Dearden Family

Life

2011-06-24T16:18:00.000-07:00

Well, I haven't posted for two months! What can I say...life is BUSY! Danae is being a good big sister...most of the time. She gives Corbin kisses and hugs and talks to him when he's crying...sometimes she tells him to shutup when he's crying. Anyhow, she also loves to push him in her stroller...I know Corbin, it's pink...sorry.

Corbin is growing like a weed and has a contagious happy personality...hope it sticks! He will talk and fuss until you give him attention.

Lizard has been a huge help lately, she is staying the summer to do odd jobs, and also help with the kids...who love her. Yes, Elizabeth, Danae does love you!

My happy boy!

Grammie, Aunt Shell and Eden came to visit for a week. Danae and Eden did some fun activities like make playdough, color pictures, roast marshmallows for S'mores and make glitter horse snow globes.

Danae is Daddy's girl when she's happy...Mommy's girl when she's grumpy or doesn't feel well.

Anyhow, Danae is saying more and more things and putting together sentences all the time. Forget the dolls, her stuffed animals are her babies...and she breast feeds them...they really do take in all that they see, lol.

Michael is plugging away at selling tools, which is going ok...despite little hiccupps like a broken fuel pump in the freight liner.

This is just a quick snapshot update...but life is good and I don't think I could love my little family any more than I do now...they all make me so happy!

A Leap of Faith

2011-04-20T20:23:00.000-07:00

I turned in my resignation to my employer of 12 years! Things are falling into place and my prayers are being answered positively, allowing me to be able to make the decision to stay home with our children and be a work at home mommy, I really thought I would never be able to be a WAHM! It is a very scary thing to do, especially in this economy...but so important. I have faith we will be fine. I will miss my career which I have worked hard for but will never regret my decision. It will be hard to turn in my badge, but it will be bitter sweet. Besides, I get to throw Taser Parties, make stick horses and teach women how to defend themselves!

What I won't miss is the schedule, the politics, the jerks (well, ok, sometimes they are kind of fun to deal with believe it or not) but most importantly I won't miss his first steps, her dance lessons, finger painting, cuddling, building sand castles, opening gifts on Christmas morning...just simply being here with them.

A Two-Year-Old's Logic

2011-04-16T12:54:00.000-07:00

Just a couple quick snippets of Danae's logic that makes me smile. We've been working on potty training and this is sometimes how the conversation goes when she doesn't want to be interupted of her play time: "Danae, did you poop in your diaper?" "Nope, I farted" "It sure smells like poop" "Yeeeep, I farted" (she draws out her yeps) Although, the other night when we asked that question at the dinner table, I thought Anna was going to blow water out her nose when Danae said excitedly "I got diarrhea!" When its nap time, or bed time, this is sometimes how the converstation goes: "Danae it's time for your nap" "I wake up" She thinks since she woke up this morning, she doesn't have to go back to sleep. (Blogger is ticking me off...I can't get it to do separate paragraphs, sorry)

Chocolate Fish

2011-04-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

We got Danae a fish tank about a month ago, to try to get her to sleep in her own room...and it has helped! She has been very good at only putting the fish food we give her in the tank. Sometimes she sticks her hand in, but until today...that was it. So, I'm in the living room with Corbin and talking to my mom on the phone when Danae comes in and says "Where did the fishies go?" I figured they were hiding in the plant and she just couldn't see them. But she was very persistant in wanting to know where the fishies went. Another minute later, she brings me her empty sippy cup which had chocolate milk in it and asked for more chocolate milk. I had given it to her about twenty minutes ago, so I wasn't surprised that is was all gone. She still wanted to know where the fishies went. Then I went to her room to show her where the fishies went and the tank was so clouded with chocolate milk the fish couldn't be seen...where did the fishies go! I hate cleaning fish tanks.

Old Dogs and Children

2011-03-15T07:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday March 12, I said goodbye to my buddy of 14 years. I adopted Tukir from the shelter when I was working there. He was a sick puppy found on the reservation. He was a great dog, despite trying to gnaw on several of my friends when he entered his grumpy midlife. The last year or so, he mellowed out again to the happy dog he was (with everyone...he always stayed happy with me and Michael). I only wish I could have taken him to the ceek one last time, he LOVED the water!

I believe he was also part goat too. He always tried to eat paper, plastic milk jugs, socks, trash and even a ball of lint from the dryer. So in his true fashion, as I was holding him as the vet was getting ready to do the deed, he quickly grabbed the tissue I had in my hand and gobbled it up...I just had to smile...he never lost his spirit despite how horrible I'm sure he felt.

We had Corbin blessed on Sunday March 6. My dad gave a wonderful blessing and Jason, Jon, Jim and Kevin stood in the circle as Michael held Corbin. I of course forgot to hand Michael the pacifier before he walked to the front and Corbin was a bit noisy during the blessing.

Danae was having a meltdown before we left for church...she has more and more of those and she usually isn't a morning person. She was refusing to smile or even show me her mouth and the look on Corbin's face just makes it even better.

Danae loves to fix...or "fhic" as she says...things and help daddy. She got a big girl bed with a under bed hideout and lots of drawers for her toys.

She also got a fish tank! She loves to watch the fish whenever we see a fish tank so we thought it might help her want to sleep in her own bed between the fish and a new bed...and it worked! She has to show everyone who comes over her fish and she'll sit in front of them and just watch them sometimes. She has actually been very good at not putting anything but fish food in the tank.

Welcome Corbin Rafe

2011-02-06T19:15:00.001-08:00

Corbin arrived on Thursday January 20,2011 at 11:49 am. We began the enducement, AKA eviction process, at 5:00 am...and boy was I ever ready! He weighed in at 8 lbs 12 oz... no wonder I had been sooo tired. He was 20 inches long. My Mom and Michael were my support crew for the delivery. It didn't take but a few pushes and he was here...much different than Danae's delivery. His eyes are blue...Grammie and Michael are hoping they will change to brown. His hair is on the light side too...again...hopes for brown from Grammie and Michael.

Danae has only told Corbin to "go away" once. She has had to adjust but she is doing well with "baby Corbin". She helps mommy burp him, she kisses him on his head, she stuffs his pacifier in his mouth and she brings me wipes for changing his diaper. She tries to help mommy pump, she puts the lanolin on herself just like mommy and she wraps up her duck in a blanket like a baby...but I absolutely draw the line when she asks for a "bite" of Corbin's milk!

I want to thank Anna & Nando for watching Danae while we were at the hospital, my Mom for being there for me, watching Danae and helping out, to all the ladies who brought meals to us for the first few nights home from the hospital, to Jim Mathis for bringing me my 'traditional' after delivery blizzard from Dairy Queen to the hospital, to Grammie for helping out for two weeks and to all my friends and family for their support in the many forms...all those diapers, blankets, clothes, gift cards, cash, etc have all been very helpful!

Chocolate Cherrios

2011-01-08T19:28:00.001-08:00

Before I start my little story, I want to preface it with the fact I know they make chocolate cherrios now, but I have not bought them, I have not pointed them out to Danae, and as far as I know she still can't read and hasn't noticed them for herself.... with that said, this is the conversation I had with my little sweet-toothed 2 year-old:

Danae had recently woken up and its time for her to eat her breakfast. She comes to me and asks for chocolate.

I say: "its too early for chocolate, you need to eat some cerial"

Her eyes go deep in thought and a smile crosses her face as she says: "Chocoalte Cherrios!"

Striking a compromise already! So I poured her a bowl of Cherrios and drizzled a touch of chocolate syrup on top....happy girl. ...and no, I'm still not going to buy the chocolate ones from the store :)

Finding the time...and energy!

2010-12-27T14:55:00.000-08:00

Just thought I'ld update everyone a little on our happenings. Sorry, no pictures...I will post some later.

Danae's birthday went well, except for the fact the poor girl was sick most of that week. She has been sick on and off since going to preschool, which is expected. Lots of family and some friends showed up to help her celebrate. The smile on her face when she realized everyone was singing Happy Birthday to her was priceless! She isn't much into the unwrapping of gifts, but gets interested once you show her what's inside. This cutie just can't get enough of balloons and elephants right now.

Thanksgiving was good, we had Bear and Jenni with their two boys, Jodi, John and Lizard and Tonya and Ronin come over for Thanksgiving dinner. Bear and Jenni stayed the night before to help make pies and relax too.

Danae had a Christmas program and got total stage fright. Can't blame her! When a two year old is paraded into an auditorium of strange adults then walked right past her mommy and daddy...all she wanted was us. She threw a fit and never made it to the stage. That's ok, we have been having our own little performance from her. She loves jingle bells and has been singing jingle bells for weeks...which is the song her class was performing. She had also been at preschool since 7 am and the program was at 7 pm...long day for our little girl!

Lizard threw me a wonderful babyshower the weekend before Christmas. A small group attended...it's just a difficult time of year...but we had fun regardless! Thank you Lizard and Jodi!

We took Bear and Jenni on their 4th annual Christmas Tree Hunt on our family's property in Williams. Then to lunch at Pine Country. It was a fun day....no snow this year....just lots of mud!

Danae met Santa, but wasn't too impressed. She grabbed the candycane and wouldn't get close to him.

We spent Christmas in Williams with my family. There was snow on the ground, so it was basically a white Christmas. My mom and I stayed up way too late on Christmas Eve (4 am) making a bean bag chair for Danae. I was determined to have it under the tree on Christmas morning. My mom stuck right in there with me. I'm not sure how I managed to stay up that late...I have been so exhausted all the time. If Danae didn't sit in that bean bag on Christmas, I was going to tie her in it because we worked so hard to get it done. Fortunately, she loves it and plops in it. Only at a Cureton gift exchange would the game FART not be considered a practical joke gift. The game is actually quite fun!

I had my 36 week ultrasound just before Christmas. Corbin is measuring just under 7 lbs, give or take a pound. He should gain about 1/2 lb a week until he is born. I have been having tons of Braxton Hicks and just overall uncomfortable! But, I am grateful for this gift and hangin' in there. Yep, I'm still at work, at a desk of course...no chasing the crooks with this big belly!

