Kate the Great

Remember the best thing to happen in September?  No, not the delivery groceries(although that was pretty awesome).  I’m talking about the birth of Joni and Dave’s second daughter Kate.  This kid.  Oh my goooosh.  She is just the sweetest little bundle.  Oh, and she has down syndrome. 

I have always had an interest in DS.  If you scroll through my IG feed it’s half people I know and half families that have (mostly adopted) children with down syndrome.  Now I can say it all in preparation for the coming of Kate.  That sounds a little like a Jesus reference, and whatever with that because she is that awesome.   

Anyway, Em and I decided to make a visit so we could argue over who gets the baby.

  Disclaimer:  I had a really bad haircut just before we left…but this is about the baby.

Shall I pause for you to gush?  I mean.  Come on.  Look how she adores her mama already!

She’s only 7 old weeks here, but she’s already winning everybody over.  We spent our Saturday morning taking turns on the couch. 

 

Joni and Dave were going to a Down Syndrome fundraiser that night and Em and I were the babysitters.  Do you know how hard it is to get excited about a potentially emotionally draining formal wear evening when you’re 7 weeks post partum?  It sounds like a punishment to me.  We all encouraged (and Dave just went ahead and made the appointment) Joni to go get her nails done because we care about her feelings(please go away and leave the baby).  Dave was taking Paige to birthday party, so that left Em and I on our own!  Please note, we adore Paige.  However, unless you are dressed like Cookie Monster or holding a cookie, she’s too busy to be bothered with you.

Actually, if it looks like you’re going to take her outside she’s also into you!  Sadly she wasn’t going on this excursion, but I’m sure when she got to the petting zoo she forgave us.

No surprise our first stop was Starbucks.  I was instantly annoyed at the lack of comments about my baby.  How could you not gush??  Also, a few “you look so great for just having a baby” would have been nice too.

FYI:  If you leave your baby with us we may do things like a change a diaper in the middle of H&M.  Don’t worry, you’ll never know and baby will be returned happy and healthy.

Nothing to see here.

We had the best dinner date that night. 

We would have loved to have dined with Paige also, but when you’re 18 months old and never stop moving your party ends by 7:30.  Baby sister is a par-tee animal though!

  My favorite picture of her…

That’s the look that was waiting for mama when she got home.  Everything about this girl is exquisite. 

We had a great time with Joni the next day.  We walked, had lunch, had another Starbucks, stared at the baby more, got some Paige love, and even watched a movie.

 

Paige, come get a picture with Nenni!

Okay, nevermind.

We were not ready to leave the next morning.  These two were so fun.

I’m not naïve.  I know there will be challenges for Kate.  There will be struggle for Joni and Dave.  There will be stuff.  But it doesn’t have to be solved right now.  Right now this little lady is wowing everyone with her strength(literally, you should see her pick her head up, looks like a caterpillar because she gets her whole torso up!), her eye contact and facial expressions, and the way she forms her little mouth to make a little squeak.  She is observant of her world and already participatory in it.  I believe she will continue to wow us.  Let’s be honest, as long as she’s breathing we’ll be gushing.

 

If quality of life is measured by love given and received, she’s already winning.  She’s got a village, or should I say a fan club?

October Leftovers

How is there even more that happened in October?  When I started blogging, I only had posts that were from big events.  I didn’t take photos daily with my phone.  I only had pictures from times I deemed it worthy to drag my camera along.  I definitely enjoyed the blogging more.  I like to write about a specific event, and I like it even more when that event wasn’t 3 months ago.  However, having raised a child all the way to 18(you didn’t miss anything, I haven’t done that post yet) I like to look back at the everyday stuff more than the big staged events.  Sof is so lucky to have these pictures of her daily life.  Like this picture, that will always remind her of when going to the car wash was a fascinating event.

 

Livy is at the same dance studio as Adrienne now.  Em and I made sure we signed up for the same committee(lunch organization for a convention) and we picked the first event we could to get it over with!  We were super organized and now we’re done!  Bam!

We had some beautiful fall weather that gave me lots of opportunities for my favorite look…knee socks!!  Sof has come to like them too.  She runs hot, so I think she likes the fact that they aren’t as warm as wearing tights!

  Picture day ready!

I’m all heart eyes for these!!

I can’t help myself with the morning pictures.  She’s just too cute.

Colin turned 3!  He was met with showers of attention from his ladies at bus stop!

We had a day off of school that was perfect to visit the apple orchard. 

Can we just talk about Livy??  What even the heck.  Who is this child?  First of all, 4 months before this picture she was in elementary school.  The image I conjure up in my head looks very much like the movie Elf.  Thank God she’s at least in middle school now.  It kinda fits better.  She’s beautiful, mature, a slob like her older cousin, and so bright.  Lexi would be lost without her.  They are truly best friends.    

We are so proud of our girls in Sri Lanka.  This month Rahana got first place in a drawing contest and two of our girls got first place in a competition dancing with their school group.

My staff had a party at painting with a twist.  I was excited about it because I’ve never been!  I’m not an artist by any stretch of the imagination, but I’m also pretty comfortable with my creative ability.  I was SHOCKED at how hard this was for me!  I was so nervous to put that first stroke on the canvas!  Then I didn’t like the colors I had picked and I felt like I didn’t have enough time!  In the end everyone’s turned out very cute.  It was really neat to see how everyone’s different personalities shone through. 

Sof had her fall fair at school.  Em’s girls were staying with us that weekend, so Natalie came with me while the big girls went to football game to see Lexi cheer.  Natty was in heaven playing games! 

She picked this orange stretchy man as her prize and told me, “It’s just what I’ve always wanted”!  If only we could all be this satisfied with a stretchy guy.

  

Don’t you love it when…

Your big girl goes to the game but you don’t(because rain, duh, fair weather parent here).

You catch kids playing without electronics?!

Your kids makes the news.

Your kid cooks fancier than you(I bought the Foodstirs subscription for Lexi last year and it’s still the best gift ever!). 

Both teenagers are annoying at the same time.

Catching a moth creates this much joy.

The weather cooperates just long enough to get the senior pictures done.

You finally see old friends, and it’s like you never missed a beat.

Your kids wears this shirt and really means it.

The cutest pumpkin in the patch is yours.

Your kid recognizes that there's not enough bling on her new toy, so she takes care of it.

Don’t you really love it when you finish another post?!?