The day she walked

Every parent feels a huge sense of pride at each "first" that their child has.  The first time you hear them cry when they are first born, the first time they smile, the first time they laugh, the first time they eat solid foods, the first time they sleep through the night, the first time they walk.

I have to say though, each first Caroline has is a different feeling for me.  When I was pregnant with her, we were told she might not have any firsts so each one is especially significant.  When she was born, her future looked pretty rocky.  Her firsts that we were so proud of were the first time she made it through a successful surgery, the first time she was extubated, the first time she was able to breath without a cannula.

With a child like Caroline, we don't know if she is going to have all the same firsts that most babies have; sometimes we ask, "Will she ever?" instead of, "I wonder when she will . . .".

When the boys were growing up, I prayed for them to be extraordinary.  I prayed for them to be different than the other kids.  Think different, be different.

With Caroline, I still pray for her to be extraordinary, but I also pray for her to be normal.  I pray that she will get to have all the firsts that the boys were able to have.  And, everytime she does, I feel as though she can take on the world.

I came home on Monday night in a rush to get packed for a conference.  I asked Jesse if Caroline had PT that day and he said, "Yeah, she was able to get her to take a couple steps."

I'm sorry!!  What?!?!?

So, I stood Caroline in front of me, took about three steps backwards and she started walking toward me.  I backed up a little more, and she kept walking.

You know how you feel when we win an event in the Olympics that we were the underdogs for?  And when our National Anthem plays, there is this lump in your chest because you are so proud and you feel the tears coming?

No?  Just me?

That's the feeling I got for the first couple steps.  Once I could tell that she was really walking, that lump in my chest exploded!!!  I started bawling, snorting, screaming . . . you name it, I was doing it.

I have never felt such a strong, uncontrollable emotion.

This is one of about 100 videos that I have made since Monday.  Taking a video of her walking never gets old :)!!

She still doesn't prefer to walk but she will walk anytime you ask her to.  She is getting better about standing next to a piece of furniture and walking away from it too.  That was a huge success.

One more first in the books!  One proud momma!!

Whew! What a Fall!!

I have been horribly negligent with the blog.  But, looking back on the past couple of months, I can see why.

This fall, we couldn't decide between soccer or baseball for the boys so, we went with both.

I'm pretty sure this was after his first goal but it's been so long it's hard to remember.

Watching the game the best way possible.

End of season pizza party.  We loved our team!!

We loved baseball just as much.  There is just something about sitting outside on a cool Texas evening watching your boys play baseball that is just heavenly.

Not sure which one this is but he sure does look like he knows what he is doing.  

And then, of course, Halloween snuck up on us.

We are pretty serious when it comes to pumpkin carving!

Hopefully you will be able to tell what these are when you scroll down and see the boys' costumes.

Is she not the cutest Pink Power Ranger you have ever seen.  And, I am not crafty at all but I think I did a pretty good job with this costume.

Sweet cousins!

And again, they got a ridiculous amount of candy.  Almost all of it is still sitting on the kitchen counter.

Just a random cute sibling picture.

And Caroline learned how to drive.  Man, where does the time go.  She's pretty proud of herself for sure.

And finally, we decided to head up to Iowa to spend a quick Thanksgiving with this awesome lady.  We had a really great couple of days.

My aunt was so patient with the boys and taught them a little piano.  We are happy to announce that Jack AND James can play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" and almost all of "Jingle Bells".

Caroline could not be outdone and is pretty proficient at playing Mozart's Requiem.

The aunts and uncles did a great job with Thanksgiving dinner.

And we finished the day off with a game of catch with Papa.

It was a super fast 4 days but we are really glad to have gone.  I remember taking these long trips when I was a kid and those memories are some of my favorite from my childhood.  Would have been better if we had portable DVD players back then though.  Just sayin'.

Looking forward to a couple of slow weeks and then a very slow Christmas break.

Happy Birthday, Sweet Baby Caroline!!

15 things I LOVE about you, Caroline . . .

I LOVE that you love books.  Looking over and seeing you flipping through the pages of a book always melts my heart, no matter how many times I see you do it.

I LOVE that you pull your passy out to say something and then put it right back in.  You already seem so deliberate with your "words".

I LOVE how happy you get around your brothers.  No one can make you laugh the way they can.

I LOVE, and Jack does too, that you have blue eyes and blond hair.  He is very fortunate to have a little sister that looks just like him (since his twin doesn't).

I LOVE that you love Cheetos as much as I do.  I wish you were a little nicer about insisting on getting them but . . .

I LOVE that you surprise people . . . well, doctors mostly.

I LOVE that you love Elmo.  I'm sure he would rather you not eat his face but I know he loves the hugs you give him while you're doing it.

I LOVE the way you get around the house.  Not being able to walk yet has not stopped you one bit.

I LOVE how you pose for pictures.  

Enough said! (those are her teeth marks on the table by the way)

I LOVE how you make other people light up.  Your smile is contagious!

I LOVE how you wake-up so peacefully in the morning.  There's nothing like waking up to you giggling and laughing.

I LOVE watching you try to climb over things that seem way too big for you to climb over.  No obstacle is too big for you.

I LOVE how you make "raspberries" in church.  I know I shouldn't, but I do!

I LOVE that you "speak your mind" and stand-up for yourself to your brothers.  You are certainly not afraid to let your opinion known.

I LOVE that you are an instrument of Christ.  The world is a better place because God allowed you to fight your way to where you are today.  You have changed the world baby girl!

Happy, Happy Birthday to the MOST AMAZING 2 year old I know.  I am blessed and proud everyday to get to call you my daughter!