Happy Birthday baby Cole

AUGUST IS NATIONAL SMA AWARENESS MONTH and Baby Cole's 6th birthday (TODAY Aug. 13th) Has it really been almost 4 years since Cole went to heaven??????
Dan, Peyton and I observed Cole's special day by sending up balloons and eating some cake in his honor. Peyton sang Happy Birthday to baby Cole. We miss him and cannot believe he would have been 6 already. Where does the time go. Here are some pics.

The Power of $1
We've all witnessed what a single $1 can do if people are willing take a few minutes and mail it. Just think of all of the yellow bracelets that you see around - I hear Lance Armstrong raised more than a million for cancer research. I'm going to try to do the same :0) Ok -- maybe not a million, but heck what about $1,000 or $5,000 or even $10,000. I'm asking you to give a $1 -- not for a yellow bracelet or any bracelet at all but just for the knowledge that you will be helping families and kids living with SMA -- helping them get the proper equipment, medicine or other support that insurance may deny. Or maybe it will just be used to send the kids something to brighten up their day or even to help pay for some of the growing piles of medical bills. Or God Forbid, help the parents pay for the funeral expenses of the child they lost to this disease.

If you feel like you can spare your dollar -- here is what I am asking you to do:

1. Get your $1 (more if compelled)
2. Write SMA Hero Cole somewhere on a post-it attached to the dollar(or any other person who is living or has lived with SMA)
3. Put it in an envelope and send it to:
SMA Support Inc.
PO Box 6301
Kokomo, IN 46904-6301
and last but not least
4. Forward this email on to all of you family and friend. (or tell everyone you know)

Where is your money going?

SMA Support is an all-volunteer, non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to providing information and support to family, friends, individuals and caregivers on all aspects regarding the devastating genetic disease called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. You can learn more about SMA Support and SMA by going to www.smasupport.com

Thanks and God Bless!

Kristin Webb

The Potty

I've been practicing with Peyton for weeks now to introduce her to the potty. Although we aren't potty training yet, we do want her to be familiar with the potty. After weeks of putting her on it and saying Pety go pee pee, Pety go poo poo, today she went pee pee and poo poo on the potty for the first time. I made the mistake of showing it to her and it kinda freaked her out. Hopefully this will be a beginning of her knowing what to do, or what I mean when I say pee pee and poo poo on the potty.

On another note, it was beautiful today (snow on Monday but that's a whole nother story). We played outside in the yard today and walked up the road a bit. We were trying out the new camera outside a bit and took a cute one. She had a bit of difficulty walking in the grass, but it's been so darn cold all winter that we haven't been out much. Can't wait until spring and things get a little greener around here.

Just thought I would give you guys an update.
My baby is growing up into a big girl. On Sat. night we drank our last baba. (I know I know. She's almost 16 months now. I just couldn't admit my baby wasn't such a baby anymore.) Sad day for me. I think I took it harder than Peyton did! It's the only time she snuggles anymore. I'm so sad. She is so big now. Has 30 words there about and running and climbing all over everything. I know it makes me happy, but boy is she a handful and she has such a TEMPER!
What else do I know.
I don't know if you guys remember, we had a pic of our little Cole dressed as Cat in the hat one halloween. We saved the costume out so that we could take Pety's pic and put them side by side in her room. Well, we are going to have to try these pics again. She was most uncooperative. She kept throwing the things an wouldn't even hold them. She did not want to have any part of pic taking that night.
My lights are not quite set up right, but this is the look I'm going for eventually. It's my first lame attmept. I'm still trying to learn as much as I can about the photography stuff and still trying to learn exactly how to use my camera and lights. There's SO much to know. It a wonder that people ever figured out how to do this in the first place.
Hugs to all.
K, D, P and angel C

Happy Thanksgiving

For the past 3 years Thanksgiving has been a hard holiday, but I have to admit, each year we have more and more to be thankful for it seems. Although so close to Cole's angel day, we are thankful that he is happy in heaven, running around and being silly, and we are thankful for our little Peyton and that she is healthy, running around and being silly.

Here are the turkeys this year.

"They say that time in heaven
is like a 'blink of an eye' here on this earth.
Sometimes it helps to think of my child
running ahead of me
in a beautiful field of wild flowers and butterflies,
so happy and completely caught up in
what he is doing,
that by the time he turns around to see
if I'm behind him....
I will be."
Judy Bruner

I'm so behind. . . always

Peyton is growing up so fast I can hardly believe it. She has many new words under her belt. Mama, dada, Baa Baa (which means bad dog), baba, car, ball, we think she said grandma today, hello, woof woof,

She has a whole mouthful of teeth, which she sometimes uses when she's mad. She also has an infectious giggle that melts my heart every time I hear it.

We've had yet another ear infection. Not looking forward to winter. Sometimes I just wish they would put in the tubes.

Here are some of our most recent pics. Sorry I don't have messy cake from 1st birthday or halloween yet.

first first birthday pics

I guess we'll be taking pictures all day. These are from breakfast!

Happy First Birthday PEYTON!!!!!!!!

Your mommy and daddy are sitting here at the computer at 12:06 am on your first birthday. We cannot believe you are 1 year old already. Were has our little baby gone? You are now a little girl!
We are so happy that you are our little one. You have taught us so many things in the past year.
You grow a little more each day and each day we see what a little personality you have. You sure do let us know that it is your way or the highway.

Cannot wait until you wake up in the morning so we can begin your BIG DAY!!
Love you!
Mom and dad.

Growing up and growing fast.

It amazes me how quickly you grow. Can you really be almost 11 months old. You are climbing all over everything. The other day we even found you sitting in the door of the dishwasher. If I didn't think you would break it or cut yourself on basketful of knives I would have ran for the camera. Here are your new tricks, putting your face in the water of the tub and laughing hysterically, practicing standing by being brave and letting go, although briefly, the furniture unsupported for several seconds, repeatedly waking up in the night (this one is getting old) when you were sleeping like a pro, refusing to give kisses, even tho you did it last month.

I love you little sweetie, every last minute!