Relay for Life was at the end of May. It continues to be a most challenging, yet rewarding experience for me. Our Relay raised a record amount this year and I am so thankful to be a part of that and know that in some small way I am working toward a cure. The Survivor Walk was the toughest. There was a man this year carrying a baby and I could picture my dad proudly carrying Will with him. I miss seeing him take that walk and walking with him. I don't suppose it will ever be easy and that brings me to my next and final thought about the relay. At clean-up on Sunday morning I was talking with a friend, Ben. He lost his wife around the time I found out I was pregnant with William. Angie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a young woman and fought a very, very long battle. Angie was an amazing woman and her presence could light up the darkest room. I was continually amazed at her strength and courage. I asked Ben if he walked much and his response was, "a little". A friend then said he had walked almost the entire time. He was tired and had blisters but what he said to me was something like this ... "I wanted to be uncomfortable. The discomfort I felt is nothing compared to what these people with cancer go through every day and they don't get to stop like we did this morning, they have to keep fighting". What more can I say ....
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| Our relay team |
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| Will's 1st Relay |
The same day as the relay we had our annual Dragon's game for children in treatment for cancer at Children's Hospital. A little boy that went to our preschool, now a 2nd grader, was there again but this year celebrating that he is cancer-free. What a blessing!
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| The family |
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| Will with Adam |
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| Will with Casey |
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| His own Emily's Beads shirt |
At the Dragon's game Nat shared with us he took a new job - in Florida. Two short weeks later we said good-bye. We are so happy for Nat but sad to have him so far away. Of Will's cousins he has seen Nat the most and as you can tell, sure does love him. (Casey will be home soon though and no doubt work on that spot!) We wish him well and hope to see him as often as we can.
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| We'll miss you Nat! |
William ... where to begin? Like any good mom, I could talk for hours. I'll try to limit it to a few hundred highlights though. :)
William got his first pool on Memorial Day. He was excited until he realized it was not warm like bath water. Daddy did carry six gallons of hot water out to add but it was still too chilly for his liking. I did finally get him in and once he was in he loved it. However, the bigger hit of the day was his pool-side chair. He was so excited to sit in his new chair like a big boy (you can't see it but he is tightly strapped in!).
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| Swim diaper! |
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| Swim trunks - so cute!! |
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| Bubbles with Daddy |
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| In the pool with Mama |
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| In the pool with Daddy and our neighbor, Lauren |
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| Love the chair!! |
William had his 9 month check up the first part of June. He weighed just about 21 lbs. He was 30" long. He's in the 50th percentile in weight and the 90th in height. He is one tall baby boy! No shots this time. :)
Will had his first ear infection the first of June also. He had a nasty cold and at his first visit his ears just had fluid in them. Something, I imagine like the fluid pouring from his eyes. He was a very pitiful looking guy. We went back that same week for his 9 month check up. His fever was gone and his eyes and nose had dried up but he had a double ear infection. His first thankfully. He got some berry flavored amoxicillan which he didn't love so much. I guess he prefers another flavor!
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| So sick ... |
Teeth -yikes! Those next two teeth to come in (the front ones on top) are taking their time. He is considerably uncomfortable as the doctor predicted. They are on their way and we anxiously await their arrival!
William still loves to wave bye-bye and can now wave his hand rather than waving his entire arm. He loves to clap and smiles great big when you clap with him. He loves to stand on his head. He did it at the doctor last week and he thought that was a hoot. He loves to do it and spends a lot of his time on the floor doing just that!
Will is so ticklish! His little giggles are just precious. His hands are into anything and everything! And he is a wild one. He wants to stand all the time and loves to bounce. If you try to keep him still he will waller you to death! And the changing table - holy cow. I tell him he's like dressing an angry octopus. Ha!! I am going to have my hands full when he's mobile! No crawling yet but it won't be long. He sleeps on his knees and I tell him if he'd just do that awake he'd be off and crawling. I'm in no hurry though! It's hard enough keeping up with his rolling everywhere! Our families keep saying he'll walk first. He loves to stand and prefers that to sitting. If you grab his hands he pulls right up to stand. His special ed teacher mama always responds that he may walk before he crawls but he'll crawl one way or another so he develops those small muscles in his hands he'll need later for so many fine motor tasks!
My little boy loves his sleep! Now that I'm home for the summer he sleeps a good 12 hours at night, sometimes more. He's down to one nap a day but finally naps at home for us so I'm thankful. He still naps better for Aunt Lisa but we're making progress.
He still loves books and will sit on your lap for the longest time to look at books with you. Pop-ups are still his favorite with touch feely ones a close second. We started a music class last week. We go once a week with some other little ones. Last week my usually wild child was reserved and took it all in. Hopefully this week he'll come out of his shell. He's not usually the shy one!
Father's Day was a good day for Steve and William. Will woke Daddy up with donuts and coffee and presents. And he made his Daddy a wonderful book of pictures of them together. I sent Will and Steve off to church and spent my morning at the cemetery. I largely live in denial that my dad is gone but on days like this, it's too real to ignore. I had a difficult day but was able to make it special for Steve and William. After lunch we spent the afternoon at the Air Force Museum, one of my dad's favorite places. Will enjoyed the planes. He also found his shadow there! He was so cute leaning over to look at it and he'd jerk his head around when I moved to find it again. It was awesome.
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| Found my shadow! |
William loves his puppies and kitties. When he wakes up in the morning he looks for them and when we come home we stop in and say hi to the dogs and he just beams with delight. They love him too, although Grace is still trying to figure out what to do with those wild hands!
Meal time is a blast with Will. I drop a spoonful of food on his tray while I feed him. He has so much fun playing in his food and I have just as much fun watching!
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| Playing with his lunch! |
Here are a few final pictures of my precious little man. We hope this finds you all well and enjoying your summer.
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| He's definitely a Taylor - he can sleep anywhere! |
Blessings to all!
Alisa
