Archive for The Reecer

Two and a half!

September 5, 2009 · Filed under The Reecer

Reecer turned 2 1/2 a couple of weeks back.  I thought I’d post some of the things she does now, so that maybe one day I’ll transfer it all to her baby book (along with the first two years of her life). :)

  • The girl loves princesses.  I don’t remember ever being into princesses, and I kinda thought if Reece did decide to like princesses it would come around the age of 4 or 5, but not so.  At 2 1/2, if she isn’t being a mommy, Reece is a princess.  Oftentimes she’ll tell me, “I turned into a princess, Mommy” when she wakes up from her nap.  She spins like a princess, calls her daddy a prince, requests princess videos all day long, cries when I don’t buy her a princess item she sees in the store, reads princess books…everything is PRINCESS!  (gag)  I must admit that it’s great to be able to use the whole “Princesses don’t act that way” approach when she isn’t being nice.  And when she’s lallygagging and not moving to the car fast enough, all I have to say is, “Princess Reece, your carriage awaits,” and she’s in the car in a flash.
  • She’s an independent lallygagger.  Not only does she have to do everything herself, but she takes her time and does not like to feel rushed.  Feeling rushed and feeling as though her independence is being compromised causes a major meltdown.  That’s why we’re late everywhere we go.
  • Reece is becoming quite the helper.  She picks stuff up and puts it where it belongs, and she throws trash away without being asked.
  • Reece is so funny, sweet, and pleasant.  I enjoy her company and her two-and-a-half-year-old insight.  And she has a really great, smart sense of humor.
  • When she’s upset, she’s REALLY upset.  Explosive tantrums seem to be our biggest issue with Reece.  Lately, I feel we’re finally seeing some improvements as we “love and logic” her.  Scott gets results with Reece by counting to 5, while I get results by giving her two choices and letting her decide what direction she wants to go.  Taking toys/privileges away also works.  Spankings and time out really just lead to much huger and longer tantrums, but we still use these, as they are effective for getting our point across.  Of course, when we’re in public we focus on avoiding a tantrum at all, so we tend to cater to Reece’s desires then.  Ugh.
  • Reece’s vocabulary is quite large, and she speaks with great clarity.  She likes using words like “constipated” and “disgusting” (even though she uses this one out of context), and phrases like, “Don’t say those words to me” and “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe it!”
  • She can count to nine, sing most parts of the ABC’s, draw circles, and identify shapes such as square, triangle, oval.
  • Reece LOVES to pretend…with her dolls, her kitchen, everything.  She acts out scenarios by talking to herself.  It’s hilarious.  Her imagination is so vivid.  She used my exercise bands to make shapes of a boat on the floor the other day, then she sat in her boat and played.  I love watching this.
  • She’s beginning to crawl in our bed if she wakes up during the night.  Scott hates it; I secretly like it.  She’s a snuggle bunny just like me.
  • Reece still loves to read books like they’re going out of style.  We could read all day long.
  • She’s working on peddling her tricycle by herself.
  • The girl could swing all the day long too.
  • She’s becoming a great big sis.  Although she has her bad moments (when Rynn takes a toy or sippy cup from Reece), Reece really looks out for her little sister.
  • Reece is still a great sleeper…she usually sleeps 11 or so hours at night, and takes a good 3 hour nap.
  • She loves to eat: chicken nuggets, waffles, grapes, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, apples, grilled cheese sandwiches, apricots, french fries, and more (this isn’t what she is always offered, but is what she will most likely finish eating when given).   She still says no to milk (beginning when she had her tonsil issues), but she loves apple juice and flavored water.
  • She’s in the 95th percentile for height, and has finally reached the 50th percentile for weight in her age group.
  • I love how her mind works.  You can almost see it in action.  And she cracks me up with the way she recalls days by what color of shirt her daddy had on.

I still feel the same way about Reece as I did when we brought her home two and a half years ago, in that every time she sleeps (no matter if bedtime couldn’t arrive soon enough!), I can’t wait till the next time she wakes up.  Love that girl.

IMG_3542 (2)(I really didn’t think I’d ever post this on the internet, but it just sums her up so well!!)

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American Sweethearts

July 6, 2009 · Filed under Our Rynn, Summertime, The Reecer

girls

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reece hat

rynn flag

reece flag

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(Bitter) Sweet Relief, Daddy’s Day, Swim Report, Potty World

June 27, 2009 · Filed under Poop, Random, Reeceisms, Scott, The Reecer

One morning last summer, I put my ring on like I do every other morning.  Sure, it was a little snug, but I was six months pregnant and had another baby running around, so I really needed people to see the symbol of marriage on my finger.  I guess I felt like I was being judged enough by having a baby on my hip and another on the way.

