31 for 21: This Day Will always Be special To Us.

Halloween has it's moments. I mean who doesn't enjoy free candy. But since Emilia was born the day has become so much more to us. Em was born on the 22nd of October, but she came home on the 31st.
Emilia was welcomed home on Halloween after a short nine day stay in the NICU.  


She was the best "treat" we ever received!


As for the challenge, it's over! I'd like to thank everyone who posted this month. Whether it was every day or once a week, there were so many interesting and inspirational posts. I learned new things and met some new families. And hopefully we have opened some hearts and calmed some fears.




Well it's late and I'm tired from trick or treating. I'll end this post with pictures of our night.

The ladybug. Daytime costume

Our very first Jack O Lanterns

The crew, minus Olivia but with a hamburger!

Chicken Run

Wild and crazy clown

At home with the loot!

My lovely Barbie Doll.

Happy Halloween!

31 for 21: I'm Not Tired

 "Someone" thinks that just because she is two years old, she didn't need to take a nap today. And because of that, "Someone" fell asleep in her taco tonight.  

31 for 21: Sweet Treats!

 This is Em's first time having popcorn. I have a slight issue with babies and popcorn. Although I must admit I never waited two years with my other kids, to give them their first taste. Obviously from the pictures Emmie can handle the popped kernels just fine.

Finally, mom thinks I'm big enough for popcorn.

MMMM, this is good!

No one around and I've got the whole bowl!!

Someone left some M&M's!!

Just one more

Popcorn and M&M's and now for dessert an OREO!!! What an awesome night!!!

31 for 21: You Decide...

what came first , the chicken or the ladybug??

31 for 21: 21 Things about Em

I've been wanting to do this all month but for some reason just get a mental block when I try to think of 21 things. Don't ask why. This morning I'm up extra early so I have plenty of quiet time to get this going. Only a few days in October left! So without further ado here is Em's Top 21 list:


1. Emilia was born in the month of October. Which happens to be my favorite month and also down syndrome awareness month. And at the moment is holding steady at "21" pounds!


2.Em has teeth and she's not afraid to use them. Ask for a kiss and you might get more than you bargained for.

3. Her hugs will stop your heart.

4. She thinks she is fluent in sign language. Her little hands go a mile a minute.

5. She loves and hold her dolly now for at least 10 seconds before she slams her into the ground. We are making great progress here!!

6. Em is always hungry and will sign for"more food" constantly.  


7. She will attack you if you have Oreos.

8. Em does not like to ride on a carousel.  We have tried over and over. it's a no go,


9. She is throwing overhand now so hard hats are encouraged when entering our home.

10. Em's OT taught her to bounce a ball. The only problem is now Em thinks everything can bounce. She takes all her toys to the kitchen floor and throws them down as hard as she can.   Repeatedly!


11. She can throw a whopper of a tantrum. It's really something to see. They usually occur when we have to take something away from her that is potentially life threatening. She does not appreciate our efforts to protect her. The tantrums are fast and furious. When she thinks she has sufficiently scared the heck out of us, she returns to her lovely self. 


12. She loves chaos. The louder and more crowded a place the better. That's a gift from God. He knew what her home was like!


13. Her favorite fruit at the moment is grapes. 


14. Em will not drink juice of any kind. Milk and water only.


15. Em loves to play outside. All she needs is a pile of mulch to keep her busy all day.


16. Emilia has an unhealthy obsession with our cat. She is by his side all day. When he walks away she holds onto his tail and walks with him. Like a baby elephant holds it's mama's tail.


17. She will sign Daddy, and call out to him. Not so for mama! 


18. She absolutely delights in her siblings and prefers them to anyone in the world.


19. She's got a sweet tooth that could rival Willie Wonka's.  Just for my own entertainment I feed her M&M's just to hear her say "yum yum" as she is devouring them.


20. Em will eat peanut butter on anything.

21. And the best thing about Miss Em is that she was just what we all needed. She brightens our days.  I just love to watch unsuspecting people get caught up in her spirit. I love to watch a smile appear , and then a laugh and then hear a request to hold her. They walk away changed. She has made their day better. And she has made our lives unbelievable .

31 for 21: Too Cool

How do you watch TV???

31 for 21: Let's Pretend!

OK, this is huge... to me anyway. Last night Miss Em was playing with this empty coffee can. It used to be Andrew's when he was in Kindergarten. Emmie found a  spoon and started to "stir", and then she "tasted" what was in the can!!!!! She was PRETENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Age Appropriate Dramatic Play!!!!!!
Emmie has never seen this can before, we never had food in it, and she wasn't eating anything. She was just pretending.  

Stirring

stirring

Stirring

And tasting!

one more stir

And now it's a drum

So much fun!

31 for 21: Thankful Sunday

The birthday weekend is winding down. Today was Em's party and it was great. Em is one loved Little Dumpling. This is going to be a quick one because I'm tired and my hubby needs the computer. 

I can sum up my thankfulness in pictures of today.

This year Em could open her own presents

And she liked it!

Pretty clothes

My rendition of a blue eyed Ladybug cake.

And her initials on her bottom.

Emmie liked it.

