The Goodwins

Ella for the first time in a long time cried when I left for work today.

When getting to work I learned it was the annual “Take Your Kid To Work Day.” While this is a program for kids that are between 12 and 18, I figured 1.) Ella needed a bit more “Dad Time” and 2.) It’s never too early for her to learn the “biz.”

So I called Bonnie and had her bring Ella to my office. She spent a couple of hours with me and seemed to have a great time!  She hung out at my table while I worked and then made the “rounds” in the office giving “knuckles” to everyone.

We have also been having a weekly “daddy/daughter” lunch. She seems to enjoy it.  She merrily sits next to me as she eats her cheese quesadilla at Qdoba all the while pointing at various things and asking “What’s that?”  As she almost always already knows the answer, I think she’s using it as a way to have a conversation as she’s still not speaking many words.  All in all, it’s a great time for everyone, including Bonnie as she seem to like having one less kid in tow while running errands during our lunch.

She is such a blessing to me. (I am happy to say that I can say that about both Bonnie and Ella!)

With Ella’s “bubbles” it’s easy not to see past that (especially for Ella as it’s partially blocking her vision).  However Ella has developed her own personality and sense of humor.

By example, a few weeks ago we were working on potty training (she has the peeing on command down but not the asking nor the #2 aspects) and she has a habit to want to “spin” the toilet paper roll and see how much spools out.  She started to reach for it and I firmly told her; “Ella, we don’t touch the toilet paper until we are done going potty.”  She pulled back her hand and then got a smirk, flattened out her hand and held it about and 1/8″ from the roll and then looking up at me started smiling.  Of course I started laughing and said; “I’m not touching!” and we both roared in laughter.  Of course, now that’s part of the routine.  “I’m not touching” emminates from the bathroom a lot nowadays.  Of course if strangers are in our house, they will be mightly confused!

This is the blog for the Goodwin Family (Kirk, Bonnie and Ella).

History

Kirk Goodwin and Bonnie (Sprague) dated their senior year at Ames Senior High School and, after a short 16 year “break”, they rekindled their relationship over Memorial Day weekend in 2003. Bonnie, living in Denver at the time, received an offer, that apparently had a nice ring to it, to return to Iowa. Leaving many close friends, Bonnie returned to Ames, Iowa and three weeks later Kirk and Bonnie were married on May 29th, 2004 in Newton, Iowa.

They lived in Newton, home of Kirk’s employer Maytag Corporation, and made plans to building on their farmland to make room for their new addition.

On a beautiful Palm Sunday morning, April 9th, 2006, their beautiful daughter, Ella Louise Goodwin, entered the world. While during Bonnie’s pregnancy they were told the chances of Ella having Down syndrome was 1 in 50,000, they find Ella much more special than that.

Meanwhile, Kirk’s employer Maytag was acquired by Whirlpool Corporation and Kirk received an offer, including all the time they needed to complete all of the medical tests required for Ella, to work with Whirlpool’s patent group.

On September 15, 2006, (Kirk’s 38th Birthday) the Goodwin family started a new life in Saint Joseph, MI.

This site will help chronicle their new life.