Time to Let the World Know

We are pregnant with Baby #6!

We are thrilled! Shea has been itching to shout the news at the top of his lungs to all the world. This is most likely our last addition to our beautiful family and it is a very bittersweet time. With our beautiful blessings has come heartache. Miscarriage makes me value the fragility of life like never before. It makes it hard for me to share such special news, but I am overwhelmingly grateful for this rainbow baby. 

My due date is March 15, 2021!

12 weeks, September 2020

Anatomy Scan at 20 weeks, perfectly healthy baby

(We are waiting to find out the gender!)

20 weeks, November 2020

14/15 Months

 

UPDATE: 

Dean can regularly go up and DOWN stairs without falling! It is such a relief! We can now breathe a little easier and not have our heart skip a beat every time he is on the steps. 

Cutting 3 more teeth, apparently they come in packs. Poor boy. So he is a little iritable lately which hasn't been fun. 

Struggles with Daddy back at work, Daddy calls it separation anxiety. Also struggling with not quite as much attention since kids are in virtual school and Mom's trying to maintain order. It’s exhausting.

He just started snuggling again! Maybe he’s just desperate and he knows Mom is low energy, although it would have been nice if this started a couple months ago, when Mom was really struggling. (Pregnancy 6, 4/5 Months) Maybe he is trying to soak up being the baby for as long as he can. 

Loves playing kisses games with Mommy, and Hide & Peek with Daddy. 

His above all favorite game in the world is PEEK A BOO! He dies in laughter over it and will play with anyone and everyone. His favorite way to play is in the curtains or walking around with his pjs on his head; of course we get the best giggles at bedtime when he’s slap happy ... which is scary because his balance is off and it gets a little dangerous, but no injuries yet. Thank Goodness!

He absolutley hates being chased or playing chase.  He thinks people are mad at him.  He especially hates it when daddy chases him.  Instead he goes up to daddy with his little fat lip and hugs his legs so the game stops.

Mornings. I love seeing this boy wake up and get giddy to start the day. 

FIRST BIRTHDAY

We celebrated DEAN turning ONE! It was a perfect summer day and we partied in the sun! He is the sweetest, fearless, dancing, little monster there is! He has us laughing every day, his giggles and sniff laughs are a family favorite. And we love singing to get him to dance or just cheer him up. This year has blown by, it brings me to tears to think he’s grown so much; my heart was broken as I looked through pictures of the past year trying to remember each and every moment of each and every stage. 

My Mom made her famous first birthday cupcakes and they were devoured. 

We also enjoyed splashing with some new toys and snuggling with all his favorite people. 

Loving his new vibrating teether already. 

Tried out his new water toy with his siblings,
wasn't so sure. 

Ended the party in brothers warm arms downing 
a full bottle. Best birthday ending. 

12 Months

Weight: 22 lbs 1 oz (60%)

Height: 29.25 (23%)

HC: 47.3 cm (81%)

And just like that we have a 12 monther. One year. Has it really been that long, it has felt too quick. And it breaks me to think it is already gone. It breaks me to think his baby days are numbered and toddlerhood is around the corner. But I am completely thrilled that this little boy is hear stealing our hearts day by day. How lucky we are!

Teeth update: Still 4 teeth. 

Movement update: Nonstop. He learned to walk and hasn't stopped since. He can run, but not well and not safely. It is more like he forgets how to stop, and doesn't care. He also rarely crawls which makes me kind of sad it all happened so quick and he seems so old now. I am not ready. I miss my cute little crawler. It was a little easier to keep track of him then too. 

Sleeping update: He has gotten sick and as long as were consistent although sometimes it is hard and even a battle he sleeps in his crib and we are pretty good about it. Even if he has some nights in ours and wants to stay, he is just too big and too used to his own. And honestly doesn't snuggle so it really is a lost cause and we don't really sleep. He fusses a bit but goes to sleep so well, everyone is always impressed. He is a champ. 

LIKES

Loves being outside, but not a super fan of grass. But deals with it because he has to keep moving. 

Intrigued by his shoes, wants to get them off to play with them. 

He loves the slide but it does get a little scary sometimes, even if his shoes stop him and he ends up stumbling down he is still ready for another go after a second of daddy cuddles. 

Daddy obsessed! He won’t even go to Mom sometimes. But it’s okay Mom enjoys the break a little. Daddy gets the biggest smiles, the biggest laughs, and when he’s hurt he runs to Daddy! Daddy is in heaven and trying to savor every second. 

One thing he really enjoys is Daddy's new beard.  Shea decided to grow one randomly one day and it has stuck around so far.  He loves to reach up and feel the prickly sensation on Daddy's scratchy beard.  Sometimes when he his napping with Shea or sleeping in our bed and is upset he just reaches up and feel that great man beard and knows that his Daddy is near and everything is going to be ok.

I’m loving that his hair is starting to curl on the ends. I never want to cut it and want it to grow forever. When we cut Connor's hair when he was little I missed it so much, and it was never the same. So bring on everyone mistaking him for a girl and all that hoopla this boy is going to have some cute curly locks forever, if he can stand it. 

Dancing! He dances to super simple songs by squatting repeatedly and sticking his hands out probably for balance, everyone’s favorite thing! We all love watching with him at night before bed and

singing with him. 

Laughing and smiling. Smiling is his favorite. I mean he is literally the sweetest so it is no shock. We are loving his sniff laughs lately. They are our absolute favorite things and we all die of laughter when we catch them. He loves making us laugh and smile too and loves all the attention. 

