Angela @ The Mango Memoirs

Meet William

Posted on October 15, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

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We’ve got another birthday today! William is celebrating turning eight! His mom, Elena, is sharing a few beautiful thoughts about her son today for day 15 of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. You can follow Elena and William on Instagram as @elenakathryn and on Elena’s blog Monkey Bear and Buddy.

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William’s favorite people are his two sisters. Just like any other brother, his favorite activity is tackling and wrestling them! William loves an adventure and this summer we went to Santa’s Village. William rode on every ride and swam in every pool. He is a fun loving guy but definitely likes things his way. William is not a fan of waiting and that can make some outings a little hard. Along with Down syndrome, William has apraxia so his speech can be very hard to understand but his big sister understands almost everything he says. When William is overwhelmed with frustration, his big sister is often the only one who can calm him down.

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William has taught my daughters to not make snap judgments of other children. He teaches them to be in every moment and not worry about what tomorrow will bring. He teaches them patience. As they continue to grow I know the lessons they learn from him will increase.

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As a mom of a child with Down syndrome, I think it is important to put William out in the world so others can learn from him as well. If I knew a child with Down syndrome before I had one of my own, I think I would have been less afraid. There is such a fear in the unknown. The medical jargon is so scary. But the reality of having a child with Down syndrome is nothing like what you imagine. William is perfect just the way he is and the love and joy he brings us is priceless.

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Check back tomorrow as we continue celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month or click below to read all of our previous posts.

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Photo Friday: Apple Fest

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

Photo Friday is a little glimpse at our week in pictures. To see more, follow @TheMangoMemoirs on Instagram!

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Meet Wil

Posted on October 14, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

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Have you seen Wil fly? He’s amazing! And today Wil is celebrating his third birthday right here on The Mango Memoirs! One year ago, I first introduced you to Wil and his incredible power of flight, made possible with a little help from his mom and dad, Nikki and Alan. They’ve had some pretty fantastic attention in the last year while sharing about the incredible potential of those with Down syndrome. Wil even has a calendar! Half of all proceeds from the sale of the calendars will go to Ruby’s Rainbow (I introduced you to Ruby just a few days ago) and to Reece’s Rainbow, two organizations changing the world for so many with Down syndrome. Pre-orders for the 2017 calendar can be placed right now by clicking here. You can continue to follow Wil’s flight at ThatDadBlog.com and on Instagram @thatdadblog and @nikkizl. Happy birthday, Wil!!

What are some things Wil really likes to do?
run around making messes, playing with his siblings, teasing, reading books, playing with the toy kitchen and cooking everyone food which we must all try 🙂

What is his favorite movie?
Veggie Tales. Bob the Tomato is his favorite.

What would Wil do if he could design his own day?
He’d go from room to room making a huge mess!

Who does he love to spend time with and what do they do?
He loves being with his siblings. He mostly just lets them spoil him rotten.

What is something you want everyone to know about Wil?
Wil is the sunshine in our family. Whenever someone is having a bad day or is upset, we send them to spend time with Wil and get a giant Wil Hug. He radiates joy and happiness to all around him. We are so thankful for him in our family.

What is something you don’t think many people know about Down syndrome?
They have a special spirit about them, they are so close to God. If we all could look at life with as much joy as they do, we would all be better people.

Check back tomorrow as we continue celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month or click below to read all of our previous posts.

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Meet Clara

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

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Oh, beautiful Clara Noelle. I first met Clara’s mom, Mandy, when I shared about my own experience as a parent of a child with special needs at a local early childhood meeting last December. I remember thinking how adorable Mandy was as an expectant mama. Just a few weeks later, I received a message from her. Mandy’s daughter had been born and, unexpectedly, she came with a very special extra chromosome. I don’t think that our meeting that day in early December was coincidental. I had a similar encounter before Sam was born, and I truly believe both were orchestrated by a God who loves us and loves his sweet babies. So, it is with such joy that I share Clara and her family with you today! You can find Mandy and Clara (now 9 months old) on Instagram as @mandyjopeterson.

