moving

We moved from NY 6 years ago with one little 2 month old baby.  We planned on being in our townhouse for a couple of years and then we could figure out where we really wanted to be.  Fast forward 6 years and 2 more kids.  It's fair to say we outgrew the place.  After over a year on the market, we finally sold.  It was time to pack... and house hunt.  The buyer wanted to close ASAP.

They really wanted to help.

With the help of some really great friends I was able to pack most of the house in a week.  I may have been a bit crabby to live with but we managed.

The kids were all really good sports.  My buddy fell asleep while peeking under the crack of his door every night.  Perhaps he was concerned we would forget him!  Sis was thrilled to have people to come over and play with her while Mommy packed.  It's funny how you make a change because you know it will be better for your kids in the long run yet they really are fine with the way things are.

When special needs enters your life, every choice is heightened.  We wanted a school system that we hope will be better for my buddy.  We want a yard with a fence around it to keep him safe.  We want a house that can grow with us and accommodate him well into adulthood, if he so chooses.

Anyway, the packing went well and thanks to more great friends and family, our life successfully fits into a box.

We had to go back the next day to finish the last of it.  I had no box that would fit my few rolls of cheap wrapping paper, so my buddy and sis had some great fun.  And I used it to wrap dishes.  Win win.

Since all this moving business happened so fast, we don't have a house yet.  My in-laws were gracious enough to let us stay in their RV.  It's not my ideal living situation, but it comes with cheap childcare and a pool.

And because little rara didn't want to be the only one who didn't learn to walk in that house, she pulled this one out just as we were heading out the door.

blink

It's my fault, really.  I did it.  I blinked.  Suddenly my little monkey bear went from this:

her very first baby doll... it was love at first sight

To this:

If only her cart were bigger she really could do all the shopping on her own.

She no longer likes being called monkey bear and, to me, it doesn't even fit her anymore.  Gone is the baby who used to laugh at all our silly monkey bear rhymes and songs.  In its place is this (mostly) mature kid who is anxious to help and craves more independence.

My mother-in-law really didn't believe that monkey bear could talk when she was little.  She refused to say anything in front of anyone because she was so shy.  We had friends her age that we used to see a few times a month at playgroup for 5 years and she still never spoke to them.  She went all of preschool only speaking to one little girl - and just one word answers.

She would never leave my side when others were around.  Now look at her:

she never even looked back once

Monkey bear said if I have to use a nickname - she prefers her real name - I can call her 'sis'.  There goes the name of my blog!  I will try it out because that girl of mine is worth it.  You never know how your kids will turn out.  You just try your best to instill what you can and then set them free into the world.  I am so proud of the person sis is becoming.  I feel even at the tender young age of 6, I get these glimpses of the adult she will be.

trying

We had a play date at our friends house this week. She has Down syndrome too.  I don't have many friends that I see on a regular basis who have kids like my buddy.  I was reminded of how nice it is not to have to apologize when he knocks her youngest down more than once. 

We got talking about how having a child with Down syndrome is more than just having a child who is slow to learn things.  There's the juxtaposition of abilities and disabilities.  For example my buddy knows all his alphabet letters and what sound they make yet he can't resist the urge to knock down little kids.  I have spent the last 4 years telling him at least 10 times a day not to throw his cup of milk (even showing him the proper way to place it on the table) and he still throws it yet he can kick my butt at Angry Birds. 

It is so refreshing to talk to a mom who really gets it.  I don't think I'll ever really understand how my buddy works, but I am going to keep on trying.

My 'summer of fun' may need to be changed to 'fun for the kids but Mommy may lose it at any point in time'.  But I'm still trying with that too. 

Spending all morning in our jammies.  I'm all over this one.

Playing at the mall.  All 3 kids went different directions. Need more eyes!

We took a hike.  My buddy kissed every dog that went by and shook every little tree.

They really had a good time.

We went to the beach, but brought Daddy for back up. 

I still don't know why my buddy loves having people come over, but wants them to leave after 10 minutes.  Or why he will melt down instead of just letting me know what he needs.  I do know that everything is always better after I pick him up and love on him for a while.