Donald and Dean Peritz - The Website!

NEW PICS! (Finally)

2009-01-26T20:57:00.003-06:00

Hi everyone. So sorry it's taken this long to get back into the swing of posting pics...but as you know, life sort of got in the way. So Dean is almost 3 months old now. At his 2 month check-up, he was up to 12 and 1/2lbs and 24 inches...that's up almost 5 lbs and FOUR inches since Nov 1st! We're struggling just to keep up with that! Dean is a wonderful baby...just a total joy to be around (much like his mother...) And Donald is still the smartest, funniest, sweetest toddler ever and a very good big brother!

Ok, you've been begging for them...so here you go..some (semi) fabulous pics:

Nina and Dean...who wonders, "...why the hat. WHY!?"

Getting a newborn to stay put...easy. Getting a toddler to do the same...not so much.

"I'm not squeezing his hand hard, promise!"

"MOM, post some pics of me SMILING!"

Birthday lunch with Daddy, the boys and big sis Jennifer

Peritz Family Photoshoot

2008-11-30T16:36:00.018-06:00

Below are a few shots from our recent newborn photo session with Steve Colwill at Poetic Exposure. He came HIGHLY recommended by my friend Tamie, owner of Craze Hair Studio in Dallas (she is amazing with color...not that I color my hair or anything...). Anyhow, she raved about his work and we quickly found out why. Steve also created a very touching slide show which you should check out here: http://www.poeticexposure.com/dean

Enjoy!!

For those of you looking for a great photographer, we HIGHLY recommend Steve at PoeticExposure.com. Thanks for your amazing work, Steve!

Patiently Waiting for Santa

2008-11-28T20:30:00.003-06:00

OK, Dean may be asleep, but he's letting everyone know he's waiting for Santa...I'm sure he's dreaming about all the good stuff everyone scored while braving the crowds on Black Friday!!!

The Wedding Pictures are finally in!

2008-11-27T22:39:00.018-06:00

WHAT? A WEDDING?

Sorry for the delay about this. (We waited for the pictures.)...Donald and Dean's Big sister Jennifer had two HUGE life events occur this year. (Other than the birth of Dean, of course.) Jennifer became a full-time elementary school teacher and then got married in a spectacular ceremony on July 19, 2008 to Nate Nelson (thus becoming Jennnifer Nelson). It was a big night for everyone!

We could not be more proud or excited and wish them both all the best!

And now, without further delay...a few of the pics...(Oh, and by the way, Dean wasn't quite here yet so Donald gave a solo performance as the ring bearer!)

Dad-o helped Donald get dressed...

Donald, the little Las Vegas entertainer...

Daddy helped Jennifer get dressed...sort of...

Step-Mom Carla brought Dean (under construction at the time)...
Then Donald jogged down the aisle to Mommy, nearly stealing the show!

The Groom, Groomsmen and our favorite Ring Bearer, Donald!

We'd like to congratulate both Jennifer and Nate and formally welcome Nate into the ever growing Peritz, Marion, and Drake family! Welcome Nelsons!

Donald is a Big Brother!

2008-11-11T14:20:00.009-06:00

Dean Anthony Peritz

Born at 3:59am
November 1, 2008
7lbs., 15oz. 20in.

Hi everyone.

We are so sorry we're so late with the big news and all of the pictures, but we had a bit of a crisis immediately following Dean's birth. As some of you may know, after initially being sent home from the hospital, we were back in the ER with Dean that same night because he had developed a fever. We spent the next several nights in the hospital with him while they ran tests. His fever went away rather quickly and the tests all came back normal. We were finally sent home last Thursday night and are enjoying our time getting to know him and seeing Donald hug and kiss him.

Dean had immediate visitors...first...big brother Donald...Then big sister Jennifer.Later Grandpa and Nina visited...as well as Pop Pop and Granny.
A little later, Dean had visits from Brad and Brenda Barton and Lauren and Tim, and...Uncle Tom visited at the house.Finally, the first family portrait!

Happy Halloween! (We're late, we know..)

2008-11-11T13:59:00.005-06:00

Last year Donald was the Great Pumpkin. This year....a big, scary lion. And wow, did he have that ROOOOARRRRR down!

"Mom, seriously? You don't need to hug the lion!"

"Big sister Jennifer means well, but does a big, scary lion really need help crossing the street?"

"I know the economy is bad right now, but that's all I get!?"

"Oh pumpkin. Have I told you lately that I love you?"

The second we got home, we promptly tossed out all of the candy. Sorry, neighbors.

And on a bittersweet note, this would mark a very special night in Donald's life: His last one as an only child....

So Sweet

2008-10-27T20:11:00.004-05:00

Oh what a special little guy! There are few words...

"Come on Mommy, I know you're having a tough time. You can do it."

Donald and the Pumpkins!

2008-10-27T19:41:00.007-05:00

We took Donald to the pumpkin patch in Celina over the weekend and met up with his SUPER-cute playmate Ava and her family. Donald is really into pumpkins right now...but he's been into tractors for a while, so it was extra special for him. Not to mention plenty of flirting...

"Thinking back on my days on the farm...the smell of nature. Oh wait, that's my diaper!"

"Now THAT's what I'm talkin' about! Vroom!!!"

"I think Ava might like this one."

"Oh wait, I found an even BIGGER one! A little help over here please?"

" Two is better than one. Plus, I can handle this all on my own!"

We didn't stay long, mainly because it's tough for me to do ANYthing for longer than about 30 minutes these days. But he loved it and that's all that matters!

Fall in Texas - Perfection!

2008-10-18T10:06:00.006-05:00

The weather has been so amazing lately and since Donald loves the outdoors so much, we've been taking him out a lot. Plus, with the new baby almost here, we've been basically doing all of the things he loves the most.

"I love my pumpkin! Can someone help me pick him up now!?"

"I wonder if they taste as good as they smell..."

"Mom, you're smashing my face with that giant belly!"

"My 1st time in the tunnel and it's wet. Lovely."

"Playing with the wood chips is fun, but those swings are looking interesting..hmmm"

The State Fair - One Year Later

2008-10-02T16:21:00.003-05:00

"Howdy Folks!"

"I've been practicing with Mom's help"

"You tried giving me one of those last year and I'm still not convinced!"

"Mommy's scooter is so much cooler than mine!"

Oh the Fair. How we love you. This year was so different from last year. Donald was up and walking around for little spurts, he was so into watching things, he was waving at Big Tex and so excited about everything.

