Comparison

COMPARE

com·pare

kəmˈpe(ə)r/

verb

verb: compare; 3rd person present: compares; past tense: compared; past participle: compared; gerund or present participle: comparing

 

1.

estimate, measure, or note the similarity or dissimilarity between.

"individual schools compared their facilities with those of others in the area"

synonyms:

contrast, juxtapose, collate, differentiate

 As parent of a child with Down syndrome, you hear it many times ... "don't compare".  They tell you not to compare your child to 'other' children.  Or even to other children with DS.  

To be honest, I am not sure I ever understood that.  Nor did I like it.

Looking back, I think all of those remarks came from people that didn't have kids or didn't have a child with DS.  So I guess it is hard for them to understand.

First, comparison is human.  We all compare.  From the way we look to the kind of car we drive or type of home we live in.  I bet you all have compared yourself or someone else already today.  So how do you expect a parent with a child with needs NOT to compare them to any other child?  That's unrealistic.

Second, why not compare?  Yes, comparing Kami with a 'typical' so called child, sometimes makes me feel like she is a little behind in things.  Or reminds me that she is often left out.  But, then I watch her and see how none of it bothers HER.  She doesn't care.  So why should I?

Besides, if I didn't compare, I wouldn't have goals to keep pushing her towards!

On the funner side of things...I get to look back on the first year of both my kids lives and compare how much alike yet so very different they are.

Comparison...giving us a goal to strive for.

Each month, of the first year, of my kids lives, I took a photo of them with a way too big and always in the way  very large stuffed animal given to them by their great grandpa.  Of course he would go big. :)

It turned out to be a fun tradition.  Thanks Grandpa Dave.

  

I think Kamalee wins the cheek contest here. 

 Still winning the CHEEKS contest.  I forgot how chubby she was!

This was the month Kamalee had heart surgery...we had to get a scar pic.

 Kamalee is finally sitting up at 8 months!

 Ooopps...with Christmas and the big birthday in South Dakota, I forgot to get one of Jayse at 12 months.  (Poor kid has way less photos than Kamalee. -No Donna, it won't be a middle child thing.  I think I may have had a slight addiction and obsession with taking every single detail with Kami.  Maybe.  There is just way too many of K bugs!)  

But look how much bigger he is than she was at that age.  Just crazy.  Same round face though.  And I think Jayse had more hair too.  It can be fun to compare!

Snip, Snip

Jayse got his first haircut today!  I couldn't bear to lose too many of those bouncy curls so it was just a trim, but it changed his face so much.  He looks like a little boy now.  My baby did not stay baby for long.  But he sure is adorable.

BEFORE:

(sorry, a little blurry, he was excited about taking a bath and wouldn't sit still.)

AFTER:

Doesn't look quite so much like Papa Joe anymore.

The House [furniture] that the Ulschmids built

 

 A look at our projects lately!

I am so excited about our kitchen farm table.  It turned out so good and we finally got to have our first family meal at it last night.  (Although, we have not found chairs yet)

And for all the skeptics that thought we couldn't build our own table: photos!  

No, Dad, we did not use a kit! :)

 The pile of lumber it started as....

Step one: Table Legs a little sanding helper

   getting close!

stain!

 AND, voila!

 The legs do need another coat and then poly, along with the bench.  But, hey, we can use it at least.

And last weekend, we built Kamalee an awesome bed with storage, steps and a play space below.  She picked out her own bedding.  She loves it.  Now, we just need some paint!

Second Attempt to Videos

Hopefully you can view a little of Kamalee's first "Christmas Concert" :)

Pure Love, Pure Joy

John 16:21 ESV

        "When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world."

Remembering my two pregnancies, I was unprepared and un-expecting Kamalee.  Both with the news of her and of her birth.  I had many sorrowing and sick months, but then she arrived 3 weeks early. So when I went full term with Jayse, it felt as though I was much overdue.  That last months seems to drag on and on as though you will never get to meet the precious kicker inside of you.  But then that wonderful, most amazing moment arrives and all previous sorrows, anxieties and fears rush away because a joy and love like no other come flooding in.  It is a moment you can feel and remember, forever.  

The birth of my two children are the greatest moments of my life.  If you are not a mom, the feeling is indescribable.  It is truly is a miracle to grow life and bring them into this world.

Over Christmas vaca, I got be on the other side of this miracle.  I witnessed my sister give birth to a beautiful baby boy.  Thank you for allowing me to be a part of his birth, Becky.  This is another moment I will remember all my life.

Please meet, my nephew, Xander Joe.  

He arrived weighing 9lbs. 7.5ozs. and was 20 inches long.  

Simply amazing.

My favorite moment.  Baby meets momma.  The most comfortable place in the world.

 The proud angler

So relaxed.

Pouting at 5 minutes old...fits right in!

 Love this.  I think I have a very similar photo with one of my kids.

Xander meeting daddy.

Charts, Concerts and Christmas

Before we headed to South Dakota to enjoy a family Christmas, we started a chart system in our house.  We only got to use it for three days before leaving and haven't got back to it...so I don't really know if I can say we started yet.  But, we are headed in the right direction.  I am hoping to get back to working hard with Kamalee in hopes to change her (and my) daily attitude.  Plus, she does well with charts and stickers.  Now, only if I can stick to it! 

Here she is showing it off.  She was quite excited to go over the daily schedule each day.

 She wanted me to take a photo too, since she did.  I have to say, she is quite the little photographer.  Just like momma.  This was all by herself!

Centered and everything.  I think she does better than her dad. :)

 Christmas in our new home!

 Her first 'school concert'.  They were missing 1 in the class, I think.  But they were so stinkin' cute.

 A little clip ... or two.

 My little reindeer.  She was not about to have a nose though!

 West Family Christmas.  Papa Joe and Bubbles' grandkids.  

I have been trying to get a new photo of all the grandkids for so long!  And we still don't have it.  Number 18 was welcomed to the world 2 days after this photo!  (more on that in another post)

(we were also missing 2 step kiddos, they were with their mom)

 Of  course you have to do a silly one.

 She LOVED her jump rope!

 Cousins.

 Jayse's first Real Tree.  A real big deal, don't you know?

 SANTA!

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and happy new year.  God's peace to you!