Ellie Bear's Entourage: Walk Together for Ds

We are proud supporters of Converse Shoes. . . wait, I mean
DSACT and NDSS

Let us walk in the Buddy Walk!  Please join us in supporting Ellie Bear’s Entourage!

Nearly 2 years ago, our daughter Ellie came into our lives with chromosomally enhanced designer genes.  Rocking her extra 21st chromosome, Ellie has learned to say “mama”, sign some words, run, and climb everything.  Plus, she is charming the pants off of everyone she meets.  We are blessed to have such a wonderful daughter who is the epitome of love, joy, & toddlertude.  Her amazing progress would not have been possible without her great determination or the support of our local Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas [DSACT].

On Sunday October 23, 2011 my husband, daughter, & I will join hundreds of other families in Central Texas to increase Down syndrome awareness and raise money for DSACT by walking in the 12th annual Buddy Walk. 

The Buddy Walk takes place at Reunion Ranch in Georgetown, Texas where there is food, live music, a petting zoo, paddle boats, bouncy houses, playscapes, and games.  The walk itself is only 1 mile long and no one is required to actually walk the mile (yet it is great exercise and fun to do so!).  It truly is a family event.  Read about last year's walk.

Funds raised will go towards local programs that will benefit Ellie and others with Down syndrome.  These programs include age-specific social & athletic activities, special education training, parent workshops, monthly speakers, as well as working with the National Down Syndrome Society on health care research and legal policies.

If you would like to join Ellie Bear’s Entourage, you can register at the walk itself or do the early-bird pre-registration by visiting:

http://www.dsact.com/buddywalk.htm 

Click Register and you will be brought to the Active.com site.   You will join an “existing team” and select Ellie Bear’s Entourage from the drop down menu. $15 adult/ $5 child.

We have no fundraising goal this year.  We understand that times are tough (believe me Texas made drastic cuts to our early intervention programs) and we are grateful if you consider making a pledge towards our team.  If you would like to contribute, please visit:

http://www.active.com/donate/buddywalk11/ATheure3

If you would like to mail a check, please make payable to DSACT and write “Ellie Bear’s Entourage” in the memo. 

The Theurer family thanks you in advance for you support.  You may contact me at thechroniclesofelliebelliebear@yahoo.com

Every little penny and every walker supports our cause and means a lot of our community.  Please feel free to circulate this letter amongst friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors.  Any help is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Anna, Andrew, and Ellie Theurer

Ellie Bear’s Entourage

Please walk with me and be a part of our entourage!

Happy Birthday Ellie!

Dearest Ellie Bear,

Today is your official birthday.  You are now two years-old, a full-fledged toddler. Sometimes, it feels like yesterday you were this tiny little bundle of chubby cheeks and yet, sometimes I have trouble remembering the time before you entered our lives.

I have enjoyed watching you blossom into a little girl.  A little girl who is an explorer.  A little girl who is so motivated to show the world that nothing will hold you back.  Ellie, my chunky chicken, you continue to amaze me on a daily basis.

Your mommy and daddy love you very much.  Happy birthday!

*custom shirt courtesy of Cathy Designs.

Spreading the Bear Love: Vote for Ellie

Oh yes, I am always trying to get you all to vote for The Chronicles.

Right now we are sitting at #17 on Top Mommy Blogs under the Special Needs section.

We are hanging steady at #23 on Parent's Magazine Top Special Needs Blogs.  Their site seems to crash alot so please be patient.  Grrrr.

She is climbing through the coffee table to get to Amelie kitty.

Why do I ask for your support?  Eh, it is me wanting the popularity that I never received in high school, middle school, or even elementary school.

Seriously, I want people to not be afraid of raising a child with Down syndrome . Or living with a husband who destroys the house, I mean does DIY home improvements.  I also enjoy sharing tips on incorporating sensory integration.  Not to mention, so many families are working hard to adopt children with special needs from Eastern Europe.  The more people who read this blog, the higher the chance is that someone (or lots of someones) will contribute to their funds spread the word. Plus, I just really want to share the Bear's cuteness with all of you. So there you have it.

"Let's Be Friends"

When Ellie was born, I worried about how others would perceive you.  I worried that maybe we would not be accepted into various groups.  I worried about us being alone without friends.

My worrying was wasted and unproductive.  One week before Ellie Bellie bear were born, I joined the North Austin Mothers' Club [NAMC].  I was surprised to have my daughter born in September.  I was also surprised by her extra 21st chromosome.

Ellie Bear is on the look out for her buddies.

My fears and worries were unfounded because the women of the NAMC are wonderful, caring, and fabulous people who completely accepted us into their pack.

