January/February Post

Dean has been growing by leap and bounds in the last few months! He is really beginning to notice his surroundings and recognize objects. Among some of his favorite activities these days include looking at himself in the mirror, grasping and shaking rattles and toys, and talking up a storm (which he must get that from his mother). :) In the last few months, Dean has really discovered his voice. He now loves to coo and make lots of noise.
Dean is a good listener though too.  When he talks, he likes it best if you respond to his chatter with a similar sound. This will almost always get a smile from him.  While I love listening to him talk, my personal favorite is listening to him laugh - which he just started doing in the last few weeks. It is still rare to hear him laugh, but when he does, it is the best sound on earth! 
Dean's legs are also getting stronger every day.  We joke that he is going to skip crawling and go straight to walking. Either way, for now he just loves being held up so that he can stand on your lap. Dean is also making strides in the area of sleeping.  Although he hasn't started sleeping from bedtime until the morning alarm goes off, he is now only waking once to eat in the middle of the night. So no complaints from his Mommy! Here is what else Dean has been up to lately...

Dean has started taking naps during the daytime hours in his crib.

And really working on "Tummy Time!"...

"Uh Mom, are we through with Tummy Time yet?"

Dean is a much bigger fan of laying on his back.

Just chillin' in his Bumbo seat.

Goliath is having a hard time coming to terms with sharing time in front of the camera.

Why do I suddenly feel the urge to eat some Peeps?

Both cats are keeping Dean company as he plays.  Goliath has discovered Dean's bouncer is a cozy place to take a nap.

Daddy taking a well deserved nap with his son.

"What is that on your face, Dad?!"

Dean couldn't resist touching Ryan's prickly whiskers.

 

Dean is such a thoughtful son . . .

 . . . he sent me these flowers to brighten my day while Daddy was away on business in St. Louis.

Super Bowl Sunday!

Ryan and Dean taking in the game together.

I spy two little monkey feet!

Say Ahhhhh....Is this the start of Dean's first tooth? We sure think so.  But we've been told that almost all babies get their first teeth starting on the lower middle-half of their jaw.  Looks like Dean has other plans in mind.

Dean's first Valentine's Day.

Daddy got Mommy flowers.

Mommy made Daddy homemade truffles.

Dean got a package from Grandma Ev and Grandpa Jim on Valentine's Day, complete with a box of chocolates for Ryan and I. :)

One way to keep Dean from fussing during tummy-time: Let him watch Sesame Street clips off YouTube on my phone. Evidently, it is also a way to hold Barkley's attention. 

Mommy accidentally nipped the skin on Dean's thumb while cutting his nails the other day. :(  The ironic part is that all the other time I've clipped his nails, I did it while he was awake.  The one time I thought I would be ahead of the game and do it while he slept, is the time I got a bit of skin with his nail. Poor guy!

As a result, Dean had to look like Michael Jackson for a day(with one gloved hand) to keep him from sucking on his ouchie and getting germs in it.

Dean's new "Baby Einstein" exer-saucer...It bounces, it lights up, it let's Mommy get chores done.

Happy baby!

  "Stay away cat- I 'm not letting you nap in this like you do my bouncer!"

Break time for some finger-sucking.

Dean conducting his first orchestra.

Christmas

Dean first time picking out a Christmas tree.

We found one!  Now to get it bagged up . . .

 Dean with his first Christmas tree.

 Ryan working on getting the tree straight in the stand.

"Hey, what's Santa doing behind me? . . . Did he just put a tree on my head?!"

Dean helped me wrap some presents for his cousins. He was a great supervisor.

On Christmas Eve, Dean heard you're supposed to stay up and wait for some fat guy in red to show up.

Our (real) tree, with all the presents sent from Dean's four sets of grandparents.

 Our (artificial) tree, with presents for Dean from my sister, Shelley.

This actually used to be Ryan's stocking as a kid, but he was happy to let me put Dean's name on it and turn it into Dean's new Christmas stocking.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care . . . .

"Say Dad...did that fat guy in the red suit come last night?"

Christmas morning - Barkley suddenly noticed the stockings, that had hung there all month, finally had something in them! He wouldn't stop staring at the new toys peaking out from the top of his stocking.

Goliath and Delilah inspecting the contents of their stockings.

Barley had to make sure he didn't miss anything.

Christmas can be exhausting!

Dean wasn't interested in taking another picture. Instead, he was trying to sneak a peak at the TV.

Did I mention, Christmas can be exhausting. :)

Papa Doc (a.k.a Lonnie) bought Dean this book when he was visiting us earlier in the month. We read it to Dean Christmas morning.

Dean's very first Christmas present!

Dean's first Christmas present was a book of nursery rhymes that I got him. I picked out this book because before Dean was born, I would play the song "Twinkle, Twinkle" against my belly  for him.

 A book from Grandma & Grandpa Dozier. Ryan used to love to read this book as a kid. Evidently, it is now a collector's item (Just ask Cindy & Steve).

A hooded towel and washcloths from Grandma & Grandpa Dozier (Cindy & Steve).

Dean's favorite - a "Nuk" pacifier set from Grandmpa Steve and Grandma Carol.

Mom's favorite - Diapers!!

. . . and wipes!! (side note: I think the cinnamon rolls I had that morning had way too much sugar in them).

 

A hippo, a panda, a bear...oh my! Nope, just a fun ball from Grandpa Steve and Grandma Carol.

Dean's first pair of corduroys (complete with a certificate commemorating the occasion). Getting corduroys for Christmas has become a Smith family tradition. Actually, more of a joke than anything. Finally, my dad (Steve) has found someone who won't be returning their cords at the store this year! It's a Christmas miracle . . . Although, Ryan's not too thrilled.

Stylin' and profilin'!  Hat, shirt, overalls, and shoes all from the Casey family.

 This present mysteriously appeared under the tree Christmas morning. It siad it was for me, from Dean.  Pretty impressive that Dean was able to get out and shop, considering he can't even walk yet.

I got a deep fryer - Thanks Dean!!

Disposable placemats from Grandpa & Grandma Day (Jim & Evelyn).

 

A very colorful book for Dean from Grandpa & Grandma Day.

What could be inside?! (gift from Grandpa & Grandma Day).

Inside was a dog that sings and dances! Although, Dean was quite leary of his new friend.

We gathered around the tree in the dining room to open presents from Aunt Shelley.

 

The baby bibs from Aunt Shelley are great! Dean's attention span on the other hand, not so great.

A rattle in the shape of a hammer from Aunt Shelley. Peferct for Dean since he loves to wave his arms around like he's hammering something. We're guessing he's going to be an Architect.... or an orchestra conductor, or airport ground control...but not like a cheerleader, Dad!

A stocking filled with goodies from Papa Doc and DeDe (Lonnie & Dita). The stocking is in the shape of a cowboy boot. :)

 Dean also got socks from Lonnie and Dita...

...in the shape of cowboy boots! (Yee-Ha!!)

Dean - still unsure about the dancing dog.

My dad got Ryan two guns for Christmas this year! Just a little different from the type of guns Ryan had put on his Christmas list.

Inside joke - Thanks Dad! (Yo Santa!)

Barkley - ready for the treats my Dad sent him.

Barkley made out like a bandit...this was a gift from Shelley.

Hello, Santa Baby!

 

Strike a pose!

Dean's best imitation of the penguin.

"Rudolph, you're so soft!"

 

"On Dasher, on Dancer, on Donner, on Blitzen..."

Goliath is already dreaming of what Santa might bring him next year!