33 weeks!

This week was busy!! Last Saturday we packed up and flew to California!! Our flight was evening and although it was smooth, Dean was a little fussy cuz it was his bedtime. He didn't sleep at all but was very close. Then we landed and basically didn't get him to sleep until midnight! The next day we went to church. He slept for about 20 minutes after sacrament. Luckily he slept an hour on the way to apple valley but he didn't sleep again until a 20-30 min nap in the evening and then on the way home.
This was our first Christmas without grandpa Schultz and it was hard. We had a fun time and dinner was good. But once we started the chimes, it was really hard. The whole night, something felt like it was missing. Or someone rather. I kept hearing grandpa shout my name over the hustle and bustle. Then uncle Jeff was the new reader of Santa and the mouse. I didn't even make it through the first sentence. I miss him. But after everything, we went to grandpa's work shop and grandma told me she saved his first toolbox from when he was 2 or 3 years old for me! I'm so excited!
Monday I went to visit with Sandra and Traci. I love those girls! And it was so fun! Then when dean and I got home, I decorated the gingerbread house, while Marissa did hers and Jen and Michael did theirs. Then after dinner, KR and I went on a quick trip to babies r us and dean was baby sat.
Tuesday was Christmas eve and Jens birthday. We went to ihop and dean sat in a high chair for the first time! Four spoons on the floor later, haha. It was fun though. We went on a walk along the pier later and the weather was gorgeous!!! High 70's to even 80 all week!! We had a fancy dinner for Christmas/birthday and then afterward, Michael gave Jen her birthday present-he proposed!!! He had saved receipts and movie stubs from dating ans taped them on boxes that got smaller. My dad got it all on video. It was awesome and special. Then we walked to jeffs and debbies and then went to the heil lights and walked around! It was so fun! On the way home, we saw a million lanterns in the sky!!! It was so cool!!
Christmas!!! We may have brought dean in to our bed for an hour...haha. We had fun helping dean open his presents and once again, we were all spoiled!! We had breakfast ay Jeff and Dani's and it was delicious. The rest of the day was low key and then the sickness set in! Michael and amber and Marissa got the flu!! Michael has Crohns so he was in a lot of pain.
The next day was very low key so KR and I went to the beach for a run and Bethany came to walk and push Dean. It was so beautiful and felt great! That night we went to my grandmas, which as excited as I was, it was also nice to escape the germs haha. Double bonus! We got there super late, stayed up chatting and finally went to sleep.
Well dean had been getting slightly better at sleeping. The prescription seemed to be working, and he was sleeping sounder and getting used to the noise. He even slept through the dog barking! But then that night, he woke up every hour and a half! It was a rough night and we were exhausted the next day. We just hung out and then went to the grocery store and babies r us. That night was the same thing! So at like 4, we put him in our bed and he slept 3 1/2! Haha oops. The next day we were slow moving and just hung out again, which was nice to relax. We did Christmas and after dinner, we packed and left, getting home late again. And that brings us to Saturday night, which I only blog from Saturday to Saturday, so you'll h ave to wait until the next post to see what happened next!! Haha. Merry Christmas!!















Dean loves to hold on to the tag from the airport haha.

31&32 weeks!

