The Baby Giggler

I do have a husband.  Though you don't hear about him much on here, his name is Jerry. 

And he is a good Daddy.  He started out as a great baby Whisperer, providing just the right environment for any baby to fall asleep.

Jerry and Erin 2005

Jerry and Eoin 2008

But like any good parent, he has evolved.  He has evolved into a baby Giggler.  Taking the most horrific meldowns and turning them into fits of giggles. 

Erin does not want to brush her teeth so Jerry turns it into a race.  "I bet you can't brush your teeth as fast as me".....screams and giggles as both race to the bathroom to get done first.

Eoin does not want to eat his dinner.  "Don't you eat the head off of my dinosaur (chicken nugget), don't you do it, don't you eat my chicken".  Eoin chases Jerry around the table to get a bit of the food.  Again screams and giggles.

And of course the toughest customer.....



If you are a wrestling fan just come on over and watch Jerry get Bridgie out of the tub and into her pajamas.  This was the least favorite task in the house, until.....

Jerry taught Bridgie how to anticipate....."Bridgie ah ah ah ah BLUEBERRIES!  Ah ah ah ah PINEAPPLE!  Ah ah ah ah PISTACHIOS!"  Jerry continues a whole serious of surprise food attacks while inserting tickles under her chin all the while forcing Bridgie's parts into a clown car of sorts.

Jerry and Bridgie now

And so that is why Jerry is the Baby Giggler.  A master of changing the tone, redirecting the focus, and turning fits into giggles.

 And why he is everyone's favorite.

Bridgie's Brigade



"Never, never be afraid to do what's right especially if the well-being of a person or animal is at stake. Society's punishments are small compared to the wounds we inflict on our souls when we look the other way".

- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Bridgie's Brigade is about not looking the other way.



The National Down Syndrome Society has a campaign called 'We're More Alike Than Different', which I love.  Though I love this campaign and the idea of focusing on similarities, the reality is that there are differences.  However, these differences are not so extreme and the differences are what make people look the other way.

People tend to ignore and avoid the things and people they find undesirable, shying away from things and people they don't have experience around.  People are uncomfortable around different, disabled, or destitute.  Our society does not foster a philosophy of more alike than different.  Our society is one of survival of the fittest, the cream rises to the top, the end justifies the means--all of which leads to our own feelings of inadequacy and an extreme desire to be like everyone else.

Bridgie's Brigade will embody the idea that while we are all more alike than different, it's okay to be different and we should celebrate our differences as we are all gifted in different ways.

Bridgie's Brigade will support three charities, Best Buddies, The Special Olympics of Maryland, and Reece's Rainbow.

Best Buddies because it fosters the idea of relationships, interaction, and friendship among the differently abled.

http://www.bestbuddies.org/

The Special Olympics because it fosters physical fitness, teamwork, and reaching your goals.

http://www.somd.org/

Reece's Rainbow because they believe that all children born with Down Syndrome belong in loving

families and they act on behalf of those who cannot speak for themselves.  God Bless this organization.

http://reecesrainbow.org/

This is just the beginning of Bridgie's Brigade.  My expectations are lofty, as they always are, but I know that time and tides will ebb and flow with these types of things.  Help will be needed in a variety of ways to carry out the mission of Bridgie's Brigade.

You see it's not about our Bridgie really or even just our family, it is about ALL of us working together toward a better future for ALL of our children.  Reaching beyond what is 'socially acceptable', breaking down our own walls, and most certainly coming out of our comfort zones.

We hope that you will join Bridgie's Brigade for what it is now realizing the potential of what it can and will be.



Motivated or moved by this post?

1. Like Bridgie's Brigade on Faceook

2. Donate to my individual crusade for the best buddies challenge

http://www.dcchallenge2012.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=997266&lis=0&kntae997266=ADA60BAE47984907B95C6AB1DD8221BB

3. Join Bridgie's Brigade for the best buddies challenge or make a donation to the team

http://www.dcchallenge2012.org/faf/search/searchTeamPart.asp?ievent=997266&lis=0&kntae997266=ADA60BAE47984907B95C6AB1DD8221BB&supId=0&team=4942614&cj=Y

4. Offer to help in another way...know how to create a website, know a t-shirt printer, know a printer/copier, own a business want to be a sponsor?  Got another idea?  We would love to hear it!!!

5.  Pray for Bridgie's Brigade to be successful in turning hearts and minds.



Pour your heart out: Perspective

Today I am linking up with shell at:






October 2010

 October 2011

August 2011
One of my personal goals, indefinitely, is to be less judgemental and defensive.  I have learned through my experiences of losing weight and sharing my eat to live journey that people are very judgemental and defensive about food.

Of course, because we associate food with feelings, people, and events.   But when you learn about food and how it fuels your body, it is easier to say no to things that should only go into your cars gas tank.  And even then those things would cause your car to run poorly. 

"Oh, you lost weight.  You look great. What did you do?"
Enter 'Eat to Live' by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and my Dr., Dr. Whitaker who recommended it to me.
"Oh, Well that's too extreme for me."  "Oh, well I can't eat beans". "Oh, well I don't like vegetables or salad".
This is where the conversation ends for me and the head nodding and uh huhs begin.  Your mind is closed so I am not going to waste my breath sharing with you when you have already defeated yourself.

Well, this is how I used to be in response to the negators and nay sayers until my 6 year old gave me a little perspective the other night.

It's bed time, time to brush our teeth. 

"Erin it's time to brush your teeth". 
"UGHHGGHHGRRRR, I don't want to brush my teeth". 

Repeat repeat repeat. 

  "FINE!!! Don't brush your teeth, it's fine, let your teeth rot and get holes in them!!"

This happens most evenings.

Until the last two nights Erin retaliated. 
"But mom, I was just saying how I don't want to brush my teeth.  I wasn't saying I was not going to".

 Shuts door and proceeds to brush teeth.

Took two nights to sink in. 

So, just because I whine and complain about something does not mean that I am not going to do it.  It simply means that I am expressing my feelings.  I am sharing how I feel. "I don't LIKE brushing my teeth, but I know I have to".

Kind of like those people who want to know how I lost weight.  'I don't LIKE what you are saying, but I know I need to lose weight too.  So, maybe I will try it but I am not going to tell you that'.

So, maybe instead of shutting out the "I don't want to brush my teeth" -ers and the "I don't like beans, vegetables, or anything resembling whole foods" -ers,  Instead of tuning them out and nodding my head or in Erin's case yelling "Fine, don't brush, don't eat your beans, don't eat vegetables, don't be healthy", maybe I should stop being so defensive, judgemental, and annoyed and listen, educate, and share.

Eat to Live.

Little Lady Bug

This lucky little lady bug
has landed here to stay
To make my garden pretty
and keep the weeds away.
~Author Unknown

At four foot four my little ladybug is not so little anymore!

I always said she would be taller than me by 3rd grade, I am now thinking the summer of first grade.

She only has 22 inches to go.

And now she's a fully pledged Daisy earning her petals.

And patches.

Her school work and sense of humor continue to astound us.

Not bad for a southpaw.