Better Than the Jackson 5

ABCs and 123s. Sammi's got 'em! I keep meaning to post video of her doing her numbers and letters, as she's been doing them for quite some time now, but usually can't get the camera together in the short windows where she's being cooperative. It's always got to be on her terms. If we even attempt to get her to say her ABCs when she doesn't feel like doing them, she'll firmly shake her head and say, "Noooo". Puts me in my place! This video was pieced together by taking out all the extraneous chitchat and including a few extra bits and pieces. I also needed to keep it under 90 seconds to be able to post it on Flickr. (Sorry about the shaky camera--I can do still photography reasonably well, but definitely not videography!) The first part takes place in the kitchen in front of the dishwasher (she loves her reflection). In addition to being able to identify all 26 of the letters of the alphabet randomly, she can also recite them in order with absolutely no effort! She can also count to 13, and insists on counting EVERYTHING. :-)

The Light at the Center of the Universe/Dinosaurs on Crack

The Light at the Center of the Universe
Originally uploaded by sammi's mom

The first part of the title is what it is just because that's what I called this photo on Flickr. Samantha is definitely the light at the center of my universe. 'nuff said.

The look of wonder on her face is the result of a man dressed in a big purple Barney costume. A big purple Barney on crack costume. All baggy and skinny-looking. Definitely the look of the Barney that turned to drugs after working with those awful children for so many years. You see, I always swore that any child of mine would never know what Barney was because he's so horrendous, but after watching it a couple of times with Samantha, I discovered that it's the over-acting, parent-coached, obnoxious, snotty little kids that dance around and sing with Barney that are so unacceptable to anyone that values pure entertainment for small children. Enough to drive any dancing dinosaur to a life of crack, and performing at children's birthday parties to support the habit.

My Inspiration

CBS aired this informative story lastnight. I know many other blogs are sporting this video today, but this is particularly timely for me this afternoon. I had my annual appointment with my OB/Gyn (yeah, I know most of you are women, so no yelling TMI!!) and took some photos of Samantha with me, as well as the most recent proof of the DSANV calendar. I had been looking so forward to my last appointment a year ago to thank her for not pushing the issue when I declined prenatal testing. It was just something I had needed to do, both for myself, as well as for all of those other women out there that want a baby because it's their baby, not because of the symbol of "perfection" that some people feel the need to strive for in their families. We talked today about how amazing I think my daughter is and about how different things are now than they were even 15 years ago for people to recognize the abilities and potential of children with Down syndrome. She then asked me for any materials that may be available that she could use and could share with her colleagues when counseling new parents or parents who have just received a prenatal diagnosis. I was so happy to hear that she would help to spread the knowledge--it's something that tends to be more effective coming from another doctor than from a passionate parent. She then hugged me, and told me I was an inspiration. I might have cried, I was so moved, but the absurdity of hugging someone while wearing a paper napkin on my lap kind of got to me.

Samantha is my inspiration.


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Football Hooligans

Football Hooligans
Originally uploaded by sammi's mom

Engand played in a World Cup qualifying match yesterday, so Steve and Samantha both dressed for the occasion. England won, by the way. I, in my infinite ignorance of anything to do with sports, have virtually no idea of what this means. I guess it means that England will now play a whole bunch of other qualifying matches in hopes of qualifying to play in the World Cup at all. But I'm sure there are countless matches. Some he'll be excited about, some don't seem to matter for whatever reason. I'm a true football widow. All I know is a bunch of teams play in England and in just about every country in the world except the US on Saturdays and Sundays (and numerous weekdays) between August and May, and stupid Direct TV happens to show most of them. Thank goodness I get the summer off so we can actually do things as a family on the weekends.

Steve, if you're reading this, I'm only half-joking, and I love you dearly!!!! xoxoxoxoxoxo

My Baby Started School!!!!

I never thought this day would come so quickly. Now here's my baby, wearing a backpack and walking into the school like a big girl. And this will be the routine for the next 16 years. So unbelievable.

We decided not to put her on the bus, at least until the new year. Since she's never even been to daycare (well, not since she was a newborn), we figure that the adjustment will be great enough for her in the classroom for now. Things went as well as could be expected today. We rushed around getting everything ready this morning (including an emergency bath when Samantha woke up soaked from her waist down to her feet) then I followed Steve and Samantha to the school in a separate car so I could leave directly to go to work. What a zoo the school was today! We should have anticipated the chaos surrounding an elementary school on the first day. And an elementary school right next door to a high school, at that. Teachers and administrators with identification badges stood at strategic locations outside, shouting directions and offering (friendly) assistance. I'm not sure how excited or terrified the other kids looked, though, since I was pretty focused on Samantha and Steve was pushing me to hurry since we were running a little late. Heck, just about everyone was running a little late this morning! Phil, Sammi's teacher, suggested that we bring her at 8:15 for the rest of this week rather than 8:00, to avoid the crush.Well, the bottom line was that Samantha did fine after we gave her kisses and said goodbye. For a while. We left her playing in the playhouse, fascinated by all the new toys. She waved goodbye and threw kisses as we left. She apparently did fine until about 9:30, at which point she began to cry and call for mama and dada. She cried on and off for the rest of the morning. She refused her sandwich at lunch but ate her yogurt. She didn't nap (well, duh). She wasn't crying when Steve went to pick her up, but as soon as she saw him her bottom lip started to quiver. By the time they got home, she was totally fine and acted like nothing had happened. Tomorrow morning will be very, very different--I can guarantee she'll cry when Steve drops her off. But I can bet that within a week she'll be so excited to go to "cool" (as she says)!

There are two other kids in the class at this point (I love the teacher/child ratio of 1:1!)--a little girl and a little boy. Samantha apparently followed the boy around today, trying to kiss him. She cornered a little boy in Target yesterday, too. It's so cute to watch, but the boys always try so desperately to run away.

Yep, my baby's a big girl now.