Logan's Slideshow

Good Morning!!  Running VERY short on time today, crazy busy day.  So, I thought I would share with you a little slideshow I made of the first 2 years of Logan's life.  I made it to show our to our newest members this weekend at the Chesapeake Down Syndrome New Parents Social!!  I hope you enjoy.
And, please check back tomorrow for an amazing post written by my friend Janet.  It's DEFINITELY a must read!!!
Have a great day everyone :)

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Best Buds

About 6 weeks after Logan was born, another little angel entered our lives.  Declan O'Conor Bell was born on July 8th and he and Logan have known each other since then.
We did everything with them when the boys are little and this is the first year they're not in some sort of activity together.  We miss them, but luckily see them often.
Declan is an amazing boy, who comes from an amazing family and we're so blessed to have such wonderful friends in our lives.

Here's from Molly and Declan Bell:

Last year Dyer and I expressed how much Logan has touched our lives in these past four years.  For this year’s Downs Syndrome Awareness month, our son Declan wanted to share some of his thoughts.  I was happy to be the conduit because it’s always refreshing to look at life through the eyes of a child.  His words are not profound, but indeed sincere.  After hearing what Declan had to say, I’m even more grateful that my sons have Logi as a friend because he makes all of our lives a thousand times richer just by being a part of them.  We don’t think of it as having a friend with Downs. Logan is just our friend. A great friend, but just a friend, like all the rest. However, we’re not the same as any friend, because God made us each unique, just like snowflakes. Some of us are tall, some of us are not. Some of us have glasses, some of us don’t. Some of us throw righty, some lefty. But, Logan did Gymboree, Declan did Gymboree. Logan sings and dances, Declan sings and dances. Logan enjoyed playing at co-op, Declan enjoyed playing at co-op. Logan talks a lot, Declan talks a lot. Logan loves donuts, Declan loves donuts. Yep, NDSS is right, they are more alike than different!

My Friend Logan

“Logan is my best friend ever. And, we have been best friends, forever. Since we were tiny babies. We have so much fun together.  I love playing lacrosse, teeball, basketball, soccer and golf with him. He is really great at playing dress-ups too. One of my favorite things to do with him is go to the Fourth of July parade. I hope we always do that. Logan is a really good talker. He is always nice.  He gives really good hugs and high fives. And, he always lets Mac play with us.  I just love Logan with all my heart. I think he has really cool eyes, cool shorts, cool shoes, and awesome baseball bats. God made Logan extra happy.  I’m so glad I get to be his friend.”

~ Declan Bell, 4 years old

Follow Up

So, I've gotten A LOT of feedback on my post about Logan having friends.  It seems that a lot of us worry about this!!!  My sister and my mom also reminded me that I used to worry about my brother and father having friends.  Apparently, according to Darbs, I used to get upset when my Dad traveled because I was concerned that he had to eat dinner alone.  I wasn't kidding when I said that I worried A LOT about EVERYTHING.  I really do, and always have.  But, I really appreciate the phone calls, emails, and facebook messages that, a)promised me that I was not alone and, b)reassured me that Logan will have friends.

Really, I just feel like we are so unbelievably blessed to have the most amazing support system in the world.  A big part of me really wants to name names of all of you out there that constantly go above and beyond for us, that are ALWAYS there for us and love us and support us uncondionally, but there's the reasonable, logical part of me that knows I'm still a sleep deprived new mom who's SURE to forget someone and I'm not willing to take that chance.  Sorry!!!  However, I'm pretty sure you all know who you are, and we love you and will always be eternally grateful to you!!!

Also, as part of my follow up on the friend post, and the Hunt's post, I want to share a little email I got from Logan's teacher this weekend.  Again, reiterating that she is the BEST teacher EVER!!!!  She is amazing!! Thanks Ms. Kelley!!!  We love you :)

From Kelley:

