Happy Happy Halloween!

I can't believe that Halloween has come and gone so quickly! This holiday season is sure to be a blur, but I am trying to keep up with pictures so that we can relax at the end of it and reminisce. Our Halloween was AMAZING...the first year that there was actual trick-or-treating. I had hoped that I could get the kids to do another "themed" costume ensemble, but after much debate I realized that alas, the day really is for them. Darn. So, Jack was Captain America, Kate was a funky Snow White, and Mallory was the Cowardly/Courageous Lion. We were blessed with wonderful weather...(I remember rain and sleet on most of my Halloween's growing up, don't you?) Jack has now decided that next year he is going to be a fireman, and after that Batman, and after that Spiderman, and after that.....

2!

Two years ago two beautiful girls came into our lives. I said last year that the girls first year was a long one...well, my goodness this past year has flown by! We have had a wonderful year and continue to be grateful for health and growth and milestones....I will never take it for granted.

I have been contemplating this post for a couple of weeks now and have had a specific memory keep coming back to me. The girls were a couple of months old and Tom and I were at Children's Mercy South at the Hearing and Speech department for yet another hearing exam for Mallory. We were handed a packet of information, and in that packet was a poem, Welcome to Holland (http://www.our-kids.org/Archives/Holland.html). I teared up instantly looking at that poem, scaring Tom as he had no idea what I had seen, and was wondering what was causing this reaction. You see, I have been introduced to this poem many times as a nurse in a pediatric hospital. I had always thought this was a wonderful poem to describe the journey a family takes with a special needs child. But holy shit, this was not for me and I did not want to be given this poem. How in the world did I get here?! That was exactly what I was feeling at that moment and the power of the implication that getting that poem handed to me was immense; completely overwhelming. Well, you know what? I have read that poem so many times, and now I can tell you that I am so very grateful and glad to be in Holland.

And now for the letters...

My Dearest Mallory,
Another year has gone by and you have really grown into an amazing little girl. I love that you are so resilient, it shows in your every waking hour. You love to play with your dolls and pat them on the back as they "sleep" on your shoulder...your tender loving nature is a joy to experience. I look forward to the many milestones of this next year...remember that you are so amazing and wonderful. Happy Birthday my Beautiful Girl,
Love, Mommy

My Dearest Kate,
You are a firecracker. The mantra of countless moms, dads and grandparents saying: "Enjoy it for they will grow too fast.." has become the beginning of a new reality for me. I am constantly wanting to press the pause button, weeks at a time, so that I can soak up the new pages of your exploding personality. You amaze me every single day. I love that you are so spunky. Hold on to that spunk...it is going to take you places.
Happy Birthday my Beautiful Girl,
Love,
Mommy

Times...they are a changin'

We have hit quite the milestone at our house....Mallory is beginning to walk! I had come to the conclusion that Mallory would not be walking by her 2nd birthday, and I must admit, I was kinda crushed by that realization. You see, when we were told that Mallory didn't have normal chromosomes, we were directed to a support group website (based in England) for families with a child with a 10p chromosome abnormality. I poured through the brochure trying to grasp some of the challenges we would face. Several points really stuck out to me, and one of those mentioned that the more "unaffected" children were certainly walking by age 2. I really focused my hopes on that tiny piece of information and although we have no clue as to the challenges we will face I really wanted her to meet this major milestone. She has been cruising for quite some time but would not take more than one wobbly step or two...then, last week I picked the kiddos up from daycare and Mallory's teachers told me they had something to show me.....they picked her up, stood her up, and low and behold she WALKED across the room to me! ACROSS the ROOM! I hadn't realized how much I was waiting for this moment until then, and of course I burst into tears; most certainly embarrassing her teachers. I was thrilled, of course, when Jack took his first steps, and then when Kate took hers...but this was the most amazing of the first steps I have been blessed to witness. Ahhh, Ms. Mallory, always remember that anything is possible!

I have had a hard time capturing this on film as she is always wanting to come right to me....this is the best I have so far; I just didn't want to wait any longer to share with all of you!

What do you do when your brother steals your heels?

Merry Merry Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas spent in Kansas City with my brother, Ryan, his wife, Rachel and their two kiddos, Caroline (4) and Max (2). Tom's parents joined us on Christmas Day for dinner...an amazing prime rib that Ryan prepared. We really missed the rest of the family but doubt they had much time to miss us as they were busy gallivanting across England and France..rough.
We had a great time decorating Giant Gingerbread Men (thanks Molly!), making beaded candy canes, decorating sugar cookies to leave out for Santa, and lots of playing.
Here are some pictures of our week...











Hope you all had a wonderful holiday...here's to a fantastic new year!

"Hold Me Closer Tiny Dancer"

Mallory has really gotten into the spirit of the season and has become quite the little dancer.

We are a household of superheros this season.... hoping we stay super healthy through the winter months!


Mallory eating pretzels...she mostly just mashes them up and spits them out just in time to put the goo in her hair..it is just lovely! We did have a nutrition appointment yesterday and she gained weight! Up to 16 lbs. 6.5 oz., that is over a pound in a month! Finally!


Kate at Johnson Farms hiding in the ship...I love the face she is giving my mom; it is so her.


Jack at Johnson Farms, he looks so old in this photo!


The three super heros...Spiderman, Wonder Woman and Supergirl.