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A Weekend of Firsts, and Why I Blog

These past couple of weeks, Evie had some firsts!

#1: First time in church with no major poop blowout or G-tube mishaps (i.e. beeping or throwing up during feeding).  Mommy and Daddy were ecstatic. She has now done this twice in a row!  Now we have to convince her not to talk or cry loudly when we give her a bottle.

#2: Evie's Buffet: First time eating solid foods!
Erick's aunt and cousin gave us a bunch of solid food choices and baby spoons for whenever we decided to try purees, so we were prepared.  It felt like such a big choice about which food to pick as her first food!


Erick picked carrots.  Here is how Evie felt about carrots:


Eating update: Evie has decided to keep us on our toes. One day she'll drink only 10-15 ml from her bottle per meal, and then another day she'll drink 30-50 ml.  It's been a bit frustrating because we want her to make lots of progress towards getting rid of the G-tube, but we are learning that this is part of the Evie journey!

#3: First time in her high chair!
Evie is learning that if she sits in her high chair, she gets to have yummy carrots.  As soon as she sits in the chair, she gives big smiles. This is what she thinks about that!


Grandma is here to visit, so Evie gets some extra love!  Last weekend we were in the Boston Commons, and we took the opportunity to Make Way for the Ducklings!  If you're not from Boston, you may not have heard of the book Make Way for Ducklings.  It's a great book that I hope Evie will like when she gets older.  Little known trivia fact: There is a duplicate of the duck statues in Moscow because Barbara Bush gave one to Raisa Gorbachev as part of a treaty in 1991.

Evie doesn't understand that she's supposed to look at the camera. 

Serious Part of the Post: Why I Blog.
Not only does it get my English-major creative juices flowing, but I want to use my blog to raise awareness about Down Syndrome and special needs. Before Evie was born, I really had no clue what Down Syndrome and special needs really were.   And I am still learning, but I want to share what I have learned in the hopes that you can also learn with me that kids with Down Syndrome are in most ways just like any other kid--they just have an extra chromosome.  Evie's medical issues have given her a rough start in life, but by the grace of God, she has more than come through so many obstacles, and this makes her extraordinary.  Otherwise, she is just a little baby girl who is learning to sit up and to eat solid foods (and has a lot of fans!) and whose mom dresses her up in cute outfits.

I have found that many moms who also have children with special needs start blogging in order to help others to understand what their lives are like, and also to help their friends and family know how to help them. You have all been so encouraging, and have written many messages to me about how our blog has had a positive influence for you in some way.  I realize that the Internet is a big and scary place, but the benefits of sharing certain aspects of our lives with people is more than worth it right now, so that you can know more about Down Syndrome and can know how to support Evie and her parents.


I bought Evie her first swimsuit the other day. It's a little early to take her swimming because of her healing incision, but I just couldn't help it.  And I will get to share that "first" with you all on my blog!

Here's to more "firsts!"  Thanks for sharing in our journey.


Comments

  1. She truly is extraordinary! Just like her mom! I love reading your blog.

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