One more Christmas decoration

I know it's late. This post anyways.... The actual decoration was up before I left for California, but I barely had time to snap a few pictures let alone post them.

Instead of making a countdown to Christmas (we weren't here, what fun would that be?) I made him an i'm-sorry-i'm-leaving-you-here-with-boring-school-while-I-go-play-in-California,-but-hey-here's-something-fun countdown for those last 2 weeks till break. Each day had a surprise, either a treat to take to school or a note sending him to a fridge to unwrap a pack of bacon (yes that's a according to him) or ready made cookie dough.

I made them with red and white felt (mentioned in this post) to cut out small and large mittens. Everything else used for decorating was scraps. The only thing purchased for this project...clothespins for like $2 at Target.

I used the same method for the stars and reindeer as I did for the penguin art in that post I just mentioned. I did mittens and their decorations in a more vague winter theme (as I did with my other Christmas decor) so I could keep them up longer. They did stay up most of January, and if I wasn't so anxious to start Valentines decorating they would still be up.


I think Alex enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed making (and looking at) them!!!

Dean is 8 months!

Dean spent this month abroad visiting family in California and Utah. Here are some things that happened while we were away:

-Dean got his second tooth


-sat on Santa's lap...twice...and LOVED it.

-Or maybe he just loved getting his picture taken. He's good at that.


-Dean was introduced to the walker and LOVED it. Especially once he learned how to use it.







-Also...introduced to pretzels! He loves them. We gave him the Twisted Honey Wheat ones because they don't dissolve as easily. He had many a pretzel in the high chair and stroller trying to keep him happy while we got stuff done


-still won't eat baby food. Cereal or Gerber food.


-Dean started pulling himself up. The first time he did it was on the faucet of my parent's kitchen sink





-believe it or not he didn't enjoy the wrapping paper from Christmas presents as much as I thought he would. He DID like to chew on the present before it was unwrapped


-peed on Joel and Grandma for old times sake


-He was great on the flight to California, pretty good on the flight to Utah, and as good as he could be on the flight back to Philly considering he was sick


-Yep...Dean got his first fever in Utah. Joined by chest congestion and coughing. This meant lots of sleeping with Dean in our arms.

-The fever gave us a reason to go back to McKay Dee Hospital where Dean was born. Late night visit to the ER...
-First time getting Xrays and a breathing treatment.
-First time being diagnosed... Bronchiolitis

BEST FOR LAST
-I (and a few eye ear witnesses) know Dean uses "mamama" to cry for me specifically.
We had some doubters, but I think they are now convinced.
Rewatch the 2nd video of Dean in his walker. It's there.

I love having a mamamama's boy

Two videos to wrap things up.
1. Dean's cute talking.
2. Dean's poop face and poop noise.
Yes, I am guilty for once again posting something that will undoubtedly embarrass him someday. But I have to. I'll miss it when it's gone.

Here we go...Christmas 2010

Long post... so take a deep breath...

This is pretty much what our Christmas looked like:

Hanging

Playing
Sleeping


"And the rain rain rain came down down down"

We were lucky and only got a tiny bit of mud in our backyard

The ravine in front of our house filled with mud and new little creek

(little water fall on the right of this picture)
Lots of rain means lots of mud at Ultimate Frisbee

Dean met Santa. Twice.

At the mall

And then at Grandma Sharon's
He loved Santa.

Christmas Eve with Rasmussens

Christmas Morning

Joel and Dean had matching Jammies. The only thing Joel wanted for Christmas...to match Dean.

Tradition since we were little...everybody makes beds (or drags mattresses in) and sleeps in mom and dad's room. Alex has been a good sport and agreed to join us and keep tradition going

Christmas breakfast

Funny boy. kept putting his feet up on the dino

Grandpa Bruce

Utah
Didn't get enough pictures

Alex's brother and sister in law brought their dogs and Dean loved the little Chihuahuas. He'd stick his fingers in their cage and they'd run up and lick them.

It was a great Christmas. Thank you families and friends for making Dean's first Christmas AWESOME.