2013 Pumpkin Patch...Attempt.

We met up with friends from our Mothering With Grace group at Love Orchard Pumpkin Patch in Medina, TX this year for some fall festival fun!

It wasn't exactly what we were expecting, (I think we were a bit spoiled by our pumpkin patch experience in Connecticut last year) but we enjoyed what we could and the time spent in the car together.

Retta did not want to take pictures with the pumpkins this year...they made her cry. 

She was a bit confused as to why we would set her down with a bunch of pumpkins and expect her to smile.

So we sat and listened to a story teller tell silly stories and sing songs instead.

This picture sums up what Retta thinks about walking these days...it's a lot of hard work!

But she LOVED the petting zoo! 

She could have stood at the fence for hours watching the sheep and goats.

And this is Retta posing to show how tall she is this Fall 

(actually 31.5 inches to be exact/ 24.5 lbs).

Two years old at Love Orchard. 

Poor baby did NOT want to stand for a picture.

Pumpkin Patch October 2012

Bishop's Orchard, Connecticut

Pumpkin Patch October 2013

Love Orchard, Texas

....OK, we're going home!

Retta turns TWO!!

The evening of the Buddy Walk (after everyone went home and took a good nap) family who had traveled to San Antonio joined those of us in San Antonio at our house for a family pizza party to celebrate Retta's 2ND BIRTHDAY!!

We practiced the "Happy Birthday Song" and how to blow out the candles on the Fisher Price Birthday Cake for months, so we thought Retta would be prepared!

(Cousin Noah's fingers creeping in to sneak some cake!)

But, once grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all started singing "Happy Birthday," Retta became a little scared. Her eyes became very big and she nervously clapped her hands.

We helped Retta blow out the candles.

...As soon as the candles were out and everyone started cheering... she broke down. 

It was all a bit overwhelming. 

Being stared at by 20 people while being sung and pointy birthday hats (scary!) were Retta's "not so favorite things" about her 2nd birthday. 

But she recovered! 

Here is Retta looking at books with her great-Bapcia!

And then it was time for presents!!!

But after opening a few gifts, Retta became preoccupied with her new loot and was not interested in opening the rest. So we took our time opening a few gifts a day for the next few days and celebrated Retta's Birthday everyday until her actual birthday on October 6th!

Retta checking out her new, pink play stove!

And taking her new baby doll for a stroll in her new baby pram.

 After a few days of learning how to control the momentum of the baby buggy, Retta no longer allows anyone to help her push her babies. She will push your hand away to show that she can do it all on her own! 

***

Then, on Sunday the 6th we took a family trip to the San Antonio Zoo! 

The weather was AMAZING!

Retta really enjoyed the hippos swimming with the colorful fish!

Retta and Dada posing by the elephant!

Retta pet the black pig...

...and the pink pig!

 Dada held Retta up as she did not want to stand, but rather sit in the mud along side the pigs.

Retta even pulled the goats horns!

It was a wonderful day with our 2 YEAR OLD!! 

DSAST Buddy Walk 2013 Kicks Off Down Syndrome Awareness Month

Retta had a blast at her second Buddy Walk! The heat and humidity didn't dampen her spirits!

"Retta's Rainbow" Buddy Walk Team raised over $1,900.00 benefiting the Down Syndrome Association of South Texas thanks to LOTS of love and support from family and friends who generously donated in honor of Retta! 

 Here is Retta hanging out in her decorated pink wagon float!

Retta and Mom welcoming our team members!

Aunt Julia, Cousin Noah, Cousin Matt, Mom and Retta!

Retta with her friend Emma sporting matching rainbow hair bows Emma's mommy had made especially for the Buddy Walk!

What wonderful friends!!!

 Nicole and Austin even drove all the way from Houston to parade with us!!!

Here is Austin sporting his rainbow spirit! 

"GO RETTA!" 

Retta practicing her parade wave!

Retta and "buddy" Emma leading the team!

Parading!

Cousin Clint helping hold the sign and Aunt Barbie who also drove all the way from Houston to help celebrate with us!

Allison and Uncle Brian!

Walking, strolling and rolling to bring awareness and acceptance to Down syndrome!!!

Dad, Uncle Russell, Grandma and Clint!

Wonderful friends: Reese, Angie, Josh, Nicole, sleeping Austin and Tanya!

The walk wouldn't have been the same without them!!!

RETTA'S RAINBOW 

2013 BUDDY WALK TEAM!!!

Thank you to everyone who made "Retta's Rainbow" Buddy Walk Team so BRIGHT and COLORFUL!!!!

First Day of Mother's Day Out

Coker Methodist Early Learning Center

09/05/13

(One day shy of 23 months!)

 

Retta was all excited for her first day of MDO!

 

...OK, maybe a little scared...

But she's a trooper!