And oh yes, Mommy sure did rent a scooter....on senior citizen day. Jealous!? As much as I would have loved to have gone into labor at the Fair, we thought better of it, sucked it up and rented that thing. By the way, they're FAST! And yes, Donald did race me in his stroller. He won.

Our Walls Will Never Be The Same...

2008-09-15T19:18:00.004-05:00

Well we lasted a good, long 18-months without any real permanent damage to anything in our home. Until now, that is. Crayon, meet boy. Boy and Crayon, meet wall....

"So this is cool, right?"

"See, I did that ALL by myself!"

"Right there, you can clearly see the craftsmanship that went into this."

"Oh, what Mom? I WASN'T supposed to do this?!"

News Update, Plus Our Latest Word Count

2008-09-10T20:04:00.008-05:00

I've been meaning to do this for a while now. Donald's semi-official word count at 18-months. (It's hard to keep track when he's adding them by the day!) Check it out:

* Nonal (Donald)
* Mommy
* Daddy
* Apple
*** Uppidy (up)
*** Pteas (please)
*** LA-ta-ta (light)
* Ball
* Down
* Mailman
* Uva (spanish for grape)
* Agua (spanish for water)
* Alla (spanish for over there)
* Cri-Cri (a 40's era Mexican recording artist; kids songs)
* Bananananana (Banana)
*** Momow (lawnmower)
* Eyeball
* Henri (the cat)
*** Wa-ta-ta (walk outside)
*** Reeee (rain)
* Baby
* Cook
* Hot
* No, no no!
* Uncle
* Nina
* Popo
* PopPop
* Granny
* Elmo
* Umpaw (Grandpaw...and yes, that's how we spell it around here...heehee)
*** Eeeg (egg)
* Me
* Knee
* In
* Out
* Cheese
* Este (spanish for "this")
* Hi
* Bye
* Hat
* One
* Two
* Go, Go, Go!
* Pouring
* More
* Mowing
* Ice
* Rice
* Book
* Bubba (his Teddy bear)
* Doodie (Hey, it's from Caddyshack and Uncle Tom taught it to him, whatchya gonna do!?)
*** Umaga (hamburger)
*** OH-me-na (home again)
*** Hamena (hammer)
* Wow
* Poo (pool)

Three * means that's the way he says it right now, but we know what he means. The others, he says correctly. Gotta run, Harvard's calling..............!

3 Silly Hats and 1 Scary Cow!

2008-09-04T05:19:00.002-05:00

"Silly outfit, silly hat, YUMMY milk!"

" I look like a pro golfer in this hat, don't I?"

"Ok, this silly hat thing is getting a little out of control!"

"Oh My Stars, what IS that thing and why are you taking a picture, Mom!?"

Too Cute!

2008-09-04T04:59:00.004-05:00

He did this all by himself!

Me and Daddy, ready to hit the streets!

2008-08-18T09:49:00.003-05:00

"Honor19" Motorcycle Ride for the Dallas County Deputy Sheriff's Memorial

2008-08-16T11:58:00.004-05:00

Today was the Honor19 motorcycle ride designed to raise money to create a memorial for Dallas County Deputy Sheriff's who have been killed in the line of duty. It was held at the Harley-Davidson dealership just around the corner, so it was the perfect place for me to see lots of motorcycles!

It makes mommy, daddy and me really sad that there is not already a memorial in place to honor his co-workers who paid the ultimate sacrifice, so we helped do our part.

I wore my neat tie-dyed Harley shirt...

We met lots of daddy's friends and saw lots of really cool motorcycles!

I even got to back my stroller in amongst the cool bikes!

Thanks everybody for helping! Bye!

Another haircut!

2008-08-16T11:37:00.004-05:00

I got another haircut today! This time I went to Cool Cuts and got to ride in a car while I got my big boy hair cut.

I even made funny faces at myself in the mirror...getting your haircut can be fun!

First Family Vacation

2008-08-11T07:45:00.010-05:00

...Ok, so it was more of a "stay-cation" since we didn't go out of town, but we packed as much action in as we could for the week. We hit some of the big highlights that the Dallas area has to offer.

MONDAY: Don and I took Donald to the Dallas Zoo. We stayed mainly in the Children's Zoo, but also made it around to see Jenny the elephant...

Donald rode a horse for the 1st time ever...It was actually a pony named Little Joe. He LOVED it.

We saw goats, sheep, penguins...he fed a bird all by himself. It was SO cute.

It was very hot that day (and being 7 months pregnant...in 100 degree heat...not so much fun...), so we wrapped things up around noon and Donald was out by the time we left the parking lot.

We capped Monday off with dinner at Campisi's (...the one in Plano, but hey, it's still a Dallas thing)..."One large, all the way, please!!!"

TUESDAY: We ate breakfast at one of our favorite greasy spoons: Barbec's. You can never go wrong with beer biscuits and gravy...mmm...

After breakfast, we drove through our old neighborhoods in the Old East Dallas/White Rock Lake/Lake Highlands areas. So much has changed in all those years, but you still always miss your 1st neighborhood. After that, we went home and spent the day there together resting and playing...and resting.

WEDNESDAY: We took Donald to the Dallas World Aquarium. He LOVED everything about it. (We all loved how nice and cold it was..) We saw the penguins, birds, flamingos, a bug of some sort, and his favorite: the giant waterfall.

He would point to this and that and just loved having Daddy hold him and point things out to him. He even liked the bats!

After that, we all went to Matt's Rancho Martinez in Lakewood for lunch (another one of my old Dallas faves) and Donald loved his chicken enchiladas.

THURSDAY: It was Dorothy the Dinosaur day at the Wiggly Play Center in Frisco (indoor children's play center). We were there 1st thing in the morning to wait for her to come out and dance with all the children. He had some time to kill, so we watched as Donald played in the toddler area for a little while.

Dorothy finally came out on stage, the children all gathered around and the singing and dancing began! Donald was starting to get a tad hungry and cranky, so he wasn't all that into her. And he kept trying to get on stage (imagine that!), and each time I had to peel him off, he'd whine a little, but he eventually started clapping and dancing, but when she was finished, it was time to go. Later that day, we were back in Frisco at Stonebriar Mall so that Donald could ride the carousel. Big boy LOVES those horses!!

After that, we took him to Buca di Beppo for dinner, but by then, he was tired and cranky and we almost had to pack it up, but he made it..had a little meatball and spaghetti...and our long day was over.

