Summer 2015 Highlights

The Smiths had a full calendar of events this Summer!  I knew ahead of time to fill our schedule with as many fun activities and camps as possible.  Emma and Owen often drive one another bonkers if they are home together for very long :)  Here is a chronological run down of what kept us busy!

 

University for Young People at Baylor University - Emma was accepted to attend the first week of June.  The class created a pretend town and she was voted as co-mayor!

 

 

The kids enjoyed swim lessons in Big Daddy and Lita's neighborhood evenings after UYP.  Their instructor was amazing and they learned a lot! 

 

 

UMHB Lil Cru Football Camp - Owen enjoyed a morning of drills and fun at Crusader stadium!  The camp was well organized and he had a blast.

 

 

Father's Day - Hudson's first!  The kids are so fortunate to have such a devoted, playful and fun daddy!  I'm soooo thankful to have this guy beside me in this crazy parenting gig :)  He got to choose where we enjoyed lunch - Outback Steakhouse of course!

 

 

Jarrod had the first two weeks of July off work.  We certainly made the most of every minute!  We spent the first week in San Antonio.  We enjoyed Sea World, the Witte Children's museum, River walk, Natural Bridge Wildlife Safari and even spent a day in Gruene. 

 

On the 4th of July we enjoyed patriotic pancakes for breakfast!  That evening we went to Huntsville for fun, food and fireworks.  The kids enjoyed rock climbing, bouncy houses, balloon animals and snow cones.   

 

  

Emma and Owen did great at both Tiger basketball and football camps! 

 

 

We took the kiddos with us to THSCA coaching school this year in Houston.  Their favorite thing was hanging out with the Rhoades girls and playing Bingo each afternoon!

 

The last weekend of July was spent in Salado with family.  We did a lot of swimming, eating, visiting and even canning grape jelly!

 

 

The kids took part in an art day camp at the Wynne Home in Huntsville.  They enjoyed pottery, paper mache and plants/gardening.  They made all sorts of fun masterpieces including bird feeders and drums. 

 

   

 

Last but certainly not least, Emma enjoyed another full week at Carolina Creek Christian Camp.  She counted down the days all summer and was thrilled to finally go!  This year she was in the tiger cabin and received the compassionate cabin award.  Owen looks forward to attending with her next year :) 

 

Owen enjoyed junior golf camp at Elkins Lake in Hunstville.  His best buddy from Pre K went too. 

 

 

We were sad to see Summer go but we are looking forward to the new school year and all that Fall has to offer......

Hudson at 5 months

Hudson is five months old!  He weighs 13 lbs 15 oz and is 23.5" long (both in the sixth percentile).  His head circumference is 16.9" (25th perc).  He is between size 3-6 month outfits and is quickly outgrowing size 1 diapers.  It seems like just yesterday he was teeny tiny in his car seat and this month we raised the shoulder harness to the next height level.  It was rather tricky to take his monthly photo because he was grabbing the sticker with his busy little hands and was trying to put it in his mouth!

 

 

His head/neck control is improving every day!  He still favors looking toward the left but is a good boy and works hard.  He has physical therapy twice a week.  Sometimes Ms Jenna lets him watch a "baby movie" on her dvd (in order to bribe him to look to the right).  He visually tracks things well and especially likes toys that play music and/or light up!  His newest "trick" is grabbing our fingers and using his head to sit up from a flat position.  He often tries with all his might to sit up when in his car seat or during a diaper change.  It's only a matter of time, sweet boy!

 

 

 He especially loves to coo, eat, swing, bathe, be held and watch his big sis and bro.  He often protests about tummy time, long car rides and being hungry.  He has recently started clasping his hands together and often chews on the left one.  His baby blue eyes melt my heart!  He loves the attention when strangers talk to him and usually smiles and flirts. 

 

 

 He is extra smiley and chatty in the mornings.  He is exploring his voice and acts like we should know exactly what he is saying.  He is ticklish near his neck and even belly laughed for the first time on 8/8.

 

 

He visits the Spina bifida clinic at TCH every three months his first year.  His most recent visit was this week.  Clinic days are long and exhausting for all of us but it's nice to get everything addressed the same day.  Conveniently, we stay put and each of his physicians rotate in to check on him.  We saw representatives from neurosurgery, urology, orthotics, the SB pediatrician and a dietician.  Urology was pleased with the healing progress from his June procedure.  He also had head and renal ultrasounds which both looked stable.  Everyone was impressed with how content and smiley he was :)

 

 

He sleeps like a rock star at night and seldom wakes up.  He usually sleeps ten hours straight.  Most nights he manages to break his left arm free from the swaddle blanket.  Because he sleeps so well at night he only cat naps during the day and is often awake for long stretches of time.  He often snoozes with his eyes open.

 

 We sure love this little guy and love to watch him grow and progress!  He adds an abundance of joy to our lives and makes our family complete.