Some pics

Thought I should add a few pictures.  Yes, that would be nice.

 Mermaid Princess Lucy Loo

 Mermaid Princess Belly Rose

Abby showing off her new stroller!

Okay, a long overdue check in.

So how are you?  I am good.  I am heading to my 20 year reunion this weekend.  I can not believe I am this old.  Any who, let's get to the good stuff!

• Bella is starting Kindergarden in 2 weeks.  I can't believe it.  She is so ready.  And I am so ready for her to be out of the house!
• Lucy has hit the full force cajun 3s!  It takes everything I have not to lose it daily.  Love that little cajun girl!
• Abby is doing so well.  I got 3 weeks with her one on one due to our 'vacation' to my parents house.  And it seemed to push her further along.  She is very close to sitting up, she does baby push ups on her tummy, she rolls where she wants to get, she is holding toys with both hands, and just started putting them in her mouth.  I believe she has said Ma twice.  So great.  She also busted 20 pounds!  I can't wait to see her pediatrician.  He is always so surprised by her weight.  She just broke through her first tooth, I forgot how big they look.  Bella's baby teeth look so small in her mouth and I know when her big girl teeth grow in they will look huge!

I am so excited because I became a member of the National Down Syndrome Congress.  Right now they are having their annual convention.  Steve and I are talking about trying to make it every other year.  I found out that online you can attend their lectures and I signed up.  It is such a particular chromosome disorder and there is so much new information out there, I learned a ton from just one lecture.  The information most people have comes from the 50s or 80s and is greatly outdated.  For instance, it is thought that people with Down Syndrome can't work, drive or live on their own.  But with parents who don't set limitations and provide experiences for their kids, they are able to do most anything.  So that is great.

We will be creating a team for the Buddy Walk in November of this year.  I am hoping it is around her birthday because we can celebrate after.  We are gonna try to get as many people as we can!

I am ready and willing to answer questions about Abby.  I am so lucky to have my background in education as well as having the wonderful experiences with my students.  I feel right now like I can change the world, and I just might.

I just want to send out a special thanks to my friends.  I have chosen my friends carefully in my life.  Very carefully.  And it is for a reason.  I have received so much support from you in the last year.  I am so thankful to many of you.  

A special thanks to:

Amy R. and Brixie M. Thank you for the unconditional love and support during the trying times of my pregnancy.  And thank you for being there for me on that 2nd day when I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders.  It meant so much to me that you visited Abby in the NICU.  Thank you.

Tricia A.  Thank you for being an awesome mom of 4.  We have so many life experiences in common and you have been a pillar of strength for me.  You allow yourself to be human and share it with me.  Thank you.

Staci L. I don't think you can ever know how much it means to me to still have you as a friend after 33 years!  Our lives have paralleled so much and it is so great to have someone to talk to who understands.

Mom and Dad Thank you so much for teaching Jay and I unconditional love and that it is 'normal' to be exactly as God made us.  Thank you for loving my children all the same and for continuing to take care of me.

Jay and Alec Thank you so much for being the guardian angels for Abby.  When she was born you fell in love with her and I know she holds a special place in your hearts.  You love all my children and I thank you for that.

Pat and Teri Thank you for being a really great Aunt and Uncle to my kids.  You were so thoughtful and caring when Abby was born and loved her from the get go.

Bella and Lucy, Thank you for being the best big sisters a little sister can have.  She adores you both and you are great role models for Abby.

Steve, Thank you for being my partner in this family.  We are in this together and I know you love our girls more than you ever knew you could.  Thank you for being one of the most open minded people I know.  When I come up with crazy schemes, you just nod your head and trust me.  I love you.

And to all my friends who daily support me on Facebook, you have no idea how much it means.  

I apologize....

For being such a bad blogger. I have been eating bon bons and tanning lately so it has not crossed my mind... Well that is a fib. I think about blogging all the time. My mind races with things to share, yet getting to the computer for more than 19 seconds is beyond my capabilities at this time. So for that, I do apologize. So tonight I blog. But now, I put a baby to bed.