Derek and Company

2009-03-09T15:34:00.000-04:00

2009-01-26T21:07:00.000-05:00

A few updates

2009-01-26T21:04:00.000-05:00

2008-11-11T10:33:00.000-05:00

2008-11-11T10:26:00.000-05:00

2008-11-11T10:24:00.000-05:00

FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!

2008-09-27T21:57:00.004-04:00

Okay, so it's not his real birthday yet, but this was the best time to have his party.
Curious George was the theme. How's the cake? It took forever to make. If you look at it long enough, it kind of looks like Curious George. Kind of.

Derek really enjoyed eating the cake too; he made such a mess that he went straight to the bathtub afterwards.

He really didn't know what to think when we all started singing Happy Birthday to him; I think he kinda freaked out a little bit. He loved his balloons, though.

Trip to Michigan

2008-09-07T19:14:00.003-04:00

Derek and I got to visit my family in Michigan last week. We both had a grand time, and at the end of the week, Jeremy came and picked us up.
Derek got into stuff, and got spoiled by his grandpa and grandma and aunts and uncles all week long and loved every minute of it. Playing with his cousins was a highlight too.
He sure did miss his daddy though. The look on his face when he heard his daddy's voice over the telephone after not seeing him for a couple of days was sooooo precious! He truly loves his daddy.
This picture requires a slight explanation.
One evening while we were at my parents, Derek disappeared for a short time. Just as I felt one of those mommy-knows-something-is-wrong-because-it-is-far-too-quiet feelings, someone discovered him in the kitchen. He had somehow managed to get the lid off of the bulk Heinz ketchup gallon jug which was empty and sitting on the floor next to the trash can, and picked it up and tried to drink from it like a cup.
This is the result.

When's dinner? I'm hungry!

2008-08-25T13:56:00.000-04:00

Three Generations of Marshalls

Updates

2008-08-13T11:14:00.002-04:00

I know I haven't posted any pictures in a while. Hopefully I will soon.
Derek needs a haircut pretty badly, and I have a hard time taking pictures of him when he looks so shaggy.

He has had a few new accomplishments recently!
A couple of weeks ago, he said "Papa"; just recently he started saying "Mimi" (Grammie).
He can sneak away and get halfway up the stairs before I can say Rumpelstiltskin.
A few days ago, he discovered the art of clapping, which he now does quite frequently, and even did it in his sleep one night and woke himself up.
He LOVES Sesame Street.
Hates being confined to his walker.
Has so many tiny little bruises on his knees from crawling everywhere that it looks like his knees are filthy.
Has a fascination with anything and everything electronic.
Tries to charm his way out of and into EVERYTHING.

There is more, but it'll have to wait for another post.
He's going to wake up from his nap very soon.

2008-08-01T18:53:00.002-04:00

It happens to all of us when we are young, no matter how hard our parents try to prevent it.
Sometimes it happens by accident to those who are not so young. Like those who ride motorcycles.

At least once in our lifetime, we must all eat a bug.

Yesterday, while I was in the middle of doing something ( I couldn't stop for a rabbit trail for fear of not remembering to complete my task ), I spied a dead fly on the floor.
The dead fly was set upon the nightstand for future disposal.

This morning, as we were about to leave the house, Derek was playing by our bed while I readied ourselves to go, I experienced a "mother knows when something is wrong" moment.

Some of you may be familiar with such a creature. It happens most often when a child is quiet. When my son is quiet, it usually means he is getting into trouble and is either too focused on what he is doing, or doesn't want me to hear him doing something he isn't supposed to be doing.
Another such moment occurs to mothers of small children when they have something in their mouth which doesn't belong.
I had just such a moment.

I nearly ran across the room to rescue my son from mortal danger, and I see that he is fine... he just has a funny look on his face.

And he is chewing.

At this moment, I belatedly recall my intent to dispose of the dead fly from yesterday.
My stomach turns.

I fall to my knees and begin the finger swipe which all mothers of toddlers must learn.
But
it
was
too
late!

When he saw the familiar finger swipe coming, he quickly swallowed.

