Baby Finn

No photo today. Our digital camera is broken, again. Not sure when it will get resolved at this point so bear with me.
This blog is a prayer request for a little baby here in Nashville named Finn. He is the newborn son of a friend of my good friend Elizabeth. I met Courtney once at a play group at Elizabeth's house where Amelia and Courtney's 3 year old daughter, Maggie, played.
Courtney gave birth to Finn on March 18th. Within a few days of life, Finn was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Isovaleric Acidemia and he was admitted to the PICU at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where he remains for now. From what I understand, this is a rare disorder in which the body does not break down protein and thus overproduces ammonia. The high levels of ammonia caused some major problems for Finn early on they weren't sure at one point if he would make it...but thankfully they have managed to get his levels down and he improved. He is still in the ICU and has a ways to go. Amazingly, his doctor at Vandy, happens to be one of the leading authorities on this disease and even developed the protocol for treatment for it. Huge blessing! Though he continues to show signs of improvement, his parents have been prepared for Finn to have possible neurological damage.
This is where you come in...please pray for little Finn. For his comfort, for NO neurological damage and for complete and total healing of course! Please pray for his parents and family to find peace and hope during this very difficult and stressful time. We all know and have seen what amazing things God can do and we all know the power of prayer. So lift him up and add him to your daily prayer list. I know his family appreciates it. Healing happens.

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Outfit by daddy: wool winter scene sweater, polka dot shirt,
pink capri pants,polka-dot socks, green sunflower shoes...

First ponytail!

First spring breaker! Cousin Anna came down to Nashville for her spring break from Interlochen Center for the Arts in Northern Michigan (where she works). We were so happy to have her and Amelia loved her. Wish I had a picture of them hanging out but I failed to take any at first and then our camera broke...could be a while for new blog photos. The above were taken with Anna's camera. Much fun was had by all, Amelia and Anna bonded, and Anna was able to witness many firsts this past week...

1. First ponytail! Her hair is finally long enough in the back to make the teeniest pony...regardless of it's size, she was so proud of it and she pointed out that she was now like Mommy (who wears her hair in a ponytail almost everyday these days) and Anna, and of course "I-I" (her pal Ivey). I have to admit, I got a little choked up...again.
2. Shoes! Amelia puts her own shoes on now. Somehow she knows which shoe goes on which foot. She even velcros them closed, hops to her feet and then claps for herself.
3. While coloring in a coloring book, Amelia dumped out the contents of her crayon box, (I'm talking the big box of Crayola crayons with colors like "Tumbleweed" and "Mac and Cheese"). I decided to take advantage of the moment by encouraging Amelia to practice taking turns with us putting the crayons away. We each took a turn and as I encouraged Amelia to put another crayon away, she hopped to her feet and walked away declaring "mommy turn!" Hmmm.

Anna left this morning and Amelia is still talking about her. Sad to see her go but her visit kicked of a slew of spring break visitors! Can't wait for more fun!

Melting...

Outside at dusk, in jammies, on a warm spring evening...chasing Mister.

Breakfast with Bearw.

One of my favorite things about being Amelia's mom are the surprises. It seems that she manages to pull them out at just the right times. The kind of surprises that remind me she is becoming an independent, sweet and loving little girl. A little human that I have the privilege of guiding and teaching, nurturing and loving. As scary and challenging as it seems some days, and as I often find myself questioning myself at every turn, it's the most important job I have ever taken on and absolutely without question, my very favorite. The rewards are immeasurable and sometimes, well, surprising.
Lately, after a few books and only a few minutes of rocking together in her big cozy rocker, she has been asking to lie down in her bed to fall asleep in her favorite position. On her tummy, knees tucked in, bum in the air, hands placed under her belly with elbows out (to keep them warm I imagine) with her mommy shirt tucked on up under there too. But yesterday was a little different...as I was laying her down in her crib and she assumed this cozy position, she picked her head up, turned her big brown eyes up at me and for the first time, without me saying it first and without prompting, she sweetly and softly said "ub youuu." For those of you who don't read Amelia language, that means "I love you." I swear if it was possible to melt away, I think I might have right then and there. And surprisingly, as if my heart wasn't full enough, I actually felt it grow. It was quite possibly the sweetest surprise.

Happy 19 months!

Elsa and Amelia sharing a hug at the zoo.

Amelia and Ivey checking out the iguanas.

A little sidewalk chalk with GiGi.

So excited to go to the pool with Daddy.

Warm and sunny spring evening on a blanket in the grass.

Amelia is 19 months today. Hard to believe in just 5 short months she'll be 2. She had her 18 months well visit this past week. Happy to report all is well and she did great. She is a healthy toddler top to bottom. She did cry the entire time we were there...beginning in the parking lot. I think we have a bit of a reputation at the office now. :) She is 24 lbs and 12 oz which puts her in the 60th percentile for weight. She is 32.5 inches tall...75th percentile for height and her head is 49 cm...97th percentile. :) Yes, overall the visit was a bit stressful, but as promised mid doctor visit we took her out for a pizzie when it was all over. She ate almost 2 pieces and seemed to forget about how upset she was and even hi-fived us when we told her how brave she had been. Poor little nugget.
Some new things in our world. Amelia has started calling herself "Mimi" as this is what her little friend Elsa across the street has stated calling her. Admittedly Amelia is a tough one for the little ones to say. Where before when Amelia would try to verbalize when she wanted something or related herself to something going on around her, she would point to herself, eyebrows raised, and make kind of a questioning high-pitched "mm?" Now it's pointing at herself while asking, "Mimi? Mimi?" As if to say, "can I have some of that?" or "it's my turn?" or "i have one of those too?" It's pretty cute actually.
She has also started calling me "mommy" instead of "mama." It's bittersweet in a way since she's been saying mama since she was a wee one. Lots of new words, even tougher ones like "bookstore" and "outside." She likes to point out when people have on "jeans," which is interesting to me since she hardly ever wears them and I don't recall talking about them extensively at any point. She is intrigued by Smokey the Bear on the back of her Little Golden Books as he wears jeans...no shirt or shoes mind you but he does wear a hat and he carries a shovel. It is a little odd, can't blame her for wondering.
Oh, and tonight after her bath, she ran her little naked self down the hall and into the kitchen to see Ford who was doing the dishes. I stayed behind to clean up the bathroom and after a few minutes I heard..."OH, YUP, that's your poop, don't step in it." I walked in to find Amelia had pooped on the kitchen floor. A first...only took 19 months.