Onward and Upward

Well we did it. We are facing the bullet head on and officially have our house on the market. It was easy until I saw it online and it became all-to-real when the orange and black signed graced our front yard. Selling your house is no joke. Our life is officially in limbo. You want to start looking for a new place but you can't fall in love until your house sells. We have already had 2 showings and the house has only been up since Friday. But my wheels are rolling and I'm itching at the thought of a new place to decorate....I mean a place for my kids to grow up.

Gallery wall is down :(

I also had a change at work. Same job different school. It was a sad decision but the right one to make. It's odd how every decision I make now I have a little H to think about. My new school is 3 minutes from our house (and hopefully the new house) and in the same school district H will be in. With a new school brings a whole new crew-teachers and families. And with a new schools means I have to look the part right?!

Andy doesn't understand why I take pictures like this! 

Showing our support for Hat Day

Harper's milestones: 

Rolling over both directions and rolling off of her tummy.

Gets mad when I don't move the spoon fast enough to her mouth.

What she eats:  peas, carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, pears, bananas, apples, potatoes, and zucchini (yes I make it all)

Wearing 6 months tops and 3 month pants

Bows officially stay in the entire day

Babbling all the time

Will sleep on her tummy at school but not at home (yes she moves herself there)

Doesn't like to poop

Naps are limited

She knows she is cute! 

Staring at Brewer

Fav yellow cardigan

On Friday night I babysat Emersyn and Weston at our house. Scratch that, Emersyn babysat me and Harper. Seriously, this 3 year old has mad skills. She is the baby whisperer.

Weston watching over H on the video monitor

And again...

Loved Brewer and throwing treats out the door.

And a few more pics from the week to satisfy your craving...

Spring has Sprung

Last Spring I was eagerly anticipating the day we would find out if our little bundle of joy was a girl or boy. A pink or blue nursery, hair bows or bow ties. This year, well we know how the year unfolded. Last year at Easter I was oblivious to Down syndrome, AV Canal Defect, and Open Heart Surgery.

This Spring I've enjoyed my little girl who happens to have Ds, she had Open Heart Surgery to repair her AV Canal Defect. And enjoy her I will!

This Spring and Easter we celebrate and LIVE.

Cue the cute dresses and hair bows...

Easter means a day spent at The Wards. Or Uncle Ralph and Auntie Susie's. Two of the coolest people I know. Uncle Ralph is dreamy in his flannel and pipe (right Dajen?) and Auntie Susie (Sue to most Susie to me) well she is down to earth, fun, sassy, and the WORST Taboo player EVER! 

They own a ridiculous amount of land....pond, trails, hunting dogs, sheds, garages, golf carts, and a tee pee. Yep, a tee pee. 

Besides the obvious choice of building a tee pee, what is this land good for? The annual Easter Egg Hunt! I kid you not, Susie takes the golf cart out and throws eggs for the kiddos to find. After we eat, we commence on a good 20 minute walk around the garage, through the woods, and around the pond to collect all of the eggs. Do kids fall? Yep. Do they cry? You betcha. But they get up, dust themselves off because around the next corner is another trail full of eggs. 

Yep, that's an Easter pinata you spy. Didn't you know that Easter now includes pinatas?!

This year I left our Easter celebration with a sleepy baby girl from her first Easter Egg Hunt and memories that I will never forget. Oh yeah, and the promise that next year Uncle Ralph and Dajen will throw tomahawks and my girl running with the big kids to get those eggs!

Happy Easter! 

Videos

Here are a few videos from Madison Area Down Syndrome Society. Watch the first one until the end to catch a glimpse of Miss H!

This second was stars my "friend" Tina. This is fantastic Tina!! 

Changing the world....one page at a time

Life has definitely gotten the best of me lately. Andy was out of town for  long long 12 days. And has since been reunited with his favorite lady....the crazy hair lady.

I held my own in Andy's absence. I had some help from my mom (thanks mom) but I definitely have a new find respect for all single moms. You guys rock! 

The last few weeks have been an emotional roller coaster, both at work and at home. I've been taking on more than I can chew and my emotions have gotten the best of me. I haven't even blogged about World Down Syndrome Day and the fun I had. 

It was a real event for a real cause. Man, when did I turn into a grown up? My friend Tara was my date (remember Andy was gone for 12 days) and we tried our best to bring out our inner Kelle Hampton's. Or as we now call her, KH. We try to take artsy instagram photos (only to later delete) and force ourselves to mingle. We have not reached KH status yet, but we are on our way. 

Hard to see but H is the first pic in the upper left hand side.

I've often said that I don't think about Down syndrome very often. I swear, it's the truth. Since WDSD, I haven't had time to think about it. Until today. Besides mentioning her above, I've mentioned her in the past but Kelle Hampton is a rockstar in the blogger and Ds world. I want to move to FL to be her friend. Hell, I'd settle for a message back on Facebook or Instagram. I have a serious. mama. crush. Not that she would ever read this but I feel obligated to say, "Kelle, I am not a stalker. I just want to be you. I promise I won't hurt you. Promise." 

