Ohio Photo Essay

I apologize for taking so long to get these posted. I have no excuses.

We had such a good time in Cincinnati. Wish we lived closer to Barb, Bill, Frank and Grant...!

Here are some highlights in no particular order, because I don't feel like uploading them and rearranging anything.

Frank began to make breakfast for Ian in the morning. Ian wanted to do everything just like the big boys.
This was taken after we got back home, but I wanted to show Ian in the skates that Barb sent home with us. He won't take them off. He LOVES them. Notice he is wearing his pajamas in this shot...
After a big rainstorm, there was a "river" running through the backyard. It didn't take the boys very long to completely soak themselves in it.
Chase and Jazzie...he wasn't scared of her at all. I'm pretty sure that he tried to taste her a few times, though.
The shirts came off, and the boys added to the already wet yard with the hose.
We had a picnic in the driveway while everyone dried off a little. Chase, too :)
And a bike ride...
Gaga got lots of Chase-time. Here they are playing with a box and a spoon... Who needs toys??
Aunt Barb and Uncle Bill have a fire pit in the backyard, and we made smores our second night there. I'm on a mission to build my own now. I think that is the most relaxing thing...watching a fire, eating a marshmallow, and drinking a glass of wine :) BTW, what wine pairs well with smores?
Ian, by his own little self, picked a flower and gave it to Bill. How sweet is he??
Mmmm. Smores. Ian did NOT like the first one I gave him- I guess I didn't consider the integrity of the marshmallow before smooshing it in the graham cracker. But after he saw everyone else enjoy them, he gave in and decided that he liked it.
Barb and Chasey.
Ian follows Grant into the woods. Poor Frank and Grant. Ian was so taken with them that he NEVER EVER left them alone. He'd call all through the house, "Booooooys? Come play with me!" They were very very patient with him, but understandably took occasional breaks.
DUDE! They had a drumset in the basement!!
Look at that 4 point stance! Still working on the actual forward momentum, but he's definitely getting there!
Sooooo hungry...
More waterplay. Can't you just feel the love?

Ianisms

*This morning, Ian was laying on the floor, swishing his arms and legs snow-angel style. He said, "Look! I'm making a snowflake!"

*Ian came down for breakfast yesterday and saw me making coffee. I put the first scoop in the filter and he yelled-whined-cried, "Why did you DO that?!? I want to help you make it!" Way too much drama at 7am.

*He's had a scrape on his knee and it's started to heal, but while he and Chase were playing on the floor a teeny pinprick of blood showed up. Ian: "Oh, nooooo! Chasey made a hole in me! All my blood is going to come ouuuuuut! I need a band-aiiiiid!"

*Immediately after I swept and mopped the kitchen, he spilled a full cup of milk on the floor. He broke down, pointing to various places and saying, "Look. I spilled it on the stove. I spilled it on the cabinet. I spilled it on the chair...." We cleaned it up after I reassured him that 'sometimes milk spills, but we can always clean it up.' Afterwards, he unloaded a gift bag full of red shredded paper all over the floor and I had to threaten him with time-out if he didn't clean it up. Grr.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to Bryan.
Daddy to our boys.
A role model.
Strong in character.
Strong in heart.

Clarification

Due to some odd stares and one incredibly rude comment, I feel inclined to clarify my thoughts about this post.

I am not maliciously wishing health problems on anyone. I do not wish harm on Brangelina, nor their twins.

My thoughts are, that if Down syndrome is so prevelent, and because of the glaringly ridiculous deficits in funding for research to improve the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome, that if anyone were to have a child with Down syndrome, the Brangelina household would be one that would welcome and embrace such diversity, as well as become spokespeople for families and friends affected by it.

And there are several people who read my blog that aren't as deeply in love with my child as I am. Mostly because you haven't had the opportunity. Some of you have not realized that the stereotype for a person with Down syndrome is old, outdated, and doesn't reflect the true abilities of those who are genetically enhanced.

Some people have a hard time dealing with the fact that diversity is what creates the richness of life, that perhaps, in fact, we need individuals with differences to make us realize hope, determination, acceptance, compassion, and joy in the little things in life.

Comments like the one I recieved today just illustrate the need for a family who has a world audience that would help spread that message of understanding.

Mindless

COUNTRY WESTERN SINGER NAME: (mother & father’s middle names)
Ann Thomas

NASCAR NAME: (first name of your mother’s dad, father’s dad)
Arthur Henry

STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first name)
Madla

DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal)
Red Giraffe

SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born)
Jeanne Rochester

FLY NAME: (first 2 letters of 1st name, last 2 letters of your last name)
Laex

GANGSTA NAME: ( fav ice cream flavor, fav cookie)
Cake Batter Oatmeal Raisin (Whoa...wouldn't you be scared of me??)

ROCK STAR NAME: (current pets name, current street name)
Frodo Lexington

STRIPPER NAME: (name of your fav perfume/cologne, fav candy)
Pink Reeses

PORN NAME: (1st pet, 1st Car)
Cuddles Beetle (NOT SEXY!)

AMERICAN GLADIATOR NAME (model name of your current car)
Entourage (LOL!)

Secret

Kacey from Ella Grace directed me to this post from Where There's a Will... And I have to agree. Completely.

Not that I would wish complications or heart defects or Hirschsprung's disease or surgeries or delays or any of that scary stuff on anyone. But still...if the Jolie-Pitt family had a baby with a little something extra...wouldn't that be cool?

And just coming off of a meeting put on by my local Down Syndrome Association of Charlotte that highlighted just how little money our governement puts toward research on Trisomy 21 that is NOT completely directed at "early detection and prevention"...it makes one wonder how our kids would benefit from gads and gads of money spent on research to improve the quality of life from the Brangelina Bank.

I wish I had the energy to dig out the handout that has all the figures on it, but suffice it to say, the money put toward DS is completely disproportionate according to the number of people DS affects. Also, on that note, a point was made that one out of every 733 babies is born with Down syndrome. Born. Live births. Now, take into account that 90% of pregnancies with early detection of Trisomy 21 are terminated. So, with my meager math skills (and the help of a member of the DSAC board) that means that in reality, approximately 1 out of every 73 pregnancies is genetically enhanced. Right? So DS really affects a LOT more people than we even think about.

Anyway. Just my thoughts.

Home Again

We made it home yesterday. After 12 hours in the car.

Ian was a lunatic about 2 hours in. Chase got REAL tired of the car about halfway through.

Thank God for Gaga and her diregard for seatbelt safety.

More later.