2011 Ultimate Blog Party

Welcome to Everything and Nothing from Essex! This is my first year participating in the Ultimate Blog Party with 5 Minutes for Mom, and I am very excited to be a part of the excitement! I am just a normal mom, living a normal life with a completely normal daughter, who just happens to be sporting an extra chromosome. But that is our normal, and we are loving it.

This blog was originally started last year after the birth of beautiful Addison, to track her health needs and successes. Over time, it has slowly evolved into something much more. This is a place for me to be completely honest about mothering a child with special needs. With the extra work and struggles comes extra love and extra celebration when milestones are achieved.

My world was rocked when we received our prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome, but I have learned that it means nothing except an extra label attached to my daughter. She is a wonderful, smart, beautiful little girl that amazes us every day.
This blog has become a safe place to express frustration when she refuses to stand-joy when she finally came off of 9 months of oxygen-and a place to just share our everything and nothing.

In August, my husband and I celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary. In September, we're adding a little sibling, so the craziness around here is about to take on an entirely new dimension- two babies under two. I can't wait. (-:

I'm currently teaching music part time at a public high school, but when little sibling arrives I hope to give the whole stay at mom thing a whirl. (very much looking forward to that!)

Last March when I started blogging, I had no idea what a wonderful outlet it would become for me. I love to blog, and I love to read other blogs! It is completely amazing to be able to peek into other people's lives that way.

So if this is your first time here, welcome. Thank you for taking the time to visit our everything and nothing. It may not be the normal you're used to, but it suits us fine, and we couldn't be more blessed.

Since my everything and nothing includes a love for cooking and a desire to make a beautiful home for my family- you will see the occasional must try recipe or newest household discovery (kitchen renovation pics coming soon!), but Addison usually does demand the most attention on here. But can you really blame me? (-:

Thank you for blog partying with me. Make sure to leave a comment so that I can check out your blog as well!