FRIDAY: We decided to take it easy and not overdo it, so after breakfast we headed to the park by our house so that Donald could run around and play outdoors since it wasn't so hot just yet. It's been so hot that we've been stuck inside for about 2 weeks and he's really missed going outside to play. So while Mommy sat in the grass for a while, Daddy and Donald walked around...mainly watching the huge tractor that was mowing nearby. He LOVES that sort of thing (wonder where he gets that?!). We put him on a swing for the 1st time, but he seemed a little nervous about that. He enjoyed playing with the mulch on the playground, even trying to eat at handful at one point. After the park, we headed back to the house and jumped in the pool. Donald did a great job of practicing what he's learning in swim class, which just wrapped up. That was it for our Friday, and we just stayed in and took it easy and played and spent time together the rest of the day..something we rarely get to do together.

SATURDAY: To cap off our "stay-cation", we left Donald home with Nina for 24 hours and set out on a romantic 1-night getaway to a local lakefront hotel.

Don set me up with an amazing prenatal spa package at the Bel Fiore Spa in Rockwall, then we checked into the hotel and spent some much needed quality time alone together, ahead of the arrival of our 2nd little baby boy in early November.

That's all for now!

Pop Pop's First Golf Lesson

2008-07-16T11:09:00.002-05:00

Just hit the ball into the hole...focus...keep your head down...

I'll just put in in the hole myself...

So Many Updates!

2008-07-08T06:28:00.005-05:00

It's been a little while since our last post, but we've been keeping busy and Donald has loads of stories to tell. There are more pics to come and maybe even video, but Don has to do that! In the meantime, here are just a few of the things he's been up to.........

"Daddy, are we going on vacation.....ever?!"

"It's so nice to FINALLY be able to DRIVE!"

"I can't wait to share this with my little brother one day soon!"

"Now THIS I will NOT share!"

"If you can't tell, my new thing is anything with wheels and a motor. Vroom!"

"But I recently had to take a break from all that to try on my tux for big sister's wedding. This is HOW much!?"

"Daddy, are you sure this fits OK?"

In addition to all of the above, this past weekend, Donald had his 1st swim lesson. He did really well, but then again he's used to getting in the pool at home. He also had his very 1st ever carousel ride on the horses at Stonebriar. He LOVED that. Pics of both to come...so stay tuned!!

Train Day 2008

2008-06-01T10:42:00.003-05:00

Donald went on his first real trip on Saturday. It was only a day trip, but it's the longest one he's ever been on, and he loved it! We took the Grapevine Vintage Railroad all the way to the Fort Worth Stockyards with the Bartons, the Hogans, the Hogans, Josh and Holly and her parents. (Brad engineered on the way to Fort Worth. He and Donald actually had on matching overalls and engineer hats!) Olivia was the only other little one in our group and she was so much fun. Donald found her irresistible on this day, and he also found new BFFs. Check it out...

"Hi Olivia! You mind if I hold your hand?"

"I can help you get your Mom's glasses, I'm a pro!"

Awwwww....

"The Bartons are my new best friends for organizing such a fun trip!"

"I am NOT wearing this hat right now!"

This was such a fun trip and I know he'd love to do it again one day. I would, too, in fact! He really loved the part when we got to the Stockyards and the train robbers rode up on horses, complete with (cap) guns and the whole nine yards. They even boarded the train and pretended to rob everyone while the sheriff "chased" him through the train cars. It was really cute! Lunch at Joe T. Garcia's was SO yummy. *I* can't wait to eat there again, actually! It was a very "Texan" kind of day. As a native Dallasite, I'm a little ashamed to admit that this was my 1st time...oops!

Donald did really well for not having had an afternoon nap or a complete lunch, then going way past his bedtime. Big boy! So proud of him!

Finally! Donald's First Haircut

2008-05-24T10:32:00.004-05:00

Back in the day, I really had some hair!!!! Let's take a look....

"I wonder if I get all this hair from Daddy's side?"

"But then it started growing and getting in my eyes..."

"So we went to Jodie, Mommy's stylist in Dallas. What's going on back there?!"

"She did a really super job, plus she's really pretty! I wonder if she digs me? How do I look?"

I don't know why I was so freaked out about his 1st haircut, but it was a breeze. He did a super job and he looks amazing now....well, even MORE amazing than he usually does! Ahhhhh, another milestone. He'll be taking his driving test in no time, I'm sure.

My Newest Trick and My Latest Pics

2008-05-10T09:38:00.005-05:00

"This is my newest trick! So much fun!"

"This is from my 1yr B-Day photo shoot. Smile!"

"Two balloons and a bear!?! This is the best day EVER!"

"I can touch this, right Daddy!?"

Donald is now 14 months old and so busy every second of every day. If he's not cruising, he's crawling all over the house. He's taken as many as 4 steps all by himself, without being prompted. He loves standing up all by himself and trying to take steps. Donald is more talkative than ever, coming up with new sounds and new "words" all the time. He signs "more" and "milk", which really comes in handy!

He's up to 10 teeth now! We had a spurt here recently, but he did so well.

And best of all, Donald is going to be a big brother later this year! It's going to be so much fun to watch him interact with his new little brother or sister. We'll find out what we're having in about a month, although I may just have Don find out and have him keep it a secret from me!

Guess Who I Met Today!!

2008-04-14T18:14:00.004-05:00

Ok so to be honest, *I'm* not entirely sure who we met today, but I think her name was Dorothy and she's a dinosaur or an alligator or crocodile or something along those lines, but she had the crowd of kids at the Wiggly Play Center in Frisco going bonkers...including Donald. It was our 1st trip there for a play date and I cannot wait to take him back. It was SO much fun, even though he's just cruising and not walking alone, he held himself up along a rail and watched Dorothy lead the crowd of kids in all sorts of songs, most of which he knows. He danced and bounced up and down and screamed and waved and had a total blast! (Oh and I'm the one with the tiny little glazed over eyes in the above pic...thankyouverymuch.) It's so nice to finally be feeling better, (mainly in the mornings) and getting out again and doing things with Donald. I really hate feeling sick...in the mornings.

Another Super Fun Party - And Life Lesson

2008-04-14T18:07:00.003-05:00

This past weekend we attended Bobby B's 4th birthday party at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at Dallas Love Field. Although Donald is still a little too small to have enjoyed all the fun rides and slides, he was introduced to his very first balloon animal...pretty cool for a 13-month-old who thinks wooden spoons are better than anything else he owns...

"Oh my gosh, I'm not sure what it is, but I think I love it"

"Way up here on Daddy's shoulders AND a balloon fish! How cool am I!?"

"Son, these things are just going to happen in life."

A MILLION Toys Around - But I Choose...

