Our Day

This year we had hoped to return to NYC for Julia's birthday, but since the 30th of November coincided with Thanksgiving weekend, we decided against it. We thought there would be too many people  and too much traffic coming back home. We decided instead to stay local and just spend all day together. We first took the kids to their favorite bagel shop for breakfast. Next, we ventured into the mall for a visit to Build-a-Bear. It's pretty fun for all of the kids to receive a present on Julia's birthday! Next we had lunch and watched Isaac play in his indoor soccer game. We then went to the cemetery to take balloons to Julia's grave site. While there we released three purple balloons in honor of her third birthday. We proceeded to the Christmas tree farm where we found the perfect tree. Finally, we came home and ate a steak dinner and some Baked by Melissa cupcakes while enjoying the amazing finish to the Auburn-Alabama game. 

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers. We received texts, calls, fb messages, and emails throughout the day. We are thankful that you remember Julia and us on this special day.

We had a good day. All together. Happy birthday, sweet Julia!

The Third

Dear Julia,
Today is your third birthday!
I think often of all the fun things three year olds can do and I miss you.
I then think of how precious three year olds with trisomy 18 are and I miss you.
We miss out on so much not having you here with us.
But today we choose to celebrate you on your third birthday.

 Although you are never far from our thoughts and always in our hearts, 

today we will remember you and the life we shared with you; 

we remember what you taught us and the gifts you gave us, 

and we will cherish being together as a family.
There will be birthday balloons, purple flowers, and miniature cupcakes.

That's what we would do with you here, too -- celebrate you and us. 

We love and miss you. Sending you many hugs and kisses.

Happy birthday, dear Julia, happy birthday to you. 

To read Julia's birth story, click here.

To read about how we celebrated Julia's first birthday, click here and here.

1 Day until 3 years

Julia spent a year's worth of holidays with us. She was part of Easter, July 4th, thanksgiving, and Christmas and all of the ones in between. Each of those days was made extra special by having her with us. We knew we were lucky and blessed to have any days with her. We did not take her presence for granted. We knew better. Her presence was a gift.

2 Days until 3 Years

The big kids have often been involved in several activities outside of school, and this was true while Julia was with us. For two of Sydney's activities, piano and dance, Isaac, Julia, and I waited in the car for her to take lessons. Isaac usually watched a DVD, and I would sit with and hold Julia. These times provided a change of our usual scenery, so I would describe our surroundings to Julia. We listened to music, sang songs, played games, and looked out the window. Sometimes she slept. These outings were special precisely because they were so normal. I am continually thankful that our family life with Julia maintained as much normalcy as possible.

3 Days until 3 Years

Cohen certainly loves his baths these days. Julia, also, was a big fan of baths. She seemed to relax so much better in a warm bath. I remember how she liked to float while I supported her head. I think it was a great deal easier for her to move her arms and legs in the water. Sweet girl. Miss you, Julia!

4 Days until 3 Years

I asked Sydney to tell me about one of her favorite memories of Julia. She had many, but the one she wanted me to include here was about how she liked to dress Julia. She enjoyed picking out her clothes when given the opportunity, and she would almost always choose something pink. :) When Julia was in her first months, she was small enough to fit into Sydney's American Girl doll clothes. Sydney thought that was pretty amazing. Thank you, Sydney, for that memory and the smile it brings to my heart.

5 Days until 3 Years

Julia, like most babies, loved to hear "baby talk." She especially responded to baby talk by Sydney and Isaac. They had the sweetest way of talking to and interacting with her. She would look for them when she heard them around the house and would zero in on them when they talked to her. I also loved to hear Sydney and Isaac talk to Julia. Their love for her, their baby sister, was so evident in their words, their tone, and their gestures. I am thankful that they were so willing to love her with their whole hearts. I am very proud of all of them. 

