Wonderful Words

This weekend seemed to be a time of wonderful words from Abby. Yesterday she was a hoot when it came to one-liners and barking out orders. Today she was a sweetie, exuding an abundance of love. I thought I would share with you some of her conversational highlights from yesterday and today. Enjoy!

A Great Ride

Eighty precent of the time Abby is riding in the car with me at the wheel. Therefore she is very used to the way that I drive. So yesterday, when Jason drove us all to the movies Abby enjoyed a change of pace. Now, Abby has been known to be a bit dramatic, and she will "over act" from time to time, so when Dada took a curve that has us leaning to one side she saw her opportunity to really throw herself into it. She was having so much fun that I think Jason revved it up a notch, so by the time we reached the speed bumps in the park, much giggling had ensued. It was around that point that Abby yelled out from the back seat, "Whoa! It's bumpy!" and then continued after a great belly laugh, "I like this ride!" 

Apparently Mom drives like an old lady.

To the Dungeon!

It was during that same ride to the movies that Jason got a bit impatient with those that shared the road with us. In his defense there were a few people that were a bit clueless as to what was going on around them. In his frustration he let slip the s-word...."stupid". Abby knows this is a "not nice" word and so I had to cover my mouth when she told Jason, "Hey now, come on Dada." After he tried to defend himself she was finished with him. We heard her yell out, "Guards! Get him!" It seems that using the s-word will earn you some time in the clink.

Secrets

Abby loves to tell secrets. She always starts them with, "Pst, pst, pst..." and usually they end with her talking about opening presents. This evening, before bedtime, I was finishing up an assignment that I'd spent the day avoiding. She was sitting at my elbow writing notes and trying to get my attention. Finally she said, "Mama, I've got a secret," and she pulled me closer so she could whisper in my ear. Expecting to hear the line about presents, I was blissfully surprised when I heard her soft breathy voice say, "Pst, pst, pst....I love you." 

That would be when I melted.

As a side note, Jason heard the exchange and it reminded him of earlier in the afternoon when I was trying to catch up on some rest. He and Abby were hanging out and he told me how she kept talking about how she "loves Mama" and how "Mama is so cute!" Yep, this one will keep me going for quite a while.

Beautiful Day

After finally getting my assignment turned in I was able to take tired little Abby up to bed. She looked beat. We had a full day today that started with Sunday School and church and included a trip to the toy store. We were both tired. 

As we arrived upstairs she got a bit of a second wind and requested some coloring before bedtime. I told her that she really needed to get some sleep. I asked, "Aren't you tired? I know I'm tired." As I pulled up the covers and we both settled in I continued, "Today was a tiring day."

"Today was a beautiful day," Abby shot right back at me. You know, that kid always sets me to rights. She was absolutely right, today was a beautiful day. Thanks Abbers!

Abby saw her opportunity this morning at Sunday
School and she took it. Here she is gearing up
for her performance.

Once she had the microphone and hat all was ready to go!

Family Date Day

This afternoon we decided that it was time for Abby to have some fun - outside of the house, and since it is a bit chilly, we thought the perfect activity would be to go to the movies. "Finding Nemo" (in 3D) was still hanging around our local theater, and since it is a movie Abby knows and loves, we thought that would be a safe bet.

As you can imagine Abby was thrilled. When we pulled into the parking lot she let out an exclamation of, "It's here! The movie theater is here!" She approached the whole thing like an old pro. She shimmied her way into the theater and while Dada bought the tickets, Abby and I checked out the air hockey table in the lobby.

Once we got our 3D glasses though, it was time for some serious movie preparations. Dad got the tub-o-popcorn, and Abby and I picked out the perfect (which really means the cleanest) booster seat. By the time we had that secured, Jason caught up to us and we were ready to find our theater and settle in.

When we found the perfect spot, Abby climbed right up and reached for the popcorn. As she placed it on her lap I realized that the tub was nearly eye-level with her and took up her whole lap. The sheer size of the thing didn't daunt her at all, she managed just fine. The whole time we watched the previews I didn't know who made me smile more, Abby or Jason. Abby was simply cute, but Jason was amazed by it all. The last 3D movie he'd gone to see was "Jaws 3" a mere 25 years ago. To say that technology has changed a bit is an understatement. He couldn't believe it, and when he let out a surprised, "Whoa!" when something came flying at us, I had to laugh.  

