About Rick Smith

Hi, I'm Noah's Dad and I'm passionate about giving the world a window into our life as we raise our son who was born with Down syndrome. I also enjoy connecting with other families, so let's stay connected.

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee is Coming to Waco!

Bitty and Beau’s Coffee is an amazing nationwide coffee shop chain that is much more than a coffee shop. In fact, Amy Wright, one of Bitty and Beau’s owners, received CNN’s Hero of the Year a few years ago for the great work she is doing through this organization. From their website: The original Beau’s [Read More…]…

This Is Why You Always Want to Invite Noah to Your Wedding

Ever since we took Noah to his very first dance party many years ago, this kid has LOVED a dance floor. He loves music. He loves dancing. He loves being around people. It’s one of my favorite characteristics about him. Down syndrome doesn’t hold this kid back at all! Now he’s in the fifth grade, [Read More…]…

This is One of the Most Important Words You Can Say to a New Parent of a Child with Down Syndrome

One of the first things our OB/GYN told us after we received our son’s Down syndrome diagnosis was “I’m sorry” (followed by something even more unbelievable.) We didn’t want to hear “I’m sorry,” instead we wanted to hear the word that these four moms say at the end of this short video that Hope Story [Read More…]…

How the Peloton Bike Helps Our Son Stay Healthy

Before the pandemic, my wife and I were both members at Orange Theory Fitness (and loved it.) However, around the start of the COVID pandemic last year we canceled our OTF membership and purchased a Peloton exercise bike (and later one of their treadmills.) I had always thought the Peloton bikes were too expensive, but [Read More…]…

I Met a Mother with Down Syndrome and Her Child!

As the parent of a child with Down syndrome, I have wondered if people with Down syndrome can get pregnant and have a child. Over the years I have seen various posts about parents who have Down syndrome, but I had never been able to verify if those posts were true, or not. That all [Read More…]…