Just got word.....

I just got an email that Lydia's picture has been chosen to compete in the parents.com Photo of the Week contest. This is part of the beginning selection for their Kid of the Year contest. The weekly winners will all be entered in the final contest in January! :)

Please take a minute to go vote for her here ! 

This is the photo that they chose....

 

I am so very excited! I would love to see a child who has DS chosen as their Kid of the Year..regardless of whether it's mine or someone else's..... :)

Thanks so much for your love and support!!!

Re-Births and the Parties that Go With Them

Dearest Bug,

We had the first of many re-birthday parties for you today. A time full of family and friends, good food, and of course, cake (which sadly you didn't get any of this time!) celebrating the brand new life that was created the day that you got a brand new, fully functioning heart.Plus I think it's only fair that since your brothers both get TWO birthday parties every year, you should too!

You weren't real sure about all of those people invading your house for a little bit...but you seemed to adjust. Eventually. You spent some time checking out Grandma and Grandpa.....

and even spent a while swinging quietly with Grandma outside, away from the hustle and bustle, listening to her sing you songs about Jesus.......

You impressed Great-Grandma Betty with your noise making, as well as your superior conversation skills.

And modeled your new outfit from Mommy's friend, Marj, amid enough camera flashes to make any superstar mighty jealous indeed.

All in all, it was a truly fabulous day. And I find that I so look forward to the future parties we'll have to commemorate that July day, your healthy heart day. If not for that day, you might not be here to celebrate your real birthday or the one after that. I am so grateful to have you in my arms. :)

"My scars remind me that the past is real. I tear my heart open, just to heal."~Papa Roach

Your scars are there to remind you of where you have been, as well as to give us hope, promising us a chance to imagine where you are heading. On to bigger and better things, I'm sure. 

My hope for you is that you will never forget where you have come from. That you will view your scars with pride. That you will always see yourself as strong and beautiful, because you are. That you will never ever doubt how very much you are loved. But most of all, that you will always know how very proud we are to be your family..........

 I love you to the highest star, to the deepest ocean, to the moon and straight back again.

Happy re-birthday, my sweet wee Bug!

XOXOXOXO,

Mommy

Frustration Central

So here I sit tonight....in a completely silent house. The boys are with their respective other parents for the long holiday weekend (which my clean house is thankful for, even while I am not). John and Liddy are fast asleep (probably for the night).

It has been a day. And not necessarily a great one.

I was awoken this morning (before the alarm clock) once again by the horrific sound of Liddy's tiny nails scratching across the mesh surface of her playpen sides. This has pretty much been the standard since she has upgraded. Before the sun even thinks about peeking above the horizon, and before the alarm clock is ready to screech at me, I awaken (long before I am ready to!) to sccccrrrrraaattttcchhhhh. No giggles, no chatter, just the horrific, almost fingernails on blackboard level of cringe inducing noise. WHY does she think that is the greatest thing since sliced bread?? Even though I know full well what it is at this point, my sleep fogged brain still struggles to snap out of its stupor, practically screaming, "WHAT IS THAT STINKING NOISE?"

Thankfully, as soon as I drag my rear out of bed to the edge of the playpen, the noise stops and there is a beaming face staring up at me. Ok, Liddy, all is forgiven. At least until tomorrow morning.

The second week of school has, quite frankly, made me lose my mind. I forget everything lately. Scatterbrained. Yep. That about sums it up. And I have to admit to being extremely sensitive about it. I often forget that, despite what I would like for the world to think, I am not Superwoman. (Please keep that to yourself though, ok?)

I took an online computer class. Basic how-to for Windows programs. I really thought that it was going to be my easiest class of the semester. I know a thing or two about computers, so it should have been cake. HA. After two weeks of being unable to even get into the program where our assignments are (no, not because of me. Because we didn't have access codes) I have been frantically trying to catch up. After failing the pre-test with absolutely flying colors, I started to rethink the cake part just a little bit. After two frustration filled evenings trying to do ONE stupid assignment (and almost putting my fist through the computer screen more than once, as well as assaulting the assignment with every curse word I know), I have decided that at the end of the semester I am going to be in need of serious mental help. Possibly anger management classes. Thankfully, I took Abnormal Psychology this semester so maybe I will be able to diagnose myself.

Lastly, Lydia has decided that it is way more fun to spray us both with the food that I place in her mouth than it is to eat it. I am fully aware of how proud she is of herself that she can blow raspberries. I'm pretty proud of her myself. And I do find it quite amusing usually. However, being showered with orange colored mixed veggies and wheat pasta is not anywhere near my idea of a good time. I guess lucky for me that it isn't just me that the food is directed at. Also sprayed were the entire bouncy seat (which btw has been washed so much in the last 7 months that the cover is starting to fall apart!) and my freshly cleaned carpet. Oh yay! The joys of parenthood. :)

Now that I have officially finished bitching, I do have lots to be thankful for. My daughter is a joy (and I love her to death, even covered in baby food!) and I am immensely thankful for every day with her. I am thankful that she made the adjustment from sleeping in the bassinet to sleeping in the playpen so easily (especially considering that it was way overdue!). I'm thankful for the evening full of laughter that I had with Caleb last night, which, as any one who is a parent of teenagers knows, is a rare occasion. I'm grateful for a husband who supports me in following my dreams, even when it means that he gets a lot less sleep because he's on baby duty. I am overwhelming blessed by the number of wonderful friends we have, and by our extremely supportive family, who love us all despite our faults, despite my complaining, and in spite of my sometimes potty mouth. I'm thankful for wonderful nurses (KP) who come to visit, bearing fabulous leg warmers and warm hugs! I'm thankful that every single one of us is healthy and strong, and that my Liddy Bug's heart is whole. :)

Sunday is the Bug's re-birthday party. It's going to be pretty low key....just family and friends gathering to celebrate the miracle that is my baby girl. I can't wait to have most of my favorite people all in one place and to hear the laughter ringing through the rooms of my house, as it always does when we're all together. I will for sure be posting pictures afterwards for those of you who couldn't make it.

Have a super Labor Day weekend!!!! See you all next week!