A Year In Review

As one year ends and a new one begins, I think about all of the possibilities that are ahead of me to love deeper, give more, make a difference, hold the ones I love a little closer and make amazing memories everyday.  Looking forward to 2011 also reminds me to look back a bit, to reflect on 2010 that passed so quickly, yet left me wanting more.  So as we kiss goodbye to this past year, I’d like to share favorite moments of 2010…

January brought lots of snow for us...and that meant time outdoors to enjoy everything winter...snow men, snow angels, and sledding.  This was Kayla's first time sledding…and this moment in time just makes me laugh out loud…I remember it not because it was a "first" but rather I don’t think she could see a thing the entire way down the hill {which I didn't realize until after I downloaded the pictures into my computer}...

no wonder she was done after just 2 times down the hill...

February brought even more snow than January...

And as the snow continued to fall {all 28 inches of it in one weekend}, we were snowed in for our anniversary {reminding us of the snow that fell the weekend we were married}.  While we had grand plans of escaping for the weekend, enjoying time indoors looking out our picturesque windows, enjoying chocolate covered strawberries {that Rick lovingly made for me} was even more perfect...

And our little ballerina...oh, our perfect little ballerina...in March she and her Daddy shared their very first Daddy Daughter Dance in front of a crowd of hundreds.  She wasn't a bit afraid...she took to the stage like a true pro.  And me?  Well...I couldn’t control the tears and re-living the moment again I need another tissue.  She danced to perfection…just look at her concentration on getting the moves just perfect {wonder where she gets that from???}.

And as the winter months melted away, my heart melted as my little princess turned 4 years old in May.  She was so proud to be a big girl.  We planned every detail of her party to perfection...

Leaving our home still covered with red and white polka dots, we were onto our next big event...The Buddy Walk...and oh how we felt the love for our girl....that place...these people...

Oh how they love our girl.  Our team, Princess Kayla's Court, came out in record numbers...over 150 people walked by our side...from family members, to Kayla's teachers, to co-workers, to friends from high school, to an ex-boyfriend and his family, and a ton of extended friends and friends of friends...it was a day we'll never forget.  These people showed us with their chants and cheers and support that they care...and helped us win the title of "Most Extreme Spirit"...that's right...

And for those that couldn't be there, we felt your love...we felt it from miles away...And the outpouring of support in donations...what more can we say but WOW...together our team raised over $8,000!  Thank you, friends, thank you for loving our Kayla.  

After the event was over, my friend Jenn told me a story that warmed my heart {more than you'll ever know, Jenn}.  She shared with me a conversation she had with her girls about the day...about how they wanted to be the princesses for the day at the Buddy Walk next year...and why did Kayla get picked...and about just how much fun they had and can't wait to go back...but her oldest girl {far wiser than her 7 years} questioned why Kayla was so special...and so after her mom sat down and explained chromosomes and that extra magical chromosome that Kayla has, her daughter sat quietly processing the information.  A moment or two later she turned back to her mom and said "Mommy, I get it...so today was a day for us to show Kayla that we think she is perfect just they way she is".  That moment, that conversation, is what this day was all about...changing perceptions and opening the minds of many...showing everyone that Kayla is more alike than different...

From one heartwarming event to the next...we were onto Blue-Gold.  This was the first year that Kayla was old enough to participate as a Blue-Gold Buddy.  For those of you reading that are not from Delaware, Blue-Gold is an all-star high school football game for seniors that is held in June.  The Blue team is comprised of the best players from northern Delaware and the Gold from southern Delaware.  Along with football players, cheerleaders, band members and ambassadors are selected from each school.  Each high school participant is paired with a "buddy"...and Kayla was paired with a Blue cheerleader from Caravel Academy, Courtney Reynolds.

Kayla immediately bonded with Courtney and to this day...months later...still talks about her buddy, Courtney.  She loved our girl so and reminded us how lucky we are to be a part of Kayla's journey.  She came to our house to play with her, attended her birthday party and even bought her a gift during her vacation to Key West {a dolphin shirt that Kayla loves and reminds us who it is from every time she wears it}!  For those doubting the life we are living is both wild and crazy...I was a Blue cheerleader for Caravel Academy 15 years ago...and I too had a "buddy".  Being there in that place...on the other side...knowing the love and admiration I had for my buddy and seeing the outpouring of love for my daughter...there are no words...

