Etta's Journal

I had a really great first Christmas and first Hanukkah!!

Momma and Daddy and Cassie and Ferris and I went to Nana V and Grandfather's in Headland, AL to celebrate together.

We spent a whole day getting there, but the next day was Christmas Eve and a big group of us (minus Daddy and Grandfather) went to the mall to volunteer at the House of Ruth gift wrapping booth. Momma and Nana V and Aunt D and Aunt Kimi usually do this every year on Christmas Eve. I did it last year too, but I was still in Momma's tummy at teh time! People took turns holding me while others wrapped. Uncle Todd did a LOT of awesome wrapping. This was the first year he went with us, and he jumped right in and raised a bunch of money! I also loved when he took a break to come hold me. Uncle Todd is so great!! Aunt D and Aunt Kimi also took turns holding me and playing with me. I took a nap on Aunt Kimi's shoulder at one point. When it was Momma's turn to take a break, she came over and fed me then took me to say hello to Santa.

Soon after Santa (and a *sorta* quick stop at Babies R Us for a bottle brush), we headed back to the house. Daddy had made his annual Christmas Eve Chilli and everyone was SO happy to eat it!! It was YUM! The only problem poor Daddy had was everyone kept asking him where the rice was! HAHA! You see, Momma's side of the family eats their chilli over a bed of rice, but Daddy doesn't eat it that way. It was funny though because person after person asked where the rice was/ if there was rice. Nana V ended up cooking some for the rice-eaters!

After chilli, Momma dressed me in a pretty Christmas dress that Nana V bought for me way back in October so I could wear it to Christmas Eve church services. Seconds after putting it over my head, I spit-up ALLLLLLLL over it!! Good thing Momma packed my other Christmas dress (the one that she used for our holiday card photo). She quickly put it on me and we rushed out the door. Grandfather was so proud carrying me into church. I sat quietly for the first half of the service. And when I got a little restless, Momma gave me a piece of red paper that was in the program. I really liked playing with that. I liked it so much that I started talking all about it! Soon, Momma had to step out so I wouldn't be disruptful. We went down the hall to the nursery where another delinquent child was playing. His name was Gray and he was 11 months old and his Daddy was in there with him. We all visited/played for a few minutes and then Momma took me back in for the candlelight part of the service (her favorite part). The lights get turned out and we all hold candles and sing "Silent Night". Then, lots of people wanted to come tell me hello. I was only tolerating this. It was past my bedtime and I was getting pretty fussy! I went to bed soon after we got back to the house.

The next morning was Christmas morning!!! I changed out of my Christmas pajamas and put on my Christmas Day outfit and Santa hat! I was the cutest elf in the world! I unwrapped LOTS AND LOTS of presents! There were so many that I took a nap half-way through and when I woke up, it STILL wasn't over! That may be a slight exaggeration, but there WERE a LOT of gifts to unwrap! After gifts came the big meal. It was yummy! Not that I got to taste it, but I took everyone's word for it. :)

After food, LOTS of people left to go back home. :( Aunt D and uncle Todd left :( , Great Aunt Tammie and Great Aunt Jeanne and cousin Nick left :( , then Aunt Kimi left :(

We had a little "down time" and then Uncle Adam and Aunt Anna came over with my cousins Whit (4 and a half) and Kessler (almost 2). Whit took off almost immediately and played with Grandfather, but Kessler loved playing with me! She was so sweet. She covered me with one of my burp cloths and patted my back and brought me toys and kissed me. I loved playing with my cousin!

After they left, I had my bath and then we lit the Hanukkah candles. Nana V and Grandfather gave me a beautiful Star of David necklace. I won't be able to wear it for a few years, but it will always remind me of my very first Hanukkah! After the candles were lit, I had a bottle and passed out! Whew! That was a BIG day!

We stayed in Headland on Friday and Saturday too, before coming back home to Tennessee on Sunday. It was really nice to spend so much time with Nana V, Grandfather, and Nana May. We played lots of board games which were fun, but the Jenga blocks scared me whenever the tower toppled! I also went with Momma and Nana V to meet Bess and Frank Hazelwood at the Temple on Friday night before the Hanukkah dinner began. Everyone there loved me! Rabbi Lynne is also a huge fan!

On Sunday, during our drive back, Daddy and I was babbling!! I usually have A LOT to say, but it mostly sounds like "aaaAhhHhAHAHhhhAAAaaahHhhhAhHHh". Now, I'm saying "bleh, bleh, bleh" "MmmB" "Bla, bla, bla". It's really exciting that I'm hitting this milestone!!! I'm trying out new sounds each day!!

I'm also eating more solids! I'm now eating (and liking) carrots, squash, sweet potatoes, prunes, and GREEN BEANS! Mommy was surprised about the green beans. She thought I'd make a "yucky face", but I actually really liked them and finished a whole jar the very first time! Peas are next up to bat.

Well, I hope everyone has a great New Year!!!

Hugs and Kisses!
Etta

Yesterday, Momma, Daddy, and I went up to Grandmomma and Granddaddy's house to celebrate Christmas with them (and Aunt Jessi, Mike, Granny, and Pop) before we head to Alabama. I enjoyed visiting with my family and had fun ripping the paper off my presents! GMM and Gaddy gave me a small tree that they are going to plant in their yard. I can't wait to watch it grow with me! I also got some great toys from Aunt Jessi and from GMM/Gaddy and Granny and Pop gave me a little bear and an ornament and my very own (homemade) fuzzy, pink stocking.

I've been rolling back and forth and all over the place lately! I'm getting stronger and stronger! I have also been tasting solid foods. I've tried carrots, sweet potatoes, prunes, and sqush. My favorite is the squash!! yummy!

