Happy 1st Birthday Jack!

Today is Jack's First Birthday! I cannot believe it. My son is one year old!!! I have a one year old son. No matter how you say it. It doesn't seem possible. This first year of life went by way too fast. I have always heard parents say that and now I know what they mean. It's funny. I can't even remember him small and tiny like the newborn he was, but yet it seems like just yesterday that my doctor was telling me "We're going to admit you into Labor and Delivery now."

Happy Birthday Jack! We love you!


So you ask, what is one year old Jack up to these days? He has almost mastered the crawling! Yay! He can crawl to something when he wants, but he usually has to be prompted to do so. The remote and our dog are great luring devices. Go, go, go Jack! I will try to get video and post it later.


Happy Birthday Doodle bug!

Happy Heart

We went to the Cardiologist today and got an echo cardiogram. The last echo was done when Jack was born and it found a small hole in his heart, but luckily it did not need surgery to repair, we just had to wait until it closed. At Jack's six month appointment, the doctor said it might close by the time he is a year old. The hole is closed! Yay! No more Cardiologist. Check that baby off the list! I just wanted to share the good news.

Jack did great during the echo too. The technician whistled and I sang. I had to hold his limbs down and it felt like the test took forever. The technician said Jack did great and I did a good job distracting too. He said sometimes it takes an hour because the kids squirm so much. Thank goodness it didn't take that long! It's quite difficult to hold 4 baby limbs with only 2 arms! I got kicked in the neck a few times. Jack looked so cute on that hospital bed in his diaper. He is such a good baby! He is almost one (4 days to go) and will always be my baby.

Dinner Dance Program

Back in September, Jack posed for some photos for the UPS for DownS (United Parent Support for Down Syndrome) Dinner Dance program. The UPS for DownS big fundraiser is their Dinner Dance and they put together a little program to showcase our kids. The theme this year was Roaring 20's and to fit the theme, the photos were shot at Al Capone's Restaurant and Hideaway. The Dinner Dance was last weekend and we weren't able to go, so I'm not sure what photos made it into the program, but if you ask me, I think the photos of Jack are cover worthy. But I might be a little biased.

Buddy Walk Success

Last Sunday we walked in the Buddy Walk for the first time. It was a great day, although quite cold! The day before the walk, we went out to buy Jack his first pair of shoes and a winter coat. And it's a good thing we did. We bundled him so tightly, he couldn't move his limbs. He stayed warm though! So warm, he took a night long nap in the stroller breathing that cold fresh Fall air.

Team Jack was quite successful in the Buddy Walk raffle. My friend won a night's stay at a hotel, John won a book, my father-in-law won two things (a toy for Jack and a DVD system for the car)! How cool! I guess we are one lucky team. The walk site was new this year and it was beautiful. The Jesse White tumblers even performed and they get pretty crazy with the flips and trampoline.

It was a great day. Team Jack raised over $300! Thank you to all who walked with us as Team Jack and thank you to those that donated to the Buddy Walk!

Recent Photos

We went over to my Dad's for dinner last weekend and finally got some good photos of Jack. I have not been liking the photos our digital camera has been taking lately at all. Here are some cute ones. Hey my smiling boy!


And here is the game "elevator" that John likes to play with Jack.
Jack looks down when he's ready to plummet.
His hair goes flying in the air.
Surprisingly, he loves it!

Aqua Therapy

After a four month long wait list, we finally got to start Aqua Therapy with an OT today. I wish I had a picture to show you how cute Jack was, but I didn't know how comfortable OT Monica would feel about that. Jack and OT Monica had the indoor pool all to themselves. I sat on the sidelines dressed in my swim suit, just in case I needed to participate too. He was SO cute to watch. Him in his little orange trunks and winter rosy cheeks and me watching on like a proud Momma. He splashed, kicked his legs, worked on putting pressure on his legs and feet, got to float on this cool raft, played with water toys, practiced being on all fours and Monica sang to him the whole time. She said he is very tolerant and did great. It was a fun 30 minutes to watch and I look forward to next week....I think Jack does too.

On a side note, this blog I follow (Our Unexpected Journey) posted this great entry. October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month and the goal is to make people more aware and accepting of Down syndrome. Please click HERE to read her post. It has some great facts and information you might not be aware of.