Reid got to meet Zoey Grace!!

How sweet are these little guys?!? I could just eat them both up!! In this picture Reid was rubbing Zoey's head with his hand... apparently Reid likes chicks who have their own set of wheels!!

Reid got to meet his little...dare I say "girlfriend", Zoey, whom all of us Foreman's have fallen in love with...and whose button is in the top right corner of my blog! I do believe the flirting began quite from the first moment they laid eyes on each other...or maybe it was Zoey's pink car that Reid was eyeballing! But, at any rate I think they quite enjoyed each other's company...and Heather, I yours! Isn't this blog world interesting in that you can fall in love with someone else's child, care for their family, cry with them, pray for them... and yet never have even met them? Strange yet beautiful at the same time. Worlds touching each other that would not have otherwise. 

We fell in love with Zoey this past summer when I found Heather's blog...I am not even sure how I found it but I am so glad I did. Heather, the way you write... from the depths of a mother's heart drew me in and I kept coming back...and heaven knows my repertoire of quotes is much richer now by visiting your blog :)!! When Heather and I realized we both lived in southern CA we had tried to plan a play date somewhere in between the two of us, but before we could get a date set Zoey was diagnosed with Leukemia and began treatment right away. Now on round 3, we were able to visit her at Children's Hospital of LA. What a special time for us! From the moment we got off the elevator onto the 4th floor we were greeted by a "This must be Reid" from one of the nurses who knew we were coming :) ...and led us to Zoey's room. When we entered...smiles and sweetness from little Miss Zoey Grace. She looks just her pictures and she is simply irresistible...you just want to snuggle her right up. Heather she is just so adorable and spunky...she was cracking me up because she would sport a little smile and then try out one of her "pouty" looks only to then shoot us another smile... so much personality your "little warrior" has, she makes my heart smile. 

"Hmnn...hang on Zoey, let me check and see what's under the hood"

"I found what the problem was under the hood, guys!"

I think Zoey was trying to show Reid some cool tricks he could do with his hands...I love how she is looking to see if he is watching her!

Poor Zoey, Reid swiped up every ball she had.

Silly faces

When we got to their room Heather had these darling scrubs for Reid..."Doctor in Training". He cruised around in them all evening...it cracked Luke up.

Reid is kissing a little "nurse" also gifted to Reid...the doctor got chucked across the room, apparently Reid wanted him out of the picture. :)

Look who got BIG...right before our very eyes!!!

I know I was going to post next about the picture (actually it was a large framed print) that came delivered anonymously a week after Reid was born... but unfortunately I have not had many quiet moments of late that enabled me to sit long enough to get the story typed up...I will post it shortly.

Instead... today I am posting pictures of Reid "trying out" a little preschool class this past week. In the last month Reid not only bounced back amazingly from his heart surgery but he has morphed into this strong, busy, social, little guy! As days have passed I have watched him grow so much and decided I needed to find something that allowed him to use these new skills! He LOVED his time there and got right in with the other kids. He was the only one, at least that I could tell, that had special needs...but he blended right in, which made my heart want to burst...absolutely burst!! In fact, as I drove home I called a girlfriend to say..."Okay remember when I called you from the hospital crying to tell you Reid had Down syndrome...I am now calling you crying because we are leaving preschool!". Honestly the last 2 years have passed so quickly and Reid got so BIG right before my eyes!

We actually are on a waiting list for this class but if an opening presents itself we will jump on it. From what I observed, this is a perfect fit for us! I figured I would take a few pictures of him, but as our time there progressed so many picture moments presented themselves!! Here are some of my favorites.

Computer crashed....

Well...one of my New Year's resolutions was to down size, simplify, and organize...But, I wasn't really planning on doing it this way... My computer decided it would help me out with all those emails I had intended to file properly into their organized folders....because well, they are now GONE, no need to organize because there is "nuttin" there anymore. Pictures....GONE. Documents....GONE. Bookmarked blogs I love to follow....GONE.

Well, that is one way to save time on organization I suppose, big sigh. Now if only I could make all the other stuff that needs to be downsized, organized, and purged in my house that simple!!

Actually simple it is not. Thank goodness my husband has the pictures I lost on his computer but it will take me time to get everything transfered which makes for the next few posts I wanted to write for Reid, in honor of his recent birthday, a little trickier. So, those will take a little longer to find their way to the blog. 

However...I have been wanting to post about a picture that came delivered anonymously via UPS a week after Reid was born, and I have that picture saved to my "list of posts"...so that will be next. The picture and the story behind it... kind of amazing actually and I am excited to share about it. It is one of those stories that cannot be explained away as a "coincidence". You'll see...

Happy New Year! 2 Years ago today...

Happy New Year! I love New Years...I love the idea of out with the old and in with the new... always excited to see what the new year brings. 

Two years ago today Reid come home from the hospital to start his life with us. It was the best way to bring in a new year. That night our dear friends Ron and Teresa had made us a delicious prime rib dinner and homemade macaroons and brought them over for us to enjoy. I remember us all hugging and crying in the kitchen as the news of Reid's diagnosis was still resinating with us all. After they left Toby and I hugged and held on to each other for a long time, unsure of what this all meant for us and for our family...but knowing that we wanted Reid to have the best life possible. 

Fast forward two years and today little Reid went miniature golfing (well sort of) with us at Boomers. He was so excited and walked all over the place to chase the ball. His physical therapist would be so proud of all the hills he walked up and sometimes tumbled down...all the little steps he boldly approached and even stepped up onto rather then sit and crawl over. He squealed with delight and babbled often trying to say so much. It was so great to see how far he has come... life is just so fun with him and it is such a joy to see him grow. What an amazing 2 years! 

The pictures below are from 2 years ago today...as we were leaving the hospital.

Reid....Happy 2nd Birthday!!!

Reid Maddux Foreman.... today you are 2 years old! Two years ago today you came into our lives and you, our littlest guy, are so loved! You embody everything sweet, pure, and lovely. In your short two years you have grown abundantly, overcome much, and melted the hearts of many!! 

You are indeed...a chick magnet!

You were born at 2:20 in the afternoon and weighed 7 lbs 3 ounces and were 20 inches long. While we were all waiting on your delivery that afternoon our family all took our best guess at how much you would weigh. Luke had actually guessed your weight correctly...when he heard he was right he told us he knew that was going to be your weight because he said God whispered it in his ear. :)

My next few posts are for you Reid... a tribute to your first two years! I love you Bubbas!

Love,

Mom

The pictures below were taken the day you were born.