Down Syndrome Awareness Month

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!! Most of you who are following my blog more than likely know this already.
So for the rest of the month I want to share with you some things Veronika and Gavyn are teaching me ...

Sharing is optional at a year old.  (Veronika had the ring but Gavyn wanted it... Veronika decided to share it with him and picked another toy instead)

Big blue eyes staring at you like this, when they should be sleeping, can make you melt and let them stay up a bit longer to play.

Smiles like this can brighten your whole day and remind you, it's ok to stop washing dishes for a while just so you can play ball

Holding hands is a sure way to get momma running for the camera

Making silly faces is a sure way to get those around you laughing

OH And you Know those Myths about Down syndrome?? That Kids with Down syndrome are always happy?? .... 

WRONG!!! 

They can be Stubborn

And Bored

Worried or Uncertain

Surprised

And Angry

People with Down syndrome are just like you and me. They have feelings. They understand when they are being teased and their feelings get hurt. They can fall in love, and can have suffer a heart break if it doesn't work out. Just like you and me. People with Down syndrome are the same as we are, the ONLY differences are that they might take a little longer to learn something and their facial features might be a little different. BUT, let me ask you this... are Our facial features all the same? If you are from Africa do you like the same as someone from Asia? If you are from England do you look the same as someone from India? So really, when you think about it, we ALL look different. When I went to school, there were some people who were a LOT smarter than I was, and then there were some people that I was smarter than. It is the same all over the world. Even in my own family, I speed read and can finish a book with more than 400 pages in a day, where some of my kids take days to finish a book that size. We all have things we are good at, that makes us stand out, that sets us apart. And it is those things that help make up who we are. 

Down syndrome is NOT who someone is... it is a PART of someone. 

Veronika and Gavyn are NOT Down syndrome... Yes they HAVE Down syndrome, but it does not define them....

Veronika is...

 Silly

Impatient

A Diva

Driven

Observant

Curious

Sweet

Gentle

Fun

Beautiful

Smart

A Quick Learner

A Mover

Gavyn is...

 Cuddly 

Content

A Talker

Sensitive

Observant

 Routine Oriented

Sweet

Strong

Stubborn

Adorable

Amazing

Patient

A Quick Learner

A Sitter

Veronika and Gavyn have opened our whole family's eyes. They enrich our lives with their very presence and we are blessed because they are part of our lives.