DV's new apron

DV has a new apron! I got it last week at World Market when I was shopping for stocking stuffers.

But, I couldn't wait until Christmas to give it to him! He needs it for all the baking we are doing!

The apron is actually made for doing arts and crafts and it is a really small size (the other kids aprons I have seen are really too long for DV.)

It is perfect, DV wears it every time we are going to cook or bake anything, just like his mommy.

Children's aprons work for me! Check out the other great tips on Shannon's site!

DV is growing up!

DV is growing up! I know, they all do that- but sometimes it is really hard for me to be losing my "baby" and gaining a preschooler.

Yesterday we went to an open house at the school where DV will attend pre-K 4 next year. I can't believe it!

I am really quite sad about this, I love staying at home with DV and I don't think I'm quite ready for him to be a big independent boy.

He already is an independent boy. Just look at him hanging that ornament all on his own. He is potty trained, mostly dresses himself, and is working on his pre-reading skills. At least he still lets me carry him around, sometimes. I'm not giving that up until he says so.

Anyone have tips? How do you get over your babies growing up? What am I going to do next year when he's in school half the day? (Of course I'll still be working part time so I won't be bored, just sad.)

Where does the three-year-old sleep?

When we moved DV from the crib to a bed we decided to splurge and buy him an expensive bed. Lucky kid!

Here's a picture of him enjoying it, even before I added the race car decals. He started out sleeping in it with his crib mattress and when we decided he had gotten too tall for the crib mattress we switched to a twin.

But where does he sleep now? He takes his blanket and bear and sleeps on the floor- right by the door. Every night.

So the cute, "kids dream," bed is empty and we can't even move him into it after he's asleep- because opening the door wakes him up!

I hope he'll go back to sleeping in the bed someday- the hardwood can't be that comfortable!

What I have learned from my son

What have I learned from DV? This is a really great question- as he has been around for just over 3 years now and I have learned A LOT.
1. Patience
2. Unconditional love
3. Enjoy the moment
4. Read, read, read
5. Always smell the flowers
6. Run don't walk
7. Chocolate is the perfect food
8. Prunes are the other perfect food
9. Daddy is a hero
10. Watch the garbage trucks (and other gross things)

Every day DV teaches me something absolutely vital. I don't know who I would be without him in my life. Thanks DV!

My Miracle Baby

Beth at "A Mom's Life" has inspired me to post about my big miracle.

I thank God every day for the presence of our son DV in our lives. He was born when I was only 27 weeks pregnant. I developed HELLP syndrome and ended up in the hospital. Eventually, they needed to perform an emergency C-section which had perfect timing because a placental abruption was also discovered.

 

DV was 2 lbs 4.5 oz when he was born and stayed in the NICU for 9 weeks. Today even the doctors say you can't tell he was a premature baby. We had so many people and prayer chains praying for us both before and after his birth- he is a miracle baby.

I thank God every day for the miracles in my life, the small everyday ones, and especially my miracle baby!


Look at him now!

DV's birthday!!!

Today is DV's birthday 3rd birthday and we have had a wonderful day, although very busy!

For breakfast we enjoyed fresh Belgian waffles (made on our new waffle iron, which was an anniversary gift to ourselves.)

We drove to the Naval Air Station to visit the National Museum of Naval Aviation and then had lunch at a local restaurant which features a sand play area!

When we returned home DV opened his gifts- he really loves the play cabin and the new red wagon.

Finally, we had dinner and DV actually blew out the candle on the chocolate cupcake with red icing!

What a day!!

Oh, and to top it all off, we had a storm after dinner and lost power for 3 hours- the only bad part of a wonderful day!

Happy birthday DV!

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday (The uncles and DV!!!)

Ketchup, the perfect seasoning!

DV's love of a certain flavor has inspired my post today.

The flavor is ketchup!!!

He won't eat his chicken? Ketchup! He won't eat his broccoli? Ketchup!

Ketchup is also the perfect accompaniment to burgers, meatballs, hot dogs, fried shrimp, fish, pretty much anything at all that we eat.

In fact, yesterday DV requested some ketchup on his chocolate brownie but IV and I aren't quite ready to go that far...

Is this a 2 year old thing? Will he always love the "red sauce" this much???