Each spring we make a trip to the arboretum for a run through the flowers. It’s really an accidental tradition, but one I’m thankful for. Our first visit was when the girl was a few months old:
When she was just over a year, she tried to walk for the first time in these flowers:
At two she was running and singing to her own tune!
Last year, the girl at three was getting ready for her release surgery.
Now she’s four, and she’s found her wings.
It’s been over a year since the girl started on the little blue cello. She was such a ham at her first “concert”…loudly proclaiming “thank you, thank you!” Over the past year we have learned “ants”, “flower song”, earned a bow, learned to play “bread” and “cheese”…. you know, all the classics! The girl now plays all of her twinkles, and we are hoping and praying (mommy especially) for a new addition to her repertoire very soon. The girl has finally grown out of her little cello and moved into a slightly bigger cello…still pretty little, though. Here is a year in pictures!
What a year this has been! The girl is feeling very grown up! Here she is on her last day at 3.
She was very excited for the big celebration! We have a lot to celebrate as she turns 4…good health and lots of good friends.
The girl wanted a camera (she takes after her mommy), and a wild animal party with chocolate cupcakes! At home we celebrated with Nonnie, Poppie, Aunt Jane and our good friends from Indiana.
Then it was off to the Arboretum for a winter expedition with her friends.
Armed with “noculars”, the kids went tracking and found a raccoon:
A coyote…and lots of other critters:
It looked like everyone had a great time on their hike through the woods:
After the scavenger hunt, the kids made a craft and s’mores!
Just to make sure the kids had enough sugar, we then went back to the outpost for cupcakes and a book exchange! It was a terrific day!!
We started the year with an amazing day watching Snowy Owls! The girl loved using her new binoculars!
The girl started cello lessons, and we discovered she’s a real ham!
We celebrated her 3rd birthday “on the farm”
We enjoyed so many fun times with friends through the year!
The girl was brave as she endured her first surgery of the year and the tethered cord was released.
We celebrated the “release” at the beach!
The girl had fun with soccer and swimming!
The real cello was earned and beautiful music ensued.
Summer was for picnics, camping and toasted marshmallows!
Our family grew…
The girl’s imagination bloomed.
She started preschool!
We now have an art gallery, and enough art to start new exhibits weekly!
The girl’s colorful personality was perfect for our colorful fall.
We gave thanks for good friends on the West Coast!
We stayed home for Christmas and missed out on the Texas White Christmas. It was sweet anyway!
We sent 2012 out with a bang! We hope that we stay away from hospitals in 2013!!!
Happy New Year! Peace, Joy, and good health to you this year!
It seems that the Christmas season flies by every year. The excitement grabs us and spins us along until we sit in a pile of wrapping paper. This year I’m astounded that this is the girl’s 4th Christmas! Time has really flown…
2009
2010
2011
2012
She’s so big, and being a big girl means we’ve been busy with more activities than we could have imagined!
Meeting Santa Mike
…and a friend of his
Singing in a preschool program
Christmas strings concert:
(That’s my girl on the big screen)
We’ve made cookies!
We’ve made ornaments for our Jesse Tree
We’ve welcomed Nonnie and Poppie
Now we will try to slow it all down and celebrate Emmanuel (God is certainly with us).
Time is zooming by and I haven’t given an update in a long time. The girl had a great initial recovery following surgery and spent the summer getting stronger. However in September, some of the symptoms that led to the surgery returned. We went for her bladder testing and had about 3 weeks of frustration trying to communicate with doctors. We finally visited the urologist for the follow up after the CMG. The test wasn’t “normal”, but definitely did not totally explain the accidents. We are trying a new medicine and will see the urologist again in 6 weeks. Additionally we were asked to follow up with the gastroenterologist and the neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon ordered another MRI (10/30) and follow up with him (11/5). I’m hoping that this is a “better safe than sorry” MRI and that nothing is wrong. I’m praying that the girl is just taking a little longer to recover than the “average” child.
1. “the boose is at the end of the line” (caboose)
2. “girls are cute”
3. “witing (writing) is fun”
4. “snack time is my favorite”
5. “aliens can be any color”
6. “you need a rocket ship to get to outer space, of course”
7. “germs are invisible”
8. “the trow-up germ is the baddest”
(I’m not sure all if this knowledge came from preschool curricula, but it sure is fun to hear how she’s thinking!)
First day of Preschool!!!!
Her teacher brought her to the car and told me that she was such a “sweet girl!”
After the first day of school, we had to go to Children’s for a follow up CMG. This is the test where we find out how her bladder is functioning. It wasn’t fun, but the girl was “so brave” (in her words). After the test, we headed to the Lego store. We would have bought her a skyscraper if we could. She loves skyscrapers!!!
The girl is doing great!!! A full update is coming soon.
I can’t believe the girl is ready for preschool! Today we went for a mini visit. We have our first day of preschool (without parents) next week. It was fun to meet new friends and teachers.
The girl loved sorting shapes and colors!
She also had fun decorating her placemat.
It’s going to be a fun year for sure!!!
The girl has a bug in her beret about going to Paris. I’m not sure why…the inspiration came from some lyrics to a song she loves. We aren’t going to make it to France this year, but a girl can dream cant she?
