21 Things about Esther

This post is inspired by Ruby's Mom!
1.Esther is loved by God, and made in His image.
2.Esther is loved by her ten siblings, two parents, three grandparents, and lots of uncles, aunts and cousins!
3.Esther's Daddy knew she was going to be a special child even before she was born.
4. Esther Heavenly Father blessed her with an extra Chromosome that made her special before she was born.
5. Esther spent 11 of her first 16 weeks in in the hospital.
6. Esther had a VSD and an ASD that were repaired when she was just 3 months old.
7. Esther has low thyroid, and has trouble with aspirating liquids when drinking, but we thicken all her liquids and she does great now!
8. Esther loves unconditionally
9. Esther loves to laugh!  She also love to make others laugh
10. Esther learned to sit up at 8 months.
11. Esther learned to crawl just past 1 year of age
12. Esther learned to walk just last week (she is 25 months old)
13  Esther LOVES to read books!
14. Esther loves to push things around the house while walking behind them!
15. Esther loves it when we clap for her accomplishments
16. Esther can do most of the motions for "Itsy Bitsy Spider"!
17. Esther loves to give hugs (she pats you on the back - it's so sweet!)
18. Esther sucks her thumb.
19. Esther loves music...especially when falling asleep!
20. Esther loves ice cream
21. Esther loves to climb the stairs...up and down...up and down...up and down....

A Thief in the Night...

We have a robber who keeps stealing from us!  I've seen his foot prints, we see him running off when we come home, and he disturbs the peaceful tranquility of our cats...but he's just to stinking cute!

This was taken around 5:30 am earlier this week using my Iphone...

I have always loved Racoons, and I just love watching them...their hands are fascinating!  Their foot prints looks like little baby feet...just to cute!  Too bad they can be dangerous or I would love to have one as a pet! We try always feed the cats in the morning, so there isn't any left by evening, but I think he checks every night just in case...Jessica found a hole dug under her dog kennel gate, so we think Bandit was going for the dog food there...the cute little stinker is getting more creative!

I just found this photo again, sent to me by my friend, Nicole...her daughter was taking photos at the picnic:

Elizabeth and her new-found friend at the Christian Heritage Picnic (Photo by Jessica P)

And I finally got around to taking photos off my phone, 

so here's some things we have been doing in the last month or so!

The girls with Amy Vest at the Pure Heart Conference!

Jessica with her new horse, Celine...isn't she gorgeous? 
(I meant the horse, silly, but you are right, Jessica is beautiful, inside and out!)

Esther was being so cute - goofing off with Jason...she loves to make him smile!

 And this is me and my girls...they love to cuddle when I am in my recliner.
While posting these photos, Esther is sitting in my lap and totally enjoying the photos, laughing and pointing and waving...she especially liked the one with Jason - she was waving at Jason.  She's such a fun baby!

And one last note - can you pray for my friend, J., she had a beautiful little girl this summer with Down syndrome and she was diagnosed with a rare cancer...pray for God's peace in the midst of this storm...

This and That...Knit and Tat???

Life is so busy, and so much happens around here, so this is going to be a little of this and a little of that today!

Starting last week, I am hosting a weekly Sit N Knit afternoon!  Moms and their kids show up for a few hours of knitting/crocheting/cross stitching or whatever craft...or come to learn a new one!.  We talk and laugh, share what books we are reading, what our children are doing, but most importantly we have coffee and treats!  If you are interested in joining in on the fun, let me know and I'll get you the details!  I plan to continue to host these weekly creative sessions, and I am excited to see who God brings each week!

Today we had a total of 11 children come to play and all went very well...we did end up putting in a movie to help keep the mayhem at bay, but most of the time the kids were playing so nicely...and our kitty got lots of socialization!
Here's some photos from today's fun:

I took this photo to use on the invitations to our weekly Sit N Knit!

Ruth (of course not me!) knitting her second washcloth and doing a great job...she also learned to crochet a zig zag pattern for a baby blanket - her daughter wants to make it and she'll need to know how to help her! 

Jessica was in heaven today because there was this sweet little pink bundle to love on! 

Valle is working on her first hot pad, Rebekah is knitting a wash cloth, and Sharleen is crocheting/knitting a scarf!

 That happened this afternoon - here are some random photos from the last few days around here:

The boys hard at work on an engineering project...

Esther loves to stack anything...

but reading is her first love!

face painting gone crazy...These are Rebekah's legs, Dayton did the left one, Elizabeth did the right one!

God's Amazing Grace...

We have had two instances of God providing and protecting little Esther this weekend...

on Saturday I was outside working with Daryl to get the lawn mower running ( this was a 3 week battle...more on that later), and while I was doing that Esther was eating lunch with the children.  She choked on a piece of pizza...really choked...and Jessica was there and was able to use the first aid training she received while taking the Super Sitter Training Program a year ago.  She first made sure that Esther was in trouble, then removed her from her high chair and turned her over, a few pats on the back and the piece came up, but she intermediately swallowed it again and was choking again..she did that procedure again, and this time got it out of her mouth before she could swallow it again.  Praise God that Jessica had that training and was in the room with Esther when she needed the help!

Secondly, this morning Rachel helped Esther with her breakfast, fixing her "medicine juice" which has her vitamins, prevacid and thyroid medicine in it...then when she was out of the room, Jessica came downstairs and fixed Esther her "medicine juice" as she didn't see any tippy cup around...later we figured out the duplication and were concerned about over dose especially with the thyroid medication...but we found the first "medicine juice" tippy cup behind/under her high chair, nothing missing...phew!  Now I am sure the girls will be more careful about insuring that Esther has not already been served her "juice"...although I would be surprised if Esther would ever be able to drink two full tippy cups in one sitting!


This is what we are seeing more and more of - Esther standing...

Only this was the first time she was interested in trying to open a door...we are in trouble now!

Life around here...photos galore!

It's been a while since I posted photos, so I'm going to just post a bunch for your enjoyment, but I saved the best for last, so be sure to look at them all!

Above and below you see Esther is learning to walk and really enjoying!



Recently we harvested our potatoes...we had a great start to our garden, but after a few sessions weeding, they got the better of us, but thankfully, potatoes are not effected much by weeds!


Here is Esther reading...we were organizing our books and she took advantage of an empty lower shelf to sit and read a few books...just too cute!

Our days are busy, but that's the way this season of our life is - and I wouldn't have it any other way!

31 for 21....well maybe 14 for 21...

Grab This Button

I was not aware of this until today - it's a challenge to bloggers to bring awareness of Trisomy 21 to our world...
Why now? Because it's Down Syndrome Awareness month!
So here's my first blog entry for "31 for 21"...But I think I should get some credit for creating and blogging about the video montage I created about Esther's first year that I posted already this week, don't you???

And, lastly, I haven't had many comments lately...is anyone reading my blog anymore? I know I am not very faithful, and some of my friends have accused me of failing at blogging, but I am hoping that changes I am making now, will make it possibly for me to blog more, especially about personal/family things...

If you have been reading my blog, and would even be willing to follow me if I switch blog platforms where I would only blog only about me/my family, please post a comment to encourage me to continue!!!

So check back soon as I hope to blog more about Esther, Down Syndrome, and all things related!

I did it!

I made my first ever video montage!
See for yourself:

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com