Danae is learning new words and things every day and its a blast! Its so much fun watching her learn and grow, there is nothing more I'ld rather do!

Our Etsy shop reached its 100th sale! I made about 8 hobby horses/hobby unicorns in about two weeks...I'm sure they were all Christmas presents. The hobby horse pattern is also still selling well.

The Matco business is going well. We got into it in the slower season, but we're holding our own. Michael is enjoying it and now he is the one who gets recognized and talked to when we run errands...he's not too sure what to think about that.

Well, thats been our life in a nutshell the last two months.

Halloween

2010-11-02T10:54:00.000-07:00

We weren't really thinking too much about doing the Halloween thing this year. Then Michael's Mom sent Danae the cutest lady bug costume.

On Friday night Danae and Michael carved a pumpkin. She thought that was lots of fun. The most fun came when it was time to light the candle and she kept blowing it out. She even got to the point she would growl at the light then blow it out. Then she thought it was funny to grab Daddy's hair and help his face into the pumpkin so he could blow out the candle.

Saturday we went to the Fall Festival at the church and man was it crowded! We had a soup potlock, played some games then did the Trunk or Treat. She wasn't the only ladybug...but she was the cutest! She had to wear a neclace so I gave her one that wasn't very expensive in case she broke it.

She wasn't sure about the trick or treating part. The first piece of candy she got in her pumpkin was a sucker and from then on we had to try to distract her from the sucker so she would do a little more trick or treating. All she wanted was to eat that sucker! She had to look in her pumpkin every time someone dropped some candy inside. I'm glad she was feeling better by the time the Fall Festival rolled around since she had a fever for two days up until that afternoon.

Preschool!

2010-11-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Danae has been showing readiness to play with other children and learn, so I put her in preschool instead of my in-home babysitter/nanny. Danae loves it. She shows up to school and hugs the other kids that are there as early as she is and just smiles. She's been doing art every day and learning her letters. They sang happy birthday at school and now she tells her 'chewy' (pacifier) happy birthday. She is almost weaned from chewy except she recently had a relapse. With all the exposure to other kids and then of course germs, she has been coughing and conjested and has had her first fever. So when she is sick, she wants chewy.

Yesterday another child was crying and she went over to him and patted him on the back and asked him "are you ok?" I think she'll be a social butterfly.

I wanted photos of her on her first day of preschool, that morning wasn't very smooth. Danae had been used to sleeping in and she had to get up at 6 am. She wanted nothing to do with the camera. When we arrived at school, the picture I got was the "are you kidding" pouting look. She was equipped with her ladybug backpack, new jacket and Tinkerbell lunch box.

Her teacher is a personal friend, which I am happy for that. I think Danae really loves her preschool!

Matco Tools

2010-10-15T18:53:00.000-07:00

Michael is home from Matco Tool school in Ohio. He has been on the road now for two weeks and things seem to be going well. He's getting things down and the route changed up to run smoother, etc. I'm very proud of him and I think he's enjoying the change. He has been working about 12 hour days / 5 days a week between the route, closing out, doing inventory and orders, etc. Which also makes for long exhausting days for me as well, but pregnancy will do that.

Danae is so happy to have her daddy home, so is mommy :) We'll keep truckin' and hope we can run the business at least at the par of the previous owner, but its going well and kinks are getting worked out.

...and a huge thanks to Jason and Nando for putting the closet organizer in! Michael loves it and it saved him a couple days of work, like he doesn't already have enough piled on to get done. Thank you, it looks beautiful!

Monkey Hear, Monkey Repeat

2010-09-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I have a bad habbit of saying "Damnit". I never realized I said this word as much as I do until I really started listening to myself. Danae has been saying it and I am trying to get her to remove the word from her vocabulary. It does make you giggle and smile when she says it so appropriately...but nonetheless...not ok for an almost 2 year old...or her mommy...to be saying.

The other day she had a sheet of stickers and was peeling them off and sticking them on her bare belly and legs. She got to one sticker she just couldn't get off and I hear her clear as a bell "damnit stickers!"

For the Birds

2010-09-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

Danae loves most critters and birds are no exception. She enjoys teasing, feeding and petting Emily and has to have her out at breakfast, lunch and dinner to sit on her chair while she eats. She loves to follow the neighbor's chickens around when they make it over to our property. She has really become attached to three plastic dove decoys...even taking them to bed as if they were stuffed animals. Then the other day a Blue Heron/Sand Crane, you know those huge gray stork looking water/swamp birds, flew overhead and I pointed it out to Danae. I had to smile when Danae looked up at this huge bird in the sky, held out her arm and curled her hand under (like she does when she wants to hold Emily or a bug) and said "on hand". Little does she realize the bird is bigger than she is.

Trying to Keep a Straight Face

2010-09-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

Danae has been quite hyper later, either that or I have just been more tired. She had her "Frumpy" stuffed lion and was teasing Emily throught he cage by hitting the cage with Frumpy. I had told her to stop, I had given her a spanking because she didn't stop...and yes, she continued. So when I looked at her with an upset face and told her sternly no once again, she looked at me, smiled, started wiggling her rearend and said "dance".

We plan to name him...

2010-09-12T20:22:00.000-07:00

Corbin Rafe Dearden. Michael had picked out Rafe from a Louis L'Amour book "Crossfire Trail" quite sometime ago. I never liked it and told him absolutely not! I've wanted Wyatt for a long time and Michael said no way! So when I found out my little bundle is a boy I actually hit the internet for "cowboy names". Corbin was one in a list of mostly common names. I wrote it down but wasn't too hip to it just yet. For days Michael and I through name combinations around and one day I put together Rafe Corbin, and it had a ring to it I liked; however, sounded better as Corbin Rafe. I wanted to spell it Raef and Michael was wanting Rafe.

I bugged him for a few days planting, ok kinda forcing, the seed in his head for Corbin Rafe. He didn't like the spelling I wanted so we hit the Louis L'Amour book to see how he spelled it. Ok, so Rafe it is. Once I agreed to that spelling, Michael agreed to Corbin Rafe. So there you have it :)

Got Tools?

2010-09-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

Opportunity has knocked and we opened the door, signed the papers and Michael is going to be leaving for tool-man school on Sept 21 in Ohio. We bought the Verde Valley/Flagstaff route for the Matco mobile tool truck. Michael's last day at Red Rock Jeeps is Thursday the 9th and he is ready for the change. He has developed allergies to some of the oils and working in the heat box of a shop is wearing on him.

So here's to taking a leap and trying something new! Its a little scary knowing Michael has no set income and it will depend soley on his sales, but that can be a very good thing for us too. Its as exciting as it is scary to go out on a limb and go into business for yourself. But the other option is to keep doing what we're doing and just wonder if it would have ever worked out for us.

Here's to something new!

For the Love of Horses

2010-09-05T10:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so these aren't horse, but I wanted to throw this picture in there. The neighbor's chickens come over sometimes and my little animal hound loves to follow them and get as close as she can. She gets upset when they run home and she can't follow them anymore.

Now for the horses. She loves these two. She has to go in and pet them at feeding time and whenever she is outside and they come to the fence she has to say hello. My nibbler, T-Bone, does well with her and usually will keep his mouth to himself.

They love the attention as much as she loves them.

She finally discovered my collection of Breyer horses up on a high shelf. She just had to play with them, and they are quite sturdy so I let her play. She talked to them for about an hour. She washed them, then she put them to bed and got a wipe...or blanket...for each one and covered them up. What was really cute was at dinner she insisted on having one with her, so I let her. She set it on the table and then she held a fork full of peas to its mouth and began talking to it saying things like "yummy".

I know what collection I'm going to start for her. No barbies, its going to be Breyer horses. She really loves her critters! She really never showed much interest in the one baby doll she had.

What to name him?

2010-09-04T15:00:00.001-07:00

Ok, Michael and I have agreed on a name. For a little fun, I posted a poll to the left. Please vote on the name you think we have picked and I will announce it soon.

The baby is a ....

2010-08-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

BOY!! He was cooperating very much during the ultrasound yesterday and made it obvious numerous times that he is a boy. Now for names...that is going to be a tough one since Michael and I don't quite agree on many boys names...time to hash it out. We have so much to get done. Time to move all of our hobby/craft stuff to another location then paint and decorate his room.

Puddles, Bugs and Kansas

2010-08-23T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a condensed picture update. We took a trip to Kansas the end of July to surprise Michael's mom and tell them all another little Dearden is on the way. This time our good buddy Shawn joined us because he is a HUGE John Deere fan and has wanted to go to Kansas for a while since they make 'em bigger out in Kansas. He finally made it and he is welcome back with us anytime. Did you ever see a more contagious smile! That's our happy Shawn, its the squeaky little John Deere horn on this big tractor that has him so excited. We found this butterfly at the farm when we were letting Shawn climb on the equipment. As usual, Danae was very interested in it, she didn't touch this one though.

Danae watched the Leoti parade, which is one of the few parades I've been to that remembers what a parade is supposed to be with passing out candy, etc. Danae collected several suckers, or "sticks" as she decided to call them. She is pictured above with her cousin Eden who is one year older than her.

Danae has sat on the horses a few times, once with mommy in uniform, then when mommy or daddy held her up there and this time she actually rode around a little with Daddy on T-Bone. She of course loved it!

This water hound was so excited when we introduced her to puddles. Now I'm not sure that she gets excited over the rain because she likes the rain or because it makes puddles. She gets so upset when mommy or daddy go out into the heavy rain, I think it scares her. Thanks to Lizard, these cute pink sandals make the best little puddle jumpers!

Of course with rain comes snails. This was Danae's first introduction to snails and she was intrigued at first and soon lost interest, but she of course wanted to hold it.

