The Magic House

Future Detective?

I was thinking hard!



Crawling like a worm




I think this was my favorite!



First female President!!



Sand fun!

Playing in the water.Mommy & Daddy had to take my implants off- Don't want them to get wet!



Maybe a future artist!

St. Louis Zoo

Mommy & Daddy rented a zoo stroller because it was TOO HOT for them to carry me!


My favorite animal - an elephant!



Mommy & Daddy really enjoyed this! It was the butterfly house.




The orangutan!


The chimp was so tired!



Ready to go home!

Watch out road!!

Family Vacation

The rubber ball pit!




Block fun in Toddler Town




Feeding the Stingrays

Mommy and Daddy took me to st. Louis for a few days of fun! We went to Grant's Farm and fed the baby goats, the City Museum and Aquarium, the zoo, and the Magic House!

Special Needs

From my Mommy:

Loving and Parenting a child with special needs:

celebrating the small things

cringing when someone asks is she walking/talking yet

seeing beauty that you couldn't before

knowing the best route to the emergency room

getting an amateur medical degree

being able to spout off the signs of shunt malfunction in your sleep

learning to deal with the stares or questions

using acronyms with ease- CT, MRI, ST, IEP, IFSP, NS, ENT

being able to not only pronounce, but spell big medical words- hydrocephalus, colloid cyst, cochlear implants

hoping for the best, but always prepared for the worst

realizing you were wrong about things

changing your priorities

learning that you were never really in control

being amazed everyday at all the things accomplished that you were terrified would never be

It's all been worth it Nola - We love you more than you can imagine.
*I borrowed this list from another hydrocephalus mom (sherrilee.wordpress.com) .... and added a few of my own as well*

5 years!

From my Mommy...

Jonathan and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary on May 28. I cannot believe it has already been 5 years! We have had quite a journey over these last five years, but these challenges have only brought us closer. I looked up what you are supposed to get your spouse for your five year anniversary......it said wood. That is not exciting. Jonathan said our anniversary present was our new house since the framing is made of .... wood!

The rodeo is coming !!

Here I am with my horse and wearing my cowgirl outfit!

Posing for the picture.

Cheesin'!

My school - Memphis Oral School for the Deaf- is having a rodeo! We each have to make our own stick horse(see the beginnings of mine above). We will have all sorts of fun games and activities related to cowgirls, horses, and rodeos! I even got some cowgirl boots for the occasion!

A New Addition.....

From my Mommy:

We have to tell the story of how this new addition came to live with the Bawcum Family of Somerville........

My cousin brought this precious little white kitten for my Nanny on Mother's Day. Well, if you know Nanny- you know no breathing animal would live inside her house! It was going to have to be an outside cat. Nola fell in LOVE with this kitten. Nola is definitely an animal person! Jonathan and I said No, we don't need another animal- two dogs are enough.

Well needless to say my lovely husband changed his mind and took his campaign for Nola getting the kitty to Facebook! The caption under the photo of Nola and the kitten said, "Nola wanted this kitten soooo bad, but her Mommy said No!" That is just wrong- of course, everyone ganged up on me and I caved in to the pressure.

So kitty came to live with us......

Doll Houses and Baby Dolls

Me in my new playroom at the new house!

Making Mother's Day gifts

I made stepping stones for each one of the special women in my life: Honey, Mimi, Nanny, Grandma, and Mom. These are my grandmothers and my great-grandmothers. I had such a blast getting paint everywhere! I even seemed to paint my hair and face in the process. The sun was so bright outside.....I think my parents need to get me some sunglasses!

Ready for a shave

I love it when my Daddy gets ready to shave- that means I get to put on some shaving cream. I have a fascination with the stuff. It smells good- like my Daddy.