April Odds and Ends

It's easy to just put photos up of big trips and special events, but the real living takes place in between.  In the driveway, in the rocking chair, at the playground.  These are the moments that I don't want to forget... when I find myself reaching for my cell phone to try to capture the simple joys that make life so sweet.  Here's a few of those cell phone photos from everyday living in April.  

These first three are extra special.  When we went back to Brenner for Clara's three year old checkups, we stopped by the NICU/PICU to see a few of the folks who helped care for Clara during her stay there.  We didn't get photos with all of them, but here are a few who are extra dear.  Martha, the lactation consultant who taught Clara how to eat.  The three respiratory therapists who cared for her while she was on ECMO and never stopped believing in her (Barney, Dave and Scott), and her surgeon, Dr. Petty who not only helped save her life with his hands, but also with his prayers.  We love these folks more than words can ever say.  

I have lots of photos of her sleeping.  Is it normal that she seems the sweetest to me then? I think I can't quite get over the big girl bed thing yet, and am also holding on desperately, especially this past month, to the fact that at naptime she still lets me rock her to sleep.  I don't know how that will look once her little sister arrives and I've just been clinging to these moments now with a fierceness I cannot describe.

She's not ALWAYS asleep though, I promise!  She's busy doing art and running around outside, too.

Her sweet buddy Ella, teaching her how to ride her scooter!

And how to play with critters.  I can't tell you how much I love Ella.

Thanks be to God, for the ordinary.