…as in, we hop-skipped-jumped from Holland to visit Italy ‘cuz no one’s gonna tell me we’ll never ever ever get to go there.
Here’s our postcard.
Mamas…these flashcards were suggested to me by my friend Amy, mama of the amazing Kayla (who happens to have D.S. but any baby would love rockin’ these cards), and I highly suggest purchasing them. DK “My First” Touch and Feel Picture Cards Set (there are several sets). We only started this game a week ago, first giving her two cards to choose from, and now she knows about 10 words and can choose between 3-4 cards.
Yeah Nella! Way to go promoting early literacy Mama!!
Love it. Way to go Nella. Rock those cards!!!
Aww! She is so smart and sweet! And at such a young age! Way to go momma! 🙂
Way to go sweet girl 🙂
XOXO,
Angie from Ohio
I think it’s awesome that she can choose the right card, what a smart girl! I also love that there are scraps of paper on the carpet, pants laying on the ground and capless (CAPLESS!!!!) markers just chillin’. Thank you for being sooooo amazing and soooooo freaking real at the same time. You help me remember (and believe) that I can be amazing too!!!!!
Nella is so GREAT. I LOVE this game with her. Thanks for sharing this.
What a clever girl Nella is! I’m going to order some of those flashcards because my baby girl would love them, too.
Just wanted to add that your on/off post really struck a chord with me, and Daddy is pretty talented with a camera in his own right.
wonderful!!!! just feel lucky you get to go to both beautiful cities all in one!!
Way to go Nella!
That is awesome!! Way to go Nella!! 🙂
Wow! She totally brought sun into my heart today! You go Nella! Don’t let anybody tell you you can’t get to Italy…’cause while Holland is awesome, Italy has things Holland totally doesn’t! Keep growing and learning little one! You will go so far!
Makes me smile. (-:
Yeah Nella! What a smart girl! I love the look on her face when she knows she is right. She looks at the camera like yeah I know I got this.
What a smarty pants!
This is awesome! I am a Speech-Language Pathologist and I spend many of my days teaching children how to do this very thing…I’m very impressed with her, it’s such an advanced skill for such a young child!!
Jaimee
jetyson747@yahoo.com
Love it!!! I’m cheering with you! she is too damn cute and clever!!! x
Yaaa Nella! The side trips to Italy are the greatest and give you just the boost of energy you need to really appreciate Holland! Well done!
So good to see your post today. Here in what HAS been sunny CA, it is a High of 44 today in the mountains where I live; and it’s rained over two days. I love it tho and it is mild, compared to the weather many have. I think you mentioned these flashcards long long ago, but Nella didnt have them figured out yet. I think they are still fun, even at a younger age. QUESTION: THe Song ALL LOVE by Ingrid M – is it on an album? I cannot find on Amazon at all. ** ALSO, hope you all dont mind me sharing but i am loving the song HELLO WORLD by Lady Antebellum. Its not really country tho and is great music and GREAT lyrics about what is important. A great music video out there too, for the song, tho it doesnt follow song xactly, it is very touching. Love from your BLog Mama
That’s amazing! My just-turned-1-last-week-year old doesn’t do half the things Nella does. He’s a boy though so maybe that’s why 😉 Every one tells me boys are lazy
Seriously, eff ya that’s so freakin awesome!! Way to go Nella….happy tears:))
I think my heart sang there for a moment. Love it.
Thanks for sharing your sunshine girl in all her glory.
I found myself cheering along… ‘C’mon Nella!’, ‘Hooray for Nella!’
xx
That was awesome! I’m smiling so hugely right now. 🙂 Way to go, Nella!
I have a feeling that you will be visiting Italy A LOT. You have a very smart, beautiful girl who is going to take you on an amazing journey. And I agree, those cards are awesome. My kiddo loved them when he was Nella’s age.
Nella is just utterly devine!!! She is so so smart, and so so cute 🙂
this is beyond cute. i’ll have to get some. and i love that your not afraid to showoff all the random crap on your floor! looks just like mine!
Too cute…aint nothing going to stop that girl 🙂
I love this. I so badly needed a smile today and Nella gave me one. Go Nella! You are so smart
YAY NELLA! What a smart baby!!!!!!!!!
Awesome!!! What a smartie pants!
Boy, am I really slacking with my little one. I figured since she is number four- the older three would just teach her (only kidding, sort of 🙂
I love it!!!!! I used those cards too with my little girl who has Down syndrome. They are awesome. Are you using sign language at all? We did and used them with those specific cards at this age. Now, my three year old talks and has dropped all her signs. It is an amazing process. Good luck… and I agree, she is very smart!!!!
Well done Nella! Great work. Italy and Holland are both great places – and share a lot of similarities. Your dutch are a pretty smart bunch and well travelled too….
Total awesomeness Nella! Assume competance, baby! Yeah! xo
Watching this video made my day and brought a huge smile to my face! Thank you for sharing this!
Way to go Nella! Great post! 🙂 I’m impressed. Would have been over any baby her age doing that!
Take care, and have a great weekend!! Greetings from very cold but moonlighted Norway!
Yay! She is amazing!
This was the best! I loved it. Can not stop smiling!
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing that treasure!
That’s right girl! The world is Nella’s.
My Ella is keeping right up with her first grade class and reading.
Holland, Italy, Morocco, India…it’s all good.
oh i love this! i have seriously been trying to find flash cards just like this for a few weeks now! i have been thinking about it for a while…so thank you for posting this!
