Kelle Hampton is an amazing photographer.
She’s had a blog for a while now.
With a respectable following.
But when the birth of Nella brought with it an incredible surprise…
Kelle’s words, photos and heart resonated with…
…well, the WORLD.
No lie.
If you’ve never read it, *make* the time to read Nella’s birth story.
Really.
Don’t say you’ll do it later.
Because it will change you.
In a profoundly good way.
Promise.
(If you are new here, read HERE for the purpose of this site.)
* * * *
Before I became a mother, my husband and I were no strangers to a good impromptu getaway. It wasn’t uncommon come 5:00 on a Friday afternoon to suddenly pack up the car, skip across Alligator Ally and find ourselves huddled up at the Beacon in Miami’s art deco district, ready for some tan-perfecting and mojito-sipping. And, if it wasn’t a hotel in Miami, it was a tent at a state park. Busch Gardens in Tampa. Chicago’s Michigan Avenue in December. The point being…we got out, and we prided ourselves in the fact that we enjoyed our surroundings.
Fast forward five years.
The only Beacon I’ve been seeing is the glow from the girls’ night light that leads me into mid-night diaper changes without tripping over the doll stroller that just so happens to be conveniently placed right at the entrance of where I happen to repeatedly trek in the black of the night. We lost the illustrious label of vacationers long ago and between a struggling economy, busy schedules, and the many duties that fulfill our weekends on this blessed journey of parenthood, “getaway” anymore simply means climbing in the car and leaving the driveway.
And, as absence makes the heart grow fonder, any adventure that includes the entire family and allows us to travel outside a five-mile radius of our home seems to become special in this lack-of-vacation period of our lives. Which is why I find magic in family grocery shopping.
It doesn’t happen often…this family grocery shopping gig as one parent holding down the fort with kids while the other quickly breezes through numbered aisles without a toddler begging for the Minnie Mouse Pez dispenser at the check-out always seems to be the option of choice. However, being the adventurous folks we are, sometimes we choose the latter. Crazy, but fun.
I’ve come to enjoy these family trips. The way they start with a coffee and a slow, leisurely stroll through produce stands. It always begins well. No pressure. No tears. No Nella waking up in the Baby Bjorn screaming to be fed. No whipping a boob out in Aisle 11 while Tony the Tiger looks on from rows of Frosted Flakes. No telling Lainey to sit down in the cart or else she’ll fall out. No ripping open unpaid packages of donuts because, my gosh, I’ve forgotten again to bring something to entertain her and I have three more aisles to shop through. No, they always start well and it’s pure enjoyment to watch Brett pour over prices, comparing Honey Grahams with generic crackers all the while balancing a tot on his hip and pushing a cart that happens to have a wayward wheel. We’re blessed that way…we always get the cock-eyed cart that takes a steady grip just to keep it in a straight line.
Our family grocery trips are bonding. We plan meals together outside the meat bins, we argue over skim or 2% in the milk aisle, and we fall sucker, together, to the pleas of big hazel eyes begging for overpriced Dora stickers on the endcaps. And you should see us celebrate discounts. The receipt is handed to Brett likeThe Holy Grail at the end, and I watch as he scans down to “Money Saved” at the very bottom. And I wait for it….wait for it…the smile. Yes, Victory. He announces the winnings with his boyish grin and we hoorah together like we just won the lottery. Twenty-dollars and thirty-seven cents. It’s a good day. And when our cart is finally full and we steer its crazy wheel back to our car, huddling babies and bags all the while, it feels good. Like the end of a great vacation when we arrive back home, rested and rejuvinated…fridge full of the goodness that will sustain us until the next adventure calls.
Miami may be flashy, and Chicago has its charms. But a family trip to the grocery store seems to be just what our family needs these days.
* * * *
Kelle has chosen to fundraise for the National Down Syndrome Society.
You can enter to win by:
1) Subscribing to my blog. Leave a comment letting me know you did. (1 entry)
2) DONATE to the National Down Syndrome Society by clicking on the Donate button in the widget below or by clicking HERE.
Every dollar you donate, gives you one chance to win. If you give $8 dollars, you get 8 entries. The more you give, the better your chances! (unlimited entries!)
This site’s challenge is to give. A little. A lot. Whatever you can.
Every. single. dollar. helps.
Believe that.
Give $1. Give $100.
Start your week by doing a little good today.
This fundraiser and giveaway will run until Friday, April 30th.