An old nursery rhyme comes to mind.
"I don't know why he swallowed the fly,
Perhaps he'll die!"

I'm sure he'll be alright.
I may be emotionally damaged from the experience, however.

smooshface

2008-07-14T14:12:00.000-04:00

This is how I play in my playpen.

A little off the wall here...

2008-07-11T02:50:00.002-04:00

How many of you is this true about? I remember my mom saying something similar when us kids were younger.

Papa and me!

2008-07-09T12:00:00.000-04:00

More beach fun!

2008-07-02T10:09:00.004-04:00

Parade!

2008-07-02T10:05:00.001-04:00

Last night, the Fourth of July parade went through town.
We had prime seats - We got to sit on our fire escape and watch it; everyone else had to fight for a spot along the street.
We even got a peice of candy thrown up to us!
Derek LOVED the marching bands.
And...
He finally understood the whole waving thing.
It was lots of fun.
While he probably still won't wave bye-bye to you, he at least understands the concept.
We waved at lots of people...
Little boys driving tractors, kids on floats, little old men driving tiny cars, baton-twirling little girls...
Derek didn't have the patience to sit and watch the entire thing, but he saw most of it.
He got pretty tired and cranky toward the end.
Next year I already have plans to teach him how to say things as they go by...
Tractor, Van, Horse, Bike, Etc.
Lots and Lots of fun!

More beach fun!

2008-06-30T21:06:00.002-04:00

2008-06-30T21:05:00.000-04:00

I had to get a picture of this before he grew out of it... In case you can't read it, it says "When God created me, He was just showing off!"

2008-06-30T21:02:00.000-04:00

Little Gentleman

2008-06-30T21:01:00.000-04:00

Thank you Aunt Heather for the snazzy duds!

My first day at the beach

2008-06-14T16:39:00.000-04:00

Me and my daddy just chillin'.

My hands are sinking in this stuff...

Me and my aunt Winnie

That's the biggest bathtub I've EVER seen!

First day at the beach!

2008-06-14T15:54:00.000-04:00

stolen

2008-06-08T21:58:00.000-04:00

I know, I stole this from someone else's blog... they'll just have to sue me. It's such a great picture of Derek!

2008-06-08T21:38:00.000-04:00

Yet another post...

2008-06-05T19:55:00.004-04:00

Jeremy wanted me to post these videos cause he liked them better than the peekaboo one, so here it is!
Oh, and for the record, there is nothing wrong with the sound. There just isn't any. Our camera doesn't record sound, just video.

Peekaboo & Playtime

2008-06-05T16:00:00.004-04:00

Another one...

2008-06-03T18:22:00.003-04:00

Out of the blue this evening, Derek woke up screaming from his nap. Once reaching him and picking him up, I discovered that he had a bloody nose.
Now, I know there are some of you that are thinking, "Oh no! He has leukemia!", and some of you are thinking, "They need to run a humidifier in his room." Neither are the case. I have had a humidifier in his room going for days now as he has been suffering from a nasty cold.
It was not a random bloody nose. He somehow managed to hit his face hard enough in his sleep to give himself a bloody nose.
Now THAT takes talent.
He is his mother's child. The poor little boy has inherited his mother's klutz curse, apparently.

Pray fervently for him. He's going to need it.

2008-06-02T18:21:00.000-04:00

I am REALLY getting into this photo editing thing. It makes up for my mistakes when taking the initial picture. I can crop, resize, change lighting, fix redeye... and the picture that was previously mediocre is now top notch!

2008-05-29T18:35:00.000-04:00

2008-05-20T21:28:00.000-04:00

2008-05-20T21:26:00.000-04:00

A year has passed...

2008-05-17T22:19:00.003-04:00

Okay, not really. It just seems like a long time since I last posted. In reality, it has only been a couple of weeks. But Derek is growing up so fast it's hard to keep up with him!
First things first: He can crawl!
He started crawling just in time for Mother's day. I like to think it was his own special gift for me. I don't want to think about the deeper meaning (Mom, I think you need to lose some weight, so I'm gonna give you a really good opportunity to get exercise. Chase after me! I'll get into anything and everything!)
Derek has acquired a new tooth as well as his mobility. Judging by how cranky he has been just this evening, I suspect another is not far behind. Once this next one breaks through, he will have six teeth. He is really enjoying his cheerios these days.