I totally cried at this. Go Nella go!
She really is a rock star!
So clever! So beautiful! So special!
Nella has a wonderful life ahead of her!
xo
My baby boy is the same age as Nella and it seems as though he and Nella are pretty much developing at the same rate. My baby doesn’t have DS btw. I’ve always been very impressed at Nella’s development, from the rolling, crawling, to the standing.
I can’t even manage to teach my baby the How big are you? trick, ha ha 😀 I’m going to try to see if he recognizes picture cards, you’ve inspired me 🙂
You’re such a great mom and such a great photographer. Your blog is great and you are so positive, such an inspiration. Laney and Nella are so lucky to have you as their mom!
That is awesome!
P.S. I love her toenail polish. 🙂
She is a smart little cutie. I think I might get those for little Sammy.
woo-hoo Nella!!!!!!
xoxo
-s
OOPS — comment above was from my husband’s account by mistake — he’s a nella fan too but it was me who wrote it 🙂
what a little smartie, go nella! and go early intervention!
Oh it is just BEAUTIFUL! I was smiling through and through. The cards look awesome!
Awesome!! We just ordered some from amazon after watching Nella.
She looks so proud of herself. I LOVE the smiles 🙂
Awesome! What a cutie petutie. Loved this video. I am going to score some of those cards for my new nephew Sully. What a smart wee one you have. 🙂
Thanks for posting this! I just ordered the farm set for Parker!
Heather @ http://icthroughyou.blogspot.com
Ok, just make me cry and laugh and want to kiss that sweet babe, why don’t you!
Love xxx
good job nella girl! so such a smart little lady!
Oh YAY for Nella!!! What a smart girl you are!
My 15 mo. old son watched this with me and just squealed and clapped for her the whole time!! I think he might have a crush. 😀
We have to put a warning on your blog! DANGER: readers are likely to suffer from sore jaws from SMILING!
🙂
Babies with DS reading: What a wonderful way to encourage all subsets of their language skills! Go see
http://keeponspinning.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/pop-quiz-where-am-i/
for a fun video of our then two year old reading with his 14 year old brother.
So cute!! I know there are thousands of commenters but yes, I’m commenting just to say so cute!!!
as an american recently relocated to holland, dont underestimate it!!! the tulips are lovely in the spring. and not everyone walks around in wooden shoes.
Love it! Way to go Nella!
I love this!! I love how she keeps looking at the camera-you can tell that she is maintaing focus to come back to you while she would realy like to check out the camera LOL! Great job nella (and mama)
Thanks for sharing this!!!
My cheeks hurt from smiling so big!!!
Oh so super sweet!
I could watch that a 100 times. So adorable!
fantastico!
oh my goodneSS!! cuteSt thing ever!!
Awesome!! We have some of those flash cards as well and my girls both love them – so fun!!
I had no doubts!!!! I adore this……someday I will meet her, oh and you too :)!!!!
xoxo, Bug & Ruby’s Gram
I LOVE it! I agree with you, who says that we have to stay in “Holland” forever? My little guy has been sigtht reading words since he was 18 months. Long before someof his “typical” peers. See ya in Italy Nella!!!! Ciao. 🙂
Oh, I LOVE it! Made me smile and clap with Nella. Way to go, Nella. And way to go, Mama.
Awesome job, Nella!!!
Smartie!
Oh baby girl you are amazing!
Kelle, I want to pick her up and snuggle that baby bug. She is a dolly!
Holy freakin gorgeous, that just hurt my toes! So cute! (And that was just watching you cheer her on 😉 )
Oh. Sweet. Jesus. My heart just totally swelled up 200 more percent! Want to eat her little cheeks. That is all. 😉
My little one clapped and cheered for Nella the entire time (which made me as proud as you must feel). <3 Way to go, Nella! =
that is one smart girl !!!!
shes going to do big things kelle , big things !!!
loveand blessings
the doughtys
Great job Nella!!!!
That’s awesome! Nella is so smart!!!! They have the cards at Walmart too for $6!!!
Yeah Nella ! I was applauding right along with you when I first saw her ! Keep it up … the world is there for you to embrace ! Ciao Baby Girl. xoxo
we have a couple of these sets of flashcards and we LOVE them too!
Just a sliver of what the Amazing Nella has in store…I just know it!
These cards were a gift for my daughter Annora for her first birthday, along with the matching books. At 2 1/2 she still looks at the books and plays with the cards. These are the best!
Amazing, priceless and precious!!! I just LOVE this! 🙂
Such a big girl now.
LOVE that SMART girl!
WOW!!! Go Nella! That is so awesome. I could eat her up!!!
LOVE this!!! Nella’s making me proud, and she’s not even my daughter!
Great to see her in action!
ROCK!!! STAR!!!
All her tricks! Love her!
Made me tear up instantly! Awesome Nella! way to go! and Kelle your enthusiasm is contagious! I am off to order these for Ola!
Down syndrome or not that was amazing! Yay Nella!! I am was totally cheering her on the whole time I’m so proud of her!
oh my word stinking adorable!!
that was the cutest thing ever!
Bravo Nella!!!!!!!!
I was grinning ear to ear watching this. Your little one reminds me of mine. She is precious and radiant!! love her and what a smartie pants she is!! I’m going to have to get those cards!
