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!

Wild Rivers

We spent Labor Day at a water park with our friends, the Heiners. Everyone but Olivia got sunkissed, but we had a really fun time. I'm going to attempt to post my first video, we'll see how it goes!

San Francisco!

So, for our ten year anniversary we decided to get away. Just the two of us for a much needed vacation from jobs, reality and yes even Damen (who we love SO much). My parents were thrilled to come down and watch Damen while we were gone and we are so grateful to them for coming.

We had a great trip!
The drive up wasn't exactly enjoyable, I got car sick halfway there and had to drive, but it was entirely my fault for telling Dustin to stick to back road highways instead of the freeway. We stayed right in Fisherman's Wharf, which was great for entertainment, food, and cable car access. We bought a City Pass that got us access to free cable cars, 3 Museums, the Aquarium of the bay, and Alcatraz. We used all but one of the passes and got to see a TON of neat places. My sister, Kari and her family ended up visiting San Fran at the same time so we caught up with them at Alcatraz and for dinner in China Town. Dustin was investigating online and found out about Fort Point, it's right under the Golden Gate bridge and we went there first.

You can just see the enormous block building right under the bridge. Oh and did I mention that it was foggy and windy and the perfect weather!

This was pretty much Dustin's favorite place, maybe a toss up between Alcatraz.
I got this great picture of the inside corridors.

I didn't take any pictures at the Legion of Honour museum or the Exploratorium, but we were there.
The Aquarium was really neat, there were these long tunnels to walk through and the fish above represented the actual marine life in the bay. This picture of the school of anchovies was great.

We also went to Alcatraz, it was really cool to listen on the audio tour to actual guards and inmates recount life there.



We also ate REALLY well, at Bubba Gumps Shrimp, Hard Rock Cafe, Carpo's, in China Town, Ghiradelli's ice cream, the list goes on. . . I'm working on losing the excess energy I stored while we were there, all 5 lbs of it.

On the drive back we decided to take the PCH all the way down, it was absolutely gorgeous!! The fog rolled in over the ocean like a fluffy white blanket and made for a spectacular view. We literally drove along the cliffs, just hugging the ocean all the way back. It was a perfect end to a great trip!