21 things

A few of the bloggers in the Down Syndrome community are doing "21 Things" posts. 21 things about their child with DS in honor of the extra 21 chromosomes they're blessed with. Thought I'd give it a shot as well.

21 Things about Angela.

1. Angela has amazing dark brown eyes that sparkle. Sometimes with excitment, and sometimes with mischeif. It doesn't matter though, because they're beautiful eyes.
2. Angela's laugh can make anyone laugh right along with her.
3. When around a new group of people, Angela has ALWAYS finds the one person who's always thought having DS is a bad thing, and within minutes changes that person's mind.
4. Angela has more friends than I can keep track of, partly because some of them are invisible.
5. Angela will only wear shirts with stripes. This is kind of a new thing, but I have feeling it's hear to stay for awhile. At the moment she's wearing a boys striped Rugby shirt.
6. Angela prefers to wear TWO shirts at one time, no matter how warm it is. Now that they both need to have stripes I'm having issues in the clothing department again.
7. Angela's favorite TV show is "The Suite Life of Zach and Cody." with her favorite being "Zack" who is the brother that's always in trouble on the show. Go figure.
8. Angela will be going on a "Make A Wish" trip sometime in the next few months. We'll be traveling to Disneyland to meet...who else? Zack and Cody.
9.Angela sleeps in a hospital bed so that the head can be raised as necessary so that her her esophagus doesn't collapse. It also makes it easier to play doctor when her friends come over.
10. When Angela goes to bed at night, she wants me to tell her a story. I have an ongoing story about "Princess AngelINA" and her adventures. Magically those adventures are alot like the ones Angela has each day, and the choices Princess Angelina has to make each day. Sometimes I'll ask Angela, "So...what should our Angelina story be about tonight?" and she'll come up with something that happened at school that I didn't even know about. Tricky huh?
11. Angela absolutely loves our dogs. She loves being a dog trainer and does a very good job of it. When the dogs are tired of being trained by Angela they go lay in their kennels as if to say, "Please...please come lock the doors for us!"
12. Angela has recently learned how to make pancakes, and is now obsessed about cooking meals. A couple days ago I bought her a kids cookbook that has simple dinners that she (and I) should be able to prepare. I'll be honest in saying I have ulterior motives.
13. Angela dreams of being in the theater. This is a new thing that comes from watching play rehearsals with the dogs. I think this summer I'll have her audition for the children's theater so she can have a turn at the spotlight.
14. Every morning, at 4:30 a.m. when Dean gets up for work, Angela goes to the kitchen to say good morning to him. Sometimes he doesn't know she's there because she's standing quietly watching him. (although if he listens he can hear the freight train breathing around the corner!) Then she gives him a hug, and runs to our bedroom to take his spot!
15.Angela's passion in life is to have jobs. She is happiest when there is a task at hand that she's able to complete. Weather its putting a load of laundry down the chute, getting the mail from the mailbox, or emptying the dishwasher. And DO NOT try to help her, or you'll be very sorry!
16.Angela never stops talking. Ever. I mean it. She talks all night in her sleep, sometimes even breaking out into this hysterical full-belly laugh. When her eyes open she lays in bed rehearsing her schedule for the day.
17. Angela loves schedules. She wants to know, "What are we doing tomorrow?" You're not allowed to say, "I don't know." You have to say SOMETHING like, "staying home all day." though sometimes I answer with things like, "We're going to pack a bunch of suitcases......(excitement showing on her face)....load them in the truck...(she claps in anticipation)...and fly to the MOON!!!!!" She thinks this is a fantastic joke and never tires of it.
18. Angela loves dressing the dogs. She just finished putting a doll dress on Dudley's nose.
19. Angela hates writing, until now. Her new OT made her a splint which just so happens to resemble a cast, something that Angela has always wanted! Now she wants to write all the time!
20. Angela adores her big brothers and misses them very much. When they come over I'm not allowed to hang out with them. As far as she's concerned they're here for her and her only!
21. Angela's favorite song is, "You got a friend in me." And she's right. Angela is a friend to all!