What a whirlwind of a couple weeks! I don't know about you but I'm not sure where December went! It's almost gone already! Mathwon traveled last week to Chicago for a conference. Demani and I thought about going but we all decided it was better to stay home! A good call :) We had visits from Aunt Tiffany and Grammy while Mathwon was gone. We had a busy couple of days while he was gone. Monday, the 12th Demani and went to my work Christmas party at Spring Arbor University. It was a good time and it was the first time that my former coworkers got to see Demani. Tuesday we went to the mall for 4 hours! We were supposed to go with our friends Angel and Elijah but Angel wasn't feeling well and ended up spending 8 hours in ER for what they think was kidney stones! So Demani and I are getting comfortable getting around outside of the house. Mathwon returned home late Tuesday night and the rest of the week was a whirlwind from there as he had events in the evenings. Friday I learned the sad news that one of my coworkers from the Toledo site passed away suddenly. This saddened me much - she had held Demani and changed his diaper for me while we were at the work party. I still haven't heard what happened exactly. The funeral is today ( Tuesday) and I decided it was best not to try it with Demani.
On a brighter note, Mathwon's sister and her husband flew in for a visit. We had a great time eating well and playing games. Jason left today but Timo will be in Ohio/Michigan through Christmas.
The Christmas season has been filled with a mix of emotions for sure this year. Our hearts are certainly full with love for our son - that eclipses most of the other emotions! We look forward to a happy, merry Christmas as we celebrate what Christ did for us. May yours be happy and merry too!
The Triple Nose Crunch
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Monday, December 4, 2006
My first Christmas tree
posted by mom
Saturday we got Demani's first Christmas tree. We were quite brave and went to the same lovely tree farm, Holtz Tree Farm, that we have for the past 2 years. You cut your own tree down and they have a Christmas ornament or magnet each year that they give out. The previous 2 years were filled with fun and an equal amount of frustration as a result of my keen eye for the perfect tree. So this year in an attempt to avoid or at least lessen the frustration (and because of the added factor of a newborn) we brought walkie talkies. Our plan was successful! Mathwon and Demani got out and went once around the tree farm with me and then they got in the warm car and we brought out the walkie talkies and mom went in search of the perfect tree. Mathwon and I talked while I walked. At one point he said, "The sun is setting." Then he said, "We have a hungry child." That kicked things into high gear! Mathwon and Demani came out and I decided on a tree and then Demani and I went back to the car so he could eat. Demani's strong dad cut the tree, got it on the car and tied to the car all by himself. Mathwon tied the rope to one of his gloves and threw it over the tree in order to tie it to the car. Before we left the tree farm I changed Demani's diaper in the front seat of the car. By the time it was said and done we were quite impressed with our brave excursion and that it was successful! Today is Monday and the tree sits completely undecorated - very atypical of me; but things have changed :) my time is no longer my time and my to-do list, in large part, remains unfinished. I am okay with that as I realized the other day what I am giving to Demani by staying home. My time, love, energy, and effort is all his for awhile and that means the to-do list will have to remain unfinished.
Saturday we got Demani's first Christmas tree. We were quite brave and went to the same lovely tree farm, Holtz Tree Farm, that we have for the past 2 years. You cut your own tree down and they have a Christmas ornament or magnet each year that they give out. The previous 2 years were filled with fun and an equal amount of frustration as a result of my keen eye for the perfect tree. So this year in an attempt to avoid or at least lessen the frustration (and because of the added factor of a newborn) we brought walkie talkies. Our plan was successful! Mathwon and Demani got out and went once around the tree farm with me and then they got in the warm car and we brought out the walkie talkies and mom went in search of the perfect tree. Mathwon and I talked while I walked. At one point he said, "The sun is setting." Then he said, "We have a hungry child." That kicked things into high gear! Mathwon and Demani came out and I decided on a tree and then Demani and I went back to the car so he could eat. Demani's strong dad cut the tree, got it on the car and tied to the car all by himself. Mathwon tied the rope to one of his gloves and threw it over the tree in order to tie it to the car. Before we left the tree farm I changed Demani's diaper in the front seat of the car. By the time it was said and done we were quite impressed with our brave excursion and that it was successful! Today is Monday and the tree sits completely undecorated - very atypical of me; but things have changed :) my time is no longer my time and my to-do list, in large part, remains unfinished. I am okay with that as I realized the other day what I am giving to Demani by staying home. My time, love, energy, and effort is all his for awhile and that means the to-do list will have to remain unfinished.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Our first walk
posted by mom
Today was another good day for the Howard family. I got a nap this morning which I am sure contributed to the good day :) I got a nap, a shower, and a walk in today and I figure that makes a pretty great day! Oh, I made some dinner too!
