Thursday, December 31, 2009

Rapunzel's Gingerbread Tower


For the 3rd Annual Davis Family Gingerbread Party I decided to make Rapunzel's Tower.  This is how it turned out.  I didn't win, but I had a lot of fun doing it.  The top one is Creepy Sheldon (a.k.a. Baby Curious George) attempting to attack the tower.

Sunday, December 27, 2009

A Bully in a China Shop

I frequently see articles and advertisements about making sure your kid isn't being bullied. None of them tell you what to do when your kid IS the bully!

Dutch's best friend is Bo the Wonder Dog. He hasn't spent much time with other kids. Unfortunately, he is bigger than most kids his age and even some kids older than him. When you combine his lack of social skills with his enormous size, apparently you get a bully.

Christmas day we were at Grandma and Grandpa Davis's house. Brandon, 2 1/2, and Ashlyn, 2, were the only other children besides Dutch. At one time or another in the evening Dutch pushed them both down. I was so embarrassed.

Luckily Brandon and Ashlyn were able to take care of themselves in the situation and didn't hold a grudge against Dutch. Their parents were nice about it too, but I still feel awful. How do I stop my baby from being a bully?

Fancy New Digs

My sister Heather designed my new blog background all by herself. Isn't it awesome?

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A Blue Christmas

I'll have a blue Christmas without you.
I'll be so blue thinking about you.
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree,
Won't mean a thing if you're not here with me.

My three sisters, at one time or another this Christmas season, have each been struck by an unexplainable melancholy. Well, perhaps it's not unexplainable. We miss each other. I hadn't suffered from this at all. Until tonight.

I was sitting at the dinner table at Grandma and Grandpa Morgan's house and someone observed that it was the first time everyone had been together for Christmas for a few years. For some reason this made me want to cry. I don't remember the last time my entire family was all together for Christmas. If I'm not completely mistaken, I think it was when I was 10 years old.

Not all families are close like mine is. Not all sisters love each other like mine do. Some people dread family events. I never have. So I make a Christmas wish right now: I wish I had one more Christmas with my entire family. Just one.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Dutch, Christmas 2008

May your Christmas be as bright and cheerful as Dutch's smile!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

A Plethora of Fluids

This week I have been snotted on, drooled on, peed on, thrown up on, and (today) pooped on. Dutch has been sick and has been secreting fluid from every orifice. It has not been pleasant. I hope you are having a better week.


I'm grateful for: tissues, baby bathtubs, washing machines, orange juice, sanity

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Get Comfortable

I have a lot to post about, so go grab some cocoa and a blanket and curl up next to your computer as I tell you the story of the last week.

Dutch and I left Pennsylvania on Wednesday, bright and early. We flew from Pittsburgh to Phoenix, from Phoenix to Pittsburgh. I don't think it would be exaggerating in any way to say that it was the worst day of my life. Dutch threw tantrum after tantrum, hurling things around, and bit me... three times... twice on the face... once drawing blood. It was so difficult I just broke down and cried. I was obviously not meant to be a single mom. Without Chris everything was about 10 times harder than it needed to be. Lucky for me (and Dutch, since I was close to killing him), he slept the entire hour flight from Phoenix to Salt Lake. When we got to the airport he was very excited to see Grandpa Greg and went right to him.

The next couple of days were sort of a blur of tiredness and naughtiness. Dutch was not sleeping or napping as he should, because he missed his Daddy and his Bo-Bo. He was wary around Uncle Joshy, but is in love with Josh's girlfriend Dawn. Every time he sees her his face lights up. Thanks to flying with a bunch of sick people Dutch and I both got colds, again. He's almost over his whereas mine seems to be getting worse instead of better.

Saturday Dutch went to a live nativity and got to see a camel, ride a wagon pulled by horses, and get his picture taken. Although he doesn't seem too enthused in the picture I think he had a good time.

Today was the biggest news though. At our church there is something called Nursery where children from 18 months to 3 years go so their parents can enjoy church a little more. Dutch is only 17 1/2 months, but the sweet girl who runs Nursery said he was welcome to come. Grandpa Greg took him and snuck out part way through. Dutch stayed the whole time and didn't even cry! When I went to pick him up he was fast asleep. I was such a proud mama. My little baby is growing up!

In other news, Zaque and Chris have been driving cross-country the past few days, and are planning on arriving tomorrow night. The weather has been good, the truck has run well and they are having a good time together.

Some of you may know that Bo, our blind chocolate lab, suffered from abuse before we rescued him. One sign of this abuse is his extreme fear of being abandoned. Every time we move he gets so panicked that he won't eat. This time has been no exception. Chris said he wouldn't even get out of the moving truck for the first day they were on the road. Poor Bo.

Dutch is walking up a storm! He's been practicing running and even climbed up the basement stairs, although he hasn't been brave enough to try going down yet. Whack the Cat has been incredibly patient with Dutch, and this has encouraged Dutch to chase him down and "love" on him as often as possible. So far he hasn't gottten scratched, but if he continues being as rough as he's been I'm sure he'll get clawed eventually.

That's our update. Now that life is starting to mellow out I'll hope to post a little more often.


I'm grateful for: NyQuil, DayQuil, cough drops, tissues, naps

Monday, December 7, 2009

Busy Busy Bees

The blog as fallen by the wayside the past few weeks because we've been busy packing and getting things ready to move to Utah. Dutch and I fly out on Wednesday. Chris and his little brother Zaque are driving our stuff back in the big truck and they leave Friday morning. It seems strange that 2 years have passed already. When we moved here I was pregnant, we were both starting graduate school and everything seemed so scary. Now that I'm at the other end I realize that every change in life is a little scary, even if you're going back to the people and places that are familiar. Anyway, the blog will updated when Chris or I can get to it, but don't expect anything in-depth for a few weeks yet.


I'm grateful for: permanent marker, packing tape, fabulous boxes, orange juice, throat lozenges

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Happy Birthday Heidi!






These are of me with my sister Heidi.
I love her.
It is her birthday today and she has one more year before she's an old lady.