Oops!! I forgot to blog last week!! It's been crazy!! So I will combine since it wasn't terribly eventful.
*Dean is crawling like a fiend! Haha. It's so fun but also a little stressful. I have to get used to not leaving stuff on the floor haha. He particularly likes cords. Haha. While I'm pumping, he likes to unplug the tubes.
*he started green beans but does NOT like them. He gagged and threw up haha. Same with the puffs. Although I was impressed he used his opposable thumb and picked it up the first try!
*I've never mentioned this, I don't think, but he has always really liked scratching things. He loves the feel on his nails. The sound gives me the chills so I keep his nails short. But he loves his touch ans feel book. Especially the shepherd with a burlap robe.
*so KR started his two weeks of research last Monday. Well, we went over to his parents the Sunday before and his dad informed us the company hired to store the files (dating back to the 60's!) Were missing! They found 2 of 400! (This is unacceptable! Haha) so Monday KR stayed home with dean for the longest yet. I went to get dental xrays from my friend in dental hygiene school and then got an oil change and gas. Long day! Then Tuesday we went to his parents so KR and ken could reconvene and figure out a plan. By the time we got there, he told us they were thinking the numbers he gave were health record numbers but the co. thought they were box numbers. Phew! We are so grateful for the answered prayers cuz not only did KR need to so this for credit, he wanted to do a project and spend time with his dad as well as get his name published to plump up his resume for residency. So Wednesday he went to his dads work and shadowed him for a day until the files were shipped. So he's been doing that. On the days ken works, he goes with him and just does the files there. The other days we all go to his parents while they work.
*we spoke in church two weeks ago. The topic was charity. We survived haha. Heavenly Father blessed dean to sleep the first two blocks of church!! He hasn't done that since he was like a month old!
*speaking of sleep. Dean was getting better after his tooth popped but then recently was getting really bad. Like 1 1/2 hours to fall asleep, sometimes waking up several times before finally staying asleep for an hour or 2 at most. Naps were like 20-30 min. He got his flu shot Tuesday which hurts so we gave him Tylenol. I was hoping that would help but no! So I got worried cuz that meant it wasn't teething! So I emailed his Dr and she called me back personally and we scheduled an appointment later that day. He has an ear infection. I was so happy because that meant an answer! So he's been taking amoxicillin. Hopefully it helps quickly. Im grateful we got him in so fast.
*so now we are packing!! Cant wait for our trip home!!!

Grr I always forget something...

I also put the bumpers up in the crib. He is of enough to roll and breathe better, plus with pulling himself up, I don't want him to get hurt. Which I'm glad I did because he did fall and his cheek was red but it would have been worse had they not been there.

30 weeks!!

