And the fun begins...

Warning...this post is gonna be crazy long.  Summer has begun and we are so busy!  I have to start posting something otherwise it will be Fall.  

We are enjoying a ton of new things this summer!  Carsen has started up with full time therapy again.  This makes for a very tired mom but a lot of new things to work on.  

On Monday nights we put Carsen in T-ball!  I would love to say he is loving it, but lets just say he is being a good sport.

He is learning to catch the ball...

Throw the ball...

Look for the ball...

Hit the ball...

Run the bases...

I have never seen a stride from his this long before!  He is working super hard!  We are so proud of him.  Matt decided it would be a good thing to do with him.  I am proud of Matt as well.  This is not an easy step because Carsen needs so much help from us while playing.  If anything, I am reminding Matt that we are not here to win, but we are here to just plainly teach Carsen something new and the other kids what Carsen is all about.  Easier said than done, but we are working on it.

The swing has got to be one of Carsen's favorites!  I actually got a sun burn with this swing session...

On weekends we have been filling our time up watching Matt race.  We love cheering him on!

Oh look...there is a swing...we hogged it and got kicked off of it...

I spotted the tag board coffee sign...$2 for a coffee...badly needed and much appreciated!

Watching the swimmers and badly needing a nap...

Transition from a long bike ride to a 6 mile run...

Cousin Ethan pushing Carsen in the swing and loving ever second of it...

Our friends little guy, he is so handsome and I could take pictures of him all day!

Matt finished 89th out of almost 400 olympic triathlon distance racers! 

Trying to get a family pic...Carsen kept giggling and giggling at Matt...

The Benson pool has opened and we have a family pass this year!  An awesome zero entry pool for Carsen.  We love it here!!

 Carsen loves watching the other kids, splashing in water, drinking as much of it as possible and being outside!

This past weekend we went to the twins game.  Don't be fooled by these pictures.  He did not enjoy the game for long.  He was passed back and forth from Matt and I.  The noise is just too loud for him.  We got a few cute tearless pictures anyway...

Watching batting practice...

Carsen finally found a comfortable spot on daddy's shoulders.  He was so tired from crying that his arms just hung down.

The Schmidgall Clan!

The next day was better because it included more swimming time and more cousin time!

Carsen was mesmerized by Cohen!

Grandma and Grandpa Cuddles...

Grandpa helping Carsen swim...

Auntie Alissa making me laugh and laugh...

We had a very special swim time two weekends ago.  We took Carsen to Alex, put his floaty on and he swam all by himself for a very long time.  He would bicycle kick his legs and use his arms to keep him up.  This was a very very gigantic step for him which made for happy parents!  We were so proud of him for catching onto something that isn't easy.  He was motivated, holding his breath and smiling the whole time!

Bring on more swim days, beach days, swing days, cousin time and sunshine!

Cake Reveal!

We have been waiting for this day for a long time.  I am not talking about waiting to find out the sex of our baby, but to experience having another child in our life.  Since Carsen turned one, I was ready for the challenge of another little one.  After a few years of being extremely patient through multiple genetic tests, we decided our chances were slim.  However, the chance of another child with special needs exists because nothing could be ruled out.  We obviously got through that hurdle and moved on.  I decided a gender reveal party would be a fun way to announce our new little baby.  We are so thrilled to be going through this whole experience again, that I felt it wouldn't hurt to have a little celebration.  Besides, I was craving cake, mexican food and some time with our closest family.

Our ultrasound day came.  Matt STILL didn't want to find out.  I did, and he had no say in this decision what so ever.  I was putting my foot down for once and finding out if it was a boy or girl.  I had multiple, I mean, almost everyone say to me, "You don't want to find out, you should wait."  "Are you sure you want to find out?"  "It is the only surprise in life."  I wanted to scream at most of them and say,  "We have already gotten a big surprise in our life.  It ended up with a c-section and a diagnosis of Cerebral palsy.  It's called, I want to find out because I won't have the extra time and energy to get things ready afterwards.  Ugh!

The ultrasound tech worked for a while at finding a good picture, wrote blue or pink in the card, and I mailed it out to the famous Gloria Heieie, our 80 year old Cake lady.  

She came up with this amazing cake...

Are we going to have another little boy or a precious little girl?

Matt was thinking pink, I was for sure it would be blue.

I decorated a cake table...

The details were all blue and pink...

This cake is screaming, "CUT ME OPEN!!!"

Big brother 

Is it a boy????












Or a girl???

TEAM BLUE... includes the grandma's, 2 aunties, 2 cousins, our good friend tate, and a brother via Skype on the pink phone!!  AKA...The smart ones!!

TEAM PINK...includes two grandpa's, daddy and my bestie Genie! Better luck next time! :)

My nephew Cohen and Uncle Mark were sick...Cohen is wanting another boy cousin and mark is thinking girl!

Good friend Zach and Carsen's buddy Cooper even went all blue!!!


We had all of our family lined up and my brother next to the cake via Skype waiting to see...aww...the suspense!!!!

IT'S A BOY!!!!

Surrounded by loved ones, we are blessed!

PROUD mommy and daddy!!!

I figured it was boy...but I still cried...I am so thrilled to have another little man in my life!

Carsen wasn't sure about all the hooting and hollering!!!

My boys...I couldn't be happier!

We continue to pray for our little guy!  There are worries but mostly a lot of hope! 

 Thank goodness for little boys!  

God. IS. Good!