October 10.

So, I have been slackin on this every day blogging thing. I was excited to do a post about Buddy Walk and wanted it to stick around for a couple days. This team is growing and I am SO excited about it. I got a little teary today when I was thinking about all the people who want to come out and support Annabelle.

She is AMAZING.



Isn't she? Look at that little Jungle Book walk. :)

October 7. THE Buddy Walk Post.

It's hard for me to ask people to come to events,even parties, or ask for donations, even if for a great cause. I would be a terrible sales person, and no one would want to hire me. It's because I don't like people to feel obligated, or think there is anything in it for me. I have backed down when asking for a raise at work, and was never good at those little door to door fund raisers for school. BUT, this time, I can't feel bad. Still, I don't want people to feel obligated or anything, but I am SOOOOOO SUPER DUPER passionate about this, and maybe that's why I don't feel so bad.

October, as you know, is Down Syndrome Awareness month. I want to do my part, big or small to raise awareness for these sweet people. I want people to be aware that these people are more alike the typical than they are different. I love that money raised during this month can go to organizations that help to better the lives of these sweet people. I also LOVE that there are people doing research and studies about Down Syndrome, so they we can help them to be a bigger part of our communities. After doing my own researches every now and then, I have found that we as a society have come SO SO SO far when it comes to special needs and disabilities. I am SO thankful for the parents that fought for our DS and special needs children to do something as simple as go to public school. Before having Annabelle, I knew nothing about DS, and I see that is the case for most people who don't know someone personally with DS. So, I will do my best, along with many others this month, to help others learn something NEW! :)

"The Buddy Walk® was established in 1995 by the National Down Syndrome Society to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month in October and to promote acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome. Today, the Buddy Walk program is supported nationally by NDSS and organized at the local level by parent support groups, schools and other organizations and individuals.

Over the past sixteen years, the Buddy Walk program has grown from 17 walks to nearly 300 expected in 2011 across the country and around the world. Last year alone, 285,000 people participated in a Buddy Walk! They raised more than $11.2 million to benefit local programs and services as well as the national advocacy initiatives that benefit all individuals with Down syndrome.

The Buddy Walk is a one-mile walk in which anyone can participate without special giftraining. It is an inspirational and educational event that celebrates the many abilities and accomplishments of people with Down syndrome. Whether you have Down syndrome, know someone who does, or just want to show your support, come and join a Buddy Walk in your local community!" -(from BuddyWalk.org)

This year, some of my sweet MOPS friends really encouraged me to do a team. So, we are. On October 23, will be Annabelle's Angels! I would love anyone to join our team, and if you are unable to join and come, you can still be a part of our team by donating HERE. It's super easy, and you can do it from across the world. :) I have a pretty small goal of raising $500. The Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas is a wonderful resource for our community, and amazing for new parents of these sweet kiddos. I would LOVE to see you help support them and all that they do for our families and friends. If you would actually like to come to Buddy Walk, and cheer on my sweet baby girl, please leave me a comment and I can tell you HOW! :) It's going to be an amazing time, and I can't wait too show Annabelle pictures someday, and tell her all about these sweet people who came out to support HER and her friends. I don't doubt that she will be lovingly appreciative.

October 4.

Found out today that October raises awareness for all kinds of things, and is also National PIZZA month. Since I love pizza, I think that's cool. :)

Today feels like it has been a long day, and I am so tired. Annabelle crashed in her daddy's arms tonight as he was singing to her. Pretty adorable. She also just might be saying the word, "DUCK". I'll try to remember to get it on video soon. I have always thought that she says, "Dada", and sometimes I think I hear, "Mama". So, I can't say that duck is her first word. :D Good.

I gotta end the day, what 30 minutes might be left of it, on the couch with the husby. He is also not feeling great now, which means all 3 of us need a little extra attention. ;)

Night night.

October 3.

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause
between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."
- Carol Bishop Hipps


I really love this month! It is one of my most favorite!

This morning has been lazy, which is perfect for a Monday. I cancelled 2 ECI appointments because Annabelle and I are both feeling icky. So, today will be filled with coffee, couch time and time catch up on small projects! Even though I feel icky and a little bit worn down, the crisp air and sunshine have me feeling so refreshed. I can't WAIT to get my Scentsy order in so that my house smells of pumpkins and cinnamon and everything cozy FALL! :)

October 2.

Last year, I participated in the "31 for 21" Down Syndrome Awareness. You are to blog every 31 days for the month of October. October is Down syndrome awareness month. Down syndrome is caused by having an extra 21st chromosome, so hence the number 21. "31 for 21!"

This year, I will do my best. Even if it is just a picture or a couple words, I will do my best to blog for the rest of the month. I already missed yesterday, SO I will make it up by posting an adorable video! :)

Annabelle has not been feeling well this weekend at all, and it has been a little rough. I got only a few hours of sleep on Friday, and feel like I am still trying to catch up on that. She just has a gross cold, the worst I have seen her have yet. Poor baby. I wish I could take it from her. So, we have stayed home this weekend and done pretty much nothing. This little girl decided it was a good time to do THIS, all on her own:
I was pretty proud to walk into the living room and see that she had figured this out! Sometimes we try to help her with it, but she is all about figuring things out in her time. ;) Now, she looks for that little walker and just takes off. This is awesome, friends!

I also took the time at home yesterday to finish this cute outfit for her:

AND THIS is one of my new fave pics. She was playing puzzles with some little friends, and it looks like she is at school. I love it.

And, this snuggle time has happened a lot more this weekend than usual. She is pretty wiggly normally, so I have soaked up this sweet time with her:


I will do my best for this Awareness by blog, and please look out for a special post all about BUDDY WALK! This year we have a team: Annabelle's Angels.