Parallel Play at its greatest :)

The Bear was just a tiny little sprout when I started leading the NAMC 2009 playgroup.  Here I am today, still running the playgroup and I love it.   Our group is continually evolving to include new members and siblings and not one mama bear or child has ever treated us as less.  Every. Single. Member. has treated my daughter Ellie as their own.  I am known to each of their children as "Ellie Bear's mom".  When Ellie first started to walk, the entire NAMC 2009 playgroup cheered and celebrated her big accomplishment even though all of their children had been walking for a while.

Buddy Bears

When a new member enters our group, I never say that Ellie has Down syndrome.  I do not know why.  Well, maybe I do know. . . Perhaps it is because I want her to be perceived as a child first and not as a syndrome.  I always tell them "I am the mom with the curly reddish hair and glasses and my daughter has blue eyes and straight blond hair" even though it would be easier to spot us if I said "my daughter is the one with Down syndrome".

You guessed it. Ladybug cupcakes.  I was too lazy to make the antennas.

Perhaps the red icing was not such a good idea after all. 

I love this group of women so much for their support and friendship that I wanted them to be a part of celebrating Ellie's 2nd birthday.  Therefore, today I hosted our close-knit playgroup complete with ladybug cupcakes, singing, fruit (hey, I had to throw in something healthy), and lots of coffee.

Ellie may not have understood what all of the hoopla was about, but I will forever cherish today.

Oh and my house ended up being cleaner post-playgroup than before!

How to Use a Spoon: A Tutorial

Seeing as we are still celebrating Ellie's birthday week, I thought it would be appropriate for Ellie to narrate this blog post. . . .

How to properly eat with a spoon: brought to you by Ellie Bellie Bear

1. First you pick up the spoon loaded with yummy tasty food.  Try to navigate the spoon into your mouth.  This is tricky so sometimes it is more efficient to remove food from the bowl of the spoon using your hand.

2. Repeat step one.  At times, it is really helpful to hold the spoon just above the lip.  This gives you more control when scooping the food.

3. Sometimes the spoon just does not want to cooperate.  That is when you place your hands into the food bowl to pick up the food.

4. If the meal is particularly tasty, it is necessary to keep the spoon in your mouth to remove all traces of food.  It is also important to use both hands as well.  Just to make sure you are maximizing food consumption.

5. Now you do want to miss any morsels of food so it is appropriate and even recommended to shove your face into the bowl.  Soy yogurt with applesauce and rice cereal is especially tasty so it is imperative to lick the bowl like so.

6. I should also mention that this food concoction does wonders for the skin and hair.  Think of it as a spa treatment.  Be sure to get food all over your hands and face for an added "glow".  Then make sure to rub your hands through you hair to evenly distribute the food all over for added conditioning.

7. That my fellow Bearity Bears is how you enjoy a meal using a spoon.

The End.

Kicking Off Ellie's 2nd Birthday Week!

September 16, 2009 was the day a little squirmy bundle of cuteness and chubby cheeks changed our lives.  The day our daughter Ellie Marie Theurer aka Ellie Bellie Bear, Bear Bear, The Chunky Chicken, Chicka-A-Boom-Boom was born.



She used look like this:

Now:

Wah!  She looks like a big girl.  Where is my baby????

She used to look like this:

See that sweet look of innocence and crazy muppet hair.

And this:

There's that punk!

Now, like this:

Look at that hair!  The back is even longer.
This can mean only one thing. . . I am old.

Oh where has my baby gone?  Who is this full-blown toddler Bear?

A Year in Review:

Beary Special Birthday!
Ellie 12 months-old 

October 2010 / 13 months: Look at how short her hair was!
Obviously she was going to be a bear for Halloween.  This year--a chunky chicken. 

November 2010 /  14 months: The Chunky Turkey

December 2010 / 15 months: Bringing in the Holiday Bear Cheer
Clearly we were not in Texas with all that snow!

January 2011 / ~16 months: Yep, was sassy back then too.
Says "MAMA" :-)

February 2011 / nearly 17 months: almost walking!!!!!
Diva Alert!

March 2011 / 18 months going on 20 years
Walking!!!!!

April 2011 / 19 months
No more oat allergy!  Bring on the pancakes :)

May 2011 / 20 Months

June 2011 / 21 months
Ellie Bug

"I Just LOVE Baby Signing Time!"

July 2011 / 22 months
Officially running, climbing, and giving mama bear heart attacks.

July-August 2011--My favorite photos ever.
Ellie is really possessive of those Converse shoes.

 Beginning of September 2011 / 23 months
Four words: dog, woof-woof, shoe ("oooh"), mama
Now climbing EVERYTHING.