A warning to all little ones

This is what happens when you wake up at 4:45 and don't go back to sleep until 7ish. Not that naps are bad, don't get me wrong but when it's in the middle of lunch and your favorite is being served (grilled cheese) it's not a good thing. So learn from me and sleep well for your mom and dad!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I was kind of curious as to what Demani would do with Christmas presents this year...it took just a day to figure it out! Here is Demani discovering one of his gifts beneath the tree, just a little ahead of schedule.

Demani's play date

Tonight we went to Mathwon's work party at his boss's house and Demani had the extreme pleasure to hang with his friend Fox and his cool parents. We had a good time out with just adults but I think Demani had an even better time hanging with Fox. Fox's dad took some fun pictures of Demani and Fox and posted them on Fox's blog. Please visit http://www.fox-albert.blogspot.com/ Demani told us on the way home that he can't wait to have Fox come over to our house so that his parents can go out too.

We have a full weekend ahead with Christmas shopping, dinner over at the pastor's house from the church we have been attending, and perhaps a movie night with Fox and his mom and dad. Our weekend is full and so are our thankful hearts.

Playing catch up

Whew! I haven't posted in awhile...and I missed saying Happy Thanksgiving! So Happy Thanksgiving. This year we went to CA to visit Mathwon's sister and her husband and his mom. It was a quick trip especially once our plane was delayed on Wednesday night and so we had to take a plane very early Thursday morning. Demani did great on all of the flights. He is a trooper! We made it safely to CA except for Demani's bag! It was run over or something and we lost a few things, including the bag. The airline gave us a new bag and we are going to send a claim in for the things we lost. We got Demani some new shoes and they are just the cutest! They squeak when he walks and seriously, there isn't too much that I would consider any cuter :) Last week an entire restaurant watched him (and listened to him) walk to the front of the restaurant! It was like out of a movie.
We had a wonderful visit with family. Demani enjoyed chasing Timo and Jason's three cats, though he had a soft spot for Jasmine. And Nanan and Auntie Timo and Uncle J just ate Demani up. Here are some pics from the visit.

Chasing Jasmine


Last Saturday we got our Christmas tree and for the first time in Howard family history we went with the first tree that caught our eyes. It may have been that it was the perfect tree or the fact that it was snowing and cold, or perhaps a combination. We went with some friends and went out for lunch afterwards. It was a great time.
Decorating (or eating the ornament, in Demani's case) the tree

We've all been battling colds but otherwise all is well as we prepare for celebrating Christmas. I am hoping to get a Christmas letter out...we'll see how that goes :)

A book sent in the mail from buddy Colin

I'm walking!

Walking Little Man

Demani took his first real steps on Thursday, November 8 and hasn't looked back! Each day he links a few more steps and stays up on his feet that much longer. It's so amazing to watch as he wobbles, steadies himself and takes a few more steps before plopping down on his bottom. He will be playing and then the next thing we know we see a little head bobbing along and he's walking! He's tricky to catch on video though...we are still trying to get a good shot of him toddling along. No worries, we'll post it on the blog before it goes national, so you all will get first glimpse! :)

Tooth number 2 at 2

Yawn. That's 2 am! Last night at 2 in the morning tooth number 2 broke through and we had an unhappy little guy who, once happy thanks to tylenol, decided he wasn't tired. So neither mom or dad got much sleep... Nothing makes you appreciate a good night sleep like being up for 3 1/2 hours in the middle of the night....

Demani and my sister shared tooth issues this week as Kendra had her wisdom teeth taken out. Here's hoping she slept better than we did last night!

Laundry Basket Climbing...A new sport!

I am a catepillar!

Happy Halloween!

Back in NY

On the plane ride to MI. Note his wings!


At Urban Toddler on his birthday with buddy, Emerson.


Surprise Great Aunt Becky!



Playing in the leaves


We took our first airplane ride last week! Demani did absolutely wonderful. On the ride home, he slept the entire plane ride!! Demani and I had a great time visiting family and friends and helping to celebrate Great Aunt Becky's 50th birthday party! Whew, now I can say it, it was hard to not talk about our upcoming trip! Here are a few photos from our trip and a few from once we got home.

Demani's birthday gift from Mom and Dad!

1st Birthday Party!

