Happy 3rd Birthday, Walker

Walker,

I love you. I love every thing about you. I love how much you love your family. I love that you know exactly what you want and you will not stop until you have it. You are such a little fireball and you light up my life! You are you and I love that about you. You are so smart. You are so loving. You are a great dancer. You have a kind heart. You are just now making your mark and spreading love every where you go. You are what my heart is made of, walking around this earth, sprinkling little parts of yourself for everyone to see. You make me proud every day. Never ever stop being you. Because you are wonderful.

Love,
Mommy

The three year mark in preemie world is a huge deal. This is when they start adjusting age and studies have shown that this is where they typically catch up to their peers.

We have been so incredibly blessed that Walker is not too far behind his peers. He only needs one therapy, speech, one time a week. We have worked with him so hard to keep him learning and trucking along. He's a short, little tank, but he's always in the percentiles.

I have to say that this age is so much fun. I imagine that it keeps getting better every year. Walker is learning, talking up a storm, and taking new adventures. We are so lucky he is ours!

Walker's 3rd Birthday Party!

Walker is obsessed with trucks, cars, trains...any kind of motor vehicle! We had a "construction" party for him at the house and every one had a great time! 

All of our family and friends were there to celebrate such an amazing little boy. Our hearts were so full. We had friends stay late in the night and we just let the boys eat and play while we talked and caught up in each other's lives. 

20 Months

Walker had his 18m well baby visit a little later than 18m. He celebrates his 20m birthday today and went for a visit.

Typically a visit goes something like this: Is Walker doing this? No. Can he do this? No. Can he say this? No. Today was different. Can Walker say 7-10 words? Yes! Is he walking? Yes! Does he know 2 different body parts? Yes! If you point to something across the room does he go and get it? Yes!

He weighs 23.11 pounds, 31 and some inches tall, and he finished up his Hep A vaccine and didn't even cry.

We had a great visit with the doctor. Dr. A thought Walker was doing wonderfully and is right on track with his peers that he decided it was time to take off DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS from his chart! Yippee! That is such a HUGE milestone! Walker is on the short side on the chart and in the middle for his weight.

I never knew what to expect on this ride with Walker. Yes, he has a cousin close in age but when they are little like this, a 6 month age difference is huge. It was hard to compare Walker to anyone because we didn't know anyone that was close in age. And we really don't like comparing Walker to anyone. He's very different. We knew that when all his peers were leaving the NICU and dropping machines and medicine and Walker was just "chilling" hanging out with all the pretty nurses and smart doctors.

Walker can say: Momma, Dada, Tie, Papa, Cracker, Uh-Oh, Bye-Bye, Go Outside, Ow (for when he get hurts), Yeah, Yay, Mmm, Hi and Hot. I think I got all of them in there.

Walker knows these body parts: hair, teeth, and toes.

Wordless Wednesday

Use the couch to stand up

Start walking

Stumble a little

Get back up and walk Zombie style 

Try to bend down to pick up a toy but end up stumbling

Trying to stand up

A little more of trying to stand up 

Go buddy!

Taking off

Still going 

Chasing the woman with the camera

"I'll get you my pretty"

GOTCHA!

Here we go Weeble Wobble!

You got it!

Keep going!

Where'd you go?

Walker is determined to walk! He never gives up, ever. He is trying so hard these days to learn to stand up on his own. He is flipping and flopping all across the living room. Love that boy!