BabyLegs Giveaway Winner

Congratulations to Nancy, winner of the BabyLegs giveaway. Email me with your information so that you can get your leggings goody bag just in time for this chilly Fall weather.

Thanks to everyone who participated in the drawing... if you haven’t been out to the BabyLegs site in a while, you should go take a look at their new stuff. Oh la la, gorgeous! Here is just a sneak peek at a few of my favorites...

BabyLegs Giveaway

A while back I posted about how some babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature, and how using leggings can help but today I am going to share another reason why I love leggings.

Some babies hate shoes, or at least it seems that way. No matter the style or fit, they will pull them off or bite at them trying to get them off. This isn’t really a big deal at home (unless you are in that “working on standing phase” and want your little one to have some practice in shoes) but in the car it can be annoying, or even dangerous if your baby has a strong throwing arm.

I have one daughter who is relentless with her shoes and one or both of them is off by the time we reach our destination. The only way to keep her shoes on her is to cover them with leggings. She will still work at getting them off but most of the time her efforts are foiled.


(click the pic to see Kimani's leggings)

If you are tired of digging under the car seats for the missing shoe, or just want your baby to look super stylish and be protected from UV rays this summer, check out BabyLegs and grab a few pairs of sanity savers.


(click the pic to see Autumn's leggings)

Your Turn
BabyLegs is giving away a grab bag of leggings and other goodies worth $50 to one lucky Down Syndrome New Mama reader. To enter the drawing leave a comment here letting us know that you “liked” the BabyLegs Facebook page or that you are now following BabyLegs on Twitter by July 20, 2012.

Resorting to Bribery :-)

There are hundreds of us, even thousands of us... parents, siblings, caretakers... people who know—really know— someone with Down syndrome. Combined we have a wealth of knowledge that surpasses any book written about Down syndrome, any expert’s opinion, and all stereotypes.

The only way to harness that knowledge is to come together and share it. Does left-handedness occur more often in the population of people with Down syndrome? Only we can answer that question. I am asking you to share your expertise on your child. I did a little begging on FB and now I am going to try bribery...

Take the poll over in the left column, leave a comment saying that you did (and how you voted if you want to) and you will be entered to win a $25 Amazon gift card. If 500 people take the poll, I will up it to a $50 gift card. (If you are one of those who already voted, just leave a comment saying so and you are in.)

Thank you for participating. Every one of us matters.

Book Review and Giveaway—"Meet Annie"

Lisa Morguess who blogs over at Life as I Know It also has another blog titled, Turn the Page where she exclusively writes book reviews. She is an excellent and fair reviewer so I was pleased that she agreed to write a review of Meet Annie by Heather J. Scharlau-Hollis.

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In this short and sweet book aimed at young children, we meet Annie who is just like you and me in all the ways that count to little kids: she likes to play with her toys, she likes to splash around in her swimming pool, and she sometimes gets in trouble. But Annie is also a little bit different - she has Down syndrome. Although the book doesn't explain what Down syndrome is, it touches on the fact that Annie looks a little bit different and learns a little bit differently, and that everyone is a little bit different in their own way, and those differences make us who we are. My favorite aspect of the book is how the author invites and encourages its audience to identity with Annie by asking a question at the end of each page:

"Sometimes my zipper doesn't zip right. I ask Dad for help. Do you ever need help?"

"Sometimes I cry when I get scared. Do you ever get scared?"

Encouraging empathy and compassion without resorting to condescension or stereotypes, this is a wonderful book that should have a place on everyone's bookshelf who is touched by a child with Down syndrome.

Giveaway
The author of Meet Annie, Heather J. Scharlau-Hollis, will send a signed copy of the book to one lucky winner. To enter the drawing simply leave a comment below by Wednesday April 18th. Good luck!

