It’s almost World Down Syndrome Day!
On March 21st, we will celebrate differences, we will celebrate being unique, we will celebrate all abilities and our wonderfully made children.
Here are 21 reasons why I love my daughter, Adele, and how she’s made our world a more beautiful place.
1) Her infectious laugh.
2) Her beauty, inside and out.
3) Her gentle ways.
4) How she’s inspired others to do good.
5) How she’s impacted so many lives in her short 19 months on earth.
6) Her ambition and drive.
7) The way she makes others feel. She’s full of light and love, and the world sees and feels it.
8) The joy and happiness she brings to her family and friends.
9) Her brains.
10) She’s taught us to not judge others but to instead listen and learn about their journey.
11) She wakes up smiling, and this sets the tone for how the day begins. It’s beautiful.
12) She’s shown us how to love — how to love the right way, deep and with raw emotion.
13) She’s taught us that we don’t always need to be in a rush; we should enjoy the moment.
14) She’s pushed us to be better people.
15) Her love for her sister. It’s a love like no other.
16) She naps. I love napping children.
17) She’s inspired me to give back to the Down syndrome community.
18) She appreciates snuggles, and I love to snuggle.
19) She’s brought the most amazing people into my life. I wonder how I’ve made it this far without knowing some of these amazing women and men.
20) She dances. It makes me smile, it makes me laugh, it brings me so much joy.
21) Adele has this way about her that makes my world a perfect place. She grew inside of me for 35 weeks. I worried. I cried. I didn’t know how to raise a child with Down syndrome. When I met Adele for the first time, I was overwhelmed with emotion. What I soon came to realize is that she is not Down syndrome. She is my child. She is my heart. All I see is her love for life. It’s a beautiful life.
“When you look into your mother’s eyes, you know that is the purest love you can find on this earth.” — Mitch Albom
This post originally appeared on A Perfect Extra Chromosome.
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Krista is a 41-year-old mother to two beautiful girls, Brinley and Adele. Their world became even better after the birth of their little miracle. Adele has made this journey more meaningful and wonderful for their family and friends and the world around her. Their family makes welcome baskets for families who have a beautiful baby born with Down syndrome. They deliver them to all of the hospitals in (Calgary, Red Deer and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)
krista-rowland-collins