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Saturday, March 21, 2009

WDSD

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. *(thanks to Ecki and Meredith for the reminders!) Today, March 21 was chosen for this day because Down syndrome means to have a 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome. 3/21. As did Ecki (www.oppositekids.blogspot.com) about Kayla, I'm giving you 21 things about PJ.

1. He is 18 months old, and still takes a bottle to go to sleep. (It's our cuddle time - is my excuse, truthfully, he's just not ready to have it taken from him)

2. He has the most beautiful blue eyes. They are almond shaped. He lucked out with some recessive blue eyed gene and is the only one in our immediate family with them.

3. He saw me snap my fingers a few weeks ago, and now often tries to snap his fingers.

4. He doesn't seem to have any problem with sensory issues, especially when it comes to food. He loves everything, except hes not too high on vegetables.

5. He started walking at 16 months, but will not keep shoes on. Anytime we go anywhere the moment he's in his car seat, shoes AND socks are off. I'm sure I get judged for having my barefoot boy out in all kinds of weather, but he will not keep them on.

6. He usually has 1 two hour nap, and goes to bed by 8pm, and sleeps until 6-8 am.

7. He says "bah!" which sometimes means bath, other times it means ball. He says nana, for banana, mama, dada, behbah (becca). I'm thinking speech is where his biggest delays are.

8. He is now waiving and saying "hey" which for those of you who don't live in the south, "hey" means "hi". He waives and says hey to anybody who'll look at him in the grocery store, at wall-mart, wherever he happens to be.

9. His favorite television show is "Jacks Big Music Show". 2nd place is the Wiggles.

10. On 3.16.09 he weighed in at 23 lbs 4 oz, and measured 29 inches long. (He's a shorty, even on the DS growth chart.)

11. He recently got to have Wendy's chicken nuggets for the first time, and he definitely wants them again.

12. PJ loves music, and loves to dance. It's a funny sight, watching him dance, I'll try to get a video of it one of these days to share.

13. He has a mouth full of teeth, he's probably missing 4 to 6 still, but I think more are coming in now, because he's drooling. The bottom teeth are crooked, but the top look pretty straight.

14. He's finally taking an interest in books.

15. One of his favorite "games" is throwing toys over the baby gate into the kitchen. He also likes to take small items and push them under his sister's door, or the bathroom door, if that's where she happens to be.

16. PJ is obsessed with (ok, less than obsessed, but has a strong interest in) electrical cords. He will struggle to get behind the entertainment stand or behind the computer desk to yank on the cords. We finally gave him an extension cord to play with, which seems to have helped.

17. He has become afraid of the vacuum, but is still fascinated by the sound the bathtub makes when the water is draining.

18. Bath-time is one of his favorite times of the evening, even if he's tired and grumpy, I can count on bathtime chearing him up, at least while he's in the tub. Once he's out, he's grumpy again.

19. PJ loves animal crackers, but I have to break them up, and give him one piece at a time, or he'll shove the whole thing in his mouth and end up choking. He doesn't quite get the idea of moderation, or bite sized.

20. He adds more to our family than I could ever explain or describe, and I'm honored to be his mom.

21. He's definitely NOT happy all the time, that's a misconception. He's happy alot, but he has his mean, angry, pouty, defiant times, too. But then again, he's his daddys boy, right?

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

A death in the family

A death in the family…

My mother-in-law passed away on Monday. Heaven has a new angel, one that can now run, and breathe, and play. The whole family is so sad. She was only 51 years old. She’d been sick for a long time, but was still very much a part of the family. She loved her family so much. She was such a loving and kind woman. She was patient and generous with her time, she did not speak badly of people. She did not push her opinion. She had learned lessons in life that I still struggle with, and had such a peace. She loved Jesus and prayed without ceasing. In my presence she was never judgmental or critical of others. She looked for and found the best qualities in a person and focused on those, rather than seeing one’s shortcomings. She loved her children and grandchildren, her husband, her mother and her siblings. I am proud to have known her. I feel as if she helped me to become a better person, a better wife, a better mother. I wish that I had spent more time learning from her. Why is it that we often get so busy in life that we fail to realize how special someone is until we are left without them? Or is it only me?

None of the old mother in law jokes ever applied. I was always good enough for her son, and she never stopped telling me. I love you Suzie. I will miss you terribly.