Wednesday, May 29, 2013

In the weeds: a photo shoot

One of the most exciting things about our new residence is the opportunity to utilize fun and different terrain and locations for photo shoots.  Like today, on our walk to the park, I was suddenly inspired by a field of dandelions.  I parked the stroller and made the girls get out and I'm so glad I did:






** Special thanks to Mama Hop for the cute bee outfits!


Sunday, May 26, 2013

An Armadillo Drinking a Beer...and other adventures

With another international business trip under his belt, we are pleased to announced that Dad is home.    Ok, the word "pleased" doesn't really do it justice. It's more like jubilant/thrilled/elated/triumphant/relived/emocionado!
And fist bumps don't do it justice, either.  This calls for some old school cabbage patch action.
 
Cabbage Patch Dance - a dance involving putting the hands together in the form of fists and moving them in a horizontal, circular motion.  - Wikipedia
 
Around here, we call it "churning butter".
 In order to explain this excessive display of excitement over Dad's return, let's rewind a little bit.  Two weeks ago, we moved to a new state far, far away from all familiarity.  Just as the last few boxes were being unpacked, Dad had to up and go to Mexico for work.  Adios! 
 
No problem.  Mom's done this solo parenting thing before.  It's just that before, I knew where all of my household belongings were.  I could find my way to the grocery store without getting lost.  And if I did need help, I knew all sorts of people to call.  And Mama Hop and Aunt Leanne would usually come stay and assist.  But this time...crickets...
 
Determined to prove I had the strength and fortitude of all of the independent women who do this single motherhood thing daily without a support system, I accepted the challenge.  And the girls were little dolls for the most part.  Even though things went pretty smoothly, I was eager for Travis to return on Friday.  That's when I got the call; the one that told me his flight out of Mexico had been delayed 8 hours...making it impossible to make his connection...meaning he wouldn't be home until Saturday...if the stars aligned and he could pull this off at the last minute...on a holiday weekend. 
 
Suddenly the week of solo parenting that had seemed so smooth when there was a definitive end in sight turned into I-can't-bear-one-more-hour-of-Merryn's-hurricane-force-destruction-and-I-can't-take-one-more-minute-of-Josie's-whining and the waterworks set in.  And I told him in no uncertain terms that he better find me something NICE in that airport duty-free shop.  Really nice.
 
He responded with an email featuring pictures of my choices:
 That's a no brainer.  The armadillo drinking a beer.  Duh!  It will look amazing on my mantle!  And just like that, I was reminded of exactly why I love this man.
 
Fast forward back to Saturday evening, after all the high fives, fist bumps, cabbage patching, and raising the roof, we pulled up to the airport and saw the most wonderful sight: Dad was finally home!
 Joy
 Love
 Happiness
 Eskimo Kisses
 And what may be my favorite picture EVER:
 Yes, that about sums it up right there.
 
I insisted upon going out for Mexican food since I'd spent the week hearing how incredible the food Travis consumed in Mexico was.
Being significantly closer to Canada than we are to Mexico, the area is truly lacking in authentic Mexican cuisine.  However, we found a place with a festive, family-friendly ambiance, mediocre food, and unlimited chips (isn't that the best part about Mexican restaurants anyway?) and we had a great time.  How can you help but have fun watching Merryn inhale that guacamole?!  Talk about finger lickin' good.
 
This morning, Dad reached into his laptop bag and pulled out the gift he had purchased for the girls:
It was a stuffed horse that looks exactly like our backyard neighbor, Mr. Ed!

 Seeing as how Dad only brought home one toy for two sisters, this was the perfect opportunity for the girls to showcase the fine art of sharing:
 Eh, we're going to have to work on that sharing bit...
 
Or maybe we won't.  Because upon closer inspection, Josie informed her Dad that this little horse was "Broken.  No Button.  Needs Batteries."  

"Back in my day, we did this..." and Travis proceeded to demonstrate hoof clomping noises and enthusiastic "neigh" 's. You know you're old when you start a sentence with "Back in my day..." Oh Travis!
It doesn't matter.  Josie was NOT convinced.  Looks like Merryn will have this faulty heap of disappointment all to herself.  Nice try, Dad.

 
I'd like to extend my utmost respect and admiration to all the single moms out there.  Hats off to you.  Special thanks to the compassionate lady who saw me struggling with the massive kid cart at Super Walmart.  As the storm winds threatened to send it flying while I was trying to unload my babies, she ran over to hold it steady for me, and she listened to me blabber on about how my husband was out of town and we ran out of milk and that's why I'm out here in this weather looking like a mess on the verge of tears with two toddlers in tow.  Even though this benevolent stranger will likely never read these words, that random act of kindness meant so much.
 
And last but not least, a great, big, bienvenida a casa to my husband, who better be sticking around for awhile if he knows what's good for him ;-)

Monday, May 20, 2013

The Lighter Side of CCE

Yesterday's art history lesson drew lots of positive feedback and we're so glad you enjoyed it.  But for those who prefer to be entertained instead of educated, have no fear!  We specialize in that.
 
