53! As in, over a year old?!

53 weeks. Man I can't believe his birthday is passed. It was a fun weekend. But I was really relieved when Monday rolled around and he was overall, the same as he was the day before. No magical transformation into an ADULT or anything.
So Sunday was mothers day and his birthday! Dad an Linda were still in town so they came to church with us. It was my guest time not feeling guilty receiving the mothers day gift from the priesthood after sacrament haha. Not that anyone should, whether you've given birth or not, all women are mothers! We were given pretty flowers but plants so that last longer!!
After church, we headed to KRs parents for mothers day dinner. As usual, delicious, and always good to spend time with his family. I'm grateful we live so close and can see them regularly. And that they've adopted me in.


Monday, before dad and Linda had to go to the airport, we met Peggy and Jameson at the zoo. It was a beautiful day! Always so fun at the zoo!

Tuesday, Dean has his 12 month appt. First, hid ears were clear!!! Yay!!! Such a relief and bonus, we made it through the month of April without going in! So his measurements are....
22.04 lbs 30.6 in. long and 18 3/4 in. head.
He had to have 5 shots!! He cried really hard but when the nurse left, he did his where did she go? hands. It was so cute. I had given him Tylenol before we left and again at bed and he really was great. I didn't suspect one bit of anything from him, which I was so grateful for.

So, his list...
*he hands me toys and books now. Sometimes it's cute haha. Sometimes I'm like, ok, thank you...again....hehe. I enjoy it.
*he got this small balloon on a stick for his bday. Well he patiently and adamantly worked on getting the stick in the hole on the balloon. He got very very close several times. But the balloon wasnt steady enough. So as soon as I held.it still for him, he easily got it in! I'm impressed with his hand eye coordination.
*hes learned to blow bubbles with his mouth. Just where you open your mouth wide, slowly.
*i put my sunglasses on tuesday and suddenly he wanted to wear his. We went to the park and he kept tripping in the grass, and every time they would fall off, he would ask me to put them back on. He keeps his hat in most the time as well.
*He drips water on his head in the bath. He takes the cup with holes and lets it drain on him. He's getting braver!
*Waving bye bye more and better. Much more wrist signed less arm. He anticipates when certain books are going to say bye bye and will wave.
*He has sippy cups that create a vacuum and he knows how to release the pressure haha.
*Says Beeh for ball.
*Towards the end of the week, he stopped saying more and please. Kind of driving me nuts because I want to continue teaching him manners but he absolutely will not say it. Before, I would try to get him to say it and then give it anyway. Then he learned how and I only gave it if he said it. Now it's like, I know you knew but do you still know? Do I hold you accountable and wait to give it til you say it? But then he never says it, I can't starve him! He really developed an attitude this week and it was really frustrating. He just yells and throws things when last week, he would simply communicate. He doesn't even nod yes or shake his head no. I think we are both frustrated. I'm just trying to stay patient and stick to it and hope he picks it up again.
Still love him though!!!






Oh! The pic above. So he started this thing when he doesn't want it, doesn't like it, he's unhappy. He scrunches his face up, tilts his head back, kind pulls his top teeth over his bottom lip and opens and closes his mouth, while making a small whiney sound. It makes me laugh and he kind of laughs too, so I can't take it seriously. Later in the week it turned in to straight yelling and anger again. But when he did that, it was so cute. The dr even was surprised. She said most babies just cry but he was communicating, saying he didn't like it/was unhappy.

52!!!!!!!!!!

