These are a few of D's favorite things!

D's a simple man really.

He loves swings and trains.

He loves playing outside.

Especially with his best friend Adeline.

Especially with dirt and rocks and ladybugs.

He loves brushing his teeth.

Preferably without his pants (which he hates to put on these days).

He loves his eggs - its a serious kind of love.

He loves hats, and smiling.

And, he loves reading books with Dadda. That's all (not really) but these are definitely in the top 10!

Damien Visits Maga and AyeAyeAye

D had the opportunity to return to LA to see Maga and AyeAyeAye and Aunts Candy and Pam. He arrived to quite the toddler paradise created by Grandma Linda (Maga). There were Elmo and Thomas balloons, books, toys, dolls. There was a new swing, TWO easels, a sand box, chairs, a playhouse, ride on toys, pull toys, push toys, balls, books, cars. It looked like a preschool. D was thrilled (thank you Maga). He had a blast with all the stuff, but mostly with his beloved extended family - who all squeal and scream and clap with everything he does! He is king of the castle in LA, and loves it. Thankfully, he slept very well in his own room. Auntie Pam slept on a blow-up bed in the living room so he could have his own room and Momma and Papa could have Aunt Pam's room (Thank you Pam). It was such a fun trip, despite the little rain on the last day (which caused snow on the Grapevine and shut it down, almost stranding the Craigs). Thank you Kleins.

The side yard play area.

D's custom play rocket ship, with pictures, elmo doll and elmo balloon, you outdid yourself Maga.

Lovin his new swing!

And sand is always a winner.

Our little Picasso.

Who didn't love (surprisingly) to be so messy. But, luckily, water play was at his finger tips.

Enjoying the beautiful LA weather and Maga's company.

Yay! Outdoor play in the sun is fun.

Fascinated by the mini watering can.

A short moment with Papa (who doesn't get a lot of face time with D at the Kleins!)

Dinner with AyeAyeAye

Somebody loves his Grandpa and Oranges (in that order)!

I'm so grown up now. Lovin a park in Beverly Hills.

How most photos turn out these days! Give me -- "Mine."

Deconstructing Momma's wallet on the long drive home from Beverly Hills, darn LA traffic.

Watching over the Klein household.

Hmmm, what kind of trouble could I get into.


What, who me? Hahhahha (in evil laugh tone).

Damien Discovers Shaving Cream

Well, Momma tries to give Damien new fun activities to try, especially cheap ones (since he is usually more interested in newspaper and boxes than fancy toys). So, Damien got to discover shaving cream one day. He was surprised, scared, elated, then so over it. Overall though I think he had a blast.

Ohhh, squishy.

What is this?

Really, strange ... but cool!

Yeah, I'm diggin this.

(Post clean-up) We're # 1!

Damien Looses the Bottle

Our little guy has been using his sippy cup (but only one kind, the kind with the straw) for a while now. But, he wanted his bottle before bedtime and when he first got up. Well, he was finally ready to ditch the bottle. He easily transitioned this week to sippy cup only, and never asked for the bottle. When he woke up on the wrong side of the bed one morning this week and was inconsolable for a while we offered him the bottle, which he promptly threw. He refused to take the bottle but would drink his milk in the sippy cup. Our boy is growing up!

A Day In The Life of Damien

Well, today was one of those perfect Saturdays. And, Momma just happen to snap pictures all day long (somewhat rare these days) so, a day in the life of Damien post is appropriate.

D's day started off at the usual 7:15ish range. Our little guy was in good spirits. After some milk while watching Elmono (Elmo), D had the good fortune of having his two girlfriends from next door stop by. D was in heaven.

[Enjoying his new chair (Thank you Grandma Linda), his favorite Elmo book and his favorite neighbors.]

After the neighbor girls left, D had his usual favorite breakfast of two scrambled eggs and fresh organic raspberries. Breakfast was followed by some morning playtime inside, outside, with toys, with slide, reading books, bubbles, etc. Around 11:30 Damien had a snack which turned into lunch. This was followed by quiet reading in the rocking chair = falling asleep in mommy's arms = 2 hour nap.

