March for Babies 2011!

Saturday we walked with friends for the 2011 March for Babies. I’ve done this walk before in Hawaii but it’s just different when you are actually one of them. Not to mention the Dothan walk was a billion times cooler than Hawaii. There were tons of booths, free breakfast (donuts, oj, bananas) and lunch (hot dogs, chips, cookie), tons of free juice for kids, face painting, jumpers, snow cones, and lots of other stuff.

When everything was starting before the walk there were families sharing stories on stage, awards, and tears. Wow. What a day.

Anywho, let me step back to Friday night. We had dinner with Melissa and her girls and Abigail and I painted the shirts while the small girls decorated their hats.

Saturday:

EG getting her face painted

Layla posing with her new jump rope that she won by answering a question about peanuts

McGruff

My handsome boy 🙂

The playground at Landmark park is pretty fun

And of course if Melissa can find a way to help out with anything she’s going to get in there and help!

It doesn’t look like it but I promise Timmy loved the swing. I on the other hand was freaked out. She was pushing him sooooo high!

They have a zip line type rope thing…Layla went on it. I was shocked! And proud. Usually she’s pretty much afraid of everything.

Snow cones

I loved seeing all the different teams in their matching shirts

Then we have the pageant girls

I have horrible bangs here. I trimmed them the next day. Anyway, the shirts we painted the night before

Getting things started!

I have to say it’s totally different actually being there and walking for someone you love instead of just because its a good cause and you’re going with some friends.

Suddenly every one’s story meant that much more to me

Listening to the families that were up on stage talking was hard

A lot of ‘I know exactly what they are talking about and feeling’ and a lot more ‘I can’t imagine and I am SO thankful that we were so lucky’

This family lost their little boy, Logan, after 17 days in the NICU. I don’t remember how early he was. They were there sharing their story through tears and walking with Logan’s lil brother who was born big and healthy thanks to the March of Dimes and the precautions taken with that pregnancy to make sure he didn’t come early too.

We were all doing the big eyed lookin up trying not to let the tears come out face.

Thankfully the mood was lightened when EG got a bug on her. It was red. I didn’t actually see it but she was making a big deal so I’m guessing it was scary.

Next up was awards. Best shirt, most raised, best buggy…This is Melissa’s neighbor who is also a teacher at the kindergarten. I don’t remember what they won for but I took a picture anyway!

The balloon release

Ready for the walk to start!

There were 2 different ways to go. The flat boardwalk or the nature trail. We chose to off road it. Thankfully we had the Jeep stroller 😉 And thankfully Melissa felt the need to push him!

Coming back across the finish!

And time for lunch 🙂