With almost every passing day I realize just how much Kayla impacts the lives of others...I don't know how she does it...as her Mommy I would like to say it's because she's so darn cute but I know it's deeper than that...far deeper...she's magnetic.  Her personality...her smile...she just has a way...a way that reaches out to others and says "I know I'm 'different'...but I'm perfect just the way I am...love me...get to know me...and oh I promise we'll both be better for it"...and that was never more obvious this year than during our visit to Disney World.  We went to Orlando to take part in the National Down Syndrome Convention...Kayla's 1st convention...our 3rd...and that place is just magic.  Before I get onto Disney...I have to describe the convention.  Walking around with thousands {yes, thousands} of people that walk in my shoes everyday...those that have Down syndrome...and those that love people with Down syndrome...it's simply amazing.  No words are needed to explain where you are...they know.  No words are needed to explain where you've been...they know.  No words are needed to explain where you are going...they know.  And they know that this journey is one filled with laughter and tears, good days and bad, amazing moments and moments of disappointment...but at the end of the day...we all know that this journey is only made 'different' by 1 magical extra chromosome.  We all have good days, we all have bad days...it's how we react to those days that makes our lives rich with wonderful memories...and so we live, we love and we laugh...just the same as anyone with any child {Down syndrome or not}...and so we live...

And live we did at Disney...we lived life to the fullest...we sucked every second out of every minute while we were in Disney World.  And while we've been there before and loved it before...this time was different...this time was beyond magical.  Kayla fell in love...

with Cinderella...and got the love back!  Our first night in Disney we at at the Grand Floridian with "Cin-rella and Prince Chaaaaming" {in the words of Kayla}.  Not only did Cinderella take Kayla by the hand and parade her throughout the entire room, she passed us a special little note letting us know when she would be working at the Magic Kingdom so we could visit...and visit we did!  And while it felt a bit like stalking...the very next morning we went to visit Cinderella.  As we entered the Princess room Sleeping Beauty exclaimed "You must be Kayla, I've heard all about you from Cinderella".  Kayla's eyes lit up with complete joy...and mine with tears...to know that a "princess" loved interacting with my child so much that they shared that joy with others is so completely fulfilling as a Mommy.  

And our adventures continued throughout the parks in the following days...we shared so many wonderful moments with Kayla.  And to Melissa & John...thanks for joining us...we love that you both love Kayla and wanted to experience Disney with us {we just wish our future son-in-law, JJ, was there}!

As the summer months drew to a close we experienced a moment we have been waiting for...yet a moment we weren't expecting to happen anytime soon...in September my girl became potty-trained…that’s right…potty trained!  I’ll spare you a picture but can I get a “what-what”…a fist pump…a high-five or an Amen?  

Now back to people that love my girl...Frankie & Sarah Pisani got married in October and asked Kayla to be their flower girl.  Be still my heart...Not only was she their flower girl, she was the most perfect {and beautiful} flower girl ever!  Kayla as a flower girl was one of the most incredible moments of my life.  Watching her soak up every morsel of love pouring out of that room {not to mention all of the attention} was priceless.  She sat for over an hour to have her hair done, posed for all of the pictures, and walked down the aisle smiling like a princess.  During the reception she made her rounds, greeting everyone and dancing until the party was over....

This year was nothing short of amazing...and how do we celebrate one amazing year?  

With a little bit of this...

and this...

love the plate?  visit www.thepinkpickle.com

a little bit of this...

some of this...

and a whole lotta this...

Gotta love the arm-extended kinda pictures!

And as 2011 came to a close we celebrated together as a family by watching the ball drop {well, not this year's ball, but a ball nonetheless...thanks to YouTube} and she was none the wiser.  We had a great time ringing in the new year together...and created amazingly perfect memories in doing so.  By 8:30 our girl was fast asleep and Rick and I were onto a little bit of "us" time...with a little bit of this...

Happy New Year, friends...hoping 2011 is well, perfect.