Some Bunny's Turning One Birthday Party

 When thinking about what kind of party I wanted to have for Haven the only things that came to mind were sweet, girl and bunny! She has slept with a stuffed animal bunny from the hospital the day she was born and I had hung a bunny picture in her nursery before she was born. So we had a sweet girly pink bunny party!

We held the party at Rhonda's new event venue because it was a cool different look for a first birthday and different from Everett's party the month before at home. I used some fabric from our wedding reception that really helped set the tone of girly sweetness. After doing boy parties for 3 years it was fun to indulge in the pink and pretty of desserts, flowers and decor.

We celebrated with family and sweet friends! Haven was surrounded by her Gran-Nana, Doss, Cha Chee, Mimi, Aunt Kels, Aunt Nene, Cousin Norah, Rhonda, Max, and Emmee, Aunt Carrie and BJ, Cousins Blaine, Kennedy and Brady. Grandma White and Mimi Susie, And our sweet precious friend Diane who has loved on and watched Haven and Everett for us! Of Course Dad, Mom and Everett were all there also!

 

Haven was spoiled with lots of clothes and gifts to which she cared little about and Everett was thrilled to add new toys to "his" collection.

Our sweet little girl proved to be quite the eater as she devoured into the cake Mimi made for her.

We couldn't have had a better time celebrating our sweet girl's first birthday! We love you Haven Molly!! 

Setback

I am sitting in a hospital room holding hands tightly with my mom as she lays in bed sleeping and mumbling in her sleep. Yesterday she was rushed to the ER because she was choking and her caretaker couldn't get her breathing again. As I turned my phone off Airplane mode on my charger my phone was flooded with messages alerting me to the incident. My heart immediately dropped and I immediately thought about the DNR we had on Mom and worried they would do nothing to help her! I scooped up my kids and raced to drop them off with Doss and Charlotte. I ran as fast as I could into the ER and to her room. I wasn't sure she would be alive but she was! She was in bad shape and the doctors and nurses kept telling us what a close call she had. I couldn't get my tears under control. I couldn't imagine losing her. I couldn't handle the idea of losing both parents to aspiration. So here we sit in a room on the fifth floor waiting. Waiting to see if the swallowing issues that caused her to aspirated is due to the digression of her disease or due to effects of a UTI she has had. Waiting to see if we go home or if we stay. Waiting and wondering what else this horrific disease has in mind for my beautiful courageous mom. 

This setback comes as a tremendous blow because since we have moved mom into a care home where she is receiving such tremendous care and experienced such a turnaround. For the first time in a long time I felt like I had my mom back. She was more alert. She stopped hitting and being combative. She would go for rides with me and the kids and listen to music. She sat and watched as Haven and Everett wrestled on the floor and laughed at them. She scolded Everett for taking off Havens sock. She hugged and kissed them. For the first time ever I felt like she really saw Haven, really a looked at her and beheld her beautiful namesake. She told me over and over she loved me, she kissed me, she said my name, she rubbed my back and Stroked my hand. I knew it wouldn't last forever but after months of extreme behavior it has been the greatest pleasure to sit and love on one another we used to. 

I don't know what to hope for except for peace. Alzheimer's I hate you. I hate you for how you continue to rob us of the special moments we deserve. I hate you! 

Haven Molly is ONE!

My oh my how in the world is it even possible that Haven Molly is ONE?! This little beauty is Joyful, Funny, Loud, Precious and Independent!

Sweet Haven you are full of surprises! About 3 weeks ago you stopped taking your formula so we tried you on Whole Milk and you haven't looked back since. You gulp down milk like it's going out of style. You also like apple juice but especially if it's in your brother's sippee cup! We got you one of your own big kid cups and you are handling it like the pro that you are. You can also out eat Everett at any given meal. Your favorite things to eat are goldfish, apple sauce, eggs, and granola bars or pretty much anything that is around.

Haven you have learned to stick up for yourself with Everett... you can "take him down" and it is hilarious to watch. He lets you do this but you certainly pin him down and then you guys just laugh and laugh and laugh. It is the sweetest thing to watch you two play together and laugh at one another! You love to be held sweet Haven. Especially if your Mom is around. While I am doing chores you chase me down on your hands and knees crying to be held. This is actually about the only time you cry. I just bought another baby carrier for toddlers so that I can carry you with me while doing laundry and cleaning house. I am cherishing these moments because I know you won't want to be held like this forever. You do like to snuggle and will lay your head down on whomever chest is around.

