April Post

   So much has happened since my last post in March! Steve and Cindy (my Mother and Father in-law)came in for a visit over Easter weekend, Dean went on his very first roadtrip to Phoenix, had his first introduction to solid food, and has now turned 6 months old!  Dean is growing like a weed, as you might expect, and is such a wonderful baby!  He is always full of smiles and he amazes me with what he can do everyday! He recognizes familiar faces now and can sit up by himself too.  Remarkably, he can also stand up by himself  (yes, I said stand up!), as long as he has something to hold on to in front of him.  I used to joke that he might just skip crawling altogether and start walking, but that may not be a joke after all!  At his 6 month checkup with his pediatrician last week, we were told that his ability to stand is comparable to what a 9 month old should be doing! The funny thing is, I wasn't even aware he was able to stand up on his own until we were in Phoenix.  One afternoon, my Dad was playing with Dean when I happened to come around the corner and see Dean standing/leaning against an elevated hearth in front of the fireplace. My Dad was next to Dean, but Dean was standing there all by himself, without any hands holding him up. Honestly, my jaw about hit the floor, I was so amazed...I was unaware he could do that!  Up until then, I had only ever held him up in front of mirrors or on my lap with two hands on him (which I thought was pretty cool)...but who knew?! He is still not crawling yet, but I'm sure that will happen any day now the way he seems to be acquiring new skills so quickly.  In the last few weeks, Dean has also become very interested in other people's faces.   He loves to reach up with his hands and grab onto noses, in particular. Although, with Ryan, he loves to grab onto his scratchy beard. :)  Dean is still breastfeeding and getting up once in the middle of the night to eat, but in just the last two week, he has decided that eating from a bottle isn't so bad afterall (Of course, he decided this after we got home from Phoenix). There are so many things Dean does that amaze me...I can't wait to see what the next month brings! But in the meantime, here's what the little guy has been up to:

Easter Weekend/Steve & Cindy Visit (April 5th-9th, 2012)

Easter weekend- Hanging with Grandma & Grandpa Dozier

Steve couldn't resist a nap in the hot sun (I took this picture through the window without him knowing-Ha!)  :).   He sure loves baking in the sun!

Cindy and Dean enjoying some time together during lunch.

The boys were glued to the Masters Tournament on TV all weekend.

"Oh no, Mom! My Pants!!"

See Dean drinking from a bottle with Grandma...

...see Dean show us what he thinks of eating from a bottle.

Snuggle time! (and more Masters watching)

An Easter card from Grandma.

Dean in his Easter best, just back from church.

Everyone but Goliath wore their best for church.

We couldn't let a Kodak moment go to waste since it's a rare moment nowadays when everyone's hair is brushed and we aren't just wearing pajamas....ok, maybe that just applies to me as of late.

More Easter smiles.

Who loves Easter?.....Dean does!

Our Easter dinner

"Come on, Mom...Just one bite of the Easter ham, please!"

Dean's first Easter basket.  The Easter bunny left him a book, a stuffed ducky, and a new pair of pajamas.

He doesn't seem to mind there is no candy or eggs in his basket. :)

Grandma Ev & Grandpa Jim sent Dean some Easter surprises too, all the way from Phoenix.

"Hey, are you related to the chicken on my shirt?"

Dean got all these nice Easter gifts, and what might you guess was his favorite? - The tissue paper.

Easter weekend we played what quite possibly could be the longest Scrabble game in history.  Ryan spent an hour and a half (one one turn-no joke) trying to find a word to beat his mom with before she went out on the next turn.  And the result, you might ask, after an hour and a half of waiting for Ryan to play...He gives up, takes 7 points, and Cindy still beats him. Uggg!!

Roadtrip to Phoenix (April 13th-28th, 2012)

Dean on his first roadtrip/vacation! He did great considering it was a 16 hour drive from Arlington to Phoenix! We left at about 7 pm (right after his last feeding, right before bedtime) and drove straight through the night until we got to my dad's house at around 3 pm the next day.

Ryan drove all of it but about 2 hours worth, when I switched with him. He is a great long-distance driver!

Barkley was glad to have the front seat (since I sat in back with Dean)....but even he was ready to be there!

In the back seat with Dean.