6 Days until 3 Years

In the first few days of Julia's life she was unable to take a bottle. We fed her a tiny bit at the time with 1ml syringes. After a few days she was able to take in more and more of these formula filled syringes at a time. And one day, we noticed that she was developing a suck reflex. This was huge for a baby with trisomy 18!!! At that time we decided to try a preemie bottle, and to our great surprise, she began to successfully feed from a bottle! The bottles contained tiny amounts at first but she did it!! She continued to slowly increase her intake throughout her sweet little life. I am very thankful for the responsiveness little Julia showed -- especially in those early days when we didn't even know we could have hope. She gave us that hope. And so much more.

7 Days until 3 Years

Julia, 9 Months, Aug 2011

Today marks seven days until Julia's third birthday. This week I will share some of the little things that make up the everyday memories of our time together. Here is the first memory about Julia that I would like to share. Julia was very sensitive to sunlight. Every time I walked outside with her and the sun was shining brightly, she would sneeze five times in a row. Then we both would smile. Did she smile because sneezing was funny? Because the warm, bright sun felt good? Because I would laugh when she sneezed? The reason was not too important. When she smiled, I knew all I needed to know -- that in that moment, all was okay in our world.

Cohen at 18 Months

At 18 months I Can...

- walk

- run

- dribble a soccer ball (in a toddler kind of way)

- say about 30 words

- express my opinion in words and actions

- climb

- follow simple instructions

- eat with my 12-going-on-14 teeth

Likes:

- Sydney and Isaac (or Syd and Iyaac, as Cohen says)

- chocolate

- yogurt

- scrambled eggs

- cars (ride-on and toy cars)

- balls

- outside 

- going to the bus stop

- bath

- dancing 

- books

- "helping" put away the laundry

- playing piano with Sydney

- shoes

- Gymboree class

- playing with his friend Cody

- peekaboo 

Dislikes:

- getting into his car seat

- going to bed

- changing clothes

- diaper changes

- going inside after playing outside

- staying in a cart or stroller for very long

- staying still for photos 

Cohen is a fun little guy who is always on the go. His words are precious to hear and his different tones are very communicative on their own. He keeps us busy, keeps us laughing and smiling, and keeps us young. 

On Her Second Birthday

Nov 30, 2011 ~ Julia's 1st Birthday

My Sweetest Julia,
Today is your second birthday. We are thinking of you so much today (even more than usual!) and missing you tons! We are also celebrating you today. Dad, Syd, and Isaac all took the day off so that we could all be together on your special day.
I know that you would want us to be happy on your birthday even though we are missing you. Because your birth and your birthday should be celebrated, we made a list of things about our time together that we are thankful for.
I am thankful for your smile and that you blessed us with so many of them!
Cohen is thankful that he is your baby brother and that you were the first of his siblings to know he was coming! He also thanks you for all of the fun toys!
Sydney is thankful that you are her sister and that you are a miracle!
Isaac is thankful that you were with us for a whole year and two weeks.
Daddy is thankful for all of the quality late night time you two had together.
Most of all we are thankful to be your family. We love you so much, sweet girl.
Happy 2nd birthday to you. Sending lots of love, kisses, and hugs to you today.

Love you forever,
Mommy

Birthday Month - A Look Back Part 5

More Julia Photos! These should be called "Smiles and Silly Faces."

How I miss her many expressions and her priceless smiles!  

Daddy is funny!

I think I might like my tie-dyed onesie!

How cute am I?

My mommy is a little weird.

What did you say?

Oh, that IS funny!

I'll think about it...

Where did my hand go?

Uh-Oh!

Mommy is silly!

I'm not telling!

I'm a pumpkin?

I love Pat-a-Cake!

Birthday Month -- A Look Back Part 4

More of Julia's lesser known photos...these are from summer 2011.

We had such a good summer and were even able to travel to visit family.

What a blessing those memories are today.

Love you so much, sweet girl.

Birthday Month - A Look Back Part 3

Missing you 11 months today, my sweet Julia.

Continuing our look back at some of Julia's lesser known photos...