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• What words could I possibly find to give justice to this book? This book had me at hello, or should I say once I removed the outer jacket/sleeve and saw the beautiful hard cover. I am a picture fanatic and this lovely story of a mom and her family includes some beautiful ones! I have one warning... if you do not like to cry in public, read this at home! I carry a book with me every place I go, it helps all of the wait time we have throughout the day and every time I would read just a bit of this book, I found myself acting like a leaky faucet. It was quite an emotional roller coaster through sadness and happiness, but it was all so full of LOVE. Sometimes life doesn't give you what is expected and hoped for; sometimes you get something better. A young mother's journey through life with a new baby, who is just a little special, but really more "alike". A beautiful book for a gift and one that you must have for your own bookcase. Simply put, I love this book.

  5.00 out of 5

  LisMB

• What a beautiful book and story. The photos are breathtaking and a story on their own. Kelle Hampton did a great job sharing her true feelings and experiences during her daughter’s first year of life. I loved everything about this book.

  5.00 out of 5

  kdkelly92

• First I will say that I read Kelle Hampton's blog so I was already somewhat familiar with her story. This is a beautiful book. Kelle's memoir centers around the birth of her second daughter. Nella was born with Down Syndrome and it was not diagnosed prior to her birth. Kelle writes so beautifully about the revelation that her daughter was born with Down's Syndrome and the her unexpected journey with breathtaking honesty, humor and thoughtfulness. As a mother of two young children myself, I find her determination to make memories and recognize the beauty that is around her each and every day so inspiring. She reveals quite a bit about her life in the memoir and it has not been a storybook life - but she has worked hard to make it beautiful and spend her time really emphasizing the good. This book is a fast read - it has stunning pictures in it. After finishing it I can honestly say I really love the way Kelle Hampton approaches life and looks at the world.

  4.50 out of 5

  alanna1122

• I am a fan of memoirs, particularly memoirs about parenthood, so I was excited to read this book. First, I have to point out that the book is visually stunning. The author includes photographs of her family throughout the book and either she or someone she knows is an accomplished photographer. The pictures included are just remarkable and really enhanced the story, in my opinion. The story itself is tragic and heartbreaking at times, but is ultimately a happy one. The bulk of the story is centered around the author and her emotional response to her daughter's diagnosis and how she came to terms with it. So if you are looking for a book that delves into the medical/clinical aspects of Down Syndrome, or even her daughter's response to the various therapies, you won't find that here. The only reason I rated this 4 stars instead of 5 was because I think the book was often too emotional and even sappy at times. For example, she refers to her arms as her "loving embrace," she and her friends often find deeper meaning in song lyrics, and she cries at the drop of a hat. I can empathize with how difficult her situation must be, but sometimes even relatively minor news, such as her daughter needing to wear glasses, would send her into hysterics. During those parts of the story, it was tough not to write her off as a bit histrionic. Overall; however, the book is recommended, particularly if you are a parent with a child who has a similar diagnosis.

  4.00 out of 5

  fanoftheoffice

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