Doctor visit and Christmas pics

I've been a little under the weather around here this week. But on Wednesday we had to venture out to go to the doctor for their checkup. Drew weighs 40 lbs and is in the 95th percentile for height (no surprise there). Rebecca is 32 inches and weighs 22 lbs. I went and checked and she is the same size Drew was at 15 months (she is 18 months). Poor kids had to have shots. Drew had 5 and Rebecca 3. Both took them like champs. Drew did so great with the first 3, but thought that was all. When the nurse said there were 2 more you should have seen the look on his face. His arms were so sore that it hurt him to raise his arms to put on his shirts. They said he won't have to ever have that many again. Thank goodness. It hurts me watching people "hurt" my kids.

Here are a few Christmas pictures of the kids (and one of me).

Drew took this picture...pretty good, huh?

No gifts under the tree... just kids! If there were gifts, Rebecca would have unwrapped them by now.

Doesn't look like too many ornaments on the tree. Rebecca keeps taking them off so I keep putting them up higher.

Christmas Fun continues

We ended our day by going to our neighborhood Christmas celebration. It was held in the parking lot of the pool. We were able to take pictures with Santa, eat smores and drink hot chocolate. They also were showing some Christmas movies on the tennis courts. It was great fun. What a day!

Finally a smile!
Eating smores

Christmas Breakfast

Drew and Frosty
The puppets... an angel and Mary and Joseph

Drew enjoying a cookie

I took Drew to the Christmas Character Breakfast at our church today. We enjoyed a yummy breakfast and Drew met Rudolph and Frosty. Following the breakfast was the Kids Crazy Christmas Show. It was so great. The show consisted of some teenagers singing and dancing and then there was a wonderful puppet show that explained about Jesus' birth. The puppets sang some familiar songs, but the words were changed. Example: Jack and Diane (by John Mellencamp) was changed to "Little story about Joseph and Mary...", an Elvis puppet singing The First Noel "uh huh", the angel did say "uh huh", and Born in the USA (Bruce Springsteen) to Born in Bethlehem. Sorry I know it doesn't translate to blog well, but it was very cute. Looking forward to next year when Brett and Rebecca will join us as well.

Bob turns 70!!!

Yesterday was Dad's 70th birthday. Happy Birthday to a great dad and a wonderful grandpa!

Becca has eyes only for the cake!

Good thing we didn't put on all 70 candles!!

Drew is itching to help unwrap gifts!

Good News

Brett is finished with finals and his first semester of nursing school. Yea!! He worked so hard and did great. B's in all classes. We are so proud of you!

Brett and the 2 reasons why he is going back to school!!

Rice Village Christmas Fun

It was the Reinhold's second annual trip down to Rice Village Shopping Center to see all the Christmas attractions. Not too hard to convince Bob to go. It combined 2 of his favorite things: grandkids and Rice (not in any particular order). Drew and Rebecca loved the petting zoo. Rebecca was fascinated with the rabbits. Drew got to visit with Santa, play in the "snow", and have his face painted. It was a nice start to our Christmas holiday.

She loved the animals.

At least Rebecca wasn't afraid.

All aboard!

We're still working on her smile.

Thanksgiving Friday

Who has more teeth?

Carson and Rebecca
Happy Birthday
I love Aunt Rachel!

Cousins Leah and Rebecca

Rachel and Drew

On Friday, we went to the Sevier's to celebrate Thanksgiving with Grammy's family. Drew got reacquainted with some of his cousins and immediately took a liking to one cousin in particular. Drew kept saying, "I like Rachel." He picked some beautiful weeds to give to her. Rachel Tassin, you have an admirer. He wants her to come and visit him and spend the night. That is the way a 4 year old shows how much you mean to him. He just told me, "I love her." (he is watching me type this blog). Then he said, "I love my family." He's a keeper.

Drew and Rebecca always have the best time surrounded by cousins. Since my side of the family is small, I am happy that my kids get to experience aunts, uncles, and cousins. As always, Amanda, Carson, and Caden are so great to Drew and Rebecca. We also celebrated Mamaw's 90th birthday and ate lots of food.

If you are a member of the Coile family and you weren't there, you were missed. Hope to see you at the next event.

Thanksgiving Thursday

Reading her favorite book with one of her favorite people.
Daddy's girl

Sweet Prayer

Going for a ride

Thanksgiving outfit

On Thursday, we went over to Bob and Ooh Ooh's for Thanksgiving lunch. Mom, thanks for cooking! Drew and Rebecca have too much fun riding on Grandma Janice's walker. Maybe I should ask Santa to bring one for Christmas!

That night, we took the kids to the Galleria's Uptown Lighting and fireworks. Drew was confused because it isn't July. Oh, he amazes me. Rebecca was very interested in the fireworks for about 1 minute. Her eyes got real big and she clapped and then she was back to climbing in and out of her stroller. Well, at least she wasn't scared. As much Brett and I enjoy fireworks that is a good thing. It was a nice day.

I am very thankful for my family and all the blessings God has given us this year (and every year as a matter of fact)!

Jill at 34 years

I told Brett I wanted a picture with my kids on my birthday so people really know that they are mine.

Let's talk about all the things Jill can do at 34. I can count. Know my ABCs. I do know how to put myself in time-out, but the kids won't let me stay there. Just kidding.

