It's soon to be a Year!

It will soon be an entire year since the first time Baby Aine got to:

Be outside for the first time
Ride in a Carseat for the first time.
Sleep through the night without getting poked, prodded, and just plain bugged.
"see" her house for the first time.
Be able to be picked up, hugged, rocked, cuddled - anytime she wanted.

These are just a few of the firsts that will be having their one year anniversary on July 3rd - for that is the day that we brought our tiny little baby Aine home for the first time!

I think back to that day and I actually wonder how we did it. All the lines, all the feeds, the diapers, the unknown tears, the unknown cries, the separation from my kids, and the list that never seemed to stop. Then I think about how grateful I am that we have been given such a wonderful gift - a gift of life to cherish, teach, and help grow into the beautiful little girl that she is growing into.

I also think back to all that both the kids and Shawn & I have accomplished in this last year.
Bringing home a new baby
Learning all we are able to about Aine and what she needs as a baby
Teaching Liam all he wants to know about Aine and the world
Growing as a family
Liam learning to run, jump, swim, roll, and do all the things a kid should know and love how to do.
Aine learning to sit up, smile, giggle, start to roll over, and hold herself up on all fours.
There are soo many other things that have happened in the last year that I can't even begin to write about all of them in this short post - but you have been hearing about many of them as the days and sometimes weeks went by.

Aine's First Time playing in the sand.


Liam showing off his left handed chopstick skills :)


Life is GOOD when you have a dog to rest with


Playing softball with the boys (until Rocky stole the ball!)


Nick MY Boy - I love you!


Mommy - Baby Aine's Broke!!! (Yes - his words exactly)



GOTTCHA BABY GIRL!!! Aine's First Day home - July 3rd 2011! 1 day shy of being 3 month old.



In this short re-visit back to a year of successes in the Casey Household, we would like to thank you for being a part of it. Every smile, laugh, giggle, hug, thought, prayer, tear, fear, and most of all LOVE makes every minute worth it!



Special Prayers for the week:
V - she's a special girl who's waiting for a heart. She's had a kidney transplant and is now praying to stay healthy.
Abby - We pray that you can keep the fever away & keep your white blood count where it should be. Keep smiling!
All the families that have been affected by the storms in Duluth - we send our prayers & good wishes to you!

If you are part of our Facebook - there are some pictures from the 5k we did up. I will be posting pictures here also :)
We liked doing the 5k soo much that we will be doing more in the future - so we will keep you up to date on when, where, and all the details and we get them :)

Spread Too Thin

That is the song that is on the radio as I type & it sure seems to fit how I feel about right now.

Liam had his last swim class today and will be moving up to the next level next saturday. He's really excited to start his NEW class next week & can't stop asking when he gets to go. He's also excited because that means mom & him get to go pick out another bead for his band (he has been asking for a dinasour bead, so I'm guessing that's what he's going to be getting.
He had 2 weeks off of tumbling & it sure is showing that he needs to go back, like last week - he is bouncing off the walls, beds, couch, chair, and the list goes on & on.....
He's really excited that he can now play in the water outside, but can't wait for winter so that he can go sledding (I prefer summer, so I'm hoping it stays warm for quite some time).
He's growing by leaps & bounds which is making him really frustrated. One day he can walk under something & the next day he is bumping his head. He now has to watch out for door handles because he hits his head on them ;(
He's doing really good with Aine & shows that he wants to be around her ALL the time (even though he tells her to go away all the time, he has to lay right on top of her).
We are also starting to work on riding a bicycle! Shawn lowered the seat, left the training wheels on & off he went! He still wants to pedal backwards (which are the brakes on this one), but he will get the hang of it. That is as long as he will get back on it after his little spill.

Aine is growing & leaving her baby look behind day by day. Her leg rolls are starting to go away, she is getting stronger and stronger, and really starting to show more of her personality.
She has mastered sitting on her own, is getting 8 teeth in (yup, it is NO fun for her or the rest of us), she is working on holding herself up with her arms, she is starting to really figure out the whole rolling thing, and is starting to get mobile when she is on her back. She LOVES to play & LOVES to be involved when Liam and I are playing. Cars & trains are turning out to be her favorite thing, unless she is getting ready for bed & then she has to have pinky & baaab (baby).
She is really starting to babble & if you listen closely you can hear her say: dadda, mamma, babba, & baaab
She has also started the transition from infant formula to big girl formula. We're hoping that it all goes well and she can handle both the increase in fluid & the food transition.

Aine is also doing really well in therapy. We are currently working with the school system, but are also planning on starting a medical based therapy program so she will be getting more days of therapy each week.

Liam and the kids at a Birthday Party


Liam after eating a cupcake


Liam's Metal for Tumbling Class


Could they be any cuter??




Some of Aine's Beads of Courage


Liam helping string Aine's Beads of Courage


Playing around on the computer


Yup - Like Mother, Like Son... I am SOO Proud of him :)


All Smiles!








Some of Aine's Beads of Courage All Strung


Liam's Beads all strung



Fireman Liam


Liams Bunny - he names him Billy Bunny


I hope all is well with each and everyone of you.

These are some of the events that have happened with us in the time since I last updated you. We've been busy - most of it has been good, just busy.

We would like to throw a couple of congrats out while we are here!
CONGRATS on graduating Rach! We know you'll do Great when you start college
CONGRATS on the wedding Katie & Jeri! Many More Happy years to the both of you!

We would also like to send a few prayers out to those that need them right now.
The Frazier Family: We are praying for a fast recovery & smiles to come quick!
Summer - you and your family are in our thoughts & prayers. We're here for you if you need anything!
Vivica - We pray that your perfect heart is just a heartbeat away - stay strong little one.
Levi - Little Levi - Stay strong & fight the fight. You are a CHD warrior & that alone says alot about You!