Wait to go, Nella! My cheeks hurt from smiling so much! Love it! So proud. 🙂
how precious…. Nella is such a sweet heart and oh so very smart 🙂 I just love babies
OH! that is the cutest post ever!! well done Nella!
I love Nella so much! She’s “so big” “so smart” and “so beautiful”! You must have tons of fun with your girls! =)
Way to go Nella! Such a smart little girl! Love her!
xo
Oh go Nella!
Been reading your blog for a while, and finding it totally inspiring.
If you ever get bored of Italy and fancy London, England instead, we’d be more than happy to share it with you.
Thanks so much.
just precious!
What a smarty pants! I have really enjoyed reading your blog Kelle. My son was diagnosed with DS in week 16 og my pregnancy. He arrived 6 weeks early and after 5 long weeks in hospital we brought him home last week. Thank you for sharing your life with us – being able to read about your experience and seeing just how gorgeous Nella is, and how much joy she brings you meant a lot to me in the early days after Owen’s diagnosis. This post is just another affirmation of the great expectations I have for him – here’s to Italian holidays! Ellen
That was ADORABLE!!! She’s so smart. I need to order those cars. My 18 month old would have no idea which card to pick. She’d just try to eat them, lol
You know how I feel about flash cards – LOL! WAY TO GO Nella and Mommy!!! Danika sends her hugs too 🙂
LOVE THIS! She is such a smart cookie!
holy macarony!! what a clever girl!!
and the cutest ever!
yaY nella!!
i was watching w/ my five year old and she kept saying, “again!” each time clapping along w/ you, kelle!
nella has a huge group of cheerleaders, for sure.
I love the idea of the flash cards. My daughter is 15 months I am going to find some and do that with her. Also when I was watching the video it sparked her interest and she loved she Nella she started waving to her and talking in babble talk. So cute!!
Fantastic! My little Max was nursing and popped right up to watch that, when it ended he started in with a fake whine…basically we just watch Miss Rock Star do her rock star moves 5 times. :o) He’s totally in love, can;t say I blame him one bit. My boy has taste.
You go Nella!!! These cards are Bennett’s FAVORITE!!
B.R.A.V.O!!
WAY TO GO NELLA!!! WAY TO GO MOMMY!!!! early intervention.. THE KEY to success!!!
Way To Go Nella!!! So proud of her and so excited for y’all, too.
She is so amazing!!!! It made me smile from ear to ear…and then I teared up! I’m just so proud of her (and I don’t even know her..but I feel like I do KWIM?). Way to go Mama!!!!!
Smart little, Nella! I love to see her face light up when you start cheering for her! She’s adorable!
Another SLP here to tell you I have worked with MANY 2 and 3 year olds who don’t do that as well as Nella is!! She is doing so great!
WTG NELLA! Your Poppa was bragging about you on fb with another video yesterday. So so cute!
That made my night!! So proud of both of you.
oh my goodness, cutest evar! What a little smartie pants too! Go Nella! My kids were cheering for her and getting the biggest kick out of her picking THE RIGHT card!
Nella is f’ing brilliant!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!
Nella is a rockstar!! I’d say she’s got you to thank for a lot of that! 🙂
LOVE it! Just watched Nella with my own two kids and we were all clapping and smiling! Tucked them in still smiling! Thanks for sharing!
I love it! I am an ABA tutor (for children with autism) and flash cards are great for exposure and testing knowledge. I would expect nothing less from Nella, the Professor!
ok we have those cards and i have a baby 2 weeks younger than nella and we have never done that! you are such a great momma and nella is a genious! we are totally gonna start this tomorrow!!!!!
Way to go Nella! Way to go Mommy!
Go Nella, you rock star…
I LOVE you Nella! So proud of you!
Way to go Nella! I just cried through this video. You are such an inspirational mom.
She’s so darn cute. Way to go, Nella!
That just brought the biggest smile to my face!! Thanks for sharing such an exciting moment with us all.. GO NELLA!!!!!
OH MY GOODNESS! Could she possibly be any cuter! She is so beautiful and so smart! Thank you for sharing such an exciting milestone! WTG sweet baby girl!
What a little smarty pants!! I have to get some of the falsh cards for my daughter. Way to go Nella!
Goooooo Nella! You are an amazing and beautiful lil girl!
Way to go Nella!!! We are cheering you on – you go girl!!!!
wow! she is adorable in pictures… but even more adorabler in video! thanks for sharing!!!
Go, Nella, Go!!!! I can’t stop smiling watching how proud she is of herself 🙂 What a SMART little girl!
OH thank you for that! POST MORE VIDEO! I love seeing her move and hearing that sweetie!! XOXO
Your little Nella reminds me so much of my little Sawyer. Going to get him so of those cards. Thanks for sharing!
Way to rock it Nella!!! This brought smiles to my face today!! Thanks for posting and sharing such a sweet little face!
Smiling and cheering right along with you Momma! That was AWESOME!
Welcome to Italy! A job well done Nella (and Mama too!)!!!
Cheering and smiling really big here in Kentucky :)) Way to go, Nella!!
Yes! Our kids (with a little extra) ARE very smart. My 3 year old daughter can sight read about 70 words (and counting), knows her ABCS, numbers, colors, shapes very well, I’ve lost count of her signs (probably around 300) and she continues to surprise me every day. She also loves flashcards and books! Sometimes I have to wonder about that whole Holland analogy because really for us raising her really isn’t all that different than our other kids, a bit slower yes, (oh and there was that pesky little open heart surgery) but it’s true what they say, more alike than different!