My Little Dipper

2010-08-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Danae LOVES dip! It doesn't matter if its ketchup, ranch, applesauce, peanut butter, apricot sauce, guacamole, etc... if it looks like she can dip something in it...she does. Everything tastes better with dip and if you can't get her to eat something, give her something to dip it in. :)

Some things that come to mind are corn chips in ranch, chicken in apple sauce...oh and mashed potatoes because that counts as dip too. She dipped her peanut butter and jelly sandwich in her yogurt (or "yogie" as she calls it). Then yesterday when she dipped her peanut butter and jelly sandwich in some ranch dressing because she pulled it out of the fridge when I was getting the jelly and pleaded for some "dip". The gross thing is...she ate it!

P.S. I'll post some pictures soon

Baby Spice

2010-08-05T19:47:00.000-07:00

No, not one of the spice girls, rather its a seasoning for babies. Michael started calling baby powder Baby Spice several months ago when he would sprinkle powder on Danae, I thought it was cute and joined in when I would sprinkle it on her. Well, Danae is picking up phrases and words every day. We were at a restaurant the other day when Danae says "BB Spice", we realized she was reaching and asking for the pepper on the table. So, we gave it to her and she sprinkled some on her food while saying "BB Spice". Cute.

Then, yesterday we were eating breakfast at a restaurant in Santa Fe and Danae asked for the Baby Spice. Since the food was taking forever to get there, we gave it to her for entertainment and simply to occupy her. She lifted her shirt and sprinkled the pepper on her lap while saying "BB Spice". Well.... it was cute and better than the night before at Red Lobster when she informed us loudly that she had poop in her diaper as she grabbed her rear end. ...and so it starts...

Catching Up

2010-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Danae is taking in the sport of soccer...this is very serious stuff! We watched Rylee play her first game of the season followed by Micah and Weston's first game of the season. The weather was very nice. Micah and Weston 'graduated' to a much larger field this year.

The Red Vipers

Rylee and her coach, AKA Daddy. Her team...the Unicorns.

Micah and Rylee watching Weston and the rest of the team play. Micah is like a big brother to Danae, making sure she's ok.

The Cureton Cousins at the Deer Farm. Rylee, Micah, Lizard, Danae and Weston.

The deer certainly know how to hussle you for the food. Danae was a little overwhelmed at first but warmed up to them. It wasn't until we were ready to leave that she got more interested in the small goats and other critters she could pet.

My first dress (or any clothing for that matter) that I have sewn! I had a little...ok a lot...of help from Marlayne. It turned out so adorable!

We visited our friends Ahna, John and Jack in Cortez, CO in June. Jack and Danae played much more this time. They both love bubbles and balloons. The weather was georgeous! Michael wants to move there even more now...I'm not so opposed to it...but a lot would have to happen to make the move. I'm a deep rooted Arizona girl...but who knows, right?

We went to Mesa Verde, or at least part of it. Danae was a great sport and hiked on her own some times. She loved climbing these stairs. Notice the flower she won't let go of? She loves picking flowers.

Danae and Jack in the wagon...yet another love of Danae's. I think its time to find her a full size one that works so she can play in one here at home.

Sleep Tight

2010-07-04T09:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the difference between a frustrating moment and a moment to cherish comes down to how you choose to look at it.

Danae has been rebelling against sleeping in her own bed lately, only at night since she is taking naps just fine in it. She'll start screaming moments after she has been laid down and tucked in. Michael and I are trying to be the 'good' parents and make her sleep in her own bed and let her fall asleep on her own. After about 30 minutes or so of screaming, especially when she starts crying "mommy", I can't take it because I know I can make it stop and soothe her.

In the room I go to meet Danae who is standing in her crib with her arms stretched out and her little body shaking because she has worked herself up so much. She clings to me so tight as I grab her out of her crib and we rock in the rocking chair as her little snivel shakes slow down and eventually stop.

We rock together to the sound of her lulubies and both fall asleep. I remind myself that no, these moments won't last forever and there will soon come a time when she won't need me like that any more. I choose to look at these moments as moments to cherish and not let them frustrate me, enjoying the cuddling time late at night when we both are exhausted and she just doesn't want to be alone.

My little Entomologist, Horticulturist, Artist and Cowgirl

2010-05-21T16:25:00.001-07:00

Danae loves bugs...selectively. We were out pruning the roses the other day and she sees some bees on a bush, she holds her arm out (like she does when we put a ladybug on her) and says "bug on". Of course that didn't happen. Fortunately a few minutes later we found a lady bug for her and she absolutely wanted it to crawl on her. She walks around so carefully when one is on her. Then, when she see ants crawling around she will hold her arm out, regardless of the previous biting incident, and say "bug on", then when we tell her yucky she starts stomping on them. Precious isn't it.

She loves flowers, she will usually pick them and give them to guests before she gives them to mommy, what a little hostess. Its a good thing we have a lot of flowers coming in.

She got upset when she brought Daddy's boots to him and he tried to help her stand in them, she was happy when she could just sit on the floor and put her legs in his almost knee-high boots.

Michael made this chalk board for my self-defense classes (to direct people where the class was), Danae loves it and she uses a box of sidewalk chalk to practice her art skills.

Beautiful Cousins

2010-05-05T21:50:00.000-07:00

Heather and Rylee came for the day to do a photo shoot of Heather's Sugar Plum Cowgirl dress-up tutus and my Lil' Wrangler Denim Sunhats.

...of course T-Bone wouldn't stand to be left out...such a ham!

Danae LOVED wearing Rylee's red boots, she wore them all day and whined for them when they were packed up.

Rylee was such a big help with Danae and Danae just wanted to pick flowers for everyone.

We got a lot of really cute photos!

Danae loves all the animals and is certainly my little cowgirl!

Ladybugs, Ants and a Fart Machine

2010-04-21T09:44:00.000-07:00

Danae was helping Daddy put a small garden patch in while mommy was sleeping (this day time sleeping / night shift stuff is getting old...but almost over) and they found a ladybug. Danae was intrigued with it and let it crawl on her. After I woke up, I joined them. Daddy found the ladybug again, so I got a couple photos. She let it crawl on her and when it got to the tip of her finger she ever so gently moved her hand to her tongue...WAIT...yep...she touched it to her tongue before I realized she really was going to put this bug in her mouth. Then it was back to letting it crawl on her arm until she pinched it to try to pick it up.

Danae had left her peanut butter cracker on the ground earlier in the day and it was now covered with ants. I turned to give the camera to Michael and heard a painful scream come from Danae. She had picked up the ant covered cracker and now her little hand was covered in ants! I quickly dumped her hand in the horse trough then took her inside for some first aid while Daddy took vengence on the ants. Her little hand was red and welted from bites.

A girl after her daddy's heart...

...and his nose. She's just returning the favor of wiping it for him.

A little blurry, but too cute so I had to share!

Yesterday I was cleaning out and organizing the junk drawer and found the fart machine I had bought years ago...so I showed Danae how to push the button. She finds it humorous as any Cureton would and it has been a favorite toy. (isn't that fun!)

Some Pictures

2010-04-13T22:37:00.001-07:00

Things have been busy, but mostly I have been living in a 'fog' while working night shifts, I don't really feel like I am completely 'with it'. Only 4 more weeks of nights then I get to work 16 weeks of days...I don't even care that it is in the heat of the summer, I am really looking forward to it!

Two of the highest paid and long term employees in the PD were laid off last week due to the budget. It certainly sent morale down a few more notches.

Michael is dealing with drama at his job, but grateful to have one.

Danae loves to read...the pictures...and be read to. She is now starting to go to the bookshelf and grab a book or five to be read at bedtime.

She LOVES her cowgirl boots.

Thanks to Papa, she has developed a fettish for balloons. She will carry it everywhere and it takes a while for her to get tired of it. Papa and Grammie visited for a few days during the middle of March. (I really need to get better at taking pictures)

I made Danae an Easter Basket. It was a creative brainstorm that turned out pretty good. I spent about 30 plus hours on it and had numb fingers for a week or so...but hey...it should last a long time! (I hope)

Danae has discovered how easy our shoes are to put on. She usually grabs my boots, tennis shoes or Michael's flip flops. She decided to coordinate on this day and put my slippers on.

I bought her this horse hooded towel from Etsy for Easter. It is a really nice towel and so darn cute! Now she has two really nice hooded towels...gives me a little more time to do laundry :)

Danae and I walk to mailbox most days to get the mail. It is so funny watching her stop along the way and pick up as may rocks as she can hold. Fortunately we aren't lacking in rocks.

I know there is more that has gone on since I last posted, but I can't think of it right now and wanted to get something put on my blog. Hope everyone is doing well!

A Sticky Situation...

2010-03-08T22:17:00.000-08:00

Danae discovered stickers! She had to have mommy peal them off for her and she would wait for me to stick 'em to her, then she would move them around or stick them on something else. But the green happy face stayed put right on the tip of her nose...guess that's where she liked it.

Her Little Quirks

2010-02-22T11:26:00.000-08:00

Danae is showing more and more of her character and personality every day. She's 15 months old now. I just wanted to share a couple of things she has done lately that made me smile.

She gets a little sheepish grin and will back up a little then run 'full blast' and head butt you in the leg. Don't know where she figured this out...I only taught her noggins...but she's my little billy goat (yep, she's trying to eat paper too)

I have kept Danae in the bathroom with me when I shower since she was itty bitty, unless Michael was home. As she grew out of her bouncy seat, she would play with toys on a blanket, when she began crawling, she wanted to open the shower door and throw toys in and I would toss them out for a little game. As she progressed she just thought it was funny to open and shut the sliding shower door. Well, the other day, I was showering and playing the toy tossing game. When I looked to check on her she had decided she wanted to shower too and was standing in the shower with me...jammies, diaper and all, looking up into the falling water with the biggest smile. Well...when you can't beat 'em, join 'em, she loved it. I haven't been able to get away with taking a shower alone since.

She loves her stick horses and rocking horse. Granted, she doesn't ride the stick horses, she just drags them around. She get up on that rocking horse and rocks as hard as she can, sometimes with her feet up by the horses neck. She's my little cowgirl!

I also can't do my hair or makeup without her wanting to sit on the counter and comb her own hair and put barrettes on her head 'asking' me to put them in her hair. Once I put them in her hair, she turns around to look at herself in the mirror.

