Guaca-mall-e

Dear Diary,
Mother took me to the mall today for our first mall date. I was so happy to be going to J.c. Penneys, because oh how I love Ellen, so it just makes sense. I got so overwhelmed with excitement that I screamed and then passed out as we were walking through the parking garage. I made it 5 feet from the entrance.
When I awoke, we were in the food court. Sweet Heaven. I ate some prunes, wore some banana, and made love eyes at the skylights.
As we were leaving, a very strange man kept peering into my stroller and waving. I felt like telling him that if I was going to smile I would have done so by now. I finally caved and gave him a grin. He was satisfied and wandered off to harass a young sales clerk. He was quite old and unsteady on his feet. Mother mentioned something about him trying to steal me and my lifeforce. All I could think of was how the ever present element of danger in a mall food court is invigorating to the soul. We had one last errand to run at Dilliards. All the sights and smells of the old women at the perfume counters rose to an intolerable level for me. I proceeded to have a proper meltdown. As Mother hurriedly paid the clerk, another elderly clerk, (is everyone over 85 years of age in malls on a weekday?) leaned over and inspected my carriage. "You know, a family took their stroller on the escalator today, and the baby fell out. There was blood everywhere." Mother recoiled in horror and practically ran out of the establishment. I wanted to grab that woman by her saggy jowls! Does she not know to whom she was retelling this tale?My mother needs only a hint of a cautionary tale to send her into a paranoid fit. I imagine we will only be shopping at ground level stores for the remainder of the season!
I can't say I remember much about the rest of the trip. I did in fact get to see Penneys. Unfortunately it was through half lidded eyes as I was screaming at the top of my lungs for no apparent reason. It's been 24 hours since our date, and I haven't stopped screaming since. Except of course to eat, or sleep for 4 hours last night.
Until our next adventure,
H.W.H

World Down Syndrome Day

Happy World Down Syndrome Day! I deserve opportunity, respect, and high expectations. Never pity, never stares, never patronized. I am loving but not always an angel. I am capable and culpable. Don't ever underestimate me. I'm special but in a different way than you might think. See, I'm a little bit magic. My eyes tell you I know more about you than anyone else does. I am a piece of all that we don't understand but know is waiting for us somewhere. I matter.

I thought you said you were swamped at work

Dad has a new hobby, and I'm not impressed. Apparently he just now got the memo dated from the year 2001 titled photoshop.

Day at Momo's

Sitting Practice

Lunch Time

You gotta werk

If I had known this play date would have involved dressing in ladies clothing for my Mother's and her friend's adult amusement, I would have stayed home and finished my recorded episodes of Matlock.
Unimpressed,
Henry

That's not a doggy

What wonderful weekends the past two have been for I, Mr. Baby.
Two weekends ago my B's came to town. My Uncle and Auntie B. I perfected the art of open mouth kissing with Uncle B and learned I rather enjoy being thrown in the air. I love to have my Auntie B snuggle me and tell me how cute I am. (Especially in my leisure suit they gave me) I very much enjoyed my day with my Bs, except for that silly cardiologist appointment...,booooring. But the hole in my heart is getting smaller so my entourage was pleased. My Bs make me feel so loved and I heard Mother and Father comment on what a wonderful decision they had made making them my Godparents. I so hope they could tell from my smiles and snuggles, how much I love them. "Home is whenever I'm with you" Uncle and Auntie B.
This most recent weekend was spent with my Pops and Nunu. After being showered with affection and excitement, and a cuddle session with my Great Grandmother,(mother says she loves the way I smell after Mz. G cuddles) I suggested through a series of spitting noises and screams, that we take a walk to the town square. What I did NOT suggest was the silly bear hat.
Imagine our luck when, during our stroll, we happened upon a Texas Independence festival! Vendors and people dressed in period clothing were everywhere. One horse gave me a dirty look during our staring contest. I would have won had Mother not broken into a sprint, with me in tow, when she realized someone was selling smoked turkey legs. I was at once horrified and mortified observing her ripping apart the tender meat like an animal. I know that I'm the reason she can't have dairy,soy,nut,beef, or fish. I have a sensitive palate and severe allergies you see and I know I only tolerate the mildest of breast milk, but did Mother really need to make a scene about "how she NEVER eats food this good anymore!"? Eye roll.
Pops and Nunu spotted a photo opportunity with a man dressed as a Cherokee chief who had an actual wolf on a leash! The chief offered to hold me for the picture but Mother and Father declined rather loudly. I do think they thought he was kidding but he wasnt. He claimed he was a legitimate descendant of the Cherokee tribe, volunteering his lineage, but I did the math and I don't think 1/36 Cherokee justified the intense character commitment that this gentleman was giving. Things got rather weird, rather quickly. Maybe I'm just bitter because no one let me ride his wolf like a horse. It's not my fault, he was the one who offered.
Once we returned home, Mother put my hearing band on and stripped me down to a diaper. Pops began to play for me on his guitar while I tried to suck on his hands. Is that weird? Because I have to be honest, being half naked and open mouth kissing a guitar was exhilarating.
All in all, seeing my B's and my weekend in Granbury was just what this guy needed.

Raspberry Parade

Oh joy of joy and heart of hearts! I have found a sound so sweet to thine ears. (Ears whose hearing has recently been amplified by a nifty "hearing headband". I almost have normal hearing when I wear it ). I can blow raspberries! am so proud of myself when I make this trumpeting joyful noise and you can tell by Mother's face that I'm pretty much the first person ever to make this sound. Though I dare say, the portly gentleman at my allergists office must have been intimidated by my skill. For as soon as I began to practice my sound, he gave a look I have never seen. One quite different than a smile. Almost a smile turned upside down. He then gathered his items and moved to the farthest corner from us in the waiting room. I then began to practice my whale calls in an effort to lighten the mood, but alas, the only person entertained was myself...again.