PHOTOS BY NONA PHOTOGRAPHY
Mila 1st Place
PROUD PARENTS: David and Josephine Roe
COMMUNITY: Altamonte Springs
WHAT ARE SOME OF MILA’S FAVORITE THINGS? Mila loves play time with her
physical therapist! Mila was blessed with an extra chromosome, and she has to work
harder than typical babies to reach her milestones. She loves bouncing on her exercise
ball, tummy time and rolling around her play mat with her older brother Lucas. Her
most favorite activity is just being in her daddy’s arms. If Mila is ever upset, only Daddy
can soothe her with his cuddles.
WHAT IS MILA’S MOST PRECIOUS MOMENT? We celebrate every milestone our
daughter meets. Some of our most precious moments with sweet Mila have been
watching her roll over at 3 months of age and sitting by 9 months of age. She seems
so proud and smiles big when she’s achieved what she wants to do. Mila also met
Minnie and Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World, and her face was pure joy when they
interacted with her.
TELL US A CUTE STORY ABOUT MILA. Mila was diagnosed with Down syndrome
at birth. As I held her one night in the NICU shortly after her birth, she opened her
eyes and watched me sob. We were overwhelmed with her diagnosis and did not know
what was to come. In my weakness, she gave me strength. She gave me a light smile
and stared into my eyes deeply. It was her way of letting me know that she was alright
and I would be also. She has been fearfully and wonderfully made.
www.CentralFloridaLifestyle.com 13
Brooks 2nd Place
PROUD PARENTS: Michael & Kristan
COMMUNITY: Oviedo
WHAT ARE SOME OF BROOKS’S FAVORITE THINGS? Brooks loves to smile!
When he’s not smiling he’s either playing with his light-up jellyfish, rattle ball or
Mr. Turtle that hangs from his car seat. His favorite sing-a-long is Charlie & the
Numbers’ version of the ABCs & 123s. He loves putting anything and everything
into his mouth, including our cell phones. He is a true lover of food and can never
get enough Gerber puffs!
WHAT IS BROOKS’S MOST PRECIOUS MOMENT? His most precious moment
was when he discovered his voice and had a full-on conversation with himself.
This involved a ton of big smiles, good belly laughs and sweet cooing. His big
smile always warms up the room. We can’t get enough!
TELL US A CUTE STORY ABOUT BROOKS. When we went to get a sonogram
of Brooks around 30 weeks, we discovered our little boy was not sucking on his
fingers but his toes in the womb. On Christmas morning, he found his foot for the
first time and it was like the “good times” came back to him. He found the best
present and it wasn’t even under the tree!
Owen 3rd Place
PROUD PARENTS: Cristina Betancourt and Austin Shipes
COMMUNITY: Lake Nona
WHAT ARE SOME OF OWEN’S FAVORITE THINGS? Owen enjoys being
in the water. His bathtub, the pool and the beach are his favorite places.
Playing with Gabriel (his older brother) and Peppa (our rescue dog),
“driving” Daddy’s truck, crawling in the grass, playing with the remote
control, and mommy’s laptop are his favorite things.
WHAT IS OWEN’S MOST PRECIOUS MOMENT? The day he was born.
Meeting our little one and holding him in our arms was the most spectacular
feeling of all.
TELL US A CUTE STORY ABOUT OWEN. We were sleeping with Owen in
bed when Daddy opened his eyes to the baby looking and smiling at him. I
was faking to be asleep just to see Owen staring at his dad and waiting for
him to wake up with the cutest smile in his face, like he was going to surprise
his daddy!
/www.CentralFloridaLifestyle.com