Sometimes I think there are two, maybe three kids at our home. Kyle when playing with Dexter, definitely becomes one. Dexter loves it though. The third (me) only joins every now and then, but this weekend I was there. Why? Because I finally pulled out a cardboard box from the move up here (2 years ago). It was a basketball hoop, but coolest of all...it was a tunnel. We all enjoyed a bunch of time showing this off to Dak. The result is...he LOVES it. Okay, so all he thinks is that he goes through one side and comes out the other. Mom and Dad sometimes pop out at play peek-a-boo. It can stash things, and that he gets lots of attention when he does play with it.
Practicing making a shot
Crawling through the tunnel
I think this was flash mid-clap...result, funny face.
Friday, we all did go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant. It was delicious. I love the lunch special. Soup, wontons, fried rice and a lot of sweet and sour.
The new top teeth
Loves to help pull out the dish rack and rattle dishes. Soon we'll teach him to actually do them.
Sunday my parents had driven up to Provo, so we drove down to visit with them. My sister who's at BYU came to visit too. We played a few games. They enjoyed playing with Dexter and seeing all his new tricks. We got to stay for a few hours, but alas Dexter was tired of being confined in the small hotel room and was bedtime too.
Hanging out with Aunt Melynn at the grandparents hotel
Each week we try to do a video chat with the Hansen family. We know the star of the show is Dex. This time he hammed it up. Big time. He's been liking to play on the piano, and will do it for quite some time. We were showing this off to the grandparents. He played for quite some time and would do the following: play/bang on the piano, turn page music, play/bang piano, wave/conduct to grandparents on computer. This went on for like 10-15 minutes. He loved the attention...and would give himself a clap throughout it.
That's his new thing. If you say: yay, good job, hooray or anything that sounds exciting, he will clap his hands. Dak gives himself a round of applause a lot, even without us saying good job. Crawl across floor properly...clap. Eat some food...clap. Read a book...clap. He's rather quite cute at it though. Since he never got the hang of waving hi, we'll use that for people now.
Intense studying
Monday I also did get a little 2 hours of "me" time. I spray painted a frame and prepped stuff to put together something. I should finish it this week, and post pictures next week. It was super nice not having to worry about listening for Dexter or feeding him right as he got up, and to use the time to create something for me. Even just being creative was nice. We did find out that he did NOT like me leaving him, even if Kyle was there. Separation anxiety has started.
Recently we've had a few warmer days with lots of sunshine. Where it seems like just some hints of spring, but sadly I know that is still a ways off. On the warm days, I've tried hard to go outside and soak it up. Dexter and I will just go sit and walk in the backyard. One time when Kyle was supposed to be studying, I pulled him away to go for a quick park run. Such a bad influence.
Walking with my V-Day dates
This weekend was just Stake Conference. I did get a little break from Dexter, but it was helping at a funeral luncheon for 3 hours. To me...that doesn't really count since it wasn't anything fun. But Kyle was doing homework ALL weekend long, so I guess neither of us had too much fun.
He loves slides. We love his laughs and static hair from them.
Excited to try out the new slide.
Kyle did have lots of homework. LOTS. Monday he didn't even see Dexter. Kyle left before Dak was up, and didn't get home until 11.
First time on a swing. Looks like's he's still trying to figure out how to react.
Valentine's day was pretty fun. It helped that the homework load was almost none. I got Kyle: a box of Cheez-its, a Reese's Crispy Crunch Bar. Then I also got Dexter and Kyle kites. I know Dak is a little young for them...but Kyle's paranoid about me using them. I have a history of losing kites. Dex got a cheap one that I can help him with without worry. Kyle gave me a bag of Dove chocolate.
Dad and him loved the merry-go-rounds...I got motion sick.
Staying still in the middle.
He did not like it when dad made it go really fast though. He was done.
But the best part...was spending the morning at a park. We even went to a different park than normal to find swings. This park also had...a merry-go-round! It was so much larger, with ducks and a pond. Such a fun change from the scrawny park we go to.
My awesome dates.
Watching the ducks.
Liked ducks from afar, not so much as they got closer.
Dex really loves food. Yogurt he'll just keep smacking his lips. He's also enjoying finger foods. Bananas and cheerios. I find cheerios everywhere. He will also hustle so fast when he sees me grabbing the box.
Last Wednesday a day we have been waiting for came...he crawled properly!
Kyle had decided to take off his outfit, but still wearing the diaper. If he dragged he would get a carpet rash or feel the icy tile floor. So he picked the belly off, and with some basic help he took off.
I like videos to show off the moves, but dislike my voice in them.