You are really starting to talk a bit and talk back to Everett. You are saying Mama, Dada, Nana, and Hi. But you also like to mouth off and if I am getting on to Everett you jump in and give him some choice ramblings as well. You love to mimic his animal sounds that he does!

Haven you now have 10 teeth! You love love love baths and will take off to the bath as soon as you hear the water turn on. You are dancing anytime there is music on and it's the cutest thing ever! You have also started clapping your hands! On the day we had your birthday party on March 18th, we got home and you took off walking with 7 steps. You haven't really stood on your own at this point and are just walking from place to place with the help of furniture so we were shocked when you took off like this! We tried to get  you to do it again but you only took about 3 steps and sat down. All that to say I think it will only be a few days before you are off and walking!

Your hair is starting to grow in more fuller and it has the prettiest red shine to it. You look so much like your Nana right now and I hope you stay looking like that. Your eyes have settled a beautiful brown which you get from your Dad along with  your beautiful full lips. People say they see me in you and I am hoping it continues to show!

Haven we had your 12 month wellness check and you weighed in at 24 lbs. 2.5 ounces and 30 3/8 inches long!  This put you in the 90 and 95 percentile. The doctor said you are ahead developmentally and are completely perfect which we already knew of course!

You sweet girl have completed our family in a way we never knew possible! You have brought so much joy and happiness into our lives! We absolutely adore you and are so blessed by  you sweet one! I can't wait to watch as you grow and learn more about the world around you! Happy Birthday Beautiful Girl!!

Our 11 Month Old Beauty

Beautiful Beautiful Haven Molly how in the world are you 11 months old?! I remember this time a year ago we had just found out that you had some heart issues and it was a week to week journey to see how soon we would get to meet you! That feels like yesterday and yet here you sit as an 11 month old beautiful girl.

Every day is full of new joys with you my darling girl! Today you tried cow's milk for the first time and you LOVED it! You have turned into such a wonderful eater and can out eat your brother at every meal. You love pasta, eggs, bread, apple sauce,  and green beans. You have outworn your interest in crackers and animal cookies. You also like the taste of apple juice a little bit. Most recently you have delved into your brothers birthday cake and devoured more than he did! You are able to eat all this yummy stuff because you now have 8 teeth! They are all 8 right up front on your upper and lower gums. I feel like we woke up one morning and you had a mouth full of teeth, although you did cry, drool, and whine from weeks leading up to it.

Haven you continue to scoot around the house on your hands and knees or on your feet using your hands to cling to any furniture that is around to help. You still like to use your walker to move quickly about the house in and especially like to chase your brother in it. Within the last few weeks you have taken steps with a push toy and are really doing well with that! I keep thinking that one day you will take steps on your own but all our hard wood floors are making it harder to do that.

You finally started saying Mama a little more but nothing compared to how you love to yell out Dada. You like to mimmick any noises happening around you, especially if your brother is making animal noises. You are now riding around in the cart seats instead of your car seat when we go to stores and you really enjoy looking out at the world around you. We also put you in highchairs on the rare occasions we go out to eat. Between your brother and you it can be quite the adventure to have two in highchairs especially if we didn't bring enough snacks.

Haven this past week we took you to the doctor for the first time ever outside of your wellness checks. This was a huge difference from your brother who was sick with a lot of stuff his first year. It turns out you contracted RSV and got an ear infection along with it. You continued to smile and happy for the most part while you were sick. As the day would wear on you would become more clingy to me but that just made me happier. You do this thing where you lay your head on my shoulder for just a split second and pick it back up. Everett never did this and we want you to just lay your head down like that so badly but you pick it up a half a second later.

You are a serious pacifier stealer. You will take any paci you see around you regardless if it is in someone else's mouth or not. Cousin Merritt was here a week or so ago and you continuously took his paci right out of his mouth to try and put in yours. If you see one of your brother's laying around you take that to which he comes and takes away from you.  Right now you don't have any preferences to type you just take whatever is there. If I have one and you have one you will grab the one from me and we play a rotation game keeping you occupied for a good while.

Haven you have a smile that lights up the world around  you! Your hair is getting more auburn with each day and growing in fuller. You are rocking a nice little mullet right now but it is still beautiful. I could just eat you up you are the cutest little thing in the world! I love and adore you Haven Molly and am honored to get to be your Mom!!