Anywho, the summer heat coupled with my swelling belly everything made it impossible to take my ring off later that day.  And the next day.  And the next.  A month later I was still wearing my ring.  When I delivered Rynn, the nurses had to put tape over it as they wheeled me in the OR because the sucker wasn’t coming off.  No worries though, because the same thing happened when I was preggo with Reece and it came off within weeks of giving birth.

With Rynn, however, it did not.  I kept thinking that if I could just lose the weight I’ve gained from having two babies within a year and a half (65 lbs gained during each pregnancy, if you must know), then it would come off.  Well, it turns out the weight is coming off slowly, very slowly (hey, I’m okay with that…I just keep thinking, “One day…”), and my tiny size 4 1/2 ring wasn’t budging.  I tried several times to soak my finger in ice water and use Vaseline, but it was STUCK!

I became desperate when:

1.  I realized it had been a whole year since I’ve had it off.

2.  The skin around my ring, including on the other fingers my ring touches, was eroding.

3.  The chlorine from being in the water with Reece was killing me where the erosion was occurring.

4.  General itchiness, pain, and claustrophobia from having the ring so snug around my finger was driving me crazy!

So I turned to Google.  I found a list of ways to get a ring off a swollen (or in my case, just plain fat) finger.  I went with the saran wrap solution.  You simply wrap some plastic wrap as tight as possible around your finger (from the top of the ring, up), then wait until the circulation has been cut from your finger and it turns blue (not what the directions say, but that’s what I did).  Then, pull the ring and the plastic wrap off together.  With Rynn as my audience, I grimaced my way through the ring-ectomy, and………..SWEET RELIEF!  (The “bitter” part in the title is referring to the idea that I would just lose weight and the ring would come off.)

This is my hand after removing a ring that was stuck on my finger for one whole year.  How sad is that indention in my finger, and the torn up skin around it?


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In case you’re wondering, I bought a fakey at Target, but I’m really just trying to let my hand heal before putting any ring on.  I don’t care if I get judged.  And I decided that when I finally do lose this baby weight, my reward will be putting on my lovely wedding ring that I already miss.

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Am I a bad wife for not posting on Father’s Day or what?!  You wouldn’t think I’m all that bad if you saw all the things Scott got for the occasion.  Actually, I was just making up for skipping a gift on his birthday (What?! It was right after Christmas and I couldn’t think of a single thing to get) and Valentine’s Day (we really don’t exchange gifts then anyway, but I think I did buy myself something).   Let’s just say he really cleaned up.  And he got three cards…one from each of his girls.  I had planned on doing a post, so I asked Reece some questions about her Daddy that day:

What’s your daddy’s name? Cott.

What’s your favorite thing to do with Daddy? Juss go fissin’.

What book do you love Daddy to read to you? Two fiss, Red fiss (that would be One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, and it really is fun to watch Scott read it because he cracks up the whole time).

Who loves you? Dad-dy

What do you like Daddy to sing to you? Jesus yoves me.

There were more questions, but Reece was distracted by that point.  She was probably disciplining her babies or something.

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Parent-Tot swim was an interesting experience this year.  Reece reeeeally got excited when we talked about going to swim each day.  And she reeeeally loved to tell  her Daddy everything she did afterward.  But during swim, it was touch-and-go.  She experienced just about every emotion I think she could possibly have…from intense fear while walking in knee-deep water to licking my face with glee while practicing her kicks.  From happily singing the songs to biting my cheek when asked if she wanted to go under water.  My wounds from swim also included scratches on my arms, pinch marks on my neck, and a sore head from her yanking on my pony tail, all in her effort to cling to me as best she could.  We were a sight to see.  Sadly, I think she was actually doing better in the water before swim lessons.

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She may be a water weenie, but she’s a potty trained water weenie!  That’s right…Reece is a “potty giiiiiiiiirl, in a potty wo0000rld!” This is old news to some, but I have yet to blog about it.

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This picture was taken in March when we attempted for one-half day to train her…she was so not ready.  Three months down the road, it just clicked!  She hasn’t worn a diaper in nearly a month now.  Yeah for the potty girl!  Our next step is to break free from the training potty.  She seems to love that thing and insists on using it when we’re home, but I’m so over cleaning the mess!

I realize I didn’t mention Rynn once in this whole post, but that’s because she turns 8 months tomorrow and gets a whole post to herself!!

