Shari-Tales

More picts from the Beach

2009-07-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

Pictures from the beach, Griffith Family Reunion

2009-07-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Griffiths Family Reuion

2009-07-24T22:02:00.000-07:00

So this past week I've been totally incommunicado, no cell phone coverage in Yachats, Oregon, place of the Griffiths family reunion 2009. A city on the coast. I've really missed talking to mom, dad, sunny etc. Thank heavens cell phones normally work. This week has been great though. We all got matching t-shirts and the whole reunion shpeal. Best of all, we got Daniel home for the whole week! He said to me the other night, "I miss all sorts of little things baby "D" does throughout the day, huh?"

"Yeah". I replied honestly. Everyday he learns something new. This week he saw starfish, sea anemones, sharks, puffins, whales (from the shore blowing water off the surface and flipping their tales), muscles, egrets, etc.! He felt sand between his toes, lots of wind on his face and got his first sunburn sadly, even though his mother had a hat on him and a hoody and kept him as covered as possible, (I think it reflected off of the sand? He's had so much fun! He's been so smiley and hasn't cried a bit. Well, with one exception-Daniel and I have started letting Baby "D" taste things: watermelon, apples, potatoes, broccoli, cherries and yesterday Daniel let him try out jam. He had one taste and dropped his mouth wide open like he often does to indicate his enthusiasm for more. . . nothing, looked at Dad. . . nothing. . . opened his mouth again. . . Dad wasn't given him the goods and then WhAAAAAAAA! He wanted more jam! My sweet child who NEVER cries was flipping out! Give em' sugar and the tantrums begin!

So today a large group did what was called a polar bear plunge. That's where you dive into the FREEZING 50 degree water and then get in the hot tub. It's quite exhilarating actually. Very fun.

Another one of the funnest things we did this week was riding on the dunes with a tour guide that took you on a bus with airplane wheels and did a crazy ride up the giant slopes of sand. If he hadn't been a paid professional I would have been seriously scared for my life. We were all screaming and Daniel said I was hurting his hand while squeezing it. I had no idea that much sand could be piled in the middle of no where.

Daniel and I had fun playing chicken with the waves that crashed over the rocks. We weren't happy til we got wet of course,

We drive home tomorrow, sad that vacation has to end. It's been a rare treat! I'll post the pics later-Shari

Our baby, Our joy

2009-07-10T12:41:00.001-07:00

Our baby Daniel is a constant source of joy for us. He is now squealing with delight and loves to smile at everyone. His lips move when he watches me sing in church and he loves music! He is also so strong and coordinated it blows my mind. Daniel and I were wondering the other day where he got all his strength and coordination from. He now rolls over in both directions, stands really well while holding on to something or someone he can use furniture to support himself now! He steps around like he's walking when I hold his fingers. He can sit on his own with his hands touching the ground, he can hold toys. He loves the parks baby swing which his dad pushes him much too high in for my liking but Baby D seems to appreciate it immensely. We love him! It's so fun! The only sad thing lately is he isn't sleeping as well as he used to. He's been waking up, pulling on his ears and fussing a bit more than usual, I think he might be teething but I'm not sure.

The house's floors are all in! Hurrah! all we have left is the trim, counter tops, fireplace and grouting the tile in the bathroom. Trim starts next week, Daniels doing the grouting, we can live without counter tops a while we have sub tops for now! I'll post pics as soon as I get them! -Shari

Oh the backyard has the best blueberries ever! Oregon has awesome berries!

4th of July, oh the summer fun!

2009-07-10T12:05:00.000-07:00

4th of July was so fun! I got to keep Daniel (big D) home for the whole weekend! We rented movies, hit golf balls at the golfing range, went down to the river beach and let baby D play in the water, laid out in the sun. We had friends over for a barbecue and campfire with s'mores! It was great! I posted pictures so you could see some of the festivities. I can't even say how nice its been to enjoy the flowers and sunshine that summer brings. I finally feel like I'm getting a little less postpartum crazy. I now am capable of leaving my son for an hour or two without suffering tears and anxiety attacks and I now feel like I'm in a bit more of a rhythm with life. However we will soon be moving and I fear I will have to relearn how to grocery shop, cook, keep house etc. etc. I have been pretty spoiled the last while.

Take care all

first 100 days, house alomost finished, happy girl!

2009-06-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

So Daniel's first 100 days have come and gone and this Saturday he'll officially be four months old! (see his new tricks in the video below!) I have decided that the key to being a great parent is just having an easy baby that makes you look good. Daniel is as delightful in spirit as I could have ever hoped for. He hardly cries- only if tired or hungry. His Daddy is so enthralled with him that I'm falling in love with my husband all over again in a brand new way! its so wonderful! He blessed baby D two weeks ago- it was one of the sweetest moments of my life!

Painting- I've actually been painting quite a bit during nap times and in the evening and have found that it actually helps to have a baby when it comes to painting. I used to stare at a painting all day-willing it to look right. Now, I have to take breaks and step back. It helps me not to ruin the good parts and to see solutions I missed.

Life is good right now. Summer is glorious in Oregon and my house is almost finished! It truly was a gift to live with my in laws while adjusting to parenthood. I've had so much help its been wonderful. My endlessly patient in-laws have earned a soft place in heaven for letting us confinescate their garage for our furniture and for feeding us and housing us. I can truly say we will miss having them around us so much! I love seeing how much my mother in law loves our baby. I've posted recent and older pictures! -Shari

Our precious new little one! meet Daniel Darley Griffiths

2009-03-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

Daniel Darley Griffiths was born March 4th 2009 at 11:21 p.m. at 8lbs, 5oz and 21 inches long!

I'm posting pictures of my sleepy boy!
I promise to write the whole story, haven't quite got the energy for that yet. -Shari

Wishing I Could Nest

2009-01-29T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well I finally am going to do it-start blogging. I guess its the result of two things: one, my sister's nagging and two, the need to nest before the birth of my firstborn son. I've had some nesting instincts for a while now-I bought a crib at only four months, I wasn't even sure weather our little guy was a boy or girl then. But today, at my doctors apt. I was told that he'd dropped and that my body was showing all the signs of impending labor. So, my natural reaction is to run home, put his cute baby bedding in that crib, set out his clothes and diapers. However, none of this is possible. His darling little crib is still being stored in my patient in-law's garage. Our house still lacks its wood floors, kitchen, trim etc. We bought the house last Fall and ripped up the carpet noting the lovely hardwood floors, upon further discovery however- we learned that they were pet stained and unrecoverable. We tore out the floors, and found that the sub flooring was rotted out, so I learned to use a drill and Daniel and I replaced all the sub flooring. Since then we designed a new ikea kitchen, bought new flooring, lights, windows, doors, bathroom stuff. But we have yet to finish the job. Most of the stuff is all ready and waiting to be installed. But labor is expensive and Daniel works practically 7 days a week and I'm not exactly the world's most knowledgeable handyman. So I am due in four weeks, and we are yet to settle our nest. So, I'm trying not to let this situation dampen my spirits or taint the birth of my baby boy. I'm going to blog instead. I do want friends and family to see his pics when he is born, so why not start now?