start light. start bright.

This evening the four of us took a trip to Lowes and Kroger. Jack was acting like a little 18 month old! I was soooooooooooo cute! He was sitting in the shopping cart, swinging his legs, laughing, pestering his sister, babbling. . .Such a pleasure to have him with these little moments! I took Jack to the zoo this afternoon with all of his cousins, aunt, and grandma, and of course his sister. He wasn't very comfortable at all. He was sweaty, uncomfortable, squinting, kept covering his eyes. And it's not like he'll keep sunglasses on. And when its too warm, I can't keep the hat on his head too long. He seemed to enjoy looking around, but was also obviously uncomfortable. Luckily, he didn't scream much at all!

On the way home Evie saw the first star and I recited the poem. She then made her wish. "I wish that Jack will get bigger soon!" She's such an angel.
We read a wonderful children's book the other night.

Evie has heard the story before, but she was especially interested with lots of questions this particular time. The book is titled "We'll Paint the Octopus Red." Here's the notes from the book so you understand what it's about.

As six-year-old Emma anticipates the birth of her new baby brother or sister, she vividly imagines all of the things they can do together. They'll go to Grandpa's farm to feed the calves, ride in the back of the mini-van making faces at the cars that go by, fly on airplanes, and someday, they'll even go to Africa on a safari to see elephants and rhinos. And she can't wait to go to the art festival and show the baby how to paint a picture with a rubber octopus. Emma feels ready to be a big sister!
Then when the baby is born, her dad tells her that it's a boy named Isaac, and he has something called Down syndrome. As her dad shares this news, Emma senses his concern and wonders if Isaac will be able to go on all those adventures after all. While they talk, they come to the conclusion that he will certainly be able to do everything she's imagined. Finally she asks, "If Isaac has this Down thing, then what can't he do?" Her dad thinks about it, then tells her that as long as they are patient with him, and help him when he needs it, there probably isn't anything Isaac can't do.
In this touching story, Emma helps her father as much as he helps her to realize that Isaac is the baby they dreamed of. The book concludes with a set of commonly asked questions about Down syndrome with answers for children and how it might affect their sibling and family. The wonderful color illustrations help make We'll Paint the Octopus Red a beautiful, reassuring book for siblings of children with Down syndrome that's sure to become a family favorite. (Stuve-Bodeen, 1998).

 

I think I'll be purchasing the sequel very soon!