Introducing.....

the newest member of our family, Calvin Merrick Hinton!



My doctor called me last Thursday to say ask if it was ok to move up my induction date to Saturday and I said....Heck YES!  So, we went in on Saturday mid-morning and Calvin arrived Saturday evening at 6:44pm.  And I'm certainly happy I didn't wait another week to be induced because Calvin weighed in at 9lbs 7oz and 21 3/4" long.  He definitely didn't need another week of gaining weight :)

We are all doing great.  He reminds us so much of Elena when she was born, except he's not quite as laid back as she was, but we can't complain.  He's healthy and sweet and we love him to pieces.  Babies are such little miracles and we are still in awe that God blessed us with this little guy.  The Hinton's are now a family of four!

Both Elena & Calvin are pretty unsure

 The Hinton's

Elena holding her little brother!

I think they look pretty similar, both have tons of hair and chubby little cheeks (Calvin is the first, Elena the second).

                                                             

Easter

I wanted to share the few pictures from Easter (before we all came down with the stomach bug!)....

 Last family photo of us three!

 Elena and Great Granny Velma

 Daddy and Elena

Uncle Aaron & Elena (sporting some cool shades from Great Aunt Ginger & Uncle Bruce!)

April

Whoa, like where did April go?  All of a sudden, everything is green outside.  The temperatures are rising.  Easter has come and gone.  My due date is fast approaching and I would like to have this baby any day now!

We have been BUSY!  I have been ordering furnishings and home decor at a record pace trying to get things settled.  Pictures are ready to be hung.  Nursery is near finished.  Elena is in her big girl room.  I'm growing larger by the minute it seems.  All the while, this little guy has been staying cozy and comfortable in my rib cage.  He is clearly running out of room because I can hardly breathe and my heartburn has been terrible.  Hate to break it to him, he's making Mom pretty miserable and it's time to experience how cozy Mom's arms will be.

It's nice to finally feel like I can breathe (figuratively, of course...I seriously can't breathe) though.  Most the *important* items have been checked off our list and we are definitely ready for baby. A few more weeks and our house should be finished on the outside, then we can finally plant grass in our mudpit of a backyard.  I know Chad and I will be thrilled when this year long project will be OVER!!

Besides all the crazy preparations for baby and getting settled, we have had time to enjoy the beautiful spring weather.  This past weekend we took Elena to her first baseball game.  While she only lasted three innings, I fully enjoyed a smorgasbord of ballpark delicacies in those short three innings.  Sunday was Easter and we had a great day with family.  That is until Elena came down with a stomach bug, that she passed along to seven of the 15 people we were with that day.  Nothing like enduring a stomach bug 39 weeks pregnant!  Thankfully it was fast and furious and we are all starting to feel better.

I'll end this mishmash of a post with a HUGE thank you to all of you who have donated to Elena's Walking for Dreams team.  We have been totally overwhelmed with your generosity.  It means so much to us to have such amazing support for Elena and the Jackson Center.  There's still plenty of time to donate (any donation amount is SO helpful and appreciated!).  You can simply CLICK HERE, where it says "Credit my donation to" select individual walker, scroll down to Hinton, Elena.  You can always mail a check too if you feel more comfortable.  Again, THANK YOU!

Elena's first baseball game!

Walking for Dreams

Walking for Dreams is a wonderful organization that helps small Indianapolis non-profit organizations raise money.  Our family is currently raising money for the Jackson Center through Walking for Dreams.  And since I happen to have a few readers, I thought why not solicit all of you!  :)  Below is our letter.  Whether you feel compelled to give to the Jackson Center or not, we CHERISH your love, prayers and support.  These are what truly get our family through each day!  But, the Jackson Center holds a very dear place in our hearts and helps kids like Elena achieve every single day.

Elena sitting at the ladder back

As many of you know, our sweet Elena began a rigorous therapy program last August at a place called the Jackson Center in Mooresville, Indiana.  From the very beginning, we were not only amazed at the accomplishments Elena quickly achieved, but also the community of families we entered into.  We instantly became part of a larger family of people who understand.  They understand our struggles, our joys, our hopes and our dreams for our children. It is because of this that our family is asking your help to raise money through Walking for Dreams, benefitting this enormous blessing in our life, the Jackson Center for Conductive Education.  

The Jackson Center practices a therapy called conductive education to help children and adults with motor disorders develop motor skills through repetition, peer interaction and positive reinforcement.  Its goal is to help each participant achieve the highest quality of independent life. For our family, it means so much more. We are grateful to have this resource; as the Jackson Center is the only program offering this method of therapy in Indiana.

Walking for Dreams is an annual family and pet walk that benefits both the Jackson Center and Elena directly.  If you would like to support the Jackson Center, you may donate to our team via the following: 

• Donate online at www.walkingfordreams.org.  Click on "Donate," Select "Individual Walker," then choose "Hinton, Elena.”

• You may mail a check to the Jackson Center  – Walking for Dreams. 

Please be sure to include Elena's name in the memo line if you mail a check. 

• Call the Jackson Center directly at 317-834-0200. 

Your gift, no matter what the amount, will help us achieve our goal.  More than that, it will give Elena and all of her friends at the Jackson Center a greater chance at independence.   

Love, Chad, Emmalee & Elena Hinton

If you would like to donate to the Jackson Center on Elena's behalf, you can use one of the methods above.  The easiest is to click HERE and where it says "Credit my donation to", select "Individual Walker" and a bar will appear with a list of individual names, scroll down and select "Hinton, Elena".  If you have any questions, feel free to call the Jackson Center at the number above or send me an email.  Let's raise some money for an organization that literally changes lives!

Elena walking to the lunchroom!

She Rides!

Elena enjoyed round #2 of therapeutic horse riding last week.  Chad was able to join me.  We were some serious paparazzi for Elena and that poor old horse.  I'm just glad we were the only parents in the waiting room that day because we were FOR SURE "those parents".  Elena again loved it and was happy to be back in the saddle...she must take after her cool Frey cousins Kim and Anna, who are real equestrians!

On the Hinton baby front, all is well.  I'm getting pretty (ok, extremely) uncomfortable here in my last few weeks.  This little guy really enjoys slowly extending his feet into my rib cage or out my side.  I don't really have an appreciation for that.  We saw him via ultrasound last week to get a weight check.  He was clocking in around 7lbs.  We saw him practice his breathing and some sweet shots of his little face.  All was healthy, so we are very thankful!  We'll keep you posted!