TWO whole years of this girl.
TWO years of smooches, cuddles, belly laughs and full hearts.
TWO years of learning the ropes of parenthood.
TWO years of messy high chairs, restless nights, and knowing the route to the closest ER like the back of my hand.
TWO years of nothing but change.
TWO years of nothing but LOVE.
Kara is now 23 lbs 15 oz, 30 ins, & has 10 (& a half!) teeth!
I cannot believe we’re here. My little 6-lb babe is growing into someone who is more amazing than I could have ever imagined.
I know it might sound cliche, but you have kids & you think of all the things you will teach them. It’s surprising to find out that it’s quite the opposite. This little girl has taught me so much & I will forever be grateful for everything she’s given me.
She’s taught me patience.
Being a parent is the ultimate test. Starting with pregnancy, Kara has forced me to slow down & give into the unknown. I have learned to let go of control because in reality there is very little that you get to hold onto.
That’s the hardest part about motherhood, having the facade of the boss, but never really being in control.
I’m not perfect, I am still a very impatient person, but I do have a sense of calm when it comes to Kara. She does things on her own time.
She’s taught me persistence.
Kara’s new favorite hiding spot is in our stand alone shower. She likes to get inside, slide the door shut, babble and play with whatever soap bottles she can get her hands on.
Of course, we try to prevent this by keeping the doors shut tight at all times, but this girl is persistent. She continually searches for the opportunities where the doors are left cracked open and will make her way into her not-so-secret hiding spot.
I think of this when I feel like we’re lagging behind & the therapies we put ourselves through aren’t working. She’s taught me that if we keep moving forward & we keep pushing on those doors, one day they will eventually open & meeting that milestone is that much sweeter because of the time we spent working towards it.
She’s taught me determination.
Kara is officially taking unassisted steps! She’s been working tirelessly at this. Her determination blows me away. She practices all day, every day.
While I love watching her take more & more steps on her own, my favorite part is seeing how she reacts when she stumbles. She stands, takes a deep breath and puts one foot forward before she hits the floor.
Then she giggles.
She picks herself back up, takes a deep breath and shuffles forward three steps before crashing down.
Then she applauds herself.
She doesn’t get hung up on the fact that she isn’t walking long distances without falling. She doesn’t let one little stumble get in her way. She simply recognizes that one step forward is one step further than she was before & she is proud of herself, as she should be.
She’s taught me optimism.
Raising a child with special needs will push your limits, both physically & emotionally. What I’ve learned is that not only is it doable, it is SO WORTH IT. I look back at the past two years and see more successes than struggles. That is what I choose to see.
After our prenatal diagnosis, I took the first terrifying step to start this blog. I wanted to show others what I’ve been learning as a special needs mom. From it has come much love & understanding from our followers. Because of this, I choose to remain hopeful that my sweet girl will grow up in a more accepting world. Because of her, I have seen the good in people.
Because of Kara, I am forever smiling.
TWO YEARS of having this wonderful little person in my life & I can sit here and write this with complete certainly – because of Kara, I am a better, kinder, happier, more generous & more confident human being. My world was flipped upside down when we found out about her, and I’m not just talking about her diagnosis of Down syndrome – that’s just a bonus. The very existence of her has been a gift since the very beginning.
Happy second birthday, sweet pea.
New this month:
- Became a BIG SISTER two days before her birthday! She loves to pat her sister’s back, kiss her head & inspect her dirty diapers to the disgust of Mom & Dad.
- Loves to give Eskimo kisses & butterfly kisses.
- Began drinking from a sippy cup like this one.
- Started walking! She’s up to 12 consecutive steps!
- Perfected her booty shake & other favorite dance moves.
- Continues to sign in sentences.
- Asks to swing approximately eight times a day.
- Continues to use her potty at least once or twice a day.
- Likes to move around the house, cleaning everything in sight – not a bad pastime if you ask me.
- Growing into such a big girl!
On Her 2nd Birthday 
Back Porch Sittin’ 
Bathtime Bubbles 
Big Sister, Little Sister