What a week! Several big developments!!
*first, dean can go from laying down to sitting up!! Big deal because he gets mad when hes laying down, and we would have to sit him up a million times. Now only a few times!
*The other day, I was doing something, dean was laying in his crib. Suddenly I hear this weird noise on the monitor. I go look at it and see Dean's face right in the camera and his hand grabbing at it. He had pulled himself up! Eventually he even knocked the camera in to the crib. So now its time to lower the crib and mount the camera on the actual wall.
*crawling! I had mentioned he did on crawl thanksgiving week. Well now he can do several in a row. Still not all the time but definitely the real thing. So he's officially going from laying on his back to rolling to his tummy to pushing up in to hands and knees to either siting or crawling!
*he doesn't do the mama and baba sound as much as last week. He does this other sound like an almost cough haha. Particularly when he wants something.
*he's starting to make noises when et bounce him haha. So cute!
*speaking of bouncing, we haven't bounced him to sleep since the start of thanksgiving break. We just lay him down and rub his tummy. Sometimes it takes a few minutes, sometimes he fights for twenty minutes, crying and trying to roll over and crawl. Sometimes he is too hyper so we leave him until he gets fussy and then come back. I've been busting out my super nanny skills too. If he's hyper, I walk out and watch the monitor. Ad soon as he pulls him self up, I go in, silently just lay him back down and leave again. Once he gets fussy, I don't leave anymore. But ya, we rub his tummy or back, (depending on if he rolls over). Sometimes he falls asleep with his bum in the air. My favorite is when I accidentally switch to my fingers instead of my flat hand rubbing (basically if I tickle his back) he giggles. It makes me smile and I have to resist doing it on purpose! Otherwise, he won't go to sleep. Haha. But I've always had weird skin, its like hypersensitive. If I rub more than a few circles, it almost hurts. It's hard to explain. Same thing happens if someone tickles my back or arm or something, in the same spot too long. It almost hurts. KR doesnt get it. I could rub the same spot forever and he still likes it. Haha. Im weird.
*started carrots! First KR let him just chew on a raw one. Then we pureed some. They were a bit gritty so that plus a new taste, he didn't like them. Each time though, he liked them more. He loves apples, sweet potatoes, and rice cereal. Still doesn't like banana! Who is this kid?? Oh we tried avocado and that was a no go....
*we got him his first pair of Nike's!! We got size 4 though so he can't wear them for a while :( we were practical and got some he will wear when he can walk. Book. Haha
*we have had COLD weather! Like, in the teens at night, twenties in the day. One night, we even got to single digits one night! Ahh! And deans first snow!!! We didn't go out in it but it snowed!!
*I forgot to mention dean sometimes is in crawling position and then pushes up to his toes. Mowgli!
*KR finished his rotation!!!! They gave him Thursday off to study, Friday he took his test and then played basketball for the first time in a looooong time. Poor guy, I don't think he's played once this whole the weeks!! It was nice having him home!
*I've been crafting up a storm! KR decided we should have a Christmas dinner with a few friends so I wanted our house to look more festive! I finished my wreath last week, made some sparkly vases, and a Christmas card display.
*last Sunday we met up at the Christmas tree farm (KRs parents) with some of his coworkers at the hospital to get them trees. Our tree we had cut was too thick for our stand so we picked a new one. I'm glad because the first one it was dark and I felt rushed. So we actually got to pick one and its so pretty! Then we rushed to church haha. While over there, I finished deans Christmas blanket. Nothing fancy, just two flannels back to back. But Peggys sewing machine has those decorative stitches so we put snowflakes on it.
*so back to our Christmas party. We had Dave and Kelly stanley, who came to thanksgiving, and then Danny and Emily and Reagan (Emily and I have been getting together weekly to work out and hang out, her daughter is two months older than Dean. They like to play. This week, we did the Christmas card displays together. That and one more craft that's not done, I will show it when it is). We had a ham we needed to make, and Kelly made potatoes, and we had salad. Danny and Emily made some yummy dip with chips. Then! The best part! Haha. I made homemade peppermint/candy cane ice cream and homemade hot chocolate! You put it together like a root beer float! So yummy! We got a movie to watch but we just chatted so long, it never happened. I even felt so normal-we put both babies down to sleep and we got to stay up! Dean woke up for his first feeding at 12:20 so that's when we realized it was so late!! It wasn't practical, and I was exhausted, but it was so fun! Just a little normalcy haha. I'm becoming very good friends with these ladies too so it was fun just to chat and be so comfortable!
I think that's our week. There ya go Jen! Thanks for reminding me to finish, stalker!! (Haha I only say that because no joke I am the biggest stalker in the world. I check things like that too, that frequently, and often for people I never even met. Oops, I shouldn't have said that)
Christmas is coming!!!!
My cucumber winter wonderland!


Mmmmm!



Almost forgot! I let Dean ride in the shopping cart!! (Of course with his cover haha) he loved it! But he didn't quite get it, that he had to hold on. So he was floppy haha.





Also, I strung turquoise and silver ornaments on tulle and strung it with our lights on the hutch. They match perfectly! I love it!






Freezing in line at Nike.



K this is gonna take forever to load with so many pictures, I better just post.

