Walking better

Marc wanted me to post a better video of Des walking in order to give the boy proper accolades. (Is that the right word?)




The best video...


Another good one that I couldn't help sharing because he is having such a good time - despite the fall at the end. =)

Mommy Milestone

This last weekend I overcame a mommy milestone - I left my baby boy overnight. I had the opportunity to attend a ladies retreat through our church and Marc convinced me to stay overnight with the rest of the gals up in the mountains. While I did fine with leaving Des with Marc, I have had a really bad cold so I didn't sleep well at all. The retreat was a blessing, though, and it was nice to get to know some of the gals from church and to hear the speakers. Marc and Des did well without the mommy - and I only called once! =)

I got back on Sunday afternoon and then left again right away on Monday morning to go see my Aunt and Uncle who were visiting my parents. We had a good time running around doing some shopping and eating. Des was very patient and charming as usual. He loved A. Eileen - she would ride in the back with him and he would just being going on and squealing at her antics. Then Grandma and A. Eileen followed us back on Wednesday so that A.Eileen could see Marc's school while Grandma and I hung out.

Now we are trying to get back into the swing of things - Des always has a day or two of acclimating back to just him and me after so many days of extra hands to entertain. He is really enjoying walk practice and doing better and better. He hasn't quite gotten the courage to let go of furniture and take a go of it himself but goes for quite aways when mom or dad winds him up and lets go. Des likes to bounce balls, put toys, etc *on* furniture. He has mastered his sippy cup as well as feeding himself with his hands. He still loves to chase the cats. He likes to download piles from the coffetable to the floor, one object at a time. At night I set up his "inbox" and then in the morning he comes out and empties it first before moving onto other activities.

Saying goodnight to U. Rob.

Saying goodnight to A. Eileen.

Working hard at playing.

Stupid Germs

A friend used that phrase on Facebook this last week and I concur. I have a terrible cold and since I'm pregnant it is difficult to self medicate other than tylenol. So I sit with a box of kleenex, a big glass of OJ and a very sore throat thinking "stupid germs." I am glad though that (so far) I am the only one truly effected.

Des got his official induction to high school sports this last weekend. He went to his first football game and his first volleyball game. At football the spectators were far more intriguing for him than the game itself and we watched the pep band for a bit but could only stay for the first quarter as it was nearing bedtime and it was also getting chilly. The volley ball game he watched the action more than the audience but eventually it was too loud for him since the crowd cheers raucously after every point scored. We only stayed for the first game of the set.

I personally enjoy the high school sports - its fun to watch and, for me, its one of my only social outlets - even if I still don't know all that many of the families. This year, obviously, my attendance will be much lower than last year but Des and I will go when we can.

Des and I are in playgroup again regularly. I think he likes it - he talked for the first time at play group this last Thursday and everyone turned and stared at him and made comments. It was nothing unusual (he "said" what he is always "saying" at home) but he's never been vocal at playgroup because everyone else there is vocal. It'll be interesting to see what happens when he can walk well enough to run with the "big boys."

Marc and I have noticed an interesting phenomenon in our memory collection of the first born: The older he gets the more videos and fewer pictures appear on the camera each week. Most likely because instead of trying to catch a picture of the event we try to capture the actual event in its entirity. So I have made a concious effort to try to get more pictures of everyday life instead of just trying to get video of the exciting events.

#2 is doing well - as active and 'intrusive' as Des was - which convinces me that it is a boy as well but we shall see in December... A lot of people are rooting for a girl. =) And who's to say that a girl wouldn't be as (or more) rambunctious? =)


First football game.

First volleyball game.

Playgroup at the park.

Favorite Activity

Just a short video to show you his accomplishments - this was taken last weekend and he is actually 10 times better than this already but this gives you an idea.

And so it begins....

I'm trying to think back to summarize all that has transpired since my last post. And then I think - has all that much transpired???? We'll see as I go, I s'pose.

And so it begins.... For those regulars you may remember almost a year ago I did a stint of single parenting when Marc was recruited to do the pit "orchestra" for the annual musical. My (seemingly) annual single approach to the family life begins tonight. Last year it was only threeish weeks - this year he was approached to be the musical director - so he is in charge of *all* music. This includes the band like last year and also all the rehearsals for the vocal parts - so instead of three weeks we are looking at eight weeks of M,T,Th evening rehearsals and then the three weeks of more intense/frequent practice. This is also the start of pep band season and (what Marc calls) Star Spangled Banner season. The kids have the option of singing or playing the national anthem for sports events to earn extra credit so Marc has to go in for each of those. We are hopeful that he will be able to come home for a short dinner, at least, each night to see Des (and me!).

Des and I have tried to resume our play group attendance - we stopped going this summer because Marc was home and because Des was sleeping through half of it and I didn't think that we could make it in time to see folks. It was fun to see how the kids had changed in the few months that we were gone.

Des and I made a trip to Billings for #2's ultrasound and a doctor appointment for me. All looked good - #2's report came back healthy - all parts intact, in place and well developed. We are very thankful for that. We got to see a bit of Gramma B , Grampa B, A. Corrina and U. Maury.

Des is walking better now. Although he still stumbles quite a bit he does have some pretty good little jaunts at times. He loves to practice and when he gets going by himself he seems to know it is an accomplishment and laughs like crazy. Its fun to watch his process of thought when he figures stuff out or is just playing. He has a daily cat and mouse chase - although the mouse is the one chasing. Whenever a cat walks by or meows Des tries to find and catch them all the while saying "ow" - that is his name for them - "ow" - we assume from them always saying meow, he didn't get it from Marc or I. Kind of sad that he calls them by 'name' before mom or dad.

My nesting instincts have expanded to Marc's office. Des and I have gone into Marc's office a couple of times to "help." Really we go in because Marc has things to do and we go for a new place to play but Marc has given me a couple projects and that has sparked a desire to purge and organize all his file cabinets and drawers (since I've already conquered the house). Unfortunately, I'll have to take it a baby step at a time because I don't have the time to commit at this point - but I would really like to just walk in and dump all the drawers out and start over - wouldn't that be helpful to Marc's busy start of the year?? =)


Walking the halls at Dad's work.

Literally trapped at the office...

Happy boy - that's our Des.