The Pinkertons

Reagan is 15 Months Old!

2009-06-12T10:23:00.000-07:00

We had Reagan's 15 month check up yesterday, and other than the fact that she is cutting 4 molars, everything looks good. She is 31 inches tall (over half of my height already) and 22 pounds. This puts her in the 50th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. She is saying several words now including, mama, dada, that, and yes. And she knows the signs for please, thank you, more, and all done. She has been doing Please a lot as she realizes that it usually get her what she wants :) She is no dumby! Although she is not saying many words yet, she understands pretty much everything we say and she will point to her belly, her nose, her head and her toes when asked where each is. She has also figured out how to open all the doors in the house so it is a constant challenge to keep her from going outside. We now keep the doors locked at all times :) One of my favorite things that Reagan does is give kisses. It is so sweet. Sometimes she does it when asked, but often she will just lean in and kiss us out of the blue! She also loves to give
Abby kisses. It is a good thing Abby is so tolerant!
Last weekend Michael and Kinsey came over for a visit, and it was so much fun to watch the girls play together. They are exactly 2 years apart in age so they don't play together as well as Lilly and Reagan did, but they still had a good time. We took them to the park and to the pool. Kinsey is so comfortable in the water. Reagan is getting there. Starting next week we have 2 weeks of swimming lessons so that should help. We also went with Kim, Lincoln, and Kim's mom to a park here in Charlotte that had a petting zoo, and play ground, and a carousal. Reagan and Lincoln had a great time running around and they were both sound asleep in their carseats minutes after we were on the road.
So the heat of summer has hit the Carolinas, and now our challenge is to stay busy without being able to go outside much (or at least in the middle of the day). But we are starting up a new Romp n' Roll Art Class, the morning swim lessons, and she is starting to like coloring and occasionally watching cartoons, so we will get by :)

Our Visit To Rachel and Lilly's in Utah

2009-05-29T17:55:00.000-07:00

Reagan and I recently spent a week in Salt Lake City, Utah visiting my best friend Rachel, and her beautiful two year old daughter, Lilly. I was so nervous about flying across the country with my little girl who doesn't sit still for two seconds, but she actually surprised me and did really well on the flights (thank God for portable DVD players and patient passengers). But it was so worth it to be able to see Rachel and Lilly (it had been over a year) and to have them meet Reagan! Reagan and Lilly hit it off right away and were inseperable for the whole visit. It was so cute to see them play together and interact! I know they will be life long friends, but I just wish we lived closer! Rachel is an amazing mom, and Lilly is the most well behaved and polite two year old I have ever met! I got lots of tips and advice from Rach and I'm hoping Reagan will also have a very mild case of the terrible twos. During our visit, we went on a hike in the beautiful mountains of Utah, went to Rachel's gym several times, went shopping, went out to eat, Rachel and I got pedicures, and we all got lots of quality play time together! It couldn't have been a better vacation! We miss you already, Rachel and Lilly, and we can't wait to see you again!

Little Miss Congeniality

2009-05-04T17:00:00.001-07:00

Reagan has to be one of the most friendly one year olds I have ever seen! Her new thing is that she waves at everyone! It is really very cute. In the grocery store, she waves at everyone that walks by until they notice her and wave back, when we are outside, she waves at evey car that goes by and even sometimes to planes that fly by, when the camera comes out she waves, when a babysitter comes, she happily waves goodbye to me, and when I put her down in her crib for naps and for bed at night she waves goodbye as I close the door. It is so sweet. It is also fun to see the reactions of total strangers who can't help but smile when they see her little smiling face and that cute little flick of the wrist that she does. I can only hope that Reagan will remain so friendly and care free as she gets older.

Little Miss Busy

2009-04-19T08:36:00.001-07:00

I think I'm going to have to start censoring Reagan's reading material! She is getting too many ideas :) Actually, I think this book was written with her in mind! The funny thing is, I snapped this picture as quickly as I could because she only sits in her chair for a few seconds at a time (she prefers to stand in it, push it around the room, and try to tip it over). During her wakeful hours she does not slow down for a second! She loves to be outside now that it is nice out, and rarely is she content anymore in our "caged in" livingroom. I wish I could just borrow a little of her energy sometimes :)

Uncle Andrew and Aunt Niki's Visit

2009-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

It was so nice to have Andrew and Niki here for a long weekend. They came at a tough time though, because I had just finished weaning Reagan (which caused her to be very fussy and clingy to me) and she was having a reaction to her one year vaccines. But, with that being said, she was still in pretty good spirits and she just loves her Uncle Andrew and Aunt Niki! Steve and Andrew even babysat one afternoon so that Niki and I could go out to lunch with Karly and go to get pedicures! The boys survived even though Reagan decided to have one of her biggest dirty diapers ever :) Andrew even rocked Reagan to sleep one night! I know that he and Niki will be great parents one day! Preceeding Andrew and Niki's visit, my mom had been here for three weeks and it was so nice for us all to have some Grandma time. Mike and Kinsey also came to visit for a weekend and we celebrated Kinsey's third birthday. It is always fun to see Kinsey and Reagan interact and play! But for the moment, all of our company is gone and Steve is also out of town for the week so it is pretty quiet around here. When I bring Reagan down from a nap she is always looking around for her audience, but to her dismay, it is just Abby and me. She also has a pretty bad cold at the moment and because of it we have had to miss Romp n Roll and going to the gym this week. This makes things tough because she hates being cooped up in the house (as do I). But yesterday I got her a brush (as her hair is getting quite long and tangled) and we spent a great deal of time brushing each others hair. It was so cute! She loves brushing my hair....and I love having my hair brushed, so it works out well. I will have to be creative today as it is another rainy day and we will be spending a great deal of time inside. But Grandma Denise, Aunt Kate and Kim are coming to visit on Friday for the week, so we are really looking forward to that!

Romp N Roll Birthday Party

2009-03-17T17:40:00.001-07:00

Reagan and I have been part of a play group since she was 4 months old. There are 10 babies in it, and they are all around the same age. So we decided to have a group first birthday party for them at Romp N Roll. It was so much fun! All of the families came, and one of the other moms made cupcakes so each baby had their own! Grandma Barb and Aunt Karly came too, and it was so great to have them there. Romp N Roll is the perfect place for a birthday party! Everyone had a great time!

Happy First Birthday Little Sunshine!