I will be posting new pictures soon, hopefully.

Speaking of pictures.
I have a short story to relate.
As it has been a while since we had pictures taken of Derek, and we came across a great deal, we scheduled an appointment, and I took him to the photographer on Wednesday. The photographer wanted to know if I had any specific poses in mind, and I said no, whatever worked best for her was fine. She asked me if he could sit up by himself yet, and I said yes.
She took out this tiny little toddler-sized park bench and set it up. I put him on the bench and he looked soooo cute! He was happy as could be sitting up there. His feet almost touched the ground, but not quite. What does a happy-go-lucky little boy do when his feet don't touch the ground in the chair he is sitting on?
I was digging in my purse for a comb when he began to swing his feet. At first it was a little innocent thing... then he discovered that swinging his feet was FUN! So he swung his feet more. Higher. Harder. Before long he had just enough momentum to tip his whole body forward. And fall flat on his face.
There was this moment of silence following the initial thud where my heart was racing. Then began the screams.
I was terrified. The photographer didn't know what to do. Derek had fallen as directly on his nose as a person could. Very soon his nose began to bleed. I was wondering if he had broken his nose. It took about five minutes, but he stopped screaming, and stopped crying, and his nose was not broken. A few more minutes of wiping his face and replacing props with something else, and he was ready once again to pose for the camera. He was very clingy for the next half an hour or so, but he was very good. He got his pictures taken.
It will be interesting to see them when they come in; I'm sure he will look like a little Rudolph. But he will be a very cute one.

Crawling attempts

2008-05-01T21:06:00.000-04:00

As you can see, he thinks he will get farther and faster on his feet than on his knees.
Which is true.
But he needs to crawl first.

2008-05-01T21:01:00.000-04:00

I think I just swallowed a shoe.

2008-05-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

Mama: Derek, Where's your other shoe?
Derek: What shoe, Mom?
Mama: The match to the one you are chewing on.
Derek: I already ate the first one.

2008-05-01T20:56:00.000-04:00

I love this picture!

Showoff!

2008-05-01T18:51:00.000-04:00

As you can see, Derek now has a couple more teeth than he had since I last posted.
He considers himself a grand charmer.
In this picture, he is asking me to pick him up.
Pretty please.
With sugar on top.
I'll even say "Mama"!

2008-04-10T21:35:00.002-04:00

You might not have noticed, but there have been a large number of pictures of Derek in his swing.
That would be because he loves it so much.
I do too.
I am mourning in advance for its loss. My son is reaching the weight limit, and is wearing out the motor. Very soon it will be put in its resting place - the attic; and I am going to have to babyproof. The little man is not yet crawling, but will be shortly. As it is, he rolls everywhere he wants to go.

Little angel

2008-04-10T18:09:00.000-04:00

This is Derek trying to charm his way into getting someone to pick him up.
Who would fall for that face? Mommy.
Sometimes.
Well, okay, a lot.
How can you resist a face like that???

Heather and Derek crawl

2008-04-02T11:19:00.002-04:00

This past weekend my sister came to visit me with her husband and sweet little Heather.
This is a video of the two kids playing together. It was sooo sweet! They were playing so nicely!
And you can see where Heather was trying to teach Derek how to crawl. It was very amusing.

Mama!

2008-04-01T14:03:00.002-04:00

Cousins!

2008-04-01T13:52:00.000-04:00

2008-03-22T18:12:00.000-04:00

2008-03-22T17:53:00.000-04:00

2008-03-22T17:52:00.000-04:00

Woot!

2008-03-17T19:11:00.004-04:00

For those of you who haven't heard, Derek is now saying "Mama!"
He only says it when he feels like it though. Like this morning, I was encouraging him to say "Dada," and he replied, "Mama." Or most recently, he was saying it a lot when whining or crying. I'm not really sure if he knows what Mama really is, or if he just says it because I get excited when he does. Probably the latter. But it's still really cool!

