Nativity

First Baptist Church does a live nativity scene every year for a few nights leading up to Christmas. This is the first year for us to go as a family, and we really enjoyed it! Everyone is real except the baby Jesus. It lasts for 1 hour, and I have no idea how these people can stand so still for that long!! There was also an area off to the side where you could feed some goats (including some super-cute babies) and a donkey (Annalee's favorite...she loved petting its ears). We met some friends up there, and everyone had a great time.

Surprise, Annalee!

Lee and I surprised Annalee by taking her to the theater last night to see Cinderella, and I'm pretty sure it was the highlight of her life! Although it was the original Rodgers & Hammerstein version, and she didn't know any of the songs, she was very enthralled with the story and mesmerized by Cinderella. Every time she would go off-stage, Annalee would ask, "Is she coming back?"

During the intermission, the director announced that the cast would be in the lobby after the show, in case anyone wants to meet them. So I asked Annalee if she would like to meet Cinderella and get her picture taken with her. Her little face lit up and she nodded yes. So after the show, we wove our way through the crowd, and I pointed out Cinderella and said "There she is," and Annalee immediately RAN to her and held her arms up and was practically in her lap before I could give Cinderella a heads up. So I snapped a picture, and I'm surprised Annalee is looking at the camera because she couldn't stop looking at Cinderella. It was so sweet.

waiting in the lobby
Annalee with Cinderella

Your prayers worked REALLY WELL!!

So I don't think the wind chill made it out of the thirties on race-day Sunday! It was good running weather, but not great for the people who weren't running. (Praise God for Scottish Rite Hospital's heated hospitality tent we were allowed to congregate in!)

The weekend began when we arrived in Dallas around 11:15 on Friday night. We got up the next morning, went to the race expo (where you pick up your bib # and t-shirt), then we went to the Dallas World Aquarium with 2 other families...so cool! Kids loved it. Then we went to lunch, and then to the Scottish Rite Hospital for a tour...that was awesome! That is the most amazing place. After that, we went back to the hotel for naps, then to the pre-race party, where Katie joyfully announced this news: Their original fundraising goal was $13,914.16, based on Psalm 139:14-16; but Reagan (husband) told her that was too lofty, so they changed it to $5,139. As of Thursday, they had gotten to nearly $8,000, and then an anonymous donor called them on Saturday and told them they would match DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR what they had raised so far! So they exceeded their original goal!! GOD IS SO AMAZING! Katie was obviously so overwhelmed and excited at the same time. I couldn't help but cry. We also got to see the story that the White Rock film crew created about their family that aired during the live broadcast on race day; a real tear-jerker! After that we went to the Cheesecake Factory for dinner. Lee had gone early to put our name on the list, since we knew the wait would be long for our party of 20. So when the other 19 of us showed up, he said it would be about 15-20 more minutes. Great. So we're waiting, waiting,......an HOUR later, people start leaving because their kids were getting cranky. ANOTHER HALF HOUR goes by, and our party of 20 is down to 10. They finally seat us at 7:45, and it was great, but not great enough to wait over 2 hours.

Mary Kathryn spent the night in our hotel room that night so that Lee & I could just get up and leave on race day and not have to take the girls. About the race/weather...It ended up being about 40 and drizzling when Lee started at 8, and got progressively colder as the day went on. He said he felt great and could have kept going! (He did the first leg which was 6 miles.) Then I started at 9, and right before the gun went off, they announced that the elite marathon runners (who started at 8) were already at MILE 11!!!!!!!!!! So, the gun goes off, and I'm just standing there, packed in among 5,999 other sardines just waiting my turn to get to cross the starting line, acknowledging my first mistake: I didn't get to the starting area soon enough. I was about 200 yards back. So, I didn't actually get to cross the starting line until 2:30 or so after the gun went off. And even then, I was having to WALK (GRRRRR!) because it was still so packed!!! I was SO frustrated!!! So, I went ahead and started my watch, thinking it would start spreading out soon. Wrong! I didn't feel like I had my personal space back until after mile 4!!!!!! So, needless to say, I was forced to run well under my normal pace for the first few miles. I felt great through the first half, so I decided to pick up the pace to make up for lost time (second mistake). I began regretting that around mile 10, and from then on is just a blur. I was so tired and my legs were numb and I felt so dizzy but I had to keep going. I really wanted to stop, and I did, to stretch my left hamstring that has given me trouble for a few weeks, but I never walked....and I finished in an actual time of 2:01:03.