Birth Announcement & Giveaway

For those of you who got all excited thinking I was going to announce the birth of a darling baby and then give him away on my blog, awww sorry ;-)

Lisa and Mark are proud to announce the birth of their son Connor. As you can see, he is one heck of a cutie. Lisa blogs at Life with Connor - Perfect with a Little Extra, so be sure to visit her there and watch this darling grow.





Now for the giveaway...



The Fisher-Price Go Baby Go! Bat and Wobble Penguin looks like it might be fun for our little ones to practice gross motor (leg-extension) kicking and (arm-extension) pushing skills. I have a brand new one, but no baby to try it out with. So if you would like to win this toy, leave a comment telling Lisa how lucky she is to have such a scrumptious little boy and mention that you would like to be in the drawing. I’ll draw a random entry in mid-April.

One Last Thing

Ok, so I know I said I was taking a break from this blog and I swear I am. But, as I was getting things ready around here... figuring out what to pack and whatnot... I came across a bunch of little goodies I had been meaning to give away.

And then last week, Jasmine over at Windmills and Tulips kindly gave me some MSB Plus V7 samples to give away. MSB Plus V7 is the NuTriVene-D competition.

I have two grab bags of odds and ends, and some Nordic Naturals Prenatal DHA samples to give away.







To enter just leave a comment. Please let me know if you are pregnant and I’ll add your name to that drawing as well.

Entry deadline is Sunday July 18th. Good luck.

And the Winner Is...

Has anybody noticed what a slacker I am? This adoption paperwork is overwhelming me. I nearly forgot that Spring is over which means it is time to draw the winner of the goop giveaway.



Tina in TX. Must be beginners luck, :-) Tina, email me and I will get your gift out to you.

Five Great Goops

Glop, goop, and goo... some of my favorite things for babies (and mamas) come in bottles and tubes.

Lansinoh Lanolin
There is a good possibility that my breast feeding days would have been over early on if not for Lansinoh lanolin nursing cream. In the beginning, even if you are doing it right, breast feeding can be extremely painful on the nipples. This cream makes a real difference and it doesn’t have to be washed off prior to nursing. If you are pregnant and thinking of nursing, get some. The hospital you deliver in will probably have travel size tubes of it, so make sure you remember to ask for it.

detachol
One of our favorite nurses gave us a bottle of detachol to take home, a PICU parting gift. This magical goo removes anything that gets stuck to your baby’s skin or hair. Band-aids, electrode stickies, medical tape, tree sap, gum... you name it, detachol will get it off pain free.

Boudreaux’s Butt Paste
I’m not sure why this diaper rash cream seems to work better than the rest, but my babies’ bottoms have sworn by it for years. It looks like mud, smells pretty, and clears up irritated skin in record time. For an almost free sample (you pay postage) visit buttpaste.com.

Nordic Naturals DHA Oil
I have written about the wonders of DHA/Omega 3 oil in the past. Since then Nordic Naturals has introduced a DHA product designed for infants. It comes in an easy dose bottle and is unflavored (though I am not sure if that’s a good thing with fish oil, lol).

Coconut Oil
Babies with Down syndrome respond well to body massage and therapeutic touch. There are a lot of massage lotions and oils on the market but I prefer to use coconut oil because it doesn’t clog pores and has a very low allergy risk compared with other nut oils. It doesn’t leave baby’s skin greasy and it doesn’t stain clothes. It smells delicious (if you like coconut :-), has a long shelf life, and protects against dry skin. As if all that weren’t enough, there are even Internet rumors that coconut oil is beneficial against alzheimer’s disease.

Spring Giveaway
It is still Spring... thank goodness I didn’t miss an entire season without giving a little something away ;-) This time you can win a bottle of Nordic Natural’s new baby DHA product (and a cute growth chart for your wall). A representative from Nordic Naturals contacted me to say how pleased the company was to know that their product is especially beneficial to children with Down syndrome, and they offered to donate this season’s giveaway goodies. To be entered to win, just leave a comment on this post by June 20th.

