Celebrating Nana

This past Saturday morning, we headed downtown to participate in Race for the Cure.  We had done this since Mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  This year marks 5 years cancer free!  We are so thankful for the early diagnosis!  Mom is one of the lucky ones! 

We have developed a family tradition of going downtown to participate in the 1 mile Family Fun Walk.  (Next year, once I am back in shape, I am going to run the 5K and then meet up for the 1 mile walk. I am putting this out there, b/c it will give me motivation and follow through)! Participating in Race for the Cure  is a great way to celebrate Mom and support a great cause all at the same time!   

That being said....this post is dedicated to you Mom!  I am so thankful for each day I have with you!  You are such an amazing woman, wife, mother and grandmother!  You inspire me to be a better person and I hope that one day my children will look up to me, respect and love me the way I do toward you!  I am so greatful for 5 years of good health and happiness!

Getting ready to load up for the big race!

                                             One mile Fun Walk, here we come!

Caleb's 1st 1 miler!

Mackenzie showing off her Celebration sign for Nana

Mom and Dad

Kenzie adores her brother so much, she traveled like this throughout the majority of the walk!

                                                      
Mackenzie's highlight each year.... giving high 5's to the motorcyclists on the side of the road!

Nana walking with all the other Survivors! 

Congrats Nana on 5 years free of Cancer!  We are so proud of you!

Caleb, 4 months old

I can't believe my baby boy is one third of his way through the first year of his life!  Slow down, already!

Here are some stats and specifics about our sweet boy:

* At 4 months, Caleb weighs15 lbs, 13 oz (75th percentile)and is 25 inches long (50th percentile). 

* He is sleeping in his BED!  No more sleeping in his bouncy seat!  Yay!

* Several times, he has rolled from his belly to his back.

* He reaches out and grabs hold of things now. 

* He giggles uncontrollably when you tickle under his arm pits, the bottom of his feet or under his chin.

* He is eating anywhere from 5-6 ounces.  Sometime this month, we have the go-ahead to start cereal!

* He takes two 1 1/2 hour naps a day and sleeps from 10:00ish to 6a.m.  (We squeeze in a late night feeding around 11:30ish, before putting him down for the night).

* If you try to sit him up, he locks his legs and stands.  He is incredibly strong....I see a future OSU Buckeye on our hands!

* He is quite the talker.  He is really cooing now and squeals with joy when engaging with someone.

* He is still having some back-up issues.  We are lucky to get a dirty diaper every other day.

* He is still taking 5 ml or 1 tsp of of Prevacid for Reflux.

* He is a total cuddle bug and we are enjoying every moment of it!

* He has a smile that melts your heart and is still the World's happiest baby! 

We love you so much, little man!  We can't imagine life without you!

Time Away

Most weeks, time away means 10 minutes out of the house to run to Walgreen's by myself.  "Me time" is pretty rare for most Mom's when you have young kids at home.  My best friend from college, Laura and I decided that we were going to have a little time away.  No mommy duties.  No schedules.  No cooking.  No cleaning.  No wake up call at 6 a.m.  Sound fabulous?  It was!

We threw around places that we had never been, but always wanted to visit.  We came up with 2 places:  Savannah, Georgia and Hilton Head, South Carolina.  We decided that because of proximity, we could do both.  We left Thursday and returned Sunday morning, in time to celebrate Mother's Day with our families.  It was a quick trip, but we returned rejuvinated, relaxed and refreshed. 

Thanks to my wonderful husband, and both our families for helping out with our kids and giving Jeremy a break.  Not sure what your schedules look like for next year, but we are already starting to throw out ideas for what we hope becomes an annual trip!

Take Off! 

Without this magical navigational device, we would have NEVER found our way!

Are these trees beautiful or what?  Here are some of my favorite photos from the trip:

Our trip to Savannah would not have been complete without a trip to Paula Dean's Restaurant, Lady and Son's.

Some of my favorites:  Fried Chicken, Baked Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Garlic Mashed Potatoes, and Creamed Corn.  Mmmm, Good!

Home Sweet Home at Avia in Savannah.

Headed to Hilton Head

The scenery was unbelievably beautiful!

View from our room

On the Balcony

Where we spent 2 FULL days....pure heaven!

 

I wouldn't mind trading my King bed at home for this...

The Lighthouse, and location near where we had dinner our last night in Hilton Head.  I had the BEST crab bisque ever there!

Sunset and Sunrise

Goodbye paradise....fruity drinks, sleeping in, dinners at 8:30 p.m.

Hello reality....6 a.m. wake up calls, schedules, routines and work....

boo hoo!

Mother's Day 2010

My Top 10 Favorite Things About being your Mommy:

10. Learning about the World again through your eyes.
9.  How no two days are ever the same.  It is always an adventure!
8.  Watching the two of you love all over each other.
7.  Assisting you in your journeys to learn about the World around you.
6.  Listening to you babble and talk to each other.
5.  The way you can make something so ordinary quite extraordinary. I have learned to appreciate the simple things in a way that I haven't since I was a child myself.
4.  The way you love me unconditionally.  Good, bad, impatient or tired...you love me regardless.
3.  How hearing your laughter and seeing your smiles literally melts my heart.
2.  How scrawny old me is your guard dog during your toddler nightmares.  How my hand on your baby chest can soothe you when you are fussy in the car or can lull you back to sleep.
1.  Without you, I would not be blessed enough to have the title "Mommy," a role I was meant to fulfill. 

  I am so thankful to be your Mommy!  I love you to the moon and back!

Love,

Mommy