Friday, October 21, 2011

Day 21: Blog Hop & Q&A Part III


It's Blog Hop Day!!  The 21st day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  If you have joined the Hop, please visit Erin's post for the rules and the prizes!  Please visit the blogs of the others involved in the hop by clicking the links at the end of this post!

I'm continuing the Q&A session today with another question, but will continue on Monday, as there's still more.  :-) 
Q.  Becca I thought about this all day, and I'd like to ask you to (re?) post a little about Sammi's early years - some history and baby photos and things so we can all see if she's always been as beautiful as she is today (I feel I may know the answer already :))

A.  Oh, gosh, this kid has definitely always been beautiful, if I must say so myself...  Hope that doesn't sound obnoxious, but wow, she's always just taken my breath away!  History-wise, Samantha was always a very, very easy baby/child.  Even with the heart condition that required open heart surgery at 4 months old, she was and still is very healthy, which actually surprises me, considering her limited palate that does not include vegetables.  We have always had her on a multi-vitamin, which eases our minds a lot, knowing that if she's not going to eat something healthy, at least she'll get some vitamins and minerals from somewhere! 

Sammi didn't really chew anything until she was nearly 2, so we kept her on 2 bottles of formula a day until then, to ensure that she got what she needed for nutrition, supplementing Stage-whatever foods.  Finally, she got with the program, and we were able to introduct more.  I say this, just so those of you who debate the formula/bottle thing will know that kids won't be ruined for life if they're on it for that long - that's why formulas come in that up-to-24-months variety.  :-) 

We got her on a sleep schedule almost immediately, something I'm really, really passionate about.  I can never understand people who don't work hard on that - it will be the best thing you ever did, trust me

Samantha became a world traveller at 9 months old, when we went to visit her Grandparents and aunts and uncles in England for a week.  She did great on the plane and on long car rides.  She went to England again just before she turned 4, and again, she did really well, even though she was coming off a bout of strep and an ear infection. 

She started school at age 2 years, 3 months, and did great.  Now, 3 years later, she is in full-inclusion Kindergarten, and we couldn't be happier with her progress!

Ummmm...let's see...not really sure what else to include history-wise, but below are some early pics (pre-DSLR, pre-Photoshop - forgive me!).  Enjoy!   

At 3 months old.

In England, at 9 months old.

At 11 months old.  It bears noting that this photo appeared in the April 2008 issue of Parents Magazine.  :-)

At 1 year old.

Again, at 1 year old.  Self-feeding for the very first time!


Our very first Buddy Walk, at @1 1/2 years old.

At 21 months old, having just begun to walk full-time.

@2 years old.


And for those of you who wanted to know what kinds of hair bands and hair clips I use in Samantha's hair that don't pull her hair out (too much)?  Uh, can't help you there.  I totally have to go by feel when I'm in the store looking for them.  They're by Goody, but Goody makes, like, 100,000 different hair bands.  And some of them look exactly like the ones I like, but aren't. quite. right.  The ones I get are almost like those loops that you put on the children's looms to make potholders - they're regular hair band size, but they're softer and stretchier than others.  I think they're item #32819 (Gentle Ponytailers) on their website, and the barettes are item #32144 (Bright Snap Clips, although they come out in different colors every season so the style number may change).  I like clips with the rubberized coating, but the coating always winds up peeling off eventually, plus they tend to slide in her hair a lot more.  Their website sucks, so good luck navigating it.

25 comments:

Crazy Beautiful Love said...

Thanks for helping to host the hop!
I really think Sammi has got to be one of the most beautiful kids I have ever seen.
The almond eyes of all our DS kids take my breath away. I never knew how beautiful a kid could be until Eslea came into my life.
Thanks for sharing!!
I love this post.
-erin

Education: Exploring Online Learning said...

As always she is a doll. And yes, most hair I've ever seen on a white baby. Especially a blonde one!!!

evrfwd said...

Thanks for doing this blog hop! What a great thing to do on the 21st.

Sammi is so gorgeous and I feel so grateful that she is here in the world. We are so lucky to know her. You are an awesome mama and a great photographer. we love ya!

Anna said...

Thank you for hosting us. Im really struggling with what to post this year. Thought it would be easier. maybe since we dont have much history?
I love seeing the pics of your Sammi. She is so beautiful. (thank you for the hair info! I will start hitting the drugstores to see if I can find a larger variety than the big box stores! I dont get out much. Wink) Like always, beautiful post.

Rochelle said...

Love seeing early pics of her. Guess I never looked back to her baby pics. Super cute OF COURSE!

Monique said...

She is so beautiful! I cannot get over her hair in the first baby picture!! :-) Thank you for sharing her with us.

My Little Wonders said...

Sammi is stunning! And her hair ... I love her hair! ~Blog Hoppin' :)

summer said...

Oh My - Sammi is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!!! So glad to have found your blog!!!!

lovemy3 said...

Yes, you are correct...she has always been beautiful!!!

ethmeu said...

Done with work and hopping blogs. She HAS always been that cute!

Marilyn said...

Super sweet captures.. I'm officially following ya with smiles.. I wanted to know if you would like to join in on my project..? Project PINK.. Painting the blog world PINK for a day.. Breast Cancer Awareness on Oct 3oth..!! Over 4o blogs so far are in.. Please check it out - it'll mean SO MUCH to me.. Wishing you a lovely weekend..http://theartsygirlconnection.blogspot.com/2011/10/paint-your-blog-pink-awareness-faith.html

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed Blog hopping tonight.. Your daughter is absolutely BEAUTIFUL!!!

Michelle said...

Visiting from the blog hop! Ok not really, I mean I am, but I already know you and your blog and visit all the time :) Love the baby pics of your beautiful girl!

Laura said...

Happy blog hop! I've enjoyed following Sammi's journey these last few months!

Donna said...

Been a follower of yours for a long time. Doing the blog hop, so I thought I would come over for a visit to say hi! Sammi is gorgeous as always!

Megan said...

Thanks for hosting the Blog Hop! And for following my blog :) I'm so glad I have discovered yours!

Karrie said...

I am going to agree with you.....Sammi was and is the most beautiful little girlie! I LOVE the 9 month old picture.....my favorite!

Stopping in on the blog hop......even though, I am hear all the time! :)

Julie said...

Having fun on this hop!

And I too agree, Sammi has always been beautiful!

Anonymous said...

Blog hopping (late!). Thanks for hosting! Your little girl is a beauty, with the cutest hair ever! :)

Laura said...

What a great idea this blog hop is! It's the first time I've heard of this & it is a great way to check out new blogs that I haven't seen yet!

Thanks!

http://downsyndromeupupupandaway.blogspot.com/

Sally said...

Thank you Becca! Beautiful girl x

Beth @ Snaps Of Our Life said...

That photo of her at 3 mos - oh my goodness! Cute!

Lauren had hair like that til about a year, except hers was black. Stood straight up and no amount of work would make it lie flat!

Lacey said...

I need to figure out how todo the blog hop, maybe when I have more than 30 seconds to get on the computer. I do think I've lost a lot of readers when we first moved and I couldn't post for a while. Plus, I would like to meet new people.
Sammi has always been stunning, and I can't believe hoards her hair was when she was little!

Pallavi said...

OMG.. You are so right Sammi has always been beautiful... and she was so CUTE...
Ah, I want to see more pics..
Can you start publishing atleast one pic daily? Please mommy..

Melissa said...

I love all the baby Sammi pics! 2 year old Sammi looks just like Sammi now. I was looking through Claire's baby pics the other day and wondering when she would stop changing quite so much. :)