Bye Bye Grandma and Grandpa Shaff

Calla had a wonderful weekend enjoying the sunshine and her grandparents. They leave today and we are all very sad. Calla also went to her friend Madison's birthday parthy. It was lots of fun.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLA!!!!

I am sitting here thinking about how one year ago I was in a hospital in Eugene, OR, wondering when my little girl would be born and if she would be healthy. Now I am sitting in my living room, having just put my perfect little girl down for the night. In the last year she has grown from 3 lbs 2oz to almost 20 lbs. She has gone from not being able to breast feed to feeding herself chicken, carrots, pasta, and peas for dinner tonight. A year ago her little hard barley fit around her Daddy's thumb, too having big hands that can grab a wooden block and hand it to her mother. Life is amazing, babies are amazing, my little girl is amazing. I can't wait to celebrate Calla's birthday tomorrow. She has brought so much joy to our lives and we could not be happier. Enjoy some of these pictures from the beginning of her life and from the recent weeks.

Just after birth, April 15, 2008.

Calla is holding her Daddy's hand.

Calla showing off her long arms to her mamma!!

Calla just before her 1st birthday!

Calla celebrating AZ just before her first birthday!!

Signs you know the parent of a preemie when

1. your kids wear 0-3 months for 6 months plus.

2. you don't freak out when your baby turns blue while eating a bottle..the whole breathing/swallowing thing just isn't figured out yet.

3. you have a NICU "routine" down, and are more familiar with their "pumping" room than your own bedroom.

4. you can change your baby's diaper while holding both of their legs up with two fingers only (don't we wish it was still that easy!)

5. they fit perfectly in your cleavage, wrapped up in a robe :)

6. your baby looks like a little old man, and when she starts looking like a baby you get freaked out!

7. your parents are too scared to hold your baby, and keep telling you "maybe when they hit 5 pounds, I'll feel more comfortable..."

8. your hands are raw from washing with hospital soap.

9. the smell of hospital soap makes you think of your baby and you smile :)

10. You know your baby's weight in grams, not pounds.

11. You have a total sigh of relief when your baby hits 3 pounds!!

12. Your new best buds are the nurses, and you grill them each time you enter the room.

13. You will never be able to listen to beeping and buzzing monitors without your heart skipping a beat.

14. you mastered washing their bottom through two arm holes in an incubator.

15. the best day of your life isn't the day your baby is born, it's the day you get to bring him home!

16. You get a few extra weeks with professionals to know your baby and learn how to take care of him or her before being on your own!

17. You value those last few weeks of sleep even more :)

18. You become friends with the night guard in the ER who lets you in the hospital after hours

19. You become even closer to your baby, becoming war veterans together in "the fight for life"

20. The complaints of the 'normal' moms become laughable and you have an unspoken understanding with other preemie moms

21. Every milestone is even more special and impressive

22. Double their birth weight by 6 months? Try quadruple! ;)

23. You never knew that 18 hours a day in a hospital for weeks on end could be the highlight of your summer.

24. You never wished so hard for a sleepless night in your own home with a crying child.

Happy Birthday Party Calla!!!

We celebrated Calla's Birthday and Easter this weekend with a party on Saturday and Uncle John and Aunt Charlotte, as well as Grandma and Grandpa Shaff coming for a visit. The weather was beautiful on Friday and we went to the park so everyone could see Calla in the swing. Here are the pictures from our wonderful weekend. It is hard to believe that one year ago it was 70 degrees, Scott and I planted our garden, went to dinner, watched and movie, then I took a midnight ambulance ride to Eugene and then welcomed Calla into the world a few days later.

Calla laughing at her Aunt Charlotte swinging in the park!

Calla eating her cake. She did not like getting the frosting on her hands, it was too sticky.

Calla liked the presents, but really, really liked the tissue paper.

Calla got a musical chair. We really want to thank Terri and Nicole for this very loud gift:)

Calla's friend Madison came to the party. She turns one three days after Calla.

We all got dressed up on Easter and took pictures. Then Calla decided to take a nap so she and mom stayed home while the rest of the Shaff's went to church.

Calla and Aunt Charlotte.

Bye, Bye Uncle John and Aunt Charlotte. We will miss you!!!!

Calla's Busy Weekend

Calla had another busy weekend. It was in the mid-70's on Saturday and Sunday and we all enjoyed playing outside, doing some yard work, and a little hiking. You can see that Calla was very active and worn out by the end of the weekend.

Calla is learning to walk and I think her pants say it all, "Life is Good" for all of us!

Calla and Aspen continue to explore the world together. They enjoyed playing in our backyard today.

Look at this happy, beautiful girl!!

Calla's Aunt Jean in Ohio gave this to her, we used it this weekend and Calla enjoyed climbing in and out.

Calla loves to stand and explore.

Dad and Calla hiking after all the yard work is done.

Calla catching a few zzz while Daddy carries her down the trail. What a great end to a great weekend!!

Oregon coast

We celebrated my birthday by going to the Oregon coast for the weekend. We rented a great little cabin in Florence and hung out by the wood burning stove and played on the floor with Calla while it rained and when it was sunny, we went on some great hikes. This was Calla's first time in the backpack and she loved it. The cabin had a great hot tub also, so Courtney and I got to soak everynight after Calla went to bed!

Hiking with Dad on the beach.

Hiking with the family and Calla saw her first waterfall, which she really enjoyed.

Laughing at daddy playing peek-a-boo.

Her new favorite postion and she can pull herself up all by herself now! Calla is looking quite stylin' and comfy in her Patagonia long underwear!

Playing with her favorite blocks!

Hanging with mom at the cabin in the sun.

Somebody clean my nose out for me?

Mom teaching Calla how to High-five!

Playing in the grass.

Calla says "Go Cats"

Hi all. We celebrated the Arizona Wildcats victory today that takes them to the Sweet 16 with a victory swing. We tried out our neighbors swing on Saturday and she loved it. I think she is starting to show us her adventurous side. Calla and Aspen have been spending the last few weeks trying to figure out how to share the floor. Now that the little person can move where ever she wants, Aspen sometimes does not know what to do.

Higher Daddy, this is fun!

Calla can barely contain herself during the game!

Yeah we won!

Come and get it Aspen!

Aspen, what do you want to do next?

Calla, I do not know if we should do that.

March Madness

We all enjoyed watching the AZ Cats win tonight. What a way to begin the weekend. Here are a few photos from our evening.

The pre-game good luck kiss.

What did we miss, replay please!

It is half time and we are ahead, YEAH!!!

Do you see me smiling, it is because the CATS WON!!!

Spring is in the air and I am ready to help mom plant the garden.

Dad and I having fun, anything can be a toy if you want it to be!