2009-03-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

Reagan turned 1 on March 11th! I can't believe it has been a year already! I would say that she had a very happy, fun filled first birthday. We started the day by going to the gym (she now loves the gym child watch so she had a great time). When we got home, her best friend, Lincoln came over to play and test out her new chair (one of her many birthday presents). Then after a nice long nap Daddy came home from his weekly trip (a day early- just for her birthday), Aunt Karly came over with her boyfriend, Mike and Grandma Barb made an awesome dinner for everyone. Then Reagan got to dig in to her very own birthday cake. She was very unsure at first, but after she sampled the frosting, she stuck both hands in and smeared it all over her face. Steve tried to demonstrate how to eat it but I think she would rather wear it. The best part was we had Grandma Denise, Aunt Cate, Uncle Andrew, and Aunt Niki on the webcam so they all got to see Reagan's first incounter with sugar! But even with all that sugar she was still in bed sound asleep by 7:30........my little angle! Happy Birthday Sweetheart! I love you!
We are having a party for all of the babies in our playgroup at Romp n Roll this weekend so I will definitely post some pictures after that. I can only hope that all the rest of the years of her life don't go by this fast!

John, Krysta, and Tom's Visit

2009-03-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

John, Krysta, and Tom came out to visit for a long weekend and it was so great to spend some time with them! Reagan was loving all the attention and all of the blackberries! The first night we got a sitter and we all went to a nice resturant uptown, and the second night Karly took Krysta, Tom, Krysta's sister, Jodee, and me out on the town with all of her friends. We had so much fun! The weather was beautiful all weekend so we spent a lot of time outside. We can't wait to hang out with them again soon!

Daddy's 28th Birthday

2009-03-12T17:02:00.000-07:00

Steve turned 28 last week and unfortunately, he had to leave early in the morning to go out of town for a few days. But Reagan and I got up early and she put on her special outfit for Daddy. She ran right up to him to give him a hug right when he came down stairs. What better birthday present could you ask for?

Our Little Bookworm

2009-02-11T17:39:00.001-08:00

Reagan's new thing is having books read to her and sitting on laps. She loves to go to her book shelf and pick out a book and bring it to us to read to her. After she hands us the book, she turns around, backs up, and plops down on our laps. It is so cute! I just love the fact that she is actually sitting and cuddling for a change. She is still go go go, but it is nice that we now have the occasional breaks :) She is also doing a lot better at the child care at the gym. I take her at least 3 mornings a week and we are now to the point that she doesn't even cry when I leave. When I come to pick her up, she is usually playing happily with the other kids or playing with the blocks by herself! I am so happy about this because I really enjoy my workouts!
We went to Reagan's best friend, Lincoln's first birthday party last week and it was so much fun! I can't believe Reagan's is right around the corner.....how the time flies!

Brays Island Trip

2009-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

Steve, Reagan, and I spent a long weekend in Brays Island South Carolina with Cap, Wendy, Andrew, Niki, Tom, and Uncle Bob. It was so nice to get to spend time with all of them and to have a weekend away. Cap and Wendy baby proofed the house and got lots of toys and necessities for Reagan. Reagan had such a good time walking all over the house and exploring the new territory. She also loved all the attention from her aunts, uncles, and grandparents. We took her swimming in the indoor pool, and out to eat where we discovered she loves sweet potato fries. Reagan and I also got to spend the afternoon with our good friend from Twentynine Palms, Allie. She and her husband are stationed at Paris Island, which was very close. It was so great to see her! Niki and I also got to skeet shouting. It was my first time, but luckily we had a great teacher and it was a lot of fun. The boys had babysitting duty :) All in all, it was a great time! We can't wait to see everyone again!

She's Walking!

2009-01-04T04:56:00.000-08:00

Reagan started out the new year on two feet! January 1st she took 8 steps and several sets of five steps. With each day, she takes even more, and she seems to just love it. She will giggle and laugh as she waddles around and usually ends up on her rear. She has also just started to clap her hands, which is so cute. As you can see, she has recently discovered Abby's doggy door and she loves to pull up on it and push it open. It seems like every day she discovers something new and learns a new skill!

Reagan's First Christmas

2008-12-28T17:02:00.000-08:00

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone already! The whole month of December has just been a whirlwind. Grandma Barb was here visiting for most of the month, and it was so great to have her! Reagan has really started to bond with Grandma and we miss her so much already! We had such a good time having her come to all of our weekly activities with us and getting up to play with us at 5am every morning. Grandma also made us so many great meals and baked tons or Christmas cookies for all our neighbors and friends. She also helped me host a Christmas party for our playgroup that was so much fun! We made two attempts to get Reagan's picture taken with Santa, but both times she took one look at the big harry man that was holding her and screamed uncontrollably. I guess I can't blame her! Steve was traveling quite a bit this month but it has been great having him home and off work for the holiday. It would be an understatement to say that Santa was very good to Reagan. It seems like we were helping her open presents all day long. She got so many cute outfits and fun toys, but she seemed to be more interested in the wrapping paper and boxes. I guess we should enjoy this while it lasts! Uncle Tom came to visit for three days right before Christmas. Reagan just loves him! It is so cute to see them together. Tommy is going to make a great dad someday! Then, Aunt Jeanne, Uncle John, Michael, Beth, and Kinsey came to visit after Christmas and it was so much fun to watch Kinsey and Reagan play together. I hope they will only get closer and closer as they get older. Then Grandpa Cap came to visit for a few days, and Reagan had a great time playing with his as well. She is just eating up all of this attention!

Reagan's First Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

Grandma Denise and Aunt Cate came down for Thanksgiving this year. It was so great to have them here and to be together for Reagan's first Thanksgiving. Reagan even had a mini Thanksgiving dinner of baby food turkey and gravy and sweet potatoes. The turkey was her first taste of meat and I don't think she liked it very well. Just this past week I have also added Cheerios to her diet, and she just can't get enough of them! I've also been cutting her little pieces of apples and bananas, so little by little she is getting sick of the jars of baby food. As you can see from the picture above, she is also quite the little grocery shopper. She loves to push her little grocery cart around the house. I think she will be walking in a few weeks because she already lets go of anything she has pulled up on and stands on her own for several seconds. She is always on the move. Her new favorite game is chasing Abby around the house and trying to take her toy away. Abby is pretty quick, but Reagan does catch her every once in a while. Reagan will just take Abby's tire from her mouth and Abby will let her do it. Abby really is very good with her. It is so funny to watch. Reagan has also gotten even more clingy with me lately. If I am in the room, she won't go to anyone else- not even Steve. It makes me feel horrible and I'm sure it hurts his feelings a little as well. As good as it makes me feel, I am hoping it is just a phase. I guess I should just enjoy it now because when she reaches her teenage years, I'll be lucky if she ever wants to be around me! This is such a great stage because every day I see more and more personality coming through. We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving!

