fan of dirt

I'm not a fan of dirt actually.  I tolerate it to an extent.  However, when something is immensely disgusting it is hard not to look away.  In fact, there are producers that make lots of money from t.v. shows that show such nasty ventures.  Think about it:  Survivor is only one of them.  Well, there is a fantastic show that I discovered on the...ahem...discovery channel called Dirty Jobs.  A very blue-collar-friendly guy, Mike Rowe, who takes us to different jobs that others do.  What they have in common is that most people would never want to touch their job with a 10 ft. pole.  For example, he has worked with those who farm meal worms for other sportsmen.  Or those who go through abandoned buildings to rid them of rodents.  Or cleaning out animals and sterilizing their bones for educational or display purposes.  He sees gross things and smells gross things.  Normally, this show would only attract me for so long.  What brings me back again and again is the host.  Mike Rowe is witty, clever, quick, and ultra-likeable.  Apparently, I am not the only one who thinks so.  He has now become the spokesperson for the Ford truck company (and frankly, all of the blue collar/hard working man).  He does not demean these folks that he brings us to meet on his show but rather commends them for doing something no one else wants to do.  All the while making his audience laugh.  I'd be lying too if I didn't admit that he is easy on the eyes.  So, there's my plug:  educational while giving a salute to those people that make living comfortably a possibility AND entertaining.  Can you ask for more?

my boy is 9 and 1/2 months old

Yes.  And that is 2 and 1/2 months from ONE YEARS OLD!  I must use all caps in order to emphasize how CRAZY that actually is.  I remember thinking that my son would never grow out of napping on me in the rocking chair.  I remember thinking that it would be a long time before he could entertain himself while I did something...anything that wasn't baby related.  We are there.  He sits in the living room and plays.  He naps in our bed without me for at least 45 minutes at a time (but will go down longer if I nurse down again).  He eats our food, he babbles (dadadada, gaga), he is trying oh-so-hard at crawling.  He is SO MUCH FUN! 

I am enjoying this stage so much.  It makes me want more and I feel excited about being pregnant again.  David Sr. --not so much.  He is less excited and I am surprised that it has worked out that way.  I mean, afterall, he is the one that came from the large family.  He does remind me and I am sobered to remember that I was not in the throes of momma-euphoria in the first few months of jr.'s life.  Breastfeeding hurt and not just because I never had THAT much action in that area.  It was thrush.  I never got anything done back then.  It was a huge accomplishment if I got to eat lunch. 

making baklava (pronounced: bet-leh-wah)

I made this a couple of times this season.  I'm actually not a great of fan of this dessert.  I liken eating or buying baklava to a tourist in New York buying a statuette of the Statue of Liberty.  It is there for tourists only because that ends up being how a culture defines itself.  Frankly, I don't like it.  However, when I made my own it tasted scrumptious as it came out of the oven.  So, perhaps I am just a fan of fresh baklava.  I took some pictures to remember the event.  If you want the recipe let me know and I'll get it to you.  It is one of those desserts that looks terribly complicated but is thoroughly easy. 

Spreading chopped walnuts and sugar on layers of buttered philo dough

                                                                        Yummy!

Christmas in Newellton

I hate this picture of me, but I couldn't resist posting since my two Davids look great!

David Jr. was nearing nap time so the joys of new experiences like crinkly wrapping paper in pretty colors was getting old.  If this picture had sound you would hear whining. 

Happy David!

He is on his new bear rug from Grandmere.  So soft and cuddly (the bear, I mean--although David Jr. is definitely soft and cuddly).

David is wearing a hat and bib from his Taita (lebanese for Grandmother).  He didn't mind wearing the hat.

Getting some lovin' from his Aunt Esther.  He loves his Aunt!

A great shot with the pretty tree in the background.  I love those pjs.  I think we left them at the Hogue house?

Full of comfort and joy!