She'll put anything she can on her wrist for a bracelet...if its small and round...must be where it goes! The other day she grabbed a raw onion ring from Daddy's plate and slipped it on her wrist. Empty toilet paper rolls are not excluded either.

The other day, T-Bone put his head down by her to see what she was doing and she just looked him square in the face and put a hand on each side of his nose and laughed. She isn't afraid of any animal so far.

Takin' in some Basketball

2010-02-08T21:40:00.000-08:00

Danae loves to play with her cousins and I think they enjoy making her laugh and playing with her too! Danae and I hitched a ride with Jason and Heather (Michael had to work) to go to Phoenix to watch Lizard play basketball. Danae did quite well and for a little while sat right next to Micah and Weston, who helped me keep her off the court.

She loves her Uncle Jason too. When the game was over, she was amazed by him dribbling the basketball and had to go play.

She is my daughter... :)

Micah, Weston and Rylee helped Danae pick "flowers" once they realized how interested she was in them. They were really weeds...but its all in the eye of the beholder right...and really, if it has colorful petals shouldn't it be a flower?

(I 'borrowed' this photo from Heather...I need a better camera)
Lizard is new to the sport of basketball and I am so proud of her for going for it and playing! She made two baskets, both were great and one was absolutely beautiful! She did a fast break and went for it, she made the basket on a lay-up and in it went! Her excitement is something I will never forget. It made me so happy to see her so excited, it brought a little tear to my eye and yes Jodi...I saw your tears too! Keep it up Lizard...we love you!

Our new pony.....ah...dog

2010-01-30T14:55:00.000-08:00

Meet Cledus...our new dog. A friend of ours moved and couldn't keep him, so we took him in. I've always wanted a Great Dane. There will be a little adjustment phase, but I think he'll fit in well.

What's new?

2010-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Things have been busy and its been a month since I have posted anything. We went to Kansas via Amtrak to see Michael's family and celebrate an early Christmas. Not sure we are going to do Amtrak again any time soon, we will probably drive half way one day and the rest of the way the next. It is just getting to frustrating to ride the train with a toddler, although we had so many people tell us how well behaved she was.

I had to work on Christmas day, so we did a little family Christmas dinner and gifts with Nanny Judy on Christmas eve after Michael and I got home from work. Lizard came to visit for few days and we took a trip to see my family for a late Christmas dinner of sorts. We didn't do anything for New Years...Michael and I both had to work.

Last weekend we went to Flagstaff for Micah and Weston's baptism. I took my camera and managed not to take one picture! It was a beautiful baptism and I am so proud of them!

Danae is such a character. She loves to have washclothes on her head...daddy started that one. She is such a bright spot in my life, I wish so badly we could afford for me to be a stay-at-home mommy....which is odd since I always said that wouldn't be for me.

Danae adores Lizard and is her little shadow when she visits.

Danae got a taste of the Vanilla Cream Soda and kept taking the bottles, she LOVES cream soda...and no, we didn't give her very much.

Her new thing is she has learned to give 'noggins' and man can she butt heads when she wants to. Her newest thing, in the past few days, is she now knows how to blow kisses and it just melts my heart!

I start night shifts tonight, for the next four months, I have been dreading it for months and am trying to find the positive to it. I am so far from being a night owl, its rediculous.

Third Anual Johnson Christmas Tree Hunt!

2009-12-14T19:33:00.001-08:00

We kicked off our outing with a trip to the Red Lake Junction Railroad...Thanks Amy and Robbie! Caleb was thrilled. He asked his mom if we were going to get tickets and when we were all aboard and Robbie punched out tickets, Caleb loved it. When Robbie gave him the chance to blow the train whistle, Caleb was all over it.

Then we went to the "ranch" to pick out a Christmas tree...and this year was a hunt. The snow was hard on top and Dad couldn't get the truck even to the gate...time to hoof it! You know, I forgot how hard it is to walk in deep hard snow! We have got off easy the last two years and hadn't hiked far at all to get the perfect tree.

As Dad usually does, he went off in his own direction and eventually found a really nice one and the rest of us hiked to the sound of his whistle. The hike wasn't without cold-wet feet, a fall on my rump (while carrying Danae), bumping Danae into a tree branch, being more than ready for lunch and Caleb climbing into a down tree and getting stuck...when Jennie climbed over to get him he asked "are you coming to rescue me". Its amazing how much you can sweat in 40 degree weather and snow when your hiking around!

Mom trudged along with us and toward the end, Dad decided to give her a hand.

Danae was wiped, not that she was carried the majority of the time because she refused to walk. None the less, she was a little trooper...it was just her nap time! We culminated our day with a late lunch at Pine County Restaurant. Even with the snow trudging, I had fun! Now time to pack for Kansas...

My Little Helper...Already!

2009-12-02T19:25:00.001-08:00

Danae started helping me when I sweep the floor about a week or so ago, all on her own...no one showed her this little thing she does. It used to be that I needed her in her playpen or for Michael to hold her so I could sweep, or I would even wait until she was asleep because she loved to crawl through the dirt pile...then walk through the dirt pile...then pick through it and see what she could eat.

Danae got her eating habits from mommy and makes quite the mess where she has been eating and chunks of food she has thown overboard lie in wait on the floor. I can sweep the floor when she is out and about now because she will leave it alone since she has a clear understanding of "no" and she usually listens.

She started doing the cutest thing and when I get the broom out and start a dirt pile she will now go to her mess on the floor and bring chunks of fallen food to the dirt pile and toss it in, if she missed the dirt pile, she picks it back up and gently places it in the dirt pile...then goes back for more chunks of food. I can't help myself...it just makes me laugh so I had to share. I love this baby girl!

Boo Boo

2009-11-16T18:20:00.001-08:00

Danae got her first real boo boo today when she was having fun walking outside and slipped on some rocks. I know it is the first of several to come, but hopefully they won't be much worse than this, it just makes me sad to look at her little scrapes. After I took the picture more red marks began emerging on her nose and forehead, poor girl! But she handled it like a big girl. After a little clean up and some cuddling, she was ready to run again.

Happy Birthday Danae!

2009-11-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

Danae needed a little help from Uncle Jason to get the birthday cake mess started. She didn't get nearly as messy as I was expecting, but we still 'tossed' her in the tub after cake.

She was a little overwhelmed with everything, but was good tempered the whole time. It was great to have everyone who could make it here to help celebrate! She love all of her new clothes and toys...even the educational ones...Anna...

All I have to say of this picture is she is her father's daughter! (sorry so short...busy...busy)

Our Little Accomplishments

2009-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

We didn't take Danae out for Halloween, I had worked that day and had to be in dark and early for work on Sunday morning. Tonya and I dressed Danae and Ronin in some costumes some one gaver her on one of our days off before Halloween. The idea was to get a good photo op, but we took what we got. The pony outfit was very hot and Danae wasn't too hip on having the "head" hood on, by the time we put her and Ronin together for a picture, she was over it and wanted out and NOW.

Danae is walking like a pro, she even tries running...not always with a lot of success. She was very cranky on her first birthday...I told her she has many more to come so she just better start accepting them :)

Michael got the wood burning stove all finished and boy does it make a difference, not NEARLY as drafty and heats the home quite nicely...another fan or two to help move air and we'll be set. The fireplace above (last year) was built into the wall. Michael and Nando knocked out the wall in July and Michael has been tinking with it since. It was all set and fired up by mid October, just in time for the five days of cold before it warmed up again...

Didn't he do a GREAT job!

As for me, I held my first public self defense class and thanks to a front page article in Sedona's paper the week before the class, I had a good turn out and it went well. I'll keep working on making this little business venture grow...so far, it is showing promise.

Danae's Wishing Well

2009-10-12T15:48:00.000-07:00

Testing the waters...

...picking the perfect rock...

...Plop...

That was fun...since we'll never run out of rocks...we can do this all day long!

Stick Horses

2009-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

I drew up a pattern for these stick horses and you can get quite creative with them. Michael devised an idea to keep the stick in sturdily. If you (meaning family and friends) would like the pattern, let me know and I'll e-mail it to you. Anyone else who might be viewing this...please visit rustichorseshoe.etsy.com where you can purchase the pattern.

I was so excited that I created them from scratch, I just had to show everyone! Maybe I can sew afterall...well, I have yet to make any clothing (real sewing)!

First Solo Steps!

2009-10-09T19:09:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting to post about this since last week, I haven't been this excited in a while. I was trying to get a good photo to go with it, no such luck...so I won't hold off any longer.

Last week, October 2 to be exact, I came home and Nanny Judy passed off Danae as usual, helping her walk to me. Nanny Judy let go a little bit before she reached me and Danae kept coming! She took her first solo steps and I was home to witness it (just wish Michael could have been too). Its a week later and she will take about ten to twelve steps, almost always someone has to be in front of her coaching her...but the little stinker "took off" on us the other day in the leather store. We stood her on the floor while we looked at some things and next thing we know, she is walking away from us and laughing all the way! Michael caught her as she was falling.

I love watching how excited she gets when she walks on her own!

I know, I know....now the fun starts. Bring it on!

A Trip to Cortez

2009-10-01T20:04:00.000-07:00

Michael, Danae and I took a road trip to Cortez, Co to visit my friends Ahna & Jon and Danae's little buddy Jack. It was a short trip but a nice little get away. The morning before we left, we hiked by Ahna's house and looked at some Indian Ruins. By the end of the hike, both kids were asleep...fresh air just relaxes a person!

We took a drive to Durango and Jack and Danae held hands in their carseats, not to mention they kept swapping pacifiers...guess the one you don't have is the one you really want...until you get it...then wait...the one you just had is the one you really want and you need to get it back. It was a blast watching them play and entertain each other. Danae was ready for her nap in this picture and Jack had his funny bone tickled since he kept cackeling (which was so cute).

Thanks again for your hospitality and great food, Ahna! If Michael could, he would have us all packed up tomorrow and moving to Cortez. The farmland with the mountain backdrop was beautiful. ...and so much of it looks like Arizona while so much of it doesn't.