2008-04-12T16:32:00.003-05:00

Have fun, baby boy...knock yourself out...just don't poke your eye out with that thing.

Really, there are no words. I do think this one will come back to haunt him someday. I'm thinking maybe his rehearsal dinner....? Yeah, rehearsal dinner. Ha! Poor thing....if he only knew that I was already plotting...some 22-30 years out.

Proof of Crawling! Proof!

2008-04-06T17:04:00.004-05:00

Sorry we haven't posted in a while...I've not been feeling well...mostly in the mornings. So anyway, there's a lot to get everybody caught up on. First off, thank GOODNESS for Ikea. This super-simple toy chest thingy not only is perfect for hiding all of Donald's toys, it might as well be made of solid gold, or chocolate, or candy canes, because Donald can't stand being away from it. He points at it through the crib railing 1st thing in the morning. He hates being peeled away from it for any reason. He loves opening and closing the drawers and throwing everything onto the floor.

Another super-simple find has been the good-old Wooden Spoon, which doubles as a tasty treat. And finally, this (terrible) cell phone video is proof that...YES, Donald IS crawling...finally!!!!

Not only that, he's a master-cruiser. He can make his way from the dining room...I mean play-room...all the way to the kitchen by himself ...with the help of the walls, of course. And he can go all the way from the family room into the master...again, walls helping him along the way. He's mobile! WOO!

Guess What...

2008-03-12T10:41:00.008-05:00

I have a secret...

Daddy said we get to have more CAKE, because...

TODAY IS MOMMY'S BIRTHDAY !!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY !!!

WE LOVE YOU !!!

Sleepy Boy

2008-03-12T06:20:00.002-05:00

Donald's 1st nap in his big boy, front-facing car seat. So peaceful.

Dip in the Pool Anyone?

2008-03-04T08:52:00.001-06:00

Birthday Snow Treat

2008-03-04T08:51:00.002-06:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET BABY BOY!

2008-03-04T06:49:00.003-06:00

What a beautiful treat on the eve of Donald's first birthday. At least 4 inches of snow fell. It rarely snows here and certainly not this late in the year. Pictures of Birthday Boy playing in the snow coming soon....!

Birthday Party Videos

2008-03-03T11:05:00.005-06:00

How big IS Baby Elmo???

Blow out the candle!!!!

MMMMM... First taste of birthday cake!

What A Party!!!

2008-03-01T19:38:00.003-06:00

"Oh my stars, I've never tasted ANYTHING so good in my life!"

"I get all the leftover cake, right?"

"Thanks for everything, Nina and Uncle Tom"

"Wait, don't you touch my cake!"

We just now finally got the bouncy house deflated and the pony's handlers just left, so that's good news. (Yeah, right!) Seriously, though, what a great party for Donald's FIRST BIRTHDAY!! (I cannot even believe I just typed that) It was wonderful to see everyone and everyone brought such super gifts for Donald...he just loved it all! Don's working on uploading some video, so stay tuned. (Mom's too pooped to write more right now!)

Making Some Progress - Post-Bug

2008-02-22T06:38:00.003-06:00

"Look, I can stoop down to pick things up!"

"Baths are great when you're feeling sick!"

Donald is doing much better than he was a week and a half ago. He did get sick again just once yesterday, which was totally surprising. Overall, he's back to his old self...which is wonderful! It's been a crazy 2 weeks, between Donald getting sick, Mom coming down with it, then *me* catching it this week. (So much for my "Super Immunity"!) Thanks to everyone who helped us out these past few days...from PopPop to Nina and Grandpaw and Uncle Tom. You guys are the best and we love you very much!

Stomach Bug - Day 4

2008-02-15T16:11:00.002-06:00

"I love you Grandpaw, thanks for reading to me..."

We thought we were in the clear, since Donald finally didn't get sick in his crib last night, but he's been sick twice today already. The nurse at Dr. Barksdale's office, Margaret, (who is probably SO sick of me calling) said this was a mild bug. Grandpaw stopped by today and spent a little time with Donald, which I KNOW made him feel better.

Baby's First Stomach Bug

2008-02-13T19:19:00.003-06:00

"Thanks for coming to see me when I got sick you guys!"

"Reading always makes me feel better..."

"I love you SO much, Nina!"

But you couldn't tell by looking at him! Poor little Donald is not only dealing with this bug, but he also just cut a tooth today, so it's been tough on him. Through it all, though, he was his usual cheerful self, clapping, waving and babbling all day long. Nina came over last night and again tonight to help rescue me. Uncle Tom stopped by as well today to check on Donald.

Blogging On The Go!

2008-02-11T18:08:00.001-06:00

So we're checking out Jott for the first time. That way we'll be able to update Baby Donald's blog from our cellphone all the time, anywhere, handsfree by just using our voice. So stay tuned! listen

Powered by Jott

Practicing Our 1 and Other Odds and Ends

2008-01-28T17:58:00.000-06:00

"I'm almost this many!"
"Grandpaw is helping me count"
"Peek-a-boo Mom!"
"You are not seriously taking of picture of me in this condition are you!?"

Don and I are really happy to say that we have hammered out the final touches on plans for Donald's 1st Birthday, which is fast approaching! Since it's going to be such a top-notch, big deal event, we're keeping the details secret until which time the invitations go out. (We may or may not be joking around about all this) Donald is working really hard right now on holding up that ever-important index finger! He's also learned the "no, no" index finger wave, which we may just incorporate into his "I'm this many..." finger gesture come March.

Uncle Tom's Come A LONG Way!

2008-01-16T17:15:00.000-06:00

So for the very first time in history, Uncle Tom changed Donald's diaper, which also means it was the first time in history that Uncle Tom ever changed ANY diaper...period. I supervised and gave a few pointers, but for the most part he did a really great job and Donald was super thrilled with his new, clean diaper. And since we were feeling a little ambitious over our tiny victory, I decided it was a good idea to go ahead and have Uncle Tom feed Donald some sweet potatoes. It was going really well...but there are a few tricks UT has yet to learn when it comes to feeding a 10-month-old, like WATCH OUT FOR THE HANDS! We're still really proud of you, UT!

Here it comes! Steady!

Oops. Baby was faster than Uncle.

"Can I get a napkin over here please?!"

Fun Pics

2008-01-05T21:15:00.001-06:00

"KRLD's Brad Barton said a cold front is coming, didn't he?"

"Don't ya just love a good book!?"

New Year's Eve Parade -- Pics and Video

2008-01-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

Wave everybody !!!