It was a hard transition, and he was very slow at it. So if he wanted speed he'd resort to his army crawl. His bear crawl was always funny to watch too. Now though he's crawling more often, and is getting faster. Bonus to this....he'll sit up all on his own. That part is so wonderful.
Since Elder Jake Hansen doesn't really get to see videos here's a picture of it.
Correct crawl position
Whining to mom because he can't do his normal scoot.
If I do nothing...Dak takes a longer nap. If I'm cleaning and making noise then he wakes up early. So..I suffer and take naps myself during these quiet time or do quiet chores. The naps also come because its so cold and dreary outside, that curling up under a blanket is the only way to go.
LOVES books.
Every kid stage has pros and cons. Right now they are cons...moves and gets into everything. Pros...getting really interactive with us, loves books, getting a personality. I love it. I figure if I didn't put something out of his reach it just wasn't important enough.
Helping Mom sort papers
Last Wednesday we also had a huge adrenaline rush, and are still so excited about it. We got a California beach campsite!! Why is this such a rush? Well there are 212 spots in the campground we wanted. August slots opened up 9 am on Feb 1st. Within 4 minutes ALL campsites were booked for ALL of August. Kyle and I were both on trying for sites too...and we got one. It is super hard to get these things. But man we are so excited to go and we're planning it with the Hansens too.
We keep telling Dexter about the sand and water, and just how much fun it should be. I think since dating Kyle...5 years or so, he's been telling me all about his childhood memories of camping at the beach and it's awesomeness. We went to the beach in our YSA wards, and once stayed with the Hansens at a timeshare...but this is camping on the beach. We are so stoked for it.
All done.
I also need a sign for Dexter that says:
I do not have Jaundice...I just eat lots of Beta-Carotene.
EVERY place we've shopped this few weeks, the cashier asks me if he has Jaundice. The fluorescent lights don't help. He also loves to smear his face with his food which does stain his cheeks, even if I try scrubbing it off. I understand that he's slightly orange, but EVERY time.
We had another family game night. Friday I drove to pick Kyle up from the U. As I drove there I passed through the most awesome neighborhoods of Salt Lake City. The houses were old ones . Queen Anne style, Craftsman style, so many other amazing styles.
Craftsman...my favorite
Queen Anne
I love the way old houses are. Beautiful architectural details and woodworking. I will never live in an old one though. Too much upkeep and renovating for me. If I could find a new house that looked like an old one. That will be the one for me. Sorry for that tangent.
Sliver of light with black and white.
We went to Chipotle for dinner and ran to the Target by Mariah's since we still had time. It was so much bigger than our local one, which also brought a lot of temptation. The game night was fun. Played some Carcassone and Settlers of Catan. While also trying to keep Dexter happy, but yet not causing messes.
One of the ways he'll sit up by himself...on his knees.
Now...Monday was a day that took all my energy and patience. The little guy was so horrible. Like take a crabby baby for a week, and turn it into just 6 hours. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It wasn't until I was trying to put him back for a nap, when suddenly he jammed my thumb into his mouth and bit down super hard that he got quiet.
Then later he was looking up at something and I saw it...he had cut a tooth. No wonder the poor guy was so unhappy. When you look back I should have figured it out. But whenever we've felt around his mouth you never feel the nubbin's. They just suddenly break through.
Tuesday we had a video chat with nub nub (grandma).
Tuesday was like I had a new baby. He was the happiest he's been in a LONG time. That's saying a bunch because he's been happy a lot lately. He still was crawling and getting into trouble everywhere, but he was so different. Could he have been teething and hurting him for the past few months? He was just so fun to play with. He took a 2.5 hour nap and then a 3 hour nap. I was not ready for that. As in I didn't do anything productive for fear he would wake up any second. But I do hope he'll keep up the new nap schedule.
Don't look too close...you might see something in his nose.
Oh...Tuesday he also had his 9 month appointment. Here's the stats:
Weight: 17 lbs 3 oz - 4%
Height: 29" - 68%
Head: 18" - 58%
Do you see what a lightweight he is? Well the doctor classified him as underweight. I'm supposed to expand his diet. Give him lots of high caloric things (that are still healthy) like fruit and dairy. The doctor wasn't worried about his orangeness since he loves sweet potatoes, carrots, and squash. He did also say that Dexter is ahead on the motor skills for his age.
Loves stuffed animals.
I did try a recipe for a GF pizza crust dough. It turned out AWESOME. Even Kyle remarked that while eating it he couldn't tell it wasn't "normal." I think part of the way that made it awesome is the way she says cook the dough. Easier and makes sense for how runny GF dough is.
Just a little smirk.
Well that's it. I hope now that I know that a second upper tooth should be on it's way I can help him better.