We stopped at the Four Corners monument. Michael has never been and I was around 7 when I went. It was quite busy for a Tuesday afternoon. Danae's not even one and she has been to Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico and Utah (of course Arizona)!

Her little friends are all boys....

2009-09-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

So I have realized most of my friends with young children have boys...so Danae has her little group of boyfriends. This is Jack. He is three months older and lives in Colorado now, but hopefully they will still get to see each other fairly often.

Caleb is three years older than Danae and just adores her and kisses her about twenty times each time we visit. Thats ok, I think its absolutely adorable...especially when he tries to go for the lips and his Mom or Dad reminds him to kiss her on the cheek.

Guess a closed Milk Bone box is no match for Danae, we caught her chewing on one and she seemed to be enjoying it!

Danae has been enjoying her baths more and more. She has four little rubber duckies: MARINE duckie, Police duckie, cheerleader duckie and Mexican duckie. She has also discovered how to pull the plug, so unless we want bath time cut short I have to keep her from that one.

She is not picking her nose, she is pointing to her brain! Whats funny is she did this so quickly I didn't know that it is was the picture I got until I was uploading them...then it just cracked me up!

Danae loves to walk outside, when your holding her hands of course. She now gets excited when I get home and we go for a little stroll outside. She is definately forming a litte 'tude...but she is still as sweet and adorable as ever! Her new favorite thing, other than walking around, is feeding Mommy and Daddy...

Update

2009-08-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

I have no pictures to post at the moment...I will soon. But, it has been so long since I posted I just wanted to give an update.

I turned 30 last week and Anna and Alex put together a wonderful surprise party with the help of everyone who attended. THANKS...I loved it...even if I kinda knew something was up. My amazing family and some of my awsome friends were there...it was GREAT!!!!!

Danae is getting more vocal all the time. She walks very well when holding hands and is constantly pulling herself up on things. She loves to crawl as fast as she can and look back to see how close you are. She just giggles so much and when you are really close she will plop to her belly and kick her legs, giggling the whole time while she waits for you to catch her.

Michael was the jeep driver for an MTV program "tough love" for one of the couples in the series. He dresses a very handsome 1800's cowboy, so even though he isn't a jeep driver...he's the mechanic...his boss wanted him to do it. (she is a little partial to handsome cowboys...well, alot partial).

I have been trying to get my self-defense business up and moving (Practical Defense for Women). I am really excited to get it going, I have a couple of pilot classes set up and hopefully it snowballs from there...it can be a slow snowball even...I'm ok with that. :)

Cowboys, Clowns and an Angel

2009-08-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

Its been a while since I have updated. A couple of weeks ago we participated in National Day of the American Cowboy in Sedona. My Dad, Anna and Nando also participated and my Mom, Mike's Mom and Step-Dad were there to take it all in and get heat exahustion too! It was too hot for Danae to be with us all day so Nanny Judy took care of her.

Anna and Nando were the Rodeo Clown pooper scoopers and I just loved the costumes!

Dad rode with the Bill Williams Mounten Men.

Michael and I carried the banner in the parade and participated in the gun slinging skits.

Anna, Nando and Michael gave the mechanical bull a whirl...there were a few people in line so I went into the air conditioning inside the store and when I came out I had missed Michael's ride :(

So we have the cowboys and the clowns...what about the angel. Well who do you think it is? Danae of course. Here are some pictures of her lately. She has cut her teeth by chewing on spurs...our little cowgirl in the making. The pink dress was made by my cousin Nila...isn't it adorable!!

Little Chompers!

2009-07-14T17:34:00.000-07:00

Danae has her first teeth! Her tounge is always in the way so I can't get a picture of them, but there are two teeth poking through on the bottom!

She absolutely loves animals, real or stuffed. This "Spirit" (from the Disney movie) toy was given to her by Marlayne, Tiana and Sierra and she absolutely loves it. She was so excited when I brought it home. It was actually the first time she has been more excited about an object than mommy or daddy...guess we're old news now.

She had her first tupperware party with friends Caleb and Aiden. They were showing her the ropes of how fun the tupperware cupboard is.

If Daddy's is digging through it...so can I!

Lizard stayed with us for almost a week. She was so helpful with Danae and things...thanks Lizard!

Movin', Movin', Movin'!

2009-07-08T08:35:00.000-07:00

Ready... Set....

GO!
Danae has been 'mobile' for quite a while, rolling or 'tummy sliding'. She then moved to one knee and 'pedalling' with the other foot. She has officially began crawling and there is no stopping her now! She gets faster each day. She just started really crawling less than a week ago. It is hilarious to listen to her squeal with delight and giggle when she reaches something she was going for...of course, not always something she can have.

The chasing has officially begun.

The New Espinoza Family!

2009-06-24T17:50:00.001-07:00

Anna and Nando were married this past Saturday. The weather wasn't exactly in her favor, nor was it against her (it could have been Kansas wind!) There was sunshine and no rain, but lots of wind. Anna took it in stride, she was so happy it was her wedding day...I don't think she cared. Her veil blew off, she forgot her bouquet when she walked with Dad down the aisle, the arch where they were supposed to stand blew over and broke before the ceremony....but it was still a beautiful wedding and with all the "hitches" in the "giddy-up" I didn't hear one complaint from the bride! Anna, you were so happy and beautiful!!

I dressed Danae to match the flower girls (one of which was her cousin Rylee) and she looked so adorable. Michael and I were both in the wedding party, so it made a cute little matching family picture.

I loved watching my Mom and Dad dance to the song that was dedicated...I think it was the first time I have seen them move around the floor when they danced...LOVED IT!

Now when it comes to the "cake feeding" at weddings, there seems to be two trains of thought....nice and romantic feeding and smear it up! Anna and Nando were prepared for a cake duel. I prepared the bibs with what Anna directed prior to the wedding. They started our cutting the cake very traditionally and sweetly....then the music kicked up a knotch with "Hit me with your best shot", the bibs were tied on and the fight was on. It was hillarious! Anna's wedding was definately taylored to her and Nando with twists on tradition.

This picture isn't the worst of it by far. I think Nando's face was completely encased with chocolate and frosting....Anna's was a little better....I think Nando went easy on her :)

Shawn (family friend) and I danced to the Cotton-Eyed Joe...the long version...I almost collapsed by the time the song was done....guess that's a clue! Thanks to Mom, Heather, Lizard, Tina and Shawn for helping with Danae during the wedding and reception!!

Pilates...not Yoga?

2009-06-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

Danae is working on the mobility thing. She gets on her toes and stiffens like a board for a few seconds, then she will get to one knee and rock. She is pretty good at doing the "worm" to move backwards, she's still figuring out forward.

Just keeping busy otherwise. Anna's wedding is this Saturday, busy, busy!

Bridal Shower and more...

2009-06-07T15:23:00.000-07:00

Anna's bridal shower was yesterday and was a lot of fun. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but here are some. We played pin the boutineer on Nando, his poster made a big hit. Mom won that one.

Danae got to meet her Great Great Aunt Betty (my paternal Grandma's sister) and her Great Aunt Kathy and Great Great Aunt Zenna (my maternal Grandma's sister). I am so glad they got to make it!

Anna had to chew 7 pieces of bubblegum because that is how many questions she got wrong on the game "how well does Anna know Nando", I think that was the most fun game. The horse shoes are colored white chocolate favors. Rylee dominated the "how well do you know Anna" game. I stayed busy throwing the bridal shower with Alex, thanks Heather for caring for Danae during the shower!

Danae's new thing is trying to teach Mommy, Daddy and Nanny Judy how to loosen up and do a little yoga. She just doesn't understand why we can't follow her lead on this one.

Last weekend Danae spent a few hours at Aunt Heather and Uncle Jason's house while we ran some errands. They have a bouncing singing Tigger that just tickled her to giggles. She thought it was hillarious watching him bounce and sing.

Kansas is in Her Blood!

2009-05-29T20:45:00.001-07:00

We were outside and Michael needed to set Danae down for a minute and he plopped her in the grass and she was absolutely facinated! We could barely get her attention and it took a lot of work. She was mostly facinated with the seeds at the end, running them through her fingers and looking at them very closely. It was so fun watching her enjoy this new discovery! Michael said she would be a good wheat farmer...checking her crop.

Snapshots

2009-05-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Cure for What Ales You!

2009-05-16T15:47:00.000-07:00

Scroll to the bottom first and turn the volume all the way down on the playlist.

New Meaning of a Floured Surface!

2009-05-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

So, there I was, trying to get some cookies made. Danae had her round of shots today and has been a little fussy...can't blame her. I had her sitting by me while I mixed the cookies, Michael wasn't home yet. While I am walking over to the counter with the container of flour, which was full by the way, I look to Danae and talk to her to try to calm her down a little. While I'm looking at her and talking to her I set the flour on the counter...I thought...until a big poof of white is in my face and the flour is on the floor, and on my clothes. Danae stopped fussing...and I just laughed it off...what can ya do! This is reason number 483 why I will NEVER have a carpeted kitchen...we just wouldn't get along. Michael came home shortly after and just snickered as he asked what happened. I denied having any knowledge about what he was referring to...

She's a Cutie!!

2009-05-06T18:13:00.000-07:00

The latest pictures of Danae. She has mastered the un-tieing of the shoe...I'm sure it will be a while before she "loops, swirls and pulls".

She hates getting her face washed after she eats, so we try turning it into a game. Michael ended up putting the washcloth on her head, she didn't know what to think at first. Then she thought it was hilarious!

Stylin' in her new baby shades!

My TV Star!!

2009-05-06T18:08:00.001-07:00

Today on the Food Network...or Travel Channel, Michael is part of the "Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern". It was filmed in March. Michael did a stellar TV performance. Of course I can't figure out how to put the video on here, so here is the link. If you open the sight, as of right now, the video is automatically playing if you scroll down. Its only five minutes, so please go watch! http://www.andrewzimmern.com/

Have You Ever Seen an Espanoza Fish?

