I always enjoy writing these end of year posts on the blog. What we’ve done, where we’ve been, who we’ve met and what we have learnt. It’s always lovely to be able to look back and see where the year has taken us. For me, 2015 has not been easy – from keeping things going as a solo parent while Ian was working away to making some difficult decisions about how best to make the work/life balance work for our family as we move into 2016. There have been some good times too, weekends away with Ian and with friends and a trip to Wales with old school pals and our growing brood of offspring!
Ian finished his year working away in August and is now back working locally. We all love having him home and seeing more of him even though I know he misses the air ambulance (don’t feel too sorry for him though, he’s managing to fit in some regular locum shifts to keep his hand in!).
Ella has grown a lot in many areas this year – most noticeably going from being a pre-schooler to starting in reception at our local primary school, but more of that later. She still makes me beam with pride everyday and has developed a real cheeky streak this year.
Lucy has also changed massively from tiddly toddler at the beginning of the year and has become a very articulate and confident little girl who all of us dote on.
January
February
In February, we celebrated heart awareness week again by wearing red and donating to the British Heart Foundation.
March – we yet again donned our odd socks for DS awareness day on the 21st and once again thank everyone who also took part and donated their lovely pennies!
April
May
I attended the Blog-on conference in Manchester. Lovely to have such an awesome blogging event on the doorstep as so many of them are further afield. There was lots to learn and get involved with whether you’re a blogging pro or a mere beginner/novice like me. I’ve already signed up to go this year (won my entry ticket in last years raffle!).
We quietly celebrated Ella’s 4th heart-day with a heart shaped cake (and a little candle) and lots of thankfulness, while thinking of those little ones who are going through their surgery or have it yet to come.
This year we celebrated whilst eagerly awaiting news from my brother that a new little person had finally arrived. The little man who made me an aunt and gave the girls the new title of cousin (!) arrived later that evening. A day of multiple celebrations from now on!…
June
At Ella’s eye exam it was decided she did need glasses (always a given due to the fact Ian and I both wear them, it was just a case of when). Getting them before the summer meant we had a good couple of months to get her used to them before she started school where it would be most important that she was able to see everything in order to learn and to enhance her fine and gross motor skills too. She wasn’t sure about them at first and would take them off a lot but with persistence and the fact that they do help her see better she was soon wearing them for long stretches before she started at school. She still regards them very much as a part of her school uniform and they soon get taken off when she gets home at the end of the day!
July
We went on a special trip to see The Take of Mr Tumble which was on as part of the Manchester International Festival. We finally got to meet Florence and her mum Rachel (you can read all about it here). A special day for us all.
August
Ella and I had some lovely day trips together during August while she was on summer holidays and Lucy was at nursery. It was lovely to spend some quality time with her and be able to give her my full attention. We went to the Museum of Transport, Crosby Beach, the Lowry, soft play and spent lots of time in the garden.
September
I know you already know this but Ella started school! A long time in the planning and there were lots of things to consider but 3 months on, I am sure she is in the right place. She is happy and that was all I wanted for her. Her speech has come on so much and her love of drawing and being creative has been nurtured. She has talked a lot about school and her friends over the Christmas break, (Lois, Grace and Chloe got mentioned a lot!).
October
We celebrated as a family at a lovely house in the Cotswolds for Granny Sarah’s milestone birthday. Ella and Lucy absolutely love their baby cousin as you can see from the above photo!
Ella really loves animals. We have two cats who she loves to pick up and hug (not sure they feel the same way!). She also loves meeting dogs when we go for walks or to the park and enjoys days at the local farm feeding the animals there. We went to the Viking festival in Stockport and Ella got the chance to hold an Owl called ‘Fally’. Ella was very patient, still and quiet and followed the instructions she was given by the handler beautifully. She was very proud of herself as the picture shows.
November
5! How did she become 5??? She had a great birthday, soft play party at the weekend with her friends and then a family tea on the day itself. And just like last year she loved being the centre of attention, especially where singing, cake and candles were involved!
December
A big month for me personally in that I swapped my nursing career for being a full time mum to Ella and Lucy. It was a difficult decision to make for lots of reasons but was definitely the right thing to do. We don’t know how long my career break will be, but I am able to pick up bank shifts as needed to continue my professional registration and keep up my skills. It’s been a real change in pace, choosing when to work and being able to work around Ian’s rota instead of clashing or working complete opposites as we were before. So for us, 2016 = more family time, although less work doesn’t seem to mean we are less busy! Everything just seems that little bit easier when there is one less ball to juggle.
This year we got the first visit from ‘the kindness elves. The elves replaced an advent calendar in our house although they didn’t visit everyday (need more time!). The kindness elves are a lovely and meaningful alternative to the elf on the shelf idea, started by Anna of the ‘imagination tree’ blog. The idea is that the elves will teach and reward kindness and make us think of others during the festive period. The elves did lots of fun activities with the girls – from making bird feeders to give as presents (and to feed the birds while it’s cold), messy play, donating food to the foodbank and general festive fun. All with the idea of reminding the girls to be kind and ways they might be able to do this. It’s an idea that can be adapted and can grow with them each year. Lucy already keeps asking when the elves will be back so I can see them becoming a part of their childhood Christmases.
Here’s to 2016 – more time for family, for fun, for blogging and maybe even more time for me…
Amy Dunn
Our first baby, Ella Mary, was born at the end of November 2010. We were shocked to find out soon after her birth that she has Down's Syndrome. I was determined from the start that Down's Syndrome will never define Ella or what she is able to do. We will provide for her everything she needs to become the child and the person she deserves to be. There will be hard times ahead.... there are already many hard times behind us. But I already know that the good times will always outweigh the hard times. She has taught me so much in such a short time and seeing life from a new perspective is a privilege that not many of us get the chance to experience.
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