Back to school supplies

Our support person for NACD, the neurodevelopment program we do with Liam said that Target had great flashcards for a dollar. So I went a little crazy!
The best set was the animal flashcards with the real photographs. Ideally I would find flashcards of many different subjects using real photographs. I also found some great materials to use with Lupe to practice the ABC's. And something I have been looking for for a long time: stickers in español! These will be great for story time and music time in Spanish.
Back to school is fun!

Art by EPLU

Dear Maestra

Dear Maestra,
Today we took Lupe to meet you and do the paperwork for the preshool.  And.....she can't stop talking about the school.  When we got in the car she said, "I like the maestra Mama, she's fancy. Do you like her?" And when we got home, you entered into her pretend play.  Lupe does this all the time, whatever situation we've just had or people we've just been with, she comes home and decides who she is, who I am supposed to be, and then fills the rest of the parts with her babies and animals.
So, finally, Lupe is pretending that she can be a mommy and something else. Everyone once in a while someone asks her what she might want to do when she is a grown up- "A mommy, that's all".  No, she can't be anything else at the same time.  This is very real to her.  You may think that a lot of little girls are like that, but let me tell you, Lupe is REALLY into babies.  She can tell you about the day her baby was born, explain her breastfeeding problems and triumphs. I mean this girl could be a student doula or lactation consultant at age 4. She is now going to be a teacher.
And here I was wondering if she would have a hard time starting the 3rd preschool in one year. She went to one at the high school near our house and cried the first few days but ended up loving it. I thought it would be hard to tell her why she wasn't going back there.  "Mom, am I going to Pacheco tomorrow? I just can't wait to start. I love that school!"  That is what she said to me suddenly in bed after I thought she was already sleeping.
And I felt a good connection with you too Maestra. I think this is going to be a fabulous year.  I write you this letter because you're going to spend a lot of time with m'ija. She's really special. And I know you can already see that. Gracias. Todo pasa por una razon (bien que sabe Usted eso!) y se que tenemos a nuestra hija en el mejor lugar.  I had such mixed feelings about her being at school 5 days a week, but I'm feeling a little better about it after today. I will do Liam's therapy at home con ganas, knowing that Lupe is in a supportive and inspiring environment. (Your dad was the first to work with Down Syndrome kids in Kuala Lumpur? Seriously? Amazing). So, thank you in advance for.......todo!
Con carino,
la Mama de Lupe

School Daze

Lupe's starting preschool next week- Pacheco's new bilingual preschool. What's different than last year at Tiny Tigers is that now it will be M-F, 8:30-12. To me, that's like kindergarten already. Deep breath. How can my girl be that big already?
And Liam and I will start Parent Participation. I assume most every other baby in there will be crawling. Will they help motivate my little guy? He's getting too good at scooting, I can't wait to see him crawl!

Big Sur

At 10 am we decided to go to Big Sur for the day. Actually, Pedro said "Let's go camping!" but we quickly realized there was no way to prepare for that on such short notice.  We were on the road by 11 and we drove straight through until we reached Julia Pfeifer State Park and we took my absolute favorite kind of hike: redwoods, ferns, light filtering through the branches, creek, a waterfall! 

(pictures are out of order)

I couldn't stop smiling and proclaiming about the beauty of it all. You'd think I'd come from some city and never been in the woods before.  But the thing is I grew up there. Well, not in Big Sur, but in Cambria during the 70's and 80's. And we went to Big Sur when it was a lot more tranquila. By God there were a lot of people everywhere. Bicyclists. Motor homes. Cars and more cars. Below is a picture of Lupe at Nepenthe, having cocoa and pie before we drive home.

Ah....end of an awesome day. I love my life.

Breastfeeding: you can do it anywhere.

The day couldn't have been more gorgeous.

Guiness at the River Inn.
And, after eating lunch there, we got to swim in the pool, for free! Hot damn if we didn't feel like we were really on vacation. Seriously, our total trip was 12 hours start to finish, and a total vacation!

My lovelies, aren't they gorgeous?

River Inn (Pedro and I have a picture in these chairs when we first came to California)

Photos

August outdoors

Runny noses.

He's been sick this week and now he won't nap on the bed! The 104.9 fever is gone and the congestion has set in. hopefully he will be better in six days when we go to the bay area again for his re-evaluation.
At least Lupe is occupied on the back deck: stones and sharpies, she's been at it for hours! (a project we started yesterday making story stones with our cousins. Fabric and modpodge)

Dr

Liam has fun on the table at the pediatrician's office. But lupe is the one who most likes seeing the doctor. "can you check my ears?" she asks.

Reflections on Liam's First Birthday

Liam is napping and Lupe is with Grandma.  I have been wanting to write this post for a while and now I may be running out of time as i get LOST on the internet. Well, not lost really, I only went to one website, but it had so many articles and links about Down Syndrome (http://dsdaytoday.blogspot.com/p/neurodevelopment.html)  that I almost couldn't stop reading.  But now I am in a fog as I wonder, Should I give Liam supplements, will Gingko Biloba help such and such?  etc etc. NOw what do I do about vaccines?  How is it different for a DS kid?  Am i doing enough...... STOP!  See, this is what happens when I read so much.  Yet, who else is going to be his advocate?
What I wanted to reflect on is his first birthday.  First off, THANK YOU to those who came to the fiesta or were here in spirit. (I don't even want to remember reading an online facebook forum and a mom saying how   her ds child was never invited to parties- and wondering if that is why i invited so many to Liam's party and how I want him to have friends, but then- our TRUE friends will always love us and invite us over and our true friends will educate their children about kids with special needs or maybe they won't even have to. they will just know that they love Liam.....oh boy, here i go, digressing....back to the party).
One year old. I'll never have a newborn again. My little guy will now quickly turn into a little boy.  This first birthday was very emotional as those of you who are parents can understand. Liam was born 6 hours after leaving Circus Vargas at intermission on July 3, 2011.  So we went to the circus again and I just know it will be a tradition now. Thank you Apa for a secret letter to the ringmaster and the whole crowd knowing that today was a special day for the McGrath family!  Lupe's name mentioned in front of all, but she and her Papa were oblivious, off buying a light saber! Liam was overwhelmed by it all and decided to sleep through this one.

The party: bounce house, cupcakes, good friends and family. Pretty standard, yet pretty special. We were surrounded by our ever growing circle, our community. Liam didn't cry or fall asleep, not bad for a one year olds birthday!
I normally would never ask for presents, and still don't want to, but I know people like to give them, as do I. Non toxic and earth friendly products are important for all kids, but especially for my little guy, which is why I created the gift registry at EcoBambino.  I am so grateful for all the gifts Liam was given (Lupe is grateful too!)- thank you. We are trying to create the safest environment possible.


It hit me, with him turning one, that he isn't crawling yet.  Most other one year olds have crawled a while and are learning to walk.  I am grateful he is mobile. That he has started to explore the house, scooting from one room to the next, following his sister.

If you haven't already, go back and read my post titled My "everything".  It describes a little of what we do every day.  Most people don't ask me much about it.  This is both good and bad.  I want you to ask, and to know how much extra effort goes into raising this little guy, how much time I spend thinking about what I am doing with him.  How much extra worry there is.  How much more I think about the future.   At the same time, if everyone asked all the time, I'd get pretty tired of repeating myself and explaining it over and over!
But what I most wish for as I reflect on Liam's first year, is that you take the time to read what I write here and let me know you have read it ("like" it when i post the link to this on FB).   Isn't that what anyone ever wants really? To know that they are being heard?

Reading