A young woman my age has a 1 in 700 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. While that fact may be interpreted as “not very likely,” I have been reminded the last several months that there is a more relatable statistic that unites us all. It is simple: we all have challenges and therefore, we all experience opportunities to make the best of what we can’t control.

Since Bloom has been published, so many of you have written and shared how you related to the emotions in the book. Many of you have shared your stories that are different from ours but similar in the fact that you too experienced the unexpected. And through all of this, I’ve found that the phrase “we are more alike than different” applies to far more than just chromosomes. Together, we face adversity—the loss of jobs, divorce, sickness, learning new things about our children or friends or families. We relate in that we have shared hopes for the future. We love our children. We crave the support of friends. And most important, we are capable of moving forward, learning more about ourselves through challenges and becoming more compassionate in the process.

I’ve asked one reader in particular if I could share her story. Her post was sent to me the day after Bloom was published, and I was moved by both her vulnerability and courage. After battling hair loss, Sandra wholeheartedly embraced a new discovered beauty and shaved her head. As she wrote, “(I’m) ready to be me. Ready to not conform to the world’s standards of who I should be, or what I should be ashamed of. I get to search for and discover a deeper beauty that I wouldn’t have had the chance to find had I never experienced this.”

(Read the rest of Sandy’s story HERE).

I’d love to hear more of your stories. This week, I’m introducing We Bloom, an opportunity for you to share your own story that reflects the themes in Bloom. Have you found beauty in the unexpected? Has life taken you on a different path than you envisioned? What have you learned from it?

Reader Wendy N rockin’ out some Bloom in Seattle, WA

In 300 words or less, please share your story in the comment section of this post. Four entries will be selected and published in a special Mother’s Day post this weekend (with appropriate links to your blog if you have one) and will receive a personalized signed copy of Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected. Please sign your entry as you’d like to be credited.

I look forward to reading your stories.

Please note: By submitting your story in the comments, you are permitting me to credit you and publish your story on Enjoying the Small Things.

More from our camping weekend later this week.

Enjoying Tonight:

A New Coffee Pot

Our leaky broken piece of jank was finally replaced. It’s not that I love the new pot because really, I wanted something funkier–some retro conversation piece that perks loudly and brews a smooth cup. But Brett loves it. Like a little boy loves a new bike.

“Did you see it has a push button?” he asked all excitedly as he demonstrated the fountain drink dispenser yesterday morning.

“Yes, babe. I saw it has a push button.” I answered less enthusiastically.

“You know what that means?” he followed. “It means it’s Kelle-proof.”

I didn’t ask, but I think it means it won’t spill or break or make a mess.

Brett and I have different tastes when it comes to a lot of home stuff. He steps back and never minds me choosing everything, so it feels good to let him pick out the coffee pot and even better to watch him turn into a kid when he uses it.

Baby Esther Williams

Seriously. There isn’t much to say other than why did it take me so long to realize swim caps are a baby essential? Pregnant? Add swim cap to the layette list. In fact, pack one for the hospital diaper bag.

Suit and swim cap, Janie & Jack

Family Outing

I love random nights out with family. I love impromptu decisions to climb in the car and go do something. Anything. Austyn needed new shoes, so we made a night of it, extending shoe shopping into a perfume-spraying, store-wandering, stroller-pushing night that ended with cold Outback beer.

And either the perfume was laced with unicorn juice or I just really like nights like these. I smiled and one time when nobody was looking…(ssshhhh)…I skipped.

Moves like Jagger.

Sister’s spirit is free, and her hips don’t lie.

Made Up Games

Somehow the dish soap got dragged out today to fill up an empty bottle of bubbles and, a pail and a hose later, we were knee deep in Suds Soup.

Consequently, Suds Soup is now on our list of fun things to play because not only did it occupy the girls for longer than usual, but it kept Nella from wanting to run down the sidewalk. This is a serious victory.

The watered down suds weren’t slippery, but pure dish soap on cement would be a disaster, so Careful!

Jo and Anna

Life’s been a little too crazy for photo shoots lately, but these vacationers were in town, and it was a pleasant return behind the camera to photograph new faces tonight. Their mama and daddy bought 100 copies of Bloom and donated them to friends and local Down syndrome groups.