Reagan's First Halloween

2008-11-01T17:30:00.001-07:00

Reagan's First Halloween

2008-11-01T17:23:00.001-07:00

Reagan's First Halloween

2008-11-01T17:07:00.000-07:00

Reagan was a fairy for her first Halloween. She wore her costume to Romp n Roll and also to her play group, but she was in bed before the trick or treaters started coming. All the babies lined up on the couch are in her play group. They all looked so cute, and we moms were so happy that they sat comfortably for a few seconds so that we could get these shots. My dad and Margy are in town visiting and they came with us to the pumpkin patch and to Reagan's swim lesson. Reagan decided to show off at her lesson and went completely under the water several times (and was happy when she came up)! She also had a great time at the pumpkin patch as Grandpa showed her her first horse, roster, and pony and Daddy gave her her first ride on his shoulders. So, although she didn't have any candy this year, I would say Reagan had a very happy Halloween!

We Love Grandparents!

2008-10-28T17:02:00.000-07:00

Even though we were only home for a few days it was so nice for Reagan to be able to spend some time with all of her grandparents. We stayed with my mom, and she has made my old bedroom into a cute little nursery! Reagan slept in the crib that both Karly and I used as babies and she was very spoiled by Grandma Barb. We visited with Grandma Denise and Aunt Cate, and Reagan got to try out the same walker that Steve had used as a baby! Also, for the second time in Reagan's short life she peed on Aunt Cate as she was putting her in the bath tub :) It is a good thing Cate is such a good sport. Reagan got to spend some time with Grandpa Cap out at the Ranch. And now that we are back home, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Margy are here visiting for a week, and Reagan is just loving all the attention!

Andrew and Niki's Wedding

2008-10-28T16:36:00.001-07:00

Steve, Reagan, and I had a wonderful trip back to Michigan for Andrew and Niki's wedding! It is not as easy to fly with Reagan any more now that she is so mobile, but once the planes took off she would eventually fall asleep, so things went well. The wedding was beautiful! It was in Gaylord, MI and the fall colors were perfect! Andrew and Niki are just so perfect for each other and it was so great to see them both so happy! Steve, Reagan, and I were all in the wedding, so it was a pretty busy weekend. My mom also came, and was a huge help! Reagan was an adorable little flower girl, and she and Niki's 9 month old nephew rode down the isle in a wagon. I was so nervous that she would be screaming the whole way down or decide to jump ship half way, but she stayed in and was in good spirits, so needless to say, they were both a hit! Reagan and I stayed in Michigan a few days after Steve left to go back to work. As always, it wasn't long enough, but it was nice to spend a little time with both sets of grandparents.

Hangin' with Dad

2008-10-28T16:25:00.000-07:00

Reagan loves to go to the park down the street. She loves to swing and slide, but when Steve takes her, it always turns into more of a workout. As you can see, Dad loves to cheer her on as she practices her pullups :)

Reagan is 7 Months Old!

2008-10-11T16:51:00.001-07:00

Reagan is 7 months old today, and with this special day also came her first tooth. Her right bottom tooth is just starting to pop through, and as uncomfortable as she must be, she hasn't been too fussy or abnormal. In addition to her first tooth, she also has a little bit of a black eye from bumping into her exersauser while trying to pull up for the hundredth time that day. It must look worse than it is because she only cried for a brief second and then went right back to pulling up. I just hope it is gone by next week for Andrew and Niki's wedding :) She is actually going to be in the wedding and will be pulled down the isle in a wagon along with Niki's 9 month old nephew, Keagan. We will be flying home next week and I am pretty nervous because this will be her first time flying now that she is so mobile. She doesn't sit still for a second, so it will be interesting to see how she does on my lap for an hour and a half. But it will definitely be worth it for us to see our family and for them to see Reagan. Lately she has been enjoying spending time playing in her highchair. Play sessions usually consist of her throwing all of her toys on the floor and me picking them up for her to do it again. She doesn't stay in there for too long because again, she hates to be contained! She has been going to bed pretty regularly at 7pm and as sad as it is to admit, I am never far behind!

Reagan's first trip to the park

2008-10-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Reagan and I went to the park today with our friends Kim and Lincoln. Reagan loves the swings! She would giggle every time I would push her. She just loves the wind in her hair. The weather is so beautiful here in NC this time of year, so we spend as much time as we can outside. Reagan has been such a sweet, happy baby lately! She is just a joy to be around. Her diet now consists of sweet potatoes, squash, sweet peas, apples, bananas, avocado, and beans. She seems to like everything she has tried. As soon as she swallows a bite, she opens her little mouth like a birdy for more. It is so cute :) And because she is so mobile and also FEARLESS she has had several spills that I haven't been able to prevent (as can be seen in the picture of her with the big black and blue bruise on her head- needless to say, we now have a down comforter covering our coffee table to prevent that from happening again). But she is very tough, and always gets back up to do it again.

Look at those Biceps!

2008-09-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

Reagan is now pulling up on everything! As you can see, she still isn't too sturdy, but Mom is never far in order to catch her when she falls. But she is so persistant. No matter how many times she topples over, she always gets back up and tries to grab whatever she can from the top of the coffee table (usually the phone, remote, camera- all the things that I used to put up there because she couldn't get to them). She also loves her walker that she uses to stroll around the kitchen. She has just discovered that she can open up the kitchen drawers when she is in the walker and that there are many new and different objects right there at her fingertips. It is so fun to watch her discover and explore. In her little eyes, everything is so fascinating!

Little Miss Social

2008-09-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Here are some random shots from all of Reagan's playgroups and social gatherings. She is currently pulling herself up on anything she can get her hands on. She loves to pull up on the coffee table and grab everything off of it. She is still pretty wobbly though, so I am constantly following her around to support and catch her. She has taken a few good tumbles, be she it pretty tough!

Reagan's 6 Month Doctors Appointment

2008-09-21T17:51:00.000-07:00

Reagan had her 6 month well baby doctors apt. on the 11th. She weighed 16 pounds 2 ounces and was 27 inches long. This the 50% for weight and the 90% for height. So I guess she is going to take after Steve in that respect. Unfortunately, at the time, she had a runny nose and we thought it might be a cold so we had to come back a week later to get her shots. This is her third round of vaccines, and the first that she has had any kind of reaction to. She was very lethargic all evening, and when I went to give her her squash for dinner, she fell sound asleep in her little chair while she was eating! At that point I knew she wasn't herself because this is the baby that won't go to sleep for anything. Plus, she has her daddy's appetite and eating is usually always first priority. She was also very affectionate and cuddly when usually she is too busy for such things. She woke up in the night with a fever and was still very sleepy the next day, but after that she was back to her old active self :) The good news is, she is set for shots until one year.....but I guess at this rate, that will be here before we know it!