Pics from Lindsey's camera

2008-03-16T14:57:00.004-04:00

These are random pictures that were on Lindsey's camera. The one of him behind the turkey, was of course, Derek's first Thanksgiving.

oops...

2008-03-11T11:09:00.002-04:00

I meant to post this one.

Little Boi

2008-03-09T19:45:00.003-04:00

He's not a Baby anymore! He's a full-fledged little boy!

Two Days Later...

2008-03-01T11:25:00.001-05:00

He cuts a second tooth!

Congratulations, Derek!

2008-02-27T20:25:00.001-05:00

Perhaps I should also congratulate my husband and myself as well.
Derek cut his first tooth!
Surviving the teething age is not an easy task.

My New Favorite Picture in the Whole Wide World!

2008-02-24T12:28:00.001-05:00

Big boy bed

2008-02-11T14:11:00.001-05:00

Growing up

2008-02-11T13:58:00.000-05:00

One afternoon we went to pick up Derek from his nap, and discovered this; he wasn't crying or fussy at all, just playing.
This was a clue that he needed to graduate up to a real sized crib.

Messy!

2008-01-30T14:02:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of Derek's first experience with sweet potatoes.
You can tell he hasn't quite got the hang of it yet.
He enjoyed it, but that was the problem. He would get too excited and would be quivering in anticipation; getting the food to his mouth without him grabbing the spoon first was a challenge.

2008-01-27T17:54:00.001-05:00

Too cute!

2008-01-22T13:36:00.000-05:00

2008-01-21T17:54:00.000-05:00

On the side of Derek's cradle hangs a nice little baby toy that makes sounds; It plays a couple different lullabies, it has the sound of a waterfall, crickets, the ocean, and a stream. He has recently discovered how to turn it on and change the tune with his foot. He's one smart cookie!

On a side note, he has also begun to attempt to hold his own bottle! Happy days ahead!

Roly Poly

2008-01-17T14:41:00.000-05:00

Derek has rolled over!
I put him down for a nap this afternoon, and heard him fussing a few minutes later. Went to check on him, and discovered he had rolled over. He's a big boy!

Grandpa and Grandsons

2008-01-17T14:36:00.000-05:00

Left to Right;
Derek, in a tie
Grandpa, in a tie
Alton, in a hat
and Silas, with more hair than all three of them put together!

Milestones

2008-01-09T18:53:00.000-05:00

Derek has recently discovered his feet. He will sit on my lap for 20 minutes at a time and stare at his feet as he kicks them excitedly.
He also LOVES to look at pictures of himself on the computer. He will stare at the and 'talk' to the baby on the screen till I've cycled through all the pictures several times.
Peek-a-boo is now a game he understands. He giggles quite unreservedly when I play it with him.
He is trying to sit up by himself already; he's getting better and better, but still has the tendency to fall sideways.
More pictures to follow at a later date. He has more cousins to meet this week!

Asleep......... and Awake!

2008-01-03T22:58:00.001-05:00

Alfalfa

2008-01-03T22:54:00.000-05:00

Apologies

2007-12-22T17:32:00.000-05:00

Many apologies for not updating this blog in, like, 3 weeks. The camera is out of batteries and we haven't gotten any more yet.
He had a wonderful time getting to meet all his aunts and uncles while we were at the wedding. You might be glad to know he has filled out some since then, and his pants fit now. Before, they kept falling down, and if he hadn't had a diaper on, he'd have looked like a miniature plumber. He still has no behind to speak of though.
I'll work on getting some batteries. Later!

2007-11-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Daddy's little boy!

EXTREME MAKEOVER: BABY EDITION

2007-11-24T17:28:00.000-05:00

Before

After

Ha!

2007-11-15T17:08:00.001-05:00

Coming Home

2007-11-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

Funny how babies look so beautiful when they're sleeping...

2 Days Old

2007-11-15T16:32:00.000-05:00

In the Beginning...

2007-11-15T15:49:00.000-05:00

Not the prettiest picture, but I just had to put a "brand-new" photo here.