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Braids, Baby Blues and Big Browns

June 10, 2009 · Filed under Our Rynn, The Reecer

I attempted a French braid in Reece’s hair the other day…

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I probably won’t do this often:

1.  Because it took FOREVER.  Cartoons don’t seem to do the trick in keeping her still.

2.  The braids looked like mush in a matter of 2 minutes.  The girl is just way too crazy.  And her hair is way too fine.

While we were playing with hair I decided to take her outside and trim her bangs.  This would be her first haircut.  Ever.  And you can hardly tell a difference.  At least I now have a date to mark down in her baby book.

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Look who plays together in the bath now…

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…it would be my Blue-Eyed Girl and Brown-Eyed Girl.  Both beautiful.

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Seven & Sitting, Special Visitor, Sweet Treats, The Sweet Board, Swimming & Sliding, Smiles, Sunshiny Days, Scrumptious Snacks

May 30, 2009 · Filed under Our Rynn, Spring!, The Reecer

One long title for one long post.

Seven and Sitting

Rynn is seven months old!  She just starting sitting up, but she has already been scooting for a couple of weeks and now she’s rocking back and forth on her knees, ready to crawl (so not fair in my book…why couldn’t I have a sweet, immobile sitter for just a while? :) ).

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Sweet thing!

See the brown spit up?  That would be the prunes she eats because of her constipation.  Feeding an already-spitty baby prunes makes for some frustrating clothing changes, laundry pile-ups, and carpet shampooings.

Rynn is still the happiest baby in the world, despite her stomach issues.  She is starting to show her personality more and more.

When we dedicated Rynn at church a few weeks ago, we were asked to provide a statement on what makes our child special.  I said, “She’s the happiest baby in the world, of course. “  My friend Robin replied, “That’s taken already.”  What?!  Are you kidding me?  Someone thinks their baby is the happiest?!  Instead of sitting the two babies in a room together to have a happy-baby competition, I told Robin how special a relationship Reece and Rynn already have.

Fast forward to the evening of the dedication and, low and behold, we were seated next to the couple who supposedly have the happiest baby.  I joked with the mom about having to think of something else that makes my child unique since they had claimed the happiest baby.  Enter Rynn Alise, who smiled at this mom the entire service and squealed with delight throughout the sermon.  Midway through the service the mom leaned over to me and said, “You really may have the happiest baby.” 

Yesss!!!

I refrained from lifting my knee, pumping my arm, and shouting, “We won, we won!”  After all, the preacher was in the middle of giving a sermon on raising our children in a God-centered home and I didn’t think it would be appropriate.

Seriously though, she is the happiest baby!

Special Visitor

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It’s Ella!

These two girls had a great time playing together.  As Reece would say, “Two gulls hanging out!”

Sweet Treats

While Emily and Ella were here, we took a trip to the local cupcake shop (amazing stuff, by the way!).  Here are two “gulls” hanging out there:

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Reece eats a cupcake like the icing is ice cream…she licks it up.  She also thinks the cake is a cookie.  So funny.

Speaking of cupcakes…

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Couldn’t you just eat her up?!

A few days later we were getting ice cream.  On the side of the building there’s a painted chocolate ice cream cone, so Reece told me she wanted a “bown” one.  What was I thinking?!

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And the car seat spectator again…

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Sweet Board

In an effort to cut down on fit throwing, meltdowns, clawing, hitting, stomping, biting, and screaming when Reece doesn’t get her way, we created a “sweet board.”  Reece can pick out a sticker to put on it when she’s good during certain times of the day.

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I’ll let you know how it turns out. :)

Swimming & Sliding

First swim of the year came Memorial Day when we enjoyed a lazy day hanging out in our backyard.

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I’m excited to report that our “water weenie” from last year now loves the water and has enjoyed playing in her pool several days now.

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She even likes sliding into the water, and sometimes does her slide “tricks” (backward, no hands, eyes closed) into the water.

Smiles

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I told y’all she’s happy.

Sunshiny Days

IMG_3311not so sure about the poky green stuff

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Reece’s hair is always crazy like this.  She’s boycotting pigtails (probably because she knows how much I love them), and she tries to eat hair clips.  This is the result.

Scrumptious Snack

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I don’t think this is the apple that was left outside before lunch and that Reece resumed eating that afternoon, but I could be wrong.

We’re thrilled summer is here.  We spend most of our days outside (the house has stayed clean this past week!), and we’re already falling into the bad habit of letting Reece stay up late.  It’s just so hard to put her in bed when the evenings are so nice here (plus she takes a really good nap the following day).  We have lots of fun stuff planned, so we should have lots to write about, along with a few pictures!