We have also recently added veggies to Reagan's diet. She has had both squash and sweet potatoes now and seems to like both. I made two big batches in the food processor. I don't know how long I will keep making the food from scratch as it can be very time consuming, but for now, it is doable.

Steve and I went out last night probably for the first time since Reagan was born. Breanna, our babysitter, came over, did the whole bed time routine and got Reagan to sleep with no problem at all. It was so nice to know she was sleeping safe and sound so we could enjoy our dinner and a movie.

What a wonderful six months it has been!

Reagan's Busy Social Schedule

2008-09-11T11:36:00.000-07:00

Although Reagan is just 6 months old, she already has a very full social calander. Every Monday we have Kindermusik where she learns about music and interacts with five other babies. Every Tuesday we go to a program called "Lap Learners" at the local library where the librarian reads and sings to a big group of babies and afterwords the babies have playtime (usually consisting of lots of chewing on the literature). Wednesdays we go to a baby class at "Romp n Roll". This is an awesome learning/play center where she plays with developmentally appropriate toys and interacts with six different babies. On Thursdays, we have the local playgroup that I started. There are 10 mommies and babies who attend regularly and we just alternate whos house it is at. All of the babies are between 5 and 7 months, and with the exception of Reagan, they are all boys. Needless to say, Reagan is quite a hit, and she is also the only one who is crawling, so it is very funny to watch her make her rounds and interact with all her little boyfriends. On Fridays we have swim lessons. I signed her up for a Mommy and Me group lesson, but because we were the only ones to sign up, we have a private lesson. The first one was last week and Reagan had a blast! The instructor brought all kinds of water toys so she immediately started kicking her legs and splashing with her arms to get the toys. When the instructor saw this, he said she had already accomplished everything the class was supposed to teach. She also went under water several times and it didn't bother her at all. We may just have the next Michael Phelps on our hands :)
So, after a very busy and fun filled week, the weekends are Reagan's down time. She enjoys playing in the exersauser and rain forest jumper and watching football and UFC with Dad. She is such a little ball of energy. Some days I really wonder if I will be able to keep up. But I have found (thru another mom in the playgroup) a great babysitter who comes over twice a week for a few hours so I can get some running done and go to the gym. It was hard at first, but Reagan really seems to like her now. Usually if someone else is holding her and she sees me she will push away from them and toward me, but when I came home yesterday, Brianna was holding her and she didn't want to come to me at all. I was sad in a way, but I was also very glad that she is happy with Brianna!
We are also trying to get her used to the day care at the gym and at church. There have been several times when we have come to pick her up after a workout or church service respectively and her eyes are all red and her cheeks are streaked with tears, but she is getting a lot better, and I'm trying to tell myself that it is good for her to be away from Mom a little bit. I am taking the AFAA Group Fitness Instructor exam next week in order to get certified to teach aerobics at a few local gyms. I'm really excited about it, and I think it will be nice to do something part time. But I will have to be sure that it fits into Reagan's social schedule, because I don't want her to have to miss out on any of her activities :)

And the Baby Proofing Begins!

2008-09-02T18:05:00.000-07:00

As of August 31st, Reagan is crawling. She has been so close for several weeks now, but just the other night, I set her down to get her bath ready, and when I looked down she was slowly making her way toward me. It was so cute to see that she finally figured out how to pick up one arm and balance on the other. She is still pretty shaky, but every day she gets a little more confident. My first reaction was pure excitement as I watched her accomplish something I'd seen her try so hard to figure out, but now, I'm a little sad as it serves as a clear indication of just how fast she is growing up. I know this is just one of many many more milestones to come, but a part of me just wants to keep her at this stage forever. She has also learned to make raspberries with her lips and it is so funny. It just cracks her up! Her favorite time to do it is when I am feeding her her rice cereal, so she essentially spits it all over me! She finds that hilarious as well! What a girl!

Our Little Mexican Creeper

2008-08-19T18:09:00.000-07:00

The first two pictures are of Reagan in the little dress we got her in Mexico, and the second picture captures Reagan's new favorite stance. She loves to be on her hands and knees, and although she cannot yet crawl, she does scootch or creep. She just inches forward or rocks back and forth. She is even developing rug burns on her knees, but they don't seem to bother her. I know she will be taking off any day now!

Cabo

2008-08-19T17:45:00.001-07:00

Steve and I had a wonderful time in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for Cap and Wendy's wedding. Although it was very hard to be away from Reagan for the week, it was so nice to relax in the sun and to visit with friends and family! We all stayed in a beautiful 13 bedroom villa on the side of a cliff overlooking the ocean. We spent one day deep sea fishing and the rest of the time lounging by the pool. What made the trip even better was the fact that every time we called home to the grandmas, we were informed that Reagan was just an angel. She did very well in our absence, and she definitely didn't have any shortage of love, cuddling, and attention! Needless to say, Steve and I were both pretty ready to come home after 7 days and get back to our little one. We couldn't believe how much more mobile she had become in just one week. She is so close to crawling, and she even looks more mature. All in all, it was a great week, but there is no place like home!

She is growing up so fast!

2008-08-01T17:40:00.001-07:00

Reagan is now 4 and 1/2 months old and is getting bigger and more mobile by the day! Every morning when I pick her up I swear she is heavier, and now when I leave her on her play mat for a minute, I return to find that she has rolled ten feet away. She is now also rolling from her back to her tummy, and she scootches both forward and backward. Steve put together her Exersauser last weekend, and she absolutely loves it. She loves to bounce and spin around, play with all the toys, and put then all in her mouth :) I have started a play group for babies 0-6 months on the Charlotte mommies website, and Reagan and I have both had a lot of fun meeting other babies and moms. There are 6 babies in the group and Reagan is the only girl, but she can roll, scootch, and hold her head up just as well as the big boys!
Reagan has also recently started sleeping longer at night and taking more predictable naps during the day. She still doesn't love the stroller or car seat, but she is always happy in the Bjorn. Today we took her to the pool and it was the first time that we actually put her in the water. Steve, my mom and I took turns carrying her around the pool and she seemed to really enjoy kicking her feet and looking at the water. She is such a good baby! There is no way I could imagine my life without her. But next week, Steve and I are going to Mexico for 7 days for Cap and Wendy's wedding. I am very excited for the trip, but I am also very sad/nervous about leaving Reagan. She will be in great hands, as my mom, Denise, and Karly will all be here to take care of her, but I just can't imagine how much I'm going to miss her. I had my hair done today and was away for 2 hours and that was hard enough. I know it will be harder on me than it will be on her. I just hope everything goes smoothly for the grandmas! Steve and I have the 2 best moms in the world....not to mention the best little baby girl!

