Wordless Wednesday....5th Birthday!

{Happy Birthday to you}

{Happy Birthday to you}

{Happy Birthday, dear Aubrey}

{Happy Birthday to you!}

{a little too close....she did burn her lip a little}

Where she's at....writing.

For those who aren't around or don't spend "craft" time with Aubrey, this is where she is at in her writing skills.  I would really say that Fine Motor Skills are her weakest area.  She has finally mastered a closed circle.  She even added a couple dots one day and a line to make a face:)  My Momma heart was bursting!

 Now she is working on crossing lines.  They start with a plus sign, for example.  Then she will move on to angled lines.  But the other day, Woody worked with her on A's.  He drew a whole sheet of them and she had to trace them all.  Sounds easier than it was, but she did it twice!  The angle parts seemed easier than the middle cross part for her.

Way to go girl!  You are on your way to writing your name!

Good Friends

My girl has good friends!  I think her sister Emelia is her bestie right now.  So many inside jokes with these too!  Wish I knew what they knew sometimes.

But she really does have good friends both at school and church and all around her.  I feel very blessed.

A friend shared this video and news report on Facebook and I'm so glad.  The cheerleader in the story has Ds.  Sounds like she has some really great friends and is surrounded by people who are willing to fight for her!  Hoping that what Aubrey has now, will continue to be her norm for all her years.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/10/05/cheerleader-with-down-syndrome-rejoins-squad-after-safety-debate/

Overcoming Obstacles

Yes they wear THAT to skate class....I pick and choose my fashion battles:)

Delays are always going to be a part of Aubrey's life.  We knew that from the start.  Some areas are going to have greater delays than others, because of her Down syndrome.  But she will eventually OVERCOME all of those obstacles.  

I would say that her speech is mostly delayed because of her hearing impairment.  I don't know where she would be with her language if she didn't have that impairment.  Definitely behind, but I don't know where.  She is WICKED smart with her sign language, so I think in some ways, she is probably right on target, we just can't understand all that she says verbally....yet!

Beyond that, physical things have been a challenge for her.  Mostly because of her size, and not ability.  She's finally tall enough to reach the pedals on her tricycle and takes off down the street pretty fast.

Aubrey has wanted to ice skate since August when she saw the big girls doing it.  Girl finally got her chance!  They actually make skates almost small enough for her!  And while most things don't come easy....they come and she is determined to do it with out help.  It wasn't love at first skate, but she is as persistent as she is stubborn and girl gets it done.  She practices, becomes confident and then watch out, cause here she comes.

See ya!  I'm going to skate!

**I think everyone would agree that walking in skates is much easier than actually skating....same for Aubrey.  Skating with Aubrey takes two constant hands, so there are no pictures of that.  But she LOVES it and there will be more skating in her future:)  Overcoming the world, one sport at a time!  Just like everybody else.....just slower.

Reading and Signing by Aubrey

I thought it would be nice for you to be able to see where Aubrey is at in her speech and signing....I'll admit, that this is not her best signing and she is a bit of a lazy signer when she knows things well.  Here she is a couple weeks ago reading/signing Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Eric Carle 

The video starts part way into the book, but I think it gives you a perspective on where she is with her speech.  It is becoming much more clear, and we are able to understand much more of what she is actually saying to us and hopefully YOU who are around her often are able to understand a little more.  

So much of her frustration, comes from her inability to make people understand her, but that is all coming along much better and I see her actually talking with other kids and really trying lately to help them understand her.

IMG 0272 1 from Woody Smith - Dallas on Vimeo.

Small things....

"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart".  -Winnie the Pooh

That's definitely how we feel about our pint size Aubrey.  She just turned 5 and is 37 inches tall and 32 lbs.  Just barely on the Ds growth charts, but finally there!  We love you, peanut!

October

I got a LOT of emails and comments about how it was October....and something seemed to be missing!  (Hint, Hint, Wink, Wink, Nudge, Nudge)  Just guessing, but I'm thinking that people knew it was Down syndrome awareness month....and they were hoping for a blog post every day:)  

In so many ways, I have done my job then.  You all remember that October is Down syndrome awareness month and I bet you think of Aubrey and all the others in this world with Ds and I hope that you smiled and took a moment to think about these individuals and the lives and opportunities that they need and should have....what they deserve.

I'll admit that I had the best of intentions last night, but that was as far as I got....and then my mom called tonight....so everything will wait and the post will happen, cause we are NOT going to disappoint Grandma!

{Ella 2 years old, Aubrey 2 weeks-love that little Mohawk}

 Our girl had a cardiology appointment today and I was reminded of how far she's come.  Born at 4lbs 11oz.  She was so tiny....and so sick and our focus was her heart, not Down syndrome.  And to be totally honest, most days are like that.

{Aubrey 13 months}

She's just Aubrey, fourth daughter to Rachel and Woody, sister to Alice, Kate, Ella and Emelia.  She has big brown eyes and a killer smile. She loves life.  She loves challenges.  She loves routines.  She loves Monsters, Inc!

{Aubrey 24 months, Ella 4 years}

 It's easy to forget about the Ds part of her, because her DIFFERENCE has never been our FOCUS.  Our focus is on raising a daughter who loves life, is strong and confident and happy.  We focus on her abilities, while pushing her to be her best at so much more....just like we want and do with all our children.

{Aubrey 35 months}

 But she is different.  And as much as her life is good right now, I was recently reminded that her life might not always be so good.  This munchkin was born into an AWESOME family and community.  She has always been loved and respected and admired.  Some might say she lives in a bubble.  The world is not like that.  Her world won't always be so good.

{Aubrey 4th Birthday}

 I hope they are wrong.  I hope that the world we are living in is full of educated people who understand the value of human life, no matter the differences.  I hope that they look at all people kindly and with respect.

It reminded me that, as her mom, it is my JOB to make sure that that is her reality.  I can't "forget" that she has Ds.  It needs to be something that we remember and keep advocating for, so that her current world is just as we hope it will always be.  It is my job to continue advocating and sharing our girl with the world, so that we can put myths to rest, so that they can learn to love and respect all people with differences.

{Aubrey- 5 years}

This girl changed our life 5 years ago and we hope that she touches others in the same way and softens their hearts to be more kind to ALL individuals and not just those with Down syndrome.