Your Turn
Got a favorite goop? Tell us about it. We love to hear what other people are using and why. If you comment, you will be entered into the drawing so if you don't want to win, make sure you tell me to keep you out of it.

Oh Kelvin, Guess What?

Your mom (Madi) and dad (Brady) entered the Winter Giveaway and won! So you are getting some goodies in the mail, just as soon as one of your parents emails me to tell me where to send them.

Toothfairy Gone Mad

Since she comes to collect precious baby teeth when they fall out, I am guessing the toothfairy has something to do with making those little tooth buds while babies are cooking in utero. Surely the fairy dust she sprinkles on the gums of babies with Down syndrome must be quite magical because it causes some interesting tooth development.

Babies with Down syndrome often have their teeth come in late (nursing mothers stand up and cheer!) You can expect your baby’s teeth to arrive in any old order they choose, including perhaps not at all for some teeth. (Uh, maybe that fairy got a little too wild with her wand...) And, some teeth may be irregular... as in extra sharp, big, small, or even funky shaped.

What does all this mean (aside from that the toothfairy needs to stop partaking of fairy dust before going to work)? Not much for the under 10 months crowd because tooth eruption tends to be delayed in children with Ds. Babies without teeth can still eat anything that can be mashed by powerful gums and that includes soft well-cooked meats. Your baby can still hurt you by biting you with her gums (nursing mothers can stop cheering now.)

Once your baby’s teeth start arriving, sometimes molars first as was the case with Summer, you should brush them after meals and bottles. (Uh huh, fun fun.) There are lots of baby toothbrushes out there to choose from. Our pediatric dentist recommends the Mam Training toothbrush ($5.99 at Amazon.com as part of a set) and I find it easy to use. It has a long handle and a rounded brush on one end, as well as a gum massager on the other. And don’t forget to floss your baby’s teeth (more fun). I prefer to use floss rather than the fancy new disposable flossers that are out there mainly because it is easier to maneuver around with it in a wriggly baby’s mouth. Good luck finding kid-friendly flavored floss at the drugstore... I score the bubble gum variety when we take the older kids to the dentist. However, since babies with Ds tend to enjoy strong flavors, cinnamon or mint probably works just as well.

There is really no pressing reason to visit a dentist prior to age three (unless some teeth do not come in) but you may want to start shopping for a pediatric dentist who has experience with children who have Ds. We visited a dentist at 15 months because there were signs that teeth might be missing. The dentist confirmed this to be true and suggested X-rays at age two. (We won’t need to do that because she got them for Christmas.) So aside from blog research, some incorrect dental conclusions, and a fancy toothbrush, I can’t think of any good reason to go back before age 3... unless of course, that the toothfairy comes back around and does something crazy with her wand.

Your Turn
While you are here, please take the tooth poll located over in the upper left column. If you leave me a comment saying that you participated in the poll (or that you would have if your baby already had that first tooth :-), you will be entered into the Winter Giveaway. The winner will receive a First Years Star Teether, a NUK straw cup, and bubblegum flavored dental floss. (You are invited to take the poll even if you aren’t interested in the giveaway.)

That’s What I Like About You

Back in October I posted “The Best Part,” a few thoughts about the good stuff that comes with Down syndrome. I asked you to tell me your favorite things and what a great response you gave. It was a wonderful reminder that people with Ds are unique and fabulous in so many ways.

Things We Love
People with Ds live in the moment... they have determination and pride. And we have pride for them as we celebrate their milestones. We have the pleasure of never-ending hugs & kisses... wherever at whatever age. People with Ds express uninhibited love & joy. They have a lovely innocence about them...

“I love the innocence. The fact that my son doesn't see jealousy or envy in others, doesn't fuss when someone takes one of his toys, doesn't try to take others things - he just accepts everyone and everything at face value. I love that.”(Karen)

As parents and loved ones, we have become part of a wonderful community, we have learned through self-introspection the value of life, and have developed a great appreciation for the little things. We have learned to slow down and enjoy what is, and we have experienced personal growth... becoming advocates and cultivating an acute empathy for others...