Our New York Visit

2008-07-24T17:19:00.001-07:00

Reagan and I just got home from spending a week in New York with my Aunt Jeanne and Uncle John. My mom and Karly also met us there, so it was so nice to have everyone together. I met up with Steve in Syracuse for the weekend as he was in the wedding of one of his Marine buddies from 29 Palms. So it was also my first time away from Reagan for more than 3 hours. But she had wonderful babysitters so she was fine. I honestly think it was harder for me than it was for her. Uncle John would walk her around in his beautiful flower garden and sing to her and play her songs on the guitar when she got fussy, and Aunt Jeanne, Mom, and Karly would cater to her every need. It was also her first time taking a bottle, but she got the hang of it very quickly, and she liked it so much she was eating 6 ounces per feeding! During this week we also gave her her first solid food in the form of rice cereal. At her 4 month Dr.'s appointment, the pediatrician recommended that we start it once a day. Above is a picture of the first attempt, and she did very well! She sucked it down and even cried for more in between spoon fulls. I guess she takes after her dad when it comes to eating :)
During our visit, Reagan also got to meet my grandma's sister (her great-great Aunt Ruth), my Aunt Suzy, Uncle John, cousins Shaun and Sarah, and Aunt Rosie and Uncle Rudy. We also visited Fort Frey were my grandmother grew up. Reagan also did very well on the plane both ways! All in all it was a great vacation. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful family!

Reagan's 4 month Check Up

2008-07-12T06:50:00.000-07:00

Reagan is now 4 months old and yesterday we went to the doctor's for her four month well baby visit. We found out that she is doing very well and growing according to schedule. She weighed 13 pounds 7 ounces and was 24 and 3/4 inches long. This puts her at the 50th percentile for weight and the 75th percentile for height. It looks like she got her dad's genes in the height department, which is a good thing :) The doctor also informed us that her head shape is much better and there will be no need for a corrective helmet! I was so relieved to hear that. They also gave her four vaccines (3 in the form of shots), so she cried for a few minutes, but was very brave and looked very cute with 3 little Tasmanian devil band aids on her chunky thighs!

Unfortunately, she does have a head cold at the moments. She has been coughing and sneezing and had a runny nose for the last few days now. She and I are scheduled to fly to NY tomorrow to visit my mom, Aunt Jeanne, and Uncle John and then Steve and I have a wedding there next weekend. I am very nervous to fly with her when she is congested. Especially because it is just the two of us. I am just praying that she will nurse well during take off and landing so her ears don't bother her. The doctor said she is okay to fly, so I hope he is right.

I can't believe Reagan is already 4 months old. Looking back, the time has flown by (thinking in terms of some of the long nights, it may seem longer). But I wouldn't change one moment of her life so far! She is truly a blessing! Everyday she is a little more alert and affectionate. I am excited for my family in NY to be able to spend some time with her.

Congratulations CAPTAIN Pinkerton!

2008-07-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today Steve was promoted from a 1st Lt. to a Captain! Major Zimmerman and SgtMaj. Thetford came up from Columbia for the ceremony which was conducted in Steve's office here in Charlotte. Even though it was a brief ceremony, our little Reagan managed to fall fast asleep and miss her daddy's big moment. I felt so proud to pin on Steve's captain bars (with a little help from the major) knowing all that he had put into his career and all the sacrifices he as made for our country. It was so nice to have Denise, Cate, and Karly here for the ceremony!

A Play Date for Reagan

2008-06-26T07:09:00.000-07:00

Our friends Courtney and Paul had us over for a BBQ last weekend and it turned out to be a fun play date for Reagan as they have a little girl who was born 2 weeks after Reagan. Some other friends, Jenni and Phil were there with their baby boy who was born a week after Reagan, and there was also a 3 week old baby. So we layed them all on the bed side by side and watched them interact. It may have been more fun for the adults than the babies :)

A Whole Different Side of Reagan

2008-06-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

Since we have been home from our trip to Michigan, Reagan's personality has changed quite a bit. She used to be so happy and easy going, and now, all of the sudden, she is quite fussy and temperamental. She has decided that she no longer likes the stroller, the car seat, or the pacifier (so in other words anything that makes her fall asleep). She basically hates to go to sleep! And I guess I can't blame her, I mean who would want to miss out on playing with me all day long :). But the stroller bit is really killing me because I loved being able to take her out on my morning run. Now she gets halfway down the block and screams constantly until the stroller comes to a stop in our garage. I'm hoping it is just a phase! Also, because she won't take the pacifier, it has become harder and harder to get her down for naps and asleep for the night. Many times, after lots of fussing and crying, I revert to nursing her to sleep. But a few nights ago, she was extremely tired but fighting sleep with all her might. So we decided (Steve made the ultimate decision) to let her cry herself to sleep in her crib for the first time ever. We decided we would go and get her if the crying lasted more than 15 minutes. But to our surprise, a miserable 11 minutes later, she was out! It was such a good feeling to know that she could get herself to sleep without being nursed, rocked, or walked for a hundred laps around the house! Since then she has done it several other times, but there have also been times when she has cried for more than 15 minutes and in those cases, I go to her and rock her to sleep. But we are making progress. And hopefully with a little more sleep, our good spirited little Reagan with reappear!

