These are a few of my favorite things...

 I thought I would honor the third copy of the Rubinator's 21st chromosome with her top three fave things to do these days...First up...swing.

Kinda obvious from these pics that she quite enjoys this activity. Next up on the 'top three faves' list...paint OR play with anything goooo-ey.  She loves dog bowls, dog food for that matter, play-doe, lotions...anything she can get her grubby lil' hands on.  No sensory issues with this kid...and we pretty much just roll with it.  I love it that she comes home from school with "sandy booty", cornstarch and who knows what else in her hair...but with a big cheesy grin on that sweet face...

This is pretty much how she comes home from school everyday (sometimes she even has a mohawk)

 I have saved the best and, quite possibly her favorite...for last.  I think "Dance Party" in the living room is a Doobers and family favorite.  We crank the Stevie (sometimes Ella busts out some Beyonce) and there is not a single still foot in the house...special, fun memories we will always cherish....

Soo... get outside today and let the breeze blow through your hair, let your kids be kids and get super messy (or yourself..ha!)...and most importantly...dance a lil' jig to whatever music suits ya!  Life is pretty good my friends!!  

                                                        Happy Friday peeps...let loose!!!

More Alike than Different..

So... a lot of what Down syndrome awareness month is about is creating awareness that our kiddos are more alike than different. They have likes and dislikes, passions...they are pretty happy most of the time, but still have opinions and bad days.  They do , however, have a confidence and a peace about them that we should all aspire to have.  I often say that if we could bottle that extra chromosome and share a little of  it with the rest of the population we may be closer to world peace....ok, ok..maybe less road rage. Still, just from being lucky enough to be Ruby's mom, she has passed on some of that confidence to me.  It is impossible to not have it rub off on you...it is pretty crazy!  They say Down syndrome is not contagious...but I beg to differ.  The energy that surrounds my daughter is certainly infectious...it is undeniable.  She has taught me so much about this crazy world and myself in her short time here...I notice so much more than I ever did before...

My older daughter and I stole some alone time together on the beach to hunt for seashells on our mini-vaca.  She was picking up every single piece of shell she saw. Some were whole, some were chipped, some were just little broken pieces that barely even resembled a shell. She even picked up little crab claws...she saw worth and beauty in each one.  Each one was different...perfectly different.  I don't mind that our Ruby Doobs might not be considered "typical" or "just like" everyone else...that would be kinda boring...don't ya think?  Just like finding the same sea shell over and over again.  Our seashell hunt was a success because we found the beauty in the little things....the perfectly different little things...just like our sweet Doobs.

Our perfect lil' seashell collection...

           ROCK ON PEEPS!!  SEE THE BEAUTY IN ALL THINGS...EVEN YOURSELVES!!

Castle in the Sand...

My hubby and I have always tried to lead pretty simple lives...we have never focused on the "stuff" but more on the life experiences and the people we meet along the way.  We always joke when leaving somewhere and looking around for things left behind..."we got the kids...nothing else matters."  We have never had to buy clothes for our kiddos because we have been blessed to be riding the "hand me down' train, and try to keep it going as our girls out-grow things. It would be nice to get on an adult version of that train because we never buy clothes for ourselves either...ha!  My oldest daughter re-invents things as new toys and games...she played with an unraveled ball of yarn for a week for instance.  Her imagination is quite amazing and even leads into her telling me what her "poo" resembles.  Kinda like looking at the clouds...right?  Anywho...not sure where I was going with that, but I hope my girls grow up knowing the value in love and friendships, the importance of time spent with one another and realize that material things are....well...just not important...that one day they all become obsolete.  They wash away like castles in the sand (gotta love some Stevie)...BUT...castles in the sand are sure fun to make while they last...

Ruby loading the buckets..

The teamwork was pretty stellar...Doobs really working her OT skills with the shovel.  The beach provides all sorts of "therapy" sessions (sshhh..don't tell Doobs :)).  We sneak em in any chance we get...

Ella Mae is ready to show off her new digs....

