Kelle, Author at Enjoying the Small Things

San Diego Part One

October 25, 2011 By Kelle

On a few hours of sleep and some time zone confusion here, so I’m keeping it quick.

San Diego welcomed us late this morning, and if we would have planned this trip just two weeks later, we could have hit up the National Tattoo Expo while we were here–there are signs for it everywhere. You can’t win ’em all, I guess.

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It seems this entire last week has been full of celebrating and honoring and being aware. Friday night, I joined some friends in my first Stilette Sprint for Breast Cancer. The sun spilled its glory onto Fifth Avenue, perfectly timed to set right as the stampede of pink-wearing, stiletto-strutting participants trotted (carefully) in celebration.

It felt good to be there, surrounded by such passion. I loved seing “Survivor” painted across so many t-shirts. And I have to admit, I loved the shoes–even if they were accompanied by hairy legs.

I ran (walked/hobbled/tripped) for my friend Elizabeth who is battling breast cancer right now. She is a strong, fierce mama.

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The rest of this week, we will continue to celebrate, and there will be much more to share as the events of our busy week unfold.

Today, we settled in though.

Thank you, Infantino, for my shirt!

With a trip to the San Diego Zoo where we held our breath on our scenic tram car ride…

Yes, that’s a sticker on my glasses and no, it’s not the first time.

…beheld the wonder of the polar bear…

…and enjoyed a front row seat, just an inch of glass apart from a very entertaining baby gorilla.

This gorilla rubbed his butt against the glass right in front of Lainey, and she was a hysterical heap of laughter.

The girls have found opportunities to make up for our early morning and shifted schedule.

I, on the other hand, have not.

But before I’m off to bed, I’m dusting off my Twitter handle to join a great Twitter party tomorrow, and we’d love to have you be a part of it.

Join @momcentral tomorrow from 3-4PM ET for the #EverybodyPlays Twitter
Party to celebrate the differences that make every baby unique!

Tomorrow from 3-4PM ET @MomCentral, @Infantino, and @KelleHampton (that’s me–ha)will be hosting the #EverybodyPlays Twitter Party! There will be some great Infantino & Step2 Product Bundle giveaways too!

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Finally, Tea Collection is returning as a sponsor this month, and it’s timed appropriately as their site is full of some lovely fall eye candy right now. Tea continually offers unique and colorful clothing inspired by different regions and cultures.

I am in love with their new Puebla graphic jacket.

And these wear-with-anything funky tennis shoes.

I’m so happy to have Tea Collection on board again–and their value statement makes me smile. Check them out!

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It will be an inspiring week, and I’m excited to be a part of Infantino’s campaign to recognize the beauty of all children. And thank you for your support on Nella’s Rockstars Buddy Walk Fund. I smiled when I checked it today. Your kindness is making a difference. The Buddy Walk Fund will stay up until the end of the month because it doesn’t want the party to end quite yet.

More to come. I’ll try and share some of the shoot on Facebook throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday.

Until then, you stay classy, San Diego. (I’ve been waiting forever to appropriately use that).

Buddy Up.

October 23, 2011 By Kelle

This month honors the individuals and families blessed with an extra 21st chromosome. We are one of them.

And yesterday, we joined with other families in our community as we walked to celebrate the joy our children bring to our lives.

That joy was radiant yesterday–displayed on so many faces, in so many hearts.

There are a lot of things I could tell you about Down syndrome–things I have discovered in the past twenty-one months that pertain to my little girl and her future.

But mostly, today, I just want to say how happy I am that she is ours.

Down syndrome is hugged deep in our hearts among other things that make our kids special–like blond hair. Fair skin. Being shy.

Though the complexities of DNA and the placement of genes might have given us a reason to come together yesterday, it was so much more than that. There was a crowd of people–all with various needs and differences and things that make us unique–and we all showed up on a Saturday morning, dragging wagons and shifting babies on our hips. There were little faces with almond eyes, round eyes, brown eyes, blue eyes and somewhere in the middle of it, I couldn’t keep track. Regardless, we walked to celebrate the fact that every child is amazing–a gift.

Baby Hunter, the littlest one there

It was a perfect day for a Buddy Walk. It was a perfect day for compassion and hugs and celebration.

Please continue to help spread the message of acceptance. See a child, not a chromosome. Every child should be celebrated. And every little bit of support helps. Donate even just $5–the price of a cafe latte–to Nella’s Rockstars HERE and all proceeds will benefit the National Down Syndrome Society.

This week, we continue to celebrate the idea that EVERY child is special when we head to San Diego to be a part of Step 2/Infantino’s Everybody Plays campaign.

There is more to learn, more to celebrate. But right now, I am happy to be right where we are. Connecting with others, continuing to move forward, and incredibly blessed to love our unique and beautiful children–no matter how many chromosomes they have.

Friday Quicky

October 21, 2011 By Kelle

I just wrote five different sentences to start this, erased them all and realized…it’s Friday. Fist pump, high-on-life, run-through-a-field-of-daisies Friday. This weekend is crazy–all good crazy, but still enough to create those moments of walking around looking for my phone when I’m talking on it. I once found a sandwich bag in our refrigerator with a jolly rancher and a dollar bill enclosed in it. And today, I called my children by the wrong names and sent the wrong e-mail to the wrong person.

I will be back this weekend to talk about the good crazy.

But for now, I’ll leave you with four little things I’m enjoying.

1.) Imagination
Week two at Miss Lulu’s House of Gaia.

There are no rules. Such an open, welcome place to paint what you want to paint, say what you want to say, dance how you want to dance.

It makes me smile. And want to be more involved in our community and art and education.

2.) Driveway Party
Last night, as temperatures slowly dipped toward their current coziness, we gathered on blankets with friends in the driveway and watched our kids.

Many more of these to come.

3.) Crackle

Dreaming of our fireplace looking like this soon:

We woke up hunting for sweatshirts and slippers. Just how I like it.

Lainey’s cozy hat from our friend, Angee, who makes beautiful crochet goods for littles and mamas. Check her out!

4.) Friday Phone Dump

And now, tell me…four things you are enjoying right now?

Happy Weekend, Friends.

Don’t forget, Locals. Naples Buddy Walk is tomorrow morning. Registration starts at 8:30, Walk at 10:30. North Collier Park on Livingston Road. Hope to see you there!