Last week

Last week I registered Nate for preschool.

Last week I bought him his first backpack and school supplies.

Last week I started trying to make arrangements for when I go back to work.

And last week we were busy trying to cram it all in before the school year starts.

On Tuesday night we went to our County Fair.

My big boy rode the carousel-and he actually liked it this time!

Yes, my husband is wearing a Wonder Pets shirt.

On Thursday we went to pick up his brace at Children's downtown.  We were never able to get him up to the roof of the parking garage after his surgery (which has a-mazing views of the city) so we made it a point to take him up this time. The kid is obsessed with "big buildings".

 

Then it was off to Millennium Park.

The Bean!

He looks like such a big boy, doesn't he?

Family shot.

Preggo shot. :)

Nate was smitten with the Bean.  Had a ball making faces at himself.

Can you spy me?

Friday, we headed to the zoo.  It was a gorgeous day.  Sunny, but not too hot with a nice breeze.

Daddy did the heavy lifting and most of the pointing and explaining.  Mommy took the pictures.

I love these, especially the polar bear one with his hands up!

Does anyone else remember these things?  I remember them from when I was a kid.  They're still around and still exactly the same.  Nate was fascinated and appropriately named his dolphin "Zoo".

My happy little wheeler. :)

Family photo (rare, I know!) Also a very unflattering picture of me pregnant.

We rounded out the week on Saturday with a neighborhood barbecue, at which I did not take one single picture.  But we had a great time with great friends.  This week it's been cleaning, organizing and getting prepared for the school year.  I'm both nervous and excited about him starting.  Lots of big things happening around here!

Fun in the sun

It's finally hot here.  So on Memorial Day we got together with some of our neighbors and let the kids play in the sprinkler.

Nate was not as brave as these boys were. He was content to just run his hand through it.

The pool will have to wait a bit-no swimming for a couple weeks post-op.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Sweet treat

We went for ice cream the other week for my 30th birthday. It dawned on me sometime before we left that Nathan had never had his very own ice cream cone before (this is partially because he has been hot and cold with ice cream-sometimes he likes it and will eat it, other times he won't touch it- and also partially because I can not stand him being a sticky mess). I decided to let go of my fears of sticky hands and clothes and let him have at it. And boy, did he ever. He ate THE. WHOLE. THING. and was in heaven. See for yourself!

Lake County Fair

I've got so much to catch up on. Last month we attended Special Abilities day at the Lake County Fair. It was H-O-T so we didn't stay long. Nate got to ride the carousel with daddy and see some of the ponies. He also went fishin' and got to pick out some duckies to win a prize. I got to play with my camera. :)

Watch out, world!

Here is Nate using his "wagon" as he likes to call it. He is really starting to get around in it. He actually used it most of the night tonight and we can see that he is building endurance. He happily wheeled all over our family room (on the carpet which is harder!) and played with toys. We are eternally grateful to our PT Toni and her husband for making it for him. Every time we see him in it, we can't help but think that he is REALLY going to take off when he gets his chair! (It was officially ordered Aug. 20th and should be in the middle of October!)

Hippo

We're about to wrap up Nate's first session of hippo therapy, which was actually a generous birthday gift from his grandpa (thanks grandpa!). Everyone always asks me what "hippo" stands for, and I always assumed it had something to do with the hips but after looking it up I found out that it was actually derived from the Greek word "hippos" which means horse. You learn something new every day, right? :) Anyway, Nathan has LOVED his time with his horse, Lickety, which he calls "Licky". His therapist/trainer Sara tells us she is seeing improvement every week in his core strength, balance and speech. And what an awesome experience for him! Although it has hasn't exactly been easy (it's about an hour drive one way) I think it has been well worth it. We are actually considering continuing for the fall session, where Ryan will make the trek since I am *sniff, sniff* returning to work and won't be able to go. Here are some pics of our boy and his horse. Enjoy!

Our little trooper

As I type this, Nate is having an MRI done. It's the second time he's been put under anesthesia in last 4 days. The first was for his eye surgery to correct esotropia (eye crossing). He did really well and only cried a little when he woke up. Both then, and today the nurses complimented him on what a great patient he was. I think the fact that he is the polar opposite of me-laid back and go with the flow, compared to my total and constant state of anxiety-keeps me sane during times like these. Because he is so relaxed I can relax a little, too. A follow-up with the eye doc the day after confirmed that things look great in that department. We have a clinic appointment on Aug. 17th to discuss the results of the MRI with his neuro surgeon, as well as follow-ups with his urologist (more test results) and ortho (we'll be getting his RGOs then!). I'll be sure to post an update once we've digested all that new information. Now, on to some adorable pictures!









I sure am going to miss this little face, and eating cereal together in the mornings, when I return to work next week. Ugh, I hate even typing it! The summer went by too quickly, as it always does!

Pure Michigan

We decided to turn a wedding weekend into a family vacation. We are suckers for Michigan, including the radio commercials where Tim Allen's soothing voice never ceases to make us want to load up the car with whatever we can manage to fit and leave our home here in boring Indiana to start a new life in the ever appealing state of Michigan.

Our first stop landed us at Red Robin. Yes, I know they have those in other places, including Indiana, but we were meeting some friends there (I can call them that now that we have actually met in real life!) I came up with the bright idea of trying to meet up with another family that I have been following online (gosh, that sounds so stalker-ish) and who live in Grand Rapids, only about a half hour from where we were staying. We had a great time and talked as only parents of kids with sb can, which was so reassuring and...nice. I don't get to do that very often! The boys sat together and checked each other out while we talked and I learned that Nate and Greyson are a lot alike (and not just in the blonde-haired, blue-eyed way). Leigh and Andy are just awesome, down-to-earth people (not to mention amazing parents) and Greyson is one amazing kid (even if he really likes his personal space). We were so happy to have that time together and are looking forward to getting together with them again.



Next, it was off to Holland where we walked around downtown and checked out the cute shops,







and checked out this little red lighthouse on the lake.





The wind and the water were too much for our little guy, who promptly fell asleep. Did I mention we brought the Governess (her words-not ours) with us? Yes, we selfishly had my mother-in-law act as nanny during our trip. Although, she didn't mind one bit.



And I must say, it worked out fabulously! Ryan and I got to enjoy some time alone together (out for a late drink at an Irish pub while on family vacation-yes, it is possible!) as well as the reception of the wedding we attended kid-free. And our dear Governess got a little vacation out of the deal, too!

Friday afternoon was spent at the beach, where Ryan and I got to frolic in the choppy water like we were kids again. Seriously, I don't think I've laughed like that in a loooong time. We all just loved soaking up the sun and listening to the waves.



Friday night we attended the beautiful wedding of Deanne and Dan and enjoyed time with family. (Can you believe I actually forgot my camera at the hotel during the ceremony?!)





Saturday we spent the day at Sandy Pines. I have lots of fond memories of visiting while growing up. It seems that someone in our family has always had property there and growing up we'd visit and go tubing or skiing. Great, great memories. And this momma tried her luck at skiing for the first time in probably 10 years (with a LOT of coaxing from my cousins) and I'm proud to say...



that I



got up



on the



FIRST TRY!!!

(That's my rock star face I'm making in the last picture!):)

I love that place! So glad Nate had some time there-hopefully he'll get to have some of the same memories that I did growing up. It was a much needed get-away filled with fun, family and friends. I'm pretty sure we've booked Michigan for next years family vacation, too!