29 weeks

*he grabbed his empty bottle and tipped his head back to drink it! Maybe it was a fluke. But I've never had him hold it himself or anything. (Update: last night, Friday, he found his bottle and got it propped up while he laid on his back and drank the whole thing!)
*last week I forgot to mention, he does this adorable wrist thing. When he's reaching for something or sometimes just playing. He flicks/twists his wrist and hand. The best way to describe it is if you were flicking something away from you. It's gentle and just makes me smile. Sometimes he holds his thumb with his other hand, which is how he does it while playing. Or if my hair is hanging down in front of him while he's cradled in my arms. It's so sweet and tender. He's never grabbed my hair on purpose. Just when it gets in his hands and he just happens to close his fist.
*tooth popped!! We've seen it so close but Tuesday morning I checked and it looks like its out!!! He seemed to slightly sleep better for like half a day and then we think the other one is bothering him too/now. Never ending....
*as he rolls over, he's starting to be a little higher on his elbow-closer to getting to a sitting position. That will be the best day because once he falls over he is so mad until he can be sitting again, which requires our help.
*crawling!! Ok so he took one "step" but it happened and we both saw it! Haha. Now for him to do it again haha.
*Dean had his first thanksgiving!! We went for our own personal turkey trot and ran a 5k!! That was my goal after having Dean-run a 5k by thanksgiving! So I did it! It was fun to run with KR again. We don't get to very often anymore. After, we got ready and went to KRs parents for thanksgiving dinner! Dave and Kelly came again and it was fun to chat with family and relax, for the most part. Dean isn't able to nap much, if any, when we are over there, so he was a little grumpy, but he actually did pretty well. He got to eat sweet potatoes (although he has been for weeks) and banana (which apparently he doesn't like anymore. Sad!)
*we got our first Christmas tree!!! It was almost dark when we went out so we had to hurry but we think we got a good one! We wound up having to leave it though and we can't go back until Sunday to get it.
*bababa and Mamama. He goes back and forth between the two. We are trying to teach him the associations so he figures out what he's saying(ball and mama).
*I've been doing the signs for eat and all done. A week or two ago he really would watch when I did eat. No matter what he was doing, if I said eat and did the sign, he would turn back to the spoon and look at me intensely like he was learning. Now this week, he's started smiling when I do it. Progress?
*my friend lent me her electric double pump. So much help now that I'm pumping!
*he's started shutting his eyes tightly, randomly. At first I thought something es in his eye but nope. It's adorable and his new thing.
*also, he's starting to scrunch his nose up when he smiles and laughs. Haha. Cute!
*what does the alligator say? It doesn't say anything. It's very quiet. UNTIL IT EATS YOU!

28 weeks!

*reallllly close to crawling! From a seated position, he will step out with his hands a few times but his knees don't move. But Sooo close!
*he's really starting to anticipate! KR will say, "one, two..." And he starts smiling (anticipating being thrown in the sir on three). Or if you just repeat something and tickle, he starts to smile sooner and before. I love it!
*still pulling himself up to his kneed but not really farther than that.
*eating rice cereal, apples, sweet potatoes, pears, and now, banana! Don't know why I waited so long on that one haha.
*KR's brother got married Saturday so we had been planning on KR switching his day off this week from Friday Saturday. Well his resident let him keep Friday off too!! It was amazing having two days together, in a row! And as much as we like Sunday's, we can never do anything so it was nice to get out, together! We ran errands and went on a family yogurtland date and walked around bridgeport again. Thats like our new favorite thing. And then we stop in Barnes and noble and get dean a book. This week, Dr. Seuss was by 2 get one. So KR and I spent forever reminiscing (and reading to each other, simultaneously haha) our favorites. We each picked three without the other looking. We had 2 out of 3 the same! Haha. Green eggs and ham, and one fish two fish. Our third were different and we were both pretty attached to our choice. To the point where we needed to flip a coin. He wanted can you read with your eyes closed?(or something along those lines) and I wanted hop on pop. Then I saw the ABC book. I started reading it and we both were like, this is it! Haha. It was so easy! I think we were more excited than dean..we were like reading and all excited and dean was just sitting there in the stroller haha. Oh ya, these are for dean, oops. Haha.
*the wedding on Saturday was simple and low key. KR helped a family move in the am and then after the wedding, all the family went to KRs parents. Pizza and good company. It was fun. Dean had lots of freak out moments, mostly because he got passed around. But at one point ye was on the floor playing and KR asked me to watch him. While he was gone, I left dean to see how he'd do. Some youngest cousins, came over to play with dean and he was fine for a good long while! Yay! I'm trying to let him get used to people. Baby steps. (Pun intended).


