Happy Tuesday!

These pics don't symbolize anything... just thought DS looked so happy and giggly!

DD's Birthday Dinner!

She won't eat PB&J. She won't eat mac 'n cheese. She won't even eat cake or cupcakes half the time.
What will she eat? Crab rangoon. Lots of crab rangoon. She likes to break them apart, lick out all the cream cheese, and then eat the rest.
I think we made the right choice for her birthday dinner!






And do you see her birthday shirt? Grandma Sharon made it for her. She wore it to school for her party- the teachers loved it!

Happy 4th Birthday DD!

Today is DD's 4th birthday! It's so hard to believe- she's getting so big!

I can remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. She was so quiet when she came out... the nurses and doctors had to work a bit to get her to respond. Because of this, she spent a few extra days in the NICU (the worst days of my life up 'til this point). And really, this has been her personality from day one... mellow, cries very little, prefers to be alone, seems to be "in her own world" a lot of the time. We're just now getting some real "personality" out her... she giggles and cuddles more than she ever used to. The therapy has been helping with that.

She is such a joy- so easy to make happy, asks for very little, so content, unselfish... she is exactly what I always wanted but didn't know to ask for. I couldn't imagine her being any other way than the exact way she is!

Thank you DD for the best four years of our lives...

I Could Eat Him Up...

I had the opportunity to see my new little nephew again on Saturday for his baby shower. He's still a tiny peanut (less than 8 pounds I'm sure), but such a cutie.
These pics aren't from the shower, because of course, I forgot my camera. But here are a few of him from the past month.






The Happy Family

Another Autism Walk...

I haven't really done an autism post for a while, have I? That's probably good... means that it's not the focus of our lives right now. In fact, besides the constant therapy (and the kids still not talking), I don't think about it much. It's just our "new normal" (I think Oprah once said that).

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that there is another Autism Speaks walk next weekend in Minneapolis. My folks (who live in the Cities) are going to be on vacation, so we won't be heading up for it, but for any of you who might be interested, here's some info.

Minneapolis Walk Now for Autism

Ikea...

It was a long day today- eight hours driving for barely two hours of shopping.
But I was able to spend a little one-on-one time with my mom... and we went here...



It was worth it.

9/11

We will never forget...

Another Great Read...

It's not the "Twilight" series, but here's another great book that I just finished reading! Highly recommended! And I think it's being made into a movie starring Julia Roberts?!

A Kiss For Grandma...

DD is sending out a kiss and a "hi" to her Grandma P.! She misses her and loves her!

Edited to Add: Of course, DD is sending kisses and love to ALL her grandmas- this is just the pic I could find!

Proud Mama...

Here's just a snippet of an email I got from DD's preschool teacher today.

"... H is doing great. She seems to really like her new friends. Smiling alot when they come around her..."

She is making so much progress... meeting and exceeding lots of her IEP goals. And just as exciting (at least for me anyway), it appears she has some friends this year. One of the hardest parts of her autism diagnosis for me is that she doesn't really have any friends- nor does it really seem she wants any. But it sounds like she's made some new ones this year!

From the Mouths of Babes...

I found this on someone else's blog (thanks 5 Years and 2 Boys Later). Totally cracked me up!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough -- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. -- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7

The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. -- Curt, age 7

The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. -- Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? -- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favorite is.......
HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10

The Obsession Continues...

I have read three of the four "Twilight" books in roughly four days. I don't remember ever being this obsessed with a book series- of course, I never got into the whole "Harry Potter" thing. I remember being a voracious reader when I was younger... reading multiple books at once and finishing them in a day or two. But since college, and definitely since the kids came, I can't remember reading more than one or two "leisure" books. Seriously, I love these books.
What will I do when I finish the fourth? Can anyone recommend another series to start? Should I do the "Harry Potter" books?