Sunday Adventure

This last Sunday we went to visit Dan's parents in Hermann. Daniel was really excited.

He spent almost all day outdoors. He rode the 60 year old pedal tractor, pulled a wagon around, played pop rocket, took a gator ride, watched a fire in the pit and found things to put inside it to burn, visited both great grandmas, and avoided eating all foods except for cake. He so threw rocks in the creek with his sister, dad, and grandpa.

He took a bath and grandma Becky scrubbed the smoke smell and grime off his body. Because he had no clean clothes he wore an extra polo shirt found in a closet... A men's size medium. He was so exhausted on the way home that he made himself ridiculously upset about not getting to see the MO river (not paying attention) and forgetting to give his grandma a hi-five goodbye. Later on he ride home he ripped off a toenail and was very depressed that he dropped the clipping down into his carseat because he wanted to "keep it forever".

What a trip!

Weekend in STJ

Daniel went to St James with his sister and had so many things to share about his Saturday. It was warm and pretty, so they were out all day playing on swing set, on four wheeler with aunts, flying a kite, and taking a tractor ride with Poppy. Aunt Jessica did Lincoln logs with him and he rediscovered all the Grandparent toys.

Sunday was rainy, but I think Daniel still had a nice time because he was able to use scissors and glue dyeing an Elsa nap... And those are two of his favorite "toys" these days!

Visit with Grandpar

Today Daniel had an eager and cheerful audience because his Paternal grandparents came to visit. There is a lot of love between those three!
Today they...
- Built a Lincoln log home for Victor and Kevin, with diesel and logs for either's fuel supply.
- went to steak and shake, where he are half a plate of Mac and cheese and a kids m and m shake
- went to bass pro
- read books about spiders and worms with gramma Becky
- had a tearful goodbye

Welcome to the world, little man.

You arrived on Monday morning, July 27, 2009.

We were anxious to meet you. You had several guests waiting to hold you, all full of anticipation.

Here are some of your very first moments in the world.

I wasn't able to hold you just when you were born because you were having breathing problems. The doctors were able to solve the problems and get your lungs and heart working properly, and twenty minutes later, Dr. Finstad brought you to me so I could cuddle you.

Curled up and sleepy after crying and being so alert during your newborn tests.

Your daddy helping the nursery staff bathe you.

He was the first family member to hold you. He had waited for that moment so long, and had longed to name you Daniel.

Your enthusiastic Aunt Rachie. She waited on pins and needles in the delivery room and texted her friends updates.

Your Grandma Becky arrived very early during labor to make sure she didn't miss your arrival.

Aunt Jessica also arrived early in the morning and was one of the first people to smile at you.

Your father held you for a long time the afternoon you were born while I rested.

Your Grandpa Douglas checked you out on Tuesday afternoon. He came to see you as soon as he was able.

This is how you slept in the hospital, in a tiny, plastic box. You had to wear a woolen hat to keep your temperature up.

We noticed you kept your hands up near your face most of the time, sleeping or awake.


We loved and loved and loved on you, sweet boy.  
We marveled that God chose you for us and us for you.  


You are a big game-changer, dear, and we are so in love with you.

Report From Grandma Nanny

Dear Daniel,
   You've stayed for extended weekends with your Douglas grandparents now several times, and I wanted you to know that we miss you during this time, but we also know you are having a good time.  We have a good time doing non-toddler things like eating in quiet restaurants or watching movies with kissing and explosions (instead of cartoon mice and puppets!).


Here is an excerpt from and email your grandma sent to me:

Daniel just went down for his nap.  He ate a good lunch today.

Hotdog, pretzels, applesauce and 2 cookies

He likes

Bob the builder.  He watched about 20 minutes before he went down for his nap.

We went to play with his trucks at the school playground this morning.  Nancy Hall was there and invited us in

To see her new pre- school set up and Daniel got to play with some of the pre-school toys.  He had a fun time.

She invited him again to play.

We went to the grocery store and then came home.  He played a while then ate lunch and watched a little TV then went down for a nap

He did want to go outside last night when we were talking to you but I just talked to him about it being dark and we had to wait for the sunshine to come out and he was ok with that

He wanted me to rock him for a few minutes then went right to sleep and slept until about 7:30 or closer to 8:00.   He may have slept longer but Grandpa heard him and went up to get him.

He was pretty groggy and may have slept a little longer if left alone.

We use the computer to chat with you, and you really seem to enjoy the face to face interaction.  Its so good to see your face and hear your giggles, and its fun to play with you through the screen.  Last night you and I joked around about sharing a drink with a straw through the webcam.  You were so happy to see your sister's face too, and tried to kiss her.  It was great.

I wish I had the same opportunity as you did to spend time with your grandparents like this, but when I was your age, my grandparents were very old or very busy or sick, so I didn't get to.  Your grandparents are younger, less busy, and healthy, so I think you and EK can do this more often!  You'll get to know them well.

Love ya, little 24 month old!

Little Red Wagon Play

My father's parents, your great grandparents who were named Valley and Gertrude Douglas, bought this red wagon for me and my sisters in the late 1980s.

We played with in a lot.  It lives at my parents' home now, and they get it out for you to play with.

You play with it a lot, too.

You like to tote around objects,

You like to push it and pull it and run with it.

You are so enamored by this wagon.

You spend several hours playing with it when we visit for a weekend.

Sometimes you bring other toys to put inside the wagon, too.

You probably should have one like this at your house.

You like to take the sides off the wagon to climb in.

Then you spend a long time putting it back together.

It takes skill.

And it takes concentration.

But you can do it.

Off and on.

Over and over.

A job well done!

Its neat to see you play with toys that I once enjoyed.

Favorite Hobby: Water Play

While we visited my parents, Daniel got the chance to use a new sink to do some of his favorite activities:  pouring and filling.

These are some new jammies.  He is adorable in them!

So focused here.

I was cleaning up some of our mess in the house and every so often, Daniel would call for me.  "Mama! Mommeee! Mommeeeee!".

I'd come to him and he'd point and say, "Bup!"

"You want another cup, baby?".

"Uh-huh!"

Aside from his soaked shirt and a bit of water on the floor, it actually not that messy of an activity!  I prefer it to sandboxes and mudpuddles!