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What are some things Clara enjoys doing?

Clara adores spending time with her sisters Ellery (6) & Lucy (4). She loves to look at books with them, listen to their stories, play with them and loves when they sing to her. Watching our girls together makes me so happy. When Clara was born and we were given her diagnosis of Down Syndrome, one of our first thoughts were to wonder how this would impact her sisters. Our worries vanished quickly as the girls instantly adored Clara. They are thrilled with each new tiny milestone she meets and every giggle and smile she gives them. They are the proudest of sisters and cheer her on at every chance they get. We have talked a little about her extra chromosome and how she has to work a bit harder than most babies do to meet her milestones. I was so nervous to bring it up to them initially, but it hardly phased them and they love her intensely regardless of how quickly she is able to do anything.

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What is the most wonderful part of knowing Clara?

The most wonderful part of having Clara is how happy she makes us. She is seriously the sweetest baby and her smile just melts our hearts! She is so mild mannered, not one to fuss about much. She is an awesome sleeper and a total mama’s girl. She will smile at nearly anyone who looks at her and when we are out and about I am frequently told what a sweetie she is.

Having Clara has also enhanced the desires and goals I have for my family. My greatest wish is for my girls to be compassionate, kind and loving. And that they are strong enough to stand up for what is right, especially if that means they are standing up for someone who may not be able to do that for themselves.

What have been good resources for you?
From the first days of Clara‘s birth we have been welcomed into the amazing Down Syndrome community. They have reached out to us when we were besides ourselves. My greatest resource in this new journey has been a Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network Rockin’ moms group on Facebook. I have been introduced to so many moms through DSDN who have offered support at every turn. Sharing this journey with others facing similar challenges has meant more to me than I can explain.

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Check back tomorrow as we continue celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month or click below to read all of our previous posts.

Filed Under: Down Syndrome, Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Meet Carter & His Sister

Posted on October 12, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

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Today I am happy to introduce you to 3 year-old Carter Vadim and his 2 year-old little Sister! I met their mama, Carly, on Instagram after Carter was adopted when he was just 7 months old. Then, a few months ago, Sister joined their family. While they complete the adoption process, Sister’s identity is being kept private, which is why we don’t see her face in the following photos. I’m just so glad Carly was open to sharing her beautiful children with us! Adoption is such an incredible part of building a family. In fact, we have multiple families coming up this month who have grown their family through adoption. If you’ve read our adoption story, you’ll know it is something we long to do as a family, as well. You can find Carly on her blog Jovial State of Mind and on Instagram as @nurseicarly.

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What are Carter’s and Sister’s favorite foods?
Carter Vadim loves blueberries. He loves all fruit but he will ask about blueberries at least once a day. Sister had been primarily fed via a gastronomy tube until she came to our home 3 months ago. Now she is eating pureed food like a champ. The first time we introduced a spoon to her she had no idea how to even close her mouth around the spoon. It is so great to see how well she is doing so fast. She loves avocados. She also has thing for all things sour. She loves to munch on pickles or limes.

What are their favorite things to watch?
We are huge Signing Time fans in our house. We have learned so many signs to help build our growing vocabs. We are also huge Wiggles groupies. They have their own sign for The Wiggles and they will both ask for it anytime we see a TV anywhere. Carter loves the books Big Red Barn and Barnyard Dance.

What are a few things Carter and Sister are really good at?
I am that mom that obnoxiously thinks her babies are amazing at everything they do (has anyone seen The Goldbergs). I seriously got Carter a medal from Dollar Tree the other day because he was the cutest eater ever! He really is good at physical things: running, climbing, DANCING, forward rolls, ninja rolls, etc. He is a mover and squirmer. He has become a great greeter. He loves to shake hands or give high fives to welcome or say hello to everyone he meets. Sister is a sponge. I will say something to her once and she immediately is trying to repeat it or do it. I cannot wait to see how she continues to grow and learn.

