A Visit from Tutu, Grandpappy, Tia Elyse and Cousin Sunny

Family Portrait

This May we were lucky enough to have my entire family come out from Hawaii and visit us in Washington DC.  My mom (Tutu - a Hawaiian word for grammy), my dad (nicknamed Grandpappy) and my sister Elyse and her daughter Sunny all made the long trek.  This was the first time we got to meet my little niece Sunny and it was the first time we had all the grandkids together!

Three Generations on Mother's Day

Mother's Day with my main man.

During their visit we had quite a number of adventures from walks around Lincoln Park, to Benton and Sunny's first trip to the zoo, to backyard bbqs, to picnics in the National Arboretum we just genuinely had an amazing time.  It was so awesome seeing my son and my little niece together for the first time.  Sunny was just in awe of little Benton especially because he is one mobile little dude and Sunny is not yet crawling.  Sunny would just stare at Benton trying to figure out how she too could be on the move.  Benton was definitely interested in Sunny as well since he had not really hung out with too many little girls and this one didn't just leave after an hour....she was here to stay for their whole trip.  Benton was also entranced by Sunny's big flower headbands and he kept trying to rip them off her head....much to my sister and Sunny's dismay.

Chilling with Grandpappy 

Special time with Tutu

Fun at the zoo with the lions!

Watching little Sunny and Benton play together truly warmed my heart.  It is truly amazing getting to see three generations together and it is just incredibly special to have my family come all the way from Hawaii to visit their little grandson/nephew.  It has been a hard couple of years since Benton was born, especially because he can't fly and so we haven't been able to travel to see my family as often as we would like.  But we are truly blessed that they took the opportunity to come to DC and visit us!

Benton on the Attack!  Sunny is not pleased

As you may remember my sister is a professional photographer and she captured many of these special moments on her camera. Check out her beautiful shots below:

Joy at the Arboretum as Twinsies!!!! 

Cutest crawler around 

On a walk with the babies

Cutest babies in the land!

Chilling with my niece

A little too interested in playing with his cousin

Ball Pit!

High Five!

While my mom was here in May she was able to teach Benton to do a high five.  Check out this cuteness!

Benton playing with Indiana

Benton has truly started to play with the dogs - I would say its part torment and part fun.  Enjoy the video!!!

March of Dimes Walk Part 2

The start of May means the March of Dimes' Walk for Babies is back.  Last year we participated in the walk while Benton was still in the hospital, but this year we made it a whole event.  All of our friends from the NICU and their families joined us to walk including friends all the way from New Jersey.

Family Portrait

This year we spread the word that we were planning to participate in the March of Dimes' Walk for Babies.  Many friends and family around the word donated to this amazing cause and for that we are forever grateful.  The March of Dimes does such important work in helping to prevent premature birth and support the families that have to endure the scary NICU experience.  With your help our team was able to raise over $7000!!!!

Family portrait at Nats Park

Grandparents at the park 

Nats Park Fun!

Hanging with Benton's Physical Therapist Laura 

At the walk we saw many of Benton's nurses from Georgetown which was incredibly special.  Seeing their expressions when they see Benton for the first time in many months makes me understand how much bigger he has gotten.  Seeing him through their eyes reminds me of his progress.  For this reason and for everything they did for Benton and our family in the NICU -- I am forever grateful.

Kelsey and Aimee with Benton

Nurse Tacie

Hanging with Adele and Leah

After the walk many of the families went to Hains Point for a picnic.  Hanging out and reconnecting with the families from the NICU is good for the soul.  It's wonderful for Joe and I to talk with other families who just get it.  Benton isn't the weird kid you see on the street with oxygen - he is the miracle boy that they have seen overcome a million obstacles.  Furthermore, these friends have watched us go through hell and back and they have supported us completely so seeing everyone after a winter of isolation was wonderful.

Smiley Benton at the Picnic

A playpen full of little blonde boys 

Henry and Benton playing

April Adventures: Cherry Blossoms, Tulips and Easter Fun

Little cutie on his way to Auntie Ami's House

These past two weeks have been beautiful in DC and we have taken full advantage of the gorgeous weather by taking Benton outdoors.  Thank God it's spring as we have been itching to get out of the house and say goodbye to cold and flu season.

Fun with Auntie Ami and Uncle Anuj

Foray into the world

To celebrate Benton's first Easter at home we made a wonderful Easter feast, read Bible passages and said thanks to God for his continuous miracles.  We also went for a long beautiful walk around the Nation's Capitol and the Supreme Court....aren't we lucky to have such iconic landmarks so close to our house.

Enjoying Easter!

Family Easter Portrait

Benton and his Daddy

Love + Momma

Love + Daddy

Flying through the air at the Capitol

Posing in front of the Nation's Capitol

Benton is a little slap happy

Speaking of iconic landscapes, Washington DC is blessed with the annual Cherry Blossom festival which is the unofficial kickoff of Spring here in the District....and boy did we enjoy these first moments of Springtime.  Last year when Benton was extremely sick, we had told him of our hopes and dreams and all the places we would take him if he survived.  One thing we had mentioned was the annual cherry blossom festival and it was such a wonderful moment to have been able to fulfill our promise to our sweet boy.

Love amongst the cherry blossoms

On both Saturday and Sunday of peak bloom we took Benton to see the Cherry Blossoms, braving the crowds and trying to find the "quieter" corners of the tidal basin so we weren't around millions of people.  The first day we headed downtown with my in-laws and took some amazing photos of Benton seeing the cherry blossoms for the first time.  The next day we headed over to a NICU friend's house for a playdate with her twins and then walked over to Hains Point to see the cherry blossoms again.

Here are some pictures of this joyful foray into DC's springtime ritual:

Family fun with Grandma and Grandpa seeing the Cherry Blossoms for the first time

Love this little man

Flying through the Cherry Blossoms

Fun at Hains Point with Alex and Gabe 

Family fun at Hains Point

In addition to our cherry blossom fun, we took Benton to see the tulips at the Netherlands Carillon and on an urban hike on Teddy Roosevelt island and to Iwo Jima.  Getting out of the house and experiencing all that DC has to offer has been good for the soul and we are super excited to share our future adventures with everyone.

Seeing the Iwo Jima Memorial

Posing with Teddy Roosevelt

Beauty under the blossoms

Visiting Mommy and Daddy's Work

Tulips at the Carillon

Our beautiful boy with the tulips

Love this little cutie!

Excited Grandparents!

Pink tulips abound

As part of our foray into the outside world Benton encountered grass for the first time in many months.  Now we may or may not have told you, but Benton does have some sensory issues.  He has not loved touching new textures specifically on his feet.  For example, rice, beans, sand and grass.  Well this month, Benton and I went for walk and I decided it would be a nice break to just sit in the park.  I set Benton down and he totally flipped out!  He hated the feeling of the grass and immediately began whining and crawling over to me.  I kept setting him back in the grass for short periods of time and it really did seem to help his sensory issues.  The next time Joe and I went to the park with Benton he was off and crawling!

Crawling in the grass

To end off an amazing month we celebrated my father-in-law's birthday with the family.  Benton was such a smiley boy and so excited for the mini-party.   We are so happy that Benton is here for these special moments and we know we will never take him for granted.  God is good!

Family portrait on Grandpa's Birthday

Selfie with Grandpa

To end this post, I have decided to add some other fun pictures from the month.  Love our little family and thanks to everyone for reading!

Our big preppy boy

Checking out the magnolias

Playing in the dog food and with his xylophone

Our sweet boy

Cute nugget with his favorite duplo "Mr. Google Eyes"