Reif Bedford, the most Amazing Boy I Could Ever Know

Dear Sweet, Smart, Tough, Wonderful Reif,

This past week has been one of the more wonderful weeks of my life because of you.  Every day I know you, you show me more and more just how amazing you are as a super cool, super sweet, super smart, super tough big boy!

You went to a bunch of parties this week, one of which was your own Halloween party.  And you were so well behaved through it all and yet you had a complete and utter blast! You were a polite host at your party, everyone felt included and everyone loved coming and playing at your house.

Two days later, we went a Halloween party which was more geared towards Pepper's age and it was almost all girls.  We were all excited to go but you and I quickly realized it might not be your kind of party. But you kept the greatest attitude, made the most of it and never once asked me to leave.  I was SO IMPRESSED.  You are so sweet to let your sister go to a party that was not so much fun for you.

We went to 4 more parties all of which were a blast.   You busted your lip open in a big way Saturday night at Gray's and you handled it like such a big boy. Then you let me drag you around to doctors on Sunday and you never once complained.  Sure we threw in a chocolate donut and had some funny Mommy and Reif time exploring a new hospital , but you were so brave. And you never once complained as it healed (well it still is as I write this).  It freaked Mommy out a lot as I never like to see you hurt. You are pretty invincible, you really never get hurt much.  But you handled this with such toughness!

You are very smart, you do so well in school, you make friends easier than anyone I have ever known, and Daddy and I are pretty sure you have a photographic memory.  We love you more than words can describe and you make us so incredibly proud every single day!

Love, Mommy

p.s. you are so much fun to watch at Tae Kwon Do, you really pick new things up so well!

My Darling Pepper Your Second Year Has Been Amazing....

First of all Pepper, you rare so much fun!  You have a terrific sense of humor, you have a well developed goofy side, you know what you want and you are determined to get it, you love music, you love gorgeous girly outfits, girly shoes and finally finally finally you enjoy bows at 21 months.

You really started talking in a big way at 17 months.  You were picking up words quickly and showing a lot more understanding of what everyone was saying to you.  Around 18 and 1/2 months you started saying 3 word sentences, like "Wrigley want outside".  Some of your first words were Rudy (no d) Ru-eeh, Daddy (same thing, no e), Mimi, PopPop, Tree (no r), Flower (Flowah).

Then around 19 months you were on fire verbally!  I think you know more words than I do and finally finally finally you started saying Mommy! Most often it was in reference to yourself, you adore girl you.  If we ask you what your name is you say Mommy.  But you also know I am Mommy too, so that works out ok.

In the last week or so (21 and 1/2 months) you are really knowing your name and will same your name when you see a picture of yourself.  You call and have called Reif "Ree Ree" for the past several months.  I love it and so does he (now...it took awhile to grow on him).  The only problem is I know call Reif "Ree Ree" a lot and it has lead to me occasionally calling you "Pee Pee" since your name starts with a P.  Not a good nickname I know.  I am working on curbing that fast!

Today you are talking all the time as you stand on the counter and look at me eye to eye.  You tell me you have to call Daddy on the phone, you tell me you need a treat from your Halloween basket and you told me today for the first time you need a HUG.  You said the word and opened your arms to me while standing on the counter and it was the cutest thing ever.  I love you so much Pepper Bedford.  You are the most adorable, charming, entertaining and sweet girl I've ever known!

Love, Mommy

p.s. you are just starting to learn colors and shapes.  you are learning green, pink and purple:-)

Reif and Pepper move to Birmingham

It was a long summer and we spent most of it in the car.  Daddy started his Birmingham job in May (April really) and we still resided in Greensboro, NC.  So we did a lot of driving back and forth from April to August. In August, thankfully our house had sold in NC and we bought a lovely home 2 miles from Mimi and PopPop in Alabama.

The long drives were remarkable in a lot of ways.  But the most perfectly wonderful thing is Reif became excellent with his potty training.  Not the ideal way to go about it, but whenever he needed to go, off to the side of the road we went.  And with two dogs, two kids and a Mommy, facilitating bathroom breaks along a 9-hour drive was in fact an adventure.

Thankfully, the move is behind us and life in Birmingham could not be more wonderful.  Reif and Pepper are enrolled in a lovely preschool, Mountain Chapel.  We live very close to Mimi and Pop Pop so we get to see them all the time.

We have made great friends, big and small, and also joined a Mom's group which is a lot of fun. We do Kindermusik and Tae Kwon Do each week.  And we even pulled off our first big play date at Halloween.  Life is in full swing again and we could not be happier.