Ok as I sit here and try to see the keys to type I'm wiping the tears from my cheeks.  OMG!!!!  I was just reading your Blogs and I read the one about Logan at Hunt's.  WOW!!!  For some reason it is making me cry like a baby.  Just reading that you are so happy with Hunt's and the nice things you said about us makes my heart so happy!!!  So as I sit here and cry happy tears I thought I would comment on your Blogs. BUT I DONT KNOW HOW!!!!!  How do I become a follower if I don't have a Goggle account?  How do I write my own Blog?  I love this idea!!!  If it is too hard to explain in writing I can wait until Monday and you can tell me how to do it.  I'm going to print that Blog and show it to the teachers at Hunts.  Also, the one about you worrying about Logan having friends.....All I can tell you is right now in the three's program he has TONS of friends.  The children fight over who can sit next to him, who can play with him alone, and so on.  It is so funny to watch because Logan is just like "whatever...line up and I'll get to you when I have time".  LOGAN IS AWESOME and he is very liked!!!  I have even had parents come in and ask me who Logan is because their child comes home and talks about him and tells them how much fun they had with Logan that day.  Funny though because I worry about my middle child and making friends.  He is so shy (don't know where he got that) and it is some times painful to watch him socially.  When I hear other boys are getting together and he just sits back and watches or waits to be included, it KILLS me!!! His two brothers always have plans, but not Travis, he will just plug along and be happy with whatever!  I am finding that me pushing him to take initiative with planning is helping.  He has always struggled in school, he is Dyslexic,  and works his butt off to get good grades, while his brothers do the bare minimum and get great grades..   UGH motherhood is so hard!!! Anyway, I'm getting off track, I just want to say thanks for your kind words and for sharing Logan with us!!  I know it is hard not to worry, but just know that he is doing great at school and has many friends.  You actually should be worried about what a "ladies man" he is.  Girls LOVE him!!!!!  Have a great weekend and I'll talk to you on Monday.  Love you guys!!!!  Kelley

P.S.   Tell Maddie I have PLENTY of lipstick for her next year when she is in my class!!!  LOL!!!  I LOVE LIPSTICK TOO!!!!

Field Trip!!!

 Logan and I got to go on a field trip on together on Thursday.  It was super fun!!!   Sam drove Maddie to school and Logan, Georgie and I went to the farm to meet up with his class.  I often get to spend one-on-one time with Maddie because she insists on it, but I don't do it with Logan as much as I want to.  I know I had Georgia with me, but she's so easy, it was basically one-on-one.  Anyway, we had a blast!!  He ran through the hay maze, LOVED the little turkeys that were gobbling around, wasn't a huge fan of the hay ride, but also loved riding all the cool tractors and pretending to be in charge of the hay ride.  I was a really, super awesome mom and brought my good camera so I could take great pictures to share with you all, but, guess what!, I didn't charge the camera's battery.  Soooooo, there were a lot of really great shots I COULD have taken, but didn't because the camera was dead.  I did capture a few with my handy cell phone camera, so take a look and enjoy and have a GREAT Sunday.
Go Ravens!!!

The Difference Between Girls and Boys

First of all, let me start by saying, ahhhhhh, it's Saturday. Crazy busy week, and another one coming up so it's nice to be sitting here sipping coffee and relaxing!! Hope everyone else is doing the same.

Luckily, I have a hair appointment in a few hours, so Sam has to take Logan to soccer (hehehe...planned that one well, huh?)

So, as we were rushing out of the house the other day to go to school, Maddie all the sudden screamed, "I need my lipstick!!!!" That kind of stopped me in my tracks, because, WHAT?!?!? I DON'T even wear lipstick. How does she even know what it is? However, in an effort to avert a temper tantrum, I dug out some chapstick from my purse and watched as she very delicately applied it in the bathroom mirror. I basically just stood staring at her with my mouth hanging open.

I've sorta felt this way since she was born. Maddie and Logan are SO different, and so stereotypically girly and boyish. Logan would NEVER put lipstick or chapstick on. He doesn't even like it when we put lotion on him after his bath. And, speaking of baths, Logan HATES baths. Why? Because he LOVES dirt. He seeks dirt out. He'll walk 20 feet out of his way to jump in a puddle on a rainy day. Maddie will walk 20 feet out of her way to AVOID that same puddle. She doesn't like to get her shoes messy. She has, I don't know, maybe 30 pairs of shoes. Logan has 3 pairs.

One day last spring, it rained. It was the perfect rainy day to play outside. So, I put their boots and raincoats on and out we went. Logan thought this was the greatest thing of his life!!! Maddie thought I was trying to torture her, and finally just asked if she could go in to go to sleep. She was holding her hand up to her head as if to say, "This God awful experience has so exhausted me, I need to take to my bed immediately."

Very, very different these kids.

When I pick Logan up from school, I ask him a million questions about his day, "How was your day?" "Did you have fun at school?" "Did you play with any friends?" "Did you make a craft?" "Did you have a snack?" "Did you go outside?" IF I get an answer, it's a version of no (nope, nah, NOOOOOO).

Maddie, on the other hand, tells me step-by-step what she's done from the minute I dropped her off, until the minute I pick her up. It goes something like this, "first, i played play dough at the table, I sat next to Sabrina and Sam, we made apples. Then, I took care of my babies, Mrs. Judy helped me. Mrs. Judy loves me, I'm her best friend. Then we did circle time and I sang 3 songs. The letter of the day is C and we learned about the number 3. For snack, we had............." And it goes on and on and on like this until I put her down for her nap. SOMETIMES she wakes up TALKING about her day (you know, in case she forgot something).

Anyway, it's just funny to me. These kids of mine....so different.

Alright, I'm off to paint Maddie's nails :)

Happy Saturday everyone.