed. It was not a fancy place (nothing like the Houston Zoo); dirt paths, lots of flies and HOT, HOT, HOT, but it was amazing none the less. Did you know that penguins live in Africa? These penguins have black feet and I guess they don't mind sweating like us. Mom laughed to see them in Arizona. We walked and talked and had a great time checking out all there was to see and read. We even saw a baby Spider Monkey clinging to it mother's side as she swung from rope to rope. Mom got that on video. It was an awesome sight. I liked the camels and the goats of course. The deer kept trying to eat our clothes though. Mom even had a goat nibble on her bracelet while taking a picture with me. Silly animals! By the end of the trip the temperature had climbed to 110 and I was beat. I slumped over in the teeny-tiny stroller and slept all the way home.

I love the outdoors!