Stealing

STEAL was one of Courtney's spelling words this week (we are working on "ea" and "ee" words). We talked about what it meant in simple terms (taking something that doesn't belong to you without asking). Later in the week we were sitting at the table and I heard some noises outside. I jokingly said "What's that noise? Is someone stealing our car?" Courtney got very serious and concerned and said "No, they wont steal our car-its too heavy to carry." Arron and I just exchanged a giggle look and told her she was right!

So Smart

Courtney gets it. Even when I don't think she does, she gets it. On a recent Tuesday I read Courtney a page on “Biology” and we talked about it and did a little gluing activity about it. I thought that the info had gone over her head, but I was glad that she at least “heard” it. A few days later her teacher came to see what we have been working on for school. Courtney was in the other room and as the teacher and I were talking about what we have been doing for school, I asked Courtney “What 2 parts of science make up Biology?” She didn’t hesitate, stands right up and says “Botany and Zoology”. I passed a shocked look to the teacher and then said to Courtney “What is Botany?”. She replied “plants and trees”. I then asked “What is Zoology?” to which she sayed “pets and animals”...she said it in a voice like "Come on, Mom, that's so easy!" She really is a smart little girl who is learning so much all the time.

Milestone

Courtney takes a small handful (I think there are 10-12) of pills twice a day and two pills at night. We call them her "yummies". Now that she is getting a little older, we sometimes call them "medicine" or "meds". She eats them in spoonfuls of applesauce. We put 2 pills on a spoon with some applesauce and she is able to swallow them. Just recently, she learned how to swallow them with just water and can do it all on her own. Yippee! She puts the pill (or sometimes two) in her mouth, moves it to the back and then takes a big drink of water. I am amazed that she has taught herself how to do this at such a young age! She is so proud of herself when she does it all on her own!

**These "pills" are a combination of vitamins, minerals ,herbs, and medication that help boost her immune system and keep her functioning and digesting well. They help to give her the best chance possible to be as healthy as possible so we find it completely worth it to have her take them daily.

Little Dancer

Courtney took a dance class this last school year. She learned tap and ballet. She recently had the end of year recital. She looked beautiful and did an amazing job. She danced in 3 different dances and the finale. One was a tap number that they also sang the song with (an adorable Bumblebee song). One was a fast tap number to Supercalifragalisticexbealidocious! The last one was a ballet number that was a lullaby. For that one each girl had a baby doll that they danced with. Courtney was truely great. She memorized the steps for all three dances. It was amazing to watch her talent of music shine. She would memorize the steps by remembering which step to do with which notes. Even if she got off in steps, when the music changed, she could switch her steps to be on the right step with the right notes. She got right up there on stage and really enjoyed the performance. When I asked her what her favorite part of the recital was she didn't hesitate to say...going to In-and-Out afterward for hamburgers!
I'm so proud of the hard work she put into learning her dances and I'm proud of her wonderful performance.

Big Sister

Courtney has recently become a big sister again. She is holding Brooklynn when she was just a few days old.
Megan, Brooklynn and Courtney

Courtney has been an amazing and wonderful big sister to both Megan and Brooklynn. Adjusting to another sibling can be hard for anyone. Add that to the fact that Courtney is not a big fan of change. Well, Courtney had no ill-effects. She has just LOVED having the new baby around. She did spent the first few days with her hands covering her ears when Brooklynn would cry (or sometimes would cry herself-she has such a tender heart)...but I found that to be endearing. She loves to help with Brooklynn whenever she can. She loves to hold her when she is happy and loves to talk to her. She has also been wonderful with Megan. She keeps Megan very entertained when I need to be with the baby. She plays wonderfully with her and is so imaginative. She is kind to her and helps her when I have my hands full with the baby.

So Silly, So Sensitive

Today for dance class Courtney forgot to bring her dance bag that has her dance shoes and supplies in it. Right now they are learning a ballet dance in which they dance with a baby doll. Courtney's baby doll was at home in her bag. Luckily her teacher had some shoes that she could borrow. Megan had brought some My Little Pony's to play with while Courtney danced. When it was time to dance with their baby dolls I tried to convince Courtney that she could use the little pony. She was upset about not having her doll. I told her all I had was the little pony. Then I jokingly said, you can use the little pony or this shoe (an extra ballet shoe). She reluctantly took the pony and got back in line. Then before the dance began she came back over and said that she wanted the shoe. She took the shoe, cuddled it in her arms just like a baby and did the whole dance with the shoe! I was giggling so hard! When she was done, she brought it back over to me laughing and said "I used the shoe!"...she new how silly she had been!
Today is also horse riding day. She road a horse that she has ridden several times over the 3+ years that she has been riding. His name is Moonie. The weather was so wonderful today that they decided to ride the outside trail. I heard Courtney cry several times and wondered what could be wrong. When they got back, her instructor informed me of what had happened. Apparently Moonie kept trying to eat the grass. The leader was trying to NOT get the horse to eat the grass because they had sprayed for weeds. They explained to Courtney that if he ate the grass, he would get a stomach ache. Every time Moonie tried to eat the grass Courtney would burst into tears and try to tell him not to eat the grass...she really has a sensitive heart to others in pain or trouble or discomfort. Anytime Megan is hurt (or other friends), or Courtney feels like they are being treated unfairly...she usually cries for them or right along with them.