52 weeks!!! As in 12 months!!! As in ONE YEAR!!!! I have a one year old!!!!! Oy vey!!!
So as I started my list on Sunday, May 4th, I added that dean was starting to take a few steps on his own. He continued that all day Monday until.... Monday night, we got together weigh friends for cinco de mayo and Reagan was there, who is newly walking herself. Well or of no where, I'm just sitting, reading, and I see Dean walk across the whole room!! I flipped out of course, it was so exciting! So all week, he just got better and better!
*He is also talking a ton more, or trying. He says more please when I ask him to before giving him more food and says thank you, both prompted and unprompted, after I give it. He also says amen, I think I've mentioned that. But Sunday May 4th (I'm almost a week behind) I was listening to a talk and the speaker said something about Jesus Chris, not finishing his talk or anything, and Dean said amen! Haha so cute, crazy how much they are listening already!
*When asked to give it to mama, he will give almost anything to me! He also will find a piece of dirt or something small and bring it to me. So cute! I'm enjoying it while it lasts cuz I'm sure it won't.
*so milk, this week we adjusted to 5 oz breast milk for his first and last bottle, and then his two middle bottles are a 3 to 2 ratio. He is spitting up like once a day and it's very very stinky but hopefully that doesn't mean he has an intolerance. I'm waiting to up the amount until talking with his dr on Tuesday may 13th. (spoiler alert, she said it's normal and hes since, stopped barfing. It was only ever a tiny bit, but enough to stink!)
*on his own, he started saying wow! Its so cute!
*he also does his I dont know hands a lot. But he does it for "where is it", not I don't know. So when someone leaves, or we ask where it is, or he wants to know what that sound is. It's accompanied by his gasping sound.
*Later in the week, he started pointing with his gasp, which he has done a while, but now he does it more and often times his pointing hand goes up against his face. Haha. So cute!! We love it!!
*He gets mad if I close a drawer or the dryer or dishwasher, but if I ask him to help me, he loves it and is fine. I also had him put his clothes in the dryer, he loved it! So cute to have a little "helper" haha.
*he learned how to do mouth bubbles, like where you open it wide. He learned by accident and doesn't do it frequently, thank goodness.

This week was busy getting ready for the party. I went to Peggys and we made cookies and cupcakes, and she helped a TON! I don't know if I could have done it without her. Then Thursday, Bethany and Jennifer organized for dad and linda to come visit Friday! It was a fun surprise! So friday I ran around and made dean's cake and went and picked them up and they helped set up. Saturday morning, more setting up and help, again, not sure if I could have done it alone, as I had to get dean down for a nap and get myself ready. Wow! It was fun but I'm sure glad it is done. Haha.
So his party was Mickey themed, but a classy, vintage mickey. None of the Mickeys had faces, to keep it.classy and clean and streamline. I love how it turned out. KRs parents were both busy with previous obligations so it was mainly just friends thst came. Danny and Emily, Jamie and Andy, Catherine Teng, Kelly Stanley, Susan and Chris, and team jd! We had pizza and salad, then samg happy bday. Dean was just.overwhelmed by it all. He had just woke up when everyone was already getting there, and I don't think he ever quite adjusted. But he was ok. When ever did the smash cake, he was unsure at first, but then I gave him a fork and he had a blast. He didn't actually eat any, but had fun finger painting with the red frosting. We had to take him to the tub after. Luckily it didn't stain any where but one small red spot on his cheek that went away quick. Then he had fun opening presents after most people left. It was so nice. I'm really grateful for all the help and for good friend and especially moral support from family as I stressed about planning.
Later we went to Davidson's for dinner. It was the restaurant we went to last year, after my dr appt which triggered my labor. So I was in labor the whole dinner, intense, but obviously still manageable. So we went exactly one year later, to celebrate and reminisce. It bright back strong emotions and memories. I still can't believe it's been a year! I love reminiscing about my labor.
Ok here are some pictures and then I will pick up from mothers day in the next post.

51?!

Wow! That means next week.....oy!

