A BIG Announcement

The Mays family would like to announce that we are expecting Baby #2!! The baby is due in mid August. We are super excited and cannot wait until our little one arrives. We told Emma she was going to be a big sister and she said "NO!" We then told her that Bibi(She calls me Bibi and not mommy) has a baby in her tummy and she looked at my tummy and then at me and it was a look of pure disgust. We have laughed about that look every day.
I am still in Nursing school, but will take some time off after baby gets here. That is the least of my worries.
Please pray for this to be a healthy pregnancy and that Baby Mays will be healthy.
Are we going to find out the sex?? Of course we are! I am not good with surprises! April 6th will be the day we find out, so stay tuned!

It will be worth it all....

As I sat in church on Sunday and they were singing "It will be worth it all," the prayer teams were gathered at the front of the church fervently praying with people that needed that extra prayer. As I looked around, I noticed an adult male with Down Syndrome praying with one of the prayer teams. I cannot explain my feelings of that moment, but I realized that no matter how challenging some days may be, "It will be worth it all."

Got Milk??

I have been MIA for a while now, so I thought I would take a moment to update everyone on the goings on in the Mays house.
Whew! It has been a crazy few months.
Emma is doing awesome in school and comes home with new words every day. She looked at me and said "Duh" the other day when I asked her a question. I wanted to laugh, but tried to keep a straight face as I told her that was not nice. I am so thankful for the school district we live in. Halloween was a blast around here. She absolutely loved trick or treating and was the most delicious cookie ever!
Sweet story for you all. Emma has a boyfriend, Owen. We call him Owie and she has a picture of him on her bedside table. I walked in the other day and she was sitting on her bed with the picture in her hands. She was kissing it and saying "You sit here Owie." I got teary eyed because it was so sweet. The thought of them growing up together warms my heart!


We participated in the Buddy Walk under the team name Emma's Army. We had a wonderful day!! I hope we can do it every year!
As for me, I never knew school would be so challenging, but oh how I love NURSING!! I should have done this a long time ago. It is so rewarding to be with that patient that just needs a little love and care. I will be doing OB/Pediatrics next semester and I am soooo excited for that!

I will try to be better about updating! I don't know what I did with all my time before I went back to school......

Time for School

It has been a while since I have been able to sit down and catch up on the happenings in the Mays house. This past week has been a busy one for all of us. Emma started school this past week and what an emotional time it was.
I am not reminded every day that Emma has Down Syndrome, in fact a lot of times I forget. Our lives have formed into what we know as normal and we do not dwell on the fact that she has special needs. I was however, reminded this past week that we are on a different path than most, not a bad one, just a little off the beaten path. Emma started Early Childhood Learning Pre-school at the elementary school nearby at the young age of three. My girl walked proudly into that school with her backpack on and was ready to learn! What a proud and sad moment that was! I thought I would be ready for it, but I don't think anything prepares you for your baby going to school. As we drove away, Greg looked at me and asked if I was okay. Of course my teary eyes were hidden behind my enormous sunglasses so I said I was fine. I knew that Emma would be okay, but it was hard to swallow that she is allowed to start school at the age of three when typical children do not start kindergarten until the age of 5 or older. I worry about her lack of communication skills and being able to tell me how her day was and if something is bothering her. I know it is natural for a parents to constantly worry about their littles, but this is one of those worries that reminds me that Emma does have special needs. This program will only benefit her and her progression in learning and I am hoping that she makes some lifelong friends. Let the fun begin!

Emma's Army

This year we will be participating in the Buddy Walk located in Nashville, TN. Emma has a page that has been created to help her raise money for the Down Syndrome Association of Middle Tennessee. This is an event that raises money for a cause very dear to our hearts. http://www.firstgiving.com/emmajmays

Dumpster Diving...sort of

Every day when Emma wakes up at 5:00am, I wonder what will peak her curiosity. She has a way of being very sneaky, especially when she knows I am going to tell her no. Over the last few days, I have caught her splashing water in the toilet, drawing all over her legs with an ink pen, and throwing away very important items in the trash can which has enabled me to add dumpster diver to my resume.

Part of this trash obsession that Emma has acquired is my fault. We have really been working on her following directions and so we do the happy dance when she takes trash and puts it in the can after I tell her to. I guess I will now check the trash every time I hear Emma clapping and saying "YAY!"

I walked into the kitchen to find Emma in only her diaper. Guess where her clothes were?? You got it, in the trash can! When I went to get my wallet out of my purse and it was missing, guess where I found it?? Yep, right again. And the stack of mail on the counter?? Use your imagination! I have found myself digging in the nasty trash can more over the last few days than I care to. It is disgusting, but how can you be mad at this sweet face?? It gets me every time!

For you, Nana

Today is my Nana's 85th Birthday so today is all about her. There is so much that I could tell you about her, but I will just touch on a few things. Nana is the matriarch of our family and the one that everyone turns to when they need to talk. She is the mother of three, grandmother to 12(Soon to be 19 if you count spouses), and great grandmother to 10 littles. She was married to Granddaddy for 62 years and shared a love with him that was unlike anything I have ever seen. She is a woman that knows what she wants and will tell you when she doesn't like something. She is everything that defines grandmother and then some. She is the host of lunch every Wednesday at her house and the center of every major holiday. There isn't much that doesn't involve Nana.
Nana's house is a safe haven for all who know her and even for those that don't. She is Nana to all who know her and even to those who have not met her.
I am very close with my Nana and consider my relationship with her to be unique, but
I am constantly in awe at the special bond between Emma and Nana.

There is nothing like it. Emma loves to sit in the floor and rub Nana's hose

and then to pat her on the back.

They share a special kind of love that is beautiful to see.




Nana, Happy Birthday and here's to wishing you many more! We all love you so very much!