Middle Child

I feel as if Garrett has not had a lot of face time on the blog lately and when I look back at this I will probably wonder where he was! ha! He actually has an amazing imagination and is able to occupy himself most of the time. He plays with legos or runs around outside. He loves going to the nature center. He hates to have his pic taken unless it is his idea. He loves science and hopes to be a scientist one day. I think he will do something with animals. He has the most precious heart, you just have to get past the wild boy every once in a while! ha!

It's Friday - I'm in love

Week 54. She went to her one year well child check up this week. She weighs 25 lbs. 13.5 oz. and is 31.25 inches long ~ that is in the 95th percentile! She is still a big girl! She gets to drink whole milk, which she is pretty much refusing to do. I am also trying to wean her and she is fighting that. At this rate she will be 12 before she is weaned (not really, I promise! ha!)! She is starting to walk more and more and she is getting faster and faster! She loves it when she walks fast. She will hug me and laugh if she has gotten some speed in her step! ha!

The Birthday Party

We had Carolina's birthday party last weekend. Sean's parent came from Minnesota and his sister came from Denver. My family came also, just a much shorter drive! ha! We didn't have a lot of people because I didn't want this big stressful party. It was still stressful, but fun! I went with the owl theme. My mother collected owls so there were owls around my house when I was little so I really love all the owl stuff that is out now. I had a friend of mine make her 1st birthday shirt then took it to Creative Kitchen and they copied the shirt for her cake! I love it! The pictures just do not do it justice. Then I did pink and blue Jones Soda and finger foods.





As I said I had a sweet friend make her onsie. I made the tutu and my mother in law made the leggings. She loves tutus! She is such a girl!



With the cake, she started out tentative, but she dug in with glee! I just cannot even explain how giddy she was! I gave her some juice to help wash the icing down and she did not want to touch the cup. She finally did, and then licked the icing off the handle! She didn't want to waste any of it! ha!





After a bath, she opened her presents. She proved once again that she is very much a girly girl. She loved the babies, but she also loved the car Sean and I got for her! Funny story. Elmo has a bottle. Carolina has never had a bottle. I thought she would just equate it with a sippy cup or a paci, but she puts it on Elmo's neck. I have tried showing her it goes in his mouth, but she will stick it back on his neck. I have no idea what she thinks it is! ha!





She was one little worn out birthday girl!

It's Friday - I'm in love

Week 53. The big party is tomorrow, lots to do!!

Two Years

It has been two years since we drove away from Arkansas Childrens Hospital without Evan. Two years. I miss him.

National Trisomy 13 Awareness Day

March is National Trisomy 13 Awareness Month. The 13th is National Trisomy 13 Awareness Day. It is also two years to the day we received Evan's definite diagnosis. I know that I am a day late. We were in Little Rock this weekend. It was a tough weekend. I cannot drive past Childrens without feeling like someone punched me in the stomach. Yesterday I sat at a volleyball tournament holding a sleeping baby thinking about how much had changed in the past two years. Two years ago I could not even fathom I would be in Little Rock holding Evan's little sister. It just amazes me.

This is a video another mom put together last year. Evan is in it about 2:50. It seems there are so many Trisomy videos that are out there to shock people. I am so glad she made this to show how much these babies are loved.

Here is a link to the actual video. My blog is cutting it off? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE0IVJjPidM

It's Friday - I'm in love

Week 52. Tomorrow is the big day! She will be one!!! Lots of fun things planned for her! She has finally decided she may give this walking thing a try. She took 4 consecutive steps today! ha! It is amazing how much your life can change in a year!

It's Evan's Birthday

I don't know what to say, I don't know what to do. Part of me is just angry, part of me is sad, and part of me wants to celebrate some how. I just don't know how. I do know that two years ago I could not imagine how our lives would change with this little guys birth. I miss him everyday. He should be two. He should be walking around, talking, calling me Mommy. I'm selfish. I want him here.
Happy birthday sweet baby boy.

Our Weekend

Not only did Sean run a marathon, but Grace had a volleyball tournament. Of course in totally different places. We had to be in Springdale (about an hour north) at 7:00 Saturday morning (we were late). We watched some volleyball, Carolina cheered in her tutu, and Garrett ran wild with the other volleyball siblings. Then loaded up (minus Grace, who spent the weekend with her volleyball coach so she could finish the tournament. I am pretty sure that is above and beyond the call of duty for a coach, but Grace had a blast. We love our volleyball coach.) and made the 3 hour drive East to Little Rock for the marathon! After the marathon, we ate at PF Changs, which is where Sean has eaten after every marathon). Then headed home.

My Husband is a Rock Star

I have said it before and I will say it again. Men and women grieve so differently. While we were in Little Rock with Evan, the Little Rock Marathon was ran. After we lost Evan, Sean decided to run the Little Rock marathon in memory of Evan. This is part of his grief process and I think it is amazing. So we spent the weekend in Little Rock trying to cheer him on! Here he is about mile 13. Still going strong!

We then drove all over Little Rock trying to see him again and just missing him! I would pull up to a spot where people were watching the marathon and ask what time pacer just went by and it was the one 30 minutes after him all four times!! I finally just went to the 25 mile marker! I was so disappointed! I wanted to be there to cheer him on and encourage him! Here are the kids watching all the runners with just about a mile to go ~ waiting for Daddy!




Garrett ran with him when he got to us. He was hurting, but still running! Carolina had been clapping for the runners before Sean, but when Sean ran by she just pointed at him. It was like "what's Daddy doing out there?!?" Ha!



Finish Line!

I am so proud of my husband. He has found an amazing way to honor our son. I could not ask for more.