Ok jumping in...
*I never blogged about how he went through a stage where during story time, he would throw his pacifier on the ground. I think it was when he started learning bed time or nap time was next. Luckily he stopped that after a little while, but it was interesting to see how smart he is haha. Frustrating though, since those round pacifiers roll!!
*he got a new car seat!! It's so awesome and KR says it looks like a captain's chair in a spaceship. The best part is it has special fabric to keep him cool. He's always been so hot blooded (check and see...haha jk) and it was perfect timing with the heat wave we had last week. High 80s. It helped so much! We spent a bit more than we planned because at the last minute I decided I wanted to keep him rear facing for a while. So this one is convertible. Technically, this could be the only carseat you ever buy. It works for 5-110lbs. Although I don't think I would feel comfortable putting a baby that small in it. But it's very cushiony and luxurious! Haha. And most new car seats have these little slots to store the metal buckles so they don't get hot and burn you. So awesome! Dean likes it much better than his squishy old one.
*he really started screaming when he gets excited. At least earlier in the week he really did it a lot. I think as the week went in though, his tooth is bugging him so he's a little less happy. But still happy.
*so I forgot to say last week that his top second left tooth broke through and this week hes been breaking a bottom second left tooth. He was so happy and doing so well last week that I totally didn't realize a new one was starting. But later this week, hes been showing it more. Poor guy.
*he pinches his eyes closed if you close yours. And he has discovered our nose and eyes. He still does his tongue trick too.
*he can kind of get off the couch now. Err don't really let him up there much, and he can't get up himself, but he's learning to slide off on his tummy. We really think he's going to be a climber though.
*getting sturdier with walking but still doesn't just walk. He tries more often on some days though.
*one of the hot days, Dean and I went to the zoo. It was actually our first time alone. It was hot but fun. Until, Dean rubbed his eye and hot sunscreen in his eye. I felt so bad!! I stopped in the shade, tried to flush it with water but imagine how hard that would be with a water bottle that you have to pinch and suck at the same time to get water out, all while trying to hold Dean down and pry his eye open. Didn't work very well. And he wouldn't leave it alone. It was so red. When he calmed down a bit and left it alone a little more, I just kept him distracted with puffs and took him to first aid. I'm so glad I did. He used a solution to rinse. Dean didn't like it but it was not nearly as red after and I felt better. I was so worried he would go blind haha.
*KR finished his surgery rotation!! He actually enjoyed the work, just not the hours. He also had quite a few more times in clinic than he should have, which was frustrating. They don't do much and definitely don't learn the stuff on the test. Oh well. Wet survived what we thought would be the worst. On to peds. It's already a good start because he doesn't have to be there Monday until 8. Compared to 530am.
*Dean doesn't do his fake laugh anymore when we laugh! It's crazy how fast he changes! But now he does a fake cough haha. Equally adorable.
*something I've never blogged and I want to remember, even if it's a tiny bit frustrating haha. When we feed Dean something on a spoon, after every bite, Dean puts his hand, usually left, up to his mouth. The position of his hand is kind of like a salute, and his first finger or two go in, sideways. This always makes sure he gets the food all over his hand and that it spreads every where else....
*he's realllly walking on his knees a lot haha. Its not just a few scoots anymore. He still crawls, and also does real walking, but he walks on his knees haha. So cute.
*we hung out with Emily and Reagan quite a but this week, taking advantage of the warm weather and getting some exercise in. It was so nice.






Love his curls!!


He wore his hat finally!!! At the zoo!


Oh my goodness he loved the fish!! It was his first time at the zoo, really interested!






KR has started spinning with Dean and he loves it!


We went to ashlyns birthday! Deans next!

Oops one more thing...

*Dean has been haaaating his carseat. Hes just to big! He is uncomfortable. Every time I get hom near it he cries. Once he's in, he's ok but not as much as normal and not as long. So we got one from KR s parents to borrow until May 11th when dean can face forward. Until then he has to be rear facing and if we buy a new carseat right now, we have to spend more on a convertible one that can rear face and forward face. This way, we will save money and buy just a forward facing. It took a few tries to get him in correctly and the straps correct and comfortable but he's liking this one much better. We are so excited to get a new one!

50!!!!!

