I always knew that if I had a daughter, I would teach her to be who she is no matter what...Strive to show her that different, unique & original is more beautiful than anything else as long as she is true to herself...I'm a big fan of being different & it's almost fitting that I ended up with a daughter with an extra chromosome...No one could possibly be prouder or love her more because of her "differences" than me...


Yesterday, after one of Pip's pre-opt appointments, I laid beside her & we just stared at each other for ages...At times it feels like she is this wise old soul & by just looking at her, you find clarity for something you needed...As minutes passed, I realized that I was crying...Not sad tears but happy, thankful, big old hopeful ones...My Pip turned 8 months yesterday... And I couldn't help but relive all she's, we've, been through...From surgeries & heart failure to feeding tubes & patching, my little Pip has jumped over mountains in her short inspiring life...I laid there looking at her amazing-brushfield spotted eyes in complete awe of such a courageous, special & "different" soul...



Here is 8 little things you may or may not know about Pip...


1- Pip is packing on the pounds....A whopping 18 pounds to be exact!!! I looked at a picture of her the other day from when she was in heart failure in the hospital & I can't believe the difference...Way to chunk up baby girl!!!

While I'm over the moon she's packing it on, she is basically just exclusively breastfeeding- We've been trying daily to introduce cereals, fruit & veggies but she seems to want to chomp & blow out raspberries more so than actually swallow any food...We will be working with her docs/therapists & she sees a feeding specialist in September...



2- Pip has the tiniest feet around...She still can fit into newborn shoes & even those fall off her mini-little-tootsies...



3-  We almost exclusively call Reid, Pip or Pippy now...Noal constantly is saying "Where's Pippy?, You okay Pippy?, Need a hug Pippy?"....When asked out & about what her name is I almost stutter & have to actually think about saying Reid and not Pip...




4 - She adores her big brother...She's constantly watching for him, cooing & smiling at him, reaching out for him to snug...I think the greatest "therapy" for her will honestly be him...Trying to copy & keep up with him...


She also adores her pup- Deacon has never been more protective than now- He's Pip's little watchdog & goes absolutely bananas if anyone knocks on the door or gets near her...It's so annoying but cute in a way...


5- She's a yappy loud little thing...Although she is a pretty happy babe & doesn't cry a whole heck of a lot- When she does talk it's extremely loud, but I guess the poor thing has two chatty parents & a chatterbox brother to keep up with...


6- She's kinda-starting to sit on her own & use an exersaucer...She has great head & leg strength but her core is still a bit "floppy"...As directed by her therapist we have been doing exercises everyday to strengthen her up...




7- Pip loves nothing more than to sleep on you, with you, beside you, doesn't matter as long as she's touched...And absolutely any type of motion puts her out - She particularly loves a good bum tap to send her to la la land...



8- And lastly Pip burps & farts like her dad...Loud & outrageous...


I wonder if by almost losing her, I have learned to celebrate her more? And if so, than I am grateful & in absolute awe of this beautiful little soul who is going to light up the world...


Don't be like the rest of them darling...I'm happy you are you...