meet my new nephew...

Levi Dow Wilkins
born 4/16/2010
8lb 13oz
20 inches

& he's a thumb sucker!!!
my brother & sis-in-law better watch i don't walk away with this one!
;0)

i got the text message announcing his arrival (including a pic - gotta love living in 2010!) as i was on my way to pick up the kiddos Friday evening...so we got to go visit Katie & CJ, & meet Levi, only hours after his birth!

we came bearing lillacs from our front yard ;0)

this is Nana's 7th grandbaby...

all 6 of the older first cousins, lined up to hold the newest member of their crew...

from oldest to youngest...Jaden, 9

Deandra, 9

Gabrielle, 7

Corinn, 6

Bryan, 6 (on Sunday)

& big brother Matthew, 3

little Levi looks just like Matthew...& he's so lucky to be have this guy to look up to! Matthew has been sooooo excited for Levi to get here...i bet he'll be the best big brother ever!

we're so glad Levi is here & healthy!
welcome to the family buddy!

♥

*edited - i totally forgot to mention the weight pool...no, i did not win...i guessed 8.8 (even tho my gut was saying 8.12) & my dad beat me by 1oz! (he said 8.9) oh well, at least it was Grandpa that won ;0)

Levi will (most likely) be here today!

my sister in law, Katie (CJ's wife), is in the hospital right now...she just got an epidural, then her water broke...& she's now 5cm dilated...my new nephew, Levi, will (most likely) be here today!

Jaden has been counting down to Levi's due date (4/20) for months! he cannot wait to meet his new cousin...& i can't wait to pick him up after work & give him the news that Levi is on his way!!!

say a prayer that the rest of Katie's labor goes smoothly...that Levi is born healthy (& preferably weighs in at 8lbs 8oz, so his aunt Sharon can win the weight pool ~wink~)

we can't wait to meet him!
(u know i'll post pics here as soon as i get a chance)

wordless Wednesday...a boy & his dog...

weekend recap...North Carolina picture marathon...

since it's already super late on Tuesday night (darn near Wednesday) & i'm obviously just now getting to our weekend recap...i think it goes without saying that things have been a little hectic lately...the bustle of Summer is setting in (even tho it's only April - i think we just skipped Spring this year?) & we're being pulled in 20 different directions!

on top of our busy every day lives...we've had field trips left & right recently...the girls' dance recital right around the corner...i've got this big project coming up soon...& we're also busy trying to plan our Summer beach vacay too

luckily months ago, we'd set aside this past weekend to make a trip down to see our dear sweet friends, the Matthews! we try to get both of our families together at least once, sometimes twice a year...we always have soooo much fun! & the weekends always seem to fly right by!

since i don't have time to tell u about all of the MANY fun things we did together...& since u'd probably just rather see the pics anyway...here's a North Carolina picture marathon...thank u Misty, Shane & Willow for another fantastic visit!!!

(pics taken by both Misty & i...on our digital cameras & cells)

spring into action...

last evening, the 2nd & 3rd grade classes at the kiddos' school put on a Physical Education program called Spring Into Action...Jaden (he's in 3rd grade) had a small speaking part...

then the classes doubled up & performed little dances to different songs...one group did the Bunny Hop...

another group had a cute little routine to that infamous Hamster Song...

oh, & the funniest part about that Hamster Song was Jaden - over on the side, sitting down & mouthing every word perfectly...well, i guess if u can call those words ~lol~

the next crew did the Cha Cha Slide...which u know the girls thoroughly enjoyed watching & clapping along to! ;0)

& then Jaden's class (& 1 other class) were up...they performed an adorable line dance to Cotton Eyed Joe...too cute!



then all the classes came to the floor...the last song was Can't Sit Down - encouraging us all to get out & play...choose to be active instead of sitting in front of video games & TV...

each group took turns showing off some different activities...turns out, Jaden has some major hula-hoop-around-the-neck skills!

& check out the video...it's starts out slow, but stay tuned til the 0:55 mark...my son, the superstar!!!

needless to say, he was on cloud nine after the program! as we were walking out of the school afterward, he says "Ma, did you see their faces when i spun my hula hoop?! they were cheering for me!"

♥

a new awareness...

this post was written by autistic college student, Cale...posted on his unbelievably interesting blog, Spectrum Siblings...i really like what he had to say, so i'm posting it here...

So, as you are all probably aware, April is autism awareness month. And if you ever leave your home, you’ll probably find flyers hung up just about everywhere broadcasting things like:

• Autism affects as many as 1 in 150 children and 1 in 94 boys
• Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the world
• More children will be diagnosed with autism this year than with diabetes, cancer, & AIDS combined
• Boys are four times more likely than girls to have autism
• Autism has no cure!

There will mostly likely be a collection of exclamation points after each line, and possibly the web address for Autism Speaks. No doubt there will be a puzzle piece or perhaps several on the flyer. But all this scaremongering does little to actually help autistics or the individuals who care for them. Sure, they’re raising awareness, but not all publicity is good publicity.

If you are thinking about hanging up an autism awareness flyer, here are some things you might want to write instead:

• There are autistic people employed in every imaginable profession.
• Autism is not a synonym for stupid or retarded. In fact, many autistics have average IQ’s, and some have IQ’s far above the normal range.
• Autistics fall in love, get married, and even have children.
• With proper support, most autistic adults can live independent or semi-independent lives. However, the majority of states have little to no support for autistics above the age of 18.
• Autism is incurable. But when asked, many autistics respond that they do not want to be cured.
• Autistic children have a profound effect on their families. Their siblings are more empathetic, nurturing, and accepting of other’s differences than their peers. Their parents learn to enjoy life’s small joys, and celebrate each new development.
• Although their expression may be atypical, autistics can still feel emotions. Autistic or not, it hurts when someone stares at you, calls you names, or belittles your existence.

Let’s get the ball rolling on changing the public’s opinion of autism.

Autism: It’s not what you think.