When our son Dylan was born 2 years ago I could have never imagined loving something more then I loved that little boy. I always told myself, if we had another baby how do you love two? Where does the love come from and how do you spread that love between the both of them? When we found out that Dylan had down syndrome, I new in my heart that I wanted to make sure Dylan had brother's and sisters that loved him and that he was surrounded by nothing but pure joy, but I also new Dylan would make the best big brother ever someday. His heart is so full and his smile is an endless sparkle.

Since bringing Haylee home Dylan was a little hesitant at first and was not quite sure of her. I am sure many emotions went through that little mind of his, and probably was wondering when the heck she was going to leave...HA! As we told him that she was here to stay and this was his sister and she will forever protect you. The last 4 months they have become so much closer, and Dylan is finally taken by her. He talks to her, kisses her, looks at her through the monitor when she is sleeping and says "sissy" today was one of those days where he was by her side with everything they did. When he was lying next to her I wondered what goes through that little head of his? I could only imagine.

"Sometimes being a big brother is even better then being a super hero"

 

 

To see the relationship between these two and how much it changes each and everyday melts me. I know they will be the best of friends and they will care for each other in so many ways. I pray they will love unconditionally, I pray they will hold hands and run through the park like free birds on a Sunday afternoon. I pray the world will see my son through my daughter eyes in how much she will protect him from the evil surroundings of this world. I pray for there hearts to be pure and innocent for as long as they can. I pray for strength and courage through the good and bad times and that they will be kind and loving to everyone and to always see the beauty in each and everyone hearts, but most of all to ALWAYS be there own kind of different.

 

 

As a mom nothing shines brighter in my eyes then to see the bond these two have. All my hard and long days that I complain about so much, everything goes to waste when I come home to my family each and everyday! Loving these two our my world and they are my rock. They are what keeps me to keep striving for the best each and everyday!

 

 

"Don't ever think you're nothing, because somewhere along the line, there's going to be someone who thinks you are everything" Love always your big brother Dylan!

My Sweet Little Valentines

Better late then never right? I have been so behind on my post these days and can barley find time for myself, let alone to sit down and try to write. That's what I think the second kid will do to you!

We are not much of a Valentine family or should I say my husband and I are not. We don't really like the crowds and for us Valentines day is everyday in our eyes. But now that I have kids I love doing little things for them and seeing the love and joy in there eyes. I made a little goodie bag for Dylan with some of his favorite things and for Haylee not much and she does not really know the meaning of it yet or would even think to look at a piece of Candy. After the kids went down Greg made me a super nice dinner and got a nice bottle of wine to go with it. At about 8:30 these two tired parents of two were pretty much passed out cold on the couch! Oh, the things that change when having kids.

I hope you all had a beautiful and loving Valentines Day!

Sippy Cups Are Fun

I know all of us get to a point with our kids when it's time to introduce that "BIG KID" sippy cup and we scratch our heads and stand in the kid aisle at Walmart or Target trying to figure out which one is the best one that our kids will like or even have interest drinking from it. I know for myself this was a very hard transition with my son. When my son turned 1 I bought him a smaller form of a bottle, but with handles. It was a NUK brand and it had Mickey Mouse on it. I thought it was so cute! He had no problem taking it and I was so excited because I did not have to feed him his bottles anymore. In the mean time we were also practicing  the straw ones also. The straw sippy cups are great for oral motor, so we wanted to keep working hard with that. He just was refusing it at the time.

About 1 year of Dylan using the same sippy cup the therapist finally told us that we needed to get him on a sippy cup with a hard spout and not a soft spout. The soft spout does not help his tongue control as well as the hard spout. ( Well thank you for telling me now) I was so upset because I knew this was going to be a hard one with Dylan. He does not like change, but we needed to. In search of a new sippy cup most of them only have soft spouts and none of them have handles which is what Dylan was used to. I was trying to find something that looked the same so I could trick him a little in hopes he would catch on to the new one. After countless trys, internant searching and back and forth drives to Target and 12 sippy cups later I finally came to an amazing sippy cup and brand the OXO. When I bought this cup and we tried it, Dylan literally drank from it right away. I was so happy!

Not only do they have amazing products, but I absoutly love there philosphy and their universal design:

OXO was founded in 1990 on the philosophy of Universal Design, which means the design of products usable by as many people as possible. For OXO, that means designing products for young and old, male and female, lefties and righties and many with special needs. The goal of making products more usable forces us to first identify problems and inefficiencies of existing products (including our own!), not only in terms of comfort, but performance as well. 

This is an amazing company and I love that they have made and designed all of their products for anyone and everyone no matter who you are and what needs you need! I hope that this may help any of you out there that may need it or are going through the same thing. Dylan is still drinking from his cup and we are actually almost to the straw. Hard work does pay off!

Michelle

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Haylee:: 3 Months

Who knew that the last 3 months would go by as fast as they have? I cannot believe my baby girl is 3 months old. She is getting so big and growing up so quick! She loves her morning naps in her swing and is now been taking her afternoon naps in her crib-which I love! She is up to about 6 ounces per feeding and pretty much eats every 3-4 hours. I have been working really hard on getting her and Dylan down for bed at the same time, so my husband and I can still have some quality time together before we both pass out on the couch...HA! We start bath time around 6:30 and bed time routine about 7 and both Dylan and Haylee are passed out about 7:15. Sometimes Dylan will stay up a little later, but Haylee is pretty much on routine and is ready by that time. She is going from 7-2:30 and waking up hungry, so we give her about 4 ounces and she goes right back to bed till about 6. I am hoping in the next month or so that, that middle feeding will go away and if not that is ok.

Haylee is such a little love bug. She is starting to smile and make the cutest noises, especially when her brother talks to her while in her bouncy seat. She is pretty much holding her head up, but not quite all the time yet. We work on her tummy time everyday. She loves to watch Mickey Mouse club house with her brother and  Baby Einstein Dvd Collection Mom's #1 Choice . I have always loved Baby Einsteins as they are really great for the babies development and stimulation of the brain. We probaby play it about 2 times a day, she loves it and so does Dylan!

Haylee Happy 3 Month! Me, Daddy and Dylan love you so much and we cannot wait to see you grow more each and everyday!

 

(Affiliate links in post – I only recommend products and services we love, you will not pay more purchasing through my link)

 

Michelle