My baby girl turned eight this summer.

Ok, so I have been neglecting the blog, I still use Instagram as my main daily/weekly outlet for what’s on my mind and what’s going on with us day to day. It’s not that I don’t often have a lot to say, it’s just that I don’t set aside the time to write all the thoughts down…

And so, I drafted something for Audrey’s 8th birthday in July and forgot about it. I like to document her achievements and changes, so I am still going to write something, especially as it’s now October and therefore Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month.

At eight years old, Audrey is still small for her age. A lot of people have asked recently if Audrey and Rex are twins (he is five). Her favourite TV shows are Rainbow Ruby, Justin Time, Muppet Babies, most of CBeebies and Bluey. So much Bluey. Her favourite colour is rainbow (all of the colours ❤️). She likes cats, imaginative play, yoga, dance, cookery, kicking a ball and being on the swings. She can confidently sit on the ‘big’ swings, she is regularly asserting herself, refusing help and doing more for herself (like getting dressed, brushing her teeth etc).

Rex and Audrey fight a lot. She is easily upset by minor things, but they also simply like to push each other to their limits. On the other hand, she is very protective and loving, which is partly why they fight as Rex hates that! Even though they tend to fight and not play together that well, Rex often asks to sleep in her bed and I know that they will both stick up for each other when needed.

I have a reason to tell her I’m proud of her every day and I am often in awe of what her little something extra has done for us as a family. Her writing, reading and maths are all progressing and she still is very happy to go to school everyday (even if she refuses to do work when she’s there!). She loves Fridays because it’s PE day and fish and chips day.

Audrey never really asks for much (unlike Rex who wants every toy he’s ever seen) and at the moment she is really enjoying her baby doll again, being a mummy, reading her stories and giving her milk. Her little doll’s pram broke recently (it finally collapsed when a full sized eight year old sat in it) and I’ve managed to find a yellow pram for Christmas via eBay that I know she will absolutely love. £15 well spent and honestly, I know if that’s all she got, she would be thrilled. Audrey can really make you understand simple pleasures.

Audrey’s enthusiasm for life continues to shine and long may it continue! We are so lucky she has a voice and boy can she use it – early in the morning her and her brother can talk and talk at a very loud level!

Check out our Instagram for lots of DS Awareness Month posts as I am taking part in Positive About Down Syndrome’s daily posts.