2009-04-27T15:56:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of observing the rare Espanoza fish in its natural habitat and wanted to share this unique experience with you!

Not only are the weeds in bloom....

2009-04-23T19:57:00.001-07:00

...so are my flowers!! The irises, alovera, and poppies have all started to bloom.

The trees are leafing out and the holleyhocks look like they are going to be huge this year!

I love spring!!

Easter

2009-04-16T20:19:00.000-07:00

Danae was beautiful in her Easter dress, well, she's beautiful all the time! Michael's boss Nita bought this dress for her a couple months ago and told him it was for Easter, and it made such an adorable Easter dress for church!

We all went to Williams and went to church with my parents. We had lunch there and Jason, Heather, Micah, Weston and Rylee joined us. It was good just to relax and enjoy visiting.

The older I get, and now having a child, I have always wondered how things like Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny made their way into Christmas and Easter. I have always known the true meaning of these holidays, but I know I got caught up in the 'side tracks' of these special days. My Sister-in-Law Heather always has such good ideas for making the reason for the day shine through while still letting the kids enjoy the fun with these whimsical characters. I admire that so much and want to follow her lead on a lot of those ideas (hope you don't mind!)

Danae has mastered the 'raspberry' and now incorporates various babbling and humming with the raspberry for a musical treat. She also can sit 'up' (more like lean forward in froggie fashion) for short periods of time by herself. Yesterday, Nanny Judy told us she rolled from her back to her tummy...I'm still waiting for her to show Mommy and Daddy that one.

How She Loves Razzzzzpberries

2009-04-09T18:13:00.000-07:00

Danae just learned how to blow raspberries and she thinks it is the funnest thing. I have to admit, it is pretty darn cute! She usually wakes up happy and now she wakes up happy and blowing raspberries! The first day she figured it out she blew raspberries...with food, at Nanny Judy. She is getting more animated with her excitement when mommy or daddy come home. She has even started to play the flirtatious shy game by smiling and then hiding her face in my shoulder when daddy, or other men, say hi to her.

This girl makes me so happy!

I LOVE this Mommy gig!

2009-04-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Danae is on the verge of sitting. She certainly is going to have an appreciation for food. We have recently given her avacado and strawberries with pears (part of my baby food making venture with my friend Ahna). She loves these two "dishes". I can't get the spoon filled up and in her mouth again quick enough! She leans into the spoon and she makes happy noises when she gets it in her mouth. I get a kick out of it each time I feed her.

Her friend Jack is really starting to take notice that there is another little person around when Ahna amd I get together. This last time Jack was facinated with touching her. Danae hasn't quite developed to that stage yet, but they should be playing together soon!!

Can you say "Daddy's Girl"!

Almost 20 Weeks Old!!

2009-03-22T19:58:00.000-07:00

Danae is just about 20 weeks old and as adorable as can be!! She has started sticking her tongue out when she smiles and it is so darn cute!! She has also found her toes.

Enjoying the yummy mushed up squash.....

Marilyn, Carrie and Koebe came out for spring break.

We all went to Out of Africa. We fed the giraffe, watched the tigers & bears swim and watched the funny monkey things who "like to move it, move it". (its a Madegascar thing) Each time we go there is something new.

Michael filmed a snipet for the travel/food channel with Andrew Zimmerman of the show "Bizzar Foods"

Big Red meets T-Bone

2009-03-20T11:47:00.001-07:00

Last week we had the horses in the St Patrick's Day Parade for the police department. We were staged next to the Arizona Cardinals entry. Big Red, the cardinal, started messing with the horses a little (with our permission). The horses didn't mind him, it was a great opportunity for some sensory training. Then I let Big Red get on T-Bone, again, T-Bone didn't mind one bit having a large red feathery thing climb up on him...all he was worried about was if anyone had any food for him. Go figure!

17 Weeks!

2009-03-07T08:12:00.001-08:00

Danae is 17 weeks now, almost 18! She is plugging right along. All smiles and giggles (most of the time)

We put together her farm play center, she is starting to like playing in that. I traded for this with the crappy breast pump I bought, I think this is much better for the money I spent on a breast pump that sucked....well, couldn't suck!

Playing with her Aunt Heather and her cousins. Notice Weston is showing her the mirror and she is of course thrilled to watch herself in it. (at least she isn't like the server we had at the restaraunt when we visited Anna, Nando & Jodi. It was dark outside, so he could see himself in the window reflection. He would be talking to us and constantly check himself out, he even flexed his arm muscle one ...tried to be suttle, but he wasn't very good at it! we couldn't stop laughing everytime he came by to check on us...and his reflection. It was hillarious!)

Jade found Danae's hand just sitting there and decided to help Danae pet her.

Book 'em!

2009-03-07T07:59:00.000-08:00

Jason, Heather, Rylee, Micah, and Weston came down to bring back the bunk beds they had borrowed and we decided to take the kids to the police department to show them around. I think they had fun. They saw the dispatch center, sat on the motorcycles....

....got booking photos taken....

....met several officers, Officer Pott gave them sticker badges....

....played with my magnetic fingerprint powder...

....sat in the back (and driver seat) of my patrol car and stood in the holding cell. ...they still want to be police officers (as well as football players, etc...)! (they started saying that a few years ago!)

Stepping [Way] Outside of My Box

2009-03-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

So, for the first time ever, I went to the stylist and said, do what you want (with the peramiter that I need to be able to pull it out of my face). Heidi said "I'm thinking a longer version of Posh Spice". I say "Whatever....what kind of cut does she have?" She shows me a picture and I gulp and say...go for it.

She adds in some natural highlights, something I have never done....but, I like it.

She then proceeded to cut my hair shorter than it has been since third grade!! I can feel a draft on my neck...YIKES! I also am not a huge "bob" fan, but I let her do it and I like it. I just fear what can of worms this has opened...what will I try next with my hair!

Michael is a fan of long hair, but I was getting tired of it and have been inching it shorter for about a year. I see all these cute cuts and just stay in my comfort zone and never go too short. I'm sure I will eventually miss it being a little longer....but it grows back!!

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'.....

2009-02-26T18:36:00.000-08:00

Danae is 16 weeks old this week. Last Wednesday and Thursday nights, she decided to wake up at 3 am (she has been sleeping through the night for over a month now!). She was starving when she woke up, so we started putting cerial in her bottle and then proceeded to feeding her cerial from a spoon. She is so cute when she eats from the spoon...well, tries to eat from the spoon. She start licking it to get the cerial off!
On Monday she rolled over for the first time! I can't believe how excited I got. I called Michael...but wait...had she rolled over earlier and Nanny Judy just didn't tell me so I would think if was her first time? So next phone call was to Judy...nope, apparently she came close to rolling over earlier that day, but didn't quite make it. So, Danae waited for me to get home before she rolled over! (at least that's what I'm going to let myself believe). The look on her face when she rolled over was priceless...she had a look of "what just happened!"

Easing the Pain of an Old Friend

2009-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

I sit here holding back the tears (I'm not doing a very good job of holding them back) as I reminise in the pictures of Miller. Wednesday I made the decision to ease Miller's pain and send him to chase lizards for eternity. Back in November he was diagnosed with bone cancer. I put him on "hospise" and did what I could to manage his pain. He dwindled from near 100 lbs to 70 lbs. His leg just looked incredibly painful with how swollen the cancer had made it. He had lost the joy Miller always had and I couldn't even get him to wag his tail....I knew it was time to let him go.

Of course Miller didn't make it any easier by chasing a cat off the deck when we walked out the door...don't know where he mustered up the energy or strength.

I adopted Miller when he was 8 weeks old. This eternally happy dog was such a joy to have around, not really knowing his true size he always wanted to be in your lap or lay by your side. He made it almost to twelve years old. Five years ago we adopted Nala...who immediately took to being Millers best friend and shadow. She has been having a difficult time not having Miller to lay next to, perhaps her and Tukir will become better friends. Tukir seems to be doing fine, but I wouldn't expect anything else from him.

Here Miller is around 2 years old and lying with at 6 week old kitten I was bottle feeding after she had been brought into the Humane Society at 3 weeks old with no mother.

Tukir and Miller have been pals almost since day one. Here they are both under a year old and playing tug-o-war with the leash.

Hard to believe the near 100 lb dog was once so small!

Follow the Yellow Brick Rail

2009-02-17T19:04:00.000-08:00

We took Amtrak for the first time to Kansas over the weekend to see Michael's family for his Grandma Georgie's 80th birthday party. Danae got to meet all of her cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and Fluff (on Michael's side). There are several pictures, although, I didn't get a few key pictures I wanted, everyone was getting so many pictures taken since there were so many family members there that it was hard to get in any specific ones I had in mind...like one with Danae and Grandma Georgie.

All of Grandma's immediate grandchildren...Michael, Carrie, Annie, Christina, Lindsay, Michele & Candice.

Michael and his dear sisters...always the comedian

In the Valentine dress Gramie bought for her

Grandma's children: Marilyn, Jan and Virgil

The great grandkids: Koebe, Danae, Eden, Easton, Brittney, Carson, Bryson and Jarren

Grandma and Grandpa Luebbers

Grandpa Jake

Danae did so well on the train there and back. If I had a dollar for every time someone said "she is being so good" we could have at least had a free meal!

So, how does driving the Kansas route compare to taking it by rail? Here is my list of notes:

Some pros to taking the train rather than car:

Don't have to keep the driver awake (we hope)

Don't have to say "stay in YOUR lane Michael"

No road construction

Don't have to worry about wheather conditions (for the most part)

Can get up and move around and still be traveling

Can eat a nice meal while still traveling

Can hold Danae when she gets fussy

Can change the diaper while still traveling

Play games together

Some cons to taking the train rather than the car:

Don't have to smell the B.O. of the man behind you everytime he moves around

Don't flash your "girls" to the person who opens the bathroom door while I'm pumping because the lock jiggled open (not once...but twice)

Don't have to listen to the "gangsta" behind us talk to his 'home girls' on the phone

14 Weeks

2009-02-12T17:02:00.000-08:00

I pledge allegiance to the flag.... Danae really enjoyed this Bumbo seat my friend Ahna brought over. She loves to sit up and this seat lets her do just that! ....so...I got one just for her!