Right before the movie started we were treated to a "Toy Story" short. I wish you all could have seen Abby jiving in her seat as she shoveled popcorn into her mouth. Finally, the movie started and with the opening scene Abby let out a lusty, "It's Nemo's dada, Mama!" We quickly shushed her, but as the movie progressed, Abby would be sure to turn to me each time a new character appeared and announce them - luckily, she remembered to whisper. Abby had a great time, but I think that Jason and I had an even better one. I lost count of how many times we would catch each other's eye over Abby's head and smile at the pure excitement she was exuding, and the funny thing she was doing and saying.

Eventually the popcorn ran out and Abby got restless, so we decided to call it quits and head home. It's no surprise that Abby has been in a super mood (and a rather sassy one as well) all evening. It was a fun day had by all.

Her future's so bright....she's gotta wear shades.

Abby makes friends where ever she goes.

This was the look I got when I gave Abby "The Teacher Look"
earlier this afternoon. I may be losing my touch. She thought
it was hilarious - not really what I was going for.

Recycled

Alright, so I' haven't done this before, but it is ten o'clock on a Friday night, I've just gotten home from the grocery store, and I'm tired, so I would ask that you would give me a pass....just this once, because I'm going to recycle....a post that is. Now wait! Before you roll your eyes and move on to something else, this recycle has a twist, I'm going to reuse a post I did at Abby's Heirlooms.

Some of you my know that besides Abby, another passion of mine is knitting (although you wouldn't know it by the neglect that my needles have gotten lately). After Abby was born I decided to create "Abby's Heirlooms", which basically is a small (very teeny tiny in fact) business where people commission knit items for me to make for them. If you want to learn more about it you can go to www.abbysheirlooms.com. (Here ends the shameless plug.)

Now, along with the sweaters, hats, etc. that I make, I will usually write about the commissions as well. So, tonight's post is a "recycle" of one of the posts I did there - about a favorite sweater I made for Abby. Here goes:

A Trip Down Memory Lane

Saturday, August 28, 2010

About two weeks ago I had a bit of an epiphany. I’d always figured that the mess that seemed to be everywhere I looked had to do with some innate disorganization on my part, like somehow I didn’t get that gene. I’d convinced myself that being organized wasn’t a learned skill, instead it was like having blue eyes - some people have them, and some don’t. It hit me while watching an Oprah episode where her guest was Peter Walsh, organizer extraordinaire, that maybe my thinking had been wrong all along. He said something that made me sit up and take notice. He said that the basic problem is that we all have too much stuff. I looked around and instantly agreed, then I downloaded his book (It’s All Too Much!) and was up until midnight reading. This was why I never wanted to put the laundry away - the closets were too full. This was why I could never find anything - things were shoved into the closest empty (or near empty) spot, because things didn’t have their own place. This was why things would seemly jump out of drawers and cabinets each time I opened them - they were crammed with stuff - way too much stuff! It just so happened that Nana and Papa were watching Abby that weekend, so the next morning I got to it, I began getting rid of stuff. 

I started in Abby’s room - probably the cleanest and most organized room in the house. Two hours later I’d gathered two bags of garbage and a mound of things to give away. Needless to say, Jason was shocked, “Where had all of that been?” he said. It’s amazing what one can shove in a closet, isn’t it? Looking at the pile of “give-aways” Jason offhandedly said, “Why don’t we have a garage sale?” I don’t really think either of us understood where those seven little words would take us. 

The “Mucking-out Monster” possessed me for the next three weeks and with each load that was brought to the curb or the garage I actually felt lighter and brighter. Something that seemed so completely overwhelming became achievable - I was becoming organized! All of this lead to this weekend - The Garage Sale. Thursday was the big work day, and with the help of Jason and my lovely sister-in-law, Keri, we got things laid out and ready for the big sale - no small task let me tell you!

Now, I knew that Abby had a lot of clothes. How can you not go a little crazy while walking through Gymboree, or any other store that sells baby girl clothes for that matter? I never realized though that she had enough clothing to fill four, eight foot tables - and that only covered her first two years! It was while laying out clothing that I trekked down to the basement, just to double check, and came up with two more bins full of clothing. It was in one of those bins that I came across the above sweater. I knew that sweater was not going anywhere.

When I was pregnant with Abby I’d found out that my brother-in-law’s sister (who also happened to be a high school friend of mine) was having twin girls, and she was due a few weeks after I was. I’d only been knitting for a few months when I found a darling (and free) pattern for a newborn sweater. I thought it would be fun to make two of them for Julie’s girls - one pink and one white (and frankly I was thrilled to make something that wasn’t yellow.) Without going into huge (and boring) knitting minutia, we’ll just say I did my increases wrong and ended up with more stitches, and hence a bigger sweater. I finished the sweater anyway, and then set about making another one - the right way. After comparing the two I thought the “right” sweater looked a bit small, so I made the white sweater the wrong way, and I had my set. I was absolutely convinced that we were having a boy, so I folded up the spare sweater, figuring that someone I knew would, at some point, have a baby girl I could give it to. Little did I know it would be me, and that it would be sooner rather than later!

