A Year in Review!

2014 In review: (What a year it has been!!)

(Picture taken February 2014)

As we close out 2014, it is a time to think about all the amazing things that have happened in the last year.  Some happy, some thrilling, some exciting, some scary, and everything ending in a truly meaningful experience.  

No matter the path to get here, I am thankful for each moment we had in 2014.  They each brought us where we are now and have given us the chance to make new friends, learn more about people in our world around us, and (hopefully) be more empathetic to all people we encounter in life.

(Picture taken April 2014)

Exciting Stuff (that's a technical term) from 2014:

* Sleeping (awesome sleeper!)
* First DISNEYLAND visit (January)

* Talking (babbling, then words)

* Eating all sorts of awesome foods!

* Learning to communicate what she wants

* Figuring out how to interact with her puppy brothers

* Mom, Dad & Olivia figuring out how to balance our new life

* Teething

* Welcoming Grandma into the house

* Reading soooooo many books, over and over and over again
* FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!!
* Standing!!

* First haircut (it's so fluffy!!!)
* Sign language and other cool communication tools

Spina Bifida Specialness:

* 153 TOTAL hospital/ Rady's/ Specialist visits:

       - 10 days in the NICU

       - 2 Emergency Room visit
       - 6 days/ 5 nights at Rady Children's Hospital

       - 4 Spinal Clinic Visits

       - 13 pediatrician visits 

       - 20 Specialist visits

       - 13 Orthordics appointments

       - 40 Early Start DT visits

       - 45 PT visits

WOAH BUDDY!  We've been busy :)

(Picture July 2014)

Often I make comments to the sound of "We have such an easy baby!"  Taking a look at this is sort of realize why people chuckle when I say that. I wouldn't change the last year for anything (well except her two hospital stays - I would take those out!) and am thankful for all of our experiences and the people we hace met along the way.

Our journey with our miss Livie Lu this far has been scary, exciting, chaotic, happy, educating & fun!  We are so proud of our Olivia and can't wait to see what the next few decades bring!!  We love you Olivia Michelle Smith!!!!!!

Bring on 2015!

(Picture October 2013)

Be Happy.  Laugh.  Enjoy Chaos.