Dean finally woke up after sleeping through the night half of the drive, probably wondering why he was still in the car.

We ran into snow in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Dean got his first experience in snow! We had to go inside a restaurant for a diaper change (no more doing it from the car when snow was swirling around us), and so he got snow on his head as we ran inside. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it as it hit his face...despite my best attempts to keep him covered under my jacket. When one snowflake hit is lip, he stared spitting like a camel! lol

"What was that stuff, Mom?!"

We saw these horses on the highway as we drove out of Flagstaff....They must have been trying to catch snowflakes on their tongues.

The drive was just too much for Dean and his pacifier.

.....make that, the drive was too much for Daddy (Ryan) too.  Ryan crashed once we got to my Dad's house.

Grandma Carol and Dean.

Grandpa Steve and Dean.

What goes up....

....must come down.

Dean got to meet Grandpa Jim for the first time.

Honk! Honk!

Grandma Ev and Dean.

Dean also got to meet Great Grandma Day (Jim's parents) for the first time.

Grandma Ev never forgets her favorite grand-puppy! Not only did Dean get some surprise presents, but so did Barkley. :)  Here he is patiently waiting for his present.

A new squeak toy!

Dad discovered Dean could stand up all by himself!! I did not know he could do that, and was quite surprised when I saw him do it for the first time!

Showing some leg.

Dean's first cut-out, at lunch in Cave Creek with Papa Doc (Lonnie).

More surprise gifts for Dean from DeDe (Dita) when we visited them at their house.

Barkley is not dead....just too big to reach his ball that rolled under the cabinet.

"Let's call someone, DeDe!"

Hangin' with Papa Doc.

"Wait, I'm not ready for my close-up, Mom!"

Barkley got to play in Lonnie and Dita's pool, with their new dog Lexi. I'm sure Barkley was just being polite and let Lexi get the ball first. lol.

Super Barkley to the rescue!

Uh-oh! One ball sank to the bottom of the pool. Barkley danced around the edge trying to figure out what to do for quite a while.

Sorry Barkley....you're neck is only so long.

For a dog that likes water, Barkley sure did all he could to avoid having to swim to the ball.

He finally gave in and took a dip.

Going for a hike with Grandpa Steve (Dean's first official hike) on my birthday.

We made it about halfway up to the top before we had to turn around for Barkley (he couldn't find the zipper to his black, fur coat) and Dean was due for his nap. Later that week, we did the hike again and did end up making it to the top.

For my birthday, we also met my best buddy, Scott and his daughter at Peter Piper Pizza for lunch.

Scott, Rachael, Dean, and Myself mugging for a quick photo together.

Dean's very first ride on a carousel! For his first time, we rode in the sleigh, but he held on like he knew what he was doing!

Dean did so good on his first ride, we decided to ride again...but this time on one of the horses!

I see you!

We won big....Dean's first ticket win!

Scott and Rachael won this ball just for Dean from the crane machine.

Dean's first ride on a teeter-totter..and with Kermit, no less.

"Am I supposed to steer this thing?"

"Mom, do you know there is a big frog sitting on the other side of this thing?"

For my birthday, we went to Chile's Restaurant with Dad, Carol, Shelley and Tommy. This is what is left of the yummy dessert they brought me.

Ummm...looks like someone got to the carrot cake before we got home. Just kidding- My Dad was pulling a prank on Carol by telling her this was what he had got for my birthday cake since he was in charge of getting the cake.

This was the real cake they made for me - and it was chocolate inside, not carrot.

Grandma Carol is a bonafide baby whisperer. She can rock any baby to sleep with the best of them.

Bath time!  Dean's first time getting a bath in a sink.

All bundled up after bath time.

Playing a little "Skip-O" (a Smith family classic) with Grandpa Steve.

"I think it's your turn, Mom!"

Off for a walk around the neighborhood.

"I swear, the fish was THIS big".

"Ok, maybe the fish was just this big".

"I'm so cute...you believe me, right?!"

Dean's first time at a zoo - we went to the Phoenix Zoo.

Dean couldn't believe all giraffes weren't the size of the one on his car seat.

Is this part of the zoo? Or was this guy just getting a free peek?

I spy a lion.