Exhibit A: Aunt Leanne
 
Exhibit B: Aunt Leanne's protégé, Catfish with Ketchup
Josie even exclaimed "Easy Breezy" before striking this iconic pose.
 
Aunt Leanne would be so proud of Josie's modeling talent.  She's been training JoJo on this for a longLONG time.
 
Even though we promised entertainment, it appears as though there was some noteworthy education thrown in there.  Because thanks to Aunt Leanne's stellar coaching, you, too, can strike the perfect pose the next time the camera is pointed your way.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Down syndrome depicted in Renaissance Art

Today's post is a deviation from the typical anecdotes and photos of Josie, Leanne, and the other chromosomally deprived "co-stars" of CCE.  Instead, we will have a little art history lesson.  Did you know that individuals with Down syndrome are represented in art that dates back to the Renaissance era? 
 
This 16th century Flemish Nativity painting, The Adoration of the Christ Child, may be one of the earliest European depictions of Down syndrome.  The angel on Mary's left and possibly the shepherd in the center of the background are identified as having characteristics of Down syndrome including:  a flattened mid-face, epicanthal folds, upslanted palpebral fissures, a small and upturned tip of the nose, and downward curving of the corners of the mouth. The hands, crossed over the breast, have short fingers, especially on the left.
According to Levitas and Reid, authors of An angel with Down syndrome in a sixteenth century Flemish Nativity painting, the angelic depiction of an individual with Down syndrome was symbolic and may denote that the artist had an affinity for individuals with disabilities.  It also raises questions of the status and value of individuals with special needs in Medieval society.  Or perhaps the physical indicators of Down syndrome were not recognized by society as an abnormality.
 
Andrea Mantegna was an Italian painter who is said to have depicted Christ as a child with Down syndrome in three different paintings.  The child who served as the model was thought to belong to either Mantegna himself, or perhaps he was a child of the wealthy and influential Gonzaga family who hired Mantegna because their child shared the same condition.
 
 

 
Dr. Brian Stratford, a specialist in developmental disabilities at the University of Nottingham, infers that Mantegna and Gonzaga wanted to highlight their shared appreciation of the humanity of children with Down syndrome “Perhaps Mantegna saw in this child something beyond the deficiencies which now so occupy our attention and perhaps then, the qualities of love, forgiveness, gentleness, and innocence were more readily recognized. Maybe Mantegna saw these qualities as more representative of Christ than others we now regard so highly.”
 
To read more about the role of Trisomy 21 in Renaissance art, check out:
 
The New Atlantis At Home With Down Syndrome
 
The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Adoration of the Christ Child
 
 
 

Thursday, May 16, 2013

Parks, Patios, and the Pursuit of Propriety

Even though there's still plenty of unpacking/organizing/decorating/settling in to be done, us girls hate to waste a gorgeous day indoors. 
 
 
Lucky for us, there are really cool parks everywhere in our new town.  We have been on a mission to find the ideal one for us.  We set out to find one that's within walking distance, isn't too crowded, and has equipment that's geared for younger children.  That last point is especially important seeing as how Merryn is the ultimate daredevil; if the park featured a trapeze, she'd be the first in line to give it a whirl.
 
On Tuesday, Merryn got to realize her dream of using the big kid swing, as the park we found only had one baby swing.  Girlfriend was looking pretty smug up there!
 
This photo melts my heart.  Josie had gotten upset and her little sister attempted to "make it better" with a kiss. 
While we were at the park, something exciting was happening at our house.  A cement mixer pulled up and started pouring our patio.  Merryn must like heavy machinery...or buff young guys...or watching buff young guys operate heavy machinery.  You couldn't tear her away from that window.  She fancies herself a 21 month-old foreman.
The best part of getting a new patio was the opportunity to take impressions of the girls' hands in the cement. 
What could be sweeter than leaving a legacy in the form of tiny little hand prints?
 Last night we decided to enjoy dinner outdoors.  We don't have steps, we don't have grass, and we have no idea where are grilling utensils are, but we had beautiful weather, Mr. Ed roaming around in the background, and a brand new patio, so gosh darnit, we were determined to fire up the grill!
While dad was busy grilling and mom was preoccupied taking pictures, Merryn decided to tear into the Cheetos.  At least she tossed a few Josie's way...
And since proper mealtime etiquette obviously isn't a priority around here, why not just climb on the table and help yourself to your sister's plate?
Mr. Ed demonstrates better table manners than that!
 
