Happy Easter

What we've been up too....

I am long over due for some updates, but there is so much going on here, that I'm just trying to keep up sometimes...but I promise to try and get some coming soon.  Until then, and because I keep getting bugged by the family, her are at least some pictures of what we're up too.

The weather has been beautiful here and we've been spending as much time as we can outside.  The girls love playing on the porch and watching the neighborhood goings on!  Future neighborhood gossip girls!

My kids don't lack imagination and pretend play!  They set this all up and asked me to take a "family picture"!  They are so funny.  It's actually a pretty good shot off all the girls.

Daddy celebrated a birthday.  Aubrey and Ella learned "Happy Birthday" in sign language.  I have it on video, but can't get it to upload right now.

 I figured out how to get Aubrey and Emelia to nap at least a little while at the same time each afternoon (and in the same room to boot!) and so Ella and I have been doing some baking and crafting.

This day we were making blueberry pie.

Aubrey has decided that "bedtime" should really be considered a second naptime, that is also followed by snacktime!  She goes down about 7 and gets back up between 8 and 9...and then thinks she needs a snack...Dad gives in and then tucks her back in.  Ella thought this sounded pretty sweet and wanted in on the deal too!  We are working on BREAKING this habit and have found some success this week.

 Emelia is growing by leaps and bounds and at 3 months, 10 lbs and 10oz, she is officially more than half of her older sisters weight.  I'm guessing she will pass Aubrey by sooner than we thought.

She's cooing and trying to say quite a bit.  Sleeping better too....though 3pm - 11pm is not the 8 hour stretch that I am looking for!  But last night she did sleep 10pm - 7:30am!  No real patterns and sometimes she's up all night...so we plug along:)

 Ella's perch from the upstairs balcony...want to know what she was watching...

The painter!  He was here two days last week painting the high walls for us in the living room and kitchen eat in area.  It's a really pretty sage green.

And yesterday...my baby girl got her first set of FRENCH BRAIDS!!!

 Her hair is so thin and was getting long, so I've been meaning to cut it, but after this, I might reconcider.

Not my best or straightest work...but she was so still for the first one...and they stayed in all day...she even figured out how to flip the ends so that she could twirl them while sucking her thumb!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Wordless Wednesday--Sister Loving

Fashion vs. Function

Sometimes (or maybe a lot this summer)...fashionable footwear will take precedence over the functional shoes that must be worn with socks and orthotics.

Yup...you'll be seein' a lot of these frogs this summer...cause that's what everyone else will be wearing around here, so why not Aubrey.

I thought she would dislike the part between her toes (like all kids do at first), but she didn't mind one bit and actually took to them like she'd been wearing them all year.  And yes with 85 degree weather this weekend, it was plenty warm to be wearing sun dresses and flip flops!  We love Texas in April...but come August...you'll only find us in the pool!

Wordless Wednesday -- Circus, Circus (grade school play)

Living life each day...

Yesterday was 3/21...March 31st...World Down Syndrome Awareness Day.  It is celebrated on  3/21 each year...3 represents the third copy of the 21st chromosome.  It's a day designed to raise general awareness about Down syndrome and to celebrate the individuals who carry the extra chromosome.

So why am I posting today you ask?  Well, because life got in the way yesterday.  Because yesterday, like most days, Down syndrome is not at the forefront.  It is almost always in the backseat actually.  And while I am always interesting in talking with people and sharing information and advocating for individuals with Down syndrome and sharing our story of Aubrey...I'm so much more interested in just living our lives.

But I also wanted to recognize the fact that 1/47th of Miss Aubrey is unique and special and something that we celebrate. So here is to all those out there will designer genes!

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14

"If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change."

-Taylor Swift-

"Our children arrived exactly as they were designed.  There was no mistake here.  They are a direct and unmistakable gift from God."--Courtney Heigele

"Down syndrome is a sometimes-frightening but mostly beautiful part of my life just as being female is or being a photographer is or getting older, being a wife, raising kids is. Life isn't always easy. Some things you choose, some things you don’t, but together it stirs together, and you drink it. And if it doesn’t taste quite right, you set to work in your kitchen adding, subtracting, perfecting that recipe until it’s the best damn drink you’ve ever tasted. The perfect cocktail. And Dude, I know how to make a good martini."--Kelle Hampton

(Her favorite place to hang out these days - between the wall and the tv dresser stand)

Yes it really is warm enough for sun dresses this week!

chalking with Ella

So if you have spent any time with me on the phone or at our house in the last year, you have heard me say (at least a hundred times) "Aubrey is NOT a doll!"  followed by "Stop carrying her, dressing her up, putting her in there, all of the above or whatever applies".

The girls thought it was time for Aubrey to take up a sport...they picked Tang So Do.

And they set to work with her training....

And she LIKED it!  So if you stop by and see her in this outfit, you'll know she's just catching up on her training sessions...not being tortured...THIS time!

And Emelia is finally settling in...and sleeping.  She likes something on her face to fall asleep or to snuggle herself into the crook of your arm.

And she is spending more time just looking up at us with these amazing blue eyes!  

But when she's crying...Big Sister Aubrey (who isn't every really far away from her) comes running to the rescue!  Aubrey tries covering her up, rocking the car seat, wiggling the bell toys, until Emmie nods off again.  Aubrey has such a big heart and so much love for this little sister of hers.  I have to remind Aubrey not to squeeze so tight when she's loving on her little sister.

And  can you believe that I was brave enough to take the three littles here?

It was a reward to Ella and they both loved it...thankfully Emmie slept.  Note there is no pictures of the kids actually in the water playing since that required all of me and there was no way to take pictures and hold baby and keep everyone alive!  Maybe next time:)

But I did snap this one of Aubrey and Dad at a birthday party this weekend.  She is loving the pools and I can see I'm going to be busy at the pool this year!

Full Hands...Full Hearts

In case my LACK of posting doesn't say it already....this picture certainly does!

I have my hands full most days!  But my heart is full too!  I love these guys and I know the days of holding and cuddling are numbered...and I'm trying to cherish that and not complain!

Emelia likes to be held...or she cries...and yes I did try and let her just cry one day and she cried for TWO hours...Not worth it.

We are working on it....but it is a slow process.  She gets a lot of bubbles when she eats and so if you don't get all the bubbles out...she doesn't sleep.  She's getting better, but she's a tough cookie to figure out.

And Aubrey....

Well, in so many ways she is still a baby too and she likes to be cuddled and held and carried.  And between the two of them, I got my hands full and that doesn't allow for typing on the blog:)

Aubrey LOVES Emelia and shares kisses all day and wants to hold her a lot...and was kind enough to share her germs too...yup, Emmie has a little snotty nose this morning:(

I have lots of pictures and updates, but I'll leave you with Valentines day for now (since I hear Emelia crying right now)

(Emelia pooped on her outfit before her photo op---so no valentine picture--sorry)