Sept 29th - Oct 3rd

What a busy busy week!! It started on Monday with a very domestic day canning peaches. My friend Kerri was very excited to teach me and I was excited to learn. I had enough to make 11 jars and at the rate we're eating them, they're not going to last long!







Then on Tuesday my friend Allysia, who is currently residing in Bakersfield, came down with her lively daughter Belen for a few days. We had a great girl bonding time shopping, playing, swimming, and catching up. I'm sure I haven't spent that much time with her since we were in High School, so there was a LOT of talking we had to do:) It was also nice for Damen to have a live-in playmate for a few days.












Most importantly on Tuesday, Dustins sister Terra gave birth to a handsome baby boy! Benjamin Howard Huff was born at 8:33pm, weighing in at a whopping 8lbs 6oz and 21in long. He's quite a cutey, and we couldn't be more happy for his parents, Josh and Terra.


Allysia stayed until Friday then headed back. Oh, and Damen was so heart broken that Belen got to sleep in a bed and he didn't that on Saturday I moved in a bed and out went the crib. We're still trying to decide if that was really the smart thing to do. . .
That was a busy fun-filled week, now on to the next one!! (I do realize it's already Tuesday)

Happy Birthday Babe!

On September 25th, of an undisclosed year, Dustin Ryan Howard was born into the world! I am so grateful for Dustin and all that he has done for me and my life in the last 10 and a half years. He is always supportive, faithful, strong(spiritually and physically), and most important he loves me. Also, I'd like to say "thank you" to Dustins parents, Dennis and Marda, who raised this fine man to be the wonderful husband and father that he has become. We are so fortunate to celebrate his birthday with our good friends the Cheesemans, Heiners, and Moesers. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I've been TAGGED!

This one is about your kids, so since that's all I blog about anyway, it shouldn't be too hard.

Name and Meaning: Damen Robert. The name Damen is greek and usually spelled "Damon", but I didn't like that so I changed it. It means different things everywhere I've looked, dramatic/spirited/constant/to tame. Robert is a family name on my side and it works out that Damen has the same initials as his father and grandfather.


Age: 2 years and 2.9 months!!

Nicknames: Bug-a-Boo and Monkey

Favorite Activities: Anything outside, walks, park, backyard, his favorite outside activity is by far swimming!


Favorite Foods: Hmmmm, this kid will eat pretty much anything, but he especially likes Fruit and will disregard anything else to eat it!

Least Favorite Foods: Potatoes, except for fried and dipped in ketchup he does not do potatoes.

Favorite Music: We rock out to the kids tapes I listened to when I was little (thank you Lori), I have to sing the Popcorn and Temple songs from nursery all day, and Childrens Hymns.

Favorite Toys: Definitely his Thomas Train set, for now anyway. . .

Favorite Book: Don't Tickle the Duck. We read it over and over again, I think he likes it because we tickle him too.

Favorite item of clothing: This kid could care less if he was running naked he'd be pretty content. He does get excited about putting on shoes because that means we're going outside.

What makes him happy? He loves to growl at us and see us get "scared". He laughs and laughs. He also loves his baths and would take two a day if we let him! He loves it when Daddy comes home, opens the garage door and runs out to the driveway to see him, that definitely makes him smile.

What makes him sad? Not getting his way, going to the grocery store, he seriously starts crying as I pull into the parking lot, and when his little buddies Darrel or Olivia have to go home.

That's Damen in a nutshell. Now it is my responsibility to Tag someone else. So, Esther, Yvonne and Allysia have at it!

MY blanket!

So lately Damen has taken hold of my T-Shirt quilt my mom made for me and claimed it for himself. He carries it with him everywhere and must sleep with it. If I'm using it on the couch he flips out, "MY Blanket!" and yanks it away. Sweet huh? Damen has NEVER had any kind of lovey or apparent need for one until now. For now we'll accomodate him, but there's no way he's laying claim on my blanket, not for too long anyway.

Poopers

The title does not refer to actual bodily functions but instead to my mood. This past year we've been trying to conceive with the help of my fantastic Dr. Unfortunately it hasn't worked and we've maxed out on treatments. We are taking a break now and I know it's our only option for the moment, but I still feel poopy about it. I think, no I know, this is why I haven't been sleeping well. In talking with good friends and family I know I can overcome my pity party by focusing on my MANY blessings. I've also been humming a lot of hymns which helps when I'm not paying conscious attention to what I'm doing/thinking. So, I'm working on my poopy attitude/mood, wish me luck. Oh and prayers wouldn't hurt either.

BEEE Quiet!

I don't know if anyone else out there has this problem, maybe it's just me. My mind won't STOP! I'm thinking constantly, about nothing, and everything at the most inopportune times.
Like last night when I was dead tired and went to bed early at 10pm, my eyes were tired, my body was tired, but my mind wouldn't shut up! I thought about Christmas presents, to give and to get, things that happened that day, plans for next week, dinner for tomorrow, how good dinner was last night and how I could make it better, I imagined my sister marrying her new boyfriend, I thought I heard something, nope just a dog, now I forgot what it was I was thinking before so I had to start over again. It mostly went on like that until sometime after midnight, that's when I stopped looking at the clock anyway. I've had trouble with insomnia and have taken OTC stuff for it, the problem is my body gets completely relaxed by these drugs, but it has no affect whatsoever on my mind. Any thoughts, ideas, on how to make it stop I'd really appreciate it, because tonight is another night and I'd like to get some sleep!

LOL

This was too funny to not post! So while I was blogging away Damen was at the kitchen table with PlayDoh and he wanted my attention. He must have been calling for me and I was ignoring him, but I definitely heard this, " 'mhere honey, HONEY!"
that first word is come here without the co part. Anyway, it was laugh out loud funny!! I'm surprised that's what he called me, it's what Dustin calls me, but I call both of my boys Babe or Baby and he's around me more. My mom insisted that he said Honey all the time while we were gone, but I'd never heard it before today, hilarious!