What a neat event to have been a participant in! There were literally thousands of people lining the streets of downtown Dallas, with lots of smiles, shouting and waving. And it appears Donald's has the beginnings of his very own Fan Club as there were actually shouts of "Carla, we love you and Baby Donald!!!" A very exciting and fun time for all. We hope so see everyone there again next year! Why don't we just make this an annual event!

My 1st Christmas - A Blast!

2007-12-28T17:53:00.000-06:00

"Thank you, Daddy, for my amazing rocking horse!"

"PopPop and Granny got me this cool push-wagon. I love it!"

"Everyone got me really neat books"

"Big Sis gave me this super fun steering wheel. Where's the turbo button?!"

Donald was a total angel the entire day, even though he really didn't know what was going on. From our 1st annual "Breakfast with Grandpaw", to the traditional trip to PopPop and Granny's, then back to the house for Christmas dinner with Nina, Uncle Tom, Jennifer and Nate, he hardly fussed once. Just like I'd heard he would, he loved the wrapping paper and all the bows more than the gifts!

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There are more pics and video, but D2 will have to help me with that. We just wanted to keep current because Monday is yet another very big day. We are going to be in the Comerica Bank New Year's Eve/Cotton Bowl Parade! We'll be on the CBS float, which is being pulled by the KRLD Hummer. This will be Donald's big chance to show off his impressive waving skills! It's going to be a blast. Starts at 2pm at the Comerica building in downtown Dallas and ends at the American Airlines Center. He'd love to wave to you!

Santa Alert !!!

2007-12-18T23:38:00.000-06:00

Santa was in town today and Donald met with him briefly to discuss his Christmas Wish List...Santa was a little scary...(Photo taken just before the tears fell.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

2007-12-15T11:33:00.000-06:00

A quick update on Donald's 9 month check-up: Dr. Barksdale says he is doing just fine. He didn't grow much since the last check-up, but she said that was OK. He is holding steady at 18.6lbs. The best part about this check-up was the fact that there were no shots!

=======

Don and I are both (finally!) taking a week off TOGETHER and we are really looking forward to that. We cannot wait until Donald's FIRST CHRISTMAS! We will be updating this very soon with what I'm sure will be super cute Christmas morning pictures! Until then, we wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with joy and laughter.

I Met More Relatives Today!

2007-12-01T20:38:00.000-06:00

"This is Mommy's 2nd cousin, Lara. She's sweet and I love her hair!"
"This is Nina's 1st cousin, Alfonso. He was very funny!"

What a great way to start off the month of December! Nina and I took Donald to lunch today with two wonderful relatives who are in town on business from Mexico City. They were so happy to meet him and he was on his best behavior...for about a minute! Just kidding. He was fine until the hunger bug hit him...which is understandable because OUR food had just arrived. Heehee...so, Mommy had to go out to the car to nurse the baby...and once that was handled, everything was A-OK once again! We're now T-minus 3 days from the big N-I-N-E month mark! The pony and bounce house should be here tomorrow. And Nina, who is sitting right here next to me...just totally bought that...and exclaimed, "WHAT PONY AND BOUNCE HOUSE?!" Happy December, everybody!

Donald's 1st Thanksgiving!!

2007-11-22T17:22:00.001-06:00

"Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!"
"This IS a teething pumpkin, right?"
"Hey, I think this thing just tried to bite me!"
"Ahhh! Much better. At the table with all this yummy food..."

This 1st Thanksgiving with Donald was seriously so much fun. Daddy fed him a corn/squash combo while we all sat at the dining room table with the turkey and all the trimmings. Later, Donald had a few nibbles of pumpkin pie and one tiny nibble of apple pie...(he didn't really care for that one). He did, however, keep opening wide for the pumpkin pie...just like Mommy! He had a tough time napping in the swing, what with the Cowboys playing and all, and especially when Uncle Tom screamed out during that interception/touchdown play (Go Cowboys!). Oh well, he'll make up for it (I hope) with 12 hours of sleep tonight. :>
We are officially listening to Christmas music now and we will soon be getting the Christmas decorations down from the attic (hi Don!) in preparation for Donald's 1st Christmas, and I cannot wait! And coming this Sunday, it's our studio pics with Donald sportin' the Santa suit. Also coming soon, video of Daddy and Donald watering the flower bed...you won't want to miss it!

Getting Ready for Santa - The Video!

2007-11-17T13:40:00.000-06:00

This year we're dressing Donald up as Santa Claus for our family picture/Christmas card. I did a run-through with him just to make sure it fit. It did and OH how totally cute! The above pic is a little fuzzy because I took it with my camera phone since I couldn't get to the camera fast enough. Let's just hope he's this happy about this whole thing when we get to the photography studio...

And since I've heard so many horror stories over the years (and seen the totally funny videos) about babies hating Santa the first time they see him, I decided to do a little prep work on the Donald here at home, just so that the Bearded One doesn't freak him out if we actually decide to do the whole Santa/Lap/Picture thing this year. I put on a Santa hat yesterday while Mom (Nina) attempted to feed him some mixed vegetables (so nasty...I tried them, but he loves 'em) We had to shorten the video way down to get it to load. It's priceless! Enjoy!!!

Check Out My New Move!

2007-11-14T15:08:00.000-06:00

So this was fun! We were over at Mom's (Nina) yesterday and little man was playing (as you can see here) on a blanket on the floor with us. Mom stretched her arms above her head and you-know-who copied her! It was so cute! So she did it again. And so did he. And over and over and over. So many times, in fact, that I took a few shots of it. Arms high in the air, clasping his hands together over his head, then back down again...and watching her the entire time. Heehee. So sweet.

When Did November Get Here?!

2007-11-10T20:45:00.000-06:00

"I'm so happy it's almost Thanksgiving!"

Time's really flown by since Halloween! Wow. It was just yesterday that the Great Pumpkin was helping us give out candy to the neighborhood kids. And he was 7 months old then. Now Donald is a whopping 8 months and I cannot believe we're heading into the holiday season already!

We have lots of fun stuff coming up. I was really happy to meet the No Drama Mamas today and can't wait for Donald to have fun play dates with the little ones. We have more pics with Baby Olivia coming soon and those are too cute. Sadly, we weren't fast enough with the camera to capture the moment when Donald reached out to a sleeping Olivia, gently touched her sweet little newborn fingers, then proceeded to try to put them in his mouth! Teething is a crazy thing. But he's managing with those two little shards of glass-like things in his mouth.

More to come!

Halloween Preview

2007-10-30T15:45:00.000-05:00

Fresh from the pumpkin patch!

Brand New Playmate - Even If She's a Girl!

