My baby is 18 Months old

I cannot believe it but tomorrow this sweet baby girl is a year and a half old.  What a year and a half its been.  Over 300 (yes folks, 300) doctor appointments and therapy visits.  We've had more appointments, tests, hours and hours spent on the phone dealing with insurance drama and more problems than I ever could have possibly imagined.  We've also had more joy and seen more kindness and love for our family and sweet baby than I ever could have imagined. I wouldn't change anything about this amazing girl, she is so full of sweetness, love, happiness and joy, she is the greatest blessing.  I've probably overloaded this post with pictures, but I can't believe how much she's grown and changed in the past year and a half.  

Starting out in the NICU, I wasn't even allowed to touch her at first.

6 weeks old

2 months old

4 months - love those eyes 

5 months

 7 months - 1 of many EEG's

 Even more EKG's and Izzy at 9 months

 10 months old and rocking the helmet head - she had the helmet for 4 or 5 months

 and got it off right before Christmas

1 year old

 My favorite squishy face

 swim therapy

 February

 15 months old

 Turning into a blondie

18 months old

What would we do without this beautiful baby girl?

Back to Reality

After 2 weeks in Oregon and a week here with Mom visiting, it's back to reality for us - unfortunately.  Mom left this afternoon and we already miss her!  As Isaac said, "Your mom is just so helpful."  Mom never just sits around, she's always helping - washing dishes, giving the kids baths, helping around the house, helping with the kids.  She hung curtains, helped me hang all our framed pictures and wall hangings, helped organize the house, the outside of the house, spent lots of time with the kids and babysat Eli all day while Isabelle and I had our (as I've named them) Tucson Days (basically 3 hours of driving and 2+ hours of doctor appointments).  We left around 8 in the morning, got home around 3 and it was amazing to deal with the driving and appointments without having to calm Eli down and find ways to entertain him while he looks at all the cool things (climbing wall, ball pit, swing, etc.) that he can't use because he's not a patient.  I wish my family lived closer and so do the kids.

 The kids are missing mom already.

 We got to do a few fun things as well.  We went to Bisbee, a really cool town close to us.  Mom, Isaac and Eli went on a mining tour that they said was really interesting.  We didn't think Isabelle would handle it very well, so Izzy and I walked around town and checked things out.

 Pretty dang cute.

 We also went to Tombstone, since my mom is a huge western fan (I swear, every time I come home to visit there is a John Wayne marathon on one of their channels).  Eli was in cowboy heaven with the stagecoaches, horses, cowboys and guns fights.  Here's the girls on a stagecoach ride.

 Eli and some cowboys from the gunfight show we went to see.  Since Sat. he has repeatedly asked me if he can go back to the cowboy town and hang out with the cowboys.

WAAM Museum

My Grandpa Bob has helped and donated items to the WAAM Museum and he took Eli, Mom and I while we were in Oregon.  Eli loved seeing all the planes, cars, firetrucks, tractors and the kids area where he could play.

Mom and her man, John Wayne

Eli, Grandpa Bob and I - these were the tractors from the 30's that he donated to the museum.

A Gator Ride

Just some more cute pictures from Oregon.  I wanted to take the kids for a ride on the Gator through the orchard, something I knew they'd love (or at least Eli would really love).  We went through our orchard and other orchards to get to the White House Winery.

On the Gator

The White House

The view

Happy 4th of July

We had a great 4th of July in Hood River. I love the 4th of July, it's probably my favorite holiday after Christmas and it is way more fun to celebrate outside of Arizona.  As much as I love AZ., 118 degree weather doesn't promote a great forth of July.  But since we were visiting home, we got to do it all - the parade, BBQ, fireworks and we even fit in a birthday party for Eli and I before we flew home.

4 Generations of Fabulous Ladies - My Grandma Nickelson, Mom and Aunt Deedee, my sister Dodi and I, and the cutest baby girls ever - Isabelle and Kennedy.

Fly-over at the Parade

Sweet Cousins - Isabelle and Kennedy in their cute 4th of July outfits.

Oh Kennedy, this girl makes me laugh and laugh.  All sorts of personality.  This is one of her many poses that she did for the camera.  Love it.

All the cousins - Eli was really happy to have his picture taken.  Can't you tell?

An epic waterfight with Grandpa

Eli loved the waterfight

The birthday party

Aunt Deedee, Kennedy and Isabelle in their cute swimsuits

Love these faces - top and bottom pictures!