Nella’s smile reminds me quite a bit of my Macy’s! So cute!!!
Way to go, Nella! Such a smart cookie! We started with these cards too! Love them!
Have you heard of the See and Learn program (created for children with Ds)? It is simple, fun and free to download. Kits can also be purchased. If Nella enjoys flashcard games and matching, she will love this.
http://www.seeandlearn.org/en/us/default.aspx
Jill B (Overland Park, KS)
GO NELLA!!! How awesome!!! 🙂
So sweet! Good job Nella and Mama!! 🙂
Yay Nella!!!!
Oh yes… Italy is lovely this time of year. 🙂
We have gone through several sets of those cards… Quinn LOVES them & they are wonderful for so many different teaching games.
I love seeing video of little miss Nella bean… please eat her up & cover her with kisses from her friends in rainy California!
xo
Kate
Awesome job little rock star!
Kelle don’t you just love when they start to figure it all out, it’s the best. My little girl (almost 15 mths) is doing a lot of this and I think I could watch her all day as she learns new things. The sparkle in her eyes is so precious because she knows she is learning.
Cheers!
Lisa
This is about the CUTEST thing I’ve seen in a REALLY long time. SO proud of Nella, she was right to clap:)
Yaaaayyyy!!! Good job, Nella!!! You just sold me on the flash cards—TOTALLY getting them for Nora :0 Thank you so much for posting this…helpful tip AND we get to celebrate WITH you!
Love,
Kelly & Nora
hooray for nella!! she is sooooo stinkin’ cute, kelle.
Oh My Goodness!!!! So stinkin CUTE!! Smarty Pants =) I love it! With all the babies i’ve worked with (and there has been A LOT!) I have never EVER had a 13 month old capable of picking out cards like that!! She is too precious!! Love it!
~Beth
My nephew is big into the “Sooo Big!” phase right now too. He can’t sit still for anything and says ‘ut-oh’ constantly! I’m madly in love with him!!
happiness!!! thanks for sharing!!!
OMG! I seriously didn’t think it was possible for me to love your girls any more than I already do in my heart, but this video has me bursting with pride, grinning from ear to ear and wanting to scoop her up through the computer and give her the biggest hug and high 5. And I emplore you to put more video of your beauties on here, cause even though your pictures are fabulous, seeing Nella smile in video and flashy her toothy grin or giggle is even better than I imagined from the photos 🙂
PS My babies both used those flash cards and they LOVE them. We still have them stashed away on a bookshelf somewhere. Why am I not surprised that Nella is teaching everyone a thing or two about blasting through stereotypes, statistics, and expectations. She has her Momma’s genes.
Amazing Kelle. So happy for you guys I am giddy. xoxoxoxo
Jill C
http://www.jillcarilli.blogspot.com
YAY NELLA! We are so impressed – look at that smart little baby you have Kelle (& family! woo!)
This made me cry happy tears.
Wow that is awesome! 🙂
She has got to be the smartest baby I have ever seen! What do you use, magic flash cards or something?!
My 2 1/2 year old barely comminucates with me. We think she may be (high functioning) autistic, and I would give anything to be able to communicate with her and hold her attention for so long! My 1 1/2 year old is much more attentive and communicates much better, but can’t do what I just watched Nella do.
I want to ask what you’re doing with her, but I know you’re so incredibly busy.
Congrats Mama! You’ve got one smart munchkin right there. I’d love to see more videos like this one <3
AHHHHH!!!! That’s SO great! I love how she smiles like “yeah mom, i know im a badass” (sorry for putting cuss words in your kids mouth but… she totally is one) 🙂 So exciting!!
Gorgeous!! She’s so clever, and has a fab mama. Lovely video!
That is so gorgeous Kelle! Keep on doing as many visuals as you can, it is so key in the development of any child but ESPECIALLY important for our DS wonders. My Ruby has always thrived with large cards with pictures and can I make a suggestion of learning the sign along with each word/card as you do them? I cannot tell you how much this is going to help her with speech when she gets to that stage. The signing/visual connection gets those neurons firing and it is amazing how it comes together when they start talking….you are doing so well!! Keep up the good work!!!
Nella is so cute, soooo cute 😀 Wonderful.
I realize I could get such similar cards for my five year old, who really wants to learn english (since when my best friend who is british comes here, my son is sad ’cause he doesn’t understand what we say) – that is a perfect tool!
Thanks for recommending!
Thanks for a cute film, also <3
how wonderful!! that just made my day 🙂 thank you!
Oh my heart!!! How cute is your Nella? Like my Gabe describes his feelings is like this: “I love you like the big big big big fat world!” (That is one of my most favorite Gabe lines.)
Keep working with those cards, Kelle! We used flash cards and board books to support ASL with Gabe, but then once he was verbal (he uses little to no ASL now) the same cards supported his learning to read.
Last year, in Junior Kindergarten (he was four years old) he surprised both his teacher and his educational aide by being able to read all his classmates’ names. Both teacher and EA asked one another if either had taught him. Neither did. It was by his observation skills that he knew what spelled name belong to who.
I love how engaged Nella is with the cards, the camera and with you. You and Brett are entering a wonderful magical stage with Nella right now (although all stages are amazing). I can’t wait to read more of your family’s journey!
