Firsts

This past week has been filled with firsts...maybe not milestone breaking, major life changing firsts, but firsts nonetheless.  Over the weekend, Kaelyn was able to attend her FIRST volleyball tourney of her life...yes, yes, I know...I'm slightly obsessed but I was so excited for her to see and experience volleyball for the first time in her life.  It was so fun to have my little love be around one of the loves of my life.  I'd be kidding myself if I didn't admit that when I found out I was having a girl I envisioned her being a volleyball player.  Kaelyn was wonderful...she was content to watch, snuggle, sleep, and visit with anyone willing to give her some attention.  Oh yes, and of course, she cheered on her Aunt Samantha and I'm hoping she was taking notes because it is no secret that I'd love to have her become a setter someday and there really isn't a better person to learn from than number 11, Aunt Samantha!!!  Hunter was so great too...it was a long day and I can definitely say it was the FIRST time Hunter was truly interested in the game.  He learned was a serve, set, attack, and block was and how you do them!  I only wish I'd gotten him on the floor to try a bit...I need to harness his interests when they arrive b/c they often change fast :)  Hunter informed me that when the other (pronounced 'utter') team blocks the ball and stops it from going over the net it is a, "very bad volleyball choice"!  Gotta love how almost 4 year-olds think!  Here are some pics of the day...Good job Sammy!

The FIRST full name written in chalk by Hunter...so proud :)

Another FIRST was Kaelyn showing me her true belly laugh today! She had been sitting in her bouncer as I cleaned up the kitchen and I came over to chat with her.  After a couple minutes of smiles and talk, Kaelyn all of a sudden let out a huge belly laugh, true chuckles and moments of pure joy!  Then more of it followed and her face lit up.  Of course, being an emotional blob...I cried as I relished this moment that only she and I truly shared and thought of how this was the first time I heard my beautiful girl laugh and I began to imagine our future and all the times I will hear that laugh and the instant joy it brings into my soul.  It's just something about the first...savoring it, letting it consume me, and trying so hard to engrave in my brain the very moment that first occured because I know how quickly time passes and the first becomes a "remember when"...   Thank you Kaelyn for the most special part of today and all the joy you bring to my life.  And yes, I'm silly and took a pic of her in her chair where this first occured...

Finally, to finish out the afternoon...we (H, K, and I) decided to take our FIRST walk to the new ice cream store just a block away from our house.  After picking Hunter up from preschool we decided that a walk would be wonderful and I offered to take H to get ice cream.  He thought it was pretty cool the store was called Mickey's and away we went.      It was a lovely spring day, H and I sporting our shades and me sporting the baby bjorn :)  Hunter ordered a vanilla ice cream with M & M's and he was happy as could be as he got his ice cream in a Detroit Tigers hat which is pretty cool b/c his classmates dad plays for the Tigers and apparently Hunter wants to play for them someday ;) Gotta love it! Hunter was so polite and made me proud as he asked the lady at the counter for a napkin so grown up..."May I have a napkin please?" For a boy who struggled to figure out the language of speech...so many of his phrases and comments bring a little more joy than the average as I really do LOVE hearing what he has to say...it is a reminder of how far he's come and how proud I am of him!   All in all, it was just such a nice afternoon to sit with my two loves at the ice cream store after a lovely walk.  It's amazing how such a little adventure brings me such joy.  I love that I will get to experience so many FIRSTS again with Kaelyn and so many FIRSTS with my two kids together!  I feel so blessed that they are in my life...my twiddles...

                                                                   ...he just loves her