Memories....

This week has been packed full with loads of thought about old memories and the importance of making new ones...

As for old memories....

My Dad's birthday was Thursday.  He would have been 78 years old.  I miss him every single day and I would love for him to have had a chance to get to know the adult me...the mom...the wife...the more mature daughter I could have been.  Even though our lives together here were cut short, I look forward to the day when we're able to see each other again.

Exactly a year ago yesterday, our pregnancy roller coaster ride with Will began.  I was still very early on in the pregnancy, but we were absolutely certain I was beginning to miscarry.  Over the course of several days and doctors visits to measure my hCG levels, we were shocked to learn that I was still pregnant and the baby was growing.  We had no idea what the future held in terms of potentially losing our precious baby.  It's crazy to think that in some ways we're still on the pregnancy roller coaster ride.  We thought for sure that when Will was born all of our questions about his "problem" or diagnosis would be known.  Yet, I sit here tonight four months after his birth still waiting on whole genome test results to tell us if there really is anything "wrong" with Will.  I won't even get started on my feelings about this...much too complicated.

As for new memories....

Emme started preschool last week.  She will be going two days per week and so far she's loving every minute of it.  She's always very excited to show me her art project for the day.  The teachers also say she's doing well and they have expressed that she is a very independent little girl.  Ohhh yeah, she's independent alright.  :)  Let's just hope her independence doesn't eventually transition into being too hard headed to listen.  Gosh, I just love her... and I totally understand her independence.  I wouldn't want someone else helping me bubble paint either!  ;)

Will is amazing.  He's perfect.  He's my little miracle.  He is really starting to smile and laugh lots these days.  I have my routine set of "jokes" that I can perform to get him to giggle almost every time.  Emme and Will are also really starting to interact more.  She has been holding him frequently and his eyes follow her every moment.  It's absolutely adorable and melts my heart to see the two of them together.

Emme and Will riding my dad's old golf cart

Will has also started spending time in his exersaucer and he loves playing with all of the toys.  It's so fun to see him exploring the world around him.  I also did something I swore I wasn't going to do until he was a bit older, but I gave him a tiny amount of cereal the other night mixed with milk.  It took him a minute to figure it out, but once he realized it was mainly milk he just kept opening up his little mouth for more!  I figure it will be a good way to start getting him some extra calories.  Next up?  Pie.  :)

Will's first solid food!

He also just had his four month pediatrician visit.   He weighs about 13.5 pounds (20th percentile), he's 25.5 inches long (69th percentile) and his head is finally measuring a bit more proportionately in the 37th percentile.  So, he's growing well but he could stand to add a little more weight (hence the pie!).  The pediatrician didn't have any concerns whatsoever and we're slowly going to start trying to wean him off his acid reflux medicine.  Of course, everyone is still waiting on the genetic test results, but the doctor keeps trying to tell me to just relax and stop being so paranoid.  It's just soooo hard to relax and not look for things to be "wrong" when I've had it drilled in my head for a year now that things just weren't normal.

This weekend was also my hubby's birthday.  We celebrated by surprising him with an overnight camping trip.  I packed up all of our things secretly last week and arranged to have everything waiting for us at the campground with his brother.  We almost pulled off the surprise, but Carlton started getting suspicious before we got there since he couldn't find any of his normal stuff he would have taken if we were just going to the lake for an afternoon.  Anyway, he was still THRILLED to have our first overnight camping trip.  It went well-ish.  ;)  Lots of memories, not a lot of sleep.

So, here's to making new memories and remembering the old ones and how incredibly important it is to just stop...relax...and let life happen.  Isn't it grand?  I think so...I really, really think so.