Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays!

We had a happy and healthy holiday.

This year, I thought I would give a little recap of 2010 because I honestly can't believe we made it through the year! It was so busy and quite stressful, but I look back now, and I can now say it was all worth it. During the year however, I did doubt whether the stress and sleepless nights were taking too much of a toll on my family.

In 2010, I continued to grow my photography business and I am so thankful for the 75+ clients who visited my studio. I have discovered that I have a true love for photographing babies and children and I look forward to continuing to meet more wonderful families in the years to come. I feel truly honored to capture the beautiful little faces of my clients, "because they don't stay little"!

This past year, I also planned the 1st ever Down syndrome awareness walk in my area. It turned out to be a huge commitment, but now that one year is under our belt, I am extremely excited for the years to come! Some of the obstacles were challenging and stressful, but I also met some amazing people a long the way. The generosity of so many was amazing to see. I can also now see a very bright future for Logan in our community with an increase of acceptance for people with Down syndrome. Logan is now a famous little man in the small community we live in after having his face on the front of our local newspaper along with a great article that even listed facts about DS! Now, he gets recognized everywhere we go! That alone, was a huge step towards DS awareness where we live! Now, it is time to have that kind of impact in all communities!

Logan is doing great! He loves school and he is talking more and more every day! I have been amazed by how much information he absorbs and remembers. He loves music, books, tractors, animals and his little sister.

Devin is going to be 6!! He is doing well in Kindergarten and loves to play with his friends in school and out. He is a wonderful big brother and was a huge help to me over the past year. I am so thankful for his patience!

Aubrey grew up without me realizing! She was 2 before I knew it. I am looking forward to a less busy year, so that I can enjoy each day with her a little more. Maybe it is just a third child thing, but I feel like I wasn't able to enjoy each milestone with her like I did with the boys.

Here's a few pictures of my sweet little girl.

Happy New Year!!

Devin's in Kindergarten!!

My little man is looking so grown up! He started all-day 5K this week. I like that I am getting more time with Logan and Aubrey, but it's hard to let Devin go all day long. I am so used to being there for everything. He did enjoy his first day...and that's a great start!

Random Pictures

My kids love inflatables. Logan especially, has started to enjoy them and it's cute to see him and Aubrey following each other in them! They are so similar right now...they can do a lot of the same things! They are definitely little copy cats of each other!

A new member of our family

Meet Lucky! Devin's new little buddy!

Aubrey's first time playing in the snow!

Happy 5th Birthday Devin!!!

Devin,

I love you so much! I don't know how I would get through the day without your silly jokes, caring words and creative ideas. I can still clearly remember the moment I saw you for the very first time and can't believe how quickly you have grown! We have had so many great moments together and I can't wait to have many more special moments in the years to come!

Love,

Mom

I want to be an electrician!

Last week, Devin had "I want to be day" at school. Lately, he has made it very clear that he wants to be an electrician. Ever since we had some work done at our home and he had the chance to shadow our electrician, Devin has been very fascinated by electricity and how it all works. Over the holidays, he pretended to wire his bedroom by stringing lights all over his room and making them all turn on and off together. It's so cute, but we have had to have many serious talks about how dangerous electricity is.

Anyway, he did wire a switch to bring to school to show his class. I also made him promise he would only use batteries to practice his electrician skills!

I told Devin that Logan has Down syndrome

Tonight, I told Devin that Logan has Down syndrome. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing. I had came across a children's book that I thought would be helpful for Logan's classmates some day when they had questions about Logan. The book came in the mail today and when I opened it I decided I would read it to Devin before I put him to bed for the night. I knew if I thought about it too much I would talk myself out of it and put it off for a while.

So, I told Devin I would read him the new book and we walked to his room and sat down. As soon as I showed Devin the cover and read the title, he immediately pointed to the cover and said, "that looks like Logan!". At that moment I suddenly had a sinking feeling and felt a little nervous. I was thinking, "should I do this now, tonight"? "Is it too soon to bring it up?" "Is Devin too young to understand."

I read the title of the book and Devin got excited about figuring out the secret. As I read, he looked at the pictures and responded to the questions like "I like school, how about you?"

When I was done, I just said, "Logan has Down syndrome just like Ben." Devin immediately said, "do I have Down syndrome too?". He asked in an excited voice, like he wanted me to say "yes you do."

Then Devin asked "why?" and then I panicked a little. I said that some children are born with it and some are not. I mentioned the names of some of Logan's friends who have DS and I told him that each of them has it, but their brother's and sister's do not. Then, Devin asked, "do girls have it too?" He assumed that just boys have it because the story was about a boy and many of Logan's friends are boys. But, I reminded him of the girls we know who have DS.

Then that was it...he seemed satisfied with it and asked me if I would read him another book. I kind of wanted to continue our conversation, but I knew he wouldn't understand much more than that. The book did a great job of describing how Ben is different, but also how he is more like other children. It described how Ben needs extra help with his speech and I was able to tell Devin that that is why Logan has therapy. I knew that Devin wondered why he didn't have therapy too like Logan, and now he knows.

I do think that I will read Devin the book a few more times to see if there is anything else he would like to know. I also plan to donate at least one copy to our school library and Logan's future classrooms.

I would love to hear how others told their children about their sibling with DS. How did you do it? How did it go? Did I do the right thing? Is there anything I should watch out for now with Devin?

Little House

The kid's little house, or "school" as Devin insists to call it, is almost done! It turned out really cute thanks to my Dad. He designed it and did all the work. Devin can't wait to "teach" Logan and Aubrey in his school. He has big plans for a chalkboard, book shelf, table and chairs, milk/snack cooler and much more! He is very serious about his school. So, if you see him, make sure that you call it a "school", it's not a playhouse!!!

Devin and Gymnastics

Devin continues to add new skills in his gymnastics class at the Little Gym. Today was the last day of the fall/winter semester, so he invited his Grandpa to watch him for show week. Next, week he will start with a new class and an older group. I can't wait to see what he can do when he is challenged in the new class. Right now he does an awesome cart wheel and can do some really great pull overs on the bars. He is also very comfortable on the beam and floor stuff. It also helps that he is so fearless!

Here he is flipping over the bar all by himself!
Getting a little help from his instructor. Nice form!

He has a mean front support! He is so strong! Congrats on another semester well done!

Building a christmas gift

My kids are getting a playhouse for christmas and my dad and brother started it last week. Just as they got going it started to snow! Devin enjoyed helping them and playing in the snow!

First Day of School

Well, it went better than I thought it would...for me and for Devin. He was very excited this morning and eager to get out the door. When we got there I stood with him in line where we waiting to be led to his classroom. When we got to his classroom door he just went right in. I had to stop him to tell him goodbye and that was it. I turned and went on my way. He didn't even hesitate....such a big boy.

Random Pictures

I have to admit that I haven't been taking many pictures of my kids lately...but I searched my camera for some of them and I found a few to share. I'm scrambling to emptying my camera card to make room for "first day of school" pictures tomorrow. I'm nervous and I think Devin is too....for his first day of school that is. I don't think I will be sleeping much tonight. He has already told me that he is scared to go and he really hasn't been on his own before. I will be counting the minutes to when the bus brings him back.

Devin racing Dad and the stroller.

Logan and Aubrey loved to go for walks. They keep their hands to themselves most of the time.

Devin has become a dare devil on his bike. He now stands up while he is riding and also rides with his feet off of the pedals!

Logan loves to sweep! He's such a good helper and I don't have to ask.

Devin starts a new phase of his life tomorrow. I can't believe he is old enough for school! He's still my baby.