Well, I haven't blogged since January and I have very mixed emotions about blogging right now b/c I am so behind and trying to decide if I should keep it up. It's the main place I have kept stories about our kiddos since they were born and I wonder if I should have kept them elsewhere. I never want to forget the fun, hilarious, profound moments of motherhood and parenthood. Much time has gone by this year and I wonder why I didn't write down so many of the sweet things that happened in our house. Anders is growing up too fast. I'm so emotional about it! He's six and yet he seems 18. He has so much energy he can never sit still. Yet he is always asking about the world: Are tasmanian tigers real? Were Halle's mitochondria always broken? What is the biggest tree in the world? Can Evan come snuggle with me? Is infinity the biggest number? What about infinity plus one? It's incredible to watch young minds learn about the world - to see them learn about outer space, worms, caterpillars, siblings, bad words (he came home from school with "What the h-e-l-l" one day), romance (what does k-i-s-s-i-n-g spell?), friendship, sports (huge tears over a Clemson loss and changing out of the jersey), snow (I can't wait til it snows this year! Remember when we sledded last year?), building fires with dad (Can I light the small wood?), biking at Furman with mom to see the Japanese garden, ride around the belltower, and finally learn to climb the big hill at the back of the lake, travel to TN and GA, and join a church (Buncombe St Methodist). He's had time with beloved aunts at Home Depot, uncles for Wii time, and grandparents for lots of fun!
He asks things like "How does a brain make us think?" He loves Kindergarten and his teachers at Stone Academy and says his favorite elective is PE, followed by dance, followed by sounds and motions, followed by art, followed by library… Kindergarten has been so much fun for him and he just loves going to school and says he wishes he could stay all day.
And because I know this won't last for long, it just makes me sentimental how much he loves to decorate for holidays. Tonight we got the Christmas stuff out and he decorated while I was gone for a little while. Every room had a ribbon or garland, including the bathrooms! He had put a red table runner going into the bathroom so it looked like a red carpet. And set up the whole nativity. And put a Christmas dish towel on Erik's side of the bed, and He was so proud. He took a short bath because "I want to decorate more." I don't know if it'll be the same next year because he's such a big boy but it's just a fun trait how much he loves Christmas and holidays in general. The day after Christmas he said "I'm so sad that Christmas is over."
He's been going to church and out of the blue he asked me, "What literally is holy ground?" Funny. This came after learning about the burning bush. Lots of church questions, like "who made God?" and he really enjoys going to Sunday School.
At the beginning of the school year, Anders said, "somebody in my class is in love." I said, "wow, whoa, who?" and he said, "me. I really am. I don't know how it happened but I am." So, he had his first little crush, but now he has moved on and won't even discuss! He told his teachers about Halle and his "baby." This year has also been filled with soccer, tennis, t-ball, and basketball and lots of outdoor play. Getting outside is one of the best parts of the day. It also included Erik and Anders' first camping trip.
He observes everything and knows who wears what, "he is wearing a cool shirt" means someone has on a sports shirt. And he still loves pancakes, pizza, and m and ms.
Lots of big funny questions like Who was:
The meanest king
The first king
The fastest person
What is:
The tallest thingThe biggest mountain
The fastest plane
There's no way to accurately capture all that has happened in a year in one blog post so I'm going to try to sum it up. I'm not ready to quit blogging but I think I'm going to do it a little differently. I'm going to hit the highlights of our year because that is what I set out to do with this blog in the first place... to remember the best pieces of our kids lives and how for this short moment in time we were so lucky to live extremely full lives with three wonderful children and with wonderful parents and brothers and sisters who love us. Yes life has been really crazy but life is a miracle and we are going to do everything we can to enjoy it. And really how did we get so lucky and why are we so lucky?
Halle has had a good year overall. I would venture to say that her immune system is stronger than ever and we feel very fortunate to get to be the caretakers of her life. We don't do it alone. It is the greatest team effort I know of and everyone plays a role. Her progress may seem small to others and it times it seems small to us. Her head control is better, she's playing with toys more and she definitely seems to know the people in her family and be comfortable in certain situations and not others. She's so aware. We all notice how she picks up on the nuances of the world - how she knows certain sounds, certain arms, and certain games. She knows Erik's hands when he puts lotion on her face. She knows when her mom wants to feed her. She knows when her aunt is stretching her. She knows her grandparents' loving arms. At the same time she is also very tired a lot. She still has seizures and they changed some this year. She is genuinely happy and so brave all the time.