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Yum!

May 5, 2009 · Filed under The Reecer

What’s a momma to do when we’re out of ice cream cones and her little girl really wants ice cream but prefers insists she lick it up?

Get creative.

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In case you’re wondering, it was homemade buttered-pecan.

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You and me going fishin in the…

May 2, 2009 · Filed under Scott, The Reecer

…playa lake (it’s a fancy name for a duck pond for all you Odessans)

First though; how it all started…Scott went fishing off the coast a couple of weekends ago with several buddies.

img_1931-2It’s a big ‘un (25″ and 12 lbs to be exact).

Reece just insisted that she go fishing with Daddy, even as we were dropping him off at the airport.  He was trying to tell her “bye” as she was stating over and over, “I go fissing wis Daddy.”

Well, she didn’t get to go down to the Gulf, but Daddy did take her to Gander Mountain the following weekend and let her pick out a fishing pole.  She picked the Barbie one, and she and her Daddy have been to the playa lake that’s down the road several times to put it to use.

Rynn and I took a stroll to check out the new fisher-girl one afternoon while they were out there (it’s literally two blocks away).  As we approached the pond I could see Reece perched on Scott’s camo hunting stool with her pole in front of her and her eyes fixed on the water.  I was very impressed.  However, when she saw Rynn and me coming down the path she got a little excited and by the time we reached the water Reece had her line wrapped around anything and everything in a 10 foot radius.  Oops.

img_3184(If you took the grass and the houses out of the picture , it would almost look like you’re at the beach.  Almost.)

While I was down there, Reece gave up on fishing and took to collecting rocks…so the friends who were meeting us at the park to watch her fish instead found Scott and me each with a pole, casting out and reeling in while our child ran around in the field behind us.  I was actually having a really pleasant time (remembering the olden days when Scott and I would sit together on the lake – a real lake – and fish) until all of I sudden I heard, “Wahhhhhhhhhhhh!  I duck!  I duck!”  Reece’s foot was stuck in the mud.  The drama that ensued caused us to pack up the gear and call it a day.

The next day Scott and Reece went back out, but I refrained from going (since I’m such a distraction and all).  I did send Scott out with the camera though.

img_3207Without the “distraction” she did much better and even kept her eyes on the bobber as Scott instructed.  She has learned to reel in her line too.

Seems this is a new “daddy-daughter date,” as they’ve been out several times together now.  Maybe they’ll catch a fish one day. :)   When they do, I’m sure Reece’s reaction will be a very blog worthy moment.

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A Monumental Day in the Riddle House

April 27, 2009 · Filed under Our Rynn, The Reecer

img_3192Rynn turns 6 months (well, technically tomorrow)!

img_3189Is she not so stinkin cute?! I can’t get over her.

At six months, Rynn is still so happy and so go-with-the-flow.  She cackles at us and smiles always.  Her Sunday School teacher told me today that she is so pleasant.  Rynn talked to her teachers and laughed all morning long.  That’s how she is at home too.  In fact, if she starts getting a little fussy, all we have to do is lay her down and she’s usually asleep within a couple of minutes.  I told the girls at church that I could have ten of her.  :)

Rynn especially loves her big sister.  Reece gets the biggest smiles and laughs from Rynn, and I LOVE it!  Rynn still breastfeeds and recently began the habit of waking up a little bit earlier (anywhere from 4:30 to 5:30) to do so.  She loves her oatmeal and we can’t feed her fast enough.  She’s also not so content to stay in her bath sling anymore; instead opting to play on her tummy in a shallow tub.  She plays under her baby gym a lot, and likes her jumperoo and baby pod.  I feel bad that she’s not on a better nap schedule since most everything revolves around her sister’s nap, and if I’m to run any errands she ends up taking short naps in her car seat.  Like I said though…she’s so go-with-the-flow.

She also had her first veggie tonight…

img_3211…sweet potatoes…

img_3213…yum!  She loved them!!

Another something worth noting is that Reece, who up until now refused to dip any of her food into any kind of sauce/dressing (it’s messy, remember?), discovered barbeque sauce this evening.  She heard Scott and I talking about our pork tacos and how they’re better with bbq sauce, so she wanted some.

img_3214She was very specific as to which section of her plate to put the sauce…

img_3215…but after she tried it she wanted seconds, and thirds, and fourths, and fifths!  We had the kitchen completely cleaned before she finished supper.