She is checking herself out in the mirror...yep, your beautiful!

Pepper hasn't wanted much to do with Danae, but she sat & watched her for an hour one day...I think it was the bright sun's reflection off of Danae's mirror...she is hypnotized by those things.

The giggle is right around the corner. Right now it is more like a growl/giggle...it still just melts me!

Her first cowgirl boots!....won't be her last!

Daddy makes her giggle best! ...so what are her milestones? She sleeps 8 - 9 hours at night, most of the time, and has been for several weeks!! She smiles so big and giggles/coos/growls. She puts her pacifier back in her mouth. She's crawling everywhere....ok....not quite....but she is doing so well!

College

2009-02-07T12:56:00.000-08:00

I discovered this website where you can save money for college for yourself, childen, etc... A percentage of purchases you make is routed to your account on this website...and it will grow over time. If you do any shopping online (birthday's, Christmas, whatever...) there is a good chance the company is associated with UPromise and you will get a percentage back from your purchase. Same with groceries, register your grocery club card and when you purchase participating products at the store you will get money in your account!

It is free to sign up and I think it is such a great way to get money back on what you are already buying. Click on the UPromise icon to the left and sign up! Seriously, this is too easy not to do...that is why I'm sharing it with you. (also, family and friends who aren't saving for themselves can sign up and save for you!)

week 13

2009-02-05T20:28:00.000-08:00

Well, I've been back to work for a little over a week and still am not quite into the full swing of things. I miss Danae every day and just can't hug and kiss her enough when I get home. Yesterday she was in a great mood when I got home and she was all smiles for me and even did a half giggle...it melted my heart!

Danae met Danae last Saturday. Big Danae is a student and friend from the high school. She was so excited when she learned I was pregnant and you should have seen her reaction when she learned we were naming our baby Danae (and she was even more excited that her due date was the day before her birthday).
Danae is pictured here with her little buddy Jack, who is my friend Ahna's baby. Jack is six months old and the whole time I was taking thier pictures he was blowing raspberries. Its those little things I just love right now...I'm sure some people think I'm nuts. I always told myself I wouldn't be one of those people who always pulls out a picture of their baby to show people...I lied to myself. Many people ask me how my baby is doing and I whip out that cell phone and show them the picture I have on it or some I even send to my blog or even sit down with them for a moment and pull it up on the computer to show them. I have joined the world of mommies in love and proud of their babies...perhaps everyone else doesn't enjoy it as much as I do, but they entertain me by looking at the pictures, smiling, gasping and saying "how adorable!" :)

12 Weeks!

2009-01-28T15:47:00.000-08:00

Danae is 12 weeks old this week! She is grabbing onto things more every day! (she really isn't holding her bottle on her own, but Michael got her to hold it for about a minute). I went back to work this week...and cried. Our neighbor Judy is our Nanny Judy. I hope she enjoys it, we appreciate her wanting to work for us as our daycare nanny. It is difficult being a working mommy, and I am only two days into it (but all of you already know that don't ya). The kids at the high school have been great, some excited that I am back, giving me big hugs and many of them saying hi and asking how Danae is (some even begging that I bring her to the school) Anyhow, here are pictures from the past week.

Daddy's Girl

2009-01-21T13:18:00.000-08:00

She is growing everyday and I swear she gets cuter all the time! She flirts with her Daddy and is smiling so much. She got her shots today and was such a tough girl. She cried for a minute and was done...hopefully, she won't start feeling sick. Enjoy the pictures.

A shower...and kitty...for Danae

2009-01-14T13:51:00.001-08:00

On Wednesday the staff at the high school threw me a baby shower. Of course Danae was more popular than the cake. These pictures crack me up, but you may need to understand the oddness of some of the teachers to fully appreciate the pictures...you would have to have some oddness and humor to survive teaching high school students!

I just think this outfit is so adorable...complete with tiny little sneakers...that are still too big!

Jade has always shown concern for Danae since we brought her home, this is why the cats aren't allowed to sleep in the bedroom with Danae. Jade will usually start pestering me if I am not right by Danae's side when she is crying. She has even jumped in the middle of a diaper change when Danae was crying loudly...just to see if she was ok. The other night, for the first time, Jade curled up at Danae's feet and slept with her during her nap. I think Danae has involuntarily acquired a kitty...that is until Danae starts pulling hair and chasing her.

Randomness

2009-01-13T10:18:00.000-08:00

On Sunday, Anna, Mom, Jodi, Alex and I went shopping for Anna's wedding dress and bridesmaids dresses. All I will say is Anna picked a beautiful and flattering dress...of course I have pictures of her in all the dresses she tried on...but I just can't ruin the presentation for her. The bridesmaids dresses are also beautiful and flatter a not so perfect figure. Speaking of not-so-perfect figures...I have hit a milestone and have reached my prepregnancy weight...just 25 more pounds to go!

Anna and Jodi were running behind so I took my Mom into a makeup store and had her go outside of her box and try a new color...I think she looked beautiful with it on!

The deck is coming along, just need to finnish trimming the roof, paint it...then it is just the railing that will be left! Michael has done a great job!

Miller is getting a little spoiling, his leg seems to be causing him a little more pain despite the medication, but in Miller fashion...he is happy and just in heaven when he gets to sleep on the bed!

A Beautiful Smile!

2009-01-05T09:58:00.000-08:00

Danae turns 9 weeks old tomorrow! She has been smiling more each day, and it just melts our hearts! Catching it on camera is a little difficult. here are some pictures I like... of course including another "napping with daddy" picture.

The Adventures in Sledding

2008-12-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas was good times this year. We spent Christmas Eve at Jason and Heathers with Mom, Dad, Jodi, John, Anna, Nando, Lizard, Jason, Heather, Micah, Weston and Rylee. We had good food, a white elephant gift exchange and played games. Then it was off to driving 35 MPH on the interstate to get to Mom and Dad's house on very snowy roads. Yep...we got a white Christmas! Christmas day was all of us minus Jason & Heather's family, they stayed at their house. We stayed inside all day since it was horribly windy with snow and sleet, which lasted all day and until sometime in the night.

Friday the weather was better, still cold with some snow flurries. We all went sledding at the ranch, except Michael, Danae and Mom. Jason, Heather and I were in the Cherokee and everyone else was in Dad's truck...fortunately Dad was driving because if anyone else stuck the truck as good as he did, they would be in deep doo doo.

While driving around the sledding area, my Dad found a waterhole hidden by the snow and thus the truck got very stuck... So, we decided to just sled until my Uncle Tom could make it out and pull us out with his John Deere. Rylee was upset she had left Giraffee at home, so Heather stayed in the truck with her. Heather was still healing from surgery the week before anyhow. Dad, John and Jodi even took a turn or two sledding down the hill. It was fun and cold!

We couldn't get in touch with Tom for a while, so Michael was at my parents running around looking for him. He couldn't find him so he found Shawn. He and Shawn showed up in Shawn's truck and attempted to get Dad's truck out...it wasn't going to budge. Just before Shawn showed up, Jason, Heather, John, Rylee and me were trying to take the Jeep into town, so we could be dropped off and there would be room to take more people back into town if needed. Well, vehicle #2 got stuck. Shawn also got stuck...temporarily...vehicle #3. Then Tom shows up! The John Deere pulled us all out and we were on our way back to Mom and Dad's to warm up and drink hot chocolate. It was fun!!

Just some random pictures:

Husband Tag...

2008-12-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

OK...Emma tagged me, so I will play along...looks fun!

Husband Tag...

1. How long did you date before you got married? 2 years

2. How long have you been married? 5 years

3. What does he do that surprises you? He will pick up some flowers once in a while, but the best surprises are when he makes stuff for me.

4. What is his best feature? Do I have to pick one? He has warm brown eyes, a contagious laugh, a huge heart....

5. What is his best quality? Once again...do I have to pick one? He will do just about anything I need him to do and he stands behind his word.

6. Does he have a nickname for you? All those little names like sweetheart, etc... make it in there.

7. What is his favorite color? Usually green

8. What is his favorite animal? Horses

9. What is his favorite food? All food, but he likes (and cooks) a mean steak with potatoes and biscuits

10. What is his favorite sport? Rodeo

11. When and where did you first kiss? September 1, 2001, the night we met at the Rockin' Rodeo

12. Favorite thing to do as a couple? Anything. We ride horses, go shooting, cooking, watching movies, yard work, etc...

13. Do you have any children? Surilla Danae

14. Does he have a hidden talent? Not really hidden talent... but he's a talented little cus (leather work, wood work, welding, roping....)

15. How old is he? He will be 30 before me and that's all that matters :)

16. Who said 'I love you' first? He did. He said "would I be out of line if I said I love you?".

17. What is his favorite music? Country with a mix of other stuff

18. Do you think he will read this? If I show it to him

I LOVE YOU Michael Paul!!!

I tag: Anna (for her fiance), Jodi & Casey

Oh Christmas Tree...

2008-12-20T11:05:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we met with our friends Bear & Jennie for our second annual Christmas tree cutting. They put up a live tree and like looking for and cutting their own. My Dad lets them cut one from the 'ranch', this year he was in town and went with us. There was about a foot of snow on the ground which made it lots of fun! Aiden and Caleb had a blast playing in the snow (I'm sure Danae will too, next year). It was lots of fun and one thing I got a kick out of was watching Aiden giggle and blow 'raspberries' while playing in the snow.

...and we wrapped it up with some hot chocolate and hot cider...YUM!!

Happy Birthday!

2008-12-20T10:57:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Micah & Weston's 7th birthday. I think they had fun eating pizza, cake and opening gifts. Of course Rylee was in on the fun too! She liked feeding Danae and we played a little hide and seek. I about lost it when she was hiding and I was 'trying' to find her. I asked Michael to help me because I just couldn't find her. We were standing in her room and she was hiding behind her large toy riding horse. We pretended we couldn't see her and I asked Michael "where could she be, I've looked everywhere". He said "I don't know, but that horse looks like it needs to poop". Rylee immediately lifted the tail on the horse to investigate. Priceless!

