Love this photo!

Is this not the cutest thing!?

I realize that I post an insane number of pictures but I can't stop myself!

Well, November has started and is already halfway over. We have been busy preparing for the holidays, birthdays, and various other happenings.

Layla loves school and it is so fun to see her sound everything out. She spells words in the cutest way. Special-speshool, Why-wiy. Oh, I just love it.

Lila is unstoppable! That baby is crawling 90 mph and is into everything! She has been pulling up for a few weeks. She started signing "more" on Saturday, November 10.

Signing "more"

 

 I know it is sideways, I'm tired of trying to correct it!

 

Quality Time with Gabe

 

 

Enjoying Sissy's playroom

 

Sarah and I painted Layla's playroom last weekend. I know the picture is sideways. Once again, I refuse to fight with this computer for two hours!

Lila's pet, Daisy. She is more interested in Daisy than any toy or person!

 

And by the way, I don't have many pictures of Layla. Why, you ask? She won't slow down long enough for a photo! She is always busy!

 

Random October

Here are a few random October memories:

Shana and I in our matching Halloween shirts

 

Lila and Prissy sorting Buddy Walk tshirts.

 

Lila snoozing with her daddy.

And to end this post, in the words of my friend, Courtney: "Finally a cute duck face!"

 

 

The Pumpkin Patch and HALLOWEEN

We went to the Pumpking Patch this month. It was outside Sikeston, MO. The girls had fun and so did we.

 

It was lovely weather and we came home with three lovely pumpkins to paint.

 

 

Here are some pictures from Halloween.

This first one is of Lila in one of her Halloween outfits.

 

Sisters playing

 

The next few pictures are of the girls on Halloween. They enjoyed game night at our church. They were both dressed as Rapunzel.

 

 

 

Lila with her protectors, Bryx and Gabe

 

Trick or treating at Nanny's house

 

Lila's first Halloween was fun. She enjoyed watching her sister and hanging out with her friends at church.

 

 

 



October--Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

This has been a lovely month. Lila is working on crawling and getting to where she wants to be. Nothing can slow her down!

It is also Down Syndrome Awareness month. Lila and I were the spokespeople for our local DS Chapter. We appeared on the local news to promote awareness and our Buddy Walk. It was so exciting!

Diana Davis (our local KAIT 8 News Reporter)

My sister and her friends made these lovely signs for Lila's Buddy Walk Team: Lila's Loves.
.

 

Buddy Walk was an unforgettable experience. It was beautiful and humbling. First, let me say that I have a great support system. My family and friends are awesome. I couldn't function each day without them.

I was completely humbled and speechless on the day of our Buddy Walk.

 

On Buddy Walk morning my mom and grandma took on the job of babysitting Lila, Layla, and Gabe (our friend's-Joey and Sarah's- son).

Chase (my husband), Joey, Sarah and I arrived early to set up. We helped get everything ready for the big event.

 

When people started to arrive, I realized just how big Lila's team was going to be (over 80 people!). There was this little moment in the building that day, I just stood there thinking, "Wow, all of these people are here for us and our girl." It was a defining moment for humanity. I saw the beauty in a lot of people that day.

 

What else did I see? Pure JOY. All of these people were there to support their loved ones and friends with DS. I realized that day (though I had been going to the local DS meetings for several months) that the DS family was a family I was PROUD to belong to.

 

And I was so proud of EVERY parent there. Every parent that brought their child was teaching a simple lesson: acceptance and love. What better lesson can we teach our kids? There are none.

 

What a fabulous day for me. I was on cloud nine. My parents, sister, cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, in-laws, and friends were there for this amazing day. People from our community and my husband's work came to support us. I was overwhelmed. Lila raised the most money (over $2,800).

I broke down and cried with my sister-in-law, Kelli, on the way home. These are the kinds of moments I will remember forever.

 

We had relatives travel from several hours away just to be there. Chase's company, Tenaris, donated $1,000. We also received donations from NET Systems (they bought our team shirts), TriState Motors, and Fulks Auto Sales. A family Chase works with donated $200, and a family who lost their son with DS donated as well.

 

There are so many things I could say about our beautiful Buddy Walk experience. I will sum it up with this: There are so many beautiful things in life, take time to experience them. Accept and love every one. Teach acceptance and love. Appreciate your friends and family. They are awesome! GET INVOLVED!

 

Our precious buddy!

 

My family!

 

Friends from Layla's school: Emerson, Hadley, Layla, Raleigh

 

 

Some of Lila's awesome team....isn't this AMAZING!?

 

Happy Fall Y'all!

September
School is in full swing. We are busy as bees!

Lila is working hard on crawling and she is sitting up very well. :) She is also picking up her little snacks and eating them. It is the cutest thing.

See me, mom?



 

Yummy yummy!

 

Layla was chosen to be the crown bearer for the Homecoming court. It is pretty exciting. So, please excuse all of the pictures. Everyone wanted their picture made with Layla. After all, besides the queen and court, she was the main celebrity of the day!

 

 Layla with the Homecoming Royalty

 

Layla and Connor with the King and Queen

 

 

 Layla and her cousin, Callie

 

Rachel and Shana in the back, Joey and Sarah in the front with Gabe, Layla and Lila

 

Layla and Aunt Jamie

 

 Layla and some friends

 

 

With Gangie, Grandma and Lila

 With Aunt Shana



With pepaw

With Aunt Kelli and Nanny 

With cousin Jamie

 

Homecoming was lots of fun for all of us!

And of course the sisters enjoyed this beautiful Arkansas Fall weather!

Happy Fall Y'all!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUMMER TIME!

Since I am so far behind, I shall summarize the past few months in a brief post. Our summer was FANTASTIC!

Both of my girls enjoyed their summer. It is so nice to be off in the summers with those two..
We took Lila on her first beach vaction. We took trips to the zoo and spent a lot of time in the pool. We played outside and enjoyed some lazy days.

Layla riding in her car

Hanging out with grandma and gangie

Angel Baby

 

Of course the girls spent some time in their playhouse!

Brownies and tea? Why not?

 

What wonderful things I get to enjoy

 

Beach Ready!

Myself, Layla and Lila at the beach

 

Happy Fourth of July!

 

Skinny dipping :)

 

Kiss kiss Mommy!

 

We had lots of things happening this summer. Lila started speech therapy in June and physical therapy in July. She had been doing developmental therapy since February. She is a fantastic patient. Her therapists love her and she loves them. :)

Lila playing with her therapist, Mary.

 

Lila had hernia surgery in July. She had a hernia from her heart surgery that had to be repaired. She also handled that like a champ! She was supposed to spend the night in the hospital but, was released the day of surgery.

 

Such a trooper!

 

I started teaching at a new school in August. Big sister Layla started Kindergarten. It has been a year of changes, but they have had positive outcomes.

 

 

Layla with her popol at school

 

Open House with some of her classmates

First day of school!

 

 

A lovely poem I saw:

 

Lila practiced sitting up (which she didn't like). She mastered the art of that in August.



 

 

 Summer time brought us some beautiful memories.