*Saying mah for more. He still mimicks if I say to say something. It doesn't always sound like the right thing but if I say, say bread, he says br and if I say, say thank you, he says dih dih haha. Hes trying.
*he's also nodding more.
*he pretty much only walks with his motorcycle, instead of only kneeling. He is really good at backing it up once he hits something, a corner or wall. He just leans and grabs the handle bars and pushes the opposite way. He just goes back and forth, all over the house. Sometimes he gets between the bookshelf and hitch, parallel and against the wall, and just goes back and forth back and forth haha. When he's tired, jes so impatient and grumpy and will cry and whine when he hits something, instead of just fixing it. Sometimes he'll even start before he actually hits! Haha.
*My milk supply has been down, and I was still pumping by hand (!) I was getting really stressed and so I stayed home to pump more for a few days. Then after a few days, I started my period! Ahhh!!! (Sorry, dad haha) so I was concerned and researched a bit and found out its ok if you start while nursing (I'll still call it that, to make it easier) but your milk supply drops a few days before and for a few days during, so I was so relieved there was a reason! The body is so crazy! And it said that if you start nursing less, ie. your baby starts sleeping through the night (!) your body can start your period. Makes sense now!!! So im still pumping 4-5 times a day but I got the pump to kind of work. I still have to squeeze a lot but its still better than by hand. And it still takes a long time and I do one side at a time, but it's still faster and more proper than by hand. So dean usually wakes up 6:15 ish and so this week I would get up an hour before him to pump, because I had zero milk on reserve. I didnt sleep very well due to worry I wouldn't get enough when he woke up, or I wouldn't have any when he woke up and I'd have to pump while he cried (which did happen a few days when the second half the week hes been waking up at 5:45) but I'm getting agead by like an ounce or two at night so I'm not as stressed. I still get up an hour before him but if he wakes up, at least I have something for him to hold him over. So far I haven't had to use that though. I get him up and he's happy and fine playing while I pump. I'm so grateful, what a tender mercy.
*He really knows what a ball and duck is. If hes doing something I don't want him to, I say wheres the ball or duck he stops and goes get it. And he looks so cute when he turns his head quickly and scans the room.
*He does this quick oh/gasp noise I think I've mentioned. It used to just be when he pointed at something (which he still does, a lot. Sometimes like right in a row points to something new, right after another) but he also does it or a hooooo (kind of like whoa) as hes going around the room to his toys. Like everything is new and exciting haha. Like, whoa look at this!!
*Night sleep is good still, but naps are getting harder to get him to sleep. But I've learned that at the 40 min mark, I can't just watch. I have to be IN there, pacifier ready. I have to catch him before he akes at all. Then he stays asleep and does way better. Once he wakes up these days, there is no getting him back to sleep.
*He was getting in to his books more so I put a bigger shelf we bought but had in the closet, out and moved his books. He loves getting in to them but hes still too young to be unsupervised because he really bends them and possibly rip the pop ups (I dont have any paper pages down yet, just board books). He also loves his giraffe stuffy. He grabs thst one out of the basket every time.
*So Peggy let us borrow this tub of wooden blocks thst have holes through them to put on the train pieces that have dowels sticking up. Does that make sense? Picture sometime...anyways, a few of the dowels come out. I've mentioned he loves putting things inside other things.Well, he takes the dowel and puts it through the hole on a block! Like, easily! And some sre small rounded, like a lifesaver shape and he puts it through and plays with it. I dont know, maybe that's totally nothing but we are super impressed haha. Great hand eye coordination and great foot work. He was doing foot work with an egg the other day too haha.
*He is letting go more, and standing on his own, and walking on his own, without us prompting him.
*When he gears us laugh, a laugh track on tv, or the crowd cheering on a live performance on pandora, he laughs. It's kind of like a fake laugh but it sounds cute and not completely fake. He does it on his own too but especially when we laugh.
*I kind of mentioned before, when he's tired he gets really frustrated. He's got his mama's hard head and short fuse. Oops. He is determined and strong willed and I like that, but I'm already trying to teach him to control it, which is a good lesson for me because I have to do it myself first. It's frustrating when he screams over every little thing and so I breathe and try to talk him through it. Unless it really is impossible for him to do himself, or he's stuck and could get hurt, I don't do it for him. I let him keep trying, through the tears. I hope that's a good lesson for him. It would be easier and quieter if I just did it, but I feel strongly that if his motorcycle is slightly stuck or just up against the wall, he can easily fix it and needs to keep trying. We'll see how that develops over time.
We survived the second to last week of surgery; it really wasnt too bad. KR had a day thst surgery canceled so he invited us to meet him for lunch. Then another day he got home in time for us to try a new mexican place- trying to find a titos clone-yummy but not the best. Then his Saturday shift he got done at like 9am!!
The weather can't make up cit's mind. Rain sun rain sun. We try walks in between rains. Next week, whoa! Ok this is the next 7 days....55 61 73 80 72 66 (or something like that) uhhh. Haha. I can't wait for Wednesday though!! Haha. Then KR has his test Friday and we're done with surgery!!! Then next he has peds!!! That's his last one for third year!!!!!! Wow!!!!! Ok sorry, its just so crazy!!!
Oops! Almost forgot about easter!
easter morning!












