Bust Cancer

My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in late 2009. She made the decision to fly home to Australia after her first chemo treatment to tell her mother in person. Grandma's reaction was rather anticlimatic and she turned her attention to the tennis on tv. It was not until later that mom heard Grandma talking about it on the phone with her sister. My Grandmother is very proper and instead of saying breast...she said bust cancer. My family really liked the play on words and so we had tshirts made to support my mother after she "busted cancer".
Grant, the oldest grandchild
Carys, the middle grandchild

Ava, the youngest grandchild

The Washington Stellers

The Texas crew

Mom had several months of chemo and had the tumor removed. After the surgeon went back a second time to try and take out more "good" tissue without success, we decided we needed to show mom our support as she busts cancer! You go mom! (cue Rocky music here)

Ava at One Month

Happy one month birthday little Miss Ava! You have brought back so many sweet memories. I had forgotten how much I loved snuggles and sweet newborn sounds. Even your cries are soft and cute. You are so big! 9 lb 6 oz and 21 inches long.
You are so strong, alert and active. You can hold your head for a very long time and are constantly moving.

Macy loves you, stealing a lick when she can. Poor Macy gets the least amount of attention in the house now because she is so laid back.

Maya keeps her distance. She does not like sudden movements, but will steal a kiss when she can.

You and I have a lot in common. We are both the second child and the comparisons have already started. People ask if you look like Carys when she was little and the answer is no. You have your own unique face. You have a more rectangular face but you both looked like your daddy at birth. You especially look like your daddy when you are sleeping with your mouth open, too cute! You are definitely a bigger baby than Carys. Kermit helps make the comparison here.

Here is Carys at her one month birthday.

You have the most beautiful deep ocean blue eyes, they are the same as your sister's at the same age. If there is one thing you girls have in common, it is your eye color. You also were both good sleepers and eaters.

Here is Carys around two weeks old.

You have gotten a few more privileges than your sister. You have slept in the bed with your daddy and me, mainly because we have fallen asleep out of exhaustion.

Here is Carys in the same type sleeper but at two and half months old. You were the size of Carys at three months around one month!

You are definitely sisters but unique as well. You will grow and learn together. I feel like a pro taking care of you but this time I am enjoying every minute. I know how fast you will grow, so I plan to cherish every moment I have with you. Yes there will be lots of pictures but I want to remember everything!

Triple X

August fifteenth was a big day at the Markiewicz household. It usually marks the beginning of the school year but this year it marked three big X's. TJ turned thirty. After all these years I reflected on how much he has done and can only imagine what the next thirty years will bring...He was the father of two before he turned thirty, surfed in Hawaii, snowboarded in Canada and was named Coach of the Year. So many great accomplishments and who knows what will happen in his next thirty years... I know he has suddenly taken up running, maybe a marathon? Here are his two greatest accomplishments, Carys and Ava.
I knew that with Ava's expected arrival in late July, I could not plan anything big for his birthday but I still wanted to make it a memorable day. So I called his best friend Rad with an idea. TJ loves to play golf with Rad and his dad, so what if they went to a really nice course, like where they play the Shell Houston Open? The plan was made to surprise TJ with a round of golf at Redstone. The three men played a "warm up" round on the Saturday and when they returned, Rad had invited TJ to play on the Sunday. He said, "Why don't we play someplace really nice, like Redstone." TJ said, "Nahhh." I said, "Well that's too bad, because you have a 9:30 tee time tomorrow." TJ was in total shock, his face was priceless when he found out all the planning that had taken place. The guys had a nice but steamy round of golf to return to a nice lasagna dinner and a special cake.

We had a small family dinner and everyone really liked my plastic ware. Next year I will make sure to buy Dixie cups to go with my plastic plates. I decided to make the clean up a little faster this year.

One of the best parts of the weekend was spending time with our closest friends and family. Tom and Sharla stayed with us and my parents came for dinner. Aunt Jackie, Lita and Charlotte came for a short visit on Saturday morning. Carys loved her playdate with Charlotte and was sad when they left.

Aunt Jackie got to meet her newest niece Ava for the first time.

And Lita enjoyed holding baby Ava too.

It was a weekend filled with many small celebrations as well as the big three oh.

And Then There Was Two!

For about 18 months, I was the only human child in the Markiewicz household.
Mommy and Daddy were gone for a couple of days and when they returned, Mommy did not have a huge belly anymore but instead a little "bebe"! Yay, a new little sister!

I love "bebe Va." I like to take care of things, like my stuffed lamb. I give him a blanket, just like Mommy, and I also put him in your baby bouncer.

I get excited everytime I see her, she makes me laugh!

I pat her belly very gentle. I like to help Mommy, bringing her the burp cloth and the boppy pillow when she is feeding "bebe Va".

I especially like to play with her feet, I can't resist her tiny socks. Sometimes Mommy can't find where I put "bebe Va's" socks...I like to put them "away" in different drawers and sometimes the dishwasher.

No matter what, I will be here for you "bebe Va". I will lay next to you to keep you company.

I love to give you kisses, I will always support you. I "shhhhh" you when you are crying...and tell Mommy you are crying by saying "bebe" if she does not hear you.

We are sisters, full circle.