March of Dimes WalkAmerica

On Sunday many of our family members and friends joined us in the March of Dimes WalkAmerica in Jackson, MI. We all wore bright yellow shirts that read "Miracles Happen" "team miracle girl". Tim and I decided to join in this walk to honor Carys, our miracle girl! Our team raised around $1700.00 coming in 2nd place for the family team division. I am so proud of our team. The walk was 7 miles. Carys spent 6 of the miles in her dad's arms even though she could have ridden in her stroller or wagon. The weather on Sunday was perfect...sunny, in the 70's and a nice breeze. Tim and I hope to make this an annual event and hope that our team miracle girls gets larger and larger each year. Thank you to everyone that donated to our team and a special thanks to everyone that walked: Grandma Barb, Grandpa Greg, Grandpa and Grandma Davis, Uncle Geri, Aunt Jennifer, Cousins Kennedy, Holden and Kaidyn, Aunt Tami, Cousins Teige, Rourke and Macyn, Aunt Emily, Cousins Jarren and Reese, Jeannine, Tim and Melissa!! You were all troopers during the 7 mile trek!! I hope you all are able to join us next year!!!! Also, thanks Aunt Jen for sharing Carys' story with The Jackson Citizen Patriot when they had asked you.

Grandma Barb & Grandpa Greg's House

Today was an absolute beautiful weather day!! Tim was planning on helping a neighbor with building a garage for the day and I had wanted to take Carys to the zoo. I had asked different people to join us but no one was able to go. The day was going to be beautiful and Carys and I had to do something outside. We ended up driving over to my mom's house. We had so much FUN!! First we sat on a blanket in the yard and ate our lunch. Then we got out the riding lawnmower and I took Carys for a ride. We did more playing in the yard, went for a walk and Carys rode in the stroller (which is very RARE) and then...we played in the pond. I put Carys' feet in and she just kicked and kicked. We were sitting down trying to skip rocks and then she had to splash with her hands. After that we moved to sit at a different spot on the ground by the pond and she proceeded to try to crawl IN the pond. This kid loves the water. Last week she started to put her face down in the water while taking a bath. After all the fun with the pond, Grandpa Greg hooked up the wagon to the lawnmower to do some work. When he was finished, Carys and I hopped in for a ride. It's so fun being a mom because it gives you the perfect excuse to do kid things all over again (and you won't look silly). We were outside with Grandma and Grandpa for three hours. Needless-to-say, Carys fell asleep on the drive home. Once she woke up we went over to the neighbors to see how the building of the garage was progress. We sat outside for another two hours (or a little more). Thank God for SPF 50!! I put it on Carys throughout the day, but not myself. I now have a farmer tan! Yeah!! Enjoy the photos!!

Dress Up

"Girls just wanna have fun!"

"Fun's over."

All Aboard!!

I don't want to wear the yellow hat! I wanted the pink one.

We have had such a fun day! Carys had her very first train ride!! In Blissfield there is the Adrian & Blissfield Rail Road. The train typically has Friday, Saturday, Sunday train rides where passengers are treated to dinner and a murder/mystery play. At times they also have some fun family events. Today we boarded the Cottontail Express. We enjoyed cookies, punch, singing, coloring and a special visitor...the Easter Bunny!! Carys was a little scared of the bunny...I must say...I was a little myself. We were able to get a picture with the Bunny. The train ride took about two hours. Our friends, the Geha family, joined us on the Cottontail Express. It would not have been as fun without them! We are glad they came along. If anyone is interested in tying out the dinner train call 1-800-GO RAIL 1.

This evening Carys was treated to the Easter tradition of coloring eggs. We put her in the bathtub with pink, yellow and blue coloring. She knew exactly what to do. I'm so glad we decided just to strip her down and place her in the tub. This was so messy, but soooooo fun! She really got a kick out of it.

Happy Easter everyone!!

Pittsburgh, PA

Greetings everyone! We are so sorry that it's been so long since there has been a new post. The weather has been beautiful on and off and when it's on...we are outside enjoying it. Carys has had wagon rides and rides in her little car. We have been experiencing some other things besides the nice weather.
Carys now has her eighth tooth. That makes four on the top and four on the bottom. She recently bit her cousin Reese and even drew blood. We are so sorry Reese. Carys didn't know that biting you would hurt!! Our little princess is still consistently signing. She signs eat, more, bye/hi, diaper, sleep and all done/all finished. She is now doing all the signs exactly how we have taught her, which is awesome. Tonight she did the sign that looks like mother. I'm not sure if this was a fluke or if she meant it. I guess well see.
Last weekend Tim had to go out to Pittsburgh, PA for work again. Last time he went alone and we went to see the Anthony family. This time Carys and I tagged along. We had so much fun. We left last Saturday and came home the following Tuesday.

We had planned to go to the zoo on Sunday. The weather that day was perfect for zooing it. This zoo was so nice. It was clean, the exhibits were close together, and was set throughout on one of the local mountains. All of the animals were out enjoying the nice day too. When we went to the zoo last summer, Carys was too young to really understand to look at the animals. Not this time. She would look and point. I think her favorite was the aquarium. There was this tank that you could walk under and she was super excited about that. Tim and I thought we needed to get Carys something to remember her zoo trip so we got her a mommy and baby penguin puppets. She held them right up and hugged them all the way out to the car. People were commenting on how cute she was. That's our girl.

On Monday Carys and I walked to Cracker Barrel for lunch. In their little store we bought this bubble kit so after lunch was sat outside at the hotel blowing bubbles. When daddy finished up with work we drove to Mango Park and drove around. There were some covered bridges, a river and some beautiful scenery. Carys enjoyed the relaxing drive so much she fell asleep. She did, however, wake up just in time to have some ice cream.

Once we got back home it was back to our daily duties. We are still trying to get her back to taking her naps. She is now only nursing at bedtime and we are down to only four minutes at that. She must be growing too because she eats all waking hours. Last Thursday she had an appointment with her audiologist. She had her audiogram and is still have normal hearing. I pray all the time that she hears as I do and that her hearing continues. Thank you God for hearing my prayers.

On Tuesday she has her 15 month well baby visit. I'm anxious to see how much she has grown. I know her pediatrician will be pleased with how well she is functioning overall. She gets more and more fun each day!!