Camp Taylor Baby Shower

I just want to say that this month has been so good to me.  I have certainly been made to feel special, and for that I am very thankful.  One of the celebrations that optimized this special feeling for me was my baby shower for little Liam.  I was thrown the sweetest shower for my fourth baby.  I wouldn’t have expected this much effort and love and generosity from a first baby shower, but a fourth… now, that was just over the top sweet.

In commemoration of the summer season and in honor of the fact that we’re welcoming a little boy, we thought it’d be cute to have a camping theme.  And it was so cute.

My sister Marci, along with my friend Chrissy, and my mom, put the shower together for me.  My friend Sarah also made the amazing desserts.  A wonderful group of girlfriends made the 45-minute drive to north Scottsdale to share this day with me.  I feel so blessed to have such amazing women as these in my life.

  

Picnic-style menu was served.  Everything tasted amazing.  I filled my plate twice… before I even had dessert… and not just because I’m pregnant.

    

Everyone painted onesies for Liam, so he is stocked up on these!

Each guest got to take home a s’more kit, complete with ingredients and a skewer, as a party favor.

Thank you to everyone who took part in making my baby shower such a great time.  Just having an excuse to spend a morning in the company of great girlfriends was a treat in and of itself, but this day was more than I could’ve asked for.

Graduation Day at Last

On May 5, 2012, after many long years of late nights cramming and writing papers and being away from my family, I finally completed my education and graduated from ASU with a Masters in Counseling (M.C.)!  I would be lying if I said that I didn’t enjoy my schooling, because I happen to be one of those odd individuals that is into the academia thing, and it didn’t hurt that I love what I studied… However,  after being in my Masters program for six years (on and off), I am happy to be finished and have something wonderful to show for it.

   

Jake took our whole family out to dinner at my favorite restaurant, Beckett’s Table.  I can’t even find the words to say how much I have appreciated my husband’s support throughout my studies.  I would never have gotten here without his love, support, and encouragement.  My kids have also been with me every step of the way.  They don’t even know what it is to have a mommy who isn’t a student.  I am eager for the next chapter in our life.

  

My family made me feel so special. This was a very proud day for me.

Ambassador Ari: Walkathon

I didn’t know if we would make it, since it happened to be on the very same morning as my graduation and all the way in Phoenix, but Ari gave everyone a happy surprise when she showed up at the Southwest Human Development Walk With Me walk-a-thon that she has been the ambassador for over these past few months.  It was really a nice way to see everyone’s hard work pay off and the efforts of all of these individuals and organizations come together for this great event.  More than 1,000 people supported this walk, raising over $200,000 for children with disabilities!  My kids were very happy with their muffins and cookies.  I got a back massage!  We saw some old friends.  And Ari even warmed up to Jude Lacava.  Gotta love days like these :).

 

Special Blessings Amputee Expo

This month, we attended our first Special Blessings event for Isabella, and it was not a moment too soon.  When I saw how excited little Bella was to be at a “party” with people who were similar to her, my heart literally melted.  She ran from one person to the next introducing herself, waving her little arm and showing off her myoelectric prosthesis (her “Luke Skywalker robot hand”).  To our surprise, she was the only one in the room wearing a myo, but there was one other boy with a prosthesis (cable operated).  When Bella asked other kids what happened to their arm or leg, she got to hear the very same response that we encourage her to give, which is “I was born this way”.  Hearing that, for Bella, was a total “aha” moment.  It was like it wasn’t until that moment that she truly understood that she wasn’t the only person on the planet that had this uniqueness.  Totally confidence-building!

   

We got to listen to the inspiring stories of five individuals with limb differences who have accomplished phenomenal feats and achievements, in spite of their limitations.  I know, without a doubt, that Isabella will be among them one day.  This girl lets nothing get in her way.

Grammy, Papa, and Aunt Marci joined us for the expo.

 

Thank you Adrienne!  What an awesome event and an even more rewarding experience.