Beautiful

Even with her face full of food, she is still SO beautiful. She is the MOST beautiful thing I have ever seen! Today, I was feeding her lunch, and we were both giggling and I couldn't get over how much I just love this little girl. There are definitely moments where my heart swells and feels like it might burst. These are some of my most favorite pictures. Taken with a cruddy phone camera, and in the middle of lunch, but it captured this heart-swelling moment.





I guess while we're at it with the meal time pictures, check out this series of pics capturing this gal try to feed herself with a spoon. :) Everything she does makes me proud!
(she was a little upset when I stopped feeding her, but it didn't last long when she realized she was pretty awesome at it herself.)





Please forgive momma for this messy hair do. Bath time was to follow so I didn't try. ;)

SEPTEMBER 11. 2011

TEN years ago today, I was 18 years old, and in my first year of Bible school at His Hill. When we were told what had happened in New York, I was a little confused, and not really understanding the impact of the events that transpired that day. They would change America. They would also change the class of 2001-2002 of this specific Torchbearers school. Specific things come to my memory when I think of that day. A friend from Canada crying and crying and only wanting to go home. No flights were going in or out of our closest airport, or anywhere in the states. She thought about driving, or about taking a bus or a train, and didn't mind that it would take a few days of traveling. She only wanted to be with those she loved. I was feeling lucky that my family was only 2 hours away, and I wanted to be with them. Someone else was being missed, and he happened to be in Wyoming. We all wanted to BE with those we loved, wondering if that might end soon. I also remember that the big screen TV in the Fish House was turned on for the first time since being at school. We watched smoke rise from the Towers in the same scene we have all seen over and over and over for the last ten years. It started sinking in how REAL this was, and like many Americans, I was fearful. Not only fearful, but analyzing life at that moment. That weekend, I drove home, bring along a great friend named Genevieve. We spent time with my family , which helped the strange loneliness we both felt, but only helped a little. Before heading back to school on Sunday, we went to church. The church was PACKED. The chairs were filled, the walls were lined and the doors were open to allow those in the hallways to hear. I believe that this is the way MOST churches in the states looked that day. Pastors most likely lost sleep over "the PERFECT SERMON" for their congregation that day. More people went to church THAT Sunday, than on Christmas and Easter. WE NEEDED GOD. AMERICA NEEDED GOD (again)!! We need God just as much, ten years later, as we did that day, and I pray that it doesn't take more and more tragedies, surprises, devestations for us to realize it. I will not forget the incredible men and women who fight and die for our country every day. I do not forget the President that did all he could to defend and protect our country. He fought for justice that just happened to be won only a few months ago. We live in a great country. A country to be proud of. We are blessed.

My life 10 years later:

This past week, my state was hit with out-of-control wildfires. In one town, only about an hour from my home, 1,554 homes have been destroyed and almost 35,000 acres. Other towns closer than that have also lost homes in the past week. It makes my eyes sweat, as my dad would say, to think of these families that now have NOTHING. All week, I have wondered what I could do. The community of Austin and surrounding Austin has joined together to HELP. To donate, to give, to pray, to be support. Today in church, I prayed that the people of these towns will FEEL the prayers of other people. Personally, when I went through the biggest trial of my life, I FELT prayers of others. Please pray, if that is all you can do, for the families that have lost literally EVERYTHING. Pray that they would feel peace and possibly realize where that unexplainable peace comes from. If you would like to donate to helping these many many families, you can, HERE to the AMERICAN RED CROSS OF CENTRAL TEXAS.


There are still things I would like to write about our personal life in the Schmidt house, and after some serious talk, I feel like this might make things a little lighter. We were blessed with some amazing weather this past week, and I know that it was just a little tease of some wonderful fall that is to come. The mornings were cool, and the grass was dewey. After a summer full of 100+ degree days, a high of 89 was bliss. I know, crazy, but BLISS I tell you! I FINALLY made it out to 'MY' running trail again, and it made my week. I missed taking Annabelle in the jogging stroller and missed being able to run OUTSIDE. This weather has made me want to fold up darn old treadmill and lock him away. It was incredible. So incredible, that I even broke some personal running records. :)

One morning, I planned to meet a friend at the park with her two kiddos. We were going to hang out a bit, then my dad and sister were coming to walk with Annabelle while I took off on a little jog. Just a morning to enjoy the 'cool'. Just before I was about to decide to take off, a gal and her sister came walking up with a few kiddos of their own. She was holding a sweet bundle in her arms, and immediately said, "Hey! I have a designer baby, too!" She turned her around, and I noticed the sweet little look of Down Syndrome. :) SO, my plans of going on a jog were immediately forgotten, and I engaged in sweet conversation for over an hour, with a momma that speaks my 'language'. DS language, as in words and phrases like, low muscle tone, ECI, DS, PT, OT, NICU, Kelle Hampton, DSACT, Buddy Walk, transport team, etc... It was amazing, and I know it was a gift.

Annabelle has learned a sign! Did I already say that in the last post? Anyways, she seems to be doing so well at communication the last few weeks. We worked and worked to get her to say "eat" and she does! Now, she is saying it just every time she wants something. Even if it's not food. But, at least she is communicating. so adorable. I am so proud of this girl.

We have ECI appointments every week now, between OT and a DS. It is overwhelming to me that there is something every single week, but I know it's got to be a good thing. I feel blessed that we have the opportunity to do things like this for her, and for our knowledge as parents. :)

So, I am a little distracted. Remember last fall how I LOVED Sundays!!!!! Well, Craig is OFF on Sundays, and now that it is FALL, we have football!! Yes! I love Sundays! So, i am going to end this post and hang out with this little family I LOVE. I am so so blessed. :) Happy SUNDAY!