Hold My Hand

Danny is going through a bit of a Mommy phase. And how can I turn away from all of the extra hugs and kisses and snuggle time, even if it means cooking dinner while holding him, changing clothes while holding him, and doing many other things, all while holding him.

One of the sweetest things he has done the last two days is ask (or demand) to hold his hand while I'm driving him to daycare. This means that my left hand is on the wheel, and my right arm is hyper extended to the back seat so that I can hold his hand. Usually, my arm is shaking by the time we get to school. But his warm little hands just hold on for all that they've got, and it melts me.

I continue to be amazed at his warm little personality. His hugs. His kisses. His everything. At night, when we say our prayers, we pray for our families and friends, and then I always say "who else should we pray for Danny?" and he names all of his little daycare friends and daycare teachers.

I love holding his hand. And I love that we are finally in that place where he wants to sit on my lap, or snuggle next to me when we are watching one of his videos. And even more sweet is to watch him just sit and play with his toys. He has trucks that he rolls around the fireplace hearth. A Melissa and Doug pizza set that he serves to David and I all of the time, and little animal figures that he can name and imitate. I always think that each phase is the best, but it seems to continue to get better...I just wish it would slow down.

Super lazy

Man, I have been horrible at updating my blog. HORRIBLE with a capital H. The last post is from August. Over two months ago. Wow. SLACKER.

Life is good. We've been having so much fun, that at the end of the day, when I should be making time to journal all of the great things we've done, I end up checking facebook or reading some of my celebrity gossip websites (people, usmagazine, etc.). Worthless time sucks, but oh so fun...and sometimes addicting!

Danny turned two...ALMOST A MONTH AGO. Holy wowzer. I have a 2-year old. And boy, is he such a happy guy. I'm so in love with him. I know that sounds ridiculous, but truly, he brings so much magic to our lives. He's so happy. SO HAPPY. How did we ever get so lucky.

Here are just a few things I won't want to forget.

1. He's absolutely obsessed with football. Carries his football all around. Sleeps with it. Takes it to the Kirtland football games. Holds it in the car. Obsessed. The only problem is that he calls it his "golf ball". This confused me for a while. One night, last week, Danny was picking up his football to go to bed, and Dave said, "that's friggin' awesome". Dave's in heaven. I worry that someday I'm actually going to have to learn about football if he plays. Oy vey.
2. Everything he wants to do again is "one more time". Except "one more time", isn't really one more time. It's 8,000,000 more times.
3. I think he will be a fighter pilot or a sharp shooter. His vision is amazing. At least as far as I can tell. He can spot an airplane or helicopter before I can even begin to hear it. This is really funny considering how hyper paranoid (ok, beyond paranoid) I was when he was an infant and even at his 1-year appointment that he was cross-eyed, and I was terrified if we didn't correct it, he would have horrible vision. This entailed two visits to a pediatric eye specialist at UH Rainbows. Yes, I was nuts (and that was $$$$). But it was worth every penny to know that in fact, he has great vision. And now that he is verbal, we are reaping the benefits!
4. He is off the bottle. I kind of sucked at this. Like a lot of other things, I let this go on longer then it should have. And to think I thought I would be more by the book. My sister always said "you pick your battles". Well, his bedtime bottle wasn't kicked until (I $hit you not), one week before his second birthday. We had him at the doctors to check his ear for what seemed like the millionth ear infection (of course he did not have one at this appointment). And the doctor we were seeing (not Danny's regular) made a point to say how "since he doesn't drink from a bottle anymore"...blah blah blah something about fluid in his ears. Dave and I just looked at each other and didn't say a peep. The next night we went cold turkey, and we survived.
5. His latest movie obsession is Toy Story, and Toy Story 2. We are getting Toy Story 3 soon, or I'm going to go NUTS. "Woody Buzz, Woody Buzz, Woody Buzz". That's what we hear each night while he drinks his milk (IN A SIPPY CUP THANK YOU) and eats his "O's" before bedtime.
6. I received an awesome collection of books at his baby shower. And all of "the books" say to read to your baby from what seems like the moment you conceive. Well, this didn't really happen. Ever. He wasn't interested. Until a few months ago. And I remember being nervous that he wasn't going to be a reader. Sherman's are readers! Now, he's obsessed. I mean, it's a minimum of three books a night. And he sleeps with them. And some of them talk. So he plays with them in bed, and we laugh. We hear him chattering away, playing with his books, and the Thomas the Tank horn going "Beeep" (or however it sounds). Thank GOD he likes books.

Ok. I'll try to get better at this!

Twice Off the Low Diving Board!

Today, at Danny's last swim lesson...he went off the low diving board TWICE at the Mayfield Village Pool! I couldn't believe it :) Last week, our instructors/12-year old life guards...(ok, they just look 12), finally caught the hint that the little ones in the class were not quite ready for Michael Phelps training, and decided to let them play. They turned on all the water toys and the slide. Danny LOVED the water slide. We probably went down 5 or 6 times! Today, they took the same approach...but then invited the kids to go off the diving boards. Dave and I hesitated even taking Danny over, because he doesn't like to get his face wet (really, it's his eyes). But, after seeing another little girl do it, he wanted to. So, Dave walked the plank with him, and I was in the deep water waiting. On the count of three, Dave helped him "jump". He went under but bounced right back up (they tie a noodle under their arms). He was confused, but once he saw us smiling, he smiled...and wanted to do it again. The second time, he jumped on his own (with Dave behind him!). I am so hoping that next year, he will do it again.