Last night was the birthday party and it was sooo much fun! We had good food, (Grandpa Howard cooked) fun and fellowship! We had a house full of people and we had a great turnout for the virtual party; all credit to Mathwon for that idea! It allowed people that couldn't be at the party physically to still be at the party! Demani dug right into the cake! He didn't eat a whole lot of it but he sure had fun getting messy! Hopefully we'll be able to post some video, but until then...here are some photos!

It's hard to believe that it's been a year, our lives will never be the same since we've been given the gift of experiencing life through our son's eyes.


FUN indeed!


YUMM!! This is fun!




Caterpillar cake



Playing with Grandpa Howard's hat



Not a great picture, but if you blow it up it is a great shot of his tooth :)

First Tooth!

The first tooth has arrived and not without fanfare! Demani's been a bit grumpy and just plain not feeling well. He's congested, had a slight fever, and spit up several times because of the congestion. The tooth made the final push this morning and I can feel it with my finger! I think he is feeling better. We are hoping that the rest of his teeth are not this much of a trial for Demani, and us! Getting a glimpse of the tooth or a finger in his mouth is hard enough, forget a picture!! I'll keep trying!

Happy Fall!

The leaves have started to turn here in NY. All the hills and the trees combine to make some breathtaking scenes. We are enjoying some unseasonably warm weather here. The sun is out and Demani and I have already taken a walk today. Mathwon is coming home for lunch and we are going out for lunch.

Demani is just such a cutie. He is doing something new everyday it seems. He likes doors, shutting them and swinging them, much to mom and dad's dismay! He also helped me put the silverware away last week. He stood up to the dishwasher and would pull up a piece of silverware and I would take it and put it in the drawer. We put most of the silverware away that way! What a big helper!

Demani is teething and I am pretty sure I can see his bottom tooth on the right side. He is a little more cranky than usual but he is faring pretty well. He is walking along everything and will stand up for a few moments on his own!

We had a rough day last Thursday, Demani gave me a hard time eating the whole day, and by the end of the day we were both covered in food....I thought about taking a picture and posting it but decided not to. I was afraid it would be too much for those who aren't parents yet... :) At one point we were both in tears, I imagine he was just as frustrated as I was! He was really upset and when Mathwon came home he took him and he stopped crying instantly and I put my head in my hands and said, "I am so done right now!" Then Demani started laughing!!!! Mathwon whispers to Demani, "now is not the time to laugh!" Eventually, my strained laughter joined his. Anyway, for all those hard moments there are triple the moments below.

This is after the "food fight". Note the food covering his outfit...Play time with Dad makes everything better!

At Fiato's Orchard

In Demani's room, playing with his reflection.

At the park!

Last day at SAU, a year ago today!

A year ago today was my last day of work at Spring Arbor University. It seems like yesterday and it seems like a long time ago. I don't miss the work part of it - but I do miss the people aspect of it. I find it hard to believe that it's been a year and that soon my little guy will be a year old. Sigh. I just really wish I could slow things down sometimes!

Being at home with Demani is what I thought it would be and in some ways it's a lot I didn't expect:

• I didn't realize the days would go so quickly! I thought the hours would just drag by....
• I didn't know it would be so fun.
• I didn't think it would be this hard.
• I didn't know I could love this much.
• It used to be a good day was not taking a shower until 12pm. Now I consider it a rough day if I am getting cleaned up at 12pm...
  
• I never used to consider going to the grocery store by myself a luxury.
  
• I didn't know I could worry about so many little things, but when it's about Demani all of a sudden it's a bunch of big things.
  
• I didn't know that motherhood would make me a more confident woman.
• I didn't know I would have to work that much harder to be the wife I want to be for Mathwon.
  
• I didn't realize that working without earning a paycheck could be so rewarding.
• I didn't know how many times I would do the same thing over and over and over.

I mentioned this to Mathwon the other day. I said, "You know that's the thing about staying home, I feel like I do the same things over and over and over." He looked over at Demani having a blast in the pack and play and said "Yes, but it is the only thing that you can do over and over that transforms that little boys life." You've hear the term, burst into tears? Well , that is exactly what I did. The tears came due to the truth of Mathwon's words and because of the fact that Mathwon so values and "gets" what I do each day, even if it's chasing a baby all day and nothing else. I am very blessed. Undeservedly so.

Demani's new stuffed animal.

I should be making dinner...

....But here I am blogging...

I always feel like I should say a bit more than I do when I blog but today will be a quick post again (since I need to get dinner going). Maybe tomorrow I will have a chance to sit and just write for a bit.

We had a good weekend here with great weather. It is in the 80's again today! Demani and I walked on campus today while we waited for Mathwon.