2007-10-21T17:52:00.001-05:00

Welcome, Olivia Faith!

Donald's not quite sure what to make

of the little bundle!

Beautiful family!

"Mommy, I don't like this one bit! What's with all the pink!?"

We were so thrilled to finally meet little Olivia Faith, Lauren and Tim's brand new angel and Brad and Brenda's first grandchild. She is absolutely adorable! It's so great to have them just 3 minutes from the house, too! Donald is looking forward to many play dates. (He'll be on his best behavior, Tim!)

Seeing that sweet little baby made me (of course) dig through Donald's baby book (I know, he is still a baby...but you know what I mean...) to remind myself what he was like waaaay back then. MAN he had a lot of hair. And no teeth. We have teeth now. So painful. So sad. Lots of tears. Lots of boo-boo faces. Very clingy baby. Very cranky Mommy. Poor little man. And don't even get me started on teething rings made in China! Are they safe? Are they tainted with lead? Who knows! (I did mention cranky Mommy, right?) OK, had to pick up crying baby. He wants to type. This is getti/g diffiltc. Bte!

1st Nibbles and Other Odds and Ends

2007-10-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

"Since these bottom teeth started coming in, anything feels good to chew on...even this

French bread! Waiter, can I get some garlic butter please?"

"Mommy says I look like a burglar in this hat, but I think it makes me look sharp!"

"Hey, I hear there's a burglar going around stealing baby shorts...but he's not gettin' MINE!"

Ready for the Fair, Round Two...

2007-10-17T08:48:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm comfortable, let's get goin'!

GOATS!

Hello???
Mommy, he needs a haircut!
I'm winning the staredown!
Having my Caricature done!
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW!

Our 2nd trip to the State Fair of Texas was a blast! Donald was a little prince once again. He loved meeting all the baby animals at the petting zoo. He would examine them closely, try to reach out to them (no touching was allowed!) then he'd smile or babble. Donald's caricature is SO funny. It cracks us up. It probably took 20 minutes or so to complete and Donald was in such a good mood, sitting patiently on my lap the entire time. Art, the caricature artist, (that's really his name) kept saying he couldn't believe what a good baby we had. That, plus the fact that we had a pretty nice crowd gathered..."ooo-ing" and "ahhh-ing" over Donald's cuteness...made for two really proud parents. I was sad to leave, but we're looking forward to next year and all of the fun things we are going to share with Little Man! ---Carla

FOUND: Made In the USA

2007-10-11T18:15:00.000-05:00

What a total breath of fresh air! While searching online just now for American-made toys (after getting my auto-email this afternoon from the Consumer Product Safety Commission with a huge NEW list of Chinese-made lead-tainted items), I came across the F-A-O Schwarz website. Instead of wasting time clicking all over the site, I called the 800 number. What blew me away right off the bat was the fact that an actual HUMAN BEING answered the phone. I even told him how very cool it was that 1) it didn't ring endlessly and 2) some recording didn't come on either telling me they were closed, or instructing me to push 18,000 different numbers. Now to the best part. If you look towards the bottom of the website, there is an area that says "Search by Country of Origin". Click on USA and BAM...their complete list of American made toys comes up. You can also search for other countries, but the way this recall thing is going, I personally want to stick with what we know is safe. (I'll never forget the family trip when I was little that included a stop at the F-A-O Schwarz flagship store in New York City...paradise for a kid...and now it looks like I'll be sharing that with my son. Pretty cool stuff.)

There are many others out there, it just takes a little time to sort through them all!

Here's the FAO Schwarz "Made in the USA" link: http://www.fao.com/catalog/search_command.cmd?form_state=frmKeywordSearch_ln&form_state=frmKeywordSearch_ln&sortByColumnName=NAME&keyword=madeinUSA&Submit=Submit

How Does This Fit?

2007-10-11T06:34:00.000-05:00

Test-run for the big day!

We have a couple of big events coming up in the next few weeks. Halloween is one of them. We're not crazy Halloween people, as a general rule, but I do think that little kids in little outfits are the cutest things on earth! (We're not into the whole scary, bloody costume thing) Don has even taken the day/night off so he can be with us when the trick-or-treaters come to our door. As for little man's custume, we found out on the test run that baby Donald had already outgrown THIS one, so we had to buy a bigger one. The Great Pumpkin!

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On Monday, we're heading back out to the Great State Fair of Texas and this time we will be stopping at the petting zoo. Although baby Donald won't be touching the animals, look for a picture of him and one...or several...baby goats!

-----

And in the coming months we will be doing what so many other parents will be doing: looking for toys that are actually SAFE and lead-free! We're looking for toys made in the U-S-A right now, and it's surprisingly difficult. We do have some websites written down and a few numbers to call, but you'd think it would be easier. Just last week, we found out that the Baby Einstein Discover & Play Color Blocks that Donald LOVED to play with contain lead paint. My heart dropped when I found out. It makes me want to stop buying things from China, but I know that's not realistic. As parents, I do think we should be outraged that this is even happening in this day and age. We'll take any tips on finding safe toys!

Another Month? No Way!

2007-10-04T17:50:00.000-05:00

I swear I was just here a second ago writing about how Donald
was about to turn 6 months old and today he turned 7 months! There was no cake or bouncy house or pony, but I did give him his favorite today: green beans. And here in a second, I'll be taking him on a walk around the neighborhood. Oh, now that he's a little older, we've decided to go ahead and take him back to the State Fair a week from Monday. He's really looking forward to that. So is Mom!

STATE FAIR DAY 2007

2007-10-01T19:43:00.001-05:00

HOWDY FOLKS !!!

"I'm SO happy to FINALLY be here!"

Our very 1st stop: Fletcher's Corny Dogs!

"I'd eat it, but I don't have any teeth yet, Mom."

If you look closely, you can see the fat rolls
on Donald's knees! Greatness!

This was taken just after I nursed him. MMM, full

belly AND blazing heat.

"I had a great time at the Fair...now leave

me alone please. I'm spent!"

'Twas The Night Before The Fair

2007-09-30T20:50:00.000-05:00

It's the night before Donald's Very-First-Ever trip to the Great State Fair of Texas and you'd think we were flying out to London tomorrow for a two week vacation. Good grief! I've packed the stroller, the Baby Bjorn, the large diaper bag and I've left Don a "to-do" list, which I'm totally sure he appreciates. It's nuts because I'm working a normal day tomorrow (Monday) and Don, the baby, Jennifer and Nate are meeting me at the station after I get off the air, with the goal of being at the Fair no later than noon. I just hope I'm not too wiped out to enjoy it. It's already 9:15pm and the alarm goes off at 3am. Not to mention the fact that Mommy was up at 7 today, went to breakfast with Grandpaw (thanks Dad!), did 3 loads of laundry, whipped up a loaf of banana bread, went to the grocery store and managed to shower...oh and nurse a baby every 3 hours. Of course, SetteNina was here with me and as always...was a HUGE help...(thanks Mom!) I know Don is going to be super tired, too. He's working right now, normally his day off...and that means he's not even back home until...well, let's just say...very early in the morning.

