Sunday, August 26, 2012

The Simple Pleasures

One thing I love about kids is how little it takes to keep them entertained at times. These days, a ride on Dylan's "new" (ahem, Craig's List) Toy Story bike with training wheels is what keeps him happiest. And Elle is a big fan of the wagon, so we take many-a-stroll around our neighborhood.

 Elle loves her wagon rides!

Off they go!


Zoo Week

Papa and Nana took Dylan to the Brookfield Zoo for his first time ever!

Then mamma went the cheap route, and took the kids to Cosley Zoo in Wheaton.  :) (Perfect for the preschool age, for all you local mammas!)

I feel like there's probably some good caption for this picture.

Touch-A-Truck

A few pictures from Touch-A-Truck event in July....







Peek-A-Boo!


The Crawling Ceremony

Elle started crawling in June while we were in South Dakota. (My mom got to see her do it for the very first time!) So when we returned to D. Grove and saw Marc's parents that first week, we immediately took them downstairs to have Elle "perform." :)

She headed right for the tunnel tent.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

South Dakota Trip

A few pics from our trip to South Dakota, to celebrate my brother's 40th...

My immediate family, at Ryan's party.  :)

My sister Nicole and her son Nathan at the zoo.

It doesn't get any better than a 9 month old's bod jammed into a pink tu-tu swimsuit!

D was sooo excited to bring his rolling suitcase into the hotel the first night.

We spent the first night camping. D is "helping" Grandpa with the campfire.

Contemplating. (A 4-year old has a lot to think about, you know.)

6 a.m. walk to the park in our PJ's. We had to get out of the camper asap to let the rest of the fam sleep.

 Grandma with 3 of her youngest grandkids.

 My fabulous nieces and nephews.

 A little Grandpa time.

 Flying high at the zoo, with Daddy.

Sporting her new Janie and Jack headband.


With Great Grandpa and Grandma - how special is that?!

10 Months of Pics, in One Post

Ready? Here we go:

 Family picture

 Dylan's first day of preschool.

 Giving some big brother love.

Astronaut for Halloween.

 Happy 5 month old.

 Happy 4 year old.

 Best buds.

 Happy St. Patty's Day!

 Sporting a bow. :)

 Beach Day.

Mother's Day.

A Little Catching Up To Do

Our time with Elle started out a little bumpy, as we had some health scares that landed her in the NICU at 10 days old, followed by a return hospital visit the next weekend. All is well now, praise God. But let me tell you, we went through the scariest, darkest moments I have ever been through in my life. There is so much to share, and I hope to write about it in depth some day. For now, I'd like to share 3 big take-aways:

First - I learned that, as much as I try to control my life, I am, ultimately, not in control. In our scariest times, the times we are most unsure about things...we must call on God, who is our immovable Rock and Fortress. HE is the one who is in control -sovereign over everything. And He is love, and He can be trusted. He is unchanging. He never ever changes! 2 Samuel 22:3: "My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior..."

Second - I connect in a new, deeper way to my mom and my precious sister Valerie, who died 3 days after birth. I had heard stories of my older sister all my life, and what those days and moments were like in the hospital. I thought it was playing out before my eyes, with Elle. I now grieve as I think about sweet Valerie, and for the utter heartbreak and loss my parents went through. I will talk about and remember my sister more often now.

Third - I have a tender place in my heart for parents who have babies in the NICU. There are no words to describe what it is like saying goodnight to your little one and having to leave them. Especially when their health is up in the air. It is a scary time. May Jesus' peace that passes all understanding play a special role in those hospital rooms.

Introducing...

On September 15, 2011, God blessed us with our precious baby Elliana Jennifer Caifano. We couldn't be more in love.

The Blog is Back

Why, you ask, does Kim choose a picture of a random woman swimming - for her first post in exactly 1 year and 23 days? Could it be because of the 2012 Olympics? No...though it does please me that this post occurs on a news day when Michael Phelps and Missy Franklin top the headlines. (Totally fun coincidence.) Rather, it's because I wanted to find a picture that represents where I feel I am at, in life. I give this picture the title "Coming Up for Air." And that is how I feel - after a year of moving, unpacking, having a baby and getting settled into a new town - I am finally coming up for air. And so, it is time to blog again.