ONE YEAR!

It has been ONE YEAR since this little girl entered our lives!  I can't imagine how we ever did life without her, she has changed us in so many ways.

In the last month, Claire started crawling! Something that less than 3% of children with Down syndrome do before their first birthday and she had the added challenge of her heart defect as well.

She finally got to 16 pounds!!  And she's 27 inches long.  Her favorite things are: bubbles, her vanity mirror, being outside, food, kisses, necklaces (as toys and for chewing on!), and mommy.  She HATES water and anyone who might possibly be a doctor or nurse (we don't blame her).  Due to quite a few recent (and scary!) choking episodes, she is back to just breast milk (preemie nipple) and pureéd foods but she did get a cupcake at her birthday party!

She is able to remain standing when we place her up against the couch or ottoman (especially if there is food at the top!!) and from her stomach, she can come up into "bear stance" but then she isn't quite sure what to do next.

She has a combined endoscopy / bronchoscopy / laryngoscopy coming up in the very near future and has to have an additional surgery for her eyes that will be done by the plastic surgeon. Otherwise she is doing well!

The last year has not gone quite like we expected but we wouldn't trade it for the world! We are on a journey that we didn't know we needed and we have the most amazing tour guide <3.

Thank you all for cheering us on!!!