♥
Oh my heavens!!!! What a doll! This video just melted my heart… so I can’t imagine what it did to yours! 🙂 That is AMAZING that she can do that! Good job Mama for teaching her!!!
So cute Nella is really a smart girl.
Big hug from Holland
Mirella
http://trinji.nl/
YAY NELLA!!! Thanks for sharing this video with us. It’s great to see Nella in action! She is adorable and clearly very bright. 🙂
I’m planning on purchasing a set of these, and maybe making some of my own, for my nephew. He is non-verbal and this could really lend itself to communication skills for him.
Woo-hoo Nella! We heart flashcards too but we have been using laminated pictures and needless to say they are getting pretty beat up by strong lil toddler hands. Are these pretty sturdy? They looked it…
Gooo Nella! Love it!
I’m so proud of her!
How wonderful! Shine on proud mama 🙂
Nella, you rock!
Kelle, thanks for posting this! I definitely be getting those cards for my newest little!
Adorable…brought tears of joy. She’s just the cutest little girl. My three year old watched the video and said “that’s one smart baby.” Good job mama!
Holland, Shmolland… world tour, baby! Best. post. ever.
That is absolutely amazing. She’s so gorgeous, and smart!
OMG!!!I just checked in & watched the video. She is so gorgeous & smart!!! So happy for you, Kelle.
Life is amazing & beautiful.
This totally made my day!!
Oh my gosh! I am so in love with this! Nella- you rock, baby girl! You can do anything! This made my day!!
Awesome! Good job Nella!
We love those flashcards too.
Simply adorable. We have three packs of these cards- you’ve inspired me to do more with them. We already rocked the “FARM” set this morning & she found the tractor & the farmer!
http://journeyinthesunshine.blogspot.com
Wow! Way to go Nella!!
She is amazing! 🙂
(and her mama too!) ♥
See Kelly, you made it to Italy and are now able to enjoy the sights, sounds and laughter that you could not have earlier! Adventure awaits!
We do those exact cards too! We also have the colors and shapes set and Kate knows red, yellow and blue. Way to go Nella! She and Kate are tracking so similarly. Lets keep showing them that we might just stay in Italy. How about that?
Yay Nella! She is so smart and rocking it out! Way to go Kelle with starting early…it’s never to early to start teaching our kids 🙂
As a special educator, thanks for showing that you can still visit Italy. High expectations are key….
Way to go, Nella… There is no doubt with a momma like you, she will do great things. I think I will get a set of those cards for my little. Thanks
What a treat for my rainy Sunday morning ! It brought back fond memories; my girls favorite books when they were wee little were books filled with pictures of babies.
I love these cards…just ordered them for my 10 month son…Walmart.com has them for $6.00!
In Italy they learn to read. My 22 year old daughter with down syndrome has read all the Twilight book. Go Nella!!!!!!!!!! susan
Oh how I LOVE her. Never met her, but LOVE her. 🙂 Her and my little guy Cooper would make the cutest couple ever. We’ll have to hook them up one day. 😉
she’s just precious!!! what a smartie pants!
LOVE.
You and your beautiful little one are amazing! Go get ’em!
Nella and you are my heroes. <3 Love.
A is for Awesome!!!!!
She is so freaking adorable!!! And smart!
Thanks for the reminder of finding Italy…needed that today 🙂
She’s so stinking cute! I’m sure you’ve already heard this before but I absolutely LOVE “Baby Signing Time”. They have DVDs, flash cards and CDs. My daughter loves them. The DVDs show little kids (including kids with DS) sign different words and the lady that does it comes up with these little songs while she teaches them to sign. They are awesome. We started watching them when my daughter was 6 months old she’s now 17 months old and she is talking up a storm. It probably took her a month to start using the sign language but once she started…there was so stopping her….You should totally check them out. babysigningtime.com
ADORABLE! Go Nella and go mom!
Oh what beauty!! Her happiness jumps right off my screen and I want to squeeze her!! Way to go Nella!! You are “sooooo BIG” and “sooooo bright”! The world is yours my little friend…eat it up…Nella style-bright and beautiful!!
Way to go Mama Kelle! Love your enthusiasm!
Monique
okay I just left you a comment but somehow it didn’t link to this page…. so I’ll leave you another one here. Nella is so stinking cute. I love her little smile. I’m sure you’ve already heard about this but I LOVE “Baby Signing Time”. They have DVDs, CDs, flashcards and books. The DVDs have a lady who sings a song to teach them signs and then it shows videos of other little kids doing the signs (including DS kids). My daughter started watching them around 6 months and now’s she 17 months and talking up a storm, plus she knows so many signs. It’s amazing. She can tell me anything she wants. It probably took her about a month before she started signing but once she did…there was no stopping her. You should totally check it out. They are awesome. http://www.babysigningtime.com
Nella is AWESOME! Good job, Mama! SO adorable!
Precious sweet little smarty girl!! Must get me some of those for mine.
Way to go MamaKelle for being a great teacher and encourager!!
go nella! that is so awesome. we have those flash cards too, they are great!
Love it! and mostly I love your accent! x
That is awesome!!! Nella is truly a rockstar!!! i just ordered my Deo some. I cant wait to play!!!
Oh! Such a smart baby!
I love her big grin when she picks up the flash card……She knows that she knows her stuff – and she’s lovin’ all the praise from Mommy and Daddy!