This brings me back to Down syndrome. Man, it's cool. Seriously, who even cares? I mean look at this girl? She is rocking skinny jeans and a long sweater. 

She is one cool chick who happens to have Down syndrome. Kelle Hampton is one cool chick who happens to have a daughter with Down syndrome. And wrote a book about it that came out today. I pre-ordered because I'm a fan/dork like that. 

Inside cover...I mean c'mon!

I have not been paid to talk about this book (Kelle has not bribed me but she could and I'd do it). I feel obligated as a mother to a daughter who has Down syndrome and a mother in general to pimp this book out. Honestly, I haven't read one full page. I'm terrified of the tears. They have been on the cusp of appearing for 12 days now and this book will open the flood gates. But, I'll do it for KH but most of all Harper.

This book will show the world how awesome Down syndrome is and how normal life is. Pick it up for a good read, a tear jerker and the ad proceeds go to that National Down Syndrome Society. 

I don't think about Down syndrome every day but the reality is that Harper does have Down syndrome and by buying or reading this one book, you are helping her life and the life of her brothers and sisters who also rock designer genes. I don't have to followers that Kelle has and I never will. That's alright. I have 59 on Google (thanks guys) and countless on Facebook. If I have reach even 1 of you to open your heart and embrace children with different abilities then I have done my job. 

Thanks KH for the inspiration, thanks Tara for being a blubbering mess with me, and thanks to H for making me stop and open my eyes.

I have Down syndrome....and I love it! 

Happy Bday Auntie Dajen! 

Something to tide you over

So I've fallen off the face of the earth. Ok that was quite a stretch but I feel like it. Everything always happens at once and, let me tell you, I am spinning many plates right now. One of these plates is this blog and it is falling off. Forgive me. I'm going to get it spinning again and get my life back this weekend!

This should ease the pain.....

Lots of changes have happened in two weeks which calls for updates but this mama is TIRED. Make that TIRED.

Celebrate! It's World Down Syndrome Day!

I am like any other mother. I worry about TODAY for my daughter. Did she eat enough? Does she have pink eye? That's a weird cough, should I call the doctor? I am like every mother. 

Harper is like any other baby girl. She is rolling. Eating bananas, squash, peas, avocados, and sweet potatoes. She smiles when I enter the room and cries when I leave. She is like every other baby girl. 

Harper has Down syndrome and had heart surgery on her little heart when she was 4 months old. She has gone through things that other babies do NOT go through. But she is Harper and day by day she is just like every other baby girl.


I am her mother. Andy is her father. I am the director of a preschool and Andy is the Assistant VP of a staffing agency. We are not extraordinary people. We donate to Goodwill. Give change to the red kettles during the holidays and buy Girl Scout cookies and Boy Scout popcorn. I participate in food drives and I recycle. We are normal, ordinary parents. We are not extra special in our every day lives. We are extra special because Harper is our daughter. But not because she has Down syndrome. 

I am grateful for Harper. I am grateful for Down syndrome. Yep, you read that right. I am grateful for Down syndrome. It has given me my daughter but it has changed me to be a better person. My eyes are open. I am nicer  trying to be more kind. We are handpicked to be Harper's parents just like you were chosen to be your child's parent.

Often, people tell me that I must be really special to be picked to be Harper's mom. Or, I must be very patient to be given a daughter with Down syndrome. If you know me, you know that I am the furthest thing from patient. And I'm special but not super special.  Harper was given to us because we created her. She is our daughter and I would love her the same if she didn't have Down syndrome.

I LOVE that Harper has Down syndrome. The truth is...I don't know any better. She is my only child. I don't know any different. Doesn't matter because she is magical. Her smile melts my heart. Literally, the girls' smile makes me want to stop everything and kiss her cheeks until I can't anymore.

Today is World Down Syndrome Day. This day rocks. I could write many posts for today. I could write about the new blood test to detect Ds, or the lawsuit a family won in Oregon because the doctors didn't prenatally diagnose their daughter. But today is a day to celebrate. Without Down syndrome there would be no Harper. If there was no Harper, there wouldn't be pictures like this...

Or this...

I mean come on. Those cheeks. Those eyes. Down syndrome ROCKS. Today is a day to celebrate. Her entire 6 1/2 months is reason to celebrate. Celebrate today in honor of Harper. I have great readers. Some of you have met Harper in person but most of you meet her through my blog posts. I know she has touched many hearts....I get the emails almost weekly. These emails come from complete strangers. And I mean complete. strangers. I am now asking you---family, friends, strangers, blog followers.....to spread acceptance. Do it for Harper and her friends. 

Help spread the word that Down syndrome is not a death sentence. Yes, there will be difficult times but that's life. Down syndrome is a scary diagnosis but I am here to tell you that Down syndrome is an amazing syndrome and there is nothing DOWN about it! 

Splendid

The pictures will do most of the talking.....

Badger day at school with bf Easton

high school friends and their babies

Go Badgers! 

I was channeling my inner cheerleader

Auntie Dajen

So comfy

Glitter Toms makes a Sunday perfect

Add caption

Cuddles

Sad daddy is leaving for long work trip