Cohen's first "Graduation Day"

Well this past Friday, Cohen "graduated" from Miss Martha's.

When we pulled up to her house, the girls (there are only 3...) were calling Cohen's name... It was hilarious! One of the mom's said, "Cohen must be the big man on campus... LOL". Oh Lord if this is any indication of our future.... My little guy is going to have girls chasing after him... Oh goodness Oh gracious!!!
Miss Martha puts on a graduation at the end of every school year for the kids (class includes 6 kids, so nice and small) to sing songs for their parents and extended family. Every night for the past 2 weeks, Cohen would tell us that he had to do his "homework". He said he had to sing his songs and practice for us.... Well after much practice this little one sang his heart out.

She has everyone gather at her house for their presentation then to the Children's Museum for their party.
Cody and I took off of work Friday to spend the day with the kids.

We had such a great day...
First graduation, then the Children's Museum, then to Deano's for lunch, then to Toys R Us for Cohen to pick out a toy he wanted (he picked out Bongo's and drum sticks), then to Nonnie's for a full day of swimming.

Oh my little boy is getting so big.  It was such a fun day but had so much emotion. Before we know it Cohen is going to be in "real school". How do I stop time?

"Know how to live the time that is given to you"
                -Dario Fo

Hard Work - Pays off

Hello Physical Therapy!
Well, Sawyer recently started doing physical therapy every Friday. She loves Jennifer her PT and so do I.  When she first evaluated Sawyer she was completely amazed with Sawyer's tone. Everyone has always said that Sawyer's tone is great but the moment Jennifer told me it was "great" I wanted to cry with happiness.  She expects her do to everything "on time".  Oh my sweet girl!

We are really learning that Every Moment Counts....
Since the day she was born statistics were far from on our side... But now! We are proving that Statistics are all wrong in our eyes!  Sawyer has beaten all odds so far...

Well after a few weeks of working we are now sitting up with little help at times. 

 I recently read a journal entry someone wrote pertaining to Kelle Hampton and her sweet girls.... When I was finished reading the article I proceeded to read the comments people left... OH THE COMMENTS. I can not believe some people are so hateful, or rather Ignorant!
People need to realize that someone's happiness does not need to be interrupted with others unhappiness. I could not get over how selfish people are.... and of course that word... that horrible word "Abortion" was mentioned. Really why do people think they can play God! I would not have terminated my pregnancy if I would have known Sawyer had DS. I Love this little girl and all I know is she is ours... Our baby girl! And how lucky we are to have her! SO what! She has DS! Woop Woop! There are many people in this world who would do anything to have children... There are also many others who would do anything to have the children they lost! Luckily we HAVE our 2 miracles and blessings!

Jennifer paints a wood stool for all of the kids she works with. It is for them to grow with. Right now we are learning how to sit at it and use our hands. It is amazing how much I am learning.  The more she puts pressure on her arms the closer we are to crawling.  It makes me laugh because she look like she is at school. 

And while Sawyer works on her Therapy. Cohen plays baseball. He is completely equipped... Batting Gloves, Cleats, Bat, Baseball hat... 

Cohen plays baseball like a pro! and Sawyer is laughing and talking away.  If only we all still had the innocence of a baby!  How could you not fall in love with this sweet smile?

And after a lot of hard work at "practice" Cohen takes a break.  

I wonder what else our crazy life holds. Tomorrow is our future but I am sure ENJOYING TODAY!

Little Bits

Cohen has been asking for a catchers mask...
The other morning on our way to Miss Martha's he said, "Mom, can I ask you something?... Can you buy me a catcher's mask?" I couldn't say no, so after much searching during the day I quickly discovered that Academy was my only hope. I called Cody and asked him to please stop on his way home and get Cohen a catchers mask...
When Cody got back and gave him that ridiculously big catcher's mask his face lit up!!
He immediately put it on and did this...

He was so proud!  His smile under that mask was priceless! 

Cohen has been singing his songs that he is learning at Miss Martha's.  Sawyer was a little fussy in her swing so he decided to go and sing her a little tune! Sawyer immediately stopped fussing and stared right at him! 

Sawyer just turned 7 months. I still can't believe she is 7 months old already!  I took a few pictures of them before we went to Rhythms on the River on her "7  month birthday".

Oh how he is growing.... I now know what my parents meant when they said we grew up too fast!

Cohen got the giggles as Sawyer was all serious! For our Brother / Sister picture. 

I know that Cohen will be the best big brother to Sawyer... He already is, so I am sure it can only get better from here.  And it is so sweet how Sawyer looks at him as if he hung the moon. 

And her smile...

"Happiness is your choice. Your circumstances can affect it, but you are still the one who decides your happiness"

Play Date Madness

Play dates are always fun!
Sawyer and John Talbott had so much fun playing together the other night....  Sawyer obviously agreed and thinks it was so much fun!  They are going to be the Best little Friends! Here are a few pics from our play time.

And... Their serious sides....

Move over boy! Because this girl will kick you out of the way!  Personality trait... In Control! LOL!

Then, Ainsley came in from Austin with Beckham and we had another fun filled night with friends... Angela and Josh came over with Georgie as well!
Here are a few from our fun time with them...

Cohen waited patiently for his friends to show up...  With a noonie in his mouth... I have got to figure out how to get rid of this thing!!!!!

Sawyer had to show off her new moves for her friends. She is starting to sit up really well! I was only helping a little! Sha baby girl.... Nothing will stop this little one!

Beckham loved on his mommy for a while until I grabbed him and rocked that baby to sleep... He was in Heaven... Ainsley may need to start rocking him to sleep because I did and he slept very soundly that night from what I hear!!!

Then 7:30 rolled around and Sawyer let it known that it was bath time. So before we could finish our photo shoot with every one, madame had to take a bath and get into her jammies!

