So we were walking on the grocery store the other day, and I noticed something about kids in carts, they have a way of acknowledging each other which is a lot like motorcyclist traveling down the road. When motorcyclists pass each other on the road they will, with their left hand, perform what is best described as a below the waist wave, a way of acknowledging each other and in some ways saying, “here’s something those in tin cans can’t do” I mention this because it is similar to what kids in shopping carts do, though the kids are not as globally coordinated as the bikers, they are still communicating. I don’t know what they are saying or thinking but they are usually happy to see another toddler; perhaps it is the realization that they are not the only one. As they get a little older (speaking age) they acknowledge “baby” to their cart propeller.   But one thing they all do NOT do is judge; they don’t judge other people no matter how small or large, no matter how different they are from them, they simply acknowledge and in most cases smile.While watching this I was reminded of the words of Jesus in Luke 18:15-17 and verse 17 specifically: “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it”  and the phrase kids are kids, they get it, the greatest of all commandments “Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and the second is like it, Love your neighbor like yourself.” (rough paraphrase of Matthew 22:36-39). 

Having spent quite a bit of time with the boys this week, we were missing our Sydney time. So we decided to make a trek into Austin, well amost. We had dinner at EZ burger on Lamar and the went across the street to central park, next to central market, that way the boys can play and mama and I can have some quality time with the bean.

While here we ran into a boy with DS, he is 4 and cute as can be. I have to say it it really good to see parents out with their kids, the truth is they were probably there all along but we didn’t notice, even so it is nice to see. The best part is watching all the other kids interact, they don’t notice or care, it is just another kid!

Having read Expecting Adam while expecting Sydney it is great to see we have grown as a society in the past decade or so. (if you haven’t read this, put it on your list)

If you are reading this and expecting your own Adam or Sydney know that the world of today is NOT the world of expecting Adam! It is a somewhat more friendly, accepting place. There are still and will always be people who stare or make fun, but those people will find a reason to do those things with anyone who is different than them. Your baby will be wonderful, you will love them no mater what, they are a gift from God!

During Spring break, Randall and I took the boys to Austin Park and Pizza one day for golf, video games and go-karts.  They had a blast.  Neither had ridden on a go-kart before and they both loved it!  We also did some little things here and there like going out to breakfast, seeing a movie, meeting for lunch, running a few errands, etc.  These were all done while Sydney was at daycare.  Although it was really fun to spend some quality time with all of my boys, I sure did miss my baby girl.  Something was missing!   Must have been the bean.  Okay, now that I have said that, I should explain…..  Sydney has a nickname, “Sydney bean”.  My niece Natalee was known as Nati-beans.  Don’t ask me why.  No really, don’t ask… I have no idea!  One day the name “Sydney bean” popped out and stuck.  It goes well together… it flows like Kidney bean.  So, our little Miss Sydney can sometimes be referred to as bean.  I guess it says a lot about our strange family because we think it’s cute.

as you may know one of the hurdles downs babies have to tackle is low muscle tone, so wiith this in mind you can understand how excited we are as Sydney is sitting up on her own for a few seconds and has started self-correcting for her round bottom, she has been progressing very well and is right now riding in a shopping cart and LOVING it!

Click on the photo to see them full size

in the next few days I will start updating my posts from my iPhone. Hopefully I will be able write more

Sydney has mastered the art of cooing.  Eat your heart out Pebbles, Sydney is absolutely adorable!!!  She has a new found power to melt otherwise self-repsecting adults into high-pitch squeelers.  Not to be outdone, my dear 4 year old, Anthony just melted everyone the other day in the car.  We were driving down the road rhyming words.  Someone said cat then each of us belted out words that rhyme; hat, sat, bat, rat….  you get the idea.  Then Anthony suggested we play another word game.  “Let’s say other words for HAPPY”…  Okay, we all started spouting synonyms for HAPPY; ecstatic, pleased, enamored, joy, thrilled, then Anthony said “Kathy”!  Huh?  I asked him why he said “Kathy”.  He quipped back that Kathy (his godmother) is HAPPY.  She is always Happy and he is happy when he is with her.  Wow, out of the mouth of babes.  Kathy’s husband refers to her as a Joy-ologist.  Boy they couldn’t be more right.