Cooking Class Update!

Today in class, Courtney got to "play" with eggs! They had hard-boiled eggs and talked about how some people have sculpted them. They had a book that had examples and then they had a variety of vegetables for the the kids to create a face with. Courtney had a great time.
The face on the left she did all on her own. Including putting the "glue" (mayonaise) in place and then putting the veggies on. She did ask the teacher to help her put the hair in, but the rest she did on her own. I wasn't there when she made the "chick" on the right-but it sure turned out cute.
When they were done, Courtney asked if she could eat a tomato. The teacher sliced her up one and she ate the whole thing-she really does LOVE tomatoes!

Full of Love

Today is Courtney's sister, Megan's Birthday. I had Courtney dictate what she wanted it to say on Megan's present and this is what she said:
Dear Megan,
I love you so much.
You're such a sweetheart.
Happy Birthday!
Love,
Courtney
She loves her sister so much and she was so excited to get her roller-skates. Megan wanted roller-skates because that is what Courtney got for her Birthday in December. Courtney picked them out at the store, wrapped them and loved helping her open them. They are two sisters that get along so great, play so wonderfully together and truly love each other.

Chef Courtney

Courtney is enrolled in a cooking class through her school. I have been so impressed watching her with the other kids. One week, they were all taking a turn stirring the dough. When it came to Courtney, I worried that she would try to lick the spoon or not want to pass it to the next kid and want to keep it. I watched on the edge of my seat refraining from saying anything to see how she would do and how the teacher would handle it. She got the bowl, stirred it a few times around with the spoon and then passed it to the girl sitting next to her! She did wonderful without having to be reminded or told anything. I really am impressed with how she listens to the instructions her teacher gives her and then really tries her best to do them. And I worried that she might let the other kids boss her around-boy was I wrong to worry about that. Even the bigger boys in the class, she is not afraid to work with or even stand up to when she needs to. Watching without getting involved has been a big lesson for me and a great opportunity for Courtney to grow.

Cut, Cut, Cut

Courtney is getting so good at cutting paper (she has not tried to cut anything else-she is usually pretty good at following those kinds of rules!). For Valentine's day I traced hearts for her to cut out and she did a great job. She has a "workbook" that has pages to practice her cutting technique. The other day I handed her one of the pages and her scissors. Then I helped Megan cut her page. When I turned back to Courtney-she had cut perfectly on all of the lines! Hooray Courtney!

If I Let Her

In the first few months of Courtney's life, one Doctor said to me that if you do EVERYTHING for children with Down Syndrome, they will let you. We have tried to be careful about this and let Courtney do as much as possible on her own. Lately she has proven to me that I still cross the line and do too much sometimes. She can put her seatbelt on all by herself. For a few times, she told me she couldn't and protested, but when I stopped doing it and made her-she proved she COULD...not only that, but she can now open the door, climb in, close the door and get her belt on-all by herself!
I always help her put on her tights and leatard for dance class (those things can be tricky, you know!). One day recently, I handed her dance bag to her and then got distracted with something else. When I came back-she had everything on and was ready to go! Ah-ha! Now, every week, she gets dressed and ready-all by herself!

Courtney goes to a dance class once a week. She has memorized a song and several dance steps that she will have to do in a show in June. This week, as the teacher asked about dance positions and dance steps, Courtney was the first in the class to answer!

Courtney-Still Amazing Me

Courtney amazes me everyday. She is so smart, funny, and cute. Lately she has soared with her reading. I bring home Level 1 books from the library (ones she's never seen before) and she can make it through them pretty easily. We have started adding spelling activities and she is getting good fast. Her speech therapist today (who she has not been seeing for very long) came out of the session very impressed with all the words Courtney is reading (I think Courtney has only showed her a small percent of what she is capable of-but as she gets more comfortable with her, it will come). She did say that she won't read it for her if it is demanded of her. You have to make a game out of it. Or catch her (like I often do) doing it on her own. I frequently find her in the morning with Froggy books (or other favorites) just totally reading them on her own. Another one of our favorites is Fancy Nancy.