Six Months.

Caroline is six months old, or as Ellie says, "zero and a half."  She's moving forward by sheer force of will rather than coordinated crawl, sitting up, rolling over, eating anything she can get her hands on, and babbling/yelling "dadadadada" and "gagagagagaga" nonstop.  She has a lot of toys but her favorites are anything Ellie tells her not to touch, cords, and long hair to pull.  She has two teeth and an amazing smile.  She wakes up at least twice a night to eat.  She likes the swings and balloons and big kids.  Her head size and weight are in the 94th percentile and her weight is in the 75th.  She wears mostly size 12 month clothes although she's outgrowing the tops.

Happy six months, sweet girl!

{31 for 21} Baby Sister.

This isn't about Down syndrome.

This isn't even about Ellie.

Caroline is one month old today!

Although WOW she looks like Ellie at that age!

TWO!

Where did the time go?

Brand new Ellie.

One year old Ellie with CAKE!

And now, two year old Ellie.

After the servers sang "Feliz cumpleanos" and brought her ice cream.

Making important calls.

Loving dinner out for her birthday with Mommy and Daddy.  (It was really dark, hence the grainy photo.)

We love you, sweet girl.  Thanks for making us smile and laugh every single day.  We spent a lot of time crying during your first year, worried about surgeries and such.  In your second year, we've spent  more time rolling our eyes at another "uh oh!" as you throw food, rolling our eyes more at your demands to "Elmo put!" while handing Daddy the iPad, and we've joined in with your laughter when you help us sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider."  You are growing taller, reaching new items that were safely beyond your reach just a few weeks ago.

You are developing an independent streak to go alongside your sense of humor.  You love to unroll the toilet paper from the roll, laughing, as if daring me to stop you.  You take my hair ties and wear them as bracelets, proclaiming yourself "pwetty!"

When no one is looking, you sing the ABC song.  It goes something like "A B C D E E E E A B C O P P P" and you attempt to sign the letters as you say them.  It's a beautiful disaster and you stop often to applaud.

Ellie, Daddy and I are absolutely crazy about you, even when you make us crazy.  Thank you for being you, for bringing light and love and humor to us every single day.

I promise to take your two year old photos soon.  It's been cold outside and you don't like to smile for me when it's cold and windy!

23 Months.

Dear Ellie,

Today you have:
Emptied all of your drawers while I put away your clothes.
Reached your hand into the dishwasher to unload all of your dirty dishes.
Opened every drawer in the kitchen, clapping for yourself.
Rocked your speech therapy session.
Demanded cookies, although there are no cookies in our house.
Attempted to feed your fish.
Thrown the final bite of each piece of asparagus at me, although you gobbled up most of each piece willingly.
Acted every bit your age.

(I slacked on taking a photo, so I'm sharing this favorite from last spring.)

I cannot believe you'll be two next month.  One felt like a huge deal given your rough start, and two feels like all celebration.

Live it up, baby girl.  Live it up!

Love, Mama

22 Months.

Ellie, as I write this, you are "reading" a "book" about a cow.  Reading is in quotes for obvious reasons (although you may think you can read), and book is in quotes because it's just the book cover of a book that has had removable pieces.

I cannot believe you are 22 months old, which is closer and closer to 24 months old, which is two whole years old!?  Your surgery scars have faded, you are talking more and more, and you are finally, finally making some big progress toward walking.

In typical Ellie fashion, however, you seem to have established rules for walking.
#1 - No one can watch.
#2 - You primarily walk in Barnes and Noble.  (Any of their locations is acceptable to you.)
#3 - You are most willing to walk for cookies, as you demonstrated today while I was at work, taking 15 steps toward your high chair and yelling "cookie."  You were rewarded with a cookie, and I was more than okay with that reward.
#4 - If you are to walk in the presence of a parent, you start with a bear crawl, and the parent must lift your arms up, at which point you sprint until you crash.

Here's hoping you get a bit better at that particular skill in the next two months!  You still primarily bear crawl, and I've had many friends and strangers say that you are the fastest crawler they've ever seen.  You put high school football players to shame.

As far as speech goes, you're starting to put together signs and words, usually with "more" or "please."  After months of Mommy shrugging and asking "More WHAT?" when you sign "more," you've begun to shrug your own shoulders when I ask.  Your speech is getting clearer, and you love to say "cookie," "cheese," "baby," "goggie" (doggie), "shoe," and "sock," although you replace the initial /s/ with /k/, which is somewhat awkward when you yell for your footwear.

