Have to brag on my little girl...

I absolutely love all my children, but I am going to take a few minutes to brag on our little Kaylee. We had our parent/teacher conference this past week and we couldn't of had a more perfect report. She has already passed off on all of her kindergarten prerequisites for the end of the year. Her teacher Mrs. Prentice says she is THEE model student and couldn't say enough nice things about her. She was nominated by the principal and 3 other teachers all on the same day to be nominated for Character counts award...She is reading books and read her first book all by herself for her whole class yesterday. Bisquit....She is so willing to take on tasks and you can tell her to do one thing or 10 things and she will do them, no questions asked and do things the first time you ask her...she is a great sister to both her older brother and her younger brother. She has such a sweet spirit about her, I am so thankful she is my daughter. She is such a big help to Brayden and always teaching him new things everyday...in fact, she knows more sign language than I do, by watching Baby signing times...

Like I said, I LOVE all my children and will brag on my Cody on another post...his conference is this Friday...every child deserves some one on one attention! Cody, I know you keep up on mommy's blog with my permission...so you are going to be next. Trust me I have so many great things to say about you too! And Brayden, well...you will get another bragging session too...

The following few pics are from today...today was TWIN Day at school...Kaylee and her best friend Brooklyn decided THEY definately wanted to dress alike for this day. So, Brooklyn's mom (who is Cody's teacher) bought the girls these shirts and I made the bows and rhinestone clips to match...they were sooooo excited, they could hardly stand it. Ms. Schwan had a meeting this morning before school, so she dropped Brooklyn off and she even got to go to school with us...so cute! I take care of Brooklyn after school 3 days a week, and these girls are inseperable.

So, Kaylee...mommy and daddy love you so much! We know you know this, but I wanted to especially dedicate this post to you. We are so lucky to have such an amazing little girl for our daughter. Cody and Brayden adore you just as much and I thank you for being the best you can be ALWAYS! Love you!

Buddywalk 2009

Finally, I am getting around to posting pictures from our Buddywalk...we had so much fun and a great turn out for "Brayden's Army!" The weather was gorgeous...we had great company, food and performances from Break the Barriers...which always brings tears to my eyes. So enjoy the pics!

We even had the ROTC volunteer to come out to support our army! They are already planning on coming out next year! I better keep the same theme going! Lol...

Waving for the "Great Day " camera from Kopi on Channel 26!

Our decorated canopies...

What a blessed event this is...to be able to raise awareness yet honor all those special kids/ adults with Down syndrome and let them all know just how neat they are!

Our new SPIO vest...

We recently got a SPIO vest for Brayden...you can get these at www.SPIOworks.com A wonderful investment for a child who has low muscle tone and even for children who have autism and sensory issues...ours is for the low muscle tone and he is already showing more strength in just the 2 days of wearing it...We are starting out with 2 hours a day and will gradually have him wear it most of the day...we are excited and it is so neat to see him even more confident in exploring all he can already do.

This last pic is from TODAY...look what I can now get into...lol.

I have lots of pictures from our Buddywalk we had on Saturday, but I am waiting for some more to be emailed to me. So I will post them as soon as I get them all done...we had a wonderful time, wonderful turn-out and everyone can't wait for next year already! Thanks to all of you who came and had a great time with us!

A few minutes of our day...

Seriously...Life doesn't get any better than these kind of moments!

My little man is into EVERYTHING!

Yes, this little boy is on a mission and is making me eat my words...My other two children never really got into anything that they weren't suppose to...Well, Brayden is making up for them! The first time is always cute, but then I clean it up and 2 seconds later, he is back at it! I can't open anything up without him figuring out how to mess everything back up...Watch out when he is walking...I can see DOOR child lock knobs in our future...I swore I would never put latches on the cabinets and such, NEVER had to do it with my other two...BUT NEVER, say "NEVER!"


He reached up on the chair with Daddy's work files...and this was just 1/2 the mess.




On another note...Brayden LOVES books and will sit and turn the pages and point to everything thing on the pages...He talks and gets excited over certain things he sees...it is so cute...I just happen to capture a little moment yesterday...P.S. The blue tape in the back ground on the flooring is only temporary...we are still in the midst of getting all of our new flooring in...hopefully by mid next week, we will be done...YAY!

This is the preferred way to get around for Brayden...

Don't think I have ever posted the preferred way that Brayden gets around...the "butt scoot" is what you call it...this was taken about 3-4 weeks ago and he is even FASTER now...He can crawl on all 4's but PREFERS not too! Sandy his PT is always making him do all 4's until he gets away from her...

Guess what just arrived though in my mail box today! SPIO Vest! I haven't put it on him yet, but as soon as I do and figure out how it works, I will post some pics! Sooooo excited!

That is it for now...

Ok, so I didn't make it everyday...

I wanted to be able to keep up with the "31 for 21"...but I had to get sick along with my little Brayden...we had a 24 hour bug, but are better now...I have had so much fun reading all the blogs I follow and reading all of the "31 for 21" posts...Can I just say Beautiful writers? If you ever have time to check out the blog roll I have on our blog, please take the time to read about these wonderful familes...

I am not going to make this a long post, just wanted to share a few pics from bath time last night...Brayden LOVES bath time and even LOVES it better when both the kids get in the mix of things...

I just love these 3 kids...!

So much to be thankful for...

So this is National Down syndrome awareness month...OCTOBER...I am so thankful for the journey we have been on...I never knew Down syndrome would be part of my life...I never knew I would feel the way I do about my youngest son, who happens to have an extra chromosome...the love, the admiration, the joy, the innocence, the happiness and more! I can remember the initial shock when I was 5 months pregnant...I can remember grieving the son I thought I was preparing for...but those moments didn't last long...I can remember the relief in putting my trust in God to prepare me for a different journey...a different path in life and I can not thank God enough, even to this day.

October is Down syndrome Awareness month and if there is a way to touch someone this month by reading my blog or the amazing blogs I follow...I am going to challenge myself to write something everyday...there is a slogan "31 for 21" ...31 days of awareness for Trisomy 21.

As I look at the picture above, I couldn't be more happier in life...my family is complete. I have a wonderful husband, 3 beautiful children. A great extended family who love and adore Brayden and have been touched by Down syndrome in their lives as well. I can't thank our friends enough too for their continual support and love. Brayden is so lucky to have you all...and I want to say to all my blogging buddies, thanks for being such a big extended family...the support, advice, and admiration I have for all of you is extraordinary...

Here is to Day 1 of blogging for the 31 days in October...Oh, I don't know if I can do it but I will try...:) Weekends are going to be the hardest for me, as I hardly get on...but I will give it my best...lol..