World Down Syndrome Day: Celebrating Mabel

We love our GiGi’s families!! On World Down Syndrome Day, mom Katie Landmark shared a sweet tribute to her daughter Mabel and we couldn’t resist sharing!!

The date for World Down Syndrome Day being the 21st day of the 3rd month, was selected to signify the uniqueness of the triplication (trisomy) of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome.  
This is my daughter, Mabel, and for World Down Syndrome Day I wanted to share a few reasons why I love her.  

21 Reasons I Love My Daughter with Down Syndrome

1. Her smile warms every inch of my soul.
2. Her laugh.  
3. Her dance parties.
4. Her passion for music.  
5. She has made me a more compassionate person.
6. She has opened the door to a community filled with compassion, strength, support, and love that I never knew existed.
7. She has so much determination.
8. She has allowed me to enjoy each stage of her learning and development a little bit longer. She achieves her milestones but on her own time.  
9. She taught me to not put limitations on someone; let them be the ones to decide where they will go in life.
10. Her adventurous nature.
11. She gives the best hugs.
12. Her love of reading and books.
13. Her goofy side makes us belly laugh at least once a day.
14. She has taught me to not prejudge the worth or value of someone.
15. The way her face lights up when she sees something or someone she loves.
16. How her father says he “just loves everything about her” and it’s truer than anyone could ever know.
17. She helped me find strength within myself that I never knew I had.  
18. She is the BEST big sister.  
19. How she is independent and strong-willed. She is not afraid to tell you how it is!  
20. She is the greatest gift I could ever ask for and I would not change one single thing about her.
21. She is my tour guide (read the essay, “Welcome to Holland”). She held my heart and led me through a time that felt frightening because of the unknown into something that is beautiful and brings me more joy than anyone can imagine!

Thank you Katie for sharing this beautiful tribute! We love having your family as a part of our Playhouse and can’t wait to see what else Mabel achieves in the future!!