90 degrees and rising

We had a very family-oriented Memorial weekend. On the home front we did a huge home improvement project. Tim, along with our friend Tim, laid hardwood floors throughout the upstairs. It looks and feels so nice!! There is a little area left to be finished this coming weekend. Guess what daddy will be working on. Saturday we purchased...get this...a.......minivan. YEP...I'm now a minivan driver. Go ahead and laugh. When I'm in the inside I still feel like I'm driving a SUV...that is until I'm backing up. At that time I feel like I'm driving a bus. Thank the Lord this vehicle has back-up sensors.

Sunday Carys and I attended a cousins graduation party while Tim stayed home working on the floor. Amy graduated from MSU. Congrats to her!! Monday we celebrated cousin Kaidyn's 8th birthday. At the party Carys could not get enough of playing basketball with her cousin Holden. They were too cute! We also grilled burgers with our friends that helped out with laying the new floor.

Carys just loves to be outside...but why on a 90 degree day. I complain, but I always give in. So, today Carys and I went to a local deli and picked up some lunch to have a picnic at a local park. She loved looking at the flowers and the birds. Every time she would see a bird she would say "bird"; I would say and sign bird and; I would hope that she too would do the sign too but she would just keep saying "bird, bird, bird" or "dog, dog, dog". Most animals are "dog". After waking from her nap we were right back outside. She played with one of her little pals that I kept filling with water, just for her to dump it out. After about an hour of that I decided to I bring out what is really supposed to be a sandbox and put some water in it to make a pool for Carys to play in. The water was freezing, but she loved it!

TIARA, TOES and dishes

This year the Easter bunny brought Carys a pair of sunglasses, making her the proud owner of 3 pair. Last year she wouldn't have anything to do with wearing them...probably because they were twice the size of her little head. This year she can't get enough of them. She puts them on while in the house, while outside, while in the car, puts them on top of her head, wants a pair on her face and a pair around her neck and even wants me or her daddy to wear a pair of hers (now that's a sight to see). Grandpa Greg calls her Hollywood when she is sporting her shades. The other day she was playing in her crib with her sunglasses and tiara while I was putting her laundry away. I looked over at her and she had her tiara on her head and her sunglasses on. I raced to get the camera hoping she'd still be sporting her glamour gear when I got back. This girl is such a girly girl...but she also like to play in the dirt. She is so into wearing play jewelry, putting on her pretend lipstick and carrying a purse. I love it.

Since she's so into these things right now I thought...I wonder what she would do if I tried to paint her toenails. I tried. She watched. It was a success. I wasn't sure how I was going to get her toes to dry without smugging, so outside to the swing we went. It worked perfect. Throughout the day I will catch her touching her teeny tiny toenails.

She has also started to get the confidence to climb and climb on everything she does. One of my friends and her sister-in-law shared pictures of there little one's climbing on the dishwasher, so I am too.

Biker Girl

Here I am getting ready to go for my very first bike ride. I'm not sure about this helmet deal, but mom and dad tell me "safety first".

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!!

Get Well Soon Grandma Barb

Carys and I arrived home late Wednesday night from our trip up to Ubly. We enjoyed our visit with the Anthony family. It was very, very cold and windy during our stay. Carys has chapped little cheeks to show for it.
We unpacked and relaxed on Thursday. We took a two hour nap together in the morning and a one hour nap together in the afternoon. While on our mini-vacation, she decided not to sleep after our first night there. I must say I was very pleased with the naps on Thursday. We enjoyed dinner and catching up on Tim's trip to Pennsylvania on Thursday evening too. We sure missed him.
Friday I left bright and early as my mom had surgery. We have spent a lot of time at the hospital this weekend. Daddy and Carys had a lot of one-on-one time together so I could be with my mom. Her surgery went well and recovery is taking its toll. Hopefully she be able to be discharged Monday. She will be staying with us for a few days so that she doesn't have to be home alone during the day. Poor Tim, at home with three women!!
Just a reminder to visit our March of Dimes link. We would love your support in our walk on April 29. Please pass the link onto others in your email address book.

Nap-on-the-Go

The four of us girls went to Sandusky today. We had lunch at Dairy Queen and then went to WalMart for groceries. Carys fell in love with a babydoll in the store, Zipity Do Dolly. While riding in the cart she was hugging her and talking to her. She will encourage Carys to button, snap, zip, stick, tie and buckle. You can see her new dolly in this picture. You can already tell she is loved because Carys put some cookie on her. On the ride home the girls needed a snack. My little princess was so tired, I think she got more on her face and car seat than in her belly. We made one other exciting purchase. Carys got some hair pretties. She now has just enough hair that small barrettes with stay in her hair (somewhat).

Just a reminder to visit our March of Dimes WalkAmerica site. We have less than 60 days to raise money for research to help prevent premature births. There is also a picture of Carys there taken on the day she was born.

Breakfast with Taylor

We made it up north to visit our friends. The girls are having fun playing with one another. I have said before how much fun it is to watch them with one another. Today we braved the cold and went to Saginaw shopping. Taylor even shared her little car with Carys. It gave Carys a much needed break from the stroller.

This isn't the best picture of Carys, but as you can see, she is signing eat. Her hand is really supposed to be at her mouth. She is slowing making her way there. Daddy and I know what she means when she does this.