Our First Family Trip Home to Michigan

2008-06-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Reagan and I just returned from a two week trip home to Michigan. Steve couldn't take the whole two weeks off, but he was able to spend five days at home with us. The main reason for our trip was Tommy's High School graduation. Denise planned a wonderful graduation party for him at their home on Lake Huron. The weather was beautiful and Steve and Andrew did all the grilling for the event. Steve made a special marinade for the chicken and we all helped shape hundreds of hamburger patties the day before. Reagan was a huge hit at the party (although she decided to sleep through the first two hours of it). We also got to attend Tom's graduation! Congrats Tom, we are so proud of you! Good luck next year at Michigan State!
We spent the first few days at Grandma Denise's, and Reagan got to sleep in the same bassinet that was used by her father and her aunt and uncles. She did really well with all the company, and her only problem was that she did not want to be put down for bed or for naps because she didn't want to miss out on the action. The remainder of the trip we stayed at Grandma Barb's. Here, Reagan slept in a bassinet that her great-great grandfather made and that both Karly and I slept in. Grandma Barb read her lots of books and got her lots of stimulating toys. We spent most of the time visiting family and friends. We spent several days with Grandpa Bob and Grandma Margy and we had dinner at the ranch with Grandpa Cap. All in all, it was a wonderful trip! It was so nice to have Reagan surrounded by her loving family! Of course it went by way too fast, and the next time we are home, Reagan will be much bigger. Thank God for webcams :) Reagan also did very well on both plane rides. She nursed most of the time so the pressure wouldn't bother her. Aunt Cate was with us on the flight home as she is staying with us here in Charlotte for a month! I was so thankful to have her on the flight because about half way through it, Reagan had a huge blowout in her diaper! It went through her diaper, her onesie, her pants, and through the burp rag I desperately put around her. As soon as we landed, Cate and I ran to the airport restroom and stripped Reagan down. The only thing I had in the diaper bag was a sweater, so Reagan met Daddy and Aunt Karly in the airport in her diaper and a sweater :) We must have looked like real rednecks! But nevertheless, we made it home and had a wonderful trip! It is good to be home, but we can't wait for the next one!

Lots of ZZZs

2008-05-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Last night Reagan slept through the night for the first time! She is 2 and 1/2 months old and has been typically waking up twice during the night to feed, but last night she surprised us all. I fed her at 8pm, she was asleep by 9 in her bassinet and we didn't hear a peep from her until 6:15 this morning. Of course I instinctively woke up at 3:30, 4:30, and 5:30 to make sure she was still breathing :) Hopefully this will be a new trend and Steve, Karly, Reagan and I can all say goodbye to late night tv.

Reagan's first day at the pool

2008-05-23T10:27:00.001-07:00

The pools in our subdivision just opened last weekend, so Aunt Karly and I thought it would be fun to dress Reagan up in her swim attire (thank you Krysta and John) and take her for a stroll to the pool. By the time we got there, she was sound asleep and the water was pretty cold anyway so we just took a few pictures and left. Maybe next time we will actually take a dip :)

Rollin' Reagan

2008-05-17T14:25:00.000-07:00

Reagan has been rolling over since she was 3 weeks old! I couldn't believe it the first time it happened. And of course it was at 6 am when I was the only one watching. So for awhile, no one believed me. But once I caught it on video no one can deny her dexterity. She is quite the mover!

Our 3 Year Anniversary!

2008-05-15T11:57:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Steve and I celebrated our three year wedding anniversary! I can't believe three years have gone by since we began this crazy journey! It has been wonderful! Even with the two deployments and two cross country moves, I wouldn't trade these past three years for anything. With Steve's busy military career, I am just so thankful that we got to spend this special day together. Reagan and I met Steve at his office and we had a picnic lunch together. It is crazy to think that on our last anniversary we were talking about how we both really wanted to start a family and wondering if it would ever be possible, and now here we are, blessed with our first baby girl! We really have so much to celebrate and be thankful for!

Reagan's Two Month Check up

2008-05-15T11:49:00.001-07:00

Reagan had her 2 month well baby check up this week. At which time she was also given her first three shots. It was a pretty traumatic experience for both she and I, but she was a trooper! Her weight was 10 pounds 7 ounces and her length was 23 inches, both of which are in the 50th percentile for her age group. The doctor said her head shape is looking better, but if it hasn't improved by the 4 month visit, we may have to be referred to a specialist and prescribed a helmet. I am just praying that it rounds out on it's own, but if that is her only health concern, we should consider ourselves very lucky!

My First Mother's Day

2008-05-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

This Mother's Day was both my first and best one yet! I got to spend it with my beautiful new daughter, my amazing husband, and my awesome sister. It would have only been better if my Mom and Denise could have been here too. Reagan is honestly the best Mother's Day gift anyone could ask for! She is such a joy and a blessing! Lately she has been smiling so much and even laughing when we talk to her. It is so hard to be so far away from our families at these times because they are missing out on all these milestones. We are taking Reagan home the last week in May for Tommy's graduation party, and that trip just can't come soon enough!

Reagan's Infant Dedication Ceremony

2008-05-08T07:35:00.001-07:00

Steve and I are so blessed to have found a wonderful church here in Charlotte. The belief here is that baptism should take place when individuals are old enough to make that conscious decision for themselves. So as infants, they offer what is called an infant dedication ceremony. This is an opportunity for the parents to make a public commitment to raising their child in the Christian Faith. Steve, Reagan, and I took part in this ceremony last night, and it was very special to all of us. Three other infants were also dedicated, and all four of their pictures were projected onto big screens in the background. Our pastor held each child and prayed for them individually. We were so happy to have Grandma Denise and Aunt Karly there for the ceremony. Karly and Andrew have agreed to be Reagan's Godparents, and we are so thankful for that. Reagan slept through most of the ceremony in Steve's arms, but she seemed very content.

She is quite a mover!

2008-05-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

Reagan and her big sis, Abby

Reagan and her many fans

2008-05-05T10:23:00.000-07:00

Our wonderful neighbors, Stephanie and Jordan

My good high school friend, Kelsey

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Margy

Great Aunt Carol and Uncle Eddie

Our Wonderful Family and Friends Come to Visit!

2008-05-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Grandma Barb

Aunt Cate

Uncle Tom

Grandpa Cap

Our great friend Allie

2008-05-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

Uncle John, Aunt Jeanne, and Kinsey with Baby Reagan

The Wonderful Aunt Karly

Grandma Barb

Grandma Denise

Daddy and Uncle Andrew

2008-05-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

March 27th
About 2 hours after Grandma Barb left to go home to Michigan, Andrew and Niki arrived! It has been so nice to have them here and watch them interact with Reagan. Niki is such a natural and Andrew likes to hold her and he even changes diapers. They will be such great parents themselves someday! I just wish we didn’t live so far from them! They are so fun to be with!

We also had Reagan’s two-week well baby check up today. We were so happy to learn that she weighs 7 pounds 6 ounces! This means she is getting enough breast milk and she is now well above her birth weight. This is also great because the lactation consultant said I could now start phasing out the pumping sessions. Sometimes with all this pumping and feeding, I feel like a real Dairy Queen :)

March 30th
Well, yesterday afternoon Denise and Catherine got here and they will be here for a week as it is Cate’s spring break. It is so great to have them here. Andrew and Niki leave this afternoon and we are pretty sad about that. They have both been so good with Reagan and it has been great to spend time with them.

