Happy Halloween from the Carson family!!!

Halloween Sneak Peek!

More on Down Syndrome Awareness

As Down Syndrome Awareness Month comes to a close, here's a link to a great post from my favorite blogger, the awesome Lisa at Finnian's Journey:
http://finniansjourney.blogspot.com/2009/10/non-offensive-language-101.html

...and a cute picture just for fun! xoxo

A fun night out with friends

We celebrated Paul's birthday with a fun night out with friends at our favorite Portland brewpub, the Bridgeport. Look how handsome he is in his new birthday sweater vest!

Anthony was mesmerized by this Jimi Hendrix painting.

Ready to party and toast Daddy!

But maybe partied a little too hard...

Zoe: "Lightweight."

Sorely missed at the celebration were Anthony's best gal pal, Ellie, and her parents. They are all recovering from the H1N1 flu! Please wish them a speedy recovery.

Happy Birthday Daddy!!!

Anthony (with a little help from Mommy) made a special photo montage to show his Daddy how much he loves him. Turn the volume on!

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary

I have another auntie? And she has red hair? And it's her birthday?

That's great news! I hope she comes to see me soon!

Picture of the Day

Down on the Farm

Last Saturday we got to spend a perfect Autumn day at Cousin Brian and Tracie's farm in Yamhill County. The farm is in the Willamette Valley wine country, about 45 minutes Southwest of Portland.

Someday Brian and Tracie hope to grow grapes and make wine on the farm.

For now they have carrots...

Who knew they grew underground? (kidding!)

Corn...

Tracie and Susan lost in the corn maze. We fired a flare and were finally rescued.

Grapes... Always share your bounty with your husband.

Apples, pears, figs, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, etc, etc, etc...

We had a great time walking around picking and eating whatever looked tasty.

This is the oldest Black Walnut tree in the Pacific Northwest!

Anthony on the big boy swing. Tracie climbed the big tree to place the ropes for the swing, and while she was at it taught her nephew how to rappel. Is there anything she can't do?

Paul was the only one brave enough to try the rope swing.

And the tractor!

Not to be outdone by Daddy, Anthony then took a turn.

We ended the afternoon with a big feast prepared by Tracie with all sorts of treats from the garden. What a great day!!!

Anthony Has Two Grandmas

Grandma Marge arrived from NY this week to FINALLY meet her grandson! Aunt Pat came too! Aunt Pat took lots of pictures, so we'll post more when we get them, but here are a few in the meantime (and a video at the end).

Anthony was so happy he got to spend time with both of his Grandmas.

Grandma Marge knows what she's doing. Anthony ate all his carrots when she fed him.

He told her all about life in Portland!

I love my Grandmas!

All together at Grandma Jeanne's

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

October is Down syndrome awareness month! In that spirit, Anthony would like to share some factoids with all his fans and loved ones...

• There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States.
• Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels.
• Down syndrome happens at conception, is usually not hereditary and has nothing to do with environmental factors or parents' activities before or during pregnancy.
• The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80 percent of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.
• People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.
• People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, contribute to society in many wonderful ways, they have different personalities just like other people-they can be happy, sad or mad, hence they're not "always happy."
  

Please refer to a person with Down syndrome as the person first and then the condition. So...Anthony has Down syndrome or Anthony is a baby with Down syndrome, NOT Anthony is a Down's baby or a Down syndrome baby.

One other thing- please refer to kids that don't have Down syndrome as “typical” kids, NOT “normal” kids because this then implies that Anthony is abnormal. He’s not- although his Mom and Dad certainly are!

And last but certainly not least: Please, please, please take the word retard or retarded OUT OF YOUR VOCABULARY!! This word is so hurtful and offensive I cannot even tell you how it burns me up. Please discourage your older children that you may hear use it-they have no idea that it can be so hurtful.

Keeping warm on a chilly October night

Little Gaucho

Anthony's Auntie Nancy returned from a trip to South America with some amazing gifts, including a llama, chocolate for Mom and Dad, and this beautiful alpaca sweater from Bolivia!

See the little alpacas in the design!

Showing off the hood

A lttle taste to make sure it's genuine

Exactly HOW many aunties do I have???!!!

How you sometimes wind up...

...when you're a little person still learning how to sit!