Way to go!…Rosemary
Go Nella!! I love love love this video!! Give your Mommy a hug and keep rockin’ these cards!
great job nella and mama!!
EXCELLENT! That is so exciting!!! Go Nella!!!
(Enjoy Italy)
I am SOOOO IN LOVE with this girl!!
Surprised? NO – she was born to do great things! And Kelle – it’s a reflection of the kind of parents you & Brett are – you have your priorities straight.
And Sam & Sophie the cats LOVE that she knows a kitty when she sees one! Three MEOWS for Nella Bean! XOXOXO We love her!
beautiful, thanks for sharing
Nella is soo awesome and smart but why am I not surprised!:) Just wait till she starts reading!
My Casey Jane is in Kindergarten and her teacher just told me this week that she is already ahead of where all (typical) Kinders in our district need to be by the end of the year in reading! I almost cried! Her reading to me is pure music.
Enjoy these moments — of course I know you already do!
Love,
Angela
YAY NELLA! My 20 month old looooved this video! Smiling & clapping & cheering little Nella on! <3 Happy Sunday, hope you guys are enjoying the weekend things.
She is amazing! I’ve got tears in my eyes after watching that. Yay Nella!!
Kayla says “awww.so cute”. Nella truly is a rockstar…and you are a wonderful Momma! So glad you love the cards! Now onto France, Brazil, Africa…and anywhere else we wanna go! 🙂 xoxo
You are amazing Nella!Thank you for sharing.
that was beautiful! have you tried baby bumblebee products as well. we brought the dvd’s for tilly and both she and poppy loved them and they really supported literacy development. its very visual as well, just like what you are doing here! love and hugs from another mummy with an extra special girl xxx
Way to go Nella! That is so awesome! You are such a good mom!
Enjoy Italy, baby.Those cards are awesome….Marissa
Yay for Nella! That is so exciting! 🙂 I love seeing videos of her, she’s just way too cute 🙂
Thanks Kelle for sharing! I just bought these cards on amazon for my own “marshmallow” Calista that has the same age like Nella. – Waving hands from Switzerland, Iren
Yay for Nella! Flashcards are still active in my life! Grad school life that is! Getting her started early is key! Go Mama!
Nella Bean! Your momma is hereby under orders to kiss your face a bajillion times because you are the cutest, smartest, sweetest little Nella Bean in the whole wide world!
Yay for Nella! Flashcards are still active in my life! Grad school life that is! Getting her started early is key! Go Mama!
Go Nella!
Nella you are such a smart little girl!
It was lovely to see this video.
xo
GO Nella! My 3.5 year old was cheering her on!
I love that Nella found the cat and the baby card. My 16 month old loves those 2 particular cards the best. I think they would get along well 🙂
Yep. She’s smart. Super smart.
This is so great! It’s so wonderful to see how she loves to learn!
what a beautiful smartie!
What a smart girl! She is leaps and bounds ahead of babies her age!
BTW, positive thoughts for another warrier Mom would be awesome! A friend named Jennifer just gave birth two days ago to a beautiful daughter named Kennedy. Her and her husband were surprised at birth with a DS diagnosis, and their little one also has a heart defect that will need surgery. I’ve sent her the link to your blog, because I know she’ll find great hope and inspiration in it. And, she’s not too far from you- Tampa!
Soooo stinkin’ cute!!!
oooh I was clapping along with her! I still remember when Chloe first told me a shape that I hadn’t even taught her the name yet, was an “Octagon”, she picked it up somewhere! One of my favorite videos ever! Love it!!
This video is awesome! Nella is so lucky to have you for a mom. Keep up the great work!
I remember when everyone told me to read “welcome to Holland” after we found out about my daughter’s chromosomal disorder, I know it was supposed to make me feel better, but it didn’t. I feel the same way as you, I may have to hang here in Holland for awhile, but I am going to Italy!
I smiled and got excited with you through the whole thing! What a smart smart little girl!! Nella is amazing, and her happiness is contagious as she holds that card proudly. You are such an encouraging mama, keep up the great work you two!
I had the lovely privilege, and that’s exactly what I call it, to have a wonderful women (she was 32 🙂 with Down Syndrome come in with her family at the restaurant I work at. She was amazing and so very kind. She had this gorgeous class ring on and I complimented her on it, and she said she graduated when she was 22. I told her I’d just graduated but I didn’t have a pretty ring like her. Such a darling to talk to, and the kindest person to ever take an order from ever!! I believe with my everything, heart, body, mind and soul that Nella is going to be just as fabulous, smart, and kind as that lady was to me.
Keep rocking those cards!
That is so awesome! Or should I say, “Bellissima, little Nella!!”
Kelle I am passing along the stylish blogger award to you. I just love your bog so much and you mae me want to write. My husband has always wanted me to write a children’s story and I just think I might someday. So I am awarding the Stylish BLogger Award to you.
Love Roxanne
http://www.wevegotthgoodlife.blogspot.com
Kelle I am passing along the stylish blogger award to you. I just love your bog so much and you mae me want to write. My husband has always wanted me to write a children’s story and I just think I might someday. So I am awarding the Stylish BLogger Award to you.
Love Roxanne
http://www.wevegotthgoodlife.blogspot.com
Kelle I am passing along the stylish blogger award to you. I just love your bog so much and you mae me want to write. My husband has always wanted me to write a children’s story and I just think I might someday. So I am awarding the Stylish BLogger Award to you.