And thank you all for the beautiful birthday wishes for Em.

31 for 21: That's My Girl

some things...

Just don't need to be taught.

Like how to enjoy chocolate!

Happy Birthday Emilia Faith! Thank you for showing us so many beautiful colors. You take my breath away each day. You are my summer Sunflower standing tall and strong, I love you Em...

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

31 for 21: Persistence

Persistent. That just about sums up what this sunflower is. It's October 21st, well past blooming time.Sunflower season is over. The leaves are changing, the temperature is dropping and the garden is readying itself for a long winters nap. But this sunflower bloomed today. Stuck it's pretty face into the sun for the very first time. The epitome of a late bloomer. You see this sunflower had a tough beginning. It started out in the usual way. As a tiny seed, gently planted into the earth in early spring. It was tended to and watered, and in time it became a tiny shoot, with tiny little leaves. Well it met up with a wayward lawn mower and it all but disappeared.  I feared it was gone. But everyday I checked on it, I knew it's roots were still embedded in the earth, and in time it grew again. Still early enough in the summer, it would have plenty of time to grow tall.  Then some nasty bugs ate all the leaves and my sunflower disappeared again. I feared the worst, but once again it proved me wrong and started to grow. Just a little slower and smaller this time. It was already halfway through the summer, but still enough warm days left I thought, for it to grow tall and strong.  One more attack of bugs took it from my sight. It was late summer now and even if it came back again I feared the cold would put an absolute end to my sunflower. But, again it persevered and started to grow. This time I felt bad for my sunflower. All this effort to grow and stand tall, so many times starting over and over again, just to be frozen by the dropping temps. Why does it bother? Why doesn't it just give up?
I guess because, that's all it knows. Maybe this sunflower longs to feel the sun on it's petals even if it's just for a day. Because even a life that doesn't seem worth it is very well worth it if it's yours. Maybe it's not the quantity of days but the quality. Maybe it just enjoys a good challenge!    

Regardless of the reason, my summer sunflower is here and blooming right next to the fall mums. Her stem is crooked and her flower is small but her face is in the sun. And I think my sunflower is beautiful, just as she is.

I think I'll call my sunflower Emilia...

31 for 21 : Two Word Wednesday

Peanut Butter

31 for 21: Trick or Treat Smell My Feet...

Those little feet don't stink.

These silly beans just love each other.

31 FOR 21: Blah, Blah , Blah

Yesterday was a bummer, but today was better. Thanks for all your sweet comments. I love you Guys! Not one person told me to just "suck it up", not in your comment anyway, LOL. 

This is going to be quick and cute. Emmie's  jabbering is really coming along. I think she has almost enough made up words to claim her own language. 
Today while she was eating , Peter and I were sitting at the dining room table talking. I was telling him about something and I said, "oh you know, blah blah blah", and went on with whatever I was talking about. 


Then we hear, from Miss Em, a very clear, "   blah, blah, blah"  !
It's coming! In her own time and definitely in her own way! But it's coming!

31 for 21: Thankful?

Today was supposed to be a relaxing day with friends at the pumpkin patch. It wasn't. The friends were fine the patch was there, and that's about all that went the way it was supposed to. The day started to unravel the second I woke up, I should have known it wasn't going to get better. I'm not even going to waste my time writing or your time reading about the unfortunate events of this day. 


I'm going to find one thing to be thankful for and call it a day. And that one thing is Emmie kept her hat on long enough to get a picture. 

Good Night...

31 for 21

Yes Miss Em is looking a little strange, let me explain the bald cap. Sophia needed one for her Halloween costume this year. She is wearing a wig, so she cut some old stockings to make a bald cap. Of course she had to try it out on Emmie. Emmie will not tolerate anything on her head. Never would. Even when she was in the NICU she had a huge bag of all the cute little hats that somehow hit the floor. HMMMM.

This lovely cap, well it stayed on all day! I kid you not. All the beautiful hats she has are sitting in her draw. The bald cap she wears proudly on her head. Go figure. 

Now the inspiration for this post came from another little dumpling who will wear all her pretty hats. Her name is LC and I just love her and her brother! If you want to see some serious cuteness that's sure to make you smile, go and check them out.
Courtney , LC's mom writes posts that will melt your heart and put you in stitches. Not to mention the photos that will take your breath away.

As part of Down syndrome Awareness month I feel everyone should be aware of this blog.  

31 for 21: How 'Bout Them Yankees!

 Before you go any further I'd like to state for the record that this was all Emmie's idea!!!
 

mom: Hey Miss Em, you like baseball?

 Em: Are you kidding ? I love it. My big brother plays you know. He's going to play for the Red Sox one day.
 Mom: Well Em the Red Sox didn't do so well this year, haven't you heard?
                                   
Em: Oh don't remind me! it makes my head hurt!!
Mom: Why Sweetie, don't you like the Yankees?

 Mom: Emmie are you thinking about it?

Mom: Emmie you're not ignoring the question are you? Come on, tell mommy how you really feel about the Yankees.



Mom: Oh I see..



Sorry Rob( Yankee fan, who is trying to sway Em to the other side), I guess you win some and you loose some!