Back to the Fair: I've waited for this day since before Donald was born! The Fair is such a huge part of my childhood and I have so many great memories, I cannot wait to share that with him. I know, I know..he's only 6 months old (ok, 7 on Thurs), but that doesn't mean he's too young for a picture in front of Big Tex and a stroll through the petting zoo...among the other cool things we'll be doing. Of course, this all depends on him. Will there be a meltdown? It's possible. We'll he nap the entire time? I wouldn't mind that. We'll just have to wait and see. You can bet your boots that pictures and/or video will be up late tomorrow!

Oh, and 35-to-what!? It doesn't matter. Donald says the Cowboys are goin' all the way this year!

How 'bout them Cowboys!

2007-09-25T19:14:00.000-05:00

How 'Bout Them Cowboys!

Here They Are: Selected Photos From Donald's Six Month Shoot

2007-09-20T19:30:00.000-05:00

What a perfect little

ANGEL!

Faster Mom, Faster!

2007-09-19T17:49:00.000-05:00

In a world of "firsts", this was pretty cool! It was baby Donald's very first ride in a grocery cart. I know it probably sounds mundane to most of us, but for a little tiny baby, well...just look at him! He LOVED IT! He was strapped in and holding on and smiling the entire time. He'd look left, then whip his little head around to the right, then he'd fling his little arm behind him and check out the rear-view. You could just see on his face that he had found an entirely new way to travel and experience things, and he was diggin' it. AND he was more visible to others this way...and yes, Donald had the charm on overdrive. In fact, several of the other women/moms in the store (ok and one guy in the deli) had to comment on his cuteness...which of course Mommy loves to hear. As for Mommy, let me tell you...not having to haul the baby IN the car seat ONTO the cart...that was HEAVEN.

-----

In other news... (Sorry...just had to) Today was "Peaches - Day One". We think he likes them. It's hard to tell. We'll be watching this one closely because he's been a little fussy today. I cannot imagine what it's like to be 6 months old ..having to eat that stuff every single day! Poor little man's stomach is really being put to the test. I'm seeing him make faces and wiggle in ways I've never seen before! Let's just hope he didn't inherit Mommy's delicate gastrointestinal tract. (don't pretend like you haven't heard about it...)

The Baby Food Network

2007-09-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

"Mommy had this made for me before

I was even born

and I've almost outgrown it!"

"Hey, no pics until you hand over more

green beans!"

Another first. Today was green bean day and no surprise here, but little man LOVED it! He just kept eatin' and eatin'. SetteNina did the honors and was so impressed with his new talents. So, if you're keeping track at home (and please tell me you're not): we've mastered squash (loved it) and the sweet potato (he like IT, his stomach did NOT), and now it looks like he's found a new friend in the green bean. Our little man is growing like a weed! The "Sheriff" outfit, which I had made before he was born, is almost too tight for him because he's so tall. We're looking for onesie extenders now!

Big Photo Shoot - Take Two - Coming Soon

2007-09-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

THIS picture, from our very 1st photo shoot, was taken when baby Donald was just a few weeks old. (He clearly could have cared less about any of it) There's a story behind it and a reason very few people have seen all of them. Learn from my mistake!! As many of you know, we were less than thrilled with the newborn pictures and it broke my heart. You can't turn back the clock and have those re-done. You do get what you pay for, and it was my fault that we went the cheap route. This particular pic is nice, don't get me wrong, but the infant ones...the ones that are supposed to be creative and really show off how tiny he was, those were terrible!

This time, for his 6 month session, we went with a different studio and the results are amazing. We will have those pics up soon. After a bit of a delay, the studio just now put our session online and honestly, I'm a little nervous about putting the link to the entire shoot on here since this is a very public blog. Some of the pics are baby bottom shots and are SO adorable, but this (sadly) is such a crazy world. We'll see what we can figure out. I can tell you that the little man did SO well and his pictures this time are perfect! He didn't fuss once. The photographer even told us that it was his easiest shoot in a long time. We ordered TONS of pics this time and unlike the others, we will be hanging these on our walls.

Important Calls Coming In...

2007-09-11T09:55:00.000-05:00

"I'd like to tell you about my day at Dr. Barksdale's Office yesterday, but I have an important long distance call coming in...it might be from Aunt Katy!! (thanks for this cool Exer-saucer, Aunt Katy!)"

It's Here! My Six Month Check-Up...

2007-09-10T16:02:00.000-05:00

Donald "hearts" Dr. Barksdale!

Today was the big weigh-in/measuring/shots day and Donald did so well! He now weighs 16lbs, 13oz, up from 15lbs at the 3month check-up, and he now measures 27inches, or 2'3"! He is in the 75th percentile for height and the 50th percentile for weight. He got three (terrible!) shots in his chubby little thighs and cried for maybe 12 seconds. As soon as Mommy picked him up, the sweet little guy stopped crying! He is SUPER hungry now and wondering why Mommy is in here blogging when she should be dishing out the squash! Long story short, he's amazing and we're so proud of him! We go back for another well-baby check-up in December, but no more shots until he's 1. Yippee!

MMMMM, Squash....!

2007-09-09T17:23:00.000-05:00

He likes it! He likes it!

Well, maybe not THAT much, but Donald did have quite a few spoonfuls of squash today and he kept on opening wide for more. It was his 1st venture away from rice cereal...his very first official "FOOD-FOOD".

For some reason, he gets very vocal with the spoon feedings, and even more today. Maybe it's all that flavor! Right. I tried some of it before he got any (just like Mommy does with anything that goes in his mouth) and it really wasn't all that bad. I mean, I personally would have added a little salt, maybe a dash of pepper, then I would have tossed it out and ordered some takeout, but for a baby...it was yumsville. As for any odd reaction, time will tell. So far, so good. He squirmed quite a bit while I nursed him afterwards, leading me to believe that there was a rumbling down below, but after laughing and playing for a while, he's out like a light in nap-land right now.

FEET!

2007-09-09T16:36:00.000-05:00

Have you EVER seen ANYthing so cute in all your life!? Those are my little "Kleenex box feet with sausage toes"....YUM!