How are their personalities similar or different from each other?
Carter and Sister have some similar personality traits but are also very unique. It is a great example of how it is an incorrect assumption to stereotype people with Trisomy 21 as all happy or with a certain personality. Carter is always on the move and loves to greet and say hello to EVERYONE. He is also a bit more sensitive about certain things. He becomes tearful with loud sudden noises, gets told no, or even if other children get in trouble. He is tender-hearted. Sister can be more easy going about most things but she also has a lot of SASS. She is not afraid to tell you “No” with her hands on her hips. She is sweet but spunky.

What is the most wonderful part of being their mama?
They bring us such joy and they constantly are grounding us to remember the value and worth of every person we encounter every day. I am so thankful for how they have opened my heart and eyes to love more. They are my reminder to choose love over fear.

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Check back tomorrow as we continue celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month or click below to read all of our previous posts.

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Meet Kaycee

Posted on October 11, 2016 by Angela @ The Mango Memoirs • 0 Comments

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Not only are we celebrating day 11 of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, but today we’re also celebrating Miss Kaycee Adalynn’s third birthday! I first introduced you to Kaycee one year ago on her second birthday. This year her mama, Angela, tells us a little more about her sweet girl. You can find Kaycee and Angela on Instagram as @AngelaRobbins.

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What are a few things Kaycee enjoys doing?
I’d say Kaycee’s absolute favorite thing is dancing and singing! She is always singing along with the songs on the radio and adding some adorably hilarious dance moves, including but not limited to butt shaking and off kilter twirling. And if you’ve been around her recently, you were likely serenaded with a custom version of ‘happy birthday’ – her new favorite, which she refers to as ‘Happy’ (which can be confusing as her other favorite song is ‘Happy’ by Pharrell Williams!). Kaycee also thoroughly enjoys making people laugh! She loves when she does something funny and the people around her react, especially the stifled giggles – those really fire her up. Besides being the entertainment, she also loves swinging, playing hide and seek, giving hugs, prancing around the house naked, coloring, wrestling, playing pretend, hiding in fear of flies, and begging for a banana only to leave it peeled and unfinished.

What are her favorite shows, games, or books?
Kaycee absolutely loves Curious George and the Little Einsteins! When she hears the theme songs, she stops everything, directs everyone’s attention to the historic life moment, and proceeds to sing and dance her way through the start of the show with the expectation of full applause when her performance is complete. She loves to entertain! Her favorite games are Connect Four and various puzzles, but she has been on a big Lego kick lately. She enjoys any book within reach, but I’d say right now she particularly loves the Daniel Tiger book she picked out as a prize during the summer reading program this year. She also shows undying affection for any book a sibling is trying to read.

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Who does she love to spend time with? What do they do together?
She loves to spend time with her brother and sister. Cameron (7) is so good at honing in on her and making her feel like his whole world. He knows she loves to be tickled and they almost daily end up in a wrestling tickle match. Ellie (5) has a very similar personality to Kaycee in that they both tend to be the “ask forgiveness, not permission” type. They are like two peas in a pod, trouble and all. When they aren’t getting themselves into trouble, they are usually found playing with baby dolls and dressed up in elaborate outfits. And if there is anything that will result in getting dirty or wardrobe changes, they will certainly be the first ones there.

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What is something you want everyone to know about your daughter?
Kaycee has brought a whole new dimension of unique personality and quirks to our family, as have each of our kids. Down Syndrome (mosaic or otherwise) doesn’t automatically mean all smiles or joy. But it also doesn’t mean inconvenience or burden. She’s so beautifully perfect, a life of unique character, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a kid like any other who needs love and affection. And ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream.

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Happy 3rd birthday, Kaycee!

Check back tomorrow as we continue celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month or click below to read all of our previous posts.

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Filed Under: Down Syndrome, Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Author Archives: Angela @ The Mango Memoirs

Meet William

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Photo Friday: Apple Fest

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Meet Wil

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Meet Clara

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Meet Carter & His Sister

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Meet Kaycee

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