I'm really happy with how I did, and even though I didn't go under 2:00 like I'd hoped, I think I did great considering the weather, the fact that I have a cold & cough c/o Addie, and I got little sleep the previous 2 nights.

Despite being a whirlwind trip, I think overall it was a blast and a huge success. Thank you for all your support and prayers; it means so much!

we shopped 'til we dropped!

Over the weekend, I got to fly to Dallas for some serious shopping and girl time with a bunch of my female relatives on Lee's side. We also got to see Becky (a senior @ DBU) perform in her choir's Christmas concert...so fun!
We anticipated bringing back a large loot so we all brought extra luggage to haul it back to Midland...as you can see, it wasn't enough. So we had to leave some of it behind and we'll just get it next weekend when we return to Dallas for the White Rock.

Speaking of the race, those of you in the Dallas area can watch it live on WFAA Channel 8 on Sunday the 9th from 8-10:30 a.m. Look for royal blue t-shirts that say "Where there's a WILL, there's a way!" They are doing a special piece on the family who is the whole reason we are doing this race. That starts at the 139th minute of broadcasting, symbolizing Psalm 139, the passage that Katie & Reagan have always prayed over their son, Will. How special!

We could really use some prayer regarding the weather for next Sunday. And no, strangely, I'm not asking for warmer weather...I'm asking for cooler weather! As of today, the forecast for next Sunday is a high of 78 and a low of only 64, and partly cloudy. This is ENTIRELY to hot for running a half- or full marathon! (The temperature during the Chicago marathon when it was called off a few months ago due to numerous cases of heat stroke was 80 degrees.) Please pray that it will cool off, and for there to be no rain!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I can't believe 3 weeks have past since the last blog! Time flies when you're having fun, or when your whole family gets infected with the plague (or at least that's what the stomach bug seems like as it slowly and silently accosts your spouse & children one by one). I won't go into detail, but let's just say I hope that never happens to us again.

We've been a little busy, too...Lee got to go fishing in Arkansas with a few friends, and I was able to take the girls to see my parents (Nana & Papaw). Also, a couple of weeks ago, we took the girls to the drive-in to see the Bee Movie (not so great, but the kids loved it). We met a few other fams there who also have small children, and I'm pretty sure the highlight for the kids was getting to sit in the back of the suburban and eat popcorn & candy for 2 hours.

We've also reached the last few weeks of our training for the White Rock...although getting the plague set me back a bit, I think I'll still be able to reach my goal of going sub-2:00 for the 1/2-marathon.

Addie has picked up a new skill....eating with a fork! She is amazingly coordinated for a 13-month-old.

And that catches us up to today, Thanksgiving, and it's SNOWING!! Hard to believe, since it has only gotten down into the 50s a couple of times, and that it was 80 DEGREES just a couple of days ago!! Mom & Daddy, I'm glad we decided to stay here since we wouldn't have been able to come in this weather! We had fun eating 2 Thanksgiving dinners this year. We had the first one last night @ Tim & Terri's, with the whole family minus David who is in Zambia, Africa. (We got to talk to him this morning, though, and it was great to hear all about his daily life over there...couldn't be more different than ours!) We got to have our second Thanksgiving dinner at Cameron & Christin's this afternoon, and they had several other couples over who were spending the holiday here in Midland.

So, the following are some pictures and videos from this month.