Even the birds want to hang out in our new castle (or there is some left over popcorn...)

Ruby was really lovin' the freedom of the beach as well...walking in the sand is another good PT workout (sneaky..sneaky..) and man...she was all over the place!

Check ya later dudes!

                             Who doesn't love the ocean breeze blowing through your pig-tails?

She wanted so badly to be with sister in the ocean...Ella Mae is our 24 hour therapist (sshhh...don't tell Doobs).  Peer modeling is one of the ways the Rubinator and those like her learn best, so to have that constant crazy sister running around her...it's priceless!

She's checkin' big sis out...

I think I am gonna go see what all the fuss is about...

She was almost running to see what all the commotion was about! 

Check you later dudes....

 Simply put:  I need nothing else to fill my heart but these three. I guess you could say I was queen for our day on the beach...but I really feel that lucky  most days.  Would I like to live in a real life castle?  Nah...but my castle in the sand was pretty cool while it lasted :)

Everybody loves popcorn...

I sure do love these peeps...

It's true...who doesn't love popcorn?  We should call Ruby Doobs "the kernel" for as much popcorn as she consumes. My mother-in-law ,who I look up to and adore, assures me it is a healthy snack...so I haven't felt as bad when using it as "bribery" when trying to motivate Ruby to do squats, sign her first "more" sign...you name it, popcorn has been the motivator. As it turns out, Doobs had some fellow "popcorn lovers" on our trip to the beach...

Here she is enjoying her popcorn snack, waving (of course) to passers by..

The fellow "popcorn lovers" getting into position....

Doobs sharing her snack...I guess you could call her the "bird whisperer"

Ella Mae trying to "Pet" one of them...


Both my girls have such sweet hearts...constantly learning from one another.  The perfect pair. Except when Ruby wants to come in and lick, I mean kiss, Bathing Suit Ken's face when he is on an important first date with Arial Barbie...but that's all sisters...right?

Day two...DONE!!  Happy Tuesday ya'll!

Extra Special Challenge...

The only challenge  to me trying to blog everyday  in the month of October...is time.  It is certainly not from lack of inspiration or hilariousness that happens on a daily basis in our household.  BUT...I am taking the challenge once again this year in honor of October being Down Syndrome Awareness Month to chirp in your ears about how freakin' cool the Doobs is...and how life is living with someone rockin' an extra special chromosome.  And by "extra special"...I do mean she is extra special!!!  I could not imagine life without our sweet Ruby Doobs exactly the way she is!  You simply cannot be affected by her sweet smile, her giggling at herself, her sheer determination....her perfect energy.  We have been craving the beach so we went on a weekend getaway to Port A...Doobs was waving at everyone...I do mean everyone...she could get her lil' hand up to wave at.  She was getting the attention of restaurant peeps that weren't even looking in her direction...and you know what? They could not help but smile...chuckle really...I am quite sure she made their day.   I know she makes my day everyday.  Here is a sample of one of her famous waves....

                               We hit the aquarium on the way to the beach...the fish were pretty cool....

Kinda scary...

The very rare "Ella Mae Seahorse"...not so scary...

                                        But my favorite thing to watch while we were there.....

Stroller?  Who needs a stroller??

We rented a stroller for five bucs...waste of five bucs...wouldn't ya say?  I can't believe back in the day doctors used to tell parents of children with Down syndrome they may never walk...really??  Never is such an unrealistic word. What's realistic?  Raising expectations...that's what Down Syndrome Awareness Month is all about...showing the world how capable and cool these individuals are...how much awesomeness , integrity and worth they bring into our lives and this crazy world!  So... try and hang with us this month and take a peek into how much our life has been enriched by one tiny lil' extra chromosome....

                      Stay tuned for some more mini-beach vacation fun...ROCK ON PEEPS!!!

Slackin'...

