Doctor Week

I haven't done a medical update in awhile which has, quite honestly, been awesome. But since we're coming off our spring edition of 'doctor week' where we meet with the big guns in her medical adventure, I thought I'd post a little bit of what's going on.  My parents and sister tagged on to an LA visit and spent a few days with us which was really nice since to have some moral support.

When the goose was born there were two 'lists' that we were given - the first was a list of confirmed findings from all of their tests and the other was a potential list of issues that she was prone to or showing symptoms of but would require more tests to confirm.  Both of these lists of gotten shorter (YAY!) and longer (BOO!) as time has gone on as we learn more of what's going on. We are so grateful to have crossed off a couple things but now items which in a previous life would make me pass out if I heard that she had (two confirmed heart defects and potential issues with her spinal cord) are now bubbling up to the top of our priorities. The rock and the hard place of it all is that we are all too well aware of how hard some of the tests are on all of us, but if she does have what they suspect and it goes unfixed, it could have devastating long term effects. So we're researching our heads off and doing some praying hoping we're making the right decisions.

While we tend to leave visits with lighter and heavier hearts all at the same time, every time we walk out of that hospital I am vividly reminded at how absolutely grateful I am that she is walking right next to me because being able to walk normally was not a given when she was born.

We also snuck in some fun with the fam on their visit, including a swim lesson with a cheering section. Note, Makenna was also in Makenna's cheering section that day clapping for herself? them? who knows every time she did something well.

Floating away with Ms. Jessica

Hanging out in an egg at UTC

While going to the doc isn't always fun it does remind us how lucky we are to have some of the best in the world.

Tea for '2'

I've skipped a few beats, namely some major/minor holidays and a handful of months, but I couldn't wait to post some pics from her little birthday party.  She is mildly obsessed with tea parties and I'm mildly obsessed with parties in general so we thought this was a good fit.

First, she kicked off her birthday with a little graduation (handed a piece of paper by the front desk) at her swimming school. I was impressed she graduated again, she was impressed with the rubber ducky they gave her. Winning all around.

A new friend found their way into the fairy garden that morning, too.

And we 'ran into' our besties from Montana at the zoo the next day. I think I heard the phrase 'herding cats' more that day than the rest of my whole life. . .combined. 

And topped it all off with a proper tea for our love.  Happy birthday sweet Goose, oh how we love you!

Cousin love

ABC

Some days it hard to believe we have a two year old because she still loves to be snuggled, rocked to sleep and held just as she always has. Other days, I realize that not only does her vocabulary rival my own, her grammar is undoubtedly better and that she is wise beyond her years, that she is turning into a little human all on her own.

I've thought many times that age 1 would be hard to beat being that she learned to walk, talk, sing and dance but I've realized there are still plenty of exciting things up ahead.

My mom likes to joke that she doesn't sleep much because she's practicing things like her counting and ABC's. While I wouldn't mind some more sleep, I do enjoy this little know it all quite a bit.

I don't usually post videos, but I haven't been great about remembering when she did stuff, so I'm posting so I don't forget (or lose this video). Here is her Stevie Wonder rendition of the ABC's:

Happiest Place on Earth

Mark's been travelling and gone quite a bit the past few months, overall, give or take, let's just say. . .FALL, and while mostly gone for work before you start feeling too sorry for him there was quite a few bachelor parties, weddings and general shenanigans to keep him upbeat.  While Dubbie and I had been braving the wilds of Carlsbad alone, he came home one day and surprised us with Disneyland tickets for some good old fashioned family time.  Mark and I are big Disneyland fans lucky enough to grow up within driving distance and having many, many wonderful memories there (FUN FACT: Did you know my Dad used to work at Disneyland in the summer as one of the Davy Crocket canoe guys? Oh, you didnt? That's probably because no one goes on those canoes. . .) We used to go to Disney during Christmas when we were dating and have been so many times in our life its pretty amazing we waited this long to take her.  Since we live in the land of a thousand theme parks, it was inevitable she'd make it to them all pretty quickly (which she has). While she is too young to really remember any of it, that kind of turns out to be the beauty of the whole thing because:

1) We'll remember it, and it was awesome
2) She didn't have an agenda, everything we brought her too was amazing
3) She'll have a blast at her first time all over again some day

I am more than happy to report that she loved EVERYTHING including the rides, the crowds, music, people, characters.. . everything. There were no tears and only minutes of sleep (on the walk back to the hotel for a break). She was well acquainted with the characters beforehand from her Disney coloring books but it wasn't until we showed her Mickey's Christmas Carol weeks after this trip that she said 'Mickey is talking!' in total surprise. Oh sweet goose, if you only knew. . .

If you happen to be around the Goose anytime soon, I assure you she will tell you ALL about it.

First visit!

Minnie's House

Tea party + Minnie = mind blown

Still obsessed with elephants, flying or otherwise

We also got a reverse surprise visit from Nonna who popped up late on Day 2 just in time to walk the next generation down Main Street, see the Goose get her first ears, and join us on our second round of It's a Small World.

FIRST EARS!!

Fueling her tea party obsession

Two days at Disney = one happy Goose!