It took me four years, I finally did it. And of course I did it Jamie style. I did not buy just any doll and it most definitely wasn't a flawless American Girl doll (There is a long history in the Down Syndrome community regarding American Girl dolls and their philosophy on making dolls reflective of special needs children).
But that story is for another day. Today's story is about this mommy's milestone.
I have to admit the whole process was crazy difficult for me but going non traditional was the only possible way I could imagine getting the job done. About 9 months ago I ran across an ad titled, "Dolls for Downs." I thought to myself seriously? These dolls have to be terrible looking because everything else I had seen as an attempt to replicate someone who had Down Syndrome was insulting. These dolls usually had unproportionate eyes, ears that looked like monkeys, and a tiny mouth so small you couldn't even fit a pretend baby bottle in it.
I was curious so I went to the site, www.dollsfordowns.org. I closed it right away out of panic. What was I doing?
Over the next three months, I kept visiting the site. First, for seconds, then minutes. at a time I probably visited about 25 times before I actually spent some real time browsing. I couldn't believe I was there shopping for a baby doll for my princess daughter on this website.
Throughout this process, I began to get angry at all the traditional doll makers. Why must the creators believe in blue eyes, smooth skin tones, perfectly shaped fingers and toes, thick hair, and of course a flawless figure? It just isn't fair to those who were innocently born with body features that are not considered the norm.
Fed up with traditional doll makers, I landed back again at the Dolls for Downs website (FYI.... They have since changed their website address to www.extraspecialdolls.com).
After hours of browsing, I had finally found a face that was starting to look intriguing to me. The dolls name was Kynsee.
She had mottled skin, almond blue eyes, single palmar creases, a rounded belly with flared ribs, and sandle toes. And better yet, the clothes that Kynsee was wearing were designed to be manipulated by down syndrome fingers with a large plastic zipper on the back of her dress, large buttons with even larger button holes for them to fit through.
The more I studied Kynsee the more prefect she became for my Maddox.
I finally succumbed enough courage to place an order. My order happened to be one of the very first deliveries prepared by the Dolls for Downs company, so I had to wait four long months before I would be able to hold and inspect Kynsee.
I was so nervous to check her out. Had I made the right decision?
Three weeks before Christmas she arrived.
I stared at the box a while before I opened it.
But that story is for another day. Today's story is about this mommy's milestone.
I have to admit the whole process was crazy difficult for me but going non traditional was the only possible way I could imagine getting the job done. About 9 months ago I ran across an ad titled, "Dolls for Downs." I thought to myself seriously? These dolls have to be terrible looking because everything else I had seen as an attempt to replicate someone who had Down Syndrome was insulting. These dolls usually had unproportionate eyes, ears that looked like monkeys, and a tiny mouth so small you couldn't even fit a pretend baby bottle in it.
I was curious so I went to the site, www.dollsfordowns.org. I closed it right away out of panic. What was I doing?
Over the next three months, I kept visiting the site. First, for seconds, then minutes. at a time I probably visited about 25 times before I actually spent some real time browsing. I couldn't believe I was there shopping for a baby doll for my princess daughter on this website.
Throughout this process, I began to get angry at all the traditional doll makers. Why must the creators believe in blue eyes, smooth skin tones, perfectly shaped fingers and toes, thick hair, and of course a flawless figure? It just isn't fair to those who were innocently born with body features that are not considered the norm.
Fed up with traditional doll makers, I landed back again at the Dolls for Downs website (FYI.... They have since changed their website address to www.extraspecialdolls.com).
After hours of browsing, I had finally found a face that was starting to look intriguing to me. The dolls name was Kynsee.
She had mottled skin, almond blue eyes, single palmar creases, a rounded belly with flared ribs, and sandle toes. And better yet, the clothes that Kynsee was wearing were designed to be manipulated by down syndrome fingers with a large plastic zipper on the back of her dress, large buttons with even larger button holes for them to fit through.
The more I studied Kynsee the more prefect she became for my Maddox.
I finally succumbed enough courage to place an order. My order happened to be one of the very first deliveries prepared by the Dolls for Downs company, so I had to wait four long months before I would be able to hold and inspect Kynsee.
I was so nervous to check her out. Had I made the right decision?
Three weeks before Christmas she arrived.
I stared at the box a while before I opened it.
Once I did, Kynsee, welcomed me with a sign for, "I love you." After a thorough inspection, because she had to be perfect in my eyes. I packaged her away, and carefully wrapped her with love a few days later.
Kynsee had passed my test. But the big question is.... Would she pass Maddox's test?
Kynsee had passed my test. But the big question is.... Would she pass Maddox's test?
Without further ado, photos from Christmas morning.
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