Our Second Annual March for Babies
May 9, 2012 at 8:00 AM | Posted in Baby Romaezi | 1 CommentTags: Baby, imbornto, march for babies, march of dimes, pprom, preemie
Kamran is only 13 months old and has now officially participated in two March of Dimes walks. This past weekend was the March of Dimes March for Babies annual walk. This year we recruited friends and family to join us! I want to share a special thank you to the friends and family who walked with us this year. It meant more than you will ever know. Same goes to the friends and family who sponsored us by making donations to the March of Dimes.
Last year Kayvan and I took Kamran and participated in the March for Babies together for the first time. We raised $180 between the two of us in only a matter of a few weeks. With more time this year, we were determined to do better. This year Kayvan and I raised $1,225 between the two of us AND had a few friends join in on the fundraising fund. I am proud to share that I raised over $1000 making me a March for Babies top walker. With the joint effort of our family and friends, we raised a combined total of $3,080 for the IFHC – NICU March for Babies team. Our friend Beth who joined us also raised over $1,000 as well. Beth and I were so proud of the funds we raised that we decided to branch out and form our own family team next year. That means you can expect lemonade stands, bake sales, perhaps a Loopsi Daisy hat promo and lots of donation requests going out to local businesses we frequent–in addition to all of the fundraising efforts we typically put in with our friends.
I remember last year’s walk was super emotional for me. This year the emotions were a little easier to manage with friends joining us. It probably also helped that friends read the tribute signs along the route before I did and would say “Don’t read that one, it’s sad!” At one point a friend told me not to read a sign moments after I heard a woman say, “Oh here is our sign.” I of course read it and asked another friend if it was too late to give the woman a hug. Her baby had anacephaly and was born in silence. 5 days later she lost her husband. I didn’t know how to react after I read her sign knowing it was hers and she was standing right next to me for at least 1/4 mile. The walk certainly helps us keep perspective on just how fortunate we are. Yes, we were dealt a tough hand at the start but everyone is healthy today–and that is what matters.
Here is a photo of the 3 of us at the end of the walk.
The finish line! Our second March for Babies Walk
More photos are here: http://theromaezis.smugmug.com/Friends/March-for-Babies-2012/22878578_RGc7RX#!i=1837158780&k=SdkR4NS
Do I Really Have a Toddler?
March 16, 2012 at 12:00 PM | Posted in Baby Romaezi | Leave a commentTags: Baby, first birthday, march for babies, talking, toddler, walking
Define toddler for me. Technically Kamran doesn’t “toddle” yet. We’ve had 2 unassisted steps and maybe a cumulative 2 minutes of time standing on his own. He doesn’t even know he took the 2 steps, but I know. I saw it last Friday. Kamran is not interested in a repeat performance. Heck, he doesn’t even want to stand. Sometimes he will test the water, let go and grab whatever it is he was holding himself up on. I don’t like that we are now calling him a toddler just because he has experienced a birthday. Okay, maybe it is really that I can’t believe I am mom to a 1-year-old. Kam has grown from my 5 lb helpless little wonder to this 21 lb wrecking ball. He’s curious about and into everything, has the most wonderful, smiley personality and is such a sweet, loving boy.
Little ones learn so much in the first year. I don’t think I ever realized that. Kamran can stand on his own, but won’t, walks when his hands are held and loves to cruise furniture or clear a good shelf. (Poor Sookie has been victim of more shelf avalanches than she would care to admit.) The fact that Kam isn’t walking is no big deal to me most days. I’m actually largely thankful that we get a little extra time to “relax” before walking begins. Lately I’m amazed at Kamran’s vocabulary. He is only 1 but actively attempts to communicate with us. Every week it is something new. Last week according to Kamran, every moving animal and insect said “meow”…and he meowed at them to make sure we knew this. He also says “meow” when you ask what the kitty says. I felt like I was experiencing real life “Super Troopers” antics. In addition to saying “meow” more often, he discovered that he would receive his favorite food if he said “ba-a” (banana). This week he wants down. He says “daaaooo” and bucks in your arms until you put him down.
Back to how much Kamran has grown. Last year he fit in the basket he now sits next to. He wasn’t exactly happy about it, but he fit.
Then: April 2011
Since I haven’t blogged about it for a bit, we are now 23 days away from the March for Babies. I have raised 33% of my goal so far and am working hard to raise the rest. In addition to being for a good cause, if I raise $250 between today and Friday, 4/20 I am entered into a drawing for 2 roundtrip airline tickets. Donations are absolutely appreciated and can be made at www.marchforbabies.org/jromaezi.
The Romaezis 