Dear Sean, You're 6 months old

How did that happen exactly? Where is it written that you're allowed to sail through the months and just get bigger? I guess it had to happen. I guess I really didn't have a choice. And if I have to be quite honest, I'm pretty pleased with how you're growing. It excites me.

You're 6 months old. A whole 1/2 a year. In that time you have taught us so much. You make us beam with brightness each and every time you look at us with your bright blue eyes & smile as big as you possibly can. In 6 short months we have watched you go from helpless newborn to an amazingly playful infant who reaches out to explore everything around you.

Right now you're starting to sit up on your own. You've learned how to roll over onto your belly from your back and then back again. You're starting to put weight on your legs. The way you lift your head is nothing short of a miracle. You've started to really respond to your name and learn how to manipulate your toys.

Your speech and physical therapists couldn't be more proud of you. Every time they come for a session they ask what you accomplished. They just know that you're going to have new tricks for them each week.

You're speaking. You're saying, "mama", "dada", "ga ga", "oh", "hi", "nom nom" (you can thank Rosie, your therapist, for that one) and "ehma" which Meredith seems to think is her. We know you have no idea what those sounds mean, but we are so excited that you're saying them. You try to mimic all of the sounds you hear. It's really very amazing to hear. Your voice is like sweet music to our ears.

You're eating amazingly well. In fact, I joke all the time that I finally got an eater. It's such a joy to watch you really enjoy the different tastes & textures. Rosie always remarks about how excited she is to come see you. She says it's great encouragement for her to see you do so well. She always says that it's because of us (mommy & daddy) that you're doing so well, but without her we wouldn't know how to do your oral motor exercises. You love them now. You giggle when we "tickle" your cheeks.

You make friends where ever you go. You have this magnetism about you that I wouldn't believe unless I saw it with my own eyes. People are just drawn to you. I'm sure it's because of the immense light that shines from you.

I see your quirks. I see your smile. I see your light. I hear your giggle and your voice. I see that people have no choice, but to love you. I see how much you teach people. I see how much Meredith loves you and how much you love her. She certainly wouldn't let anyone else lay on her back, but you. I see that, just like the rest of us whack-a-doos, you have a zest for living & learning.

Before you came, I remember not wanting to be the mother who had a son with Down Syndrome. I remember not wanting you to need heart surgery. I kept praying that it was all some sort of bad dream. And now, here we are. I'm proud to be known as Sean's mother. And hey did you know he had Down Syndrome? I'm proud to tell people you not only made it through heart surgery, but you did it in record time.

I can't remember what my life felt like before you were born and it's probably with good reason. Our lives were certainly lacking for something. Our lives had a hole. When you came, you filled that hole.

We love you and we thank God everyday that you're here with us.

Happy 6 months to you our sweet baby boy.