Okay. It's getting down to the wire (kind of) with less than a month left until #3 comes our way . . . and we have no idea what to name him.
We've been searching and making lists for months and still no clear winner. Not even a clear front -runner. I like a couple names, Darren wants some others, Dalton has a clear preference, and Dane doesn't really care (he's suggested Dalton, Baby Jesus, and Kieran - his friend's baby brother). We've kinda painted ourselves into a corner with the "D" thing, but at this point I don't think we can deviate.
To complicate matters, Dalton had some drama in church last week when they were discussing the meaning of names. He found out that his name means "valley farm" and needless to say he wasn't impressed. As a matter of fact he was upset (didn't help that some other kids laughed - even though the meanings of their names were equally nonsensical).
We tried to console him by telling him that we named him after his Grandma and Grandpa Rennaker's farm in the Creston Valley, that we made lots of lists and his name was always on both of ours - so it won! That, followed by a procession of apologizing primary children (with prodding parents in tow), wasn't sufficient to assuage him. He still insisted that he hated his name.
Then, on the way home from church he announced that he wanted us to call him "ACE". (Stifled laughter and wide-eyed bewilderment exhanged in the front seat at this point) I don't know where he got that (maybe from Chicken Little -"Oh Ace!") but luckily he changed his mind later in the afternoon. (We did our best to call him Ace at every opportunity - in hopes of annoying him into wanting his old name back. All very passive agressive) Consequently, the ordeal has made me look a little more at the meanings of names than before.
Should I mention that one of the names I like, Drew, means "manly"?
I suppose we'll see what happens in the next few weeks. Maybe inspiration will strike and we'll just know. Or we'll keep tossing ridiculous suggestions back and forth until we're in the hospital and suddenly we've got a baby named after my painkillers.
Only time will tell.
Dane loves cookies, so we made some by hand today. He stuck by me through the entire process and was literally very "hands on". He's such a good helper and the cookies were delish.
REWIND to last September . . . the first day of kindergarten. So exciting!
Back to the present . . . finally- the last day of kindergarten arrives. Even more exciting!!! 
We celebrated with an afternoon at the beach. Dalton is the ultimate beachcomber - especially when it comes to hermit crabs.
Dane loves the water. Unfortunately this means I never get to sit and chill for very long.
. . . a bowl full of cherries?
I bought a bunch of cherries and realized quickly that I was the only one who liked them. They reminded me of the summer of 2004 when we spent a month in Creston, BC, at Darren's parents' farm. Marie (mom-in-law) brought home a case or bushel or something of lovely cherries. She would even know what kind they were - because I think they grow something like 30 varieties in the valley up there. Migrant workers come to pick each season and they're not hispanic - they're French Canadian hippies who bathe in the Goat River.
Anyway, Marie got a cherry pitter and I got to work it. I set it up by the fridge in the kitchen and I'll never forget the bright red splatter all over the side of the bare white fridge each time I punched a cherry. It looked like some gory crime scene better suited for a sleazy motel. We moved operation outside after that.
Strange story, I know, but I can't eat cherries without thinking of it.
SO - if life is like a bowl full of cherries, then it's sweet and rich at first - and full of bitterness and rot after a while. ( like I said - I can't eat them all by myself!)
Well, this is our blogging debut. (One giant leap for me that most of mankind took a while ago.) I thought this would be the easiest way to share news of the upcoming addition to our little family (baby boy #3 due 7/23/07), as well as to keep in touch with so many loved ones spread across the world. We're not that continental, but I can't say "country" when Darren's from Canada, eh?
So here's to self-exposition, becoming increasingly techno-saavy, and making interpersonal connections through a computer. Cheers!
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