Month 11 Day 29: Let's get this BLOG caught up already!!!

Intro:

It's been a while since I've been on here to blog. Maybe we have been having too much fun & I've just forgot. Maybe I've been lazy, and maybe there just hasn't been too much to talk about!!

Month 8-9:

We took Giselle to Busch Gardens for the first time! We had VIP passes for the new Cheetah ride and although she could only watch, we think she had a good time. Tons of dancers, and animals to look at. This first picture is a recreation of a picture I took as a child in the same spot. I hope to find it one day and post them side by side!

And here is her and daddy!!

Month 10:

Month 10 was a huge month for us! Giselle started sitting up on her own without falling over!!
  She started in month 9 but she would fall, it took about 4 weeks to get it right and she did! She would first hold herself up with her hands like this:

 

And then she moved onto this!!!

YAY BIG GIRL!!


Another first for her in month 10 was her first spaghetti. Now, we have decided to go gluten-free with Giselle (which I will make a whole seperate post with info on that) but for now, here is her first spaghetti night!

 

Lols. Silly baby. But she loved it! Too be honest, she likes any and every food we put in her mouth, except green beans.

And since she was able to sit, we got to get rid of the little bath sling and she got to do bathtime like a big girl!!

Look at that soap mohawk!! hahahaha


Therapies:
Giselle went in on June 28th, 2011 to get evaluated for Speech, Occupational, and Physical therapies. She was deemed on track but we still are going to go once a week. So far we have only done the Occupational therapy (OT). And honestly, I think it's stupid. For us at least. I'm literally watching the woman PLAY with her the same way we play at home, with the same toys, and the same games.  Also, Giselle seems to hate this woman haha. She never cries in resteraunts, she never cries when people hold her and I'm still around, but she either doesn't like this woman, or the place we are going. We shall see what happens when she starts her Physical Therapy in two weeks. But honestly, I may cancel the OT. It seems like a waste of time.

Month 11: Her first July 4th we spent in Palm Coast with the grandparents!  We went to a little festival and we saw an older woman with Down Syndrome. She was so petite I almost mistook her for the woman next to her's daughter.  Sometimes when you are still in the baby stage, you live in a false reality because they seem so much more like other babies, and its when you see the older people with Down Syndrome that really remind you that she is different looking, but not necessarily different all the way. This woman was just going around to the little tents and checking out the merchandise just like everyone else, enjoying the ocean breeze, and hanging out with her family. How is that different? :)

  Here is Giselle and my mother for a little impromptu July 4th shoot.

 

My Other Daughter: 

On a more personal note, a few weeks ago I fell in LOVE with a little girl on Reece's Rainbow.  Now if you haven't been to this site, it's children for adoption with Special Needs (mostly in Eastern Europe).  I've seen TONS AND TONS of kids on there and felt sorry for them, and sad for them. But this little girl did more than pull on my heart strings. I fell in love with her. Her name on there is Teri Lynn. She was born in 2005 in December, she is a Sagittarius like me! My husband says she sort of resembles Giselle.  Anywho, she got transferred to an institution and I just lost it. I've been crying for the last week straight everyday at least once thinking about this girl. It's just so personal for me and I never thought you could fall in love like that over someone you've never even met. It's the weirdest thing. The first time I saw her picture, someone had written above her picture "Are you her mommy?" and my first response was a tear full "Yes!"  It's been really rough for me and I'm so thankful for my close friends that have been here and understand and don't treat me like I'm a nut job or something.  They've helped me through this and it just shows that fate doesn't screw up.

She has close to 20k up for her adoption and I've heard rumors there are a few families interested in her and all I can do is hope that someone can pull through for her.  It's just not possible at this time for Matt and I to add her to our family, but I know I would sleep much better knowing she is in someone's loving arms.

So that about gets us all caught up! Giselle's first birthday is next week and I'm sure I will blog about her ROXY surfer girl themed party!!

Month 5 Day 3:: New Year's Resolutions

With it being New Year's Eve and all, I wanted to take the time to reflect on a very eventful year.  Matt and I celebrated our one year anniversary,  we made it through the mostly rough 10 months of pregnancy, we brought our daughter into this world, he lost some near and dear friends as his radio station was flipped, joing the DSAJ, doing our first Buddy Walk, and I started doing photography again.

I think out of all the memories we made this year, there are three that I will never forget of 2010 as long as I live.  The moment I saw my baby girl for the first time.  The moment the doctor told us she had Down Syndrome. And the moment I actually registered the information.

It has been the happiest year of my life, and at some points, the saddest.  I still have good days and I have bad days when it comes to how I cope with the fact she has special needs.  But you know what? The good days are starting to outweigh the bad ones.  When I look at her and I see how strong she has become.  When I look at her doing things I was told she wouldn't do yet.  Every day she surprises me and she shouldn't. And
it's not because I didn't think she could do it. I know she can.  It's because I can't believe with how weak I was in the beginning of all this, with all my crying and self pitying, that I created a baby who is so strong. 

Giselle,
You are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I thought being a mommy of a special needs baby was all about me teaching you how to roll, how to sit, how to eat. But it's been about you teaching me that you don't need me to do these things.  That you are capable and strong without the crutches.  I promise to expect more from you in the next year.  My expectations for your life are high and I promise to never let you down. I love you Boogerton Jones, and I can't wait for you to teach me more in 2011.

Love,
Mommy

Special thanks this year to nurse Mary.  You've been there for me when I felt very alone.  You never told me what I wanted to hear, only what I needed to. I'm so glad that we delivered at your hospital and I was able to meet you.  I don't know where I would be without knowing I have you to talk. Thank you.

And now the year 2010, told through photos: