Special Memories................Blessing 30

I have never posted pictures of Emma's headstone and bench on our blog. If you followed Emma's carepage you know we feed the squirrels at the cemetary every Sunday after church. We even named them when we first started going out there. Gus Gus was our favorite, he was a little fat one and of course the other favorite was Mia the black squirrel. When we used to go we would see anywhere from 5-10 squirrels come and eat the peanuts and seeds. It's like they new our vehicle and as soon as we pulled up they came running for dinner. We didn't dare come without food!!! It is comforting going to the cemetary and seeing and feeding the squirrels. We know Emma is in Heaven and this is just her resting spot and a place for us to visit.

Lately we haven't seen too many squirrels. They must have found a new little hang out spot to visit. We still bring the peanuts for them to enjoy later in the week.

We went to the cemetary today and Thad actually got to get out of the vehicle this time. He is either sleeping or it was raining the last few times we have been there.

I told Thad to give Emma a kiss and this is what I captured. It made me sad and happy at the same time. Sad because she is no longer here and happy for the love Thad is giving to his sister.

Thad was making sure the peanuts were in the dish just right for the squirrels. He plopped right down and started playing with the peanuts! We didn't see any today so that was a bummer, I'm sure Thad would have enjoyed feeding them.

This time of year is always the hardest. Her birthday is next weekend and it's still so clear the day she was born. August through November is also a special time because it was the time she was here with us. You never know what life will throw at you or where you will end up. Take each day slow, enjoy every minute of it and spend time with the ones you love.

18 Month Checkup

Thad had his 18 month check up today with Dr. Hoover (pediatrician). He weighed just over 26 lbs and is 32 inches tall. He is in the 50th percentile in both weight and height. His head was 18 3/4 and in the 75th percentile! Dr. Hoover said Thad has always had a bigger head and probably gets it from Adam or I. (I told Dr. Hoover it was Adam!) He only had to have one shot which is a good thing because he is strong! He knew right away when we went in the room and I put him on the table to undress him for his weight that it was going to be trouble! He really put up a fight when the nurse was measuring his head.

Dr. Hoover said he looks great, growing well, moving around good and even showed Dr. Hoover his baby sign language and told him what a cow, horse and pig says through his tears and screams of being held down.

He won't go back to Dr. Hoover until his second birthday which seems like its right around the corner!

Book worm

Thad LOVES to read!!! Every night we read books over and over and over again. He likes to read the same ones all the time. If it has a dog dog in it he really goes crazy and shouts "dog dog!" He likes the animal books and is getting his animal sounds down and knows what a cow, pig, horse, cat, dog, and monkey say!

Each night we stack the books back on the shelf just to have them all ripped down the next day (or in the next minute). I'll have to say some children books are a little strange! This book called Good Dog Carl is one of them. It has no words just pictures of Carl the dog babysitting a baby. Carl gets the baby out of the crib, they jump on the bed, put make-up on, Carl drops the baby down the laundry shoot, puts the baby in the fish tank to swim around, dances, gets something to eat, makes chocolate milk, and then takes a bath. Carl then puts baby to bed and cleans up all the messes they made that day. Umm, I guess Carl could be a good babysitter but I don't think we will leave Thad with Carl or Chauchi anytime soon!

Prayers.....Blessing 29

Before every meal we sit down and say our prayers. We start with the Sign of the Cross. Thad is always sitting in his high chair before us. As we sit down he puts his hand on his forehead then his chest like he is making the Sign of the Cross (with the biggest smile on his face). Just in case we forget to say our blessings he reminds us. He knows how to do the gesture for Father, Son but can't figure out Holy, Spirit, Amen! He'll get it in time and its so cute to watch him try so hard. I'm glad he knows that we will pray before every meal and is getting used to it.

A day at the zoo with Ms. Rhonda and friends

On Wednesday we had a fun day at the zoo with some of Thad's friends from daycare and Rhonda. We saw giraffes, fed chipmunks, saw elephants, monkeys, lions, tigers, hippos and so many more animals! Every animal we saw Thad shouted "dog dog!!" We fed birds from a stick which Thad loved. We had a picnic at the playground and even got to ride the Mountaineer skyride! That was interesting with Thad. He was fine for the first few minutes then got bored sitting on my lap. He wanted to get down. I was holding on to him so tight I was probably cutting off his circulation!!!! I think we'll wait until he's a little older next time! Thad skipped his morning nap and still was a trooper. He fell asleep as soon as we got in the car and drove off!

Thanks Rhonda for such a fun day at the zoo.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

A weekend at home-----Blessing 28

This is the first weekend in 3 weeks we haven't traveled anywhere! We love seeing our friends and family but it is also nice staying home and relaxing! We had a nice weekend at home without packing a van full of stuff. We had our friends Natalie and Leif over Saturday night for a bbq. It was the guys turn to see a movie so Adam and Leif went to Transformers and Natalie, Thad and I watched a movie at home. We got caught up on some house chores and cleaned out the garage which was much needed. We also went to a birthday party for one of Thad's daycare friends first birthday.

I don't think we'll have to travel again until the first weekend of August so we have a few weeks off!!!! Whew!!!!

10 Year Reunion----Blessing 27

I had my 10 year high school reunion last weekend. I had such a good time seeing my friends again. There was 4 of us who hung out and were my close friends in high school--Jessica, Angie and Nicole. We met at Nicole's parent's house for a bbq and swimming for the kids. Between the 4 of us we have 12 kids and one on the way!!! (Not pictured is Ally-Nicole's oldest daughter and Emma). I can't believe we have that many kids between the four of us! Angie and Nicole live in Texas and Jessica lives in Kansas.

After the bbq we headed to the family ice cream social. We all met up at Meridy's restaurant for dinner then off to the local bar.

Nicole, Angie, Jessica, Me

About 30 people came to the reunion. It was fun to see everyone and catch up on their lives. Although I have to admit, us four hung out most of the night catching up!

Jenna who lives in New York!!

I can't believe the past 10 years snuck up on me. It will be our 20 year reunion before I know it. Good times!

Busted!

Thad's favorite thing in the fridge is Apples!!!!! If the fridge is open he heads straight for the bottom shelf and grabs his apple......sometimes it's two apples!