Braska Bear

Yep, that’s what I’ve been saying all day. “It’s my birthday! I’m 5!” It’s been a pretty fun day, and there’s more fun tonight. So I’ll tell you about it soon!

Here’s a little piece from a note Mommy got from Miss L today… she helps me learn how to climb and run and get stronger. I came by the classroom to get her and I was helping her get ready.  She stood there and started squatting in place.  I asked her what she was doing and she tells me, "I plie`-ing" …  It was hilarious!!! I’m learning so much in dance class that I have to share it at school! You should try it! Just put your feet together and bend your knees… Plie` everybody! (If you missed some of my stories about dance class, you can go here .)

I feel it’s only fair to provide full disclosure, to clarify where we’re at with feeding.  Jennie left this comment on a recent post … Tears in my eyes seeing her eat a snack... just like everyone else. Someday... And because I know that feeling so well, I don’t want to mislead those of you who are somewhere on this feeding frustration journey. Braska is progressing GREATLY, when we look at the big picture.  If you saw this pic , you can see something huge even if you don’t see the following few seconds.  She has a cookie in her hands, and of her own free will, she has it in her mouth, between her teeth.  That, by itself, is amazing.  She has come a long way to get to that point. But she didn’t eat the cookie.  She probably closed her teeth on it just a bit.  But she didn’t actually break the cookie off in her mouth.  She then set it down and was finished. So while we celebrate where she is, we know we still have a long way to ...

Today was Thursday.  On Thursdays I don’t have school.  So Mommy asks us what we want to do and then if it’s not too hard, we go and do it. Fun! We decided that we needed to go see Grandma C today.  At her work.  And we needed to take her an apple.  That’s what KiKi said.  And we needed to wear our costumes, too. So we did… Since we didn’t get to see her on her birthday on Monday, we gave her birthday kisses today.  (And we got to see PaPaw John and Uncle Ethon too. Extra fun!)

Saturday we got to wear our costumes to dance class. Here’s a little movie of our practicing at dance class. Here’s a little movie of me and KiKi doing our princess walks. Except this time we were flying bugs! And here’s one more short movie of our dancing practice. We have been getting better at learning to listen and try to do what Miss SJ does. After we finished our dancing part, we got to have snack, and it was a cookie snack.  Anyone know why Mommy likes this picture a lot??? After snack, we got our sticker cards.  Every time we go to dance, we give our cards to Miss SJ so she knows we’re there. Then when we get done she gives it back to us with a new sticker! Then it was time to go take our class picture since we were all so cute in our costumes. At the end we always say a prayer to thank God for our friends and fun dance class. Then we go over and see Mommy and Daddy again. We always get big hugs and they...

This month was Down Syndrome Awareness Month.  I told you stories about what I like to do and things that happened each day. Mommy and I said at the beginning we would tell you what DS means in our house.  Here’s all of my things I showed you… I have Down syndrome.  I like to play at the park. I like to be with my family. I have Down syndrome. I love football! I like to cheer for the Bears and I LOVE touchdowns! I have Down syndrome. I love to play with my grandmas. I like to see all my family. I have  Down syndrome. I love to talk and be silly. I have Down syndrome. I have to brush my teeth before bed. I like when my Daddy helps me. I have Down syndrome. I like to look at pictures of when I was a baby. I have Down syndrome. Sometimes I surprise my Mommy and Daddy. I have Down syndrome. I go to school and get pictures just like my friends. I have Down syndrome. I like to play outside and climb trees. I have Down syndrome. I...

Today is my Grandma C’s birthday. So me and KiKi sang her a song this morning. She is far away at Miss Karen’s house, so we had to take a movie of our song. Here you go Grandma C! We love you!