In addition to all of that, this is the year Evan joined our family! We are so happy that this little fellow is part of the Ching crew and that we are a family of five! He is truly adorable. He is JOLLY. He came into the world one week early and has been so sweet and friendly and happy. He's a big guy with chubby cheeks and now he is 8 months old. We cannot believe how much babies develop in a mere eight months. He went from being tiny and snuggling up to being big and crawling. He loves to smile. He loves to laugh. Anders makes him absolutely crack up when he wakes up… in the bath… really anytime. Evan will laugh until he is so tired. He only cries when he's exhausted or sick. Sometimes when he's hungry. He loves to explore; he loves to stare; he makes friends easily; he likes to eat! He's been the sweetest little snuggled.
Here are a few few few photos from our year:
Early springtime - Anders pushing Halle on the neighborhood cleanup
Snuggly winter Halle
Anders had lots of interest in army stuff this year. Wanted to get lots of Army men and set them up.
Friends at the Furman CDC. This was performance night and he's hanging with Jack.
A winter trip to NYC for mom's afterschool conference. Here we are EARLY at GSP.
FRIGID view from the Empire State Building
Mama C's hat. Enough said.
Statue of Liberty
Halle exercising at Grandma's house
Seeing Cinderella on Broadway in NYC!
It was such a great show!
Museum of Natural History and dines
Rockefeller plaza and ice skaters
Snowy Central Park zoo
The best French toast in the city
Our fun hotel
A very tired boy on the plane
Sweet baby cousin Parker who came into the world in January has been such a HUGE joy in our lives. We adore little Parkman -- platypus as Anders' calls him -- or Plaid. We just think he's the coolest.
Rare Disease Day at the CDC - sweet kids love Halle
Swinging on the new swing set built by David!
The best of friends - Grandma and Halle
Here is sweet Halle at the therapy light room at her school - the Washington Center
Hanging with friends at Furman LaCrosse
Preg and getting pregger. Maybe @ 7 months?
Hiking with Uncle Steve and Scott at Paris Mountain State Park
Beautiful beautiful Halle
My dear friends hosted a fun, fun baby shower for me at Ultra Nails. It was extravagantly fun with pedicures and amazing food.
Our pretty feet
Anders visiting Grandpa at Rolling Green where he moved this year. Grandpa is doing so well in his new home at the ripe old age of 92!
Parker Hade Stevens
My second baby shower with the wonderful Riley team at Mary Beth's on McBee. Check out this AMAZING Star Wars diaper cake made by the one and only Megan Dodgens
Physical therapy time
Please note these are in random order- my sweet baby shower crew
CAKE!
Halle and cousin Parker
Easter Egg hunt at Furman with Kaleb
Easter morning
Baby Ching will be here soon - I think this is the day before his arrival!
Spring soccer with sweet Caroline
Coach Erik and son
Hanging with friends - Lucy, Hazel, Addy, Charlie
First camping trip at Paris Mountain State Park!
fishing in the morning
four-year-old love
A cool drawing of our house
new big boy bike!
Furman in the springtime
biking at Furman with Neila
pure silliness
Mama C's instagram cake!
hilarious hilarious cake
Awesome birthday celebration
Stud Parker at Easter
Easter Sunday
Easter beauty
Egg hunters
Lo' the azaleas
my dear friends at my baby shower
Crazy campers
Super fun tennis camp at Furman in summer 2014
Two of my favorite swimmers
Trike/Bike a thon at the Furman CDC
It was so much fun when Evan decided to arrive. We could not wait to meet him. I went into labor approximately four days before he arrived… lots of random contractions for days on end and a fever (I was actually just sick). Finally, late on April 29th, the contractions were consistently 10-15 minutes apart and pretty painful so we headed to GHS at 11pm! Mom and Nissa held down the fort with the kids. We ended up checking in and I was only four cms dilated so we spent the night in the delivery room, and I got an epidural so we could sleep a little. Here's our middle of the night selfie. It was a fun special night (just like each of the three days we spent in the delivery room with each of the three sweeties) and we really just could not wait to meet Evan.
the joyful arrival of Evan Matthew Ching occurred around 9:30 a.m. on April 30. we had the same nurse Tammy who we had for Anders and Halle (amazing luck) and we were even joined by two random EMS interns. here's his first photo. we had the new hospital magic hour and it was a very special time. mom, dad and rob were at the hospital and it was so fun for them to meet him.
On the day he was born we had so many sweet visitors and just loved introducing him to his siblings and family.
the happiest big brother. happy aunt.
big sis in school the day he was born.
brooke and tobi
the thinker
meeting his big sis
Pops' May 4 birthday and the fellas were in step
the new reality
love, love
my three faves
new born pics by heather burgess
the end of preschool program
three weeks after evan's birth, erik had a conference in chicago and he took Anders and Aunt Nissa. they had such a good trip.