A Fun Saturday!

2007-09-08T19:04:00.000-05:00

Today was Chloe's 2nd birthday party at Althea's (beautiful!) home and Baby Donald had such a good time. (He loves hanging out with older women!!) Chloe looked so sweet in her B-Day dress. I think Donald may have learned a few tricks from the older kids who were there because he did manage to reach for the icing on my slice of cake, just minutes after Chloe did! It was little man's very first kiddie birthday party and he loved it! (oh, um, where exactly is Donald's HAND in this pic!?)

Later, it was onto Stonebriar with SetteNina so that Mommy could pick up a few new items to wear to work. And after a long day of playing and shopping, it's quiet time with the family. Goodnight Moon!

Tomorrow is another big day, when we move from the rice cereal/breast milk combo to real food! We'll probably start with squash. MMMMM, squash. We'll have the video camera rolling. Monday, it's off to Dr. Barksdale for the 6 month check-up, shots (bla) and weigh-in (Mom is guessing 18lbs). And sometime later in the week, our 6 month photo shoot. Our little man has quite a week planned!

1st Rice-Meal Outtake...

2007-09-06T09:32:00.001-05:00

Just my humble opinion, but based upon this reaction, I think our little man might rather have a nice grilled steak or some BBQ...

6 Months Old Today!

2007-09-04T17:57:00.001-05:00

Here it is...the big day: Baby Donald's half-birthday! To mark the occasion, we introduced him to "solids" for the first time ever. To my surprise, there was nothing solid about it. It was 1 tablespoon of rice cereal mixed with 4-5 tablespoons of breast milk. The end product wasn't solid at all. But we still had so much fun feeding Donald from a spoon for the very 1st time! He made the funniest faces. Don and I were laughing so hard, yet trying to maintain our composure for the little guy.

I worried about this day for nothing, it seems. He tasted it. He liked a few bites...he frowned at others, but in the end, he came back to Mom to "top him off" for the night! That part was rewarding.

It really is so amazing to think that only 6 months ago we came home with this tiny little bundle who didn't do all that much. Actually, he wasn't that tiny...7lbs, 2oz, but compared to where he is now, I guess he was!

Looking back, so much of what occupied my time seems so silly to me. I agonized about wanting to have a "natural birth" with no drugs and I worried that the eventual epidural (yes, I caved!) may have "robbed" me of some sort of wonderful experience. The journey over the last 6 months has more than made up for anything that I may or may not have missed out on in that delivery room! From that, to worrying that he would never sleep through the night (he is now), to worrying that he wasn't turning over when he should have. He is.

We have truly been blessed to watch our special angel grow and develop his own little personality right in front of our eyes. I cannot wait to see what the rest of this journey brings!

The video.

It's Almost Here!

2007-09-01T18:12:00.000-05:00

Well, baby Donald turns 6 months in just a couple of days. To celebrate, we are going to introduce him to solids for the very first time ever. I am a little nervous, to be honest, and maybe a little sad. It will mark the first time in 6 months that he has had anything other than breast milk, something I am pretty proud of as a new mom. 6 months was my short-term goal for breastfeeding, and 1 year is my ultimate goal. To "treat myself" for accomplishing my goal, Mamma got herself a manicure, pedicure, brow wax, cut and color! The hair is GONE. I had it all cut off today. I just love it! Don (who hasn't seen it yet because he's working) is going to hate it. Oh well. As a working mom who starts her day at 3am, hair is the last thing I want to deal with or waste time on. It feels GREAT! For now, it's off to the pool with baby, Uncle Tom and Grandma (Sette Nina) !

Remote Lesson

2007-08-31T12:23:00.000-05:00

"Son, this is an important tool every man knows about...it's a TV remote!"

Remote Lesson 2

2007-08-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

"Can I use it like a phone?"

Remote Lesson 3

2007-08-31T12:19:00.000-05:00

"Can I eat it?"

Remote Lesson - Final

2007-08-31T12:13:00.000-05:00

"I don't care what this does, it's MINE!"

Happy high chair

2007-08-31T10:07:00.000-05:00

I love my new high chair...it's really clean (for now). So...what's for lunch?

Feet

2007-08-31T09:59:00.000-05:00

The first "almost on camera" roll-over

2007-08-31T09:23:00.000-05:00

Now that's funny!

2007-08-31T08:55:00.000-05:00

Diaper Malfunction

2007-08-30T06:37:00.000-05:00

It had to happen at some point. A diaper disaster the likes of which we have never seen. I sure hadn't. I had heard similar stories from other parents, but I really thought I was immune. My baby would certainly never put ME through that, right? WRONG!

It was the middle of the day yesterday. Don was at work. I was home alone with the baby. It was thundering outside. It was also thundering inside. In baby Donald's pants, that is. So I picked him up to change him and it was at that very moment that I knew something had gone horribly, horribly wrong. "It" was all over my left hand, all over my wedding ring, all over....EVERYthing. We kind of just froze and stared at each other for a few seconds. I honestly had no idea what to do for a split second and calling 9-1-1 actually crossed my mind!

Once I calmed down, I was able to wrap him in a burp cloth to keep "it" from getting all over everything (you can NEVER had too many of those bad boys), and we made our way to our giant garden tub in the master bath. That's a really big tub for a tiny little boy, and he'd never been in it before.

I kicked off my shoes and squatted down...fully clothed...in the tub, making sure Donald didn't know how panicked I really was! "It" was now all over his onsie, his footie pants, all over him, the diaper AND me. I was almost paralyzed with a fear of "it" getting on anything else and kept thinking to myself, "What would MacGyver do? What would MacGyver do?!" A shower cap nearby offered me a place to stash the soiled goods, and a Hello Kitty hand towel made a great makeshift pillow for Donald's head. Thankfully, his shampoo/body wash was right there...as was his scrub brush. He had a really nice bath..."it" was all gone and he was squeaky clean again!

*I* then had to shower, because "it" had gone from being all over the baby, to being all over my pants, and even on my arms!

Baby Donald was a real trooper, though, while I stumbled through this exercise in patience and creativity.

The Donald

2007-08-29T08:08:00.000-05:00

For someone who has only been on this earth for (not quite) 6 months, baby Donald sure has captured our hearts in a way I could have never imagined. He will turn 6 months on September 4th, which is so hard to believe!

It really does seem like yesterday that Don and I were struggling with the horrible lack of sleep that seemed go on and on and on. But our little guy is sleeping through the night now and Mommy and Daddy couldn't be happier!