Happy Birthday Bridget!

Happy Birthday Bridget!!

Wednesday is my day off, and papa was out to play with the girls yesterday, so we decided to have Bridget's cake a day early.

She was not too sure about the candle.  Claire, on the other hand, was super excited so she got to blow it out.

First taste

Claire ate more cake at Bridget's birthday than she did at her own!

Bridget had to pause in the middle of cake eating to sign 'dad' and then shoot him a smile!

Signing 'all done'

Bridget got twin babies for her birthday.  I hoped this would help by giving them each one to play with, even though one of them has been designated as Bridget's, and we don't make her share that baby.

Happy Birthday sweet girl! 

Happy Birthday Claire!

Yesterday was Claire's birthday.

Three. 

How did my little 5 lb baby get to be a three year old?!?

This birthday more than the other two have had me looking back, reflecting a bit.  Her NICU stay, OHS, EI, preschool.  So many changes...she made me a mother.  So many changes recently, with EI ending preschool beginning.

Anyway, on to the fun stuff...the party!

We kept things fairly low key yesterday.  Family, friends, burgers and cupcakes.  Low key though was about 20 people, half of them kids!  Our little house was full (and loud!), but it was a great day, and Claire had so much fun playing with her friends and cousins.

An early present because she just *couldn't wait* until after lunch!

Squeaky shoes.  What was I thinking?!?

Mimi and Bridget  :)

Cousins!

Happy 2nd Birthday Claire!

Two.

How in the world is my baby two already?!?!

4 days old

It seems like just yesterday we were wondering exactly how Down syndrome was going to change our lives, and today Down syndrome hardly enters into our daily thoughts.  We love, work, play and celebrate just like every other family.

12 days old....going home from the hospital

Some parts of our lives may be slower, but others are just as busy and hectic as anyone else's.  In other words, normal.

3 months

Ordinary.

8 months

And the more ordinary days, months and years we have, the more I know that no matter what struggles and challenges Down syndrome throws at us, we can handle it.  I love that Down syndrome isn't our focus anymore.

14 months

Claire is.

Happy Birthday my sweet Claire

The Birthday Cake

was a hit!  You know how some kids won't touch their cake?  That wasn't Claire!  She jumped right in with both hands.  When it was over and done with, I was surprised with how little mess there was...I think more of the cupcake made it IN her rather than ON her.

Claire has a thing for my camera strap, so this blurry, lunging baby is in a lot of my pictures.

We had a little drama near the end of the cupcake experience.  Claire managed to get about half the cupcake in her mouth at once, and she protested once we removed the huge bite...

I'm thinking that the fact it was past her bedtime could have contributed some!

Happy Birthday Claire!!

Sweet girl, where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant and we were anxiously awaiting your arrival. 

Your first few days were a blur of doctors, sleepless nights, and your first heart surgery.  Things calmed down once we got home and we quickly settled into our new roles.  Kisses in the morning and books at bedtime.

 

We celebrated rolling, sitting, and most recently, crawling.  Teeth have appeared, your hair has grown into the cutest pigtails, and your smile lights up the room.

Your first year has been an amazing adventure, and I can only imagine all of the fun we have ahead of us.  

Happy First Birthday Beautiful Claire!!