View from the Sears Tower
White Sox game
The crazy scary glass platform off the Sears Tower.
Last day of preschool
hair awesomeness
grandpa and nissa
sorry for the yuck but i had this bruise after having blood taken post delivery and had it for about six weeks! craziest thing
first meeting
love
summertime pool time
family photo
Not happy the U.S. lost in the World Cup
Wes' birthday party at the rock climbing place
One of Evan's biggest buddies - Maris - has been his main babysitter for his whole life. She calls him Evie and loves to play with him/hang out with him. They are buddies. It's very sweet. Evan has had a lot of nicknames - the Great White being his first for his wide yawn. Anders named him Mr. Chubbles and that really really stuck.
Grandma and Mama C on the day of the kids' baptism
all smiles
crazy curls
i'm not chubby
cousins evan and parker
mom and dad celebrated 40 years of marriage this summer. how is that possible?! they aren't even 40. married in the womb. look how cute they are.
Mikel A came to visit! She helped while E and A were in Chicago. we had so so so much fun.
The very best dancer I know and he loves it.
learning to read
Our little army obsessed dude. and his birthday army gear.
Ahhh Hilton Head 2014. Loving the balcony and breakfast. And looking at the ocean. Sweet little buddy.
three cool couch potatoes
sand castling
Pops, Mama C and Parker
beach bums
still my buddy
family soccer on the beach
little dudes
Twins
3 months and 6 months
Summer T-ball with Kaleb
Anders' sixth birthday was a smaller party with blow up football and an Army theme
camo here, camo there
Anders had a surprise visit from a REAL ARMY GUY who showed up looking for him and let him try on his backpack.
Colonel Bill and Kaleb, Anders, Harrison, Hazel and Bella
summer visit from Tati!!
biggest braves fans
summer lovin'
best bros
A mom's tears…. first day of Kindergarten; super sentimental about this. He was so nervous and excited. Meet the Teacher… first day… Stone Academy… Mrs. Phoenix. What a big time in life.
And then the ice bucket challenge hit the world….
buds
Mama B's birthday remembrance at Lake Lanier. I won. Let's be Clear.
Back to school for Halle too with Mrs. Sarah and the Washington Center
Señora Blanca is muy bueno, our favorite…. and she's great with braids.
Labor Day Beach trip with the friends… just Erik and Anders this year.
the beach crew 2014
cute, cute kids
first foods
a perfect moment, a perfect day
my favorite nephew
jogging buddy
grandma and her little friend
the happy two
first haircut courtesy of blanca!
Halle got an Upsee! And is learning to walk :))
fall soccer 2014 with so many friends
Furman was bad but we still had football fun
still not chubby
his first two crushes
swallow therapy and school love
coach erik
peanuts on the porch
Daddy's birthday!
swagger
Clemson football fans… kinda
Parker's baptism/dedication
little devilish grin
a weekend getaway at Great Wolf Lodge; we had a blast and hope to go back.
cool bench
Furman homecoming and the swings!
Halloween Ninjas and princesses
Jasmine and Elsa looking beautiful
Ninjas!
pumpkins and porches
a special day at the children's museum for special needs kiddos
first day at the park
first lost tooth - he keeps growing up
mom's birthday
out with the old...
in with the new….
angelic
decade day at school -- hello 1950s
bro and sis at thankgiving
happy thanksgiving Grandma and Nissa! we had a great, fun, relaxing turkey day with parade and cooking and hanging out.
thanksgiving crew
thanksgiving in Kinsport
the fam in november
first time in a cart
Smile!
dressing up like Moses after learning about the burning bush
Loving Rudolph in class
still not chubby
first bath together
the magic of the holiday season hit with a bang. cookies and decorations and parties and nativities and santa and all of the love of the season. we had the fun opportunity to take a ride on the real polar express… it was better than we imagined with cookies and hot chocolate and santa and bells… real bells from the reindeer.
polar express
santa baby
More dancing from the best dancer
More Great Wolf fun
Cane grinding crew 2014
Cathy and Cathy on the swings
And this year we got the three kiddos baptized at the Furman Chapel! It was such a beautiful, happy day, courtesy of our pas or friends Rimes and Kathryn
Everyone at the baptism
Halle gets sprinkled
Pastors and Chings
the sweetest audience
And, with that, we wish you a happy happy 2015! Here's to love, light and festive fun in the new year. I'm glad I did all of this today as I realize we actually did a lot this year. We are so lucky and we love y'all and we pray that the world has a peaceful year next year.
XOXOXO
No comments:
Post a Comment