Then we put all the little ones on the couch and had a VERY interesting Photo Shoot. (It was definitely not as easy as last time)...

And Cohen is just hanging out...Sawyer's eyes are closed, Georgie is the ONLY one smiling big big, Beckham doesn't know if he should smile or cry... 

So until next time...

Choose to Wilt or Bloom

I just finished reading Kelle Hampton's memoir, Bloom.  I opened the book eager to read and see how our stories matched up. I turned each page anticipating what was to come. Did it make me sad? Not really...  Did it make me happy? Not any happier than I am... But it DID make me think.  Through her book I learned that some may think I too am in denial. I don't think about Down Syndrome daily and to be honest I sometimes forget it is a part of our lives. I know that there will come a time when I will notice there are differences and challenges Sawyer will face, but right now I want to live in the moment. I know after much soul-searching I am not in denial, I am just living in the concept of my reality. She is doing so well and I want us to live our lives to the fullest. Why let the future take away the joy of today? Am I scared of what the future holds? Yes. But I have come to realize that in any situation the future can be a scary thing. I am not in denial and know that the future we had planned will be a little different. But change is sometimes good. When we were in the hospital the social worker who came and spoke with Cody and I gave us the best advice. She first asked if we had any other children. We replied, "yes". And she then said something that will stick with me forever... "You don't know what the future holds for Cohen any more than you know what the future holds for Sawyer." She was so right... And at that moment in time I think I truly became, "okay".
I may think I know Cohen's future because he came into this world perfectly healthy but I don't... I honestly can't wave a magic wand and have his future just as I see it in my head. He may or may not play sports and be a wonderful athlete (because at this moment in time that is what the future looks like for him...an out of this world athlete). But who is to say he will want to play football in 5 years. 2 years. or even 6 months from now...

After reading the book I pondered my brain on why I DON'T want to do the Buddy Walk... Why I DON'T want to be a part of the Down Syndrome Association and after searching I realized it is because I don't want Sawyer to feel different. Society already labeled her before she was born.  The world says she is different. I want to stand up for her and let her know that she can be whoever she wants to be and a simple diagnosis won't stop her. I want her to know that college is NOT impossible. And at this moment in time I feel as if these wonderful, yes wonderful groups will label her just as society does. Now, let me say that I think the Buddy Walk is great for those who want to be a part as well as the Down Syndrome Association.  People need others, and I know that. Am I saying I will never be a part of this, No... I can't say what my future holds. I may one day have a different feeling and feel that joining will make me a better mother.  I will do whatever I can in my power to make sure this little girl knows how much she is loved. I will do whatever I have to in order for her to succeed to her fullest potential. But right now I feel that in order to make her succeed I have to stand up for what I believe in this moment. 

Kelle's book title is perfect. When we are put in a situation that is not expected do we Wilt or Bloom? I believe I have chosen to Bloom. I feel as though I have changed as a person. I can not control what tomorrow brings. I also can't control what others think and to be honest I don't want to. I want to know that I have my security blanket and that is our family. I want to be the best role model I can be for both of my kids. I want them to follow by my example and I had to do some growing up to get here. I want both of my children to know how much they mean to us and how much they enrich our lives. Neither one of them is more special than the other.  I look to them both as our little miracles. Although, I never thought the birth of my second child would allow me to become someone new. To learn more about myself than I realized. I have found that I have more strength than I ever knew. I have more faith than I ever expected. I have more courage that I thought was possible. How lucky am I... You really should not question why? There is always a greater meaning... And these are our 2

"You never know how STRONG you are until being STRONG is the only choice you have"

-Anonymous

Here Comes Peter Rabbit

Easter was pretty nice and relaxing this year. When we woke up the kids discovered what the Easter bunny left at our house...

We went to church and stood outside because it was so packed then headed over to my parents.
We spent the morning at my parents and the afternoon at Cody's parents....
The kids enjoyed themselves! My mom rented a fun jump and had a sprinkler.

It was such a beautiful day we spend the majority of it outside.

I can not believe Sophie Kate has grown up so fast. It is like yesterday my nanny had her first baby (Kate) who I fell instantly in love with.  I was the "baby-phene" of the family and babysat for her. I could not get enough of her.  She now reminds me a lot of myself. She will wait patiently for you to hand over Sawyer and as soon as you do she won't give her up. Her arm can be dead asleep and you will never know because she DOES NOT want to give up holding the baby...

 

Hutch played with Cohen and man did he love it!  Hutch and Sophie Kate are siblings. And Audrey Grace is their families caboose! I watched Hutch growing up as much as Sophie Kate. So I feel like we have a bond that we formed when they were itty bitty's... 

It is refreshing to see how they now play with my little ones... Who would have ever thought life would continue and change so much.... 

Then the water table was filled and the splish splash fun began... Thank Goodness I brought few sets of clothes for Cohen (I think he changed 5 times).  

Cohen and Cambri ended up with bottoms only standing in the water table. They are so funny...

Half a year

WOW! What half a year can bring...
Sawyer turned 6 months old! She is getting so big!
We are almost able to sit up! Practice makes perfect so mommy is doing everything possible to get there completely.  Cohen is so much more of a help than he knows.  When they play on the floor together she will roll any way just to make sure he is in her sight. There aren't many more words needed to explain the past 6 months... These recent pictures say it all...

6 Months Old!!!

Laughing at her big brother

No words needed...

New Trick...sitting up

She thinks it is funny when she pulls his hair

2 1/2 years old!

Happy Happy Happy

The little conversations... (She was in the midst of changing...If you know me she does not just wear a diaper! LOL)

"Miracles come in moments. Be ready and willing"     -Wayne Dyer