My birthday was Saturday and it was a good day. To begin with it fell about as far from Thanksgiving as it can so I didn't have to share my day with the bird! :) Brett and I went out to dinner Friday night. Mom and Dad kept the kids and had them spend the night. So that was a great birthday gift...being able to sleep in. Brett got Shipley's doughnuts and chocolate milk for breakfast (yum) and had my card and roses on the table for me. Sweet husband! Baylor football did not play so I didn't have to worry about a loss (dreading this weekend, we play Tech). Baylor basketball won! (Women won on Sun.) Mom and Dad took us out to dinner Saturday night. Good birthday. Ok I can now stop having birthdays. Well maybe not the birthdays, but definitely the changing of the age.

Rebecca at 18 months

In the book the cow is puffing his cheeks, so she is pointing to her cheek.


Our splendid girl

Here is some of the latest news on Rebecca.

It seems as if all her teeth are coming in at the same time.

She says mommy (but mommy doesn't just mean me...it stands for lots of things),woof woof (dog), meow, eieio, la la la (when she sees Elmo... that is part of his song), gwack gwack (quack or for duck), Bob, ga ga (for da da... this makes complete sense to the speech path in me, often g's are said for d's), bye, ellwo (hello, but will only say this when she is using a telephone). She does sign language for milk, more, and eat/food.

She is now forward facing in her car seat. We waited quite awhile to turn her around because it is so much safer. It is so sweet to turn around in the car and see her smiling face. She is seeing a whole new world from her view. No more of the headrest. And I am sure that her legs are thanking us. They seemed really squished up when she was rear-facing.

Our sweet, easy going child has disappeared into one that really wants things her way and will let you know when she is not pleased. If she does not get what she wants she will throw herself backwards. Uh, are the terrible twos already here?

She has seen time out modeled quite a bit for her by her big brother. So one day we jokingly mentioned that we might have to put her in time-out and she went there on her own.

Most days are a joy with Rebecca watching her learn and grow. We are blessed.

Drew's Fireman Party

Sweet friends
I can put out the fire

Ready to drive

My cake

Today we had Drew's party. I think it was a big hit. We had a tour at our neighborhood fire station. The firemen were so great. We get there and one of the first things they tell us is that if the alarm goes off then they'll have to respond. I am thinking what are the chances that while we are there it will go off. Obviously the chances are great. We weren't there 5 minutes and the alarm went off and out rush the firemen onto the truck and away they go. Fortunately, there were a few firemen left and they let us look at an equipment truck. After the kids looked at that for awhile the other firemen returned (it was a false alarm). The kids were able to spray the hose and climb into the truck. The firemen pulled out the ladder truck and raised the ladder. It went so high and a fireman climbed all the way to the top. To end it all, the kids were allowed a ride around the parking lot in the fire truck. Super fun!

Then everyone came back to the house for pizza and cake. It was lots of work, but all worth it to celebrate the life of my favorite four year old. We love you, Drew!

Birthday Boy

Enjoying his birthday doughnut!
I am four!

Drew's birthday was Wednesday. He is 4! Where did the time go? Here is what he accomplished while he was 3. He learned how to use the potty. He didn't cry anymore at school (huge accomplishment!). He rides a bike with training wheels. He knows most of the letters. He can spell his own name. He can "read" a book that he is familiar with (really it is retelling a story). He can count to 12 (13 and 14 give him some trouble). He likes to wrestle with daddy. He loves to ask Why questions? I am so proud of him. God has blessed me with a funny, smart, sweet (mostly), wonderful child. I am thrilled to be his mom (or as Drew says in his deep voice, Maum)!!!

Halloween

We had a wonderful time on Halloween. We got together with our neighbors and the kids had a blast. There were 2 bounce houses and all the kids loved jumping around. Then we went trick or treating. Drew knew just what to do. He rang the doorbell and said, "Trick or Treat". He thanked the people and said "Happy Halloween". I was so proud of my little pirate.

Fun Neighbors!

What a cute cow!

My family had to stop by and see the kids.

Rebecca figured out the easy way to get the candy. No ringing doorbells for her.

My favorite trick-or-treaters!

Exercising

Drew is taking gymnastics. He calls it "doing my exercising". Oh what fun he is having!

Pumpkin Patch

We made our annual trek to visit a pumpkin patch. I am usually the one responsible for choosing the kids clothes and I was planning on the kids wearing orange colored shirts (which is difficult for us because we aren't UT fans...not that there's anything wrong with that) and jeans. But someone else had other ideas. Brett wanted them in the overalls! :) I found Drew's and they fit. Didn't think I had any for Rebecca. But Brett reminded me about some that Drew had. Dug through a few boxes, found them, wasn't very optimistic that they would fit her, but they worked! So sweet that Brett wanted them "matching".

I was hoping it would go better than last year. Rebecca was little and didn't smile for any pictures and wouldn't sit still. It turned out last year was great in comparison to yesterday. Rebecca was fascinated with all the pumpkins and wouldn't sit still, let alone look at the camera and smile. Usually when she sees the camera she starts to grin, but there was just too much to look at to smile for mommy. Then the battery in the camera went dead. Brett brought more batteries. He had taken them from the pack, but they didn't work either. Oh well. There's always next year.

Here's a good one of our little ham
This is the closest pic of them together
Yeah, mommy felt like this too!
Now this is my girl looking at the camera
She loves to sit in the basket to read! (note her crossed feet!)