Well...that is not exactly true..I am the only one slackin' these days on bloggin' about the most anticipated action from the Doobs. Tim and I love that Ruby is on her own "Doober time frame"...but we have been waiting for the day when she can just "hang" with the culde crew.  Actually walk  from one happenin' area to the next.  We have been anticipating the "what will she want to do?"  and the "who will she want to hang out with?"....the time has come peeps...no slacker here:

Woo hoo!!

Here I come!!

Check you guys later...I am gonna go sit at the table over there..

and then I am gonna go hang with the ladies...

and now I think I am gonna have some 'girl chat' with Julia...

She has been 'walking' for a few months now, but has just started to gain the confidence to cruise around most venues on her tiny lil' feet.  She is losing the 'Frankenstein' stiffness to her stride and is busting out some new dance moves as well. Stevie Wonder is still her fave, and she just can't seem to sit still when he's playing ..her lil' toes start tappin' and then she really gets her whole body in to it! Girls got some rhythm...just sayin.  I feel like I took all these lil' milestones for granted with Ella Mae...just assuming she was gonna do it, and do it well (which she mainly has....she's kinda crazy that way)....I mean, she started walking at 9 1/2 months and was jumping on a trampoline by her first birthday.  With Doobs I guess I am so much more aware of the "little things" we are working on...I share in her accomplishments because I feel like we are all working together to make it happen.  Ruby Doobs working the hardest of course!  So with each major milestone I am so unbelievably proud of her hard work and determination.  We always try and set high expectations for her...and almost every time she still surprises me with what she can do!  With each milestone I find myself breathing a little deeper, allowing myself to relax a little more and just enjoy her just being a toddler.  Her sign language is really starting to explode and she is really asserting herself as a lil' lady...our perfect lil lady.  Our other lil' perfect lady has become quite the fashionista these days.....

She was passed down a second pair of pink boots (thanks Luisa :))...she wants to wear them with everything!  And yes....that is a smile complete with a snack for later!  Gotta run...we are gonna try and sneak away to the beach for a few days!  I am gonna try and attempt blogging everyday again in the month of October for Down syndrome awareness so stay tuned and wish me luck!  I want peeps to know the 'coolness factor' the extra chromosome brings...and what an amazing impact Ruby Doobs has had on our life and all those around her!!  Ella Mae is pretty freakin' cool too...I mean, who can sport an apple, gymnast outfit and pink boots and look that cute :)

                                         No slackin' here!  Keep rockin this crazy life peeps!!!!!

Rockin' Life...

Well...we had our first big fundraiser for our lil' non-profit....and what a humbling experience.  I am always amazed at the support of friends and family, peeps that creep out of the wood works at the slightest nudge of an e-mail, phone call or a passing conversation. The fact that a cause that is obviously near and dear to  my heart..can instantly become dear to them....is pretty darn amazing! But I have to give credit where credit is due....

Ruby Doobs is pretty inspiring...I must say...one look at that sweet smile or hearing that crazy laugh...you're hooked!    It is hard for me to believe that my board members (and dear friends..but board members sounds so official) and I were just sitting in my living room only a few months ago with all this swirling in our heads...the hope that we could help just one person like my Ruby Doobs achieve their dream of college.  Fast forward....because of all these amazing peeps we were able to grant ELEVEN scholarships our first year!

Look at that sea of Rockin' 'Rainbowl shirts!!

It was  a packed house and such a fun event (can't go wrong with bowling and live music) and it seemed like everyone was having good time...including this one...

Ella Mae's Partner in crime for the event!

                                                                    And these ones.......

                    I think even grandmother had a great time....even though she bowled a 36....

             She didn't win any of these at the Rockin' Rainbowl......but she is still a winner in my book :)

The coveted Rockin' Rainbowl trophies...

A few things became very apparent to me throughout this day...we are loved, people have huge hearts and do care..... we can make a difference....

                                        And all my peeps ROCK...but I already knew that!!!!

Ella Mae and Uncle Matt rollin a strike..maybe

  Oh yeah....and did I mention our lilest lady is WALKING?  More on that later...life is good my friends!  Thanks for all the love and support!  I couldn't have done it without ya!!