Jackson, Addie, Jayce, Lane, & Annalee @ the drive-in
Addie "reading"
Addie eating with a fork (short video)

me & Addie @ Cameron & Christin's
me, Megan, & Lindsy
happy girl
Lane & Annalee eating snow

Lane, Annalee, Carter, & Mason
Addie playing with snow for the first time!!
Annalee saying cheese

Happy Birthday, man of many hats...

...Not literally. Lee has a few material hats, but he wears so many metaphorical ones. He wears a husband hat, a daddy hat, a son hat, a friend hat, an in-law hat, a nephew hat, a brother hat, an uncle hat, a provider hat, a protector hat, a leader hat, a worker hat, a teacher hat, and many others. I am the luckiest girl in the world to have a husband who wears so many hats so well. Thank you, Lee, for everything you are and everything you do!!! We had so much fun celebrating your birthday last night...the girls especially loved making the home-made wrapping paper. (See above photo)

Annalee got to dress up as a flower for the costume party at mothers-day-out yesterday. Although we Dunns are not celebrators of Halloween, it was fun to get to see her in her costume.

quote of the month and some quick updates

The other night, Lee was playing with the girls by crawling around and chasing them. At one point, Annalee turned around and said to him, "Get up and walk! You're not a baby!" Fun times!
Things here are great; Addie had her 1-year well check and checked out fine. Her height percentile has jumped, which would explain why she's already wearing mostly 18-24 month clothing. She's 23 lbs (75th%) and 30.5 in (90th%). Huge, basically. :) She is also adding new words almost daily; she now says bye-bye, mama, dada, ball, and several animal sounds.
Annalee is doing great in her Mothers Day Out, and also at the Bible study class she attends on Tuesday mornings. She has officially memorized her first Bible verse! John 17:17, which says: "Your word is truth." Good foundational passage, don't ya think?? Her hair is also now long and thick enough (barely) to put it up in pigtails, so getting ready in the mornings has been a little more fun for me now that I can play hairdresser.
Lee and I are continuing our training for the White Rock in December. I'm up to 8 miles on my long run, and will continue to add 1 mile a week until the week of the race, where I'll do 13.1. Lee will be running a 6-mile leg on his 5-person relay. You may remember in one of my previous posts that we're doing this in honor of our friends who have a son who is a patient at the Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. We've got quite a large group participating from Midland. Also, I'm in charge of "Team Will" t-shirt orders, and as of today, we've got well over 100! I can't wait to see all of his supporters at the race wearing their royal blue shirts!

Lindsy & Josiah

Many of you know that my brother- and sister-in-law have been temporarily relocated from Midland to Farmington, NM for about a month now. Our church is having our annual women's retreat in Lubbock this weekend, and Lindsy got to come and also brought Josiah with her. We loaded up the girls last night to go pick them up at the airport, and brought them back to our house for dinner and a community bath (kids only). It is so great to have them back for this visit, and I'm so excited to get to spend the whole weekend with them in Lubbock!!
I know the video is kinda long, but the end is the best part...Addie gives out kisses.

fun videos

Here's what Annalee & Addie have been up to recently.....

Annalee sleeping
hiding out under the table, looking for scraps
skillz.....


Jesus Loves Me

Addie's birthday party!

Addie's birthday isn't technically until next Wednesday, but we celebrated today so my family could come be a part of her special day. She had SUCH a blast getting all her presents. So here are some pictures, and also a video clip of her eating a chocolate cupcake. We were all surprised that she didn't reach out & shove the whole thing in her mouth; I ended up videoing for about 10 minutes waiting for it. Don't worry; I edited it down to just a couple of minutes.

White Rock

Many of you know that I'm training for a half-marathon in December, but some of you may not know why. I am doing it in honor of Will, my friend Katie's newborn son, who was born on August 30th.
The following is a letter she wrote to all her friends & family explaining everything I would like to say to all of you who read my blog.

