In the beginning of September, my beautiful first born....Miss Emma Grace started Kindergarten!!! Eddie and I just can't believe it. I have never met a child so eager and happy about starting Kindergarten. She had no anxiety and practically ran on the bus! She has a great teacher and is doing well so far. She loves getting homework and enjoys telling us all about her day! She is so grown up now and I am so happy that a new chapter is beginning in her life. I have to say that I enjoy all the milestones with my children and don't get sad when a new one approaches. Emma is a very enthusiastic girl who loves to have fun and so far she loves school and thinks it's a blast!!! We also have her in a lot of after school activities. She participates in Gymnastics, Art Classes and Karate! Emma loves to keep busy! Here are a few pics from the first day of KINDERGARTEN!!!!!!
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| Emma with her blinged out school bag |
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| Wearing her "KINDERGARTEN ROCKS" dress |
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| Lyla had to get in the pic with her sister! |
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| The kids waiting at the bus stop (it was a little rainy) |
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| Our girl so happy the bus arrived! |
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| Emma on the first day of Gymnastics |
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| Her first painting at her Art Class |
LYLA TURNS 2!!!!
Wow! I just don't know where the time went! Our little Lyla is now two! I would like to begin by sharing that when I found out about Lyla I was completely devastated. If you are a follower of my blog you know we found out at a routine 36 week sonogram. That was the day my beautiful, PERFECT life came crashing down. I thought that the wonderful life that I knew would become a horrible world full of surgeries, hospitals, doctors, hurt, heartache, disappointment and worries. I felt this way because I was ignorant about Lyla's condition and I was so scared. I didn't want to have a challenging life with this baby. I did a lot of crying. I had a lot of anger and I just did not want to except this outcome. The older Lyla got the more I realized she wasn't scary at all. Raising her was so "normal" than I was expecting.
It has been two years and my BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT life is here and better then ever! I wouldn't change ANYTHING about our precious Lyla and I can't believe I shed one tear for this beautiful ANGEL!!!!! Raising her has been the same experience as raising Emma except we travel out of state to see her doctors and there are a few more appointments to go to and that is it!!!!! This terrible life that I pictured has been JOYOUS and AMAZING!!!!
During these past two years I have started a blog and let people get a better look into our lives. I have become a true advocate for dwarfism and have helped many new parents. I have spent many days and nights online lending support and guidance to other parents and speaking to several new parents on the phone. Parents from all over the world have contacted me looking for advice and no matter what time of day or how busy I am, I find myself sharing my life with strangers (now friends). Letting them know that EVERYTHING will be ok because I know it will be!
The love that I have for Lyla and this family is what drives me to continue to help and support parents and I will NEVER stop doing this! I will continue my blog because this is what gives hope to other parents on the same journey. Through this blog I have met great people and friends. I am passionate about raising awareness and I will continue to raise awareness for Lyla and other Little People.
Since October is Dwarfism Awareness month my beautiful family was featured in a local newspaper. I wanted to share our story with Long Island. http://www.northshoreoflongisland.com/pdf/vb_092012w.pdf
I will continue to share my story and my life with people because I feel it's the best way to educate the public on Lyla's condition. I want people all over the world to know my daughter so that she has friends and support EVERYWHERE.
Having Lyla has been the greatest journey of my life and this is what I say to new parents often. It has only been two years and I can't wait for the future. This beautiful, sweet, silly little girl has won the hearts of so many people. Lyla is just like any other toddler just small and that's it! She has a great support system and I can truly say from the bottom of my heart that I have the PERFECT life and I feel like the luckiest woman in the world. I am living the American dream and I never want to wake up!
Here are some pictures from the past 2 years. I hope you enjoy them!
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| Here I am at 36 weeks pregnant right before I found out about Lyla I was going to my baby shower! |
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| Eddie took this pic of Emma and me right before my baby shower and I remember being so happy that my second daughter was about to be born and Emma was going to have a sister! |
Here she comes............We had 4 weeks to prepare for her birth and we were excited to finally meet her!
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| Happy Second Birthday Beautiful Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is what love is all about! It is very true what they say........All we need is LOVE! Pics from her 2 birthday parties will come shortly! |
Beautiful family, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteOMGOSH!!!! love all those pictures!! what an amazing family you have, such love!!!
ReplyDeleteYay for Kindergarten! Emma looks adorable! So great that she's that excited, she's going to make a lot of friends :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Happy Birthday to Lyla! How fast it goes! Your story brought tears to my eyes, I know all those feelings too well. Ryan turns 1 year old this Saturday (EEEK!) and I have been reflecting as you have. I went through all of the same emotions as you and like you, I just can't imagine my baby to be any different. I'm so proud to be his mom! I too will be posting some party pics soon. :) Have a great weekend. And thanks for sharing.
(I sure wish we lived closer!) :)
Erin
PS Ryan says "Happy Birthday beautiful Lyla!"
Emma, you are a superstar and you are going to ROCK kindergarten!! Here's to an awesome school year!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday beautiful Lyla! We are so glad to know you!
Oh my gosh....Lyla's last picture is amazing. She is just so beautiful. I can't believe how adorable your daughters are!! Emma is such a great big sister!! What a lucky girl you are!! I really hope Madison and Lyla get to be GREAT friends. PS-- you looked amazing in your pictures before the baby shower!! Such a beautiful family you have!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY LYLA!!!
ReplyDeleteSeeing pictures of her birth again makes me emotional because I remember you and I emailing each other back then just like it was yesterday. Seeing your two girls together reminds me of my girls and I see your girls and my girls share that same special sister unbreakable bond, I love it!!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love Emma, cute back to school outfit...what a doll!
I love the article- that is so wonderful that you could share your experience with an even broader audience. You are such a beautiful person- on the outside, but most especially on the inside. Your family's love shows through loud and clear in each one of your pictures and you all are so lucky to have each other.
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