diff --git a/blockchain/reactor.go b/blockchain/reactor.go
index c92064d79..ee84a794f 100644
--- a/blockchain/reactor.go
+++ b/blockchain/reactor.go
@@ -182,7 +182,8 @@ func (bcR *BlockchainReactor) Receive(chID byte, src p2p.Peer, msgBytes []byte)
 		bcR.pool.AddBlock(src.ID(), msg.Block, len(msgBytes))
 	case *bcStatusRequestMessage:
 		// Send peer our state.
-		queued := src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel, struct{ BlockchainMessage }{&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()}})
+		queued := src.TrySend(BlockchainChannel,
+			struct{ BlockchainMessage }{&bcStatusResponseMessage{bcR.store.Height()}})
 		if !queued {
 			// sorry
 		}
@@ -300,7 +301,8 @@ FOR_LOOP:
 					state, err = bcR.blockExec.ApplyBlock(state, firstID, first)
 					if err != nil {
 						// TODO This is bad, are we zombie?
-						cmn.PanicQ(cmn.Fmt("Failed to process committed block (%d:%X): %v", first.Height, first.Hash(), err))
+						cmn.PanicQ(cmn.Fmt("Failed to process committed block (%d:%X): %v",
+							first.Height, first.Hash(), err))
 					}
 					blocksSynced++
 
diff --git a/docs/specification/new-spec/blockchain_reactor.md b/docs/specification/new-spec/blockchain_reactor.md
index ded1bc275..7d7dcb38d 100644
--- a/docs/specification/new-spec/blockchain_reactor.md
+++ b/docs/specification/new-spec/blockchain_reactor.md
@@ -1,12 +1,44 @@
 # Blockchain Reactor
 
-The Blockchain Reactor's high level responsibility is to maintain connection to a reasonable number
-of peers in the network, request blocks from them or provide them with blocks, validate and persist
-the blocks to disk and play blocks to the ABCI app.
+The Blockchain Reactor's high level responsibility is to request blocks from peers or provide them
+with blocks, validate and persist the blocks to disk and play blocks to the ABCI app.
+
+## Message Types
+
+```go
+const (
+    msgTypeBlockRequest    = byte(0x10)
+    msgTypeBlockResponse   = byte(0x11)
+    msgTypeNoBlockResponse = byte(0x12)
+    msgTypeStatusResponse  = byte(0x20)
+    msgTypeStatusRequest   = byte(0x21)
+)
+```
+
+```go
+type bcBlockRequestMessage struct {
+    Height int64
+}
+
+type bcNoBlockResponseMessage struct {
+    Height int64
+}
+
+type bcBlockResponseMessage struct {
+    Block *types.Block
+}
+
+type bcStatusRequestMessage struct {
+    Height int64
+
+type bcStatusResponseMessage struct {
+    Height int64
+}
+```
 
 ## Block Reactor
 
-* coordinates the pool for synching
+* coordinates the pool for syncing
 * coordinates the store for persistence
 * coordinates the playing of blocks towards the app using a sm.BlockExecutor
 * handles switching between fastsync and consensus
@@ -16,16 +48,37 @@ the blocks to disk and play blocks to the ABCI app.
 
 ### poolRoutine
 
-* requests blocks from a specific peer based on the pool
-* periodically asks for status updates
-* tries to switch to consensus
+* listens to these channels:
+  * pool requests blocks from a specific peer by posting to requestsCh, block reactor then sends
+    a &bcBlockRequestMessage for a specific height
+  * pool signals timeout of a specific peer by posting to timeoutsCh
+  * switchToConsensusTicker to periodically try and switch to consensus
+  * trySyncTicker to periodically check if we have fallen behind and then catch-up sync
+    * if there aren't any new blocks available on the pool it skips syncing
 * tries to sync the app by taking downloaded blocks from the pool, gives them to the app and stores
   them on disk
+* implements Receive which is called by the switch/peer
+  * calls AddBlock on the pool when it receives a new block from a peer
 
 ## Block Pool
 
-* maintain connections to other peers
+* responsible for downloading blocks from peers
+* makeRequestersRoutine()
+  * removes timeout peers
+  * starts new requesters by calling makeNextRequester()
+* requestRoutine():
+  * picks a peer and sends the request, then blocks until:
+    * pool is stopped by listening to pool.Quit
+    * requester is stopped by listening to Quit
+    * request is redone
+    * we receive a block
+      * gotBlockCh is strange
 
 ## Block Store
 
 * persists blocks to disk
+
+# TODO
+
+* How does the switch from bcR to conR happen? Does conR persist blocks to disk too?
+* What is the interaction between the consensus and blockchain reactors?