We are the Stow Family and this is our story. Our lives are blessed by Love, Joy and Hope. Follow our sometimes interesting stories on loving our two boys, exploring parenthood, and celebrating a little extra - two parents, two boys and an extra chromosome!

Sunday, October 25, 2009

National Down Syndrome Day - South Africa













Today is National Down Syndrome Day in South Africa.

To celebrate, our local association put on a fun day - complete with water slides, horse rides, face painting and good food. It was really great to get out and about and just have a fun day in the sun!

This is our first time joining in the celebration for National Down Syndrome Day - last year we were just-new parents, not sure we could cope with taking our little newborn (Malakai was only about 5 or 6 weeks old at the time) baby very far from the comforts and safety of home. This year, Malakai was crawling all over the place, eating the sand and leaves, and enjoying the other children - I could not have imagined this would be the case last year at the same time!

Malakai continues to thrive, determined to get his own way (wow - the focus is quite something)! He is now cruising along the furniture, with a fall here and there (ouch!) which makes me cringe, but I know it's part of the learning process! Malakai has also developed a half-crab crawl which his physical therapist is devastated about! LOL! Other than looking a bit strange - I am amazed at the speed at which (screaming with joy) Malakai is able to hobble/crawl down the passage to find me in the bedroom. His little squeals of delight and hands pattering on the tiles giving him away before he bounds into the room I'm in.

Because I'm not sure if I've shared all of Malakai's updates, I'll just list them below - no... ok... yes... I am completely biased and think my child is a super-star, but hey!

Malakai is an almost-15-month-old boy who loves to kiss pictures of blonde girl babies. Throwing things (anything really), is his favourite hobby, followed closely by getting each and every single musical toy to make their 'songs' at the same time - creating a cacophony of 'beautiful' noise. He loves reading, and turns all the pages by himself. He will clap, wave, dance (or all three in a close succession if he's not too sure) when asked nicely, and he fully understands (but does not care for) the words 'no', 'sit', 'come'. When he feels the urge, he'll sign 'eat' or 'sleep'. He babbles, squeals, roars, makes car sounds, and does a very convincing farting-sound - and I never knew there were so many ways to say 'ba ba ba' - there's the angry, tired, confused, determined and happy versions! He will give everything he comes across a lick - why not? Malakai also loves to stand, bounce and fly through the air, and will spend countless minutes (hours in baby-time) crusing along the furniture.

I hope I haven't left anything out?

I can honestly say that I had no idea where my little boy would be a year down the road from the last National Down Syndrome Day - I can't be more proud of my little man!

6 comments:

Lacey said...

those pics are so cute. I love that one of the other little boy trying to help him up. So typical of our sweet kidos.

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful post -- illustrated both with words and pictures! I love the one picture of the little boy reaching over the water slide to Malakai! That is what Down Syndrome Day is all about.♥

Unknown said...

Beautiful photos of your Beautiful Malakai! Looks like you all had a fun day! Im sure you are very proud of Malakai, you have every reason to be, he is a blessing from God and I just love the joy and happiness in these photos shown by all of you! You are such a beautiful family! God bless!

Deqlan said...

aaawww what gorgeous pics, kai you are cuter by the day! Glad to hear you had such an awesome day and even glader to hear how many new things you have discovered you can do!!! So proud of you! God bless and hugs! Mark Samm Deqlan Logan

Anonymous said...

Hi Loren,

I have been reading your site since you started and have loved watching the journey and feeling your joy, frustration and peace with your gorgeous son.

I remember a post which you wrote about abortions when diagnosed with a downs baby.

I just read this on sky's website and I am naar thinking about it!! The idea that those children are not even being given a chance leaves me speechless.

I cannot comment as I am not a mother like you, I do not have a special baby like you smiley, happy, beautiful boy so I thought I would let you see the link and go on and comment about it.

You, your husband and your outlook are an inspiration to me, though our situations are so very different. Thank you for sharing with the outside world and allowing us to follow your journey.

Siobhan Larkin

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/Downs-Syndrome-Cases-Soar-As-Women-Delay-A-Family-Say-Experts-At-University-of-London/Article/200910415419845?lpos=UK_News_News_Your_Way_Region_9&lid=NewsYourWay_ARTICLE_15419845_Downs_Syndrome_Cases_Soar_As_Women_Delay_A_Family%2C_Say_Experts_At_University_of_London

Stephanie Whisnand (stephaniewhisnand@yahoo.com) said...

What a beautiful boy!! He looks astonishingly like my own precious MDS baby, Caede, who turned 17 months old today!! These kiddos are such a blessing :)