Demani and I used the stroller for the first time and went and visited a neighbor to drop off a thank you note. Her sister was visiting from Mexico and we had a great visit. Karina (our neighbor) has two kids, one is 2ish and the other is 5 months old. We talked baby and she shared some good insights with me. She also let me borrow a book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child; my other neighbor Michele had also recommended this book. She flipped through it and pointed out a few things to me and one point in particular jumped out at me. I said that is where we are right now! I said do you know how good it is to see that in print? She kind of laughed because she knew exactly what I was saying. She gave us some homemade tortillas! Yum!! Thanks Karina!
Michele and Mike, our neighbors, had their baby right before Thanksgiving. Another neighbor had their baby today - another boy! There are 5 boys very close to Demani's age a 5 minute walk away!
I am feeling more and more like myself. Mathwon and I are figuring parenting out moment by moment. We are trying to be patient with each other and are giving each other space to figure out how to be a mom and dad. We are both realizing that we must stay prayed up!
Today was another good day for the Howard family. I got a nap this morning which I am sure contributed to the good day :) I got a nap, a shower, and a walk in today and I figure that makes a pretty great day! Oh, I made some dinner too!
Demani and I used the stroller for the first time and went and visited a neighbor to drop off a thank you note. Her sister was visiting from Mexico and we had a great visit. Karina (our neighbor) has two kids, one is 2ish and the other is 5 months old. We talked baby and she shared some good insights with me. She also let me borrow a book, Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child; my other neighbor Michele had also recommended this book. She flipped through it and pointed out a few things to me and one point in particular jumped out at me. I said that is where we are right now! I said do you know how good it is to see that in print? She kind of laughed because she knew exactly what I was saying. She gave us some homemade tortillas! Yum!! Thanks Karina!
Michele and Mike, our neighbors, had their baby right before Thanksgiving. Another neighbor had their baby today - another boy! There are 5 boys very close to Demani's age a 5 minute walk away!
I am feeling more and more like myself. Mathwon and I are figuring parenting out moment by moment. We are trying to be patient with each other and are giving each other space to figure out how to be a mom and dad. We are both realizing that we must stay prayed up!
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving!
posted by mom
I have a few things I need to do to finish getting ready for Thanksgiving but here I sit writing for the blog, mostly because this is something I can do with one hand!
We have much to be thankful for this year, as we have in years past. But this year is different because there are 3 of us now. God has blessed us with Demani - a gift straight from Heaven. When Demani smiles at us our hearts can hardly contain the blessing. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
I have a few things I need to do to finish getting ready for Thanksgiving but here I sit writing for the blog, mostly because this is something I can do with one hand!
We have much to be thankful for this year, as we have in years past. But this year is different because there are 3 of us now. God has blessed us with Demani - a gift straight from Heaven. When Demani smiles at us our hearts can hardly contain the blessing. God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Monday, November 20, 2006
A great day
Posted by mom!
Today was a great day! We had a dr appt with Dr Bettcher and Demani is doing wonderfully. He weighed 8lbs 3oz at birth and is now 9lbs 100z! We rejoiced with the news of his weight gain! Breastfeeding is going well :) He is also 2 1/2 inches longer than he was at birth! Also, we rejoice because of answered prayer regarding the hematoma on his little head. It is virtually gone!
After the dr appt we grabbed some lunch and then Demani and I took a nap. I got a gift in the mail from my friend Holly Sortman - who is in Japan. She sent a very awesome purse and a Japanese figurine. It was such a sweet, thoughtful gift and I was so excited to receive it! Mathwon took one look at the purse and said that is so you :) I can't wait to carry it.
Then I had my first venture out without Demani. Demani ate before I left and then was ready to eat when I got home. I had my hair cut and colored and it was a nice time out though I was anxious when I left and anxious to get home to my two guys.
Alicia, our doula, dropped off dinner. It was good to see her. She brought a train book for Demani. She couldn't believe how he had grown! She also noticed that Mathwon and I were in much better shape than the last time she saw us :) She brought some pics that she took at the birth and they say more than a thousand words. The pics brought tears to my eyes as I viewed them and held little Demani in my arms. The pics show the intensity of the birth and that Mathwon was in agony right along with me. The weight of seeing me in pain and praying for a safe delivery for me and baby was a heavy load for him. We worked hard for the little guy to come safely into the world and he's been rewarding us ever since.