Demani is giving high 5's, clapping, crawling, walking along things, and will all of a sudden let go of something and stand for a few seconds. He is 11 months old today! WOW! He is growing by leaps and bounds and will crack us up at least a few times a day. He enjoys his new stuffed animal (look for pictures in the next post), the water jug, big bowls and spoons, cords, balls, and cell phones. Never a dull moment!!!

Parenthood is hard and fun and in some ways I am nervous about the future because I have a feeling it is going to include some tough times but also some great, laughable moments! I suppose that is why people have more than one child! That and they bring this inexplicable joy to your heart with every smile (see exhibits below).


CHEESE!


Demani and his empty water jug. He has a blast with the thing...hey don't knock it until you've tried it :)

Demani decided to help with dinner the other night and he "told" me he was making dessert. When Mathwon came home I told him about how Demani was playing with the bowl and the spoon and "helping me with dinner. " I mentioned that he "made" dessert. After dinner Mathwon asked if dessert was cookies or what it was and I was like ummm, I don't have anything for dessert...he said I thought you said Demani made dessert, I said we were pretending!! We got a good laugh out of that and I will have to be sure to mention when Demani and I are pretending :)

A visit from Great-Grandpa

On Saturday Demani's Great-Grandpa came for a visit and he brought Ada May along for the visit. I don't believe I had ever met Ada May. It was a pleasure to meet her. We had lunch and dessert together and we gave them a tour of our place. Grandpa brought pictures to show Mathwon of his logging days. The rest of the time we played with Demani :) We had a fabulous time together. Precious Moments...


Today I met an angel in the parking lot at Wegman's (the grocery store). I realized in the store that my keys weren't in my purse and I was hoping that they were in the car and that it was unlocked as I had Demani and a cart full of groceries. Well, I got out there and the car was locked and I couldn't find the keys through the window. A lady saw me peering in the car and trying the doors and asked if I had lost my keys or locked them in the car and I told her I thought they were in the car. So she went to her car, which was parked right next to mine, she had just arrived at the store and she found a long straight rod...perfect for unlocking a car door (what are the chances?)...So she managed to unlock the door and the alarm went off when we opened the car door and I couldn't find the keys anywhere....the alarm is still going off and she is trying to help me find the keys. She says she will go in and see if someone has turned in any keys. As she walks away I say, there's a green flip flop on the keychain... :) The alarm is still sounding and there is nothing I can do.... Demani is being great. I turn to see the angel carrying my keys and walking towards me...someone had turned them in. I asked her name, it is Cindy, and I thanked her for being a lifesaver and left a note for her on her car before pulling away. I am so thankful for her! What a difference it made in my day!

I tried out another mom's group today, and I think I will be joining this one as well. :) I can walk to the church where it meets, it is that close.

We visited a church that we enjoyed and had very friendly people. It was encouraging to us :)

Demani got new jammies...and he looked so handsome in his train sweater from Auntie Timo....

My new toy

Mom and Dad bought me a new toy that I can practice standing up at! It is really fun to play with, though I would still rather stand up to the coffee table and bang on it! There is all kinds of fun stuff on it and I am really glad Mom and Dad picked out this toy for me! You should have seen them at Babies R Us looking at all the toys...

I like this toy!!


but nothing beats a block...

I love to stand!

This is how I snuggle with my teddy bear...and the cat!

Demani's first baseball game and more!

Standing in my crib!!!

At the park


I LOVE BANANAS!

It's September already!! Oh my! I guess time flies when you are having fun! Demani went to his first baseball game last week! The experience included his first french fry, mascots, souvenirs, a program, and mommy dropping her hot dog laced with ketchup on an unsuspecting man in front of their seats! Ahh, there's nothing like a ball game! We saw the Binghamton Mets play the Akron Aeros. My parents and my sister Tiff were in for the weekend. It was a great time by all!

Demani is going full throttle these days! His personality is coming out - he's quite the little guy! He lets you know when he doesn't appreciate you taking something from him! He is pulling up to furniture, his crib, you name it! He is loving bananas these days! And rice cakes! He loves to play with his toys and he enjoys going on walks with mom and dad.

I signed up for MOPS (MOthers of Preschoolers) and that starts next week. I am looking forward to it. We are beginning to really settle in and feel a bit more relaxed and at peace with life in NY.
watching the baseball game

The 3 of us at the game!
My first fry! At Apple Hills again :)