Cora turns TWO

That's right. Cora hit her second birthday and she did it with grace, love and smiling the whole day.  Despite a fever from teething another front tooth, she played with her knew toy and ate her cupcake like a pro.

At one point, during eating her cupcake, the frosting was stuck to all of her fingers.  She looked at her sticky hands and said "What's that?".  I told her it was yummy frosting and she just kept looking at her fingers and trying to pull cupcake pieces off of them.   She ate the whole cupcake this year and it was a beautiful sight watching her have such joy and happiness, without concern for anything.

Later she was given her birthday gift that Papa and GG found for her.  It was a sit and push toy that was actually short enough for her to sit on and reach the ground with her feet.  She absolutely loved the noises it made, and was soon trying to push it with her feet.  She only goes backwards right now, but we all know the forward motion will be soon to follow.

This morning she conquered climbing onto the couch all by herself!  And very proudly turned around, and said "Hi" with a big smile.

Yes, Cora Jean continues to grow.  Both in health and IQ.  The biggest encouragement I could give any new parent of an infant with Down syndrome, or a soon to be parent is this....don't let society dictate to you what your baby will or won't do.  Instead teach them right from the beginning.  Learn sign language and use it with your baby, pretty soon they too will be signing with you and talking with you.  Read to your baby as often as possible and point to the pictures and sign the word.

Our children have the capability of gaining a good IQ if we believe it is possible and we give them every opportunity for that growth.  While Cora faces challenges everyday, she is surrounded with love.  She didn't need or have to have two parents ( I am still a single parent) to reach her milestones, she just needed the love and support of people who are around her each and every day.

Love your child and just as Cora has done, they will mature into a wonderful, beautiful, mindful and stubborn two year old child.  Just like all the other two year olds in your neighborhood.

Remember this, god doesn't make junk!  He creates us in his image...so with that in mind, every time you look at Cora or your own child, you are looking at a part of his image.  You are only held back by your own limitations, not the belief of others!

Happy Birthday baby girl!  Mama is so proud of you....

Getting ready for birthday cupcakes

loving her cupcake and licking the frosting first

a successful couch climb