Family Pictures

Awhile back we were “models” for a workshop held by one of my favorite photographers, Me Ra Koh. She was in Oakland for a workshop so we volunteered for the family portion of the workshop.

Here are a few of the amazing pictures some of the ladies took. I haven’t seen them all yet, but will share them when I see them.

Halloween 2010

(I am using a new blog writer application and for some reason it is lowering the resolution of the images so the images are not as bright as they are supposed to be.)

The boys, as usual, had treat bags for their classmates. DJ is getting to the age where “cute” doesn’t cut it anymore so his bags were a little more “grown up”.

Goody bags for the teachers.

Cody went to a Pumpkin Patch at the local Vegetable Patch with his class. This is his second time going there and this time he actually enjoyed himself. He picked a few vegetables, but didn’t really care for the squishiness of most of the vegetables.

He did enjoy picking out a pumpkin, though.

His teachers took a picture of him at the pumpkin patch and they made this cute frame at school.

Here is Cody’s little ghost that he made all on his own at school.

They had a party at school and he loved wearing his Spongebob costume.

Always a performer, he had to take time off from playing, though, to sing in front of the mirror.

He loves to draw and spent time coloring a mask…

Then cheated at the bean bag toss…

Then decided he was over the party and started taking his costume off.

For the first time in years, DJ’s school allowed the children to dress up in their Halloween costumes and they had a parade on the playground.

He wasn’t too thrilled to have his picture taken as Kamen Rider.

Gotta love the forced smiles.

The last unwilling participate to wear a costume was Lexus. She was supposed to be a squirrel, but she didn’t want to wear the hat.

Highlights from the 2010 Step Up For Down Syndrome Walk

First and foremost, a HUGE THANK YOU to those that donated to Cody’s Gabba Gabba Gang team! We appreciate your support and are touched by the donations from strangers. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU to those that walked with us! It is heart-warming to have your support. It is further proof of just how much you all love Cody! :)

Our Team Captain was nothing but smiles that day. He must have known that we were there to show our love for him!

I’m not saying this just because I’m his mom (okay maybe), but doesn’t he have the most addictive smile??? I know you are smiling right now as you look at his picture. :)

The Co-Captain was ready to go, too! We had to explain to him that Co-Captain was not an abbreviation for “Cody’s Captain”. ;)

This was our first time joining the walk and we were very excited about it. Even DJ was (though he will tell you otherwise!).

 

Papa and Mama came out, too!

My brother, Mike, and his girlfriend Teri joined in the fun.

One of Cody’s favorite playmates was there – my younger brother, Mitch. (By playmate I mean that Cody likes to try his new wrestling or UFC moves on his Uncle.)

And we were excited to have my cousins, Kenneth and Liezl, join us as well! THANK YOU for coming out early on a Saturday morning to walk with us! Next time, I will remember to bring donuts. ;)

If there is music, Cody will find it. And when he finds it he will DANCE his little tushy off!  

This is the look you get when the music stops.

 

And he was off!!!! Look at the joy on his face. He walked about half way then lost interest in the walk. :) 

 

Again, THANK YOU to all those that showed their support through joining our team, sending donations and messaging us with well wishes for the walk!

Dandelion Magazine – Bay Area

If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you may have heard of Dandelion Magazine. It is a magazine dedicated to parents of special needs children. It is  a great resource full of information for therapies, activities, events, doctors and so much more.

If you take a look at the magazine you will see a couple of familiar faces!

The digital copy of the magazine was made available last week and I was excited to see my handsome baby not only in the article, but on the “What’s Inside” page!

The digital copy of the magazine can be found at: http://www.bluetoad.com/publication/?m=11210&l=1 

The article features a picture of Cody with is “James Dean” stare. ;)

My boys…..

It still makes me choke up when I see this picture of my boys. It reminds me of how blind and unconditional love can be. We worried that DJ, 3 years old at the time, would be scared of all the wires and tubes coming out of his brother, but he walked into the ICU room, walked straight to his brother’s bedside and grabbed Cody’s hand and just held on to it. He didn’t ask about the ventilator;  he didn’t ask about the tubes or wires. He just stood there holding his brother’s hand.

Step Up for Down Syndrome - 6th Annual DSIA Walk for Down Syndrome

Our family is excited to be participating in our first Walk for Down Syndrome on October 17th in Sacramento.

If you are local and are considering walking with us, here are the details of the event.

To join Cody’s Gabba Gabba Gang team, visit our team’s home page and click on Join Our Team. We would love to have you join us!!!

If you are not local, but would like to help us raise money for the Down Syndrome Information Alliance, please feel free to donate here or contact Michelle to arrange a donation.

Thank you so much for your support! We have already had some  generous donations come in and we GREATLY appreciate it. Cody will be happy to give you all GIGANTIC hugs when he sees you!

We are looking forward to participating in the walk and meeting other families whose children have designer genes like Cody! ;)  Don’t worry, there will definitely be pictures posted after the event.

Buddies

Cody can’t get enough of Lexus. He wakes us up at 6 in the morning some days just to tell us “that’s Lexus!”

We have been VERY lucky to have such a mellow mannered dog. It amazes me how much like Scooter and Xena she is. She has traits from both of them – right down to licking her paws like a cat.

There is only one person that Lexus ever licks. Can you guess who?

 

A little background on these two-

Lexus is not the puppy that we intended on buying when we went to the breeder. I had already put claims on a black mini schnauzer girl puppy the day before when I went there with just DJ. When we went to see the puppy the next day, Cody came along and wanted nothing to do with the black puppy (Cody does NOT like small dogs).

He kept going up to one particular puppy and even pet her. He had never pet a small dog before or even willingly acknowledged one so this was a huge step for him.

Throughout the visit he kept going back to her.

We had no choice but to choose this little puppy as our “Lexus” and not the black puppy. Apparently, Cody knew something we didn’t because she is such a well-mannered puppy and she is patient with the boys and puts up with their antics.

Cody and Lexus have a special bond (though DJ claims the puppy is his). I constantly find the two of them cuddling up together and he even lays in her bed with her sometimes.

He is saying “that’s Lexus” in this picture. :) 

A lot of times, I find them sitting together just like this.

This was supposed to be a picture of just her, but someone managed to get his face in the picture, too. He has been doing a lot of picture bombing lately.

 

This is the face she gives when she is ready for Cody to stop “playing’ with her. Doesn’t she just look sad???

Picture Day

DJ was excited to get dressed up for picture day this morning and even willingly let me take pictures of him (a rarity!).

Our handsome boy ready for picture day -