AUGH we made it through the week! Abby loves her boots and so do I! Great purchase!!!

We all ventured out to show our support for Phoebe. She needed a flu shot. It has been a while since she has had a shot. I was a little worried. She had her temperature taken and the nurse was ready right when we arrived with the shot…she stuck the needle in Phoebe’s leg and I am looking at her waiting for her to object and …nothing. No whimper, no tears, no anything. She really took me by surprise. She did give the nurse a look that kind of made me laugh…it reminded me of my brother JB, he has this priceless look he gives when he thinks you’ve said something absurd. It’s almost like he’s getting ready to smile – pulling up one corner of his mouth and crinkling his brow…that’s the look my little girl gave this nurse today! It was almost as if she was saying to the nurse, “that’s all you got?” OR “WTH? I thought we were pals?”…the look could have gone either way. Whatever she was thinking…she was pretty darn cute! I have to say AGAIN, I did not expect her to be so freakin cool about it. She’s such a rock star!

I have been cleaning, laundering and packing today…we are headed up to Michigan for some R&R with Greg’s family and friends! It’s always fun to visit the people you love and don’t get to see very often. Greg’s brother’s family hasn’t met Cecilia yet. I am excited for her to meet her Aunt, Uncle and cousins.

I am always worried about the kids sleeping patterns when we go somewhere. It can never be ‘easy’. We are never able to carry over our good sleeping habits when we go away from home, for whatever reason. I tend to think it’s because we aren’t in our natural environment…the sounds in another home are different and probably my worrying about it only makes it worse.

I am excited about the 12 hours in the car…knitting projects, eek!!! So I am taking along a lot of yarns I think Miss Cecilia would look good in…she needs a nice fall hat.

I am loving this fall weather and I am chomping at the bit to take my camera up north!!! I know their colors have got to be insane right now!!!

AND on a more serious note, sometimes I think about the right way to introduce Cecilia to other people…I know what others will say…’there is no right way’ or ‘how ever you want to do it will be the ‘right’ way’.

But it has been on my mind a lot.

On the one hand, I am so proud of her that in the beginning I would just blurt it out, as sort of ‘by the way’ kind of thing. I quickly found out that approach really made people feel uncomfortable. AND by ‘uncomfortable’ I mean they weren’t exactly sure how to respond…I am sure it seemed like I was ‘in denial’ by the way I simply stated it as fact with a smile on my face.

I know ‘who cares what other people think’ but if I don’t mention it, does it mean I am hiding it or embarrassed by her?

I prepped my dentist the other day by saying ‘we are so happy and proud and I don’t want to make you feel awkward, but sweet Cecilia has Down syndrome’.

Some people I just want to tell because I hope 1. they will say something inspiring and insightful and potentially life altering and 2. they will say, congratulations, she is beautiful and she will bring many gifts to your family’. Luckily my dentist proved to be one of those inspiring and insightful people…as did my hairdresser.

Who knew? But I think I have decided, at least for now, not to tell people…just for a little while. Writing that just now, made me feel like I was ‘coping out’ or lying or…I don’t know. It felt dishonest and I don’t want to be dishonest. I think if I am with the other person, in the middle of a conversation and I want or feel let sharing with the other person, then I will.

I have read some horror stories about newbies (new parents) breaking the news about their baby and having to deal with off the wall comments some individuals make. I don’t think I can handle something like that right now. If it happens to me, I hope I can be the kind of parent who will educate and have sensitivity about the issue, be mature – at least for my children.

I feel on the one hand, If I get upset in front of Abby and Phoebe, it will be a source of tension and embarrassment in our household…and I definitely don’t want to send that message.

BUT if I show tolerance and patience and work to educate people, hopefully Abby and Phoebe will see that and try to emulate that in their own lives as they grow.

Sweet sweet girl. so sleepy! When I look at her all she wants is to be held, changed, cuddled, fed, kissed and talked to. So simple. So complex. So beautiful, sweet and powerful.

Wow, for a Friday this post really became HEAVY!!! Happy weekend!!