Dear Friends & Family-

As you know, our son, Will,was diagnosed with a rare syndrome affecting his hands & feet in June of this year. He was born August 30th and is such a blessing to us! We are completely in love! After learning he would have hands & feet differences, we traveled to Dallas to visit Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. This facility provides pediatric orthopedic services to Texas kids for free! It is an incredible hospital - very kid friendly- with popcorn popping all day, hallways decorated with various fun themes, parks, friendly staff, etc. They have camps for kids with hand differences & take teenagers with prosthetics skiing in Colorado every year! They truly provide support for the entire family! And it is FREE!!! It has been the only place where we have felt completely safe since June 20th. We were able to let our guard down while there. Moreover, they provided us with such hope & optimism - they couldn't wait to meet our baby & continually remind us that Will can do whatever he chooses to in life- he is not limited by hand & feet differences- What an encouragment they have been! In less than 2 weeks, we will be taking Will to TSRHC for his first visit! I am literally counting down the days! I can't wait for him to meet the fabulous doctors, therapists, child life specialists, & other staff members who will become such a vital part of our lives.

At that first visit, we learned that the Dallas White Rock Marathon benefits this hospital. I immediately began brainstorming ways to help support the hospital through the race since I love running & have participated in White Rock before. Our goals are: 1) make as many people as possible aware of what an incredible place TSRHC is & 2) raise money to benefit the hospital - we want to give back!

After working with dear friend, we are excited to announce our White Rock Marathon Team!!! "Where There's A Will, There's A Way!"

We have created a website, www.psalm139race.org to provide you with information on how to join our team! You can participate in the marathon, the half-marathon, or the 5 person relay, or you can participate as a spectator. You can even participate by simply donating to the hospital. We so hope you will consider spending the weekend of December 8-9 with us in supporting our son & TSRHC. We have planned several events for the weekend & can't wait to celebrate with you. Details for the events are on the website as well as ways to contribute to the hospital. Finally, we are desiging t-shirts for runners/walkers, & spectators to wear on race day. We envision lots of green shirts supporting Will & making an impact at the race! Details for the shirts are also on the website. Finally, there is contact information for various cities on the website so you can find someone in your area who is serving as our local coordinator. (Thank you dear friends who have agreed to coordinate so many details for us so that we don't have to since pretty much all we do right now is feed & take care of a new baby! :))

The hospital has made Will a "Patient Champion" and he will represent the hospital at the race. The marathon directors have also been so gracious & are working with us to give Will a very special finish at the race! We hope you can be there to cheer on the youngest person cross the line with his parents! We are so grateful for your prayers & support of our family. Someday, if Will chooses to, he will cross the finish line on his own! We want him to know that he he is loved, supported, & cheered for in whatever he chooses to do & we believe he can do anything he wants!!!

Thanks for checking out the website! Hope to see you at the race!!!

Truly Blessed,

Reagan, Katie, & Will

long time no blog

Sorry it's been a while since our last post. We've been so crazy busy since school started...we've been in what Lee calls "survival mode."
I don't think I've ever mentioned that I coach Cross Country at MCA...our season has gone really well this year and is almost finished.
I've begun my training for the White Rock half-marathon that I'll be doing on December 9th, although I had a minor setback last week when I decided to run with my cross country kids. We were running on some dirt hills that I believe are used for 4-wheeling, and I sprained my ankle. I'm bummed.
Lee has also been running (shocking, I know) because he's going to be on a 5-person relay at the White Rock marathon.
Addie is trying so hard to talk, it's so cute. She has said her official first word (bye-bye), complete with motions. She is also walking all over the place with much ease, and rarely crawls anymore. It's hard to believe she will be a year old in just 10 days.
Annalee has really been tapping into her imagination lately, pretending she's going to Nana's house in her toy car, talking Elmo for a walk to the park (Addie's bedroom), and she pretends to read a lot.
Here are some of my favorite moments from the past 2 weeks.

