What I Love About Being a DS Mom #11

Our "Normal" Life

I think a big misconception of families that include a child with Down Syndrome, is that their lives are more complicated than those without.  There is this idea out there that we spend all of our time visiting doctors and working with therapists; that we miss out on the normal family outings and trips, and live a different type of life in general.  To some degree, I probably had the same perception before becoming Ty's mother.  In reality though, our life is boringly normal.  Our weekdays are hectic with work, and our weekends are spent lounging around the house, running errands, and having fun as a family.  

Ty's interests and habits mirror that of any other toddler, as well.  He loves sports, trucks, animals, and books, just like any little boy.  Exploring and getting messy are activities that take up the majority of his day, and he is extremely strong-minded.  Ty is quite the character!

So I put together a little list of 21 facts about Ty, to give you a little insight into the typical life that he leads...such a toddler!

       

1) Ty loves strawberries and graham crackers.
2) He also loves milk and water, but will not even try juice.
3) He isn't into tv yet, but freezes when Elmo pops on the screen.
4) He loves dogs and sheep.
5) He barks whenever he sees a dog, hears a dog bark, or hears the word "dog"...he barks a lot!
6) He is a dog for halloween...surprise, surprise!
7) He loves to read books, and can often be found flipping through piles of books that he pulled off of the shelf.
8) Bathtime is his favorite time of day (and he asks to take one all day long!)
9) He likes to chew on his shoes when they are on his feet.
10) He hates having his face washed, but lets me cut his nails without flinching!
11) He loves to swim, and kicks his little legs in the water.
12) He has thick, full hair and has gotten it cut 7+ times now, professionally.
13) He brushes his own hair, and mine!
14) He's an awful teether.
15) He's an incredibly picky eater and inspects his plate for "foreign objects" before eating anything!
16) He has some serious dance moves and dances at anything that resembles a beat.
17) He's the first grandchild on both sides of our families.
18) His bedroom has a jungle theme.
19) He is so stubborn, and gets it from me.
20) He loves to clap for himself, and it's a great behavior tool for us!

21) He has a real smile and a darn good fake smile...and uses them appropriately!