 

Her teachers, Mrs. Cowger and Mrs. Dilley said she had a "good day!"

She was a little anxious transitioning in the big baby buggy from her classroom to chapel to the playground however, "adjusted well." Our daily report card said Retta was "happy, friendly and busy."  She enjoyed the playground, chapel, music, circle time and most of all the flannel board story.  She ate most of her lunch, slept on her mat for 1.5 hours and had only wet diapers!

 

She was playing with the baby dolls and a new friend when I arrived to pick her up. When she heard me call her name she started crawling as fast as she could to the door! As soon as I got her strapped in her car seat for the drive home she began to cry. All together, it probably was a bit overwhelming for her...but I think she is really going to enjoy it the more familiar it all becomes.

 

We are so proud of you Retta!

 

2013 BUDDY WALK!!!

 

It's BUDDY WALK time again!!! Retta is practicing her parade smile and wave!

 

We'd LOVE for you to join us for a "rainbow breakfast" and celebratory lap around Heroes Stadium Saturday, September 28th!

Bright and early!

 

And to our surprise...a picture of Retta and Szymon arrived in the mail a few weeks ago!

Yes!  A picture of Retta and Szymon from last years Buddy Walk made the front of the 2013 Buddy Walk Brochure!

The Buddy Walk is a national event, however funds raised for the DSAST Buddy Walk benefit people with Down syndrome and their families through programs and services provided in the San Antonio area! 

 

Just this last year Retta was able to participate in a sign language and music class and socialize with her fellow peers at various events and outings including the Children's Museum and Morgans Wonderland!  Funds raised also go to supporting national leadership in education, research and advocacy. The world of Down syndrome research is currently making AMAZING strides (specifically with cognition research)!!! However funding is needed to keep these projects moving forward. So all together, with these supports and resources, individuals with Down syndrome and their families are leading healthier, happier, more self-sufficient lives!

 



 

"Come join me!"

 

 

RETTA HAS AN ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

 

Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he performs for people!

~ Psalm 66:5

 

Retta finally had a chance between appointments today to head out to the neighborhood with her decorated gait trainer to spread the news!!!!!

 

 

That's right!!!

 

 

Retta is going to have a BABY BROTHER!!!!

 

 

We're expecting Baby Boy Waclawiak early January!!!

 

We're all feeling like a bunch of survivors around the Waclawiak home.

If it wasn't for help from our parents and a few close friends, we would have never survived another go around of IVF and the THREE MONTHS of isolating, debilitating, miserable hyperemesis, complete with the good-ol' Zofran pump. My best friend.

 

Szymon and Retta were just getting used to the make-shift kitchen in the garage and eating meals on the back porch...but we are doing better now, THANK GOD!!!

 

...God knew Retta would be an AWESOME BIG SIS!



 

 

Jaja brought over a special dinner a few weeks ago (I wasn't quite ready to start cooking just yet) and we shared the news with a frozen BLUEberry dessert!

 

 

Retta originally chose a pink napkin, but she proudly held up a BLUE one for the picture!

Retta has been practicing with her baby dolls! She has mastered hugging, kissing, patting, feeding and burping babies...next is how to change a diaper!

 

PT Update

   

 

Our PT, Coreen suggested we start journaling the progress Retta is making in all areas of her development! This way, when feeling a bit discouraged, or as if we are working on the same exercise for months on end...we can look back and see that Retta IS making significant strides!

     Five therapy sessions a week alone can make anyone crazy!  But, one thing we know FOR SURE is that Retta continues to work 500x harder to accomplish the most basic milestone. And for this reason - WE ARE EVEN MORE PROUD OF HER!!!! From rolling over, sitting up to crawling...these milestones took endless therapy sessions, hours of repetition and months to perfect.

For the last 8 months (at least) standing has been the focus. 

Looking back to when our newest PT joined us in March...Retta HAS made progress!  Retta has gone from standing at the coffee table leaning on the coffee table for 5 seconds at a time, to standing freely with only a light hand on her walker for 25 minutes at a time! She goes from sit to standing, sit to standing, sit to standing building those leg muscles all while playing on the Ipad!

So yes, still working on standing...but with HUGE PROGRESS!!! And so we celebrate! Even Jaja had to stop by on his lunch break last week to see Retta stand....and initiate taking a few steps in her new gait trainer!!!

Oh! And we even added "wedge heels" to Retta's therapy shoes to help her bare more weight towards the front of her foot.  This prevents her from locking her legs out when she pulls up to stand.

Of course none of this would be possible without Grandma's idea to rig the Ipad to the front of the gait trainer! Retta is all about the Ipad! She will do anything for the Ipad. New favorite games (thanks to Angela our speech therapist) include...Starfall ABC's and Pink Fong Phonics A-Z!

Looking good Retta! Keep up the hard work!!!

We are SO PROUD of YOU!!!