On November 18 2009 at 4:02 am William Alan Bartosch was joyfully welcomed into our family. He weighed in at 7 lbs 9 oz and 20 in long. We were stunned to discover that he was born with Trisomy 21, or Down syndrome. We love him unconditionally from the top of his toe-head to the tips of his toes. We know that this diagnosis will not define him. He is a happy, healthy little boy that just happens to have an extra chromosome.



Follow us on this unexpected and exciting journey as we learn how to live life Will's Way.



Friday, April 30, 2010

Pictures and Buddy Up


I posted more pictures on the Shutterfly page of the last couple months with Will and also of Ron's race and our visit to Louisville. Also wanted to remind everyone that this Saturday in Columbus there is the Buddy Up 5K Run/Walk at the Franklin Park Conservatory. It benefits the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio which does great things. There is a kids run and other fun kid stuff too. We will be there with many family and friends so if you can, come and get some excercise and Walk for Will!!! (or all the other wonderful people that this organization serves!)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Tulips


I love tulips. I have always loved tulips. Every year on Valentine's day I tell Ron not to bother with over-priced roses...all I really want is white tulips. I even loved tulips when I had to dig up over 20000 bulbs every spring at the park I worked at in Fort Wayne. I love how simple and complicated they are. I love that they are planted as a plain, boring bulb that you don't really expect much from. I love that it is hard to envision what they will look like come spring but that you do it anyway. I love that you have to have a little faith that in the future they will be beautiful:) More so than any other plant, if you are just patient and wait they are even more beautiful than you imagined.
This year tulips have a special meaning to me. I will always look at tulips in a different way because they now remind me of Holland. And of Will. And this makes me happy:)

Run Daddy Run!


We had a wonderful trip to Louisville, KY this weekend. Ron ran the Derby Marathon and Gaga, Papa, Uncle Ricky, Great Grandma Brough and Aunt Amelia and Tom were there as well to run, walk and just hang out. Will met his great, great Aunt Mary and Uncle Paul and cousins Jim, Gene and Tina too. We went to Churchhill Downs and Jim Beam. We didn't make it to the Louisville Slugger museum or get to explore much downtown because it rained most of the weekend. We hope to go back sometime soon to see more of the city because it was a really fun place to visit!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Will's First Easter


We had a wonderful Easter. We celebrated Easter for two weekends...Easter weekend #1 we spent in Cleveland and Wooster visiting Grandma's and Grandpa's and Aunts and Uncles, and our friends the Miller's. Will had fun hanging out with everyone and got some good flirting in with Miss Jillian.
On Easter weekend #2, we stayed in Columbus and Gaga and Papa Brough and Uncle Ricky came to celebrate with us. We also met our new friends the Arbona's, and Will exercised with his new buddy Sam. We had lots of fun and learned a lot.
Will got tons of good things from the Easter bunny including candy that Mommy and Daddy are enjoying!
Several weeks back Will and I also went on a blind date with Liz and sweet little Addison. It was great. Will and Addison slept most of the time but the Mommies got lots of good note-sharing done!
It is so nice to play with old friends and forget about DS for awhile and also to meet all these new friends that we have a unique bond with. We love all our friends old and new:)
I am usually good with remembering to take pictures...but I forgot to take pictures of Will with all his new friends. As cousin Ava would say...next time!

Eat It Up!


Will is doing lots of fun and new things. He is eating baby food and baby cereal. He really seems to like the stronger flavors. So far carrots and prunes seem to be his favorites. He is bringing toys to his mouth. He is grabbing his feet and has ALMOST managed to get a toe in his mouth. He is a crazy babbler...especially when he has a mouth full of carrots or prunes since those stain the worst! He is really starting to react to familiar voices even when they are far away. Best of all he continues to smile with his whole body. We just eat every little bit of it up:)
All these little accomplishments pass most babies by without much celebration. At the Bartosch house we get really excited about small things. We know that these little things are HUGE. It makes me sad that I can't just assume that he will do all the normal stuff when he is supposed to, but it also makes me grateful that no accomplishment, big or small, will ever go undetected or uncelebrated in our lives!