Go Visit my Friend Sarah's blog!

Sarah and her family are bringing home "Taylah", who is just adorable! (Click on Sarah's name to go to the blog.)



See? Isn't she precious?!

And if you scroll down to the Apr 2 post on Sarah's blog, you will see a fun, free givaway! All she asks is that you share her blog (on your blog or facebook or Twitter, or whatever), become a follower of her blog, or follow Reece's Rainbow on Twitter to qualify for a chance to enter. Easy, right? And check the prize - so cute!

There are SOOOOO many family bringing home kids through Reece's Rainbow right now. It's amazing and awesome. I'll be trying to post about a family weekly. They can all use our support and encouragement, even if that means just a quick prayer. Maybe it's because I'm super nosy, but I love "meeting" these families and getting to know them a little and following their journey to bring home a little one (or two, sometimes).

Day 2

Take a photo of a random part of your day and tell us about it:

Okay, I admit this photo was not taken today, but it could have been!  I looked for the messiest one I could find and this is it, even though it certainly isn’t the messiest this room usually is.  At least once, sometimes twice or 3 times a day I pick up all the toys and put them where they live.  Then I do it again the next day.  I gate them in sometimes, helps contain the mess!  The 2 littles have lots of fun playing, wrestling, and making messes.  I’m working on a plan to have “table time” every day where we get out play dough or one of the many toys I’ve put away to play with only under supervision since parts and pieces seem to disappear when I let them be available whenever.  Until now I haven’t had the energy ;).  So that’s our typical day, playing, watch Signing Time, take Jack to school and pick him up, feed people, clean something.

Day 1

Meaning Behind Your Blog Name

This one is easy.  When we were expecting Jack, we had to pick out his name.  We knew he was a boy, and the whole family LOVED the Pirates of the Caribbean movies (I admit it, I was obsessed.)  Cap’n Jack Sparrow was the most interesting, fun character we’d seen.  We wanted our little baby with Down syndrome to have a fun and easy name that also could be strong.  Jack fit perfectly.  So we named him Jackson because all the kids have ended up with names that can be shortened.  When I started the blog, we already knew our little guy was running the house, hence we’re all the crew!  Adding “The Adventures” wasn’t very original, but it worked.  And of course now that we have Dashlyn, she’s another member of the crew!  I keep thinking I should change the header pic to one of all of us, but I’ll have to get one taken first!

30 Day Challenge

So my friend Shelley decided to start this 30 day callenge to get herself back into the blogging mood. Since my blog has been a bit neglected lately, I figured it wouldn't kill me to try it too. The goal is to write one post a day with each of these as the topic:

Day 0: The 30 Day Challenge Explanation and Description
Day 1: Meaning behind your blog name
Day 2: Take a photo of a random part of your day and tell us about it
Day 3: Photos from your wedding
Day 4: A weird hobby or collection
Day 5: A song that means a lot to you
Day 6: A random picture that makes you happy
Day 7: Favorite books
Day 8: A place you've traveled to
Day 9: Your favorite quote
Day 10: Something you're afraid of
Day 11: TV shows that your currently addicted to
Day 12: Something you don't leave the house without
Day 13: A photo that makes you laugh
Day 14: A website you love to visit
Day 15: Share a Bible verse
Day 16: Describe your dream house
Day 17: What’s in your purse?
Day 18: Photos from around your town
Day 19: Something you miss
Day 20: Nicknames
Day 21: Favorite Movies
Day 22: Share the oldest photo that’s saved on your computer
Day 23: Something you fear
Day 24: A photo of somewhere beautiful
Day 25: 3 things you hope to accomplish by the end of the year
Day 26: Something that stresses you out
Day 27: Your favorite poem
Day 28: A photo of the inside of your car
Day 29: 5 things you are thankful for
Day 30: a picture from today

I'll try to keep to the schedule but I may take liberties with the "post a day" part of this challenge! Wish me luck!

THE Birthday Party!

Today was The Party.  The party to celebrate Dashlyn’s 3rd birthday.  Also Madelyn’s 15th birthday and Dashlyn’s first EVER birthday party.  There were balloons and presents and cake and ice cream!  Most importantly, there were family and special friends to celebrate the life of a special little girl with Down syndrome.  I could post a whole album of pictures, but I’ll try to whittle it down to just a few:

My 2 beautiful daughters:

Presents:

Family and Friends:

Cake!

There’s so much more to write about.  Like how the family members who haven’t seen Dasha since Christmas were so impressed by how well she’s doing.  And how I got all teary when everyone was singing “Happy Birthday”.  And the way she looked when I put her into bed; so tired and sleepy and happy.  It was a super awesome party and tonight I am one tired and happy mommy.

Awesome Video

Please watch the video with sound on.  It shows the beauty of our sweet kids with Down syndrome.  I bet you’ll see a few familiar faces too!

Sending lots of love to our Down syndrome family!  I honestly don’t know what I would do without you all!

I’ve Been Having a Bad Week

Andrew and Madelyn are gone on their orchestra trip so I miss them of course but they are having a fun and wonderful experience with school friends so that is just a teeny part of my sadness this week.

This is a big part.  My friend Stephanie posted about Carrington.  She was in Dasha’s orphanage.  I just don’t have the words.  My heart breaks for her and her new mommy and daddy.  Stephanie has also set up a chip-in for anyone who would like to help support the family financially while Carrington is in the hospital.  Click here to see info on that.  Summer and Jill have written beautiful posts about sweet Carrington too.

This is the other big part.  A family had their court date this week to bring home their sweet boy from EE.  The judge said no.  I don’t think I could breathe for several minutes when I read that.  NO.  A little, harsh, heartbreaking word.  Our court date was the most anticipated, terrifying day of my life; but we were granted permission to make our little girl ours!  What if we weren’t?  Another adoptive mom, Julia, has written their story and explained far better than I could.  Please read and pray for them too.