I can't wait to go to Alabama tomorrow!

A Dickens of a Christmas!

Mommy and I went to downtown Franklin today for A Dickens of a Christmas. And guess who also decided to go today.... THE STEWARTS!!!! (for those of you who don't know, Kennedy and Price Stewart are the children that Mommy helped take care of before I was born). Mommy was so happy to see them!! She hadn't seen the kids (in person) since just before I was born. That's over half a year people!!! Daddy wasn't able to come because he had to stay home and work.

The weather was really pretty, but the wind was chilly! We walked up and down Main Street and took a bunch of pictures with Dickens characters and we wathced people dancing and Kennedy rode a pony and then she and Mr. David rode in the horse-drawn carriage and I got fussy at one point, but then I took a (very short) cat nap and I was all smiles again!

Then, it was time to go. We will definitely have to get together with them again (in a more comfortable setting) after the holidays!

Down syndrome Clinic

I blew away all of the therapists today!! Everyone was very impressed with how strong I am. :D

But the best part of the morning came when Dr. Exil read the results of my echo. He said my heart looks PERFECT!!!!!! No more murmur. The ducts that were open have all closed on their own and the pulmonary hypertension is..... GONE!!!!!! He DOES NOT want to see me again! I have been released from the cardiologist. Woot woot! Mommy thought she was going to cry!

After we left Vanderbilt, we met "aunt" Lauren for lunch. I enjoyed visiting with her and snuggling. I got sleepy during lunch and took a little nap in Momma's arms while she finished her burrito.

We're home now and we can hear the frozen rain beating against the windows and are really happy to be snuggled up near the fireplace on this dreary afternoon.

We're Elves!!

Watch us dance! Copy and paste link into your browser!


http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/mrWdAim8nObveMng

You can also click on More dance on the left to see us Disco...

Rolling Over

Apparently, I rolled from my back to my stomach tonight!!! Momma's been waiting for me to do this because I seem SO close and Daddy saw it happen!! Momma was sitting in the same room and saw that I was on my tummy (she had put me on my back) when Daddy told her I had rolled over. I didn't do it again tonight, even though I gave it a few more tries. Yay for rolling!!

Tomorrow I go the the Down syndrome Clinic at Vanderbilt Children's. I'll see Dr Summar, Dr Exil (Pediatric Cardiologist), the nutritionist, and all of the therapists (physical, occupational, and speech). Should prove to be a long morning.

My First Cold

Mommy got sick early last week and she treid REALLY hard not to pass the cold on to me. But, as much as she washed her hands and avoided kissing me (which was really hard to do, by the way), I still caught it. It started with sniffles that turned in to full on congestion and coughing. I took Tylenol pretty regularly and it helped some, but I still had a tough time sleeping at night. Daddy helped prop up the end of my bed so I could sleep on an incline, but it didn't help too much and I ended up sleeping in bed with Momma and Daddy two WHOLE nights in a row. So, Momma didn't get much sleep those nights. I'm still a little congested, but I must be feeling a little better today because I slept through the night again last night! WHEW! Momma feels like a new woman!

Yesterday, all three of us went out to Opryland to take some holiday photos. The goal was to get a good family photo for our holiday cards and we managed to do it! The lights and decorations were beautiful and we even ran into a family that was at Momma and Daddy's wedding there at Opryland. Anna was in one of Momma's first classes at Primrose and then Mommy babysat for them for them off and on for a couple of years after Anna graduated. It was neat to see them again!

Well, if you can believe it, I'm SIX months old today! That's half a year people!!

Today was also the first day I saw snow flurries! I can't wait for my first official snow accumulation!

Last week I celebrated my very first Thanksgiving! Momma made the turkey and gravy and mashed potatos and chocolate (yum!) pie and we took it all up to Granny and Pop's house in Nashville. I got to visit with a lot of my family that day and Momma and Daddy got to fill up their tummies with yummy food!

On Saturday, I went and played with Gammy (Sorry, GMM... it's getting too long!) and Gaddy (I shortened this one a couple of months ago!) while Momma and Daddy went on a movie/shopping date at Opry Mills. (They saw Australia and they liked it.. even if it was a little long). I had fun hanging out with Gammy and Gaddy most of the day. I even got to see Aunt Jessi again!! I was also happy because Momma and Daddy went to Carter's and got me some really snuggly pajamas and sleep sacks.

Ms. Amy will be here this afternoon. We changed days. She'll be coming on Monday afternoons for a while now.

I also have a BUNCH of doctor appointments over the next two weeks!

Tomorrow I go to Vanderbilt Children's for a six-month NICU follow-up. Momma feels like this is a pointless extra visit for us. But, she knows that it's probably important for Vanderbilt to be able to follow-up with their patients for their own teaching/research purposes.

Wednesday, I go to see my pediatrician for my six-month well-baby check. This will include some immunizations. Momma thinks it will be three or four shots. *sniffle, sniffle*

I will surely run a fever all day on Thursday (as I usually do after immunizations)

Next Thursday, I go to the Down syndrome Clinic at Vanderbilt for my six-month follow-up. I'll meet with the pediatric cardiologist and have a repeat Echo. I'll also see all of the therapists (speech, physical, occupational) and probably the nutritionist.

AND next Friday I have TWO appointments! At 9:00 I go for my monthly RSV shot and at 11:00 I see the Endocrinologist. She will want to take a blood sample to check my thyroid levels. That will be a NOT fun day!

Then, we'll have a week to finish up any last minute shopping before we head to Alabama for Christmas with Nana V and Grandfather on the 23rd.

WOW!!

Happy December everyone!!!