You love to give kisses and hugs to Daddy, to Mommy, to your dolls, to your toys.  At a recent birthday party, you snagged the birthday boy's new stuffed dinosaur and gave that dino a big smooch.  You adore your books and ask to hear the same texts over and over.  (One that Mommy finds particularly annoying seems to have fallen behind the toy box.  Whoops.)  You draw at your easel.  You talk on your toy phone (or steal an unattended iPhone) and yell "Hello!  Hi!" at whoever you imagine is on the other end.  You make your babies and stuffed animals chat on the phone as well.

I promise to post photos soon!

Happy 22 Months, Ellie!

Love,
Mama

Expectations: 21 Months.

Note: I know that Ellie is officially 21 months and one day, but Matt guest posted yesterday.  And I know there's no photos.  I have a few on the camera, I just need to pull them off.  Don't worry, we have lots of fun expected this weekend and I'll update with Ellie photos and Down syndrome holiday party photos and Elf photos and other fun!  To make it up to you, today I have a handy dandy Ellie video.

Life has changed in the past 21 months.  Ellie, you are hilarious, and sweet, and naughty, and mostly a delight.  You are full of light, and since your name means "bright ray of light," I shouldn't be surprised. As you grow, I realize what expectations I've had and how you challenge those expectations.

Things I expected that aren't happening:

* Sadness.  I thought I'd be sad when your delays really began to show.  I thought that I'd be sad when you couldn't talk as well as your friends, or keep up with them, but I'm not.  You are your own person, and you are making your own way just fine.  Every time I begin to feel a tinge of sadness, you do something new or encourage someone, or otherwise make your Mama feel better.

* Walking.  Ellie, I know you will walk when you are good and ready.  You are able to walk, but you don't walk.  Your daddy and I go a little nuts sometimes, because you are strong on your feet, and the world's fastest bear crawler.  Watching you push your babies in your stroller or walk with one hand gives us confidence, but I know you could let go and take off.  We're just waiting for you to decide you want to walk.

Things I didn't expect that are happening:

* Talking.  Sweet girl, you may say only one or two words at a time that we can understand, but you are a communicator of the most extreme variety.  The other morning, you woke up at three thirty.  Daddy, brought you into the big bed, and asked you to go to sleep.  You sat up, smiled, and said, "No no no!"  You love the word "mine."  You decided that a bunny is a "ba-du" and your vocabulary is constantly expanding.

* Pretend play.  This is perhaps one of my favorite stages.  You "talk" on my phone, Daddy's phone, my old phone which is now "Ellie's phone" and on your toy Elmo phone.  You feed your dollies plastic food, and sometimes you feed your octopus.  You dress your animals in hats.  As I type, you are tackling a pink stuffed octopus and force-feeding him a plate.

* Stacking.  All of a sudden, you love to stack your wooden blocks, up to four blocks high.  Every block you attempt to stack, you call out "ack!" and applaud.  The applause isn't limited to successful attempts, you cheer for yourself and say "yay" for every effort.

* Laughter.  No additional details needed here, your laugh is amazing.



Things I expected before I found out you had Down syndrome that are happening just like I expected:

* Holiday fun.  You love Rudolph, and sometimes call him "woof-woof."  The Turkey Bowl Turkey terrified you.  I cannot wait for you to meet Santa.  You stare at the tree and attempt to open the gifts early.  You acknowledge the Elf on the Shelf, but you're very interested in his hat.

* Music.  You love it all, but the cheesier the better.

* Friends.  I love to watch you with your friends.  I still relate to other parents, even if our journey looks a bit different.  You and your friends hug, snatch toys, fight, and laugh.

* Terrible twos.  Ack!

Happy 21 Months, Miss Trouble!

PS For the Grandmas and Grandpas.... Just kidding about the delays.  I know that you don't believe in them.  That's why we love you!

Thankful for a 20 Month Old.

Totally cliche, but I'm thankful for time with my family.  We attempted some Christmas card photos yesterday.  We ran into a few issues.

1. Super snotty Ellie.
2. Super windy day, meaning Ellie wore a hoodie most of the time.
3. Cold day, meaning Ellie was uncooperative.

At least it was good for a laugh.

I hope you're all enjoying a hurricane-free weekend.

Aw, look at us!

Just ignore the child trying to escape.

