The Gillies Family: 2015

As each year comes and goes its not hard to look back on the previous 365 days and see all the wonderful things that happened and all the wonderful people we were able to share it with. 2015 was a great year for our family! In January we headed back from Christmas break to Mark's third to last semester of school. Mark picked up his clinical hours working with his individual clients (children) on Wednesday nights and continued his Graduate Assistantship at the University of Wyoming Campus Activities Center. In January Brandy began babysitting for one of the professors in the Counseling department. She watched their 2 month old little girl Monday-Friday 8 am to 5 pm. It was really good for Easton to be around another little kid and he fell in love with the little baby girl. This became very good practice for Brandy as we soon found out on February 7th that we would be expecting another baby! The due date was set for October 14th and we were nervous but very excited!

In March we headed to watch Bethany at her State Cheer Competition in Casper. Brandy always goes and helps the girls with their hair and this year she was their floor photographer. This year brought lots of photography business for Little Blonde Moments Photography. Brandy was busy running here and there and everywhere taking pictures. She gained a lot of great experience and lots of new clients.

In April we headed to Burlington because Brandy was hired to be their photographer for prom. This would be her first big "gig" and she was very excited but also nervous. The night brought lots of success and money to her business and she made it out alive! April also brought Easter to our family which included some fun egg hunts with family.

On May 19th Easton turned 2! We celebrated with a little party for our friends and family. The theme was Cars... as this is Easton's favorite little hobby. He has accumulated a large population of matchbox and die cast cars throughout the year and has over 200 cars! He can play with them for hours and knows when one goes missing! We had "Lightning McQueen's Hot Rods" (Hot Dogs), "Sally's Cozy Cones" (Doritos), "White Wall Tires" and "Luigi's Casa De La Tires" (white powdered doughnuts and chocolate covered doughnuts), "Dinoco Dipsticks" (a veggie tray), and "Antifreeze" (a blue punch). Brandy had so much fun planning his party and he had lots of fun with his little friends. We can't believe our little boy is 2!

In May Easton had his development assessment with the developmental preschool and his expressive and recessive language was not where it should be for a 2 year old and also he wasn't eating very well or getting the recommended variety of foods. So in June we began having a speech therapist and occupational therapist working with him at the house twice a month. We also decided to enroll him at the University of Wyoming speech and hearing clinic twice a week for private speech therapy. He caught on very quickly! Mark finished his spring semester and had a little break before starting his summer classes. He had three different classes which he would take two at the beginning of the summer with a week break and then he would take the final one and have a month off before starting back up in the fall. In June we had our anatomical ultrasound and found out we were expecting a very healthy baby boy! We were excited for yet another mohawk running around our house! Summer brought lots of time at the splash pad, pool, and park. We spent nearly every evening at the park letting our busy two year old run off energy before bed. We were able to go fishing a few times and even see some elk in Sybil Canyon- the highlight of Easton's life as one let him pet it. In July my sisters and niece (Bethany and Charlene and her daughter Chloe) came to visit Laramie for a few days. Samantha was still in town so we all got together for some dutch oven and then hopped in the Tahoe the next day and headed to the zoo in Denver with some shopping and lunch afterwards.

In July we also went to Lehi to visit Mark's brother and his family. His brothers and him participated in their annual bow shoot at a ski resort. They were very sore and tired after two days of hiking. We also got to be there for the blessing of their first daughter Peyton.

Fall came quickly and Mark started back to school. This would be his final year of his Masters program! Whoo hoo! He started an internship at the University of Wyoming Lab School working with teachers, staff, and students of various ages Kindergarten through 9th grade. He has the opportunity to create his own classroom guidance lessons. He is in charge of a girl's group for 5th and 6th graders and a focus group for 7th and 8th graders. He also has individual clients who are on IEPs and students who are grief stricken. He has really enjoyed his internship. He continued taking four classes this semester and also doing his Graduate Assistantship. We see him "after hours" because he is so busy! Easton and I kept busy with speech and OT as well as play groups, story time, runs each morning, and doctors appointments. My doctor decided in September that he would induce me a few days before my due date to play on the safe side after Easton got stuck in delivery and had some shoulder dystocia. The plan actually worked out to be only a day before my due date. After lots of early braxton hicks contractions starting at 26 weeks and plenty of labor scares we finally welcomed our sweet baby boy who decided to come on his own exactly a week before his due date.

Graysen Darrell Gillies was born on October 7, 2015 @ 3:45 pm. This sweet 6 lb. 11 oz 19 1/2 inch long baby boy snuggled instantly into our hearts. Both stealing our hearts and testing our faith this little guy has already made such a big impact on our lives. Graysen was born a noisy little breather. At first we thought it was due to his squished nose at birth but after lots of different appointments with different specialists we finally landed on a diagnosis. Graysen was born with floppy tissue around his vocal cord. Laryangomalacia is what it is called and it is the most common airway defect. After a few weeks of scary cyanosis we ended up back at Denver Children's Hospital for a supraglottoplasty surgery on November 14th. We spent four days in the NICU as our little guy got healthy enough to return home. In December Easton was diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder and we have adjusted his IFSP to address these concerns.

2015 has brought lots of challenges but many blessings to our family and we can't wait to see what 2016 will bring our way!

This year we celebrated our sweet Graysen's first Christmas. He slept through most of Christmas morning but we had a lot of fun with the boys and gift giving this year... And of course we enjoyed spending time with our family and remembering the birth of our Savior. With out our Savior we all would be lost in this hustle and bustle world. The Savior gives me focus in my life, gives me so many reasons to serve and love those around me, and because of the Savior I am able to have the amazing life that I do. May we all stop and remember the true meaning of Christmas a little more as this Christmas season comes and goes and all year long. On the other hand Easton made out like a little bandit. He was spoiled by Santa, Grandmas & Papas, and Mome and Dad alike. He got the Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage... check out the pictures it is pretty awesome and he was in heaven literally.. he played cars all day and for days after! He also got quite a few cars, a couple books, some clothes, a coloring book, and some candy. Grandma and Grandpa Gillies hit a sweet spot with the Jake & the Neverland Pirates Bucky boat and figurines and Grandma & Grandpa Bullinger a light up/glow in the dark moldable track with turbo power cars. He thinks his toys are pretty awesome... now where to put them in our apartment lol!

Easton loved opening presents!

He even loved helping Daddy open his presents... He has finally grasped the idea of presents now only if we can help him understand that they aren't always his!

Graysen had a great first Christmas with some jammmies, a rattle, board books, a sorting shapes and bead block, wrist rattles, and some new outfits. What do you really get a 2 month old who sleeps through most of Christmas :)

Mark got his dream pair of Vortex binoculars, $$$, and a Cabela's gift card. I got an adjustable metal backdrop stand for my photography and $$ from Mark, $$$ from my in-laws, and a pressure cooker from my mom and dad.

All in all we had a wonderful Christmas... we were blessed with some wonderful gifts, the opportunity to give, spend time with our family, and an amazing little holiday with our two sweet boys.