Birthday Party (Photo Heavy Post)

Today was a wonderful day! Today we celebrated Delilah's first birthday the best way we know how, PARTY! Surrounded by family and friends, Delilah opened all her wonderful presents and ate her very first cupcake. And let me tell you, Delilah has a very unique way of eating a cupcake. I will let the photos speak for themselves. Thank you to everyone who was here and sent her such lovely gifts. She really enjoyed her special day!

Happt 1st Birthday Delilah Grace!

My beautiful, amazing little girl is ONE today! ONE!?!?! Has it really been a year? A whole year? There has been so much that has happened in this first year that I can't even wrap my head around it. No need to hash out some of the harsh realities of it, because no matter all of it, the good and the bad, it has been the best year of my life. Delilah is so WONDERFUL and growing so FAST! Everyone said she would grow up fast, but it SO shocking when I see it first hand. It seems her newborn/infant features have morphed into toddler features overnight. She may not be walking, or talking, or even crawling, but she has turned into a 'toddler'. Her determination to explore her world and conquer her disadvantages is astounding. PWS may be slowing her down, but it definitely isn't stopping her. She really is a rock star! I cannot tell you how excited I am to see what she does this next year!

Happy Birthday Delilah Grace! You are truly my most precious gift!!!

(What kind of birthday post would this be without pictures spanning the first year.)

DelilahsFirstYear

Click here to view this photo book larger

Here is the scrapbook I have been slaving away over! It is finally finished and ordered; just in time to get it for her birthday. I am so excited about it. I hope you all enjoy!

JUNE

I cannot believe it is June already. Where did May go? We just got back from a little vacation in Florida. We spent the weekend at Robert's beach house with a bunch of friends. Delilah spent Thursday and Friday with us, then spent the rest of the weekend with Nana and Pawpaw. She spent some time in the sound and the pool with us. My girl loves the water! She was so happy to sit in her float splashing around. When Mrs. Janet picked her up Friday to take her to Nana's I cried like a baby. It was good to get some adult time, but I missed her so much. Here are some pictures of her cuteness!

This month is going to be exceptionally busy for us. We will be going back down to Florida next week for my brother's graduation from High School. I can't believe he is graduating and going into the Army! It seems like only yesterday my sister and I were dressing him up like our very own life size doll. (Sorry lil' brother!!!) We will spend the week with all the family which I am looking forward to. Then we will return home for a mad dash of party planning. Delilah turns 1 this month!!!! And she will have the best first birthday party EVER! All are invited to the momentous occasion. Email me if you want an invite. 

Drum Roll Please...

We did it! We reached our goal of $500 and we are only half way through the month! I am truly amazed by the way our story has spread. The generosity of all of our family, friends, and, most surprisingly, strangers has touched me so much. When I first decided to participate in this fundraiser I was a little apprehensive. It isn't easy to ask for money, no matter what the purpose, especially in this economy. I felt that a goal of $500 may be too much. I was worried asking for donations would turn people away from our story. I can not tell you how happy I am to see that my worries were unfounded. I am just so proud! We are doing such a good thing for our children with PWS, and future children. Not only by raising money for a cure, but by getting awareness out there. So many people are still in the dark about this terrible syndrome.
I want to encourage all of you readers to continue educating the public about PWS, even after this month has passed. Tell them our story. Show them this blog. I am always happy to speak to anyone with questions.

I would also like to see how far we can raise past our goal. Right now we are at $500, can we make it to $750 or $1000. I am eager to find out. Every dollar is one step closer to a cure. I am also beginning to think of ways to raise money and awareness throughout the year, not just May. All ideas are welcome!

Some Delilah updates: She is starting to 'Army' crawl. She has done it a few times in the past few days. So exciting. It is great to see the determination on her face as she gets closer to a toy she wants. I was unsure if she would be this mobile before her first birthday. I am so glad to see she is and may be fully crawling by then.

She is also learning to clap. We have been playing Patty Cake and she gets so excited. She will keep one arm still and swing the other one like crazy trying to get her hands to meet in the middle. It is ADORABLE! And she loves to babble. It is almost constant now. Before she would do it maybe once a day, but now she wakes up babbling and goes to sleep babbling. I think she is going to be a talker just like her Momma. I can't wait to see what she does next.

I would love to hear from all our readers. Please feel free to post a comment and say 'hi'.

Such Wonderful Support!

Wow! I am so thrilled with the support we have received so far in our challenge to get PWS awareness out there. We have already reached 20% of our goal. Thank you to all who have donated so far. Our story has also started to make its way around Facebook. The creator of Kigi's Boutique has graciously decided to help our cause by offering to donate $7.00 from the purchase of each Create Your Own Crochet Beanie with Crochet Flower, found here. How AWESOME is that?!? Not only will you be getting the cutest Beanie ever, but you will be helping us find a cure for Prader Willi Syndrome. Thank you so much Kigi's Boutique. ***As I have been typing this we have received another donation. Woohoo!*** Please continue spreading the word about PWS. Donations can be made here. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!

Extreme Home Makeover

I hope everyone watched Extreme Makeover Home Edition tonight. If not, you may be able to watch it online. I will be honest and say it wasn't easy to watch. I can't tell you the number of tissues I went through. Probably half my box. But I am glad I did watch it. It really opened my eyes to some of the challenges Delilah may face in the future. Every child with PWS is different. The severity of the symptoms can vary from one child to the next. However, the constant hunger is usually always a similarity with our children. We pray that Delilah will have a "mild" case (whatever that is), but we have no idea what the future holds for her. All we can really do is take it one day at a time. We will continue to provide the best for her, be that weekly therapies and trips to Gainesville to see Dr. Miller or just a cuddle on the couch and a face covered in kisses. Whatever she needs she will get. We will also do our best to be an advocate for her. People need to know what Prader Willi Syndrome is. People need to see what challenges it presents our children with. Knowledge is power, and we need that power to find a cure. So please, please, please help us spread the word about PWS. Feel free to forward this blog to everyone you know. There are great websites that have loads of information; PWSA and FPWR. Plaster Facebook with information about PWS. Just help us get the word out there, especially this month. Thanks to everyone who has already done this. You have no idea how much that means to me. 


Just on a side note, I really loved the Safe Pantry. I see a kitchen remodel in the future!