Meet Charlie, a nine year old who is rocking that extra chromosome like a boss.

Here are some words from Charlie’s Mom:

January 30, 2010 at 1:30 pm our world was forever changed for the better when Charles Edward was born. He surprised us at birth with the diagnosis and he hasn’t stopped surprising us since. The scariest time in my life was when he endured open heart surgery at eight months and spent 14 days in the NICU recovering from the pneumonia he developed post surgery. From that point on I knew he was a fighter and together we could conquer anything!

Charlie with his beautiful blue almond eyes, melts the hearts of all those he encounters.

Teachers at school have coined him the mayor as kids of all grade levels greet him and give him high fives.

He has an insatiable love of all things Disney, singing all the songs at the top of his lungs and he often times plays the role of Beast locking people in “his castle.”

He loves his weekly karate class and going to Wegmans with dad where he proclaims he wants to work one day. Chuck E Cheese is his one of his favorites destinations and he whirls around the place winning games and collecting tickets like a champ.

Halloween is his favorite holiday and he talks about Igor and monster mash all year long.

Charlie has his two older adoring sisters wrapped around his fingers and they would do anything for him. They are his fiercest protectors and that I could not be more enamored with!

He has a unique sense of humor and we all can’t help but laugh at the commentary he often interjects.

Charlie, our baby boy, was the missing piece that completed our family.

Oh, the places you will go, Charlie!

It was a pleasure to do a special photo session with some kiddos from Western New York who have Down syndrome for the third year in a. row. I am hoping to spread awareness locally on messages of acceptance and beauty to individuals with Down Syndrome.

Our local news station aired the story last year to shine a beautiful light on our photo shoot experience. You can watch the story here.

BETHANY CHASE PHOTOGRAPHY IS A TRUSTED AND EXPERIENCED PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER IN ROCHESTER NY THAT CREATES CUSTOM NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHY, MATERNITY PHOTOGRAPHY, BABY PHOTOGRAPHY, CHILD PHOTOGRAPHY AND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY EXPERIENCES FOR CLIENTS ALL ACROSS THE AREA. BETHANY CHASE PHOTOGRAPHY CURRENTLY SERVES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE FOLLOWING NEW YORK AREAS: ROCHESTER, WEBSTER, PENFIELD, PITTSFORD, BRIGHTON, PERINTON, FAIRPORT, HENRIETTA, SPENCERPORT, GATES, CHILI, IRONDEQUOIT, GREECE, CHURCHVILLE, MENDON.

To see current work, visit my Facebook page.

…Or my instagram feed.