You know you have a child with special needs when...

1. You view toys as 'therapy'
2. You don't take a new day for granted
3. Everything is an educational opportunity instead of just having plain old fun
4. You cheer instead of scold when they blow bubbles in their juice while sitting at the dinner table (that's speech therapy), smear ketchup all over their high chair (that's OT), or throw their toys (that's PT)
5. You teach your child HOW to pull things out of the cupboard, off the bookcases, and that feeding the dog from the table is fun
6. Your vocabulary consists of all the letters OT, PT, SP, ASD, VSD, IFSP, etc
7. You keep your appointment with the specialist even though a tropical storm is raging because you just want to get this one over with.....you waited 8 months to get it.....and besides, no one else will be there!
8. Fighting and wrestling with siblings is considered PT
9. When the Doctors/Specialist/Hospitals etc. all know you by your name without referring to your chart
10. His medical file is several inches thick and growing"

**I found this posted on a message board I belong to.

Smash Cake

Happy Birthday to our sweet baby boy!

March for Babies!

As you might be aware, our family has been touched by the March of Dimes mission to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. That's why we have formed a Family Team to raise money and participate in March for Babies. Please join us in our fundraising efforts by making a donation to our walk.

Your gift will fund research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. It will also be used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care. Evan was born at 41 weeks with an increased respiratory rate and spent 12 days in the NICU. We will be walking in support of the March for Babies because of how grateful we are for the care he received at the hospital.

Please support this important work. Contributing to our team online is fast, easy and secure. You can make a donation with your credit card, or if you prefer, cash or a check is fine, too.

To make a donation, visit my personal web page at http://www.marchforbabies.org/ejm

If you would like to learn more about March for Babies, visit the web site at marchforbabies.org.

Evan's 1st Birthday

Our sweet baby boy turned one years old. We celebrated his birthday with our family and friends at Gymboree. Evan was just getting over a cold and unfortunately was not feeling too great so we decided to wait to do the smash cake until he was feeling better. I will post pictures this weekend of him eating his cake. I can't believe it has been a year already. I can't wait to see what this year brings!

Yummy Homemade Baby Food

I have been wanting to try making my own baby food for a while, so this week I decided to give it a go. I was pleasantly surprised how easy it was. I just went on youtube and tada a ton of videos where available on how to make homemade baby food puree. The first food I did was carrots, because they are one of Evan's favorites. So I was not too surprised when he gobbled them up. The second one I did was mango and it was a huge success. He loved it and got so excited opening his mouth for more and more.

Gymboree With Daddy

Evan is now in the level 2 Gymboree class! In this class he will learn about cause and effect and we will be focusing on building his strength. In level 1 the babies mainly did work on the mats but now we are going to get to play with the ramps, slides and climbers. They offer this class on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Dan came with us last weekend for his first level 2 class.

Fun Way To Start The Holidays

We met up with the Perez and Conley's at Hyde Park for the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. It was so much fun to see our friends and kick off the holiday season together!

Evan's First Thanksgiving

As far back as I can remember my family has always started off Thanksgiving day getting up very early, putting on our walking/running clothes and heading over to the Turkey Trot. Anyone who knows me, know how much I love traditions. I am so happy to share this particular tradition with Evan. This year they changed the time of our race, it now starts at 7:30 am so we had to be up at 5:30 am... Evan was so confused why I woke him up before the sun. He went to the race in this rocket ship pajamas :) My mom and I walked the 5K with Evan and my Dad and Daniel ran the 5k competitive run. It is a lot of fun to see so many people there with their families. It always takes my mom and I a loooong time to finish the race because we tend to like to socialise :) A family friend's house is on the 5K route so we like to stopped by to visit them for bit. My Dad and Daniel on the other hand are more serious competitors so they met up with us later on. Dan finished the race at a record speed, under 30 minutes! I am so proud of him! After the race we headed home for delicious brunch. It was a relaxing day with lots of good food, friends, and football.


Since Dan's dad has to work on Thanksgiving night we have our Thanksgiving with the Mota's on Saturday. It is so nice to have a baker in the family. Every year he makes a rotisserie turkey at his bakery and brings home the most delicious pies. I think I gained at least 10 pounds this weekend!

Things To Be Thankful For...

1. The mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends.
2. The taxes I pay because it means that I’m employed.
3. The clothes that fit a little too snug because it means I have enough to eat.
4. My shadow who watches me work because it means I am out in the sunshine.
5. A lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home.
6. All the complaining I hear about our government because it means we have freedom of speech.
7. The spot I find at the far end of the parking lot because it means I am capable of walking.
8. My huge heating bill because it means I am warm.
9. The lady behind me in church who sings off key because it means that I can hear.
10. The piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear.
11. Weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.
12. The alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I’m alive.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lowry Park Zoo

We took Evan to Lowery Park Zoo this weekend. Dan and I decided to get annual passes. We got one adult pass plus one guest pass. This way I can take my sister, mom, friend... whoever wants to join us. Both Dan and I had not been to Lowery Park since we were really little. A lot has changed since then! Evan had a great time and loved looking at all the animals. I could not beleive how hot it was today. It does not feel like we are a few days a way from Thanksgiving! Tomorrow some of my friends from playgroup are going to all meet up at the zoo. It is nice to know other moms who have passes too. I am determined to get all my moneys worth :)