Trying to Stand!!!

2014 GiGi's Playhouse Gala

As it was last year, the GiGi's Playhouse Gala was so wonderful.  Matt and Parker were pretty sick during the event, but the short time we were there was beautiful.  It is so much fun to be surrounded by our family in an environment that is just overflowing with support for our Down Syndrome community. <3 Love and thanks to our amazing support system!

Stair-Master....sort of :)

Finding out that your little guy does, in fact, know how to climb up the stairs is such an awesome/scary/exciting/panicky moment :)  It was the first experience Parker has really had with stairs-- his nearsighted vision limits his awareness of the fun/dangerous activities around the house.  While that has made baby-proofing a slow and easy process for us, we would much rather have Parker exploring with the enthusiasm and determination that frequents toddler life.  So this commonplace revelation really means a lot to us!  Matt and I may have let out an embarrassing giggle/yelp upon seeing Parker up to the third step. 

This definitely reminded me that I have to make more of a conscious effort to expose him to things around us! I am so excited for spring and summer, when we can explore everything outside!

I know I will enjoy this video for a long time....even the part at the beginning that clearly shows that the UPstairs master needs a little work on coming down the stairs...:)

15 months old!

Parker is 15 months old! Well, 15.5 months at this point.  Every time I say that aloud, I am shocked-- time is just flying by!  Parker has had a month or two of really amazing progress-- we have so enjoyed watching him flourish! 

 He is now a master crawler, LOVES pulling up and standing on just about everything he can, and is working on eating chunky foods, waving "bye bye," putting toys in and taking them out of a container, and learning to recognize signs.

He is getting much better about telling us what he wants!  Many parents complain about how demanding and picky their kids are, but with Parker, we welcome picky-ness, because it means he is grasping his environment and making decisions!  He is getting a bit of a sweet tooth and very much favors fruits, he despises chicken, and his most favorite activity (aside with snuggling) is taking a bath.  I am SO excited to take him to the pool this summer.  If only mother nature would figure out that it is supposed to be spring!

We are slowly getting situated with therapists after our daycare switch.  After 14 months of being in early intervention, we are hoping we will FINALLY have a consistent team with a bit of longevity.  Parker's new daycare is great!  We have been really happy with the reports we get from them, and the effort they put into learning about Parker.  

Yay for progress! )

February

I have to say that the last week or two has been trying for our family and extended family, as well as our friends.  It has been a week of loss, illness, and fear.  Which, when compacted all into one week, is distressing for so many reasons.  I have always been naive in the sense that my natural state is believing that good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people.  That karma prevails.  But the truth is that sometimes, unfair, unexplainable things happen to people who don't deserve it.  I struggle so much with that.  Seeing a 21 month old like Annie suffer is debilitating and consuming...we feel it down to our core-- just such a feeling of despair and a bit of anger, too.  I try not to let myself get beyond the surface levels of those thoughts, for fear of drowning in the "why?" types of questions.  The best I can do is try to help in any way I can, and try my best not to look over my shoulder in fear.

As a family, we spent the week passing illnesses to one another.  I went to urgent care mid-week with strep throat, Parker went to the pediatrician after a bad cold, congestion, stomach issues, an ear infection, etc.  And Matt has had a stomach virus for several days now.  Parker lost about a pound, which is a month's worth of weight gain for him, so we will be heading back to the pediatrician in a few weeks to make sure he has gained it back.

At this point, we are hoping desperately for a healthy, peaceful, and healing week for everyone.