[I love playing with the doors]

After waking up from a glorious nap, D had a snack and headed out for a new adventure - a walk to a new park nearby. It was a gorgeous, sunny and warm day in Berkeley. Damien really enjoyed checking out a new slide and park.

[The electric slide (that kept shocking everyone)]

[Playing with his ball - but wanting everyone else's ball) at the park.]

After a quick and relatively painless shopping trip to Berkeley Bowl (only a small meltdown because mommy wouldn't let Damien rearrange the coffee isle), Damien returned home in the glow of the late afternoon to play with bubbles, run around and run into dogs.

[Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles (it is a spell only word in the house now since someone is soooo obsessed with bubbles).]

[Still working on the concept of blowing bubbles without putting the wand in his mouth.]

[Daddy makes bubbles fun].

After another exquisite bubble session, Damien got to play with neighborhood dogs, something he is quite obsessed with at times.

[Dogs Dogs, everywhere]

After petting some adorable dogs, Damien had had enough and needed to recharge his batteries, so time to go back in the house for a little milk and Elmo time in his special chair. Shortly thereafter, Damien received a visit from his godmother Auburn, who brought him an adorable wooden elephant pull toy and played fun games with D that brought many giggles. After a quick, not so interesting to D dinner (he eats a big breakfast, and barely eats dinner these days), D took his bath, changed into PJ's, read some books, did some crying, then fell asleep in Momma's arms. Pretty typical.

Today was a good day.

[What more does a little boy need?]

[Lovin the gift bag!].

Damien Takes a Trip Down Daddy's Memory Lane

Papa's college roommate and good friend Philip Stupak came to down for business and was able to stay an extra day to see all his old college friends. So Damien's Daddy Daycare Friday was spent taking a trip down Daddy's memory lane at Cal. First they started off by going to Zachary's pizza, a delicious Berkeley institution, then some walking around campus with some frisbee throwing on Memorial Glade, then a house party at Chez Craig with Top Dog and Crusty Sticks (cheese sticks dipped in Ranch dressing). D loved meeting Stupak and had a blast with everyone who came to see Stupak.

Meeting the infamous Stupak.

Having a fun lunch at Zachary's with the lovely Katie.

Eating his first Crusty stick with ranch - he was a little wary, but liked it in the end.

Playing footsie with Big Guy.

Just love the look of happy wonder on his face - thanks BG!

Hamming it up with Jenny!

Sweet little Ashby (David and Katie's daughter) who was an angel at the party.

The gang - after D finally went to sleep!

Damien Does Daycare

Papa needs more time for work, and a spot opened up at a daycare that Mommy's friend has been sending her child to since he was five months old (and he's a few months older than D). So we enrolled Damien in this home based daycare near our big local park, so walking distance from the house, one day a week. It is run by these two sweet Latina women. There are 7 kids total on the day Damien goes. They go to the park, in a big multiple kid buggy, when it is nice out. Mommy has seen the kids almost every Monday when she is with D at the park and the kids always seem happy and the caregivers totally in control of them. Still, Mommy was a nervous wreck and afraid that D would be scared about the new situation.

Well, if he was, you couldn't tell. Papa dropped him off and he immediately ran to play with a doll and when Papa said goodbye, D said goodbye without a fuss. D apparently had a great day, he played nicely with the other kids, didn't cry once, took an hour nap, ate well (they feed them breakfast and lunch) and was very happy. He did go to the door once or twice and say "dadda, dadda" but was easily distracted and never cried. When Papa went to pick him up he was running around and giggling. And when asked if he had a fun day he enthusiastically said "Yeah! Fun!!" Yay!

Running straight for the baby doll.

It's OK Mom, I am having a great time.

Playing up till the last minute.

Getting his charriot ready to go home.