Bucket List

Things I want to do before I die (some items are bigger than others, and many things are related- and they are in no particular order):

• Publish a novel
• Teach harp lessons
• Grow my own herb/vegetable garden and cook from it
• Live in the country
• Participate in a theatre musical
• Have a homebirth
• Become a Doula
• Become a Midwife
• Own dozens of shoes (and actually like them all well enough to wear them regularly)
• Learn how to take professional-quality photos (and have a nice enough camera to do it)
• Visit Italy
• Show Kenny Paris
• Scuba Dive
• Visit a coral reef
• Swim with dolphins
• See a child of mine read and enjoy Les Miserables and/or Lord of the Rings
• Send at least one child to BYU
• Send at least one child on a mission
• Get a full spa treatment
• Go on a cruise

I'm editing to add in an important one I forgot: own a duck. I would love to own a duck someday.

Life update

If you didn't notice in my last post, Daniel is one smiley smiley little man. He is so full of hugs and kisses for the world (including strangers and worse yet, strange animals). We have problems with independence just like any toddler, but he is overall a very smiley, very friendly baby.
He met with therapists yesterday to discuss getting him to use some words. He uses maybe 6 words on a regular basis (and by regular, I mean a few words a day, tops). Mostly, we communicate with gestures and guessing games. I'm not worried about his brain- I think he doesn't talk because I cater to him pretty well without it. But I'm eager for ideas on how to get him interested in talking and hopefully get rid of that annoying "eh eh eh" sound he makes all the time. He's finally started doing animal sounds, so that's some progress.
He climbs EVERYTHING. It is amazing. This kid is fearless. Today he went down the same slide he sprained his hip on, so he is completely over his fear of tunnel slides as of this week. He is definitely happiest outside- anywhere outside. He'd be content to play in dirt or sand or sticks or puddles for hours.
School continues to go well for him, but I'm struggling at home to be motivated with my work. Working at home does not suit me. Still, we've appreciated the extra income.
Schools are finally posting openings so Kenny is applying to area schools.
My parents come down for a week next month- we're going to join them and my brother's family for a trip to San Antonio and Sea World, and we are also planning a week-long trip to New Orleans where our best friend Ben will be joining us from North Carolina. So lots of excitement in March!
That about covers things currently. Sorry for the infrequent blogging!

Picture Update

I finally have a collection of good pics to post.
First, the haircut:


Note, my hair never actually looked like the before picture. I mean, that's awful. It was ALWAYS in a ponytail. With the new haircut now I need to style it anytime I shower- definitely more high maintenance. But I do like it, and that says a lot- I've hated every haircut I've ever had other than 1.

Next, Daniel going to school:



Daniel loving his christmas present from my mom:




Daniel in the backyard with Lucy (don't worry about our grass, it's not dead, that's simply what Houston grass looks like in the winter, it will be a thick green jungle in a few months):



Random pics from various Park outtings:






Daniel has climbed this all by himself a few times now, no help or encouragement:


Daniel's new favorite game is pushing a chair over to a counter and getting into stuff (like knives, cd players, security systems...) Here he is pretending to roll out dough like his daddy:



Finger painting:



And many, many bath pics (it's the only place where I can take out the camera without him attacking me to see the LCD):

He's finally learned to smile on command:





He drew a perfect little heart with his bath crayons (which are a big hit):


All this and more at our web album.

Day School

Last week we decided to find a 2 or 3 day-a-week day care for Daniel so I could get some consulting done. I now have 2 consulting jobs and an offer of a third- I feel like quite the hot commodity.
Anyways, I couldn't find a daycare I felt 100% happy about. Then one of the places I called (that didn't have availability) recommended Cypress Creek Christian Preschool, which has a Mother's Day Out program. So I looked into it, and it is PERFECT. It's at the big church next door to the Barbara Bush Library, and it's every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9-2:30 (for only $220/month!). It was the cleanest, most trustworthy, and one of the closest of all the programs I looked at. One of his teachers is LDS, and they said overall about a third of their students are too.
Monday was his first day of school. He took to it pretty well. The teacher's described him as "very affectionate", which I take to mean he's been smashing the other kids with hugs all day. He's good at that. The most impressive part is he NAPPED. He naps great at home in his crib, but this kid NEVER sleeps anywhere other than his bed. But he got a good hour-long nap in with the other kids. And he came home with this awesome finger painting that he made (with help):

It's just about my favorite thing ever.
The program director and his teachers have been so nice. They have called me 3 times to let me know he was doing wonderfully and not to worry (which is great, because I do worry). A mommy could get used to this!