I'm a mom to four. A wife to one. I believe in story. I love telling you about mine and would love to hear yours. There's really no sense in wasting our suffering and not sharing in each other's joy. We're all in this together...even if it doesn't always feel like it.
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I subscribed to your blog.
I have a 2 year old daughter who also has Down syndrome, and I have followed Kelle’s blog from Nella’s birth.
Thanks for having her on your blog and helping to raise money for NDSS. It’s all about raising awareness.
.-= Beth´s last blog ..T21 Ability Monday =-.
I subscribed to your blog (I think?)…tried to do it through google…
I have read Kelle’s blog since Nella was born too and am just in love with her and her family.
What a great idea for her to be able to raise awareness and money.
Speaking of awareness, but on another issue very dear to my heart…
does one of your kids have a chd? I saw the pulmonary stenosis link on the side at my first quick glance of your blog. My 8 month old has a vsd.
.-= Daniele´s last blog ..JJ Cole Outdoor Blanket =-.
I have subscribed…and thank you for supporting NDSS. My brother has DS and I have been telling everyone i
I subscribed!!! I love Kelle’s Blog and I am excited to follow yours! Love how Raise money for charities. Have you ever raised for Autism Speaks? That is a charity very near and dear to my heart, as my darling brother-in-law, Jonah has Autism.
I subscribed to your blog and I love it!! Thanks for all your good works!
I subscribed! I found your blog through Kelle! I love the fact that you raise money for charaties! My husband and I just volunteered this past weekend with Special Olympics and it was the best experience ever! We will be doing more and once my blog takes off I would love to do something similar to what you are doing! Keep up the good work!
.-= Allie Darr´s last blog ..A-MAZING Dessert! =-.
Love it, thanks for sharing Kelle! I subscribed :)
I love Kelle’s blog. Sometimes its what gets me through the day. She’s so fabulous! And so is this site.
and i subscribed. cuz i really want to win :]
I subscribed. I enjoy reading Kelle’s blog and thank you for giving her the opp to raise more awareness and money for DS.
Found your blog through Kelle’s, subscribing now! Thanks!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Mystery of the lost sandwich =-.
Found your blog through Kelle. She has an amazing voice. Thank you for sharing! I subscribed to your blog through my google. Look forward to reading more!
I subscribe to your blog!
I’m a subscriber!
I have subscribed! What a wonderful gesture to do to raise awareness for DS. And Kelle is a perfect medium to do so.
Thanks!
:o)
Jennifer
I’ve subscribed to your blog! My friend Allison is a loyal reader, and has sent me a couple links, but I’ve only just had a chance to check you out. (Also, I saw the link on Kelle’s page and figured now I had TWO people telling me to subscribe, so I’d better get going).
Anyway, fantastic concept!
Thanks!
.-= Syd´s last blog ..I caught Vera’s stomach bug. Her 7-month update will be a couple of days late. =-.
I subscribed to your blog. Thank you for raising awareness and money for these amazing groups.
I subscribed to your blog! Thanks for doing this awareness! My aunt who had DS is only one year apart in age from me. She is no longer with us, but I miss her and can’t wait for the day when we meet again on the other side of life.
I subscribed to your blog. Great idea for raising money!
I subscribed and it looks like crazy~fun here! :)
I subscribed! I donated! I love this idea for raising money for causes.
Seeing Keele’s how blogs are expanding since Nella’s birth is amazing to watch! Nella is already blessing more people than just her family with her ‘Magic Chromazone.’
.-= Jessi ´s last blog ..Nothing Left =-.
I subscribed to your blog!
.-= Angela´s last blog ..Sitting Pretty =-.
Only Kelle could wax poetic about a grocery store trip. Love it.
I subscribed. Kelle’s writing is so fun to read. It makes mo realize how amazing the little things in life are.
love kelly… thank you for featuring her! I subsribed!
What a great idea! I love Kelly’s blog :)
I am now subscribed to your blog!
I subsrcibed. Have been following Kelle for a couple of months. Love your story!! I have two little guys about the same age as your kids – Simon is 2 1/2 and Owen is 9 months – can’t imaging Owen squared!!!! Hang in there!
I just subscribed, I already follow Kelle, she has such an amazing story. I love Pleated Poppy and would love to own a few more of her creations.