Annalee & Addie LOVE to play together in the pack-n-play!
Addie after her bath the other night
Annalee wearing my running shoes
Addie at Lane's birthday party
Mason, Addie, & Annalee playing on the slip-n-slide

bowling babies

Chim Chim Cher-ee.....

Annalee's favorite movie these days is Mary Poppins. Here's her version of one of the classic songs, although as you listen, you'll notice she only knows one verse: "Chim chim-en-ey, chim chim-en-ey, chim chim cher-ee; a sweep is as lucky, as lucky can be..."

September Product Review

I have very positive things to say about the products this month...I should get paid for this.

Scale: 1-5

Clorox Oxy Magic: 5 (about $3 for a 22-oz spray bottle)
Don't be fooled by the froofy scent and low price...it is powerful stuff!! It claims to work on a wide variety of stains, plus carpet, kitchens, baths, etc. I've honestly only used it on laundry, but I'll tell you what it's gotten out (after spraying, rubbing, & letting it set for 5-30 minutes): baby food, baby pooh, a 6-day-old carrot stain, juice, & dirt/mud. It is like Oxy Clean in a spray bottle, although they are different brands. Also, as I mentioned before, it smells GOOD! Not bleachy at all.

Bird's Eye Steamfresh: 5 (about $2.50/bag)
Can you say, "convenience"??? Hello! These frozen veggies come in a pretty wide variety, and one bag serves about 3-4 people, depending on your serving size. We love the cauliflower/broccoli mixture...and I love that I don't have to cut them myself. You just pop the bag in the microwave, and 4-6 minutes later, you have tonight's vegetable! There are some varieties that are seasoned, or buttered, and we really didn't care for those; we prefer just plain veggies. But, I think there are enough choices for everyone. They are a little pricey, and of course microwaves kill more nutrients, but I think every once in a while, it's worth it.

Ziploc Zip'n Steam: 5 (about $2.50 for 10)
This product is my new favorite thing. It works like the Bird's Eye bags, and cooks the food very evenly. They come in 2 sizes: medium (2-3 people) or large (3-5 people). Each bag has a list of vegetables, chicken, seafood, & other meats along with the cooking times for each. So far I've only used fresh & frozen veggies (no meats), but the cook times have been right on and the veggies have turned out perfect...not soggy or dry. You can even toss your seasonings/oils/butter right in with the food to be cooked. It is also good to warn you about the hot steam...DO be careful! There is a blue strip at the top of the bag that doesn't get hot (how does it know??) for you to hold. Also included in the box is a set of recipes and a coupon.

Sassy Baby Food Nurser: 4 (about $6 for a 2-pack)
These are quite possibly one of the most brilliant baby products ever invented. Whoever thought of this was obviously a parent of many children. When you have that first baby, you have all the time in the world to sit and spoon-feed baby food to them. But when you've got other hungry tummies, time is of the essence. So these nursers are a great way to save time, as well as allow the baby to work on fine motor skills and coordination. It works just like a regular bottle, except it doesn't rely on gravity. As the baby sucks the food out, there is a disc on the inside that pushes the food out and prevents air bubbles. Tip: don't let baby use it on a hard surface. If they drop it, the interior vacuum disc can knock loose, creating a big mess on the floor; which is the only reason for the lower rating. Also, they come with rubber nipples...but you can switch them out with silicone.

Is this unusual?

So, this video shows Addie scaling the side of Annalee's bed. The first time she did it yesterday, we kinda freaked out...Annalee was never much of a climber, so we were stunned that a 10-month-old could do this. But maybe it's not that unusual. (?) She also climbs on top of her toy box, into & out of Annalee's toddler chair (and sometimes over the back of it onto the coffee table), and other various places in our house. We think she's freakishly strong.

How did we get to this point??

We had the Smiths over last night for some fun hang time, and when we first let the kiddos outside, they stayed away from the baby pool for awhile; content just chasing each other & throwing the ball for Camper, our golden retriever. Then, one at a time, as if drawn by some force that only a 2-year-old can feel, they began splashing their hands in the water. Then it progressed to standing IN the pool, continuing the splashing. Then it became an all-out drench fest. It was so fun to watch, though, because they were having the time of their lives!

new video

I know it's kinda long, but this is one of my favorite videos I've taken. I coincidentally caught another of Addie's firsts.