“Having a child who is 'different' forced me to break down stereotypes and prejudices that I never knew I had. It makes me want to defend and advocate all of those in our society who are vulnerable and overlooked.” (Stephanie)

People with Ds have extraordinary physical characteristics... a chunky kissable neck, amazingly talented toes, stunningly beautiful brushfield spots in their eyes, and delicate facial features. They are sincere, caring, and non-judgemental of others. They are charitable, kind, and altruistic...

“My Favorite thing about DS is that having Ricki taught me to accept and love the positive things in everyone, and to avoid dwelling on the negative. I then applied this to my (then) teens. It was beneficial for all of us.” (Ricki’s mom)

Many babies with Ds give us the opportunity to enjoy an extended infancy, and a baby who sleeps through the night. They reward us daily with a pure, abundant, and uncomplicated love. They are easygoing...

“I love how cuddly Miss B is and how easy she is to console. When she is crying, pretty much all you have to do is pick her up and snuggle her in, and she's happy again. We've had very few of those “Is it your diaper? Are you hungry? Are you hurt? Are you sick? Is it gas? Are you hot? Are you cold? Why are you crying and why won't you stop??!!!??” moments with Miss Banana. Gotta love that too!” (Carrie)

People with Ds have the most beautiful genuine smiles that they give freely to all...and the cutest protest pouts you ever did see...

“I love Maddie's smile...she smiles with her whole body...her hugs are big, warm, and so calming...and I love how when she does not like something she lets us know with the greatest wrinkled/scrunched face...she is priceless!”(Chromosomally Enhanced)

I’ve already said that my favorite part of Ds so far is the extension of the trip through babyland but I want to also mention how much I love it that my daughter plays with her toys... really plays with them. With my typical kids, buying toys (other than Legos) was a waste of money... there was zero interest in toys geared for babies. With Summer I have the pleasure of watching her gradually figure out how each toy works and then actually playing with it over and over. She has taught me that life is not about the race to success... that instead it is the joy and peace of this moment, the only moment of our lives that is guaranteed.

Oh yeah, and the toes... did I mention the toes?

Your Turn
You guys wrote some awesome posts on this subject, and if anyone else is inspired to do so, please send me your link so that I can add it to the list.

Zip - Perdue - Dee - Dah
Mutterings & Musings
The Tao Of Tulips
Livin for the Love
SaySay’s Reality
Bradi & Madi’s Blog
Life as We Know It

Guess Who Is Getting the Goodie Box
Random.org picked Brandie and Goldie from Livin for the Love. Congratulations! Email me and I will get your package out right away :-)

Shake Your Bootie

There’s no better way to celebrate a Buddy Walk than with a new pair of homemade sweater booties. Lianna over at My Life With Gabriel is giving away a free pair everyday this week in honor of Canadian Down syndrome awareness. All you have to do is visit her blog and leave her a comment to be entered in the daily drawing. Well, what are you waiting for... shake your bootie on over there!

He's Got the Look

Or rather, he’s got the leggings...

Joaquin from Three’s A Charm will be sporting some pretty cool leggings in the near future... since his mom and dad were the lucky winners in our Knotty Baby Wear leggings contest.

Random.org picked the 11th entry



Congratulations to Hector and Jennifer Varanini Sanchez. Email me and I’ll hook you up with Amber.

Thanks for playing everybody, and remember the leggings super sale is on until Friday, December 18th.

He’s Hot, He’s Cold, Hot, Cold...

Young babies often have trouble regulating their body temperatures. A baby's body surface is about three times greater than an adult's, compared to the weight of his/her body. That means babies can lose heat much faster than you or I would. It also means they can overheat quickly as well.