Today was a great day! We had a dr appt with Dr Bettcher and Demani is doing wonderfully. He weighed 8lbs 3oz at birth and is now 9lbs 100z! We rejoiced with the news of his weight gain! Breastfeeding is going well :) He is also 2 1/2 inches longer than he was at birth! Also, we rejoice because of answered prayer regarding the hematoma on his little head. It is virtually gone!
After the dr appt we grabbed some lunch and then Demani and I took a nap. I got a gift in the mail from my friend Holly Sortman - who is in Japan. She sent a very awesome purse and a Japanese figurine. It was such a sweet, thoughtful gift and I was so excited to receive it! Mathwon took one look at the purse and said that is so you :) I can't wait to carry it.
Then I had my first venture out without Demani. Demani ate before I left and then was ready to eat when I got home. I had my hair cut and colored and it was a nice time out though I was anxious when I left and anxious to get home to my two guys.
Alicia, our doula, dropped off dinner. It was good to see her. She brought a train book for Demani. She couldn't believe how he had grown! She also noticed that Mathwon and I were in much better shape than the last time she saw us :) She brought some pics that she took at the birth and they say more than a thousand words. The pics brought tears to my eyes as I viewed them and held little Demani in my arms. The pics show the intensity of the birth and that Mathwon was in agony right along with me. The weight of seeing me in pain and praying for a safe delivery for me and baby was a heavy load for him. We worked hard for the little guy to come safely into the world and he's been rewarding us ever since.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
First Sunday at church
Posted by mom!
Today was Demani's first day at church! We were late of course...I bathed him and then his diaper needed changed...and then I had to change plans on what I wanted him to wear because he doesn't quite fit in his suit from Rachel and Rich yet.
People were so excited to see him and Demani was great - he slept through it all but I think in part only because he didn't sleep too much the night before! It was good to be back at church and to start to get back into the groove of things again.
I was talking with one of my lady friends, a wise mother, and I was saying how I felt we were prepared for labor and delivery but that I am not sure that I was prepared for after baby - so many conflicting feelings. And she nodded emphatically and said "yes, you're kind of ambushed!" And I said, "yes that is it exactly!" I've felt ambushed by many feelings, each of them to the point of overwhelmingly so. So many feelings...An awareness of being responsible for a life - talk about overwhelming! A feeling of awe in the miracle of birth and God's creation. And then feeling inadequate for what you've been charged with - which can lead to frustration. And ambushed by joy and love that you've never quite experienced before. I imagine it must be a glimpse of how much God must love us.
Today was Demani's first day at church! We were late of course...I bathed him and then his diaper needed changed...and then I had to change plans on what I wanted him to wear because he doesn't quite fit in his suit from Rachel and Rich yet.
People were so excited to see him and Demani was great - he slept through it all but I think in part only because he didn't sleep too much the night before! It was good to be back at church and to start to get back into the groove of things again.
I was talking with one of my lady friends, a wise mother, and I was saying how I felt we were prepared for labor and delivery but that I am not sure that I was prepared for after baby - so many conflicting feelings. And she nodded emphatically and said "yes, you're kind of ambushed!" And I said, "yes that is it exactly!" I've felt ambushed by many feelings, each of them to the point of overwhelmingly so. So many feelings...An awareness of being responsible for a life - talk about overwhelming! A feeling of awe in the miracle of birth and God's creation. And then feeling inadequate for what you've been charged with - which can lead to frustration. And ambushed by joy and love that you've never quite experienced before. I imagine it must be a glimpse of how much God must love us.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Fine Dining
Mom and Dad decided to venture out for dinner for the first time with Demani - We chose Wendy's ....you know those frosty's are hard to pass up. Demani was great - He slept the whole time. We even ventured over to Joanne Fabric's (Mathwon and Demani stayed in the car to listen to talk radio......specifically the build up to the big game between OSU and UM.). Next we stopped by Target to pick up Demani supplies.......Mathwon and Demani almost stayed at target with all the guys camping out in front of the store hoping to be first in line for the new PS3!!
Demani was cool until the car seat hit the living room floor then he let quick yell to let us know that we could release him from this contraption now.
Demani was cool until the car seat hit the living room floor then he let quick yell to let us know that we could release him from this contraption now.
Already three weeks!
Yesterday the little man turned three weeks old. Bethany and I were marveling at the thought of what we (excuse me...she) was doing three weeks ago. There is nothing more magical than having a little habibi who is dependent on you for everything.
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