Up I Go

This is what happens when I turn my back for a minute. Climbing up the stairs is new for Carys. Today she also signed sleep for the first time.

New Shoes

Daddy, I think Mommy has issues...she bought me another pair of shoes today. Good news...these were on sale. I really like them a lot and think they are pretty. We miss you Daddy!!!!

Hey everyone...check out the March of Dimes link on the right. My family is trying to raise money for the March of Dimes WalkAmerica walk that we are participating in on April 29. The money will go for premature birth research. Please donate to our team and feel free to join us in the walk. You can donate right online. If you need help, click on the word comment below this post and leave a note to my Mommy. This is really important to us so I hope you will help us raise money to reach our goal.

Thank you!!

Love~ Carys Eva-Marie Davis

My Pink Pony

Carys received this pink pony chair for Christmas from her Aunt Tami and cousins Teige, Rourke and Macyn. Today is the first day we brought it out of her room to sit in while watching one of her movies. She would bounce in it and the bounced herself right out of it. I guess this pony has a new home.

Today Tim left for 7 nights in Pennsylvania. We will try to do daily postings so that daddy doesn't get home sick. We miss you honey!!

Just Tuesday

My new tool bench like daddy's when he was little.

Carys and I have had a very relaxing day today. We have been playing and eating, playing and eating, and playing and eating. It's only 2:00 in the afternoon. In between our playing and eating I have been doing laundry. Tim is leaving for Pennsylvania for 7 days and he needs some clean clothes to take. Carys loves to help me fold laundry. She pulls out what I need to fold. I hope she remains helpful!! While daddy is working hard in Pennsylvania, Carys and I are planning on visiting our friends in Ubly. We haven't seen them since the very beginning of January. I'm excited to see how much Taylor has grown and I love to watch the girls play together. Christine and I have talked about taking the girls to get their photos taken. Last time we did that the photos were...well lets just say...less than flattering.

Today we also had an appointment with our hearing impaird teacher consultant, Carlene, to learn more ASL. Carys is signing more, eat, all done/finished and bye. I'm so glad that we are all learning sign. As many of you know her hearing is in the normal range, but there is no guarantee that it will remain there. Therefore, it's very, very important we learn another method of communication as a safety net. I'm really enjoying learning sign, not to mention being amazed at a 13 month old using sign. Next time Carlene comes we are going to learn "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" or "You are My Sunshine". I'm so excited!

I also like to chew on this toy.

Animal Show

Saturday we attended Reese's 3rd birthday party. At the party a man came with some animals for the kids to learn about and to touch. Some of the animals that he brought were a tree frog, lizard, gecko, guinea pig, chinchilla, white rat snake, mouse and pigeons. The man told intersting facts about each animal and then he took the animal to each child so that they could feel it. Carys sat in the half circle with all of her cousins and other little kids watching the animal show. The final animal that was presented was the white rat snake. As you can see, Tim held the snake and it wrapped itself around Carys and him. Carys didn't mind one bit. She touched most of the animals and was a good observer of the show.

Uncle Geri with the tree frog

Carys touching a pigeon


Reese holding the white rat snake

My 2nd Valentine's Day

This is a picture from Carys' 1st Valentines Day! She was still in the hospital and would be for almost one more month. A hospital volunteer made this dress, which was easy to put on despite all the wires and tubes, the hat and the booties...

...and her she is for her 2nd Valentines Day. Carys got to spend dinner with her Grandma Barb and Grandpa Greg. I planned a romantic evening for Tim and I (I think it was romantic) since last year our dinner was Wendy's in the hospital cafeteria. The best part of last Valentine's Day was being with our baby girl!!

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

Today was Tim's 29th birthday. When he came home he opened the long awaited birthday gift. The night before I was asking him what he thought we got him for his birthday. He said what he thought it shouldn't be. Well, lets just say his gift was what he thought it shouldn't be. When he opened his gift he started laughing and was apologizing. My husband is the hardest person in the world to buy for. We got him an IPod so that he could listen to music and watch movies no matter where he was. He claims that he really doesn't know much about IPod's. After dinner and cake he did some researching on the internet to learn more about IPod's. He isn't sure if he's going to keep it or not. This is how gift giving goes with my husband.
On Saturday we are getting together with my husbands siblings to celebrate his birthday and his brother-in-law, Geri's birthday. One of his other brother-in-laws has the same IPod that Tim got for his birthday and Tim hopes to play around with that one to help his decide to keep or return it. If any IPod owner's read this post, feel free to make any comments about IPod's.
Earlier in the week Tim was in a car accident. He was driving his second car, the good ole' reliable Taurus. During his lunch break he went to get gas at Meijer. He was stopped at the stop sign there, waiting to return to work, when BAM! A truck lost control and slammed into the driver's side of his car. Luckily, Tim wasn't hurt, but the Taurus is now in need of two new doors. It turns out that the other car's breaks went out. Tim has been in so many accidents in this car and he hasn't been hurt in any of them. God is watching over him that's for sure!!

Mom, why?

Because I can Carys!!

Finally...SNOW

We have been waiting and waiting for snow. Last weekend we got a very small amount. Today when we woke up we were very surprised to see all the snow. After having a birthday celebration earlier in the day, we came home to give Carys her very first ride in a sled. She loved it. First her daddy pulled her and then it was mommy's turn. She was quite the trooper. We were probably outside for a whole 15 minutes, but it was 15 minutes full of FUN!!