Damon: The First Year

Santa and Birthdays

So, our ward Christmas party was Saturday and Damon got to see Santa for the first time. He didn't give the poor guy in a red suit the time of day. Maybe next year Santa.

Sunday was my 28th birthday. Yikes! 2 more years until the big 3-0. We enjoyed the day and ate a yummy roast dinner. I made and frosted my funfetti cake and Barrett decorated it. I got headphones and a pedal for my keyboard and it makes all the difference in the world. We're planning on exploring the world of keyboarding now. I also got some other fun things: mini muffin silicone pan with muffin mix, money, make up, peanut M&Ms, a cute vest, phone calls, cards, and early gifts of Josh Groban Noel CD and Yoga Booty Ballet. Yay for me!

Monday was Damon's first birthday! It started off with a car ride to take Barrett to the train and hearing on the radio: Damon Barrett Edwards the Fifth turns 1 today! We were hoping he'd win the free ice cream cake, but no such luck. We went to the pediatrican and Damon received 4 shots then slept the rest of the morning:) We had a good afternoon too. Barrett came home early and we went to the grocery store for our free one year old 1/4 sheet cake! We ate dinner then tried to open presents. Damon was pretty disinterested, but when he opened his little doggy from Grandma Ro, he just wanted to play with that. He got some pretty good loot: jammies, books, toys that make noise, and a super cute coat from Grandpa Barry who picked it out personally and stood in line for an hour at the Park City outlets on Black Friday! We invited the Primary Presidency and families over for cake since I realized they see Damon almost more than anyone and he loves their children. So, 15 people in our little one bedroom apartment with new toys and an entertaining one year old. Damon's hand was in the cake before I even had it completely on his tray. He totally chowed down and probably would've eaten the whole thing if I let him. Later we discovered him with his hands in one of the boy's chocolate ice cream just helping himself. As I was trying to clean him up, he touched the boy and left a little chocolatey Damon hand print. It was so funny and cute!

Now we're trying to get ready for Christmas. Damon and I fly to California Monday, December 17th. Barrett comes the 21st. I'm trying to motivate myself to make Christmas treats and cards, but it's not really working.

SNOW!

Yesterday was our first snowfall. I decided to take Damon outside to experience it. The first photo shoot didn't have much snow. We went out 20 minutes later for more pictures. He fell over and couldn't understand why his hand was cold. Needless to say, we weren't out there long. He didn't know what to do either. Barrett said he needed a dad out there to show him how to play. He's probably right. I went out there for the sole purpose of taking pictures:) Happy Snow!

Happy Turkey Day!

So I was in Babies R Us one day and saw these super cute, plush turkey headbands. They were a pretty penny that I wasn't willing to spend, so I decided to make my own......for the whole family:) Damon looked so cute! We had a nice Thanksgiving. Wednesday night Barrett made homemade cranberry sauce and together we made a caramel apple pie. Today, Barrett went to the Turkey Bowl while Damon and I hung out at home. Barrett was so excited to use fresh rosemary, thyme, parsley, and garlic to flavor our bird and it turned out soooo good! We had all the yummy food and boy, did we enjoy it all!! Damon finally fell asleep right before dinner, so we ate alone, then had a little more when Diggs woke up;) We just finished pie, Barrett's already napped, and now we're watching football...well, I'm not really. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Three Years!

This picture started it all. (For some reason it didn't make it to the slide show.)

Well Barrett and I have been married three years now!! Yesterday was our third anniversary. The day started with me waking up to Dunkin Donuts. Barrett and Damon had gone to get them while I slept:) We shopped a little for Thanksgiving dinner items and enjoyed spending the day together. We ordered Outback dinner online, put Damon to bed, then Barrett went to pick up our dinner. It was nice having a candlelight dinner with no baby to distract us. What a fun day! I put together a slideshow of Barrett and I over the years. What fun memories!

Damon

This week:

I finally got Damon's shoes on and they stayed on. He really likes them (they are hand-me-downs from a friend) and he's getting used to them. He loves to walk out the door when it's time to go somewhere.

Damon was playing with toys then I looked at him and started laughing. He's in the middle of his toys, like he's doing a Toy Angel (like a snow angel, but with toys:)

This is pretty much what Damon looks like when I go get him after his nap. (He usually has a bigger smile) I walk in and there he is just grinning away with chubby cheeks and squinty eyes. I just love it!

November?

November? Can it really be November 11th? Where in the world has the time gone? October flew by in a flash and now it is almost Thanksgiving. Around the corner is my 28th birthday and Damon's First!! "Slow down everyone you're moving to fast..." (Jack Johnson)

Well, Barrett's brother, Quinn, came for a night. Yes, that's right, one night. He was coming back from business in Turkey and other places and worked it so he had a long lay-over in Philadelphia. We picked him up on Halloween and the minute he got in the back seat, Damon started chatting up a storm. He was pulling out all the stops. Quinn even gave him a ride on his luggage. What a fun uncle.

The next day we went to Philly for "the norm"--Liberty Bell

and Independence Hall.

Barrett's been super busy lately. He finished up classes and is in the middle of finals. He has one more final this Tuesday, then will be done until after Thanksgiving! He still has work to do in Philadelphia, but at least no homework for a few days:)

Damon has turned into a toddler before our eyes. He's walking like crazy, starting to climb things, getting picky about what he eats (as long as applesauce is involved, he's game), still waking up at least once each night (most often within 30 minutes of me going to bed or falling asleep), getting louder and louder by the second, cutting more teeth (total of 9 1/4), just learned to get to standing position without having to pull up on something, just learned today how to give kisses on the mouth to mom and dad (yes, they are open mouthed), and so happy to entertain and perform for other people. Someone at church told us today that her daughter said Damon is the choir's mascot. Everyone loves him, he is so lucky.