Since babies are so susceptible to body temperature changes depending on their environments, we have the tough job of keeping them just right. Hats, blankets, mitts, and the infant seat cover are helpful when you are transitioning your baby from one place to another such as from home to the car, to the store, to the doctor’s office, and back home again.

While those basics that go on and off, or open and close swiftly are important to have, they just don’t cover everything when it comes to babies with Down syndrome. Our little ones very often get cold legs and feet even when the room temperature is an average 70 degrees. We could bundle them up but most babies do not enjoy having their lower extremities constricted by layers of stockings, socks, and shoes. I don’t blame them... I remember the itchy claustrophobic feeling you get when you wear tight panty hose and shoes all day.

What’s the solution?
Leggings. Soft knit leggings that slip on and off easily and can cover the legs as well as the entire foot or only part, leaving those prehensile toes free to play.



Not only are leggings the ideal solution for hanging around the house, but they are a godsend for babies who are doing time in the hospital or have other reasons why pants are uncomfortable.

I think leggings are so useful and snazzy that I got together with Amber from Knotty Baby Wear (who happens to think babies with Ds are awesome) to come up with a Leggings giveaway. That’s right... Amber is going to give one of you three pairs of her gorgeous leggings just because she thinks our kids rock!




How to Enter
To enter to win the leggings giveaway, visit Knotty Baby Wear and choose the three pairs of leggings you would like to win. Plan on spending some time over there because she has pages of fantastic selections to choose from. Amber's leggings fit children up to age ten, so those of you with "big babies" can enter as well! Come back here and post your choices in a comment. Ten days from today, on October 28, a random winner will be chosen. The winner will receive his or her selections compliments of Amber.

Christmas Sale
And if you’re not the winner, never fear, Amber is offering us the best sale she has ever had on her site. From now until Friday December 18th, order three pairs of leggings (regular price $8 each) for only $18 with free shipping. When you order your selections, put the sale code DS.MAMA in the comment box and Amber will adjust the pricing on her end. (Etsy doesn’t allow for discounts, so Amber has to do it this way.) So go on over and buy your favorite baby some stylin’ leggings for Christmas.


Picture Credit: That handsome boy is Jax from Jaxson's Fight.

The Best Part—Fall Giveaway

Many times when I am speaking about my daughter I will say something like, “The best part about Down syndrome is...” and inevitably if the person I am talking to doesn’t have a child with Ds I get a raised eyebrow before I even finish my sentence.

As if one can’t imagine there are good things about Ds! Well, I have news for you... there are actually lots of really cool and wonderful things about people with Down syndrome that seem to be directly influenced by that extra chromosome.

Today I will tell you my favorite part.

Summer is my last baby. This was known and agreed upon before she was even conceived. I love babies... I truly enjoy my time in “babyland”. But as any parent of a typical child can tell you, it’s short-lived. From infancy to a walking and talking toddler flies by. And woe to you if you blink, you’ll miss something that will never come again.



When a child has Down syndrome, a parent gets the pleasure of meandering through babyland. All of the stages last longer and are more defined. You need not worry about taking a nap with your eight month old and waking up with a ten month old. After raising two typical boys whose baby books have many blank pages (guess I must have napped quite a bit ;-), this came as an enjoyable relief to me.

I love babyland. I love the fact that my 15 month old still looks and acts like a baby. I’m in no hurry and neither is she.

Your Turn
What do you think is the best part about Down syndrome?

Answer this question by November 3 in the comments section of this post or in a post of your own (but make sure you comment here to let me know!) and you will be entered into the DSNM Fall giveaway. During the first week of December, I will post a list of my other favorite things about Ds and link to all your posts. I will also announce the random winner who will win the prize pack listed below.

The Fall Giveaway Prize Pack
It’s books! One for you and one for your baby. For the parent, it is Gifts 2: How People with Down Syndrome Enrich the World and for your baby it’s Little Feet Love (which I couldn’t even find on Amazon, so I'm linking its sister book). Oh, and of course some sweets for after the little ones are in bed... a Lindt Classics Caramel Assortment box of candy.

