11 Years

Happy 11th Anniversary!  This post gets the perspective of the one and only Shea Stanger.  Super Dad, expert 4 hour commuter and the one who mad Dad bods cool before they became a thing.  

Its kind of crazy to think about being married to someone for 11 years.  Its starting to get up there.  People at work always talk about how marriage never lasts and some of them are already on their 2nd or 3rd marriages!  Its a crazy world we live in and it's only getting crazier.  

For this anniversary, Kay-Marie planned the best man-iversary yet.  Whats the most manly thing you can do for an anniversary with your husband?  You guessed it, going to the shooting range!  We found an indoor shooting range called the machine gun nest that also rents firearms to shoot with.  I chose a S&W .40 and Kay-Marie chose a Glock 9mm.  I must say as much as I liked the feel of the S&W and the power of a .40, the 9mm wasn't too bad.  It was super easy to handle and was kind of funner to shoot for two beginers.  I think if Kay-Marie ever lets me buy one, it will def be the Glock 17 9mm.

Since we had all the equipment including ear protection, it was a pretty good time.  The hardest part was dodging the super hot brass as it was ejected from the gun after firing, they assured us that it felt like a curling iron burn.  Kay-Marie although used to them she said those aren't fun so we tried to avoid them. She was very uncomfortable with shooting at human targets so next time we will have to find something that is just a circular target to shoot at.

Overall, it was a super fun and a memorable anniversary date and I feel so lucky that I married a woman who would take a chance to go shred some targets and try something that she wasn't that into.

This lady sure is good lookin when she is shootin!

Excellent form if I do say so myself, and for the most part right on target.

If you can't tell, she was a little aprehensive shooting a handgun for the first time...good thing we had that ear protection!  The place was also packed and people were shooting everything from purse sized 9mm's to .50 cal rifles.  It was crazy...and gave more reason to the nickname of our hometown people, "frednecks".

Pretty cool setup and a great shot of what it looks like down range.

This wasn't even the end yet when I took this picture.  

This face says to me, "Never again!"

We grabbed a nice dinner too, I was one satisfied man after such an awesome date!  

Happy 11th anniversary, babe!

3 Months

Weight: 11 lbs 12 oz (19%)                               

Length: 23" (25%)         

Head Circumfrence: 40.5" (73%) 

Dean is starting to look at me and smile, I love this moment. It’s always monumental to me because they recognize me and start interacting as they nurse. I feel like it’s the “Your Mama? Moment”. Downside he’s also scratching and pinching when nursing. Which I do not enjoy…

Good Morning Handsome! 
Woke to such a big boy and it is my favorite picture to date.

Dean is approaching the supported sitter stage, especially if supported slumper counts.

That smile is the best and we all love winning one, especially Daddy. 

He can finally stand short periods in the bumbo. I love seeing that tiny boy in the bumbo and it reminds me so much of his big brother, Connor. Who is adoring telling the world he finally has a brother!

Connor 3 Months

That HAT, I wish we had one for all the babies! I'm addicted to seeing him in it and I wish I could get him to wear it forever, but his head is already getting too big. Sometimes when it's cold at night I slip it on him or I've even started keeping it in the carseat so he can wear it when we go out. 

Starting to not like the binky anymore, we’re trying to force it as long as we can. Can you tell by that crinkled brow?

Getting a little mixed up with days and nights. Sleeping through the night aint his thing. So he’s sleeping terribly. Probably has to do with his back to back colds and Mom has them too so nursing as needed in bed. So he is using the baby wrap less. Which means that has led to him never sleeping in his pack n play. So there’s no strict sleep schedule. Usually he does naturally nap for long stretches in the morning roughly 8:30-11 and afternoon roughly 1-3 and nightly 5-7 roughly. Too much,  not enough...? At this point I’m not sure and don’t care. 

He is rarely spitting up. SO yay! 

Still drooly. Which makes me still fear early teeth.

He also started sucking his fingers but I refuse to let him be a thumbsucker so I don't let any sucking continue long. Sorry bud for all the times of yanking them mid suck...

Dislikes

Daddy going back to work, Mommy doesn't like this either. Shea ended his paternity leave this month and it was so nice for him to get 8 weeks off. It allowed me to bond with baby and Shea took care of both of us and maintained the crew so I could focus on recovery and baby. Now that I am back to normal it is nice to get back into Mom mode of things. Shea loved seeing baby grow 24/7 for the first time ever. He feels so much more a part of it all and has loved to stay home and bond with this little man, they are going to be best buds!

Pacifier we are just unlucky with babies and pacifiers, I think there is some skill that we missed in teaching the love for the binky. Our kids always prefer fingers...

Diaper changes, because duh.

Loud noises that scare him, which happens often in our house with so many kids.

Tummy time also isn't his favorite, and we don't push it. But he loves playing on his back. Especially since he has eager playmates. He is even rolling over now and then, occasionally both ways. Mostly by accident. He has also started grasping at toys, especially in his kick and play, which we use a lot. 

Likes

Daddy, Daddy, Daddy!  This boy sure loves his daddy and it lights up his day when they get some special play time.

Playtime with anyone.  This boy is a true boy and enjoys playing as long as he doesn't do the same thing for too long.

His reflection, he can stare at himself in his playmat mirror for a long time until he gets curious and tries to touch it and wiggles out of position.

Daddy loves this snuggle stage where they can just be held all day and your arms are their ultimate luxury. He catches Dean naps and snuggles whenever he can. And most of the time if Dean falls asleep so does Dad. Because how could you not. 

As he grows and grows we are all the more grateful for this special boy in our lives!

Happy Fall!