Loves to explore and discover new things. Sometimes it is hard to keep up with and it definitely keeps us on our toes. But we have lots of eyes watching and keeping him safe, through it all. 

Walking and showing off his new confidence. 

Playing ball.

Water play.

Watching his siblings play from thw window, he doesn't even mind. 

Gets annoyed with Mommy stalking him, but
it's fine everything is fine.
Dad deserves a turn at the favorite!

DISLIKES

He is quickly moving from the snuggler stage to the mover stage. And he wont snuggle for long anymore, which seems unfair. 

 

Not a super swing lover. He is ambivalent about it. 

Bye Bye Baby! Look out toddler world here I come!

11 Months

Sleep update: Still sleeping well, but I fear when it comes time to take away the night time bottle he may struggle. He does wake up every now and then mid-night screaming and Shea caves and brings him in bed with us. But most times Connor doesn't even notice so we try not to. 

Teeth update: He cut his 4th tooth! Those teeth are sharp, beware! 

Movement update: Walking, rarely crawls 

One of my favorite things is his tiny toes. Especially
 his turned in silly one. 

LIKES

Mommy loves how he uses his hand to make a grabbing motion when he wants something, like to be picked up. First steps of communication! So cute!

Obsessed with stairs. As good as he can go up them he is still struggling with going down them, I’m trying to teach him but he refuses to go backwards. I will say he’s made a mild improvement so I’m hoping it clicks soon. It will be so much easier when it does. 

Still loves the jumper although we think he’s getting too big. He loves to spin in it lately which is actually a little less dangerous. 

We are working on not screaming, and he thinks it is hilarious when we "shh" at him. 

Bathtime.

Loves peek-a-boo!

Daddy loves playing with Dean early in bed. Connor brings him to us in the mornings! It is Daddy's favorite part of the day. 

Food. His Highchair. Making big messes. He is the king. 

Swinging with Daddy!

Family walks, AKA stroller rides.

Brother.

DISLIKES

Stopping eating.

Too much loving.

Diapers.

Bedtime.

10 Months

 

Sleeping Update: He naps and goes to bed like a champ, and he rarely even cries. He loves the turtle nightlight in his bed and singing songs or being serenaded to. He loves stories at bedtime by his siblings. He loves brother being his roommate. 

Teeth update: Top two teeth are budding, and by the end of month 10 he cut his 3rd tooth!

Movement update: He is at the two step, drop and crawl stage. And rockin it. 

LIKES

He loves his jumper and with some Piper and Syd help has learned to swing himself which can be a little dangerous and doesn’t always end well. But it’s just as cute as it is scary to see him walk those legs up and let go to swing himself forward and back or side to side. 

Daddy!

He loves the steps which means we are on stair watch pretty frequently. It is one of my least favorite baby stages, the constant watch of the steps and fear of baby stair falls. 

Stroller rides! We can't wait to play on the playgrounds again!

Daddy’s favorite thing is how Dean shakes his legs in excitement. When we pick him up or when when he’s flat on his belly.

Crawling under beds, tables, chairs...

Mommy loves his little dancing he sits and just bobs front to back, while watching super simple songs. 

Roomba Eva. He is fascinated with he, we do have to watch them, they aren't always nice to eachother. (Every now and then I turn her on just to entertain Dean, when I'm desperate.)

Sleeping. Shockingly so he is doing so great and we can all see and feel the difference in our home. Shea and I are especially enjoying having undisturbed sleep again, except for the occasional nightmare visitor. 

Jump up, he enjoys a little jump up time everyday and it is so nice having something else for him to safely play in while Mom and Dad are busy. 

 

DISLIKES

Our biggest screamer. I am really struggling. 

When Daddy lets go and tries to make him walk. He is not having it. If we are lucky he will stand and show off a bit instead, but usually he just screams, drops and crawls.

Manually operated vacuums...his big brother decided to follow is Dad's example and tease him like his dad teased others with the suction of the vacuum hand cleaning attachement.  Not a surprise that he is not a fan(thanks Connor)

Being pulled away from attempting a stair run, kitchen reorganizing,  or attacking Eva (our beloved robot vacuum), or outlets, or cords, or electronics (consoles, controls, devices).

Being told "No". He is becoming quite the mischeif maker lately. Getting into everything, reminding me more and more of the Connor baby days. What is it with boys?

Getting stuck while in motion, he finds some hilarious spots to get himself into. 

THE GATES ARE UP. He does not like being blocked off from anyone. The kids enjoy having a baby free zone, now that he is so mobile and getting into more and more.

Fortunately if you get close to the gate and give him 
attention he perks up

 

Stuck Screamer! 

9 Months

Height: 27 1/4 inches (9%)

Weight: 20 lbs 6 oz (59%)

HC: 46.5 cm (86%)

LIKES 

Can stand up independently! And he loves to show off!

Started screaming in excitement! He is so proud of himself, especially being able to stand up! It is like "AHHHH Look at me! Look at me!"

With his independent standing also came his cruising. He loves cruising along our sectional the most, it is where most of his toys are set up too.

I would not say he likes the swing but he puts up with it. Especially if theres attention, treats and toys. And if the timing is riht he naps there too!

Formula Bottles

Jump up. He even enjoys napping in it. Putting himself to sleep as he bounces. 

DISLIKES 

Carseat 

Struggling with the mask situation. He tries to pull anyones mask off that are in reach.  He doesn't like not being able to see peoples whole faces.

Well he is officially a screamer, so he might not mind it but we sure do. It is cute when he does it in excitement but now it is getting to be more and more, which is a little too much. 

As always Piper rides along with brother or greets
him right as we get in the door. She loves this boy
something fierce.