Love Roxanne
http://www.wevegotthgoodlife.blogspot.com
What a smartie pants she is!!!
I keep seeing my son in her smiles. Love it.
oh my goodness, SO cute, i was “awing” the whole video.
brings tears to my eyes…as well as a huge smile to my mouth. every small success is huge. My son has Down syndrome – he’s 6 years old and we’re enjoying every bright filled moment he adds to our lives.
YAY Nella, What a clever princess.
Absolutely LOVED watching this over and over again.
Please post more of these. So precious.
Kristie xx
Go Nella!!!!! So beautiful and smart!!
I could feel your excitement. And You are awesome!!!
Rock on, Nella! Woot!
Oh my! that made my night! She is too cute. And I love how proud she looks, and how she looks to the camera. Adorable!
Way to go Nella, that is AWESOME! Must get some for my Nolan, super fun!!!! Now go eat some Gelato 😉
she’s so stinkin cute. Even cuter to see her actually do things rather to read about her doing things. Loved the video! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Way to go Nella! I love how she just looks at the camera, knowing she is right! You are doing a great job mama!
When my youngest was in OT, we too used these flash cards. She is now four and still plays with them!
Yay, Nella! You are so cute it makes my face hurt to smile when I see you!!! Keep clapping those precious, pudgy hands and showing off that fabulous baby belly and smiling that brilliant, glowing smile!!!
To NikNok – Am praying for Jennifer and baby Kennedy and family already!
Nella is such a Rockstart! My little boy who is the same age does not pick out cards, or even put his arms out for SO BIG! She is such a gift!
-Jenny
Oh, i loved this! I’m in Holland everyday with my 4yr that has cerebral palsy but I believe we will make it to Italy, too! So glad you know this story. You’ve helped me get through so many tough days, Kelle! Thanks for always inspiring…Vanessa
THANK YOU for sharing! So inspiring. I just ordered sets for my 9 month old Garrett.
I loved this! I was proud of Nella for you! It’s so exciting to see any little accomplish something! Please post more videos! It’s nice to see your words in action!
I totally just bought these cards on Saturday. After seeing your video I can’t wait to work on them with my son! 🙂
I think this simple post made me the happiest, yet :). Hugs to Nella!
We’re in Italy this month, too! My little guy is 2.5 and also has Down syndrome. A few months ago, he crawled by an abc magnet on the floor and said, “Oh! F!” WHAT?? So, we’ve been working on letters, and he now can orally give the sound for all lowercase and most uppercase letters. It’s so fun to see him learn & grow (and is also fun to show off to suprised therapists we meet :).
Maybe we’ll bump in to each other in Italy-it’s a small country :).
Awesome Nella Bella Bean! You rock! We too do flashcards or “Flashing Me” as our newly two year old calls them. Greatest thing ever….the oldest began to read by 4, on her own because of them 🙂 Keep it up!!!
She’s perfect and inspiring.
Proud as a little peacock that little Nella is!!! So cute!! My youngest is one month to the day younger than your Nella and I purchased the cards for her today…thanks for sharing!!! Heather LAvigne Saint John, NB
freaking precious! and so smart. i am proud right there with you!
It’s wonderful to see Nella’s remarkable progress! What I discovered in raising children is that there is lots of wonderful ground in between Holland and Italy as well – take the side roads and enjoy every bit of the ride! So glad Nella is doing well!
Awesome, Nella girl! I am so proud of you!!!! My son, Jaxson, and I were watching you this morning. Jaxson was wondering when we could go to y’all’s house! LOL!! He feels like y’all are family. So, do I and, of course, my 16 month old talks to Nella every time I read your blog. Thanks for making my day every single time I read your blog.
I love this! I had the biggest smile watching this video! You and Brett must be so proud! Great Job guys, you rock Nella!
YAAYY for Nella!!! SO amazing.My little guy was cheering for Nella every time she picked her card! What a cutie patootie genius baby!
You were in Italy baby! You are soo in Italy!!!
xoxo To you all!!
Chantelle
That is so great!! Go Nella! Go Nella!
I just went onto Amazon and bought some of those cards for my 6 mos old girl! I know it might be a little too early, but I just LOVE them! The video of your daughter is adorable. You can just see how proud she is of herself!!
Yay Nella! Such a sweetie!
Okay. We NEED those cards! Ordering now.
Nella is so impressive!!!
Oh my gosh! Made. My. Morning!
Nella Rocks!
That’s amazing!
I’m not a big fan of postcards but this one is picture perfect. So full of emotion, love and awesome! 🙂
these are awesome! and what a sweet little thang your nella is! my daughter, eden (2 1/2) can’t get enough of this video. she keeps asking me “again?” 🙂
LOVE THIS….too cute. She’s so smart! Way to go Nella
tears… she is amazing!
keep up the great work, Nella- you are a rockstar!
Thanks for sharing this with all of us! What an amazing girl you have there! 🙂
Hello Kelle –
I just finished reading your entire blog – from the beginning. Took a little time, but it was SO worth it. You’re an inspiration to all women – not just mama’s, but those who wish to be a mama some day and beyond. I am continually touched by your words and photos, and your willingness to be so open about your life, your flaws, and your family’s accomplishments.
Lainey and Nella are just lovely. I was sent the link to your blog by my former boss, who used to work with your dad at Troy…(I work at the Royal Oak hospital)… I actually had a chance to meet your dad at my boss’s “going away” party just the other week, and what a funny, kind, proud poppa he is.