April 11, 2008
Well, another round of company has come and gone. Tommy came for a week on his way home from Spring Break and Cap came for 2 days and just left today. I think they both instantly fell in love with Reagan. I don’t know how they could not. She is such an angel. She really isn’t fussy too often and she has been sleeping and eating well. We have only had one scary incident so far. A few nights ago (when it was just Karly and I with Reagan. Steve was at an overnight in Clemson) she was extremely fussy after a midnight feeding. Neither Karly nor I could calm her down. We tried everything and she began crying real tears and screaming at the top of her lungs. At that point, I was desperate and decided to call my neighbor, Stephanie (she used to be a neonatal nurse). It was midnight of course but she came rushing over and put us at ease. As soon as she held Reagan she immediately stopped fussing and seemed to relax. We determined it was just bad gas and ever since I have been really careful about what I eat. I have cut out dairy and am drinking only soymilk. Thank God for Stephanie! I think she really is Reagan’s guardian angel!

Reagan Michele Pinkerton

2008-05-05T09:41:00.000-07:00

Born on March 11, 2008 at 5:47 pm

6 pounds, 5 ounces, 20 inches

2008-05-05T09:09:00.000-07:00

These last 11 days (the first 11 days of Reagan’s life) have been a whirlwind. The time has flown by, and I have been meaning to sit down and journal the whole experience so that I will never forget this special time. Well, 11 days later, Reagan is sleeping, Daddy is at the gym, my mom and Karly are at the grocery store, and Abby is content basking in the sun outside, so I finally have a minute to reflect.

It all started the morning of Tuesday, March 11th (the day after my actual due date). The night before I have bunco at Donna’s house and was out til 10:00 talking with the ladie and informing them that I was scheduled for an induction Thursday morning if Reagan hadn’t come by then. At 7am I got up with Steve and made his eggs for breakfast and put together a lunch for him. I said goodbye to Karly as she headed to work and then went up stairs to get ready for the gym. Abby was looking so comfortable cuddled up in our bed so I decided to lye down and pet her for a minute. At that point she got up and circled around and plopped herself down right on my stomach. I got up to go to the bathroom and as I was bending to get a headband…….my water broke! (7:45am) I ran to the phone to call Steve who had just left for work. He hadn’t gotten far so he immediately turned around to come home. He stopped his jeep at the top of our sloping driveway but forgot to put it in park. Needless to say when he came back outside to load up the bags, the jeep was in the middle of the cul de sac. At that point we were overwhelmed with excitement! Steve took Abby to the golf course to tire her out for her day by herself and I shaved my legs, brushed my hair, ate a bowl of cereal, and put on some make up. Within a half hour we were loaded into the jeep and headed to the hospital.
It was a pain free ride for me, as my contractions had not started yet. On the way we managed to call all of our family, and within an hour Denise and Cate had booked a flight, which was to get into Charlotte at around 7pm. Upon arrival to the hospital, we were directed to triage where the nurse confirmed that my water had indeed broken and I was only about 1 centimeter dilated. She informed us that because my natural contractions hadn’t started, it would be best to start pitocin within the hour. Steve and I were then directed to a labor and delivery room and introduced to our nurse, a very friendly talkative southern lady. Her first task was to give me the largest IV I had ever seen. After a brief bout of nausea, I was fine and trying to mentally prepare myself for the events to come. According to the monitor, my contractions started soon after the pitocin was administered, but I could not feel them at all (which was nice). So the nurse upped the amount of pitocin and I soon started feeling the pain. Luckily, by that time, Karly had gotten off work and was at my side. She was very soothing and helpful throughout my whole labor experience. The contractions soon became unbearable and I tried getting on the birthing ball. I was leaning on Steve and Karly was rubbing the small of my back. But after awhile, I knew I would need an epidural. By the time I decided to get one though, the anesthesiologist was called in for an emergency C-section and would be a good half an hour. So, after the longest half an hour of my life, I was poked twice in the back before the doc found the epidural space. But thankfully, this would be thehardest part of the whole birthing process. Minutes after the epidural was administered I felt nothing at all from my waist down. My legs were dead weight and I could not feel them or move them at all. At that point, I was 5 centimeters dilated and was able to relax, read a book, and even take a short nap before Dr. Wheeler arrived around 5:15. At that point he check me and I was fully dilated. Soon after I started pushing. Steve held my right leg and Karly held my left and after 6 sets of pushes, Reagan made her way into the world. Dr. Wheeler brought out a mirror so I could watch the whole thing, and although I was reluctant at first, it was so amazing and I’m glad I did!
Reagan was immediately placed on my chest skin to skin where she stayed for at least an hour. She immediately grasped on to my finger with her tiny hand and I knew I was instantly in love! To my surprise, she was not covered in white goop, but was rather clean, a little purple, and so perfect. She lay there wide-eyed without crying, just taking it all in. It was so amazing. Steve looked a little overwhelmed and standoffish, so I reminded him that he could touch her too. After about an hour and hundreds of pictures the nurses took Reagan away to weigh and measure her and give her her vitamin K shot and eye cleaning. Then Steve got to hold her for the first time and that was so incredible to watch. She looked like a little peanut in his hands. Then it was Karly’s turn and she was a natural with her.
Soon we were ready to move up to the recovery room. This room was much smaller, but still pretty nice. Steve had a very small pull out chair to sleep in so he wasn’t too excited about that. At this point I still couldn’t feel my legs at all so I was wheeled up in a wheelchair. By this point I hadn’t eaten since my morning bowl of cereal and was literally starving. Karly went to Chick fila and brought me a grilled chicken sandwich and directed Denise and Cate back to the hospital. They were sad that they didn’t make it for the birth, but they were so excited to see baby Reagan. Denise got to change the first tarry diaper and Steve held her little legs up in disgust.
We came home 24 hours after Reagan’s birth. Steve was anxious to get out of the hospital and the Dr.’s said that both Reagan and I were perfectly healthy and ready to go home. Denise and Cate stayed for 5 days and mom overlapped their visit by one day so it was nice to have everyone here. Aunt Jeanne, Uncle John, Michael, and Kinsey came to visit when Reagan was 3 days old. It was so nice to have her meet them! Uncle John took over one hundred gorgeous pictures while they were here. Mom stayed for about 10 days and was such a huge help! I really don’t think I could have been as sane the first few weeks if it weren’t for her advise and experience to guide me along! She is so good with Reagan, and Reagan loves to look up at her and listen to her voice. I definitely have a whole new level of respect for my mom now that I realize all that she did for me as a baby!

She is Here!

