A couple from Christmas Day (yes, it is that warm here).

Luke put a hand on each of Leila's shoulders today, facing her and smiling. He rubbed Rob's head and tenderly stroked mine.

We're looking forward to a visit from Clare and her sweet family tomorrow.

Happy 2007!

::and then he was four::

The most amazing day of my life will always be the day you were born. Four years ago.
There was a shift, a indescribable warmth that blossomed in my soul when I held you for the first time.
You are a daily reminder of the hope of eternity...the hope of beautiful and perfect and just in all it's fullness.
Your sweet gentleness is like none I've ever seen in any person and I believe it will be with you forever.
There is a peace about you that I hope you never lose.
I will never know all the answers (or even all the questions) in this life but I do believe you have a truly amazing purpose. I believe many people, because of you, will learn how to be kind, will learn how to love unselfishly and maybe find the hope that I see in you.
From this moment on, you can be anything you want to be.
You are brimming with promise.
I love you more and more each day.
I am blessed, bigger than the sky, to be your mommy.
Happy Birthday my dear Luke.

::post-christmas::

Despite Luke's raging pink-eyes (plural) we managed to enjoy Christmas. He woke up pretty miserable but seemed to feel himself a little later in the morning so we actually made it to the beach for a walk and romp in the sand.

On Christmas Eve I was thrilled to be a part of this.

It was fun to make Advent a new tradition this year. There was a feeling of actually being ready (which is the point I suppose) in preparing Him room.

Pre-Christmas I spent two days at a PECS conference and now we're pretty gung-ho about teaching it to Luke. So far he's on Phase II (out of IV) and it's supposed to help facilitate speech.

Speaking of Luke, he'll be in 40 hours of ABA in the fall along with 2 hours OT, 1 hour PT and 2 hours speech. Not to mention the HBOT therapy starting mid-January. Exhausting.

On a lighter note, have you discovered Etsy?

Do you flikr?
17,700 photos (since Luke's birth) on our flikr account and counting...

"Now we should live when the pulse of life is strong. Life is a tenuous thing...fragile, fleeting. Don't wait for tomorrow.
Be here now!
Be here now!
Be here now!

Staci Eldridge Captivating

::fifteen on friday (saturday and sunday)::

1. 
2. Love this portable backdrop.
3. 
4. Scrapbook journaling to make a page for: Leila, it's adorable how you say "hold you?" when you want to be picked up. When I hear you say these words and see your precious outstretched arms, my heart melts. I will always hold you anytime you need or want. You are my little sidekick, my cuddle bug, my baby girl. (Note to self: also write down that Leila says "mutton" for muffin, and that she said, "more daddy?".
5. He needs respect; she needs love.
6. Happy Birthday to the most amazing 8 year old. My precious niece Regan. I wish I could be close to you today and always. Call me anytime. Always know your Auntie Gina, Uncle Rob and cousins Luke and Leila love you. Hugs across the miles. (Check out this cake! My sister in law is like the cake genius.)
7. Meeting in Tarzana tomorrow at 5 for the HBOT study. EXCITED to find out the scoop and WHEN WE CAN START!
8. Is anyone else curious about this?
9. Love this album site. Never can have enough of those you know. I do like the odd photo here and there.
10. Here's the HBOT chamber. Can't say anymore about it for 17 weeks. Confidential. Can tell you this...if it works, this will be a permanant part of our house for awhile, throwing decorating finesse to the wind.
11. Working slowly and steadily on our video blog. I did an insane amount of video-ing when Luke was tiny.
    
12. 
13. 
14. Did this today? I think this is what I've decided on? What do you think???

::all is well with the walls::

Rob's message to my dear concerned blog buddies...

Thumbs up. Painting complete.

Rob: "You put that photo of me on your blog? Don't I look goofy? Yes. I look like Dennis Hopper."





Current favorite Leila phrases:
"More taytos?" (potatoes)
"More bed?" (bread)
"Tane Tu" (thank you - as she's handing something to me)
"Hi Leila" (as she enters a room with anyone present)
"Where go?" (Where did it go?)
"Mommy tea" (That's Mommy's tea so I best keep my hands off.)



Our meeting with the school district is tomorrow. By next Tuesday we should have Luke's placement offer for 2007.

Chksgnr, you are a very bad girl indeed.

::he kind of looks like our friend jesse::

I've done my routine.
So here I am with my cappuccino...
(Don't worry about those little sweet bits... ahem)


Luke has been invited to participate in HBOT therapy through his current ABA provider.


Parents of children with autism have been known to pay thousands of dollars for this treatment.
He'll receive 80 sessions (6 times a week). Lasting an hour each. The project is set to start the end of this month or early January. We are thrilled about this.

Thanks for painting the dining room honey but um, not quite what I was going for...



Kaboose.