2015

Happy New Year! Although 2014 had some really great moments, mostly it was just a really hard year for me; a lot of things that pushed me to my max. The growth that comes from such moments is always a blessing, but even still, I had been counting down the days until I could ring in a new year since early November.

The girls had their first late night, New Year's celebration this year. We headed to Utah on New Year's Eve day and arrived just in time to celebrate. The older I get, the more I appreciate moments to reconnect with extended family. What a blessing to have almost all of mine and Jason's siblings just  several hours away.

Utah got dumped with a couple feet of snow the week of Christmas, so we got to enjoy some time out in the cold, white, fluffy stuff. And boy, was it cold! Las Vegas has warmed our blood. I don't think any of us lasted longer than 15 minutes outside. 

For the next three days we did our best to fit in as much cousin time as possible. Of course, we couldn't spend as much time with everyone as we would have liked. The girls absolutely adore all their cousins. They would choose cousins over friends any day!

Victoria and her cousin Audrey are joined at the hip. They are just six weeks apart in age, and lived just a mile apart until we moved to Las Vegas. They were so excited to see each other and finally have the sleepover they had been talking about for months.

Welcome 2105! I can't wait to see all you have in store for our family this year!

Sister Love

I love this picture that I snapped the very first time Antalya held her little sister, Victoria. The love and excitement she felt was overflowing. Now, five years later, these two are best buds.

A year ago, I saw that same love reborn again when Antalya held her little brother, Hinckley. 

She loves him through and through! 

Tonight we were in all in the car and Hinckley was not happy about something. So Antalya started singing him some songs. After a couple minutes he calmed right down. 

Whenever her siblings need someone, Antalya is right there! 

I pray that as they get older they will realize what a blessing it is to have a sister that loves them with a love not many possess. 

Our Family

Since it's been a couple years since this blog has really been active, I thought it would be good to give a short introduction about our family for those of you who don't know us in real life.

This is us! My most favorite family in the world…although I admit I am completely biased.

We're currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada, but we have a pattern of moving every couple years. We've lived in Utah, spent a couple years in London when the girls were really little, and who knows where the wind will blow us next.

Antalya will be turning 8 next week. She's in 2nd grade and in a typical classroom. She gets pulled out during the day for extra help in math, writing, and speech therapy. She loves to sing, dance, and make other people laugh. She loves school, or at least most of the time. She is a bookworm - she takes books with her everywhere she goes.

I remember going to a doctor's appointment when she was just a few months old and meeting another mother who had a child several years older who also had Down syndrome. She said the best advice she could give me was to encourage books. So I tried to surround Antalya with books. I let her chew on them when she was an infant, and color in them when she was a toddler, and dump out dozens and dozens of books onto the floor everyday. I don't know if any of that helped, but I do know the girl loves books, more so than any of my other kids.

My advice to any mother who is new on a journey with Down syndrome would be the same, but I would also add to start teaching your little one sight words when she is three. Learning to read makes all the difference!

Victoria is 5 and loves kindergarten. She is a ballerina at heart, and is in constant motion nearly every second of the day. Recently she decided when she grows up she want to be a singer part of the time, and a pop-star the rest of the time. Then when she didn't want to just be a singer, she could be a singer and dancer at the same time. She is my extra hands and eyes making sure her sister and brother stay safe.

Hinckley is the babe of the group at 18 months. He loves strawberry jam, popcorn, dogs, creating messes, climbing countertops, and being outside. At any given moment he is sure to have either a fat lip, or a bruise on his forehead. He keeps me on my toes.

Jason is my most favorite person in the whole world. We've been married ten years, and I couldn't imagine making my way through life without him by my side.

And then there's me. When I'm not chasing kids, on a date with my hubby, cleaning the kitchen, or painting furniture, it's schoolwork for me. I'm almost through a degree in Communication Disorders that I started two years ago.

And that's us…in a nut shell.

I'm In...

Happy October! This month is National Down Syndrome Awareness month. It's been several years since I've participated in the 31 for 21 challenge (a blogpost every day all month long in support of Down Syndrome). Too, be honest, when I woke up and realized October had begun, and remembered about the 31 for 21 challenge, I dismissed the notion as quickly as it came.

But as I dropped my 5 year old off at Kindergarten and headed home I started asking myself if there was any value in making a return to the Down syndrome blogging world. I don't currently participate actively in any Down syndrome organization or support group. And to be honest, I don't think Down syndrome affects much of my everyday life. Sure, my daughter has Down syndrome, but it isn't who she is. So why make a big deal about it?

But then I thought of the many hours, days, weeks, and months I spent searching and reading blog upon blog upon blog about the daily lives of kids with Down syndrome. Back when my head was still spinning from the knowledge that the baby growing inside me had a life changing diagnosis. I was so thirsty for information, but not the kind doctors could offer. I wasn't interested in life expectancy and statistics. I wanted to know what it really meant to have a child with Down syndrome. I wanted to see what the kids looked like, I wanted to know they were loved, I wanted to know they were happy. I wanted to read about kids learning to ride bikes and reading. I wanted to see little girls who loved to dance. I wanted to read about their first day of school. I wanted to know that there were countless other parents out there that had been through what I was then going through, and found their way through to the other side.

So, today, I decided to write. I write for those who are just beginning their journey…Or who are wondering if they should. I write for those whose hearts are still overflowing with emotion when they hear the words "Down syndrome". I write for those who need assurance that loving someone with Down syndrome is a wonderful, life changing experience.

 Count us in on the 31 for 21 challenge. It feels good to be back!

Five

Last month we celebrated Victoria's 5th birthday.

She latest obsession is My Little Pony, so we decided on a My Little Pony swimming party with all her friends. Having a swimming pool sure makes parties easy.

Happy Birthday sweet girl! I love you!

On Equal Ground

Growing up, I knew a handle of people with swimming pools, but in Utah, I always felt like a swimming pool was very much a status symbol. I'm not into status symbols of any kind, so never imagined I would ever have our very own pool.

Last fall we made a move to the desert. Jason insisted that any home we consider have a pool. Boy, am I glad he did!

When it's 100+ every day there's not much else to do but jump in and cool off. We're in our pool usually twice a day, every day.

Spending so much time in the pool, has made me incredibly grateful for having one, not just so we can cool off, but because I have come to realize that it is the only activity that puts Antalya on equal ground with any other child. She can interact in a positive way, for a long duration of time with boys and girls of any age and ability.



I might insist of a pool wherever we live from now on.

Challenger Little League

Antalya had her first experience with Little League this past spring. If she could've played in 60 degree weather instead 90-100, I think she would've really enjoyed it. But even with the heat, she was excited to go to the games each week, and had lots of fun for the first inning. Thank goodness, games only lasted two innings. 

Run, run!

Antalya, Ada, and Victoria

These three girls are best friends!

 A future umpire!

Hinckley Hills

This little ray of sunshine burst into our lives 14 months ago. We call him Mr Hink. He loves anything topped with strawberry jam, splashing, eating dirt, playing hide-and-seek, and stealing drinks from strangers. We are all completely smitten. 

Just the Five of Us

Lots has been going on in my blogging absence. The most exciting of which is the arrival of our little blue eyed boy, also known as Hinckley (or if you ask Victoria, 'Prince Eric'). He's already a couple months old, and we love him to pieces!

Happy World Down Syndrome Day

(one of her favorite things is snapping 100 self portraits/minute on my phone)

Today is the day we celebrate all those who live life with an extra chromosome.
I especially celebrate my sweet, silly, spunky Antalya who fills my life with so much goodness.
She is the light of my life and is absolutely perfect just the way God made her!