Heather recently had surgery...hope you feel better soon Heather!

Make Some Cash!

2008-12-17T13:28:00.000-08:00

My friend Ahna has started up an e-Bay business. If you have something to sell, she can take the hastle out of selling it for you for a small portion of the sale (20%). Anything you want to sell, jewelery, electronics, art, tools, clothes, etc... If you are interested, call Ahna at 928-567-4868 or e-mail her at ahnamarie@hotmail.com

Christmas Decor

2008-12-14T14:48:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share some pictures of our Christmas decor. I especially like the star on our tree that Michael made this year (the last couple years it has been a cowboy hat on top of the tree)

My Creative Gene

2008-12-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

A few years ago I had made stockings from old Wranglers for me and Michael. I had our names embroidered on them and they had just a hint of freyed fringe on top. This year I needed to make one for Danae, so I made new ones for all of us...each with its own personal touch. ...and yes, I did sew them!! By the way, any of you out there who wear Wranglers...please send them my way when you are done with them, I like to make things like this out of them, its better than throwing them away and they don't have to be in great condition. I'll pay for the shipping too.

Snap Shots

2008-12-08T15:05:00.001-08:00

Dad in his new adventure in the Bill Williams Mountan Men Club. Part of the deal is wearing the skins and a dead critter on your head...he has a three tailed raccoon on his (not sure if that was inspired from a Nintendo character or if thats how they used to do it). He was in Cottonwood for their Christmas parade. He was carried through the parade route on my trusty steed, T-Bone. Dad seems to really enjoy being in the club, he just joined a few months ago. Michael is a prospective Mountan Man...he is very interested and hopefully next year we can afford for him to join.

Michael read Danae the storry of the Three Little Javelinas, the southwestern version of the Three Little Pigs, I really like the book. Danae stayed awake the whole time, watching the pictures and her Daddy's face. Michael also sings to her when she gets fussy and she stops fussing usually...

I just love this picture, Danae curled herself in as close as she could, with her little feet just helping her keep her place.

I Just Had To...

2008-12-08T14:59:00.001-08:00

I couldn't resist...I had to take the naked baby pictures with some props I had in the house. I think they are cute...although, we couldn't get through them without her piddling.

The Bummers of Getting Old

2008-12-08T14:49:00.000-08:00

My 11 year-old dog, Miller, has been limping and has a swollen joint. I was crossing my fingers it was arthritis...but unfortunately it is much worse. My old boy has cancer in his leg and in his chest. I am just going to manage his pain, spoil him a bit (he LOVES sleeping on the bed). Michael doesn't care for the dogs to be in the house (other than their dogroom/laundryroom), but he has a soft spot too and brought Miller in one evening and gave him a dish with some peanut butter...Miller loves the peanut butter. Nala, Miller's shadow for the last four years, was crying for him and Miller was so happy being in the house with us he just ignored her...poor Nala. (If she wasn't such a hyper tank and Tukir didn't pee on things or have a bi-polar issue {not knowing how he would be with Danae}, they could all come in). Anyhow, I am bummed, but just have to roll with it and do what I can for him.

Danae's Blessing

2008-11-24T13:11:00.001-08:00

Sunday Danae recieved her blessing. My dad gave her the blessing and my brother Jason and brother-in-law John were in the blessing circle with some friends of ours from church. My family, and Leigh, Tonya, and Leslie, all made it for the event. Michael's mom is visiting from Kansas and his dad is here from Utah. We all met back at the house for chilli and conversation. I think everyone had a good time...thanks to everyone for coming!

First Bath

2008-11-20T19:10:00.000-08:00

Danae's cord finally fell off so we were able to give her her first real bath, not just a sponge bath. She was not happy, but eventually realized she was just going to have to deal with it so she began sucking her thumb. She really tugged on her daddy's heart strings when her bottom lip began to quiver. She also gave us our first parental lesson in bathing...put the diaper on as soon as you can...you probably aren't going to be able to make it from the master bath to the nursery without an accident...actually, you probably aren't going to make it out of the bathroom without an accident.

God Bless Our Veterans

2008-11-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

With all the excitement of Danae, I am a little late in my recognition of Veterans Day. I am very appreciative of what they have done for us and for the soldiers currently serving our country. I also can't go without mention of the Marine Corps birthday on Nov 10. Here is Michael's Marine picture...isn't he handsome! I wish I could have seen him in his blues when he was enlisted. He still has them...maybe I'll have him put them on sometime so I can see him (but he will not put them on without shaving his mustache/goatee...but it grows back fast)

Pictures of Danae

2008-11-12T10:06:00.001-08:00

We have had alot of visitors over the past week. We appreciate the support and company. We really liked the meals that were brought to us by friends...they sure are nice when cooking is the last thing you feel like doing! Thanks to everyone! Here are a few pictures of Danae. (I swiped a couple from Heather...I couldn't resist...they are great pictures)

Our Angel!

2008-11-07T07:50:00.001-08:00

Surilla Danae Dearden

Born on November 04, 2008 at 4:00pm... the day the 44th president was elected (but, we won't go there). She was 7lbs 11oz and 20in. She has brown hair like her daddy and her eyes are bluish sometimes and brownish at others...we will see what they decide to be. She is perfect, precious, beautiful..... she is a blessing!

The Arrival!

2008-11-07T07:32:00.000-08:00

She is here, but I will be posting a Post of just her and her stats. This is just a note and a few pictures. Hospitals as many of you know aren't the most fun place to stay the night...they aren't quite an upscale hotel...and yet they aren't as bad as the "Cozy Inn" we stayed at on our way to Kansas in August when we just needed a place to sleep!

Tuesday morning around 6:30 they started the petocin to get labor going. Around 7:30 the Dr. broke the amniotic fluid and told me I was committed to having that baby...as if I wasn't already :) . The contractions were bearable until around 9:00 when they started getting very strong and only about 30 seconds of rest time between them. This is when the nurse checked and told me I had probably another six or more hours to go. I stuck with it and by 10:30 I was needing the epidural, which I hadn't decided on one way or another prior to going in. Around 11:15 I got the epidural and could have kissed the anesthesiologist...although, he was a little like Ben Stein and don't think he found the humor in my joke.

Even with the epidural, it still isn't comfortable, but the sharp, strong pain is numb and I could REST! By 2:40 I began pushing. I had had a nurse I really enjoyed up until 3:00, when it was time for her to leave...then the drill instructor nurse took over! At first I didn't like her, and I snapped back at her a few times...but she kept on me. I actually appreciate her drill instructor approach. When the doctor came in to check me after the nurses had called him to tell him they could see the head not too far from crowning, he discovered she was transverse. (which is still head down, but facing the wrong direction). This can make for much harder pushing and delivery...not that I know the difference. And yes, even with the epidural I could feel the immense pressure of her pushing her way through. He told me I had 15 minutes to make some substantial progress otherwise we may need to move to a Cesarean....she was out in 20 minutes after that! I had to get an episiotomy and she still tore me a little more than what the doctor had cut.

Michael and my Mom were both GREAT supports!! I really appreciated them at the hospital and now at home. We are adjusting to life with Danae. She is precious and perfect...just needs to sleep as much during the night as she does during the day :)

On Our Way

2008-11-03T12:46:00.000-08:00

We are on our way to the hospital to start the inducing process! We'll update with info and photos when we get home and settled in. Here we go.....!

A Little Encouragement to Enter the World...

2008-10-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

If Danae doesn't make her debut sometime between now and next Tuesday...yes election day...the Doc will be inducing before she puts on more weight. We will go in either Monday evening for pre-stuff or Tuesday morning at 5 am. She will be here soon!!

Chunky Monkey

2008-10-29T07:37:00.000-07:00

No...not the Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor...our little girl. Yesterday I had an ultrasound to estimate Danae's weight. The ultrasound can estimate with a margin of error of one pound either way. She measured at 8 1/2 pounds!! So at this point she is anywhere from 7 1/2 to 9 1/2 pounds...and she's not done yet!! I am hoping she is on the low end of the estimate.

My Talented Husband

2008-10-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Michael made Danae a changing table on Sunday. We didn't want to buy a changing table that we would only use for a relatively short time. So, I found a picture of a shelf I liked in a catalog. First, the shelf was a little pricey and second, it didn't fit the dimensions of the changing wedge or the space we had to put it in. What to do...? Michael took the picture as a design guide and built a shelf to fit our needs. When we no longer need it for a changing table, the wedge comes out and it is a shelf for toys and books. I love multi-use items! He did an awsome job I think!

As a side note, I hade my 37 week Dr's appt today. Danae is head down, dropped, and getting ready to make her big debut...of course not even the doctor can predict accurately when that will be...what we know is it will be soon.

36 Weeks!!

2008-10-15T20:27:00.001-07:00

Here is a belly shot for 36 weeks. She is growing right along...I think it is past the point of calling my belly a "baby bump". Other than some swelling and fatigue everything is going well (those are symptoms I can live with...they could be much worse!). Not too much longer and she will be at the point of arriving at any time!

Kase of the Kankles

2008-10-11T08:31:00.000-07:00

So the swelling has begun...sorry no picture. For the last three days by evening I have absolute kankles, I can't believe how much one of my ankles/foot is swelling. It will all be worth it in a few weeks!! My pregnancy has been good, so I don't really have much to complain about. I am just amazed at the amount of swelling. This is the only time I am going to get away with wearing flip-flops (that don't even match) to work!! Now, if I could only pull off wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt to work...

October Update

2008-10-07T20:41:00.001-07:00

Oops...

I forgot to add our niece Eden and nephew Easton who also have birthdays in October. Oh, and Michael's step-brother Ryan is a Halloween baby.

I had Heather's birthday wrong...its on the 19th and she will be 25 and holding :). Aunt Kathy's birthday is on the 7th.

I'm trying to keep track of everyone! Hope everyone has great birthdays!