*his tooth is soooo close! We can't wait for it to break through!! We give him Tylenol every other night and use the tablets and gel the other nights. Hopefully soon!
*we are still pumping during the day and nursing at night and its working out. I'm finally ahead and even pumping both sides at a time so it's less stressful. Dean doesn't mind waiting for me to pump if he already ate haha. It was hard for a while when he'd get hungry early and I hadn't pumped yet. But now I'm two ahead. Woo hoo!
*Sunday's solo again so im nervous. It was really hard last week but I think this is my last one. I keep getting confused though because usually he had Sunday off and we go to his parents. But instead he had Saturday off and we went over there. So Saturday felt like Sunday. Haha

27 weeks

*he's really started reaching out if you put your arms out to him. But I think it's mostly because he wants to grab on to you and pull himself up haha.
*he likes sweet potatoes now. And by like, I mean he only makes a face on the first two bites haha. But he is the one opening up for more! I promise I'm not force feeding. Haha
*Sunday we started a new feeding plan. I'm only pumping and giving him the bottle, but only during the day. I still nurse at night. It's turning out to be less stressful because I'm not worried about whether he will finish. He doesn't have to be sleepy. It's sad to let go but for now, it seems to be the right thing.
*Tuesday he had his six month appt. 19 lbs, 2 oz! 28 1/2 inches long! And his head is 18in! Yay he's growing!!! He got shots, including his flu shot. He had a rough afternoon, we gave him Tylenol and once it kicked in, he was much better. But then he slept so much that night!!! At least there is one positive if you have to see your sweet baby in pain. I still would never choose the pain though. Obviously.
*we had our first date! Thursday was the anniversary of when we got engaged! Per tradition, we went to olive garden. Peggy watched Dean. I was nervous until dinner. Then I was surprisingly calm. I only checked my phone a few times. He was fine when we walked in, but before he even saw us he started crying. When we got close enough, I asked, "was he off and on the whole time?" And she said that was exactly it. I guess I'm just glad it wasn't the whole time. But I count it as a success. He would be grumpy that time of day anyway. But it was nice to reconnect with KR. A good first run!
* we also formally introduced pears. I pureed some, rather than letting him lick mine haha. He of course made a face at the first two bites but he took to them much faster than sweet potatoes. I also made some apples but we are waiting to try those. (I'm loving my dandy little steamer/chopper!)
*I can't remember if I've mentioned but he really likes to pull himself up. He usually only gets to his knees though.
*he is rocking!! Haha. You know what I mean! He gets to his hands and knees, one leg still a tiny bit tucked. Then he rocks! Getting so close! A few times he even pushed back, back in to the seated position, instead of flattening out on his belly. Oh man. This boy tires me out all ready, and is keeping me on my toes. I can't imagine how it will be once he's mobile! Exciting stuff though!
*my vt's came over, each with small kids/babies and it made me aware they my house is NOT baby proof!! I think that better be on my to do list! I think it needs to bumped to the front of the line!!
*Saturday, KR got off very early! It was so nice!! Especially since his next day off is Saturday the 23rd. And, we have a family wedding that day so it won't be relaxing. Fun but busy. But then! The next week is four days on, four days off (thanksgiving)!! I can't wait!!! I think I can I think I can!!
*teething! I can see and feel a bulge! And he's cranky and not sleeping well...poor little guy.
*he's spitting a lot. Also he makes this adorable motor boat sound, brrrrr.
*k seriously, why is it so hard to find a white dress shirt for babies? That's what we spent all day doing Saturday. Once in a while we find one in a set. But we just want the shirt! And we want the fabric to be normal dress shirt material. Why is this so hard! Haha. We first want white, but are willing to settle for stripes and colored ones. But everything is that checkered pattern or has weird fabric or has a dang animal on it. We also wanted it to be onsie but gave up on that too. Haha. Then at last, we found the magic, fabulous store. They had THREE! one was a onsie! And one was even folded like an adult shirt, plastic in collar and all hahah. For the low prices of between $32-40!!!! Hahahaha. Oh man. Not happening. But I do love that store. Anyway, that was a ramble. I just want to journal this because I won't believe myself how hard it really has been. (This, in no way, is me asking for some! This means you, Linda and Carol! Hahaha. Love you!)
Well I think that's all. I'll be nice and throw in a picture for you all, because you're such loyal and faithful fans.