Baby Spice

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!