A Little Something for Desmond!!!

So I told my friend, Melissa, that I would take pictures of this and get it on here for her to see. I found, to my excitement, this Noah's Ark material, that I thought I wouldn't be able to find again. When I spotted it I knew that I wanted to do something for Desmond. Something besides a blanket!!! A bag came to mind and this is what I came up with.

Here's the front view of the back pack.


Here's the view of the back of the bag.


And then here's the adorable little button I found that was just perfect.


So this is what started my idea to do the Noah's Ark theme for Desmond's second birthday. So keep an eye out. More pictures to come of his big day!

The Christmas Tree Hunt!!!

We bundled up the Saturday morning after Thanksgiving to go to Foxridge Tree Farm to get our Christmas Tree. Desmond really enjoyed trucking around in the mud in and out of trees. He really wanted a little one, but I didn't think our ornaments would fit on it.


We're ready to go!!! Let's get going!


Searching for the perfect tree with Papa. Desmond had to work hard to keep up with Papa. Something I had to do when I was a kid!!!


The Daniel Spalding Family! All smiles as we enjoy our favorite tradition with our son.


Munchin on a candy cane in the barn while we wait for our tree! Mmmmm good!


Me and my Mom. We always pick ours out pretty quickly, but Mom likes to take her time finding the one that's just right. Here we are in front of that tree!


My parents. We always go with them to get a tree. Something we've done since our first Christmas. I wondered, as we were driving home, if they'd go out even if we weren't there. (My dad always said he'd have a tree even if it ment having some one get it for him.!)


Waiting in the truck. Can't wait to get home and decorate!

First Pumpkin Patch Outing.....

As I write this I'm listening to the blog music and feeling very fallish!!! (Not sure if that's even a work, but that is how I am feeling!) So we went to Bauman Farm's with Melissa and Ryan and the girls like we did last year. It was fun to watch them enjoy it oh so much more and discover new and exciting things! Although, it was much harder to get the cute pictures taken. Desmond and Eisley didn't really want to stop long enough to give you a good pose! We got a few though! I guess it makes it easier to choose! We'll look on the bright side! (And I'm sure I'll have even more next weekend when we go with Papa and Grandma Hardy!)

Well, here we go. It's Farmer Desmond....this didn't last long before he said NO! and pushed himself away from the board. Oh well! I did get Eisley picking through the pig. At first she wanted to pick through the front instead of going around behind.




Okay, let's try one here on the hay. I like the one of us frowning!




Now we're talking to the chickens! I was a little concerned that he'd think this was like Dumpling or Chandler. Meaning we could pet them just like the kitties! Luckily he didn't try it! I could just see him getting pecked.



Next it was time to go sit in the teepee and have a talk with Aunt Melissa.



What in the world are these things. We've seen the pumpkins and like those, but these are new. He decided that the gourds were pretty cool!




Wait kids.....that's not the way to go. Don't worry....we made sure no one was coming down the slide.



Desmond learned the right way to go on the slide and boy did he LOVE it!!!



And they are off again. Boy were they busy! Go...go....go! Desmond made sure we were following though!




And this is it! This was probably the best one I got of him. He's looking at the camera and smiling. He had a great time, though, and I can't wait for our next pumpkin patch adventure!!! Keep an eye out for the pictures!

Pumpkins Are in the Air!!!

Boy has it been awhile or what?!!! I've been busy making sure I use my time wisely and get things done around the house that I haven't been on here for three months. I guess this took the back seat for a little while. I thought it was because we really hadn't taken any pictures, but that wasn't really the case. I just downloaded pictures from the camera and it reminded me of what we have been doing for the past three months. The yard. Maybe I'll get those on at some point, but that's not why I'm putting a new post on today. Fall is in there air and what better way to get into the mood than to decorate with some pumpkins?!!! Desmond and I stopped off at Fred Meyers on the way home from his Dr's appointment and had to get some pumpkins. (Now these do not by any means take the place of pumpkin patch pumpkins!) Desmond thought they were so cool. At first they were apples, but as we walked through the store he got better at saying pumpkin. I don't know that you'd understand it! When we got home I got some pictures of him with them. Here they are!!!

He was trying soooo very hard to pick the smallest of the three up.


This was the first time. It was heavy for the little guy!


Let's try it again! He loves to hand me things and say "Thank You!" I guess he thought I needed the pumpkin!


A look of triumph!!! He did it! You can see in his face how hard he's working at it though!


Okay, this may not be a pumpkin picture, but I loved it and had to put it on here. He's figured out how to climb up onto the bench and play the keyboard. And does he love to do that! I think he'd love a real one even better!!! (I think I'll miss the volume control! Although, he knows how to work that too!)

Another very cute story!

Yesterday I was sitting in Desmond's room with him on my lap reading books. He has always enjoyed looking at his books but hasn't always sat still long enough to have you read him one or two. He would rather flip through them all himself. We were on our third book that morning. It's a great one that my sister-in-law's mother gave Desmond after he was born. It's a cookie book that teaches you good and bad manners through cookies. Anyway, we get to the part about being greedy. So I read, "Greedy means you take all the cookies for yourself. Hee Hee Hee. Yum Yum Yum." All of a sudden Desmond bursts out laughing.


From that point on any time I read that page he would laugh and laugh and laugh. He'd even just flip to the page himself and laugh without me saying anything. I wasn't sure if it was the hee hee hee & the yum yum yum or that it's a black cat in the picture like Chandler and Dumpling. Now he may not even let me read all the parts before it and wants to skip right to that page. After you read it he laughs and tries to say yum yum yum.


It's getting more and more fun. We get to interact with him and play with him and he is understanding things a lot more too! There are moments that we just laugh and laugh at each other! We are truly blessed with such a joyful little boy!

Psalm 127:3 -- Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Matthew 6:21 -- For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

My Little Helper. (Yep, starting him early!)

Desmond loves to watch and do whatever I am doing. He's always right there wanting to see if it's something new or something he doesn't get to see every day. The other day I was sweeping the floor. I set the broom aside to grab the dust pan, turned around, and there was Desmond trying to sweep up my pile of crumbs. Trying, that is. He was being more successful at spreading it around. Oh, but he was trying very hard!!! And look at that grin, he's doing a good job!




A few days before this I was busy cleaning and vacuuming and I realized that Desmond wasn't following me around anymore. So I go over to the hall to check what he's up to. He's sitting on the stool in front of the gate resting and checking out the jug to his humidifier. (It was clean of course and sitting there to be put away.) I guess he was tired of following me around that time! I just thought this was the cutest picture!


And then last of all, yesterday I was getting the diapers out of the box to put in his closet. I had taken two packages back to his room and started putting something else away. I came out into the hall and there was my Des, trying very hard to bring the last two to the bedroom. He is very persistent and will try and try and try to do something!



So there's my little helper! He's a lot of fun. It seems there's something new every day that he's trying to do or learning to do and discover!

Just wanted to get back here....

One evening, one warm evening, Desmond decided he wanted to climb behind his dino and sit. Just sit back there. We thought maybe there was something back there he wanted. Oh no, he wanted to work very hard at climbing over just to chill behind his dino! He didn't stay back there very long, but I guess it was worth it!