It wasn’t until about three weeks after Abby was born that I remembered that little pink sweater. It was then that I knew just when she would wear it - for her homecoming. The more I thought about it, the more important it became that Abby traveled home wrapped in something that I’d made.  She needed to be surrounded by something of me when she left that hospital and was introduced to the world for the first time. So, despite the fact that it was still too big on her, I buttoned her up, rolled up the sleeves and strapped her into her car seat for the first time.

I remember how nervous I was - this was the first time in the month that I’d known her that I would have a “wireless” baby. How would I know she was okay without the numerous nodes that were attached to the monitors that constantly gave me her heart rate and O2 saturation? Would they notice if we smuggled out some of their equipment? Probably. We made it home and were greeted by a sign welcoming Abby home, complements of Auntie Kem and Uncle George - evidence that there were so many others who’d been anticipating this day.

Abby did eventually grow into, and out of, that sweater, and as I pulled it out of that purple tub and held it up all of those memories came rushing back. These were certainly not the only memories that came to mind as we packaged up all those clothes, and I was good with most of them moving on to make memories for other little girls' mothers - but not that pink sweater. There are some things that are only destined for one story, so I gently laid that pink sweater aside knowing that with all the stuff we’d pulled out of the house I could certainly make sure this little treasure had it’s own special spot.

I was looking through pictures tonight - trying to get some inspiration, and I came across a picture of that sweater, and it reminded me of what I wrote a couple of years ago. Thank you for the indulgence and I promise to get back to "original" posts right away.

She left the hospital a month to the day when she was born.
Getting ready took so much out of her that she slept the whole
ride home.

Home at last!

The Sweater

Work It!

This morning I woke up feeling icky. I knew it wasn't a cold, or the stomach flu, I just felt bad. My suspicion was that I was exhausted. So, for the first time in....well, I don't know how long....I took a sick day for myself. Usually my sick days are taken so I can stay home with a sick Abby, and even when I am under-the-weather I plug on through anyway. Today I was selfish - and I needed it.

Since I was home I helped get Abby ready for school. She was great and super cooperative, having an idea that I wasn't up for battles. She was such a sweat pea as she sat and colored after eating her breakfast, and as we waited for the bus. 

Soon enough it was time to go outside and wait. After leading her through a pretty sad version of "The Hokey Pokey" she decided that exercising would be a better option. She started by running races. I stood at the "Finish Line" at the end of the driveway while she got down in a runner's stance in front of the garage. She ran about four or five heats and then wanted to switch to some jumping jacks. I of course was just the judge, but there was one point when she told me to "work it!" Luckily, that's around the time that the bus came, I really wasn't sure that wanted to hear where she'd picked that one up.

Abby didn't want to quit doing her homework, so she took
it to bed with her.

Ouch!

When Abby is afraid, Dada is the go-to guy. When Abby is in pain, it is Mama that she wants. Tonight Mom needed to step up to the plate.

We'd been having a great night. She was in a super mood all evening and at the top of her game when it came to being funny. Earlier I had discovered that she had some homework in her backpack, so after her bath I told her that she had some work to do. With a sigh and an, "Okay....fine...." she trotted downstairs to the table so she could get to work.

She sat right down and got to it, but after finishing a page I could tell that she was getting tired, so we finished up and she moved on to "writing notes" and watching TV. It was at this point that she requested a snack - a nice healthy snack - an apple.

Since we are knee deep in apple season around here I had a beautiful Honeycrisp just waiting for her on the counter. I got it all cut up and, as Dad came in to visit and look over her work, she munched on her yummy treat. It was when she was nearly done that she suddenly began crying. I realized almost immediately that she'd bitten her tongue. The poor thing cried as she held her mouth open and walked over to me. She was in pain. She wanted Mama.

She did let me take a look, once she was sure that my hands were nowhere in sight, and I wouldn't be touching her sore tongue. She'd gotten the tip pretty well, and there was some blood, but I knew it would be okay. At this point though her tiredness kicked in as well and as I carried her upstairs to her room she continued to cry.

We offered some pain medicine, but she decided that a band-aid would be the only thing that would make her feel better. Since she was still crying, she wasn't ready to listen to the fact that we don't put band-aids on our tongues. Finally, all she really wanted was some cuddling with Mama.

