Update

Jake is out shopping with Dean so I have a few minutes for an update.

School started for me last week and so far it has been great. It already feels so much easier than it did last year. I hope, hope, hope that my kids don't get crazy. I remember then being good in the first few weeks and then showing their true colors, so I hope that things are good when my kids finally get comfortable enough to be themselves.

The whole family is doing great. Dean has been sick a few times recently but is generally happy and pretty well behaved. No sign of the terrible twos yet. I've read a few book to get ideas on how to handle disciple so I feel more prepared than I did before. Dean's a real cutie pie and just absolutely love him. I can't stop kissing him and giving him plenty of attention. I worry about spoiling him. Going back to school wasn't that difficult but I do wonder if he misses us during the day. Last week he actually didn't cry and beeline it for me when I walked in. He kept playing with his toy. My, how things change. :)

We also have an addition to the family. Jake's niece, Katie, is staying with us this year. It was a last minute thing to get her away from a bad high school with gang problems. She moved here from North Carolina and I really enjoy having she. She's a lovely girl. Now, we just need to figure out how we are going to do more permanent room arrangements.

I also had great news from Wendy but I'll let her make a post about it before I say too much. And for those of you who might jump to crazy conclusions about that.... she is NOT pregnant. Exciting stuff - my life just got BETTER!

Dean Walking

Dean started really walking about 2 weeks ago. I think he just needed to build his confidence. I've posted a video below.

Update

It's been so long that I don't even know what to write about. I've been having a good summer of no work getting a lot accomplished that I put off last year while working way too hard on my new job, taking classes, and spending time with Dean.

So far this summer we've gone to Las Vegas, hung out at the house, and we're going camping up north with Wendy, my Dad, and families. I really need to get around to posting pictures.

Dean happens to have been sick today and I'll take him to the doctor if he still has a fever tomorrow.

Dean is my super cutie pie. Let me tell you some things. He's currently 14 months and still not walking on his own. I really think he could but just lacks the confidence. He's constantly jabbering just like Jake does and he has a huge stubborn streak. It seems like he's constantly smiling and every day just get easier with him. I'm hoping things will continue to go uphil rather than down.

The cat that we have at the new house has been absolutely amazing with Dean. Dean hits her, hugs her by laying down on her, pulls on her paws, and she keeps coming back for more. They are best buds. I think they love each other.

I'll try to post more pics later.

Parking Car

Oh my gosh so funny. Watch this person try to park her car. If you notice the amount of time running at the bottom, we don't see the whole fiasco. It actually takes more than four minutes. I also wonder why the person started to video the car. Maybe she was having problems for a few minutes before that. So funny!

More Dean Pictures

Dean's Helmet

Yes, I do still exist. I feel like I don't even have time to post this, but I figure it's probably to important to keep everyone posted. :)

Since Dean was born with congenital torticollis he's been sleeping on the right side of his head. He still keeps his head to one side most of the time. Because of this he has developed a flat spot on the back of his head. His left eye (to us it's his right) is also slightly squinty still, even with all the work we've done to put him on his left side during naps.

Jake and I went to see an orthetist about this and we ended up getting a helmet. They told us we could go either way. There were four things they measured. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the worst, Dean was a 2, 2, 2, and 3. He was on the lower side, but they said his eye probably wouldn't get any better if we didn't do this and it's better to get it done early so we just decided to go with it.

Luckily Dean doesn't even seem to notice his helmet. It hasn't been too much of a problem at all. We will likely decorate it over the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to get some picture right away so everyone can see his new look. :)

Pictures

At the zoo.

At the park with friends.

Dean giving me love.

Sleeping....

This is the best shot I could get of the tooth. It's impossible to get a good picture. :)

I saw dean's first tooth

I saw dean's first tooth today!

Dean rolled over all by

Dean rolled over all by himself last night!

Quick Update - I'm not Dead

I'm just taking a moment to check in to let everyone know that I'm still alive. I've been extremely busy in my first month of teaching and next week I start my credential classes again. I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog much in the upcoming months.

We are good. Dean is as cute as ever and I am VERY SORRY that I've been so bad at getting everything updated. Maybe I'll try to blog a bit from my phone when I have some time - just to get something new up.

Not much time to say anything else right now. I start my next class on Monday and I actually have to drive into Los Angeles and go in person. What a drag.