World Down Syndrome Day 2013

Well, I know I need to come back and write a catch-all, randomness blog post, but today I'd like to take a minute and post about World Down Syndrome Day!

March 21st is World Ds Day as the date, 3/21, represents 3 of the 21st chromosome (which is what Down syndrome is, "Trisomy 21"). It has been unofficially celebrated and recognized by the Ds community for years, but last year (2012) it became a global awareness day which has been OFFICIALLY observed by the United Nations! "Down Syndrome International encourages our friends all over the World to choose your own themes, activities and events to help raise awareness of what Down syndrome is, what it means to have Down syndrome, and how people with Down syndrome play a vital role in our lives and communities." It's an opportunity to spread a collective positive message about Down syndrome in your community.

It felt like a big day today. Precious faces all over my facebook newsfeed, Me and Etta in our WDSD shirts that DSAMT (Down syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee) had made this year (LOVE this shirt!), supporting the day through our GiGi's Playhouse-Nashville facebook page, knowing that local schools and businesses were participating in a "Dress Down for Down syndrome" Day (supporting GiGi's Playhouse Nashville), and a fun, last minute meet-up with some of our Ds friends at our new Spring Hill Baskin Robbins!

It was a good day!

I love the back of the shirt too, but I didn't take any pictures of the back today...

(okay, I just stole the shirt preview photo that DSAMT posted to their facebook page...)

After dinner, I put her shoes on and told her we were going to go in the car- which excited her, but then I told her that we were going for ice cream and she was literally shaking/trembling/giggling with excitement all the way to Baskin Robbins! 

Erin and I are about a week apart in our due dates (Erin is 35 weeks, I'm 34 weeks)

I know I posted this to Facebook, but I love this video! It was put together by our friends over at IDSC (International Down Syndrome Coalition) for World Down Syndrome Day.


Happy WDSD! I know I'm preaching to the choir, but keep spreading the positive message about Down syndrome and what people with Ds mean to you and to our community!