I blinked and Calvin turned a month old! We celebrated Cal's one month birthday with the obligatory monthly photo.
This kid is nuts. He's so completely different than his sister that it feels like we're first time parents again! It's funny how two kids can come from the same parents, yet be soooo different. We're working hard to figure him out all the while Elena is happy as can be! She does a good job of taking it easy on Mom (most the time!) so I can handle all the squawking that Calvin does. :)
We had a great Memorial Day weekend. Saturday, we attended the annual Frey "hogroast". This year was the 8th anniversary of the beginning of Chad and my's relationship. Boy, things have changed quite a bit in the past 8 years! Never imagined we'd be toting two kids, a stroller and a giant diaper bag to the party! Goodness!
Chad enjoyed going to the race on Sunday, while I held down the home front (kind of!). And yesterday, we barbecued with some friends and relaxed a bit. It's hard to believe summer is finally here!
We're going to enjoy some free time in June, which I'm very much looking forward to. My taxi service is going to get a break...ha! Elena is on break from the Jackson Center until August. She also had her last day of "school" last Friday. She has loved going to the Mother's Day Out program for the last two years. It's given us both a nice break from each other! So, we're looking to a couple free days a week this month...bring on the pool time!
Needless to say, my blogging has suffered a wee bit since Calvin arrived. I'll try and catch you all up a bit!
The first few weeks haven't been too bad. I think I had prepared myself mentally for insanity, so it's been a pleasant surprise that I haven't yet lost my mind.....(yet being the key word). Two is quite a bit more hectic. I've had a few moments of the aforementioned insanity, but mostly it's just a lot of juggling. I'd say the most difficult aspect is going places by myself with both. It poses a major challenge carrying two kids. I usually give Elena a pep talk about holding onto Mommy (which really means nothing), say a quick prayer that I don't drop either kid, pick up Calvin's carseat and make a mad dash, smiling and pretending not to see the worry in all the faces I pass. The silver lining is that I should be sporting some serious biceps by the fall!
A huge answer to prayer has been the ease of planning the transition for Elena into preschool. Our school district has been amazing. It has been FAR less stressful than I had imagined. I'm so excited about Elena's teacher and her education plan for the fall. I know that moving all the way out here to the 'burbs was truly the best decision we've made. How God has orchestrated the rest, our new house, our old house, the keeping of our old therapists from First Steps, has been nothing short of divine. The last year of our lives has been a serious testament to faith. We've trusted that God would work out all the details in preparing a place where Elena would be able to thrive, both at home and at school, and seriously, it all couldn't have worked out better. Sure, there was stress and doubt along the way but looking back, it's been such an seamless transition for us all. Chad and I both feel like we are exactly where we need to be. And we are SO, SO thankful for it all.
Elena, in the meantime, has been killin' it. She has had such a big bump in progress in the last couple months. Chad and I both have recognized how present she is and how much she is really understanding. I'm not sure what to attribute it all to, but we are so excited about our growing girl. I think school this fall is going to be so great for her. She's going to be exposed to a whole new environment. In addition to school and the Jackson Center, we are excited about all the things Elena is going to learn from Cal too. Laney & Cal are going to make a great little duo :)
Our hearts are so full right now. I try to remind myself every day that even though our family has been through so much, enduring so many dark days, God has continued to pile on the blessings. We clung to our faith and He remained faithful. I hope that it's a reminder to any of you who are facing a terrible life trial that seems like you'll never make it through, that you will, and your life will be blessed because of it.
Here is a video of Elena from therapy the other day. We've been working on sounds. She was purposefully saying "ma" back to her PT, when she asked. What's more exciting to us than just saying "ma", is that Elena was following instructions! We are so proud of our girl!!
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