So I am a stay at home mom, like everyone knows! But one of my favorite times of the day is when the mail comes! I know it is usually bills! But I love getting the mail! When we watch Blues Clues, I sing the "mail" song so loudly!
Here's the mail It never fails It makes me wanna wag my tail When it comes I wanna wail... MAIL!!!
That is truly what I feel inside! I get really excited! I guess I have a very boring life! But I truly enjoy the simple things! Even though that simple thing includes: bills, bills, bills!
But no one comes between me and my mail! I will tackle anyone that tries to get it! Ask Marley! When we race to the mailbox! Even the Mailman knows how much I love getting the mail! He will speed past me in his little mail jeep and put the mail in Marley's hands!
We'll about two weeks ago, I got a lovely letter sent from a great friend! This letter was so very encouraging! I have re-read it many times! I love sending hand written cards! They mean so much more! I also love receiving cards! I have a bunch of special cards I keep them in my nightstand drawer. When I got my last special letter, I reread some of my old letters! Oh, how the memories came rolling back!
I went to go use the restroom! So I heard Carpenter at the baby gate: "Mom"
"Mom"
"MOM!" very loud and impatiently waiting said by Carpenter
"Sta-ceee"
He clearly said my name! I was so excited, I called Jon! I guess he had been listening to Sadie! Carpenter figured if yelling for mom wouldn't work he would try another name in his Rolodex!
I have been trying to post this link on all my October blogs, but for some reason it keeps getting messed up when it comes time for me to post them! So October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month! So I am trying to post 31 post for 21! A lot of other mother's of children with DS are doing the same thing! You may also note that for some reason I like saying T-21 better than I like down syndrome! It is quicker to type and quicker to say!
Anne, wrote about proclaiming that children with T-21 are different! And another blog I found, New Kind of Normal, the title of her blog really made me think! Yes, it is a new kind of normal!
Normal became: NICU, 3 sets of ear tubes, tonsils and adenoids removed, and therapists! To people who think my schedule is busier than theirs, we'll it may be. But it just feels like normal to me!
Carpenter is different! I think as a young child these differences will not be as noticeable as when we becomes an adult! Yes, it took him longer to crawl, walk, run, speak! And you can see those differences! But at the same time, he does all those same things a "normal" child does. He enjoys going to the park, playing with siblings, loving his grandparents, and eating Reese's!
When he walks up the steps using no handrail, I appreciate the difference. That Sadie can just run up them! But that he can walk up them without any help! Neither of which is greater!
It helps me to appreciate his difference, the extra work it takes! Simple things a mother without a special needs child would miss!
So in fact, his difference has made me appreciate life more!
Side note: 97% of people who find out that their child has Down Syndrome have an abortion! I guess they can not see that the difference is a blessing! And that really pulls at my heart!
I would post more but Rowan just woke up and he has his 12 month shots today and feels horrible!
Today, Jon and I did our first ever 5K with the Lauren's Hope Run! To tell you the truth! I really didn't want to get up and do it! I need more sleep! So we got up late! But we ended up making it there on time! My mom came over to watch the kids, so Jon and I could do the run/walk by ourselves!
First of all we were getting there right on time for them to say go, that we didn't get a chance to stretch! See, usually I walk pushing the stroller 2-3 times per week! Well this past week I walked everyday trying to get into better shape! But that did not seem to help! Jon and I before the race! We walked/ran along the side of town I usually do not do, you know the hilly side! All along the route Jonathan would tell me ways we could short cut! I love listening to his memories from childhood! Of how he rode his bike all around town to friends houses! And to think my kids would not be able to do the same, not because I do not trust them but because of the dangers out there! Okay, so back to the race! Jon and I did do a combination of run/walk! I liked to drink the water along the way(but you know me the recycle/litter nut did not want to throw the cup on the ground), he did not! When we walked we people watched the different runners stances! We came to the conclusion that if you are a pretty good runner, you do weird things with your arms as you trot by! So when we made it to Quail Run, that was our first taste of disgust because the avid runners were already on their home stretch! Putting us to shame!
To say that my lower body does not ache with every step, would be a lie! Okay Anne, don't laugh but we did the 5K in 45 minutes! Several older generations put us to shame! But Jon was very encouraging to keep running! I just didn't wait to stop dead before the finish line! I tried to beat Jon to the finish line, but my body couldn't! Jon and I crossed the finish line together just like how we crossed the start line! Hopefully that will be a metaphor for the rest of our lives!
Next, we had signed Marley up for the Kids Fun Run which was 1 mile! We didn't teach Marley how to dig around the corners and take tight turns! So she took the longer route, to carefully not let anyone fall down! But she pulled through and took the lead from 3rd to 1st in twenty feet! She was so truly excited! We were so proud! At least one of the Long's finished strong! She got a medal! Marley greeted with a hug from her little sis! Then we took the kids to Aunt Het day in downtown FI! Then I took the babies home to nap while Jon worked and then watched the Carolina game at the Long's! Then we joined them at the 4th quarter! And then went to my parents for dinner! Whooo! I am tired!
So here we sit, Jon in his chair, and myself on the couch aching but proud of our accomplishments! Both ready for bed!
Today is Rowan Calvin Long's First Birthday! Can you believe it? It has been a year already! My little boy turned one today!
Rowan your birth was soo amazing! I would totally recommend that everyone wait to find out what the sex of your baby will be for the birth! It was totally exciting! I truly can not verbalize the wonderfulness(not sure that is a word)of the situation! We had no girl name and only agreed about a boy name a week before you were born! I love keeping it a secret! It was so special! Here is a link the post I wrote for Rowan's birth! Here is a link to Kelly's post!
Rowan you are completely adorable! You have this HUGE smile that is so big that it weighs down your face into this bashful expression! Rowan you are so fun and active! You can climb things that no one would think a baby your age could do! You are so unique, I am not quite sure about your personality yet! You just love everything! Especially food! You also are very tight with your siblings and they love Ro-Ro or Roee just as much!
Last year at the pumpkin patch, Pop-Pop had to take Carpenter to the PP because I was to be induced for Rowan's birth! This year Jon and I took the three little amigos to the Pumpkin Patch on Rowan's First Birthday!!! Family Picture Attempt on Wagon Renee and Jack Tammster and Nathan Rowan and Jon Sadie May Family Pic 2 Tammy, Nathan, Jon, and Carpenter Carpenter and Jon I found my pumpkin! Me too! Sadie May Jon and Carpenter Angelic Sadie and Carpenter Jon and tres amigos Nathan and Sadie Jon and Rowan Rowan My youngest pumpkins Jon and Rowan Sadie and Carpenter Birthday Cookie Carpenter and his pumpkin(we hope it will survive his throwing it around) Worn out Birthday Boy
I changed the title because I can never stop writing stuff on Wordless Wednesday!
So everyone knows that I am a mean mom! I do not like for my kids to have candy! I am the mom that wants to give out apples at Halloween! But Jon brings me back to reality that the kids would be disappointed! That people would think we were weird!
So I had to pick up some pictures at CVS and Sadie grabbed some gum right as we were checking out! Oh, how I love those marketers that know that is how they sell product! Anyway, I had my hands full with Rowan and paying for the pictures! So, Sadie got her gum!
This is what it looks like when you give a two year old a pack of gum! I told her to eat one piece! She finished the whole pack by the time we got home! I hope she won't get sick!!!
1 Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