At one of the monkey exhibits.

This monkey took a shine to Dean.

Once he spotted Dean,  this monkey moved forward to get a better look.

The monkey started chattering his teeth like he wanted to nibble on Dean...or maybe just talk to him.

You can see the monkey's breath on the window he was so close!

I'm not sure what the monkey's thinking here, but I think if he could have got his little monkey paws on Dean, I'm sure he would have snatched him right out of my arms.

Going through the Monkey House (an enclosure where small little monkeys roam free).

Careful, there is a monkey over your shoulder.

You'd think I never feed the poor kid.

Grandpa Jim was on stroller watch while we were in the Monkey House.

Trying to cool off with some fun water. We ended up being at the zoo on a day that broke the record for hottest temperature in history on that day.

Did someone tell a bad elephant joke?

Looks like someone is ready for parenthood!

"Hey, has anyone ever told those two birds they are bald?! Ha, ha!"

"Thank you, thank you...I'll be here all night!"

Reach out and touch someone.

Dean: Crocodile Hunter

After the zoo, we all met Brandon (Ryan's best friend) at Manuel's (Ryan's favorite Mexican restaurant) for lunch.

There was no reason to include this photo, other than I thought it was funny.  Shelley...trying to tell me what to do since we've been little.

Later that night, we met one of my old friends, Racheal, for dinner at Applebee's.

Tommy's going to make a great dad!

Bath Time: Round 2.  This time Dean has some new toys to play with in the bath since Aunt Shelley bought Dean some assorted animal bath toy souvenirs at the zoo the day before.

Crocodile: Dean Hunter 

Tommy nicely volunteered to take photos of Dean with his fancy camera equipment. He even brought a darn good assistant (Shelley). :)

Is Dad: a) Taking a nap b) An ostrich or c) Keeping Dean from tipping over

The answer is "A"....oh wait, I mean "C'.

 

Behind the scenes at Dean's first photo op.

 Here are some of the results of Tommy photo session with Dean....

"Why, I ought-a'...."

Oh wait....it's the legs you're supposed to eat?"

Barkley even smiled for the camera.

"Uh-oh....Tell mom I may need a fresh diaper!"

Heart-breaker.

Shopping with Grandma Ev at Arizona Mills. Dean's not the only one who liked the wind chimes. Mom went home with one as an early Mother's Day gift from Shelley and I.

A belated birthday celebration at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Ev's for me.

Learning to play the piano from Elvis (a.k.a. Jim)

Great Grandma Day and Dean.

Daddy always knows how to get the smiles.

I think Dean learned too much from the monkeys at the zoo.

DeDe (Dita) and Dean

Barkley found a new friend in Carol's parents who came over for Howard's (Carol's Dad) 94th birthday.

We drove to Payson, AZ so Dean could meet his Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Burns (Cindy's parents).

Dean was showing off his sitting up skills.

Having a rockin' good time!

We're off to see the squirrels....

This squirrel had a very long neck. ;)

The boy loves to stand on his own now!

Holding onto the rug with your toes never hurts when you're still learning how to stand.

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Where's Dean?

Ryan after a long day at work. He did a "site visit" one day while he was in Phoenix, to keep up relations/do a little networking with the Phoenix branch.

What kind of news could Shelley be sharing by giving Dad a nursery rhyme book?

Dad's face says it all - She's PREGNANT!!!

Shelley and Tommy attached a note on the book from "Baby Recker".

Just moments before telling Dad and Carol, Shelley shared the wonderful news with Ryan and I by giving Dean a new shirt and a sonogram picture.

Dean got the news (and the shirt) the next morning since he was already in bed when Shelley and Tommy told us.

He's excited...can you tell?!

Dean's first time on a trampoline.

The family that bounces together....

Dean found Grandpa Steve's shoulder to be a great place to take a nap.

And then, after two weeks in Phoenix, it was time to head back home to Texas.

But Dean had some entertainment in the form of a DVD player we bought just for him and this trip. He enjoyed some "Baby Einstein" videos on the drive home.

If you made it to the end of all of these photos, Congratulations!!  And if you read all the captions...you either really like Dean or had a lot of time on your hands. :)  Hope you enjoyed the photos!!