Ah, but we had fun.  And we had the most delicious grilled shrimp.  Travis is the grill master, indeed.
 This morning we set out to find this incredible park our neighbors told us about.  Apparently the appeal of that particular park is not a well-kept secret around here because when we arrived, we were greeted by two busloads of school children.  Mom made the executive decision to to keep walking.  About an hour into our pursuit of the perfect park, the girls' eager anticipation had waned (especially Josie's)...
...and we found ourselves back at the park we discovered on Tuesday.  Apparently this particular park was meant to be our park.
 Love Lil Bit's Aunt Leanne pose.  Spot on, Merryn!
 
The girls had tons of fun, worked up voracious appetites, and napped like Rip Van Winkle...
 ...well, one of them napped like Rip Van Winkle.  The other one had already had her snooze.
So happy to report that we're having a great time in our new home!

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

You're so smart!

Even though they're young, I usually try to involve the girls in helping to clean up the playroom to teach them the importance of responsibility and caring for their possessions.  As with most toddlers, some days they are more cooperative than others.
The other day, as Josie was picking up the blocks, she began shamelessly showering herself with praise which was cracking me up.  I ran and got the camera so I could film it.  In that moment, it became apparent that she definitely inherited Aunt Leanne's sense of humility:

It calls to mind another excerpt from the article "If People with Down Syndrome Ruled the World":
 
People with Down syndrome are nothing if not straightforward and unpretentious. As the expression goes, “what you see is what you get.” When you say to people with Down syndrome, “You did a good job,” most will answer simply and matter-of-factly, “Yes, I did.”
 
Well, there you go.  Josie may have some developmental delays but one area that's not the least bit delayed is her self esteem.  You go girl!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Here's to all the moms

Today we celebrate motherhood; the most difficult yet most rewarding vocation in the world.  Becoming a mother has enriched my life more more than I ever could have imagined and I am eternally grateful the blessing of two extraordinary little girls who call me "Mom".  Happy Mother's Day to Mama Hop, YaYa and all of the other incredible mothers out there!
* I look for any excuse to post my favorite family picture featuring my sister flexing her muscles.  Aunt Leanne invented the photo bomb!

Saturday, May 11, 2013

A New Chapter Begins...

And the award for most neglected blog goes to...Confessions of the Chromosomally Enhanced!
 
Ugh!  Sorry it's been awhile.  To say that we've been a little busy is a bit of an understatement.  You see, all of our worldly possessions were packed into hundreds of boxes and loaded on to a huge truck and delivered, several days later, to our new residence a few states away. 
 
You see this mess?
These boxes stretched wall-to-wall across our new home and we've been trying to dig ourselves out ever since. 
 
Despite how stressful and labor intensive the past couple of weeks have been, the big move did allow us some cool opportunities.  On the way to our new residence, we were able to stop and visit with some cherished family members.  This is my mom's cousin, John Perry.  They grew up together and they're really close.
 John Perry and his lovely wife, Jan, have a son named Jeff, who is so awesome we asked him to be the godfather of our girls.  "Godfather," as Josie calls him, was kind enough to invite us over for a delicious steak dinner.  It was so funny to hear her refer to him as "Godfather" all night that I may never tell her what his real name is.  Godfather has a super cool bachelor pad that's got all sorts of thoughtful tributes to our family everywhere.
 The most memorable part of Godfather's home is his man cave.  It puts you in the mood to party as soon as you walk in!  The girls loved the jukebox and they proudly showed off their seated dancing skills while being serenaded by some classic Michael Jackson hits.
 We had so much fun and we wish we could have hung out with John Perry, Jan, and Godfather more, but we needed to resume our journey to our new home.
 It was super exciting to be able to see our new place all finished.  The girls zeroed in on a few favorite features including these built-in nightlights.  They quickly realized that if you cover up the light sensor, the nightlight will come on.  Talk about a fascinating discovery!  Aunt Leanne is a nightlight connoisseur.  She's going to love them, too.
 Oh and then there's the pint-sized potty in the girls' bathroom.  We had that installed to accommodate Josie's gross motor delays.  At 3 years old, she seems ready to potty train but she just doesn't have the strength or coordination to climb up on a stool and use a normal-sized toilet.  We figured this miniature version would help her achieve toileting independence sooner.  This tiny toilet was my favorite feature of the new house until...
 ...we looked out the kitchen window and discovered that our backyard "neigh"bor is Mr. Ed!  How cool is that?! 
 Travis' mom was kind enough to fly to our new residence to help with the big move and we could not be more grateful.  Because we were consumed from sun up to sun down with unpacking (and toddler supervision - a full-time job in itself), my MamaRazzi duties were neglected so the only photos documenting this week are those featured on Instagram...
...and this little gem.  Yes, Merryn's pajamas are on backwards.  The child has left us no choice.  She instantly removes every article of clothing I put on her - including her diaper.  And because she's not *ahem* potty trained just yet, having a "nekkid baby" running around the house just won't work.  The backwards pajamas thing seems to be an effective solution...for now.  Give her time.
 
We made a lot of progress this week but we're still a ways away from being settled.  It's an adventure and we're committed to enjoying the ride!