As I sang "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" softly to her, she continued to whimper beside me, but before long she was sleeping soundly, the tiredness had won out. And so our evening came to an end - poor little peanut.

Fresh from her bath, Abby gets to work.

Working hard - good girl!

Busy Day

Today was a bit of a busy day for Abby. It started with school and a field trip to Safetyville, a local program for kindergarten and first grade where the kids get to practice pedestrian and traffic safety in a little mini-village. I can just imagine the fun Abby had tooling around that little town, and since she didn't come home with any tickets for J-walking, I can guess that she was a good girl.

When Abby got home from school we decided that a bit of a bike ride would be a good plan, and she did great. Every time I would remind her to keep pedaling, I would hear her yell out, "I am pedaling!", and indeed she would be. Once we got back to our house I let her go on the driveway, all on her own, without any help from me. She did well, but after a while it got a bit hard to keep going. She got discouraged.

But that didn't last long. Soon enough she got her spunk back and began pedaling with determination.

She gave me another sweet smile before going on to her next challenge...

....tying her shoe.

For some time now Abby has been fascinated with "tying" her shoes. She really is just twisting the laces, but she insists on doing it all herself. We've learned that when we want to get going we need to allow time for her to play a bit with those laces. Tonight I noticed that she's begun trying to loop and twist the laces as well. A sure sign that she's on her way to mastering another skill.

Then it was off to dinner. Tonight we went out and she was a great little eater. She also did a super job while waiting for the food. She even wowed us with a stellar printing of her name.

I love to not only watch Abby write her name, but also to listen to her write her name. Here's how it goes:
As Abby writes the "A" she tells herself, "Down. Down. Cross it in the middle."
As Abby writes each "b" she'll say, "Down and around, then touch the back."
And finally, comes Jason's favorite part, the "y", when she mutters, "Down. Up, and a monkey tail!" It is not only impressive, but terribly adorable.

By the time we got home Abby was ready for some snuggles and story time. Luckily, my class's book order came in today, and I'd ordered Abby some new stories, so we had a great time reading together about Curious George making cider, and Merida (of "Brave" fame) and her three brothers. Soon enough we were both yawning. In no time at all she was asleep, resting from her busy day.

And here I sit, tired as well, and looking forward to heading off to dreamland, because when Abby has a busy day, so do I. Is it really only Tuesday?

Awareness

Pst...Have you heard? Today marks the beginning of Down syndrome Awareness Month. I've been reminded of that throughout the day, as I periodically checked my Facebook newsfeed and saw several friends of mine posting wonderful things about their children with Down syndrome. I started thinking about what my post would include tonight, and what "Down syndrome awareness" actually means. So, I started with the dictionary.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, to be aware means, "having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact." I thought that was a wonderful explanation. After reading that it made me realize that this has been what my whole blogging "project" has been about. Sure, when I set out on this adventure I wanted to share my pretty spectacular kid because she is loving, caring, and hilarious. I knew that she brightened my day, so I figured I would share the joy, but I also had another motive. I wanted to everyone to see how incredibly normal our life is. 

We have always made the distinction that Abby has Down syndrome, and not that she is Down syndrome....there's a difference. It is a part of who she is, just like her beautiful eyes and her will of iron, but it is not who she is. Now there are some days when her eyes stand out a bit more than usual, or days when she exerts her will with a touch more force, and likewise there are also days when I "notice" her Down syndrome, but honestly those days are few and far between. She's Abby first. That's what I want people to understand above all. Have I been successful in the 217 days that I've been writing about her? Well, if one person changes their minds about someone who may be different than they are, or if one new parent who recently found out that their child has Down syndrome gains a new understanding of what that may mean...then I have succeeded. 

...Or maybe I should say that Abby has succeeded - because she is really the one that is changing minds, simply by being her wonderful self. So, I've decided that in order to celebrate DS Awareness Month I'm simply going to continue on as I have been - delivering funny Abby-isms, writing about charming Abby antics, showing beautiful Abby pictures, and sharing the odd "off" day when Abby's crankiness rules. I figure that this would be the best way to create a "knowledge or perception" of our "situation" - and to add a bit more joy to your days.

When Abby got home from school she decided that
our front porch looked an awful lot like a stage, so
here she is instructing me that it was "showtime". 

Then it was my turn to put on a show, so Abby
made sure that she had a front row seat. I did
make sure that none of the neighbors were out
before I started dancing.

I was merely the opening act for the headliner.