2008-05-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

My Labor Coaches

Grandma Denise and Aunt Cate arrived just hours after Reagan's birth.

On the way home from the hospital

We are Getting Closer!!!

2008-01-15T09:15:00.001-08:00

I've had a lot of requests for a belly shot, so here it is! We are 32 weeks along and anxiously counting down every day until Reagan's arrival! Steve put the crib together several weeks ago, and I have been reading every baby book I can get my hands on, so hopefully we will be prepared! We even made a practice run to the hospital where I will be delivering. It is about 30 minutes away (without traffic), but the delivery rooms are very nice. I have OB appointments every two weeks now, and the doctor says the baby's heart beat is strong and regular and she is growing normally. We also just met with our pediatrician and she seems wonderful! So everything seems to be falling into place!

So Happy to See My Twentynine Palms Girls!

2008-01-15T08:32:00.001-08:00

This weekend I was so surprised and happy to spend time with some great friends that I have missed so much. First, Allie called last week and said she and her dog, Ava (Abby's best friend) were going to come and visit for a few days! I was so excited, as I haven't seen Allie since leaving 29 Palms. We had a great time shopping, going to the movies, and playing with the dogs. Friday, Karly asked us to go to the airport to pick up one of here friends who was coming to visit. As I am searching the baggage claim for a "blonde haired tall girl" Rachel strolls up to me with Lilly!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes! What a wonderful surprise! And Steve, Karly, and Rachel had been planning and keeping this a secret since November! Then, to top it all off, Karly, Rachel, Allie, and Lilly took me out to lunch on Saturday and we had a mini shower in the restaurant. It was so much fun and so thoughtful. I am so lucky to have the best sister and friends anyone could ask for! I can't believe how fast Lilly is growing! She will be a year old on February first. It seems like only yesterday I was in the delivery room with Rachel! This weekend I got to see her paint her first piece of pottery, take a bath in the sink, and witness first hand what a wonderful mother Rachel is! She is definitely one of my role models!

Thanksgiving

2008-01-14T05:46:00.000-08:00

We were so happy to have both Moms, Cate, Karly, Aunt Jeanne, Uncle John, Michael, Beth, Kinsey, and Brandi at our new home for Thanksgiving! We all had a great time preparing and eating the meal and just spending time together!

A New Home

2007-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

Steve and I are finally situated in our new home in Charlotte. We are very happy in our new neighborhood. The neighbors have been constantly bringing us brownies and cookies and sweet tea and even making us dinner! Talk about southern hospitality! We were so happy to have Denise, Catherine, Andrew, and Niki as our firsts guests and helpers in our huge move-in process. Denise and Cate unpacked, washed, and put away everything in our kitchen and helped us make many important furniture placement decisions. Andrew got stuck hooking up the sound system, helping Steve construct, put up, and paint his pull-up bar, hanging pictures, and being our resident handy man. Niki and I planted some flowers, made some good meals, and tried to keep the guys in line. All in all we had a great time and we are so thankful for everyone's hard work!
Steve is commuting to work in Columbia, South Carolina through October when his recruiting office will open in Charlotte. So for the next few months he will have an hour and twenty minute commute, but he is making the best of it.

Our Story So Far......

2007-08-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

The day after Steve and I were married, we traveled from our small home town in northern Michigan to the middle of the Mohave Desert in California. This is not only where we spent our honeymoon, but also the next two and a half years of our lives. Well at least I did. Steve, who is a Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps, deployed for six months to Okinawa, Japan two months after we arrived. Six months after his return, he deployed again, this time for a seven months tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. After what seemed like the longest seven months of my life, Steve finally returned home safely, along with the rest of the battery.
Before his second depolyment, Steve and I brought home the most wonderful addition to our family! Her name is Abby and she is the most beautiful and loving dog anyone could ask for (at least in my eyes). She has been my workout partner, my guard dog, my shadow, my friend, and my sanity for the last few years.
Steve and I are about to start a new chapter of or lives as he has just accepted the position of Officer Selection Office (OSO) in Charlotte, North Carolina. This is a non-deployable, three year commitment where he will be recruiting college graduates to become Marine Corps officers. This means we had to leave our houme in 29 Palms. There is a well known saying that Marine Corps wives cry upon entering 29 Palms and upon leaving. Although I didn't cry when we arrived (even though it was a very small, hot, desolate town I was just happy that Steve and I would be starting our live together) I did cry as we pulled away from the base for the final time. It wasn't because I would miss the 12o degree summers, the base housing, the lack of civilization, or the lonely nights while Steve was gone. It was because I would miss the other wives, all of whom were in the same situation, and had truly become my family. I will never forget these strong, brave women and the support and strength they have given me.
In addition to our big move and Steve's new job, we recently found out that we are pregnant! Our addition is expected in early March, and we couldn't be more excited! Steve and I feel so fortunate for all the blessings we have in our lives, and we are so excited to share them with you; our family and friends!

The Pinkertons

Reagan is 15 Months Old!

Our Visit To Rachel and Lilly's in Utah

Little Miss Congeniality

Little Miss Busy

Uncle Andrew and Aunt Niki's Visit

Romp N Roll Birthday Party

Happy First Birthday Little Sunshine!

John, Krysta, and Tom's Visit

Daddy's 28th Birthday

Our Little Bookworm

Brays Island Trip

She's Walking!

Reagan's First Christmas

Reagan's First Thanksgiving

Reagan's First Halloween

Reagan's First Halloween

Reagan's First Halloween

We Love Grandparents!

Andrew and Niki's Wedding

Hangin' with Dad

Reagan is 7 Months Old!

Reagan's first trip to the park

Look at those Biceps!

Little Miss Social

Reagan's 6 Month Doctors Appointment

Reagan's Busy Social Schedule

And the Baby Proofing Begins!

Our Little Mexican Creeper

Cabo

She is growing up so fast!

Our New York Visit

Reagan's 4 month Check Up

Congratulations CAPTAIN Pinkerton!

A Play Date for Reagan

A Whole Different Side of Reagan

Our First Family Trip Home to Michigan

Lots of ZZZs

Reagan's first day at the pool

Rollin' Reagan

Our 3 Year Anniversary!

Reagan's Two Month Check up

My First Mother's Day

Reagan's Infant Dedication Ceremony

She is quite a mover!

More Reagan Stories

Reagan and her many fans

Our Wonderful Family and Friends Come to Visit!

Reagan Michele Pinkerton

She is Here!

We are Getting Closer!!!

So Happy to See My Twentynine Palms Girls!

Thanksgiving

A New Home

Our Story So Far......