The last few days he has rediscovered his books. He pulls one off the shelf, flips a few pages, then reaches for another and does the same thing. Sometimes he gets distracted and looks at a book that's already on the floor. If I put the books away while he's napping, they always end up all over...again.

Super Man and Pumpkin

So, when Rolayne was here visiting, she brought some outfits that Barrett wore when he was little. One was his first Halloween costume that she had made. We decided to put it on Damon at our Ward party Saturday. It lasted all of about 4 minutes--time enough to snap an action shot or two. When we got home, we attempted to have a second photo shoot.

While we were in Utah, we saw Grandpa Barry's Giant Pumpkins. Damon really is the smallest pumpkin there:)

Grandpa Weed

Damon and I headed out to Utah for the third time in the last 6 months. My Grandpa Weed passed away Thursday, October 18th. All my brothers and sisters were able to make it out to the funeral despite the expense(thanks mom and dad) and busy schedules--well, all except Jenny who is in Hong Kong on a mission. I think there are 36 grandkids or so and all were there except 6 with very good excuses--missions, babies, and study abroad. It was fun to see everyone and share memories of Grandpa and of our childhood.




Grandpa lived a good life and many really respected him. After high school he went to BYU where he was quarterback for the football team.

He joined the ROTC because he liked to wear the uniform and although he was only required to wear it once a week, he often wore it 2 or 3 times. He became Student Body President of BYU and Chloe Priday was the Vice President. They eventually started dating and then while Grandpa was "on leave" from the Navy, they were engaged and married within 5 days. Grandpa went to war for a year and a half and Grandma taught art at Farrer Middle School on Center Street in Provo. When he was back from the war, they moved to New Jersey for graduate school. Grandpa then accepted a job at DuPont in Delaware where they lived for 30 or so years. They moved to Madera, California where he finished a project for DuPont before retiring. He was a Mission President in North Carolina then moved to Provo for the remainder of his days. I have lots of memories of Grandpa. Some of the best memories I have of him have come recently from others. Since I live in Delaware now, I have come in contact with people who knew the Weed family years ago. I love hearing the things they have to say about this wonderful family--my dad, uncles, aunts, and grandparents. All have nothing but good things to say about them, especially about my grandpa. I am continuing to learn about the great person he was through others eyes and it makes me so proud to be part of his posterity.

This one's for you, Kim!!

So Kim, I thought I would send a little shout out to you since I know you check everyone's blogs lots. Here are Damon's latest photos. I put some of them on the family website, but at least this gives you somewhere else to distract you at work:) Oh, we're planning on going to the temple this Friday unless Damon doesn't feel better. So, yep. Damon Barrett Edwards the Fifth!

Pittsburgh

We just got back from Pittsburgh. Barrett's parents were there for meetings so we drove up to see them. It was fun eating out and seeing a new place. Damon loved showing off for his grandparents and anyone else who happend by. Poor kid was off his routine so took a nap wherever he could. His grandma gave him a straw to play with while we were out to lunch and he sure didn't want to let it go! It was fun to see family.

Pumpkins

Last weekend we went to the apple orchards. I love going to get a little taste of Fall. Unfortunately, it was pretty warm out so it didn't have quite the same feel. We still saw pumpkins, gords, hay, scarecrows, and ate donuts and apple cider. Damon loved discovering new things.

What?!!

Third time's a charm

Well, I've tried starting this blog a few times now. I'm not sure if it is the third time or not, but I thought it sounded like a good title for this post. "The Fifth" is starting to get quite the personality. He's into everything and everywhere. He discovered toilet paper the other day--good thing it was towards the end of the roll. He loves to look at books and flip the pages. He is so fun to play with. He tries to get us to make him laugh and he has the best laugh. We sure love him and think he's the cutest thing ever, but then again, don't all parents think that of their children? "The Fourth" is back in school and still trying to get into the swing of things. It seems that each week is totally different and doesn't give much way for routine. Drexel has a Co-op program which allows students to work in their field for credit--kinda like student teaching. So he is working with the City of Philadelphia. He likes going into Center City and said he feels like it is a vacation each day (until he has to work). His scholarship was bumped up this year and we are hoping it'll stay that way for his final year to help with the student loan issue. "The Bomb" is trying to maintain that nickname. Back in the day, it was a title for someone dynamite, out of this world, totally amazing, fun. Right now I feel like the opposite of these things. I've realized once again, that it isn't fun growing up and getting older. Oh well, no choice unless we want to be like the Tucks in Tuck Everlasting.

Well, Damon has sure been growing up fast. We started him on solids Monday. He wasn't quite sure what he thought about rice cereal, but now, he loves it! He also discovered he can go from a sitting position to rolling. He rolls everywhere now! I leave the room for a few seconds and come back to find him under chairs, playing with the internet cord, or other random places. He loves his new found freedom. I'm trying to borrow a friend's carpet cleaner so I can clean our carpets before he discovers how to pick things up and eat them. We're working on baby proofing our apartment too. The last few days he has done a great job taking naps. I put him in his bed, and a few seconds later he's out--I love when that happens. Barrett is trying to write on for the law review--he has 2 weeks to read, research, and write. I'm headed home to Merced on July 9th and very excited! Horray for vacaction!!

On June 14th Damon had his 6 month check up. He weighs 19 pounds 2.2 ounces and is 27.5 inches long. He got more vaccines and the nurse forgot to bring in some band aids. The only ones in the exam room were these nice glittery, sparkly ones! Woo-woo Damon!!

Happy June 1st!
Today is the first day of our family blog. Damon will be six months old in 10 days. He discovered his hair yesterday. He keeps reaching up and scratching his head and slightly pulling his hair. It is too cute:)