I don’t know why I’ve waited so long to comment, but as I finally got caught up on your posts, it felt like the right time. Also, as one of many people you’ve inspired… I’ve always had an old SLR camera and have been into photography for many years now, but I just recently purchased a new D-SLR – for sure the nicest camera I’ve ever owned. I have wanted one for a long time, but always put it off because of the expense. After reading through your blog, seeing your amazing pictures, and the way you capture your family’s life, I decided that this was the best investment I could make.
Anyway, really, I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for sharing your family with us and for inspiring me to be better, more present, more grateful…
Today, here in Michigan we woke up to another snow storm… But, I will bloom where I’m planted and be thankful for the beauty and wonder of snow today!
Love her!! She is so smart!
Sweet little smartie pants!=)I love that Nella!
Rock it Nella!
She sure is proud of herself! It’s so fun to see her in action. I think using ASL will make her feel so empowered too – and it would be so fun for Lainey to sign with her!! My girl is downstairs right now reading a 80 page novel -your nella bean will be there before you know it!! Enjoy every moment.
I am happy to know that Nella is doing OK after Saturday’s morning incident and that you had a great time meeting Ryan, Lauren and their beautiful girls, Ava and Millie!
LOVE this video! Nella is so smart… :)))
“We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.” ~Jean Houston
Nella’s so lucky she got such an amazing mama who lets her light shine through! Well done mama!
awww yay Nellabean!!!!!!! Going to look up those cards now…my little Brynn would LOVE these!
Oh- and do you guys have the book Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? Brynn got it for her birthday from a friend and is OBSESSED with this book! Her has little slides in it, she loves to slide to see the pictures! Just thought I’d trade 1 suggestion for another!
Thanks for sharing this. She is just a sweetheart! I found these cards at Sams today for $6.32! My son (16 months) loves the tractor card!
OH. MY. HEAVENS. She is JOY IN MOTION!!!!!! I’m 100% positive she just infused my entire home with joy. Everyone in my household thanks her (and you). Nella, you are a joy champion!!! XOXO
More postcards pretty please!!!
Sooo big and sooo smart! Such a good teacher, mommy!
Heh heh…. She loves the camera :)!! (And of course the Daddy behind it!)
What a cutie pie!
Amazing! Tears in my eyes beautiful.
Love it!!!!!
I really love this video. xo
What a little smarty pants! Love the cards! Just ordered 4 sets of them for my 15 month old preemie to help him catch up on his communication skills! So much cheaper and more reasonable than that my baby can read program. Thanks for sharing!
So exciting!
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Way to go, Nella!!!!
Aww, I loved working with flash cards when my son was little. So sweet. She’s so proud of herself too. Adorable!!
sooo cute!!! sweet little baby girl you have there– actually make that 2 sweet little girls you have!! 🙂
My granddaughter Emerson LOVED that baby flash card … the very same one! She thought it was a real baby 🙂 and we would use it as a “carrot” when she was learning to crawl. The poor card is mangled now but she learned so many words with those flash cards…and is still learning … 47 chromosomes or not!
yay! what a ham! omg, she is such a doll!! Thanks for sharing!
thanks so much for sharing Nella and her flashcard video. Yay Nella!!!! I cheered right along with you and love her delight in learning. she is so precious!
Can’t stop smiling. Off to buy these cards for my babe!
My girls watched the video and ran to get flashcards to do them with my littlest, Reece They were so proud of Nella and so proud of Reece when she was able to do many of the flashcards they tested her on. Thanks for the idea and yay Nella!!
HOORAY!!!!!!! Gonna order some right now 🙂
Kelle, thank you so much for the postcard from Italy–I have a four-month-old son with Down syndrome (Augustine), and I seriously have never been able to stand that “never ever ever” thing in the Holland piece. Who says ‘never ever ever’ will our sweet children be able to achieve certain “typical”goals? I certainly don’t. The world is their oyster. Or, the universe, for that matter.
I’m not going to tell you that Nella is smart or amazing or that you clearly are sending postcards from right in the middle of the Sistine Chapel right now (one of the most beautiful places in Italy where you are clearly spending time). Rather, I’d like to point out some very specific stuff about Nella I see in this video:
1. Nella has a great attention span. A lot of one year olds simply could not have given this task the attention that she does for this long.
2. Nella is very dilligent. Many one year olds would not have been willing to sit there and figure out which card was the ball. If they didn’t know immediately… game over. Nella was willing to spend the time to work at it to figure it out.
3. Nella is very sweet tempered and seems to have a high frustrtion tolerance. Yes, I know that this is often said about kids who have DS, but I am not talking about a stereotype. I am talking specifics here about how Nella was willing to give up the baby card , which she clearly loved, with little fuss and move on to the next task.
4. Nella has wonderful social skills. Again yeah sterotype but specifics: She keeps engaging her dad, or whoever it is that is filming during any “down time” while you searched for the next card. She however, turns her attention back to you as soon as you are ready for her. And she is so delighted with your delight. It made her happy to make you happy, which not many one year olds can process like this.
Love it! Screw Holland and Italy. The world is Nella’s oyster! Keep opening minds. No one can know the limitations of another!
Precious & amazing!!!!
What a smart girl! Thank you for letting me know about these cards. My son has ASD and these will be PERFECT for him!! Thank you, Thank You, Thank You!