Day 100: Very large apple.

Sam was in love this apple.  It sat on the counter for several days and he just eyed it and talked about how BIG this thing was.  Then he started requesting that I take his picture with it.  Uhhh...ok?

Day 98-100: Raised Beds

We were BUSY last weekend trying to get some raised beds into the garden area of our backyard.  Here are some pics of Sam shoveling dirt/compost out of Grandpa's truck.  He was so very serious about his shoveling, it was awfully cute.

Day 97: Jump!

Day 96: Airplane! (and an anniversary of sorts)

At 2 years and almost 22 months, Miles spotted his first airplane in the sky today (which is really Day 97...I'm just cheating and trying to catch up!).  It was super cute.  Super SUPER cute.

We've also got an anniversary of sorts to "celebrate" right now.  It was a year ago (at Spring Break) that we were told that Miles' genetic testing came back with some "holes" in it.  A week or so after we got back from break, we went to the geneticists office and met with them to discuss the new information about him and what that might mean for his future.  It was one rough visit.  So many answers...and yet so many more questions.  In the last year Eric and I have become nothing shy of "experts" on the 18th Chromosome- specifically the long (q) arm of that chromosome and what happens to a child when they aren't given all the genes that they need to form a complete chromosome.  We (I?) have been to more evaluations (sometimes I feel of me...more than evaluations of Miles) and doctor/therapist appointments than I thought possible for a child- yet we know that we are extremely blessed to have Miles in our lives, appointments and all.

Miles will be evaluated in the upcoming weeks for Early Childhood Special Education.  When he turns three (June) he will transition out of Early Intervention and into ECSE.   We're not worried about the eval at all- which is a complete turnaround from how we felt for his initial eval at 14 months- but we ask that you would pray for the service coordinator that he is transitioned to.  His current coordinator is really wonderful and super supportive and a great friend/teacher to Miles.  We pray that his next coordinator (who he could have all the way until he starts Kindergarten) would be the perfect fit for him...and us as parents.  It is an interesting experience having a mandatory reporter in your home observing your interactions with your Special Needs TWO YEAR OLD weekly (yes, I know Eric is a mandatory reporter too....but I don't think he counts on this one).

Just practically- please pray that Miles would show great progress  from last time on his eval.  I have personal hope that he will be about 20-24 months old on paper at this eval.  I don't think I'll be crushed if he hasn't made progress to that point, but I would be so happy for him if he did!!

Okay, if you read this far- you're a star.  Thanks.  And if you are curious:  Miles is 18q- (or Distal 18q Deletion).  More info can be found here if you so desire.
;-)

Day 95: Talking to Grandma V.

She was lounging on our (sheet-less) bed while she talked to my mom on the phone...then she saw me with the camera.  So much for the cute lounge pose.

Day 94: Ummm.....

Ya, so....I'm not to sure what I'm doing OR what Miles is doing.  But I thought it was a funny picture.

Day 93: Brothers

Day 77-92. Yup, I just did that.

Yes folks, I am going to post a bunch of pics and call the blog "all caught up".  You're welcome. ;-)

I love this picture.  I doubt my Grandma will, as she is making a funny face.  I know it's blurry, but I loved seeing Maggie take new steps learning to ready over Spring Break.  This was one of only TWO pictures we took all week in California.  I was sick (as in FEVER sick) for 4 days and then Eric got it.  So we weren't much fun, but some family braved our virus and came to visit us anyway.  My grandma was an elementary school teacher for many, MANY years and just recently (as in this last month) has decided to stop subbing altogether.  I'm proud of her for making that decision to finally be all the way done.  Good job Grandma....and thanks for taking some time to work with Maggie on her new book.  I know she loved it and I loved seeing her learn to read with you like I did when I was little.

We're back home now and healthy, here is Miles coloring.  He's really embraced doing some of the "big kid" things that his siblings do.  It's fun to see.

Sam and Maggie....coloring.   Coloring with their new boxes of crayons.  Great decision by me to buy those on a whim.

This is what Miles spends most of his time doing:  pointing to something and saying "ga-ga".  That's his way of asking us "what is that?!".  Consequently, we spend a lot of our time identifying objects for him. It's really encouraging to see him have a desire to learn right now.  He's going to be three in June...so we're really glad to see his progress!

Miles helping me sort my coupon back-log.

Hopscotch on the driveway.

More hopscotch.

Little man showing off his uber-RED hair out front.  He gets lots of looks everywhere he goes...but cars actually slow down when he's out front and gawk at him.  I'm not sure if I should be scared or honored...

"Super-scary-three-headed-monster!!!  ...to scare Daddy when he comes home."

Grandma (Shari) Moffat's chain stitch sewing machine from her childhood.  She is lending it to Maggie right now as Maggie wants to learn to sew, but the kid machines out there right now are super junky and don't work.  (Grandma Viertell knows this from first hand experience this last Christmas).

Gearing up to do some sewing!

Sewing a sleeping bag for Fancy Nancy.

ta-da!