8 months old!

We all know it goes too fast, so I won't dwell on it. Instead, here is a photobomb of the eight-monther and my loves!

One year.

One year ago I went to our anatomy scan.

One year ago I couldn't wait to find out if we'd be having a new little girl or boy.

One year ago I sat with my doctor and he explained that my baby didn't appear to have a nasal bone.

One year ago the words were spoken: Marker for Down syndrome...
Recommend Level 2 ultrasound...
Talk to your husband and decide what you want to do...


One year ago I cried as I shared this with my husband.

One year ago he held me, comforted me and helped heal my briefly wounded heart.

One year ago I made an appointment to find out more information.

One year ago I began my obsessions with google.

One year the waiting began.

One year ago my faith was cemented.

365 days.

Wow.

It seems impossible that the time has swept through so quickly. Yet, I am grateful that it has in a way. Because now I am here and ok. Owen is here and ok. We've made onto the other side stronger and more wise.

I knew on some level a year ago that Owen would have t21. But the coming weeks will be full of anniversaries: out first appointments with the perinatalogists, our choice in testing, our results.

One year.

Looking back I really would not change a thing.

Would I have googled less?
No. I found so much that shaped my journey and how I approached it.

Would I have worried less?
No. It would have been impossible in those moments.

Would I have told more people?
No. I was somehow brought to the right people at the right time.

One year.

We've come so far already and I cannot wait to continue on this journey with my family.

Here is Owen at 20 weeks and at 7 months. Love that profile!

Where ya from and why are ya here?

Not to be rude, but I am just curious who happens upon my random thoughts (and adorable pics!)

If you would be so kind, would you comment below?  I'd love to know where you are and how you got here :)

Aren't we all just carrots?

 

The final carrots of the garden today... and here were my thought as I scrubbed the earth away...

They are all carrots.

Planted at the same time.

From the same seed packets.

Sown the same way.

Sharing the same dirt.

For the same season of growing.

Some are larger than others.

Some have twists and turns.

Some have extra pieces.

Some are quite small.

Yet they are all carrots.

Inside and out.

And I believe the differences make them awesome and interesting.

It is strange how I am drawn to the unusual ones: The one that requires a second glance. The one that immediately looks "just like..." The one that is just different enough to stand out.

The 'perfect' carrots also catch my eye as I think, man those are too good to eat (almost!).

But for the most part, they are neither perfect or unusual.

Just. Ordinary. Carrots.

I love that my hubby had a garden. Gardening has been such a gift in so many ways-- the lessons in science and life for the kids. Access to better, healthier food....

But for today, it is a gentle reminder for me in life.

Carrots.

My heart is FULL

This weekend I had one of those moments that you continue to replay in your head and that come not too often.

I got to meet some of the FB mom group IN REAL LIFE.  Complete with babies and hugs.

Incredible.

I have never had a moment like this.  I couldn't wait to hug moms and babies that I have watched grow over the past 6 months. I was emotional to think about the journey that we have all traveled together.  It was truly amazing to be with people who get it. Who I can post to or message anytime of day or night and feel part of something greater and not so alone in this.

I am so grateful to have met these women and their adorable kids.  That they are willing to share all that goes with this with me is something special. 
 My heart is full. 

Full of love for my family for making it possible for us to go and meet these families. (10 hours in the car is no small feat for a family of 6!)

Full of hope that our kids will have such a bright future and that we are never alone in this journey.

Full of faith in humanity as we move forward in this adventure.

Full of memories had and those yet to come. 

Full.

A lovely mom took some pics of the weekend and I will be checking with the moms to be sure that I can post them here soon.  I cannot wait to share with all of you the beautiful kids and families I have come to know all because of this pesky extra chromosome.  Until the "official" pics are up, here are a few of O and his buddy N.  Blessed to have connected with an awesome mom (who happens to not live too far away!) and getting to spend time with them this weekend.

So blessed

It really is how I feel more often than not.  Well, it is how I feel when I have 5 quiet minutes in our home and in my heart. 

Blessed beyond belief would also be an appropriate name for the blog.

This past few weeks have brought about many reminders of blessings. 

Family.  My greatest challenge and love and success (most days!). 

We celebrated Colton as he turned 2. Wow.  My little squirt is 2. Where did that time go?  From his brown little cowboy boots that go with EVERYTHING, to his giggles and facial expressions, he is has brought so much more joy to our home. I look at his adorable smile and quickly forget what ever minor crime he has recently committed. Can you blame me?

He is also such a powerful reminder to me as to the greater plan in life.  Because he came into our lives, I have had the opportunity to grow into the person I strive to be. 

Amazing how children have a way of doing that, huh? I learn from the little army we've created every day and they encourage me to be the mom they deserve and need.  

2 years ago I walked away from a job that I loved. Today, I am exhausted. Tired.  Worn out.  But in a really wonderful way. Although I sometimes think it would be less work to actually work, I do not regret a minute of any day home with these kids.  I will really be missing the kids as they head back to school. 

This week we are also preparing to celebrate Sir Andy.  He will be turning 7.  Yep, I said it.  7.  He is growing into such an awesome kid.  His sense of humor has us laughing all.the.time. (And in other rooms when we can't let him know how funny he really is!).  He can't wait to be an inventor someday and I am confident he will do anything he sets his mind to.  It truly is a gift to watch your children grow and become the people they will be.

Here is our almost-seven year old at the zoo checking out his favorite animal- the rhinoceros.  He was in heaven!  Although it only fueled his desire to go on that African safari.  Someday!

Miss Kate and I had a big week too!  Girl night out with Taylor Swift (and a few thousand other people).  Concert tickets for her birthday were totally worth it. It was so neat to watch the concert through her eyes.  It was a late night, but she was soaking in every minute. The smiles on her face and listening to her sweet voice sing along was awesome.  A high point of the evening was watching Taylor come around near our section and perform just a few feet away for several songs.  I thought the girls were going to go nuts! She loves to write songs and I hope this showed her what is possible with a dream and lots of hard work.  If nothing else, the girl time was wonderful.  Kate has been such a tremendous help this summer with the little boys and I will miss having her kind and sweet little self around when school starts soon.

Speaking of blessed, can you believe all the "no-news" in this post?!  I must remember to continue to post in these incredibly blessed days and will try to do it more often. 

SuperO has been his normal wonderful self.  He has been healthy and happy (unless it is bath time or his soon-to-be-through teeth).  He is getting much stronger and working on sitting up.  Owen has quite the appetite and loves to chew on his puffs.  He is getting the straw cup down pretty well and loves to be outside. So far, so good.  Boring is fabulous these days!

If you are looking for some entertainment, check out the page he has with one of his gorgeous little buddies, SuperB. Really its the moms entertaining ourselves, but you will get to see some cute pics of the kids 

The final thing that I am reminded of daily is how blessed I am by the incredible partner I have in this life. Another anniversary has come and gone and I look back at photos and really believe this was just yesterday, although not.  I would not a trade a day or season of the ups and downs of marriage because we are where we are today because of it all.  I am so very lucky to have a husband who strives to be the man our children and I deserve.  His love and support over the past year, in particular, have reminded me each day how fortunate I am.  12 years in a blink.  Hoping I can keep my eyes opened a bit longer during the next dozen and continue to enjoy each moment we are so lucky to have in this life.

 

The next few weeks will be filled with the chaos of back to school and schedules and routines.  But it will also be filled with memories of last year.  What an adventure life continues to be.  It will be a reflective few weeks and I really can't wait to sit and think about the past year. From diagnosis to birth to now.  What a blessing...