Get me outta here!

As far as today's list of "little things" for which I am thankful...
Electricity.
Pinterest.
A child who is SLEEPING IN on the one day of the year I extra-expected her to wake up early.

That child is 20 months old today.  I may have forgotten about that milestone, but she also moves into the "toddler room" at church at 20 months, which is a big step.  We might even switch her today.  Ellie continues to astound us with her personality, her ability to throw food with a big smile, her love of dressing her stuffed animals (and parents) in hats (-at, -at, -at!) and her complete adoration of apples.  She still calls any sort of roundish fruit an apple, including pumpkins and grapefruits.  Don't dare suggest she is wrong.

Ellie, we love you, even when you're teething.  And I hope that tooth hurries so we can see your sunny self again soon!

{31 for 21} Nineteen Months Old.

Dear Big People,

In honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, I've been sharing some things on my Mommy's Facebook page, and now, I will share some things with you.  Just so you know, being aware of babies toddlers with Down syndrome is the first step in keeping them happy.  I happen to be an expert on being a toddler with Down syndrome.  Ready for my qualifications?

1. I am now 19 months old, which is official toddlerhood.
2. I have Down syndrome.
3. Pigtails.

Now that you are ready to listen to me, here are all the things I think you should know about toddlers with Down syndrome.

First of all, "uh oh" means "uh oh."  Just because you hear us say "uh oh" before the bag of lettuce falls on that guy in the store does NOT make it premeditated.  Maybe I have a feeling that the bag of lettuce is going to slip.  Big people, "uh oh" means accident!  That's why toddlers with Down syndrome say "uh oh," so we don't get in trouble.  Remember that, okay?

Second, toddlers with Down syndrome need to explore.  For example, some toddlers with Down syndrome (like me) don't want to walk yet, but we still need to check out our world.  This means we have to climb up all the stairs when you fail to lock the gate.  We need to see what happens when we spin the toilet paper roll.  We need to see what is at the back of every cupboard.  I'm trying to help my parents remember when they leave things out by announcing my intent.  It makes my parents fast.  Try this:  Yell "UP," then sprint toward the stairs.  Can't walk?  That's okay, just crawl fast like me!  You can watch Mommy and Daddy move at lightening speed!

Third, toddlers with Down syndrome have strong opinions.  That's why I learned the word "no-no-no-no."  Isn't that word fun?  Just don't say it to a toddler with Down syndrome.  Or a toddler without Down syndrome.  Or any toddler at all.  We don't like "no."  We like "Okay, more cookies!"  

I also want you to know that I love Elmo, my babies, and my kitchen.  I love my red ball and causing trouble and wearing grown up shoes.  I love to say "shoes," "baby," "apple," and "no-no-no-no."  I love to play with my friends and read books and cause lots and lots of trouble.

Do you feel more aware of toddlers with Down syndrome now?  You should go hug a toddler with Down syndrome today!

Love, Ellie
(Your local Toddler with Down Syndrome Expert, age 19 months.)

I'm 18 Months Old, and I'm on a Train!

Hi Blog-reader-grownups.

It's Ellie.  Today, I am 18 months old and my mommy is a slacker.  She's trying to run and get ready for work and she is making me write my own "I'm a month older post" again.

I will forgive Mommy for her slackerness, because yesterday, I think she and Daddy wanted to celebrate my being one and a half years old, and it was awesome.

Here is what happened.

First, they dressed me in my shirt that says "Chicago Cubs."  They kept saying "baseball" and I was signing ball a lot.  Then, they told me that a "Cub" is a baby bear, so I did a lot of baby and bear signing, too.

I don't know why they were so excited about bears and baseball, because they left out the best part when they were telling me about the day.  We drove to the parking lot and they put me in the Bjorn.  I tried to say, "Stroller, people, stroller!" but they said something about stadiums and steps and "no."  But at least the Bjorn makes me tall.  And then we went through gates and on an escalator and we got on a train!  Mama and Dada said train and I signed train the entire ride to the baseball place.  Train train train train train!

We took a break from train riding to walk around and sit in high seats.  I ate a pretzel for lunch, with fake cheese and mustard.  I think we should eat more food like that, but Mommy said no.  While we ate our lunch and took our break, people played baseball.  When we got there, our team was losing.  I thought our team would be the Nats, like everyone else, but Daddy was very clear that our team is the Cubs.  I took that message to heart.

