Now I am 4!

9 Dec 2014


Happy Birthday Ella!

For some reason, 4 seems so much bigger and older than 3 to me. I feel as though she’s grown up so much, more than the passing of just one year…

 
 

3 to 4… A reminder that Ella is no longer a toddler but a little girl. And I’ve been subtly aware for a while now of all the little changes I’ve noticed in her that have been signalling this transition. But now I can actually say she is 4, they all suddenly make sense… The growth spurt, starting pre-school, her growing confidence in the world around her, pushing boundaries and how grown up she looks – especially next to her little sister.

I recently attended Ella’s first review meeting at nursery. A chance for me to meet with her teachers, educational psychologist, next years reception teacher and a representative from the childrens’ disability service. It’s the start of her educational career and the putting in place of her ‘Educational Health Care Plan’ (the new process of putting in place a statement of needs for when she starts school). There is a lot of emphasis about parental input in the new system and I was asked to tell all these new faces in the room who Ella was, what was important to her and what her needs are. I felt very responsible being her advocate and was glad of the support from the nursery staff and her teacher Bianca.

So Ella bean, this is what your teachers and I said – a reflection of you aged 3 and a great place to start now you are 4…

Sociable, happy and always busy



Creative – loves to draw, build things or get immersed in imaginative play


problem solver


You’ve a Big heart


And a smile to light up a room


Keen to learn – will always try hard


Love the outdoors – happiest bouncing on the trampoline or getting messy in the mud


Your caring side always evident, especially around your little sister who you love very much. 


Now you are 4 xx






  

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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