America's Got Talent

My favorite show this summer has been America's Got Talent, a contest where people audition and showcase their talents for a chance to win $1 million... and I've got my 2 favorites! For anyone who hasn't seen these guys perform, you need to see these video clips! (The finale comes on tomorrow night at 7 on NBC.)

Terry Fator, ventriloquist: I know, you hear that and you think "boring, cheesy, you've seen one you've seen 'em all." But this guy is not just a ventriloquist; he also sings and does perfect impersonations!!! You have to see it to believe it. Here are 2 of his performances:

Cas Haley, singer: I couldn't believe my ears the first time I heard him sing. He has one of the coolest voices I've ever heard! I love the way he can take a classic and make it his own. Here he is singing "Easy" by Lionel Ritchie and then "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder.

Finally...

I was finally able to get a good video of Addie walking. Sorry it took so long!! (And it's purely coincidental that Psalty the Singing Songbook is singing "One Step at a Time" in the background.)

Well I know you are just dying to know how I did in my race on Saturday! It was very hilly and sweltering hot, but I survived it and did better than I'd expected to do. I ran the 5-mile course in just over 45 minutes, and placed 3rd in my age group...good enough for a medal! It was a great experience. My brother, Josh, and his girlfriend, Danielle, even came out and did the 2-mile course. They were such troopers...it was Danielle's first road race, and Josh had to go home right after I finished to prepare for a 13-hour work day!! Way to go, guys!
So, back to life here in Midland. Here's a video clip of a typical lunch with the girls.

Hot Dam!

Lee loves any excuse to use an inappropriate word appropriately; so I thought I'd try it. Tomorrow morning, I'm going to do my first race in years: the Hot Dam...a 5-mile course that involves some pretty good sized hills. Am I prepared? For the distance, yes; for the hills...nope. We'll see. When I ran Cross Country in high school, this area is where we trained. So we'll see if they are still do-able. Here are some shots from the last few days; Annalee sporting her new gangsta/can-can dancer style; then later that evening she burned her finger tips on Grandma's new grill. Pop-Pops was cleaning it, and told her not to touch it. But just as we like sheep go astray from the guidance of our Good Shepard, Annalee decided to test it out for herself. And just as God sometimes has to discipline whom He loves, Annalee had to experience the natural consequences of touching a 500-degree grill. Her finger tips were red & swollen, and turned into blisters. But after the ice she'd been rubbing on them had dulled the pain, she quickly became very excited at the prospect of getting to have 4 band aids.

fun with the girls

Here are some random videos I've recorded the past few days. Enjoy!

This has been Addie's favorite noise the past month or so, and I finally got around to getting it on film during dinner the other night

Here is Annalee reenacting a game I love playing with the girls where I chase them down the hall, saying, "I'm gonna getcha..." in my most sinister voice


Annalee "reading" Ten Little Ladybugs

She did it!!

Addie took her first steps tonight! It was so fun because Lee & I weren't expecting it. We were just doing our usual evening practice session, which is where we sit facing eachother and form a circle with our legs, and she walks back & forth between us. Usually she does this while holding on to a finger, but tonight she took about 3-4 steps on her own several times!! I'll try to get a video soon.

August Product Review

I'm a sucker for trying any product that even hints at a promise that my life will be made easier if I use it. So I'd like to do a monthly product review, where I discuss and rate these products in order to help make your shopping lives easier. I'll also try to tell you the cost, if I can remember. And please tell me if there's anything out there you've been wanting to try and just aren't sure about; maybe I'll try it for you first!

