Ode to the Swing

I am a bit sad and nostalgic about selling my swing. Reese could have lived in the swing if I would have let him. I remember being worried he wouldn't learn to take naps if he wasn't in it. I can remember at time in GA where he took a 4 hr nap in it and I had all Sunday afternoon to work on scrapbooks for Mothers Day for the grandparents. I even had a page in the scrapbook called "Just a Swinging" with pictures of him in the swing over time. I can still see him as a baby in his swing all swaddled and happy. I have alot of pictures and memories of him in the swing.

Caleigh has never really been into the swing. She sits in it some but it wasn't the life saver that it was with Reese. I decided it was taking up space, she didn't use it that much and was getting a little big for it- so it was time to go. I sold it within 24 hrs and then was sad it was gone- go figure. I did take pictures of her in it right before it went bye bye. It's just another reminder that my little girl is growing up so fast. This is my favorite stage because she is so much fun and not mobile. She is really acting like she wants to crawl so I know it wont be long.

Reese and Caleigh like to laugh and talk to each other. Today he was playing with her on the floor and she pretty much rolled over to kiss him and then lay on him. It was touching and funny.

View from afar

Getting closer- and in for the kiss

So much to blog about- so little time. I still need to write about our weekend and his bday party- for a later date.

Dinner with Santa

Busy times around here. Last week we attended 2 playgroups, a dr visit, gymnastics, a bday party, went to see Christmas lights at the park, and hosted a cookie decorating party. I went to bible study, worked like a manic, worked the food drive and attended a Christmas party for our church group. I hosted 2 showers the week before and took a trip to the big city this weekend to visit family. Its no wonder Reese's bday party invite turned out to be an evite!

Last week we took the kids a local church to have Dinner with Santa. Reese had a blast doing the crafts, getting a balloon sword made and running around the gingerbread house. Reese has screamed for every prior picture with Santa or the Easter bunny. This time was no different until he saw Caleigh sit on Santa's lap- and up he went.

Decorating his ice cream cone Christmas tree

Posing for pictures didnt go so well

Reese is always wanting to touch Caleigh

Crystal came over to visit

6 months

Caleigh is 6 months today. I have always felt like 6 months was a big milestone for a baby. She is rolling all over the place and will be sitting on her own very shortly. I absolutely cant wait for her to sit up on her own to play, but the rolling is going to turn my life upside down. No longer can you leave the room because she may end up under the furniture:) She is so much fun and is a joy to be around. I love to see her light up when she hears my voice enter the room to pick her up at MDO. I would be happy if she stayed in the stage forever because I love it.

Stats:
Length- 27 1/2 in 95%
Weight- 15 lb 8 oz- 50%
How two short people have such tall kids remains a mystery!

She is now eating alot of solids and the dr today gave me the go ahead to start some foods with milk to test if she has an allergy as well. Lets hope she doesn't and that he grows out of his soon.

In other news, it was proved this week that I am not crazy because they did find gallstones. I am waiting on the call to schedule the surgical consult. Its so nice to know after months of waiting and test after test that its nothing major- and something that can be fixed. I had an endoscopy, ct scan and ultrasound in the past 2 weeks to determine this.

Thanksgiving

We spent Thanksgiving at the lake this year. Reese had a great time following around Daddy, Grandpa and Uncle Bryan around the lake house and out for boat rides. We had a fire pit at night and one night I suggested we get out the marshmallows. He learned how to roast them the week before on his camp trip. We all debated how the proper way to roast was (I like mine burnt, Rusty likes his toasted). If Reese didn't like the way it turned out, he would fling the stick dangerously close to your face and tell you to have it. It was pretty amusing. I was even able to get some Christmas shopping done in Marble Falls with Marie on our ladies day out.We spent Thursday- Saturday with Rusty's family and then headed over to my Dads on Sat to visit my family. We also took the kids to see the lights at the walk through lights park in Marble Falls.

5 1/2 month Update

I just realized how long it has been since I have blogged. Now that I am back at work and don't have the kids napping all afternoon, my down time has dwindled.

