Our family is growing quickly. I can’t believe that I am already 22 weeks pregnant with baby number two! It has gone by so much faster this time around. I think because I have Easton to keep me busy. I hardly ever have time to think about being pregnant. However, he is always sure to remind me with his sweet little kicks! With a new family member quickly arriving, there is a lot to think about. My main concerns are how adding a member to the family is going to change the dynamic. How will Easton handle it? The other concern is having enough space. He will be little when he arrives, but a new person needs new space! With that being said, we have been looking around for a new home that will give us the space we are in need of. West Walk at Embrey Mill is a new community located in Stafford, Virginia where I teach. They invited us to come check out their model homes by Drees Homes. Of course, they were GORGEOUS, and checked all of our must have boxes for a home. The sense of community they have, and are continuing to create, is absolutely amazing. It reminds me of a Disneyland of living. The walkable neighborhood has everything from top rated schools, great grocery stores nearby, dog parks, playgrounds, a pool, coffee and bistro shop, and so much more. One of the must haves we want in our next home is an open floor plan. It is so helpful with small children in being able to see them from both of the main living areas! The Rowan model by Drees Homes definitely had this! I could see everywhere in the living room and the open floor concept would be great for entertaining as well. I can just picture great birthday parties for my boys with all of our friends and family members! My second favorite feature of the home was the master bedroom and bathroom. You can tell it was really thoughtfully laid out. There is plenty of space in both areas of living, so you don’t feel claustrophobic in your own home. It also has SO MUCH STORAGE! The master bedroom is a total dream with built in book cases and the master bath has a ton of storage for linens and towels, along with the huge his and hers master closets! Seriously, I would love to have all of that storage. I can just picture all the organization that would be happening! Lastly, I simply adored the basement or lower level of the home. I love all the possibilities that come with it. The model was decorated as a TV and game room, and we had a ton of fun playing down stairs! As soon as I walked down there, I could just picture Easton and his brother hanging out with friends. They would be watching TV, playing video games, hanging out with friends, or working on school projects! The possibilities are endless! I am so excited about the possibility of a new home with all of these amazing features. Thank you, Embrey Mill and Drees Homes, for inviting us to tour your beautiful homes and community! We are in love!
For more information check out www.EmbreyMill.com to discover Drees Homes at West Walk Embrey Mill.
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Tonight, is the last night that you will be one. Tonight, I rocked you longer than I needed to. Tonight, I held your little chubby hand tight against my chest with tears streaming down my face thinking about all the hills and valleys we have traveled together since I knew of your existence. I cried thinking about how far you have come, and all you have accomplished. Tonight, I cursed time because it really is a thief. Tomorrow, you will be two. On the eve on your second birthday, I want to make some promises to you. My first promise is to always have high expectations for you, and to encourage you to have a growth mindset. I won’t let people tell me you can’t do something. Can’t will not be in our vocabulary as we move forward through life. Instead, we are going to use the word “yet”. When someone tries to tell me you can’t do something, I promise to always correct them and say, “he just isn’t able to do it YET. But, he will”. I promise to always push you forward when it seems too hard to go on. You will encounter challenges in life. There are times when you will struggle. We all do. I promise to help you remember that you CAN do it, with practice and perseverance. I promise to help you up when you fall. My second promise is to give you independence. This is a hard one for me. I want to help you all the time. But I know how important it is to let you figure things out on your own sometimes. I promise to always support you in things you want to learn and try, and give you the space to do them. My third promise is to always make sure you know how God made you exactly the way you are supposed to be. There is absolutely nothing wrong or not “normal” about you. God carefully stitched together each piece of you with intention. He has plans for your life. He sees your worth. Yes, you have Down syndrome but it doesn’t define you. It is simply a piece of you. You are also silly, funny, driven, determined, handsome, smart, and loving. Honestly, there are many times that I question if I am the one that was born with one chromosome too few, and you were born with just the right amount. This year, you have learned how to crawl, how to stand, how to walk, and how to talk. You can say mama, dada, puppy, more, and baby. You use sign language for words you aren’t yet able to say. You went to daycare for a few months and learned so much there. Every day you learn something new, and it gives me great joy to watch. Your mind truly is a beautiful thing, Easton. Don’t ever let anyone tell you any differently. In your second year of life you will become a big brother. You will know what it is like to love and protect someone smaller than you. You will probably be jealous at times and angry (often). But I know the relationship you will have with your little brother is going to be a beautiful one. I can’t wait to see all that you learn this year. I can’t wait to hear more words enter your vocabulary so we can communicate with each other in that way more. I can’t wait to see you try new things and accomplish them with practice. You have changed every inch of my being for the better. You have taught me more in the last two years of your life than I have learned in the other 30. You have taught me patience, selflessness, true empathy, and understanding. You have taught me how to be fearless in ways I never thought I could be. You have shown me God’s love in ways that I have never seen or felt before. You and I have had a different journey than most. It has been scary and hard at times. But it has been worth it every single second. You made me a mother. You are the best gift I have ever been given, and I will thank God for you every single day. |
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