One hundred kisses a day. That’s always been my unwritten and easily accomplished goal with Elsa. She’s the most precious little drop of sunshine I’ve ever come across and I let her know that nearly as many times per day as she receives kisses.
While she’s certainly sweet and cuddly, she has the most curious and daring personality, always rifling through drawers and cabinets, which she is doing now, as I type this. She loves getting into trouble, and giggles mischievously whenever I call out her name in that signature, I-mean-business, tone.
Despite her extra chromosome, I see Elsa as a totally typical toddler, complete with red-faced tantrums and scrapes and bruises from the predicaments she gets herself into.
She started walking right before this Covid disaster at around 21 to 22 months old, which was ahead of our goal. Suffice to say, I am so proud of this stubborn little girl’s strong will and determination.
Next up will be developing her verbal skills, so we will be welcoming a speech therapist to our Birth to Three team soon! Currently Elsa has very good receptive language skills and she’s learning a few words in sign language, but she only says a handful of words, including her favorite “buh-bye!”
I don’t know how “far behind” she is from typical developing kids because I decided after I learned about her having Down Syndrome that I wouldn’t compare her to any other child and only focus on making her the best Elsa she could be.
With that goal in mind, I’m going to go ahead and say that she is amazing in every way, even when she throws the food I just made for her onto the floor. Even when she climbs up the stairs for the 9thtime today to sneak into the bathroom and swish her hand around in the toilet. Again. Even when she makes the most ear-piercing shrieks I have ever heard. She’s still the most amazing little girl who gets us so much attention every where we go due to her shimmery strawberry blond hair, bright blue eyes, and huge smile. In fact, someone just bought my latte at Starbucks the other day, simply because Elsa was so charming.
While I know that it isn’t good in the long run, I must admit I love watching her suck her thumb and stroke a blanky for comfort. Can you believe that little rascal will not lay her head down to sleep at night until every last one of us is sleeping and the house is quiet?
While I certainly couldn’t have imagined what life has thrown at us, with Elsa’s diagnosis, I’m actually okay with it. As long as I don’t look too far ahead of us and focus on the here and now, we are doing just fine! After all, there was never an Elsa without Down Syndrome. It was always just her, perfectly as she is, or no Elsa at all.
P.S. Elsa is huge! Size 3T in clothes, 6 in shoes, and about 32-35 pounds. Not sure on the height but she’s definitely not petite. She still has a hearty appetite, eating twice as much as her older brother sometimes, yet she is getting pickier I am sad to say.
No Comments