This post is sponsored by Fisher-Price who shares our goal and thousands of other parents’ of giving their child the best possible start. 

Nesting was an instantaneous reaction for me the moment I found out I was going to be a mom. Two lines on a pregnancy stick meant one thing: You Better Get Ready. A trip to the store and $57 later (I still have the faded receipt, taped to a page in my pregnancy journal), I had a nice start on preparation—a journal, a pregnancy book, a baby magazine and a bottle of prenatal vitamins. That was just the beginning. For nine months, we prepared for Lainey’s arrival—put a crib together (a miraculous feat, let me tell you), bought a stroller, picked out car seats and baby carriers and folded tiny clothes. Every night as it got closer, I went into her room, straightened picture frames, smoothed wrinkles out of blankets and repositioned teddy bears so that not a hair was out of place. And then I’d sit in the rocking chair, hands on my belly, and quietly take in the scene—a different kind of readying, but one that still couldn’t possibly prepare me for what having a baby is really like.

It’s like watching your heart beat outside your body—a euphoric experience, yes, but one that comes with the gut-wrenching realization that if that heart gets broken, you’ll surely break too. And so the journey begins—keep that heart beating. Find what makes it happy, what stretches it to grow, learn its patterns, follow its rhythm.

Of course I soon realized that the crib and the books and the top-rated car seat were all very low on the list of things that I needed to prepare me for motherhood compared to more important things like patience and calm and the ability to go with the flow. Two years later, Nella was born, and I learned an even more important parenting lesson—that those wild little hearts that beat outside our bodies hold surprises and that the rhythm you think you know—that bum-pum, bum-pum, bum-pum beat you’ve memorized while you breathe and push and wait—can take a different rhythm at any given time.

You can’t control its rhythm; your only job is to follow it, support it, guide it.

I’m three times in now, this third little heart beating fast and furious and up for a game and a chase every day. Prenatal vitamins got nothin’ on Dash’s energy level. But his crooked grin! His humor! His hugs! His cute little feet in your face!

When Fisher-Price asked me to be a part of their “Be a Fisher-Price” Baby sweepstakes and write a contribution for Best Possible Start, I knew immediately what it would be. It’s the most valuable nugget I hang on to in parenting, shaped by the circumstances I’ve experienced thus far and applicable to everything in life, and that is…

Expect Nothing.

To give your child the best possible start, go into the arena of motherhood with a clear mind and an open heart. Do not expect parenting to look like the perfect pictures in magazines or mirror the social media feeds of other moms. Don’t rely on the books on your nightstand but rather on the pen in your hand—write your own unique story of motherhood as you go. Write it together, pen your stories, be open for edits and rewrites, twisting plots, heartache, character flaws and love because every good story, above all, has love.

Fisher-Price is dedicated to helping parents give children the best possible start and celebrating every playful, joyful learning moment in their story. To support this, they are launching a sweepstakes called “Be a Fisher-Price Baby.” One grand prize winner will receive $10,000 toward a 529 college savings plan, a trip for three to Los Angeles and a professional family photo shoot to celebrate the all-important early years. Six additional winners will receive $1,000 savings bonds and three Fisher-Price products that best fit their child’s age. Share your best possible start, your unique story moments and enter the “Be a Fisher-Price Baby” sweepstakes here.

You already have everything you need to give your child the best possible start, but it definitely helps to have a village of support and a community of resources. As you’re writing your own unique story, if your ink is running dry, reach out for an extra pen. You’re not alone.

Thank you Fisher-Price for your support to moms and kids everywhere and for sponsoring this post.

Things I Learned this World Down Syndrome Awareness Day (Saturday, 3-21):
I’ll cut to the chase–you all are amazing.

Two weeks ago, we told you the story of Zach and Ali and what Ruby’s Rainbow is doing to help individuals with Down syndrome go to college.  We asked you to make the 3-21 pledge and donate $21 to Ruby’s Rainbow and ask three friends to do the same.

People, you did it. Ready for the final total?  $118,000! And donations are still being made, not to mention several businesses have offered to donate proceeds from this month’s sales to the cause.

What this means is that you believe in a better future, and that is the first step toward success. We hope schools, teachers, administrators, coaches and employers will believe in our kids’ future like you have. We have success stories like Zach and Ali’s leading the way, and even if the college path isn’t for every child, their stories and your support of them provides such an incredible wave of forward movement that affects us all in wonderful ways.

So thank you. Thank you for rallying and demonstrating such a beautiful example of community. Liz and her husband are thrilled and are already receiving new applicants for scholarships.

I was also so pleased to see World Down Syndrome Awareness Day recognized by so many this year. I saw several businesses posting their support of the celebration as well as many individuals adding their voice to the community. It means so much to so many moms, and I only hope every parent of every child with special needs has the opportunity to feel that their child is seen and that their unique journey is recognized.

Thank you for making this year’s World Down Syndrome Awareness Day so special.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been brought to tears, so thankful for the fact that Nella was born into this decade, her way paved by so many families before us and her journey supported by a loving community that fights for change and steps in to help us raise the ceiling of opportunity.

You all were part of something really beautiful these past two weeks. We couldn’t have done it without you.

It’s officially spring break, and there are too many choices of what to celebrate–blue skies and spring dreams and family and….wait for it…over $92,500 raised so far from your 3-21 pledges for Ruby’s Rainbow. Your support is so appreciated and paves the way for a brighter future for so many individuals. As kids receive scholarships and make their way to college, I’ll be sure to share some updates of their journeys. Liz told me this week that she almost didn’t start Ruby’s Rainbow because she was only a few years into Down syndrome and she didn’t know a lot about running a non profit. Could she really make a difference? Would kids even apply for scholarships? She thought maybe later she’d start something, but went ahead and filed the paperwork, got things rolling. Today, she’s celebrating the success of 42 current recipients and the outlook of so many more thanks to your support this week. She almost didn’t start this dream. I have a lot of almosts, and this week I’ve been inspired by that first step. One foot print is better than none.

This weekend we will bravely go forth into the spring break throngs. Our beaches look like this right now:

All the colors.

And before we do any more celebrating, my house is in need of a cleaning blitz. I’m going in.
Happy Friday! Tackle an almost this weekend.

I’m over at eHow with some tricks for catching leprechauns. Catch one tonight!