Dear Aisha,
I’ve been searching for some clever words to jot down about your having turned three. But I don’t have many; aside from a little (okay, a lot) more sass, in many ways you’ve remained my sweet pumpkin. Your daily antics still elicit a big belly laugh, and I’m always delighted upon discovering yet another new thing that you can do. Read more
This image has absolutely nothing to do with this post. I just love that
she’s got her hands in her pockets. Too cute! Now without further ado…
Aisha and I were in the living room this morning, waiting for her papa to come pick her up. She was munching a cracker and watching Bubble Guppies when I sneezed – a big ol’ loud and blustery “AhhhhhCHOOOOOOO!”
The girl, face and mouth full of crumbs, turned to me and said, “Bless you!” in her best Baba-speak, before fixing her gaze on the television once more.
I sat and stared at the back of her head for a few minutes, goofy grin plastered on my face. I was partly amused, partly in disbelief over what I’d just heard. My baby girl is talking! Read more
New Bean, who dis?
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. I’ve been reading many of the ‘Gram posts from DS mommies whose stories are almost identical to mine: errant/concerning pr-screens during pregnancy, amnios to confirm a DS diagnosis, a push to terminate the pregnancy.
Amniocentesis is worrisome because it comes with a risk of miscarriage, but now there is a far less invasive test to confirm Down Syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities – a simple blood test that makes it easier to diagnose.
According to some stats, a positive pre-natal diagnosis results in termination something like 92 per cent of the time. Read more
Don’t feel sorry for me; I’m happier than I’ve ever been.
A few months back I was wrapping up a meeting with a potential client, when the topic of children came up. I mentioned the blog and its title (“clever,” she said) and how it became even more apt when I learned of Aisha’s Down Syndrome diagnosis.
Her brow furrowed in concern and she reached out to touch my arm.
“Oh, your daughter has Down’s? I’m so sorry…” Read more
it’s a long way down…
Since the year began, Aisha’s been literally moving in leaps and bounds, from standing to walking and pushing herself into a standing position from a seated one. And yes, in that very order. And no, she still doesn’t know how to crawl. There is no rhyme or reason to the girl; she just bes who she be.
Anyhoo.
Even though she’s far more surefooted as a walker, she’s been giving the stairs a wide berth. The staircase is curved, steep and plentiful – and from her vantage point, they prolly also seem like an awful lot of work. Aisha very much dislikes a challenge (she’s definitely her father’s child Read more
Rock out, little one. It’s your birthday!
Dear Aisha,
I can’t believe that you’re two. It literally feels like you were born, then some stuff happened, and then POOF! two. My baby big bean is officially a toddler and I don’t know how to feel (or what to say) about it.
I never knew that I could love anyone this much. I never imagined that someone so small could bring so much joy to my life. I also never would have believed that someone so small could wreak so much havoc, literally affecting every. single. decision. that I have to make. Read more
Happy New Year from Shutterstock.Was in the shower t’other day, thinking about how completely uneventful 2015 was for me, and how I’d like to do things differently for the New Year. And then I found myself feeling guilty for not celebrating the year my girl had, because, Down Syndrome be damned, the kid knocked it out of the fricking park in twenty-fifteen.
A recap of sorts. Aisha (in no particular order):
Turned one. Started feeding herself. Drank from a straw. Held her bottle on her own. Learned to push herself from prone into a seated position. Started daycare. Learned to say “hi,” “bye,” and “Aisha.” Can act out the entire words to “The Wheels on the Bus.” Read more
this wasn't in the manual 