I’m working on Jack’s birthday party post (I’m waiting for my sister to send me the photos she took), but in the meantime, I’ll update you on my annual March for Babies walk.

Thanks to all of my friends’ help (and the generosity of one of Brian’s biggest clients’ employees), I met and surpassed my goal of raising $1,000 for the cause! The grand total was $1,445, actually. Hurrah! So thank you if you were one of my kind and generous friends who helped support me in my #1 cause. My biggest contributor was of course my husband, who donated $424 (4/24 is Jack’s birthday).

My walking partners!

This year was insane since it was the day before Jack’s birthday and we were crazy busy prepping for his party. We had to stop late afternoon and drive to Topeka. (We actually had to skip the one in Lawrence this year because it was held ON Jack’s birthday! Eeeek!) Then we walked around the Zoological Society and Gage Park, then made a mad dash back home to put Jack to bed and then finish decorating the cake and baking some other things. C-R-A-Z-Y!

A part of me likes it that it’s always the day before or after Jack’s birthday, because that makes it all the more meaningful to us. However, I think it could be just as meaningful if it were two or three days removed in either direction so I could have a bit more room to breathe! Hahaha!

Anyway, I will probably be walking in Topeka every year from now on unless Lawrence moves its walk somewhere else. I’m not sure why they don’t hold it out at Clinton Lake, which seems like the logical choice. Instead, it’s currently held in downtown Lawrence, starting at the tiny little South Park and walking all the way through downtown Lawrence. Mass Street is cool and all, but with all the traffic and the signs and distractions, you don’t really get a chance to reflect. It’s too chaotic. Walking at the park in Topeka was peaceful and absolutely beautiful.

And as usual, it’s fantastic to see all the other parents of preemies and former preemies walking, trying to give back to the organization that helped fund research that saved their children’s lives. So wonderful!

Here are some photos of my little miracle baby clowning around before the walk:

Park benches make great jungle gyms!

Always with his mischievous little grin!

Bonus! Catching a giraffe at the Zoological Society