Rural Living Take 2

Made it to Montana and back without incident. We had a nice leisurely weekend with Great Grandma and Des getting to know one another. Then Sunday we went out to eat for a belated Birthday celebration and on our way back into the house the Corolla got stuck again, only this time it was going to take more than a shovel. We haven't gotten any more snow but the winds picked up and the sun came out so the wind blew all the snow onto the drive way and the sun melted it just enough to make it very heavy. End result? Marc and neighbor pushing, shoving and shoveling until they were finally able to dislodge the car. Whew.

Des is starting to show his stubborn side. He has acquired quite a taste for "fist" and he will get upset when I try to substitute pacifier, crying and even curling his whole body toward his fist (that I am holding away from the mouth). We'll see who wins, so far its Mom-1 Des-0.

This week I'm including a video of Des laughing and talking(forgive the bit of drool, its still cute) - My father says Des has my mouth (hah hah). I hope you enjoy it, I do.

Rural Living.

This week I got my first true taste of living in the country. I've been "out of town" before, enjoyed scenery, experience the quiet solitude - but never with a foot of snow. No big deal to me until I had to leave my house for Montana - yeah, they don't plow the little gravel roads out in the country. I had to try to ram my little corrola through a foot of snow. And the little corrola only made it about half way. So here I am in the middle of our drive way (about 50 yards) and I have a choice: either go back to the house or go to the highway - either way a snow shovel and I are about to get pretty well aquainted. Des is sleeping in the car oblivious, cat sitter is lined up and my "people side" is craving some face-to-face. So the highway it is. Twenty minutes later, sweating and aching I skid the corrola through the shoveled gravel driveway, swerve onto the raod (with a ferverent prayer to not go in the ditch) and onto the highway - thankfull the little gravel road that goes to my drive had been traveled enough that I made it through fine, I did NOT want to get the shovel out again. Des never even batted an eye at the whole situation, he is his father's son! Bad weather and roads never thwarted a Graham man!

And so here I am, in Montana, thankful to be visiting and anxiously awaiting the arrival of Great Grandma! (Des' great grandma, my grandma). Who will be arriving tonight. So no pictures this week (my camera cord is back home) but I'm sure we'll be full of stories next week!

3 months old!

Last week Des and I were battling a cold so we skipped posting. Des is mostly better although his stuffy nose still wakes him up sometimes. Throughout the week I am always thinking of witty things to share with you via blog and then I sit down to write my post and I invariably am in a hurry to finish before Des tells me time is up and so I forget most of my witty musings. I just wanted you all to know that I am very funny and creative in my mental posts, even if it doesn't come out much in my weekly writings. =)

Des continues to grow like a weed. Usually I have to fold Des' blankets in half so he doesn't drown in them but this week I realized that when I do that his little legs are sticking out, so he is indeed growing. Over thirteen pounds last week.

I have been pleasantly surprised at Tana's dealings with Des. While my heart is sad for my kitties because of this life change I am glad that their personalities haven't changed much. Tana is slowly trying to sneak her way back up to number one on the dependent chain by sitting on laps even if Des is being held and being *super* cuddly at night. Unfortunately her status is forever changed, don't tell her though because I think she is hopeful. Monte on the other hand just expects the usual, dinner on time and treats in between. =)

Not much else here, we are maintaining status quo, which I am happy about. The best 'baby advice' I received was "Go for survival." and now we are good enough that we can go for status quo - we've surpasses survival into some livin'! =) Hope you're all well. Drop a line when you get a chance.

Monte is at home in his new little box (from a present), almost pushed himself and the box over the edge a few times and yet still loves to sit/play/sleep in it.

True! =)

We are getting more and more smiles but its hard to get them in focus because he does "whole body" smiles, so he's always on the move. =)

Happy 2008!

I can remember being in grade school and having to write a futuristic assignment of some sort, while I don't remember the specific nature of the assignment I do remember 2008 being the year I choose and having it seem outrageous (human kind will never make it that far). I also vaguely recall movies in which "future" was depicted in the 2000s and how different the reality is from their speculations. Regardless we are truly blessed to live, period, but to live with heat, water, etc and with God looking out for us and saving us.

I look forward to improving myself this year, with God's help. Everyday that I take care of Des I am reminded that I can not teach him to be someone I am not, and therefore I am challenged on a daily basis to be kind, to seek God and to have patience.

We had a lovely Christmas with both families, the highlight, of course was seeing cousins (no offense to any other relative). Cousin James, being a little older, took to Des well, holding him for pictures and being appropriately curious of this new little being. Cousin Jacoby was also curious but didn't take too many days before he started to show small signs of jealousy. When G. Annette was holding Des, Jacoby would come to her so she would give Des to G. Michael. Before too long Jacoby would reverse the process, going to G. Michael making G. Michael give Des to G. Annette, and so the evening went, switching babies. I don't think either grandparent minded at all. =) Jacoby had a streak of sympathy as well, reaching out to Des whenever Des cried. It was fun to see.

We are home for a couple of days relaxing a bit before Marc goes back to teaching. Honestly today is the first day that we've truly kicked back, we had things on the "to do" list that takes two people, one to hold Des (still a fussy guy) and one to do the task. =) We were glad to see everyone over the holidays. There was only one downside: I fell down the stairs, nobody saw me - pity because it probably looked hilarious - and seriously bruised my backside. Still gives me pains but I'm hoping it will get better...

Des with his first Christmas presents, yes, those are all his.

Cousin Jacoby trying to lend a helping hand, calming Des.

Des' gorgeous smile... not that I'm partial...

The annual catnip, we left it in one of the boxes of presents, didn't take Tana long to find it... =)