NL400 blocking bet/ controlling pot size

[NiR]

i am new to 400NL. (55's 8 table player).

1. i want to know how i could have controlled the size of the pot here.

2 i bet on the turn because of the flush draw but what if there was no flush draw? what would your play be? check/calling turn?

3. how are my bets?

4.reraise preflop?

5. how is my blocking bet on river? what would you suggest on river? check/calling a small bet? or is my blocking bet fine. i was ready to let it go to a raise.

feel free to rip this hand apart.

ps: its GREAT TO BE BACK TO NL cash games!!
Party Poker No-Limit Hold'em, $ BB (6 max, 4 handed) converter

Button ($1268.05)
Hero ($729.30)
BB ($400)
UTG ($564.13)

Preflop: Hero is SB with J[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img], J[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img]. Hero posts a blind of $2.
<font color="#666666">1 fold</font>, <font color="#CC3333">Button raises to $8</font>, Hero (poster) calls $6, BB calls $4.

Flop: ($24) 8[img]/images/graemlins/diamond.gif[/img], 4[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img], 9[img]/images/graemlins/spade.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(3 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $22</font>, BB folds, Button calls $22.

Turn: ($68) 8[img]/images/graemlins/club.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $44</font>, Button calls $44.

River: ($156) 6[img]/images/graemlins/heart.gif[/img] <font color="#0000FF">(2 players)</font>
<font color="#CC3333">Hero bets $66</font>, Button calls $66.

Final Pot: $288