Sweet babies, sweet mama and daddy.

*****

Looking forward to some outside adventure this week. And push-button coffee tomorrow morning.

Polka dot suit, Popina Swimwear. So excited for more beach days, more pool use and more Popina retro swimwear! I just need a swim cap.

I began to write this post last night after Brett agreed to put the girls to bed, but one sentence into it, Lainey walked into the office and buried her head into my lap. “Lay with me, Mama,” she asked. And while I’m perfectly comfortable explaining to my kids that yes is not always the answer for my company pleas, there are times when I feel an intense need to say yes. I think many times, it is not their need I am tending to, but my own. I love saying yes.

We fell asleep together, her arm pretzeled around mine, her breath a metronome to the steady stream of thoughts that sang within my head. A review of our day, what I didn’t get done, what I wanted to do tomorrow, what I wished I would have said. And finally, I made the conscious decision to twist further into our pretzel and fall asleep–ahead of schedule, and neglecting pre-bed rituals like plugging in my phone or turning off my computer.

Yesterday marked the fourth consecutive day of gray clouds, parting temporarily for afternoon sun sessions. This weekend the girls and I slipped out of the house early to answer the siren’s call–the simplicity of a crowd-stripped quiet beach, a bit damp but peaceful.

When the rain subsides, we’re outside. Chalking body outlines in the driveway, steering scooters down sidewalks, checking the mail for the seventeenth time because little girls like raising the red metal flag, showing up at the park for walks around the boardwalk and smoothing blankets in the side yard for afternoon reading.

We joined our friends Sammy and Kinsley at a nearby park the other day, and at one moment I looked up to see the mirror image of big sister girls pushing little sisters–one pair sandy-haired, one pair blond, both smiling.

When it rains, we are back inside, calmed by the steady rhythm of April showers and complementing gray skies.

Lainey has moved on from dressing the dogs up and has found that little sisters also work nicely for amusement. Miraculously, Nella doesn’t mind.

Capes, Pip & Bean

Other loves this weekend:

Movie Night with Friends and Baby Ivy.

Feeding the Neighborhood Ducks.

It is the first day of May, and I love firsts. I did the June challenge last year and was looking forward to another one this year, but I admit, I can’t wait. May Day, May Day. I’ve been discouraged by my routines lately and analyzing areas where I can make changes, make sacrifices, and shed time wasters.

We’ve always been great at reading books, but it’s hit or miss the last couple weeks and bedtime routines have been shifted a bit. Brett and I have accepted the challenge of two books a night for the girls, read together as a family before bed. He picks one, I pick the other. Every night in May.

There’s something very motivating about these challenges which work a bit like dominoes, prompting other good ideas and establishing new focused intentions for our family. This was always something we used to do and somehow, we fell out of a good routine. Firsts are great for restoring them.

Happy May Day.

*****

Congratulations to KBL sunglasses winner:

Comment #290, Shauna: Kelle, whenever I get overwhelmed by piles of laundry I know I can come to your blog to make me happier. Thanks for the color!

Shauna, please e-mail your contact information to kellehamptonblog@comcast.net with the subject line KBL GIVEAWAY WINNER, and your sunglasses will be mailed to you soon.

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Sponsor Dashing Bee returns this week with new items in their online consignment shop. Inventory changes daily, so be sure to check in for new summer gear, baby and toddler clothing, toys and nursery accessories, all gently used and affordable!

All collage items currently available at Dashing Bee.

*****

Meagan Francis over at The Happiest Mom conducted her first podcast the other day, and I was thrilled to be part of it. I talk about Bloom, blogging and that half-full glass; you can listen HERE. We did laugh when it was all said and done that this was a first–she laughed at her “ums”, and I am sorry to say, I said “fascinating” so many times, I wanted to slap myself.

Also, for my Michigan friends, I will be in Michigan June 7-10 and will be doing two book signings, one at Books a Million in Monroe, MI on Thursday, June 7 at 7 pm and one at Wiegands Nursery in Macomb, MI on June 9, 10 a.m. (all day fundraiser for Band of Angels). I’d love to meet you!