We’re having lots of fun in the Riddle house!

Coming soon…a tale of two fishermen…

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Whew!

April 9, 2009 · Filed under The Reecer

I’m dramatically running the back of my hand over my forehead as I type the title to this post.

It’s been a long week and a half.

Luckily, after a full nine days of recovery (with 6 days in a row of showing no improvement whatsoever), Reece is back to her fun-loving, silly self.  I missed her personality so much and now I’m a happy momma watching my girl spin circles ’round the living room, singing to her babies, eating A LOT (guess she has some catching up to do), making Rynn laugh, and yes, even getting into trouble.  Kaleesha reminded me of what Beth Moore said in the Esther study…”a momma is only as happy as her saddest child.”  How true!  I was so miserable the week following the surgery.  I was sad for Reece.  I was helpless as a momma.  I was regretting having the surgery done.  Then I felt guilty for being so miserable when Reece was obviously 80 x more miserable than I could imagine!  On Sunday, the day she really started showing signs of The Reecer again, I was sick…but all I wanted to do was celebrate because we had our Reecer back!!!!!

And now she seems to be pain-free…she didn’t have a drop of pain medication today.  (I thought at one point she was telling me that she was hurting in her mouth, but it turns out there was a hair in her mouth.)  She even went to PDO and participated in the cutest egg hunt ever.  Mrs. Amanda said Reece had a good day.  Didn’t take a nap, but had a good day…looks like our Reecer really is back to normal! :)

I got to have a day of much needed momma-time.  Rynn and I spent the morning shopping, ate lunch, and then had my toes painted on.  It was really therapeutic.  Even just to get out of the house for the day.  So nice.

We’re looking forward to the weekend and a little family get-away!

Thanks so much for your prayers for our Reecer!

Please continue to keep baby Stellan in your prayers.  He and his momma are going through a MUCH rougher time than I can even imagine.

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Tonsil Day, Miss 5 Months

March 28, 2009 · Filed under Our Rynn, The Reecer, Uncategorized

Today (actually yesterday at this point) was Tonsil Day for The Reecer…the day we’ve been building up in Reece’s mind for nearly a month now.  She has known she’d have her tonsils taken out, and she knows her doctor’s name too.  “Dr. Potocki (she says his name like a champ) take my tonsils out.”  These words have been repeated numerous times throughout the last three weeks.  The other day, Rynn stuck her hand in Reece’s mouth and Reece said, “Oh!  Rynn took my tonsils out!”  Granny and Granddad bought her a doctor’s kit as a pre-surgery gift, and she has checked her babies’ tonsils several times.  So she’s known all about tonsils and this day we speak of (probably spoken about more to prepare the two of us than to prepare Reecer).  So how did this big day play out for our Reece?

As for her tonsils, the doctor said they were quite big for her throat and reassured us that it’s best we had them removed.  The day has been full of ups and downs…I told Kaleesha that it’s so horrible to see your child high on Versed, then 20 minutes later see her as miserable as she was when we first walked into her recovery room (they warned us, but I still took it hard).  The “downs” are the obvious feelings of pain for our child as we watch her suffer, plus the worry we have over her not getting enough fluids.  The “ups” are numerous though…at the surgery center she won the hearts of the staff, taking home not one, but THREE stuffed animals.  They were all really great to our Reecer and for that we are thankful.  My mom was able to stay at our house with Rynn and take good care of her and have lunch ready for us when we got home…so wonderful (especially considering Scott and I fasted right along with Reece).  The absolute most wonderful and super-sweet thing?  Watching Reece (who really hasn’t had a whole lot of smiles to give since her surgery) light up with Rynn this evening.  Reece wanted to sit next to Rynn most of the evening.  Rynn shows Reece her love by putting her wet, slobbery hands on Reece’s face, giving her big smiles, squealing, and giving “kisses” on Reece’s forehead…all of which made Reece smile over and over.  Reece loves her sister and I love that.  Reece even told us in recovery, “I love Rynn.”  Sweet sisters.

Let’s not forget that sweet sister of Reece’s…she’s 5 months old today!!  I’ll post a picture soon.  At 5 months, Rynn loves to smile and squeal!  She splashes like a mad woman in the bath, and I swear I saw her try to get up on all fours the other day.  We can’t feed her cereal to her fast enough, and she has recently begun sticking her tongue out…a lot!  She’s a sweet, sweet girl.  And she loves her sister as much as her sister loves her.  I’m loving this sister-sister bonding!

More on Reece’s recovery soon.  Thanks for your prayers!

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