This past weekend Caleigh and I went to Houston for Miles's Houston memorial service. It was a fantastic service to celebrate his life at his home church. Everything was signed and spoken and powerful. You could tell he was really loved by that church. It was so great to see all of his friends that we have seen grow up. Reese and Rusty were supposed to go with me, but Reese was sick all weekend. I would say we are finally all well but now Rusty is feeling sick. Just in time to go fishing at the lake of course!

The weekend before I was sick so Reese stayed with his grandparents. They took him camping and he had the time of his life. The camping trip was planned- the extended stay due to me being sick while Rusty was hunting wasn't. It was a fun girls weekend. You forget how easy it is with 1 kid- who isn't mobile. She was a great sport helping mom and I do our Christmas shopping in Toys R Us. We would hold things up and ask her if she wanted it for Christmas-- I guess that's as good as you get with an infants Christmas list:)

Caleigh has started to roll all over the place. She is never where I leave her anymore. Let the craziness begin!

Playing with Ella when our homegroup was over for dinner
Visting Aunt Heather at the memorial service
Visiting Cousin Aaron at the memorial
Ready for Thanksgiving
Reese and Caleigh play well together
Ready for church. Granny was here so we had to wear shoes.
She was a good sport as we tried on all of her Christmas clothes to decide what she should wear for her pictures. This one was too small so we took a one time picture in it. She didn't care for the fur around the neck

fire station

Caleigh is 5 months today. When I took her to the dr on Sat she was 14 lb and 10 oz. I recently saw a picture of Reese at this age and he was chunky as well. I forget he ever was since he has been so skinny for so long.

Yesterday I took both kids to the local fire station. Reese isn't feeling 100% and as a result he was acting crazy. I even caught him jumping on the bed during our tour. Don't you love how your kids are well behaved until you are around 25 other people- then they act like crazy people. He had a great time and is still talking about the boats they had there.

Caleigh was laughing at the firemen talking to her

Oklahoma recap

I promise one of these days to blog about our Thomas the Train trip. Here is a recap of our week.

Rusty, Caleigh and I arrived in Tulsa around 2 am on Friday night. We were told he was stable and to come up in the am. He died at 7:38 a.m. on Saturday so we weren't able to see him. We were lucky that we were in Tulsa and able to go to the hospital to sit with him and the family for about an hr and a half on Sat am. I t was nice to have the opportunity to say goodbye. I came back on Sunday with Rusty and Caleigh and went back Tuesday to drive my nephews (leaving Rusty and the kids here)

He did a lot in his 17 years and was an amazing kid. He loved the lord and loved life and never let his health get him down. He lived as a young infant in a bubble and stayed a year and a half in the hospital. He was born with SCIDS http://www.immunedisease.com/patients-and-families/about-pi/types-of-pi/severe-combined-immunodeficiency-scid.html. We had to wear masks and gloves at all times when we went to visit him as an infant and toddler. He just moved to OK last year and prior to that he lived in Houston. We saw him all the time in Houston and twice since he moved to Oklahoma last December.

The service Wednesday was fantastic with the deaf church in Houston and in OKC sending their ministers. He will be missed.I believe this is going to the be the most difficult thing I have ever had to go through. He was born without an immune system and we were lucky to have him as long as we did, but there is still a large void. However, we rejoice that he is in heaven and able to hear and with a healthy body.

He was able to make multiple trips to the national ability center. This is a fantastic place where he was able to do alot of outdoor activities. They have some pictures on their web site at http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=121017&id=48608818777&l=5fc22dad60

Caleigh did great in the car (only1 meltdown coming and going) and was a happy baby. She was passed around 20 people and still smiling while we were there.

This summer with my family in OK. I had just had Caleigh so I didnt get to make this trip.

He was very patriotic. He made a sign for Rusty and went and saw him when he came in from Afghanistan .

He begged Rusty for dogtags. He wore these up until Friday. Rusty got him a uniform and dog tags and I took them to him in Feb. This was the last time I saw him.Holding Reese at his 16th bday party

He was on the sign for MD Anderson Christmas cards