Swimming "lessons" at this age might seem silly to some....but I really want him to be comfortable in a pool. I won't even write what one of my worst fears is, but I'm sure you can guess...which is why learning how to swim and being comfortable in a pool means a lot to me.

Happiness

Yesterday marked the third anniversary that we said good-bye to Angela. We took Friday off, and took Danny to the Zoo. Which was also our fifth wedding anniversary :) Time flies when you are having fun.

Danny is the perfect age for the Zoo. He loves animals. Monkeys. Giraffes. Lions (just ask him, how does a Lion go?..and you'll get a resilient...ROAR!!!!). And while he enjoyed seeing all of these animals, he was far more interested in what you ask? Well let me explain. Each monkey exhibit contains a toy ball and a big thing of water. Welcome Danny's two favorite things. Balls and Water. I'm not sure he even saw the monkey's. Every glass we looked through, was the most enthusiastic scream of "BALL and WATER".

Staring at the Polar Bear

Seriously, I have no tan. I think I'm alergic to the sun or something.

One of the only times Danny was on his feet. Hand in his pocket like he is such a "what a guy".

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Staring at the monkeys..

Really into the monkeys in this picture...

He was able to maintain that energy level throughout the day because he maybe only walked 100-feet while we were there. Spoiled little monkey had his Dad carry him around (Daddy.....Daddy....) the entire Zoo. Including the walk UP the giant hill to the Primates. God love David that he did it. We took turns, but all Danny wanted was "Daddddyyyyyy". Now, if I could only teach him to do that in the middle of the night :)

Ok. So he crashed at the end of the day...

Look at that yawn!"

Out cold

So tired, his head flopped and he lost his coveted Elmo hat

For Angela's actual birthday, we took Danny to his morning swimming lessons...and then a friends daughters Birthday Party. We thought Danny would get a nap in at some time, but that never happened, unless you count the time from the birthday party to BJ's, maybe 35-minutes? (By the way, we haven't had a nap ALL flippin weekend!)

David carried him all around BJ's. Seriously, I'm loving this whole "Dadddyyyy" business. Ok. I'm not loving it all of the time. Only when it works in my favor. All of the other times, it hurts my feelings. Immature, I know. But it's the truth.

After BJ's, we took the little guy over to Red Robin...ahh...where it all began. That's where David and I had our "blind date" lunch 9-years ago :) Danny was mostly good. Busy, as always, but really good. Such a great place for kids.

We had a low key evening at home. Dave's parents and Grandma stopped by for a drink, and then we watched the movie, "It's Complicated". I laughed. Dave didn't. He swears he liked it, but I'm not totally convinced.

Have I mentioned how lucky we are? Countless friends sent cards, texts, emails and called. Look at the beautiful roses Dawn gave us.

Beautiful flowers from Dawn. She is so thoughtful :)

Attempt at a family picture...

David and his mini-me!

Me...and David's mini-me :)

Elmo? I love books!

Today, we went to mass to remember Angela. Danny was really good. Dave's parents, his sister, and Noelle and Noah joined us. All were a pleasant surprise. This was the first mass that the guy from Zimbabwee or Botswana (I can't remember) wasn't there raising money for his mission. An act I totally support...but not when the whole mass (2-years in a row...2-different churches!!!)is all about donating money in an accent so strong I can barely understand! Danny smiled, and sat so well during the whole mass. The only time he really got a little rowdy was right during the intentions when they said Angela's name as Dave was walking him out. Go figure. She'll pay him back somehow :) Maybe trip him in front of his dream girl. Karma :)

Oh my gosh, I want to push him down he's so cute!

Just look at that dimple! Must restrain from pinching!

Emotions are powerful. I think it is amazing that your heart can physically hurt from being so overwhelmed with sadness and joy. That is what Angela's birthday is for us now. We are so sad for the little girl we lost, but so overwhelmed with happiness at the little boy we have. So even though we are sad, and we remember Angela, it's almost more important to celebrate her birthday because she has given us so much to be thankful for, and we have hopefully become better. Better people. Better parents. More loving. More thoughtful. More caring. Grateful.

Happy Birthday Angela :)

June Pictures!

In June, we enjoyed our first Kirtland Strawberry Festival as members of the community! Danny just took it all in. This is all just a short walk from our house! I love our location :)


Last weekend, we had such a great time just hanging around at home. I couldn't help but pull out the camera and take a zillion pictures of my handsome men.


And finally, just a few miscellaneous pictures of my little guy! I love some of the faces :)

Updated Pictures of my Little Man

May 2010



April 2010

Let the Potty Training Begin

We have now made two unsuccessful attempts at going #2 on the potty. But we are getting closer. Danny makes his face that he has to go, and Momma starts running. Today was the closest attempt of the two. He was all for it. I don't know if he got stage fright and just couldn't finish, but he was so proud of himself. "Potty. Potty. Potty." And of course, David is in there high fiving him.

Men.

Honestly.

If it wasn't bath time, he would have sat on the throne all night!

We just received his little potty today from Jodi. And it was still in the car during our attempt. I am hoping that by having his own cammode, he will be even more enthusiastic.

Note to self: Pull-ups would be helpful to assist with speed. Oh, and to be even more efficient, lose the snap at the bottom shirts and undershirts. The double layer snaps coupled with a diaper that had to be undone...I know the potty training "gods" were laughing at me :)

Hopefully I'll get some cute pictures...that are appropriate...and post them soon! His wedding day slide-show is going to be a breeze!