My weekend get-a-way to da U.P.

Highlights of my weekend....

-tasting ice cream for the first time

-meeting cousin Ivan

-flirtin' with my girl, Sadie Mae

-crawling all over grandma's house (which isn't baby-proof)

-"honking" grandpa's nose

-getting spoiled

-making G'pa proud - posing as a Detroit Tiger fan with cousins Ivan & Jacob

-saying "mama" on her birthday - made everyone cry

Look out world......

.....here comes Braden! 9 months and crawling!!!!! PT Jeanne is going to be so happy when she sees us on Wednesday! We were given the PT update last week that Braden is "up to speed" with all of his milestones except for crawling. It's amazing the progress he has made since PT has worked with him. Thank goodness for this birth - 3 program....we wouldn't have know where to start with helping him gain his strength and motivation to move!!! Let us also not forget that God blessed this boy with an extra large helping of determination and tenacity! Go Braden!

Pediatrician report: Braden is now 20 lbs 8oz....both height and weight are in the 50th percentile.....right on target :-) We're all caught up on immunizations, and the next appointment isn't until he's 12 months. Seems like a big break, but August 17th will be here before we know it.

We're excited to say that next weekend we're making trip #2 to the U.P. We'll finally get to meet cousin Ivan and squeeze those big cheeks of his :)

Tonight we had over the Heart of Gold Charity board members to discuss our golf outing set for August 11th. We hope to have all of the registration information out soon....we'll definitely blog and send e-mails to spread the word when it's all set to sign up! For those looking into hotel/camping accommodations, we've set aside some rooms at a hotel nearby. We also know of a few state campgrounds in the area. We'll have that info. out real soon as well. If you're itchin' for the accommodation info. a little sooner, feel free to contact us at petska32@yahoo.com, and we'll help guide you in the right direction. Thank you to our board members for coming over and helping out tonight.

Thanks again for checking in.

Until next week.....

Love the Petska's

Happy Mother's Day!!

I thought so much about this blog post....what would I say, what could I say to reflect on my first Mother's Day? So, tonight, I will speak from my heart. Honestly, I can't even believe that this day and myself co-exist. Sometimes I feel like I'm in a dream....can the happiest baby in the world really be mine? In one tiny moment, our lives completely changed, yet we wouldn't change one single second. I think, I feel, and I love so differently. It's a feeling that's indescribable. I often think back and reflect on those first few months of Braden's life and wonder, how did we do it? Sometimes, I'm still not sure, but I do know that we're here, Braden is doing phenomenal, and for the time that God has given us with him, we cherish every moment. To all of you mothers and mom-to-be's, I hope you've enjoyed not only today but everyday with your kiddos! To all of the nurses, last Sunday was National Nurses Day. I can't begin to tell all of you who have touched our lives, how much we think of you. Thank you for being such a special part of our lives!

Love Steph

P.S. Braden Update: Still holding at 7 teeth; soooooo close to crawling and pulling up to standing; wants to say "cat", but is only getting the "kkkkkkkkkkkk" down!

From Auntie Marci

Greetings all.....I was able to come down and visit Braden this weekend. Gosh he has changed so much since the last time I saw him. He now has 7 teeth and is movin' around like crazy. I got to babysit him on Friday while mama and daddy were at work. Let's just say that by the time mama got home from work Auntie Marci needed a nap! Kids are a lot of work!
On Saturday we attended a birthday party for cousin Nathan......16 kids under the age of 5 was enough birth control for me....whew!
Going home is going to be tough.......just seeing the biggest smile on his face when I go into his room when he wakes up after a nap, and watching him make a mess with his food all over his face when he eats. I will miss this. Now I know why Steph wants to just press "pause" on this stage of his life. But she can have all the poopy diapers ;-)

Well, it's about that time.....

Signing off now,

Auntie Marci