Why can't they get a run??

Since everyone else liked the Nats, everyone else cheered at the wrong times.  I did not appreciate that attitude.  The Cubs would do something bad, and everyone would say "Whoohoo!" and hurt my ears and my soul.  I'd cry, and my parents would say, "It's okay, Ellie, I want to cry, too," but mostly they laughed at me.  But they gave me giant pretzel.  And finally, when all the losing was too much, I took a nap with my Daddy until train time again.

At train time, there were lots and lots of babies!  And some kind people wearing Cubs shirts who said that I am cute.  Did I mention that I love the train?  I signed more train and baby signs.

After the train, I was hungry and grumpy, so we went to Chili's where I drowned my sorrows in spicy guacamole.  My parents were silly and mean and tried to make me stop eating spicy guacamole when my eyes started watering from the heat.  But then my rice and my chicken arrived so I ate those.  And Mommy's cheese.

And that's what it's like to be 18 months old.  Guacamole and baseball.

Have a great first day of school, everyone!

PS. Mommy didn't bring the camera because it was maybe going to rain and because carrying me and my diaper bag is a big job for her and Daddy.  She apologizes for phone photos.

PS#2. Mommy also says to check yesterday's post to see if you are a big winner!

Seventeen Months.

Every month I say it, but "How are you this old already Ellie?!"

Miss Ellie, you are seventeen months old.  In case your tiny size and lack of upright mobility cause anyone to doubt your age, you've taken to showing your true toddler colors.

You empty the diaper bag in 20 seconds flat.

If you choose not to eat something, you throw it down violently.

You seem to be actively seeking out new ways to get in trouble.  You have an adorable evil grin warning us when trouble is brewing.

You also are finally getting the hang of "sharing," when you want to.  You like to take your baby's bottle and share it with your octopus and most recently, with me.  Yum!  Fake milk from a plastic bottle!

You're signing "bus."  And saying "bus."

Read food is exempt from your new "sharing" talent.  Last night, I asked for your cracker, and although you placed it in my hand, you snatched it back quickly.  When Daddy asked, you got wise and ran away.

Skills-wise, you are cruising between pieces of furniture, pulling up to a stand on everything and everyone (including your highchair), using more words and signs, and showing the beginnings of pretend play.

Most importantly, you are loved.  We were so worried when you got sick, and although you're still not quite 100 percent better, we're regaining some peace.  In three weeks, we will celebrate your first heart-day, and to look back at a year ago and your preparation for surgery, I cannot believe how far you've come.  More about that for your heart day celebration.

For now, happy seventeen months!  We love you!

Sixteen Months, and West Coast Love.

Dear Ellie,

Today is the Fourth of July.  You are sixteen months old, and you just completed your first West Coast adventure.  Instead of giving everyone an update, I'm going to share our vacation, because that tells so much about who you are right now.

Daddy says you are a good West Coast baby because you have a great tan, you love the sand, and you are very open with your feelings and express them frequently.  I say it's in your blood.  So here's part one of your first trip to Orange County, San Diego, and the infamous "Inland Empire."

***

We went to California the day after arriving home from New York City.  You were very good on the plane ride, and you did a lot of sleeping, which was good.  We spent Tuesday at Dana Point with Pops.    Muma had to work, but she was with us for dinner.  You told her all about the birds you saw.  Instead of doing the sign for "bird" we've been doing for months, you flapped your "wings" and pointed at every single bird.  You also started signing "banana" this week when Mommy was getting ready to feed you a banana.

"Why is my bottom getting all wet?!?!" 

Pops.

On Wednesday, we went to Sea World.  You loved the little fish at Turtle Reef, but you didn't care about the turtles at all.  You were very brave at Shark Encounter, although the dolphins scared you a little.  You liked the outside penguins, but not the inside penguins.  Grandma Sally went to Sea World with us and it was Mommy's birthday gift and Daddy's Father's Day gift, so Mommy and Daddy even went on Shipwreck Rapids while you took a nap and Grandma watched you.  Daddy got the most soaked out of our whole boat!

Shamu.

Mommy feeding the bat rays.  These were Mommy's favorite as a little girl.  But now they sell bat ray food, which is amazing.

Jerk birds kept trying to steal bat ray food and sea lion food.

Daddy and Grandma Sally.