Prenatal Diagnosis of Down Syndrome?

What Other Mothers Say
Congratulations! You are blessed! --Jill

...everytime I think of the what ifs I also think what I would be missing if she didn't have DS. You know Holland is absolutely breathtaking. =) --Laiken’s Mother

There may be struggles but you will never find regrets. The love you will have for this child will take your breath away. I never would have believed it myself. --Stephanie

But this sweet little baby has often brought so much peace to my heart that I never expected. As sweet as my other babies were, that is one thing I never remember feeling with them. That's why she is special to me and not because she has DS. --Chris

Our son with Ds is adopted and needs open heart surgery soon. No one said it would be easy, but I feel honored to be his mother. --Kristin

She shows me everyday what it means to not give up if you don't succeed the first time around. She has taught me patience and courage and to be proud of who I am and to enjoy the little things in life. -- Tasha

... this is just a baby- and you need to hold onto that no matter what other people say or feel. -- Nicole

This little life is not what you were expecting but everything will be alright. In fact, everything will be great! -- Sally

They are going to learn so much from this child. They are the lucky ones!! -- Amy

Give this child life and you will learn more about yourself than you ever dreamed there was to know. --Jen

More importantly, he will be a delight and will bless your life in so many ways. He will thoroughly charm everyone around him and I promise that you will be smitten when you first hold him in your arms. -- Tara

I know that I never could have had such a life change without my sweet boy. --Angela

You are meant for your baby. Your baby is meant for you. -- Ria

Read more of what moms say on this topic here and here.

Posts Written for Pregnant Parents
Chrystal: What Would You Say
Lisa: Open Letter to Parents Facing a Diagnosis of Down Syndrome
S: My advice for a new Down Syndrome family
Karyn: To Those With A Prenatal Diagnosis

And the Winner Is...

Stephanie of Our Daily Smiles. Email me to let me know which prize pack you are selecting.

Thank you to everybody that entered the giveaway. Your words matter and I am glad you shared them.

Picture Credits
From left to right, top to bottom:

Emilia of Our Daily Smiles
Finnian of Finnian’s Journey
Lily of A Walk In Lily’s Garden
Jacob of Our Jacob
Joey of Our Bundle of Joy
Leah of Everyday Elliott photographed by Melissa Jones Photography
A baby I can't wait to meet
Quinn of Quinn’s Crusaders
Ella Grace of Ella Grace with the Pretty Face
Charlie of Blessings and Glory
Playette of One More, More Than One
Max of Hang On Little Tomato

Only One Week Left

There is just one more week left in July... one week left to enter DSNM’s summer giveaway. Why don’t you take a minute right now to tell a wondering mom-to-be what having a child with Down syndrome is really like.

Summer Giveaway

What would you say to a woman who has just found out she is carrying a baby with Down syndrome and is torn about what to do?

Answer this question by July 31 in the comments section of this post or in a post of your own and you will be entered into the DSNM summer giveaway. During the first week of August, I will post my answer to the question and link to all your posts. I will also list the random winner who will have the choice of either prize pack listed below.

The Child Pack
The child pack consists of a bottle of Nordic Naturals Children’s DHA, strawberry flavored, in liquid or soft gel form (your choice) along with the book, No No Yes Yes by Leslie Patricelli.

The Parent Pack
The parent pack consists of the book, More Than a Mom: Living a Full And Balanced Life When Your Child Has Special Needs by Amy Baskin and Heather Fawcett. (Ok, Dan, I hear you... if it were me I woulda named it More Than a Parent...) and a Lindt Classics Caramel Assortment box of candy. (Can you tell ds.mama likes to read and eat bon bons?)


The real prize is that the words you write may well be read by a mom who needs to hear the truth from a parent who knows what that is.