Scale: 1-5


Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners: 4 (about $2.60 for a box of 4)
These handy plastic bags are a must-have if you want to save yourself the 10-ish minutes it takes to scrub and wash your crock pot after using it. When you're done with the meal, you just scoop up the bag and discard in the trash. The reason I gave it a 4 instead of a 5 is because of the 20 or so times I've used these, they've leaked a tiny bit a couple of times when I've had to scrape the bottom of the pot; so just be gentle when scooping out the last bite.

Tide To-Go Pen: 5 (about $4)
This is one of my favorite inventions. It's literally the size of a pen, and truly works! I was very skeptical when Lee's Aunt Barbara handed one to me after I spilled dark chocolate sauce on my cream-colored shirt at a wedding reception last June. However, after about 2-3 minutes of working on the stain, it had completely vanished! Since then, I've purchased a couple of my own, and it has miraculously gotten rid of the following stains: blueberry, strawberry, watermelon, assorted baby foods, hot chocolate, and a few others. Key: works best if used within about 15 minutes of getting the stain.

Snack Trap: 3.5 ($14.99 + shipping @ Amazon)
These cups hold about 7-8 oz of snack food. The slits in the lid allow the child's hands to reach in for a piece of food, and when held upside down, the food rarely spills out. They are very useful and well made, but not completely spill-proof. Annalee loves to use these, and often snacks on dried blueberries or cranberries. But when Addie gets a hold of the cup and shakes it, sometimes a piece will fly out. This (and the fact that it's a little pricey) is the reason for the lower rating.

SIPPY CUP SECTION
Playtex Spill-Proof Cup: 5 (about $7 for the 2-pack)
These are by far my favorite sippy cups. We own several, and none have ever leaked a drop. They are very easy to clean, and replacement valves can be purchased separately if one ever gets ground up in the disposal. 8 oz.

Playtex Insulator Sport Straw Cup: 4 ($5)
This is the best straw cup I've found. Although it leaks a little when you turn it upside down, it's very minimal. We use these for water only. They are the easiest to use & clean straw cups I've found.






Playtex Insulated Spill-Proof Coolster Tumbler: 5 ($5)
This insulated cup is very similar to the previously mentioned Playtex spill-proof cup, but I'd save it for older babies (12m+). The spout is flush with the rim and may be difficult for a younger baby to use without dribbling. It is also bigger.

Avent Non-Spill Cup: 4.5 (about $7 for a 2-pack)
These cups are the spitting image of the Playtex Spill-Proof cups, with only one difference: they are more difficult to clean. The valve can be removed and put back in, but it's just more difficult than the Playtex ones. Otherwise, a wise choice.

Gerber Soft Straw Cup: 2 ($?)
Although this cup is great because it's easy to clean and can be closed, I find that there is some sort of flaw in its mechanics that make it difficult at times for the child to suck and get the liquid inside. When Annalee was an infant and would indicate something was wrong with the cup, I'd try to drink from it and nothing would come out; even after taking it apart & putting it back together. This happened with 3 of the 4 I purchased.

Munchkin 10-oz Cupsicle: 1 (about $4 each)
This is my least favorite cup. It leaked, and the straw is very difficult to drink from.

Circo Straw Cup: 1 (no picture, but looks very similar to the Munchkin; $?)
Didn't like this one for the same reason as the Munchkin. But it was cheaper.

Nuby 10-oz Gripper Cup: 4.5 ($2 each)
This easy-to-hold, easy-to-wash cup is great for babies on up. The soft silicone spout is very similar to a bottle nipple, and easily pops in & out of the neck ring for washing. This is a great water cup, but if the spout gets pushed up against something, it will leak a little bit. And if your child figures this out, it can create a true mess. But for $2, it's a great buy.




Nuby 12-oz Mega Sipper: 2 ($5 each)
This is not a great product. It is not spill-proof, and is extremely difficult to get the parts back together after cleaning. I'd stick with the Playtex.





As you can see, I'm still on the hunt for the perfect straw cup: easy to clean, spill-proof, and closeable. Let me know if you see any more out there I can try, or if you have found such a product!