We saw Shamu, which you didn't care about, and the dolphin show, where you liked the birds.  You also liked all the birds who aren't Sea World birds, but just visit for the fish.  Your favorites were a two-toed sloth as well as any little fish.  I guess little Ellies like little fishies.

Feed me fish!

Sloth.

Grandma and Ellie checking out bat rays.

Daddy and Ellie checking out dolphins.

The flipping dolphins.

Fishies!

Grandma and Ellie chatting.

Daddy and Mommy post-Shipwreck Rapids.

Daddy got to go swim with the dolphins, but you slept through the whole thing.  Daddy befriended a dolphin named Beeker, and he and Beeker kissed!  (She was very good looking, but I was still jealous.)  Daddy looked like a dolphin trainer in his wetsuit, and Beeker did whatever Daddy told him using dolphin sign language, which is sort of like regular sign language, but for dolphins.

Daddy travels via dolphin. 

Beeker.

Ellie, thank you for being so good at Sea World.  You loved it, and we loved having you with us.  You made us laugh and we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to stay at the park through dinner time.

And that, my love, is where we will end for today.  Much more about your first West Coast experience to come!

Love, Mommy

Fifteen Months.

Dear Blog Readers,

Normally, when I turn a month older, my mommy writes me a letter.  Today, I thought I'd write to everyone and tell you what this month has been like for me.

First of all, my biggest accomplishment this month is the stairs.  I can climb them now.  My parents and my physical therapist and my case manager and my friends and everyone kept saying, "Ellie, learn to climb the stairs."  I learned.  And a few days later, a big box came in the mail and Mommy said to Daddy, "That's the gate!" and the next morning I woke up and there was a jail on our stairs.  Now I can only climb stairs when Mommy or Daddy is right behind me or when they forget to close the gate.

Our pool opened this month.  I decided that the baby pool is too cold, and also that I'm a big kid.  I don't like the baby pool, just the grown up pool.  I like to ride in my friend Lily's raft that she let me borrow last summer.  Back then, I was too little but now I fit!  I like to splash.  And splash.  And make big people throw me up and down in the water.  I love our pool.

This has been a month of discovery for me.  I discovered watermelon.  It's red and juicy and it stains everything but that's okay because it's tasty and I don't do laundry yet.  We had a party in our neighborhood this weekend and all the kids my age ate a lot of watermelon.  My favorite foods are a tie with watermelon and yellow curry with tofu and cheese.  And cake.  And pizza.  And falafel.  I like falafel because I like to smash it and throw it and sometimes eat it.  And always smear it on the table.  Yum.

One thing you should know is that I'm very spiritual now that I'm fifteen months old.  I like church a lot, and I sing along with the hymns.  When the pastor starts to talk, I try to talk along with him, and my mom says, "Shhh, Ellie, I want to hear the sermon" and I tell her the sermon but she still says "Shhh!" and then takes me outside where I get to see all the ladies who set up coffee and tell me I'm cute.  Church is awesome.  Oh, and we went to a Simchat Bat (that's a Jewish baby girl's naming ceremony) this weekend too, and I tried to sing along with the rabbi.  I think at all religious events, my mom has to say "Shhh."

I am still working on walking, but I am getting good at cruising and getting more confident.  I'm really good at crawling, so I don't see what the big deal with walking is anyway.  I will cruise for Kix.  I like Kix.  And I'll cruise for anything fun like cords or paper or the plastic bag from the newspaper that says "Keep away from small children."  My mom and dad take all that good stuff away, because they are mean sometimes.

My favorite toys are my shape sorter and elephant ball popper.  You see, when I was little, a long time ago, my mommy and my physical therapist said that I needed to learn "voluntary release" and I said "no way!"  But in the past month or so, I decided that I like to release things.  I like to put my circle in my shape sorter, and sometimes, I like to try to put the triangle in the circle, too.  That doesn't work yet, but someday, I will make the triangle fit.

I also like learning about new words.  My mom ordered me special words to learn called "See and Learn."  I have more chromosomes than most people, so I get special cards.  And I see pictures like a dog and a cat and my mommy says, "Find the cat!" and I do.  Unless there's a fish involved.  I always mess up the fish.  But I'm mostly awesome at my cards.  I can put them back in the bag when I'm done, too.

Okay friends, I better go.  That's a lot of words for a fifteen month old to write, and I'm kinda tired.  But don't worry, my mommy will keep you all updated on my adventures.  Especially if they involve stairs.  Or falafel.

Love,

Ellie L.