Have just subscribed to your blog, it’s an awesome idea and very inspiring! Have followed Kelle for a few months now, and love her outlook on life! Will be reading your blog everyday too, can’t wait to read new posts!
.-= Stef´s last blog ..Bah humbug… =-.
Subscriber!
.-= Stephanie C.´s last blog ..Bubbles! =-.
I subscribed!!! and donated!!! amazing idea — thanks for making it so easy to make a donation to a great cause!
I subscribed. Thank you for featuring Kelle and helping create awareness of Down syndrome. My 13 month old has DS and she was just diagnosed with infantile spasm seizures. It is uplifting blogs like yours and Kelle’s that help get through the rough patches. Thanks so much!
Kelle is a dear friend and will be a great warrior for all kids with DS, I am blessed to have her in my life!
I subscribed – nice blog!!
Just signed up for your blog posts! Love Kelle Hampton’s blog, stumbled upon it a few days ago and can’t get enough of it! she is an amazing photographer and writer!
–kendra
Just followed you here via Kelle…what a great discovery. I’m now a subscriber! :)
.-= Christa´s last blog ..April 17, 2010: Clean Hair =-.
I wish that we could afford to make a donation but with my husband getting laid off (and I stay home) our budget is super tight. I am subscribing but I think since I can’t donate I shouldn’t be eligible.
.-= Bobbi Janay @When did I go from a kid to a grown up?´s last blog ..When does the lasanga hit me in the face? =-.
I subscribed. :) I can’t wait to read more.
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..100 Posts and Bedrest =-.
Kelle,
I read your blog everyday – not sure if I’ve commented yet… – and your posts are always good to read – as was this one.
But what really struck me about this post, was the introduction you were given – beautiful intro Jeanette!!!
‘If you’ve never read it, *make* the time to read Nella’s birth story. Really.
Don’t say you’ll do it later.
Because it will change you.
In a profoundly good way.’
I hadn’t heard of you Kelle, I hadn’t heard of your blog, I hadn’t seen your photos. And then one day a friend of mine posted a link to Nella’s birth story on facebook.
I read it – and it DID change me. In profound ways.
My cousin has Down Syndrome – he’s a gorgeous boy – man, I guess I should say now. He’s 28 now (scary how fast that happens!!), and loves life. He’s got that stereotypical Down’s cheerfulness. I love him for that. Obviously it’s not 100% of the time – it isn’t for anyone. But my god can he put a bright spin on your day. He works hard, he plays hard. He’s fantastic. I already knew that about him, and being a teacher who has taught Down’s kids… I already knew what joy they can bring to your life. But Nella’s story? Chnaged me.
Thank you.
-Jacey
.-= Jacey´s last blog ..Writer’s Block: Take me to your leader =-.
I subbed! I can always count on Kelle to give me a humbling attitude-check about how I *could* be looking at things… and then when she combines her beautiful photographs- I can really understand how her eyes are stay practiced finding so much beauty everywhere around her.
.-= Sarah´s last blog .. =-.
i love kelle’s post. she just lives. she is not defined by any one thing or event in her life.
she loves and lives and going to the grocery store is just another thing she is grateful to be able to do with her perfect baby girls. nella’s life is all about tea parties, baby dolls, and being loved by her big sister. xo
I have been following Kelle’s blog from Nella’s birth and I absolutely LOVE it! Thank you so much for raising awareness and helping NDSS in their mission to advocate for the value, acceptance and inclusion of individuals with Down syndrome. Just donated :)
I subscribed to your blog
I have been following Kelle’s blog for a few months. Her outlook on everyday life is amazing. And now, her posts have lead me to this blog… which I am loving so far. Thank you!
Just followed you here via Kelle…what a great discovery. I’m now a subscriber! :)
.-= Christa´s last blog ..April 17, 2010: Clean Hair =-.
subscribed!
I am so grateful that you have given us this opportunity to donate to an organization that does so many wonderful things…Kelle moves us with her words and pictures and Nella moves us with her almond eyes and Betty Boop heart shaped smile! My heart smiles everytime I read the blog.
I subscribed…and am very excited about it!
I just made my donation. This charity is so worthy of fund raising and Kelle & Nella’s story is amazing! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for providing a way to do good in the world, and for spreading positive vibes and inspiration.
Lovely! BTW, I also live in So. Cal…Los Angeles. :)
– iColossus
.-= iColossus´s last blog ..This was his idea =-.
I’m your new follower. Found you through TIP JUNKIE!