Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 31 Letter to Connor

Dear Connor,

I cannot believe another year has gone by. You are growing up so fast and time is flying by! You have accomplished so much in the past year and I am just so proud of you. In January, you started school and absolutely love it. You have such a great personality and were never nervous about leaving for school, you even take the bus! When you get home each day you are so happy and I can tell that you had a fun day. During the first few months of school I had to carry you to and from the bus because you were just starting to walk. Now you are running to the bus as soon as it pulls in the driveway and walking up the big steps all on your own. We waited so long for you to walk and now I hardly remember a time when you did not. I know that the same will be true for talking. While you still do not say much, I know that you have a LOT to say and once you start you are going to talk as much as your sister, Makayla!

While I never doubted you were going to be a good big brother, I could have never imagined just how loving you could be. You love "baby" Nate more than anything and I just know you are going to protect him always. You already take care of him and make sure he has everything that he needs. You make him laugh and smile all day long and he loves you as much as you love him.

You and your sister are still 2 goofballs and have your own unique sense of humor. You find the smallest, silliest things hysterical and laugh all the time. You do not pull her hair as often or knock her over so I think she likes playing with you even more now.

I love our time together each afternoon after school. We have lunch and then stories before your nap. You help read the stories now. My favorite part is that you get so aggravated with Nate for stealing your book and trying to eat it. It is all payback. You did that to Makayla for years!

I love you, Connor Patrick Murphy. You are such a sweet, loving boy and we are so thankful you are part of our family!

Love,
Mom

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 30

If Connor cannot have his Daddy, he will settle for Mommy (baba)

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 29

Connor loves his Dad and asks for him all the time. He wants to ride in the Jeep ALL the time. They are buddies...

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 28

We always have such a great time on our Summer Beach Vacation in York. It is my favorite time of the year watching the kids enjoy the sand and water and just having the time to relax and enjoy each other.

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 27

Today was the Atkinson Fire Department Open House, Connor's favorite day of the year. Even though he is able to go to the Fire Station and see the trucks whenever he wants, Connor loves open house because he actually gets to ride in the big fire truck! Uncle Andy was driving the truck for rides today and Connor stayed in the truck with him and went for at least 4 rides around the neighborhood =)

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 26

Happy Birthday Pa!

 

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 25

He is just so cute....

 

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 24

Connor loves his Pepere and they have a great time hanging out together. He does not get to see him as often as he used to now that he is in school, but over the summer they had a ton of fun swimming in the pool!

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 23

Connor is so happy when he comes home from school on the bus every day. As soon as I go to take him off he starts signing "more bus please." One day, his bus driver handed him a matchbox type bus. It is so adorable =) Connor is in love with his little bus and has even brought it back and forth to school a few times.

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 22

Little Fire Chief's. Just like Pa =)

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 21

Connor loves to make Nathan laugh...

 

                  
                            Nate Laughing at Connor 2013-10-21 from Jeff Murphy on Vimeo.

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 20

How can you not love this smile? He is such a cutie!

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 19

Here was Connor participating in an egg in spoon race at a Labor Day party in 2012. He did a fantastic job!

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 18

These kids sure do love their pj's and of course they love each other =)

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 16

Today we picked up a loaner Ipad with Proloquo2go from the Augmentative Communication Department at Children's Hospital. We went for his 6 month checkup/review with them a few weeks ago and it was recommended that since Connor is still not speaking actual words, that we may want to consider a speech output device in addition to his American Sign Language, Pictures, and word approximations. He is a pro at the ipad and my iphone so I think he is going to catch on very quickly and am looking forward to seeing how this will help him with his communication. The speech therapist suggested that recent studies are showing that hearing the ipad talk for him when pushing the pictures may help him with his own sound production. Looking forward to working on this with him and enhancing his communication skills.

Down Syndrome Awareness - Day 15

Connor is loving the fall weather. He always loves to play outside, but I think he is really enjoying the temperature and the leaves falling. When we have gone for walks the past few mornings, he has Nate cracking up in the stroller next to him as he tries to catch each leaf that falls from the trees!

He also has a new fascination with the moon. His favorite book at the moment is Goodnight Moon and I took him out shopping the other night (just the 2 of us) and when we got out of the car all he wanted to do was look up in the sky and he kept saying moo, moo (of course he was trying to say moon).