Deans first piano lesson




always with the feet!!


national pretzel day! Had to celebrate!

blazers in the playoffs so he had to wear this shirt I got him!




yummy danish I made!!!





My sweet boy. I can't stop taking pictures of him sleeping. He is so sweet and happy. Super shy, but once he warms up and gets comfortable, he's a chatter box with giggles galore. He's learning to share food with mama and just loves to move and explore. I can't imagine life without him!!! So grateful he's mine forever!!

49!!

*hes started saying, well lots of noises! He does this new jibberish thst is adorable! He also does this short, breathy "Whee" sound, not quite like weeee on a ride. Just repeats whee whee whee.
*this week he's really starting to be super in to putting things inside each other. Ball in cup, toy in box, etc. Hes been putting the ball in the elephant trunk a little here and there but now he really does.
*Tooth #5! His front left tooth finally beoke through! He had a rough few days and he had to have tylenol every night and even two mornings. But by the weekend, I was able to stop the medicine.
*since hes been walking a little, hes also falling. Actually not too bad but one day he fell on the corner of his drawer and then another day he was actually crawling with his hammer in his hand and fell. So now he had a bruise on each cheek and they look like dirt! Haha. Poor guy though. So far though hes been pretty fortunate.
*hes started saying Ya, sometimes even as an answer to a question haha. Not sure if he knows what it means but a few times hes nodded or said ya when I offer him a certain food.
*he can stick out his tongue finally! He's never done it and I think it's cuz of his tongue tie.
*its sounding like he is saying and mimicking more, like KR touching glasses and saying.cheers and dean saying ghee. Haha.
*Getting picky again with food! Boo! He went through a phase where he wouls eat pretty much anything we gave him; it was so fun! Now hes back to picky. He likes banana, string cheese, bread and grapes the best. He likes strawberries. And sometimes he likes peas, scrambled eggs, potatoes, sweet potatoes (roasted in sticks. If pureed he will eat them til the cows come home). Oh and he loves feeding himself his baby cereal, with which I mix squeezie food with for breakfast. I scoop some with the spoon and he puts it in his mouth and then grabs anything left over with his fingers and eats it. Also, anytime I am feeding him something with a spoon, like cereal, yogurt, puree, he always puts his knuckles in his mouth. Drives me nuts cuz then it gets every where haha.
*he tried to ride his motorcycle! He put.his leg over it! Haha. Only once. And hes getting really good at walking with it and when he hits a wall.or corner, instead of getting mad, he just turns it!
*Dean has learned to pout haha. When he gets upset, he will slowly squeeze his eyes and crinkle his face up and make a slow-building sad cry. You'd be surprised that it doesn't work well on me haha. Only cuz it's so funny! I mean it's adorable don't get me wrong. But I guess I just know it's fake and I think it's incredible that he understands that much so I just laugh in awe. By thr end of the week, I've seen it less do maybe since it doesn't get him what he wants, he won't try it anymore? (Haha ya right)
*our car started making this super loud and embarrassing sound last week so with the help of Peggy, over the course of three days, we got it fixed. It was the first car problems we've had since we got married since KRs parents bought that car brand new in 98 and take excellent care of it. And even then, this was nothing keeping the car from driving, just loud. It was an exhaust leak.
*Monday was so nice so we went to the zoo.
*we survived the week of night shifts! Monday, KR had a 24 hour shift from 530am to 630am Tuesday. Then 530pm to 630am each day. Then two of the mornings he had a meeting from 7-8am! They were working on the apartment downstairs and they brought a dog so poor KR wasn't able to sleep well. I tried to get Dean out when I could and he took some really great naps the first half the week. Like 2 hours! One was even 2:20!!! They went down hill from there but that's ok. His night time has still been good so we'll take it.
Saturday we went to a easter brunch for our ward and then a birthday party fire evren, our neighbors little boy. It was fun to take notes and think that will be Dean next month!!
I can't wait to get back on a normal schedule next week!!! Happy Easter!!(remember, I write this as if it's Saturday haha. Easter will be in next week's post)
*we went to this play time thing at the Jewish community center and Dean had a blast! I was impressed how far away from me he would venture.