At the zoo.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Friday, November 07, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Dean's Sleeping
Dean has started to be able to lift himself up and turn his head when he's lying on his stomach. Once he turns his head to the left it looks like he might get stuck and he doesn't turn his head back to the right very well. A couple of times it looked like he might end up with his face down in the mattress, so we've started him sleeping on his back again. He still sleeps pretty well, although not as well as he used to.
My friend Brixie made me some things that have been very useful. They are posted in the picture above. They are very heavy, the outside is a very soft material and I think they are filled with rice although I'm not sure. They not only keep Dean in place really well, but they also make it possible to prop Dean on his side a little bit so he doesn't always have the same side of his head on the mattress. If you remember I said that Dean is getting a flat spot on one side of his head. He seems to eventually wriggle himself back to the side he likes, but I think his flat spot would be worse if we didn't have these to turn him the other way a little bit. Thanks Brixie! They have been very cool.
Good Things for Dean
Hair Loss
I know it's normal after pregnancy, but sheesh, I'm sure I'll be bald in no time with the rate it's falling out. Jake is complaining about my hair being everywhere. It's even worse for me since it's coming off of MY head. It's getting all over everything!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Resignation Letter
Today I turned in my resignation letter to Cal Poly Pomona. It's kind of sad considering that I've worked there for eight years. I really will miss the College of Science. It was a good job.
It turns out that my supervisor is on vacation until the 25th so I didn't have to face him yet. I might try to go over to CPP tomorrow to pick up all of my things. How sad. :(
It turns out that my supervisor is on vacation until the 25th so I didn't have to face him yet. I might try to go over to CPP tomorrow to pick up all of my things. How sad. :(
Sunday, August 03, 2008
I can't believe it's already August. I haven't been doing a whole lot between working and taking classes. Today is my day off before I begin my next class tomorrow. I think I'm going to try to do a very fast switcheroo on Monday to change the class that I'm in. I'm supposed to teach two lessons in a class next month, but I don't know anyone who has a class. Besides that I'm way too busy with school. I'd rather use my own classroom in the future to do my lesson. I'll have to see how fast I can get another book if I can switch to a new class.
I just wanted to check in and post this cute picture of Micah from when he came to visit last week.
Below is Dean at his two month doctor visit.
And these are two pictures of dean from last week.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Doctor Appointment
Dean had his two month doctor appointment on Tuesday. It was terrible to have him get his shots. He cried during the shots and then quite a bit that night. Jake has said that Dean won't sleep in our bed with us, but guess where he was that night - right in the middle of us. It was so sad to see him not feeling well. Someone suggested that next time we get some baby tylenol. I wish I would have heard about that before so I could have helped him to feel better. Poor little guy. :(
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Pam Update
On July 3rd, I went back to work three days a week. I was offered some hours counseling over at West Los Angeles College. I got back into the flow very quickly. I really like my job over there - it's interesting and is usually fun as long as it's not too busy. Jake has been working from home the three days that I go to WLAC and he seems to have an easier time with Dean than I do. I've been taking notes on the weekends to see if I can get some tips on how to get more done when I'm home. I hope no one thinks less of me when I say it felt good to go back to work. I think I don't get out enough when I'm at home since I need to do schoolwork and am way to stressed about that to go do anything fun. After I'm finished with these classes I'm probably going to have to go find new friends. I've alienated the ones I had and if I have a lot of free time I'm going to have to find something to do. Jake doesn't come home until 7pm or later every night and I'm not going to sit at home waiting for him.
Anyway, I wasn't going to say anything here until I told my Cal Poly job, but I figure the chances are low that anything will get back to them before I have a chance to turn in my notice. I just accepted a teaching position at Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin Park for the upcoming school year. I will be teaching 9th grade Biology. I'm excited and scared at the same time. It's going to be an extremely difficult year, but I'm sure I can get through it. It's strange to realize that I won't be going back to Cal Poly Pomona. I had a really good job over there and I'll miss everything. I hope I won't regret leaving!
As for this month, my class is much easier than most of the ones in the past. Last month I had the instructor from hell. This month our instructor seems pretty laid back and seems to be a nice guy. I might actually have time to breath a little bit - which is why I'm able to take time to blog right now. And how I was able to visit Emilio and Andrew last night for a barbeque. :)
Things are going pretty well. This week I get to observe in a Biology summer school classroom which should be interesting and Wendy and Micah are coming in next weekend so we get to see family which will be very nice. I'm going to pick Wendy's brain to try to prepare for teaching next year.
Our Pasadena house is back on the market. We finally got the 2nd unit thing cleared up (at least I think it is) with the help of a friend who knew some people to talk to in LA county - thank goodness!! The bad new is that the JERK who caused all these problems for us likely cost us a ton of money. We had a previous offer to purchase the property at about $100,000-$150,000 more than we will be able to get for it right now. With the drop in the housing market we will likely make nothing on the project even with all the work we put into it. I'm just trying not to think about it so I don't get too upset. I just want to sell it and be done with it!
Lastly, I seem to have stalled with 15 pounds to lose to get back to my pre-pregnacy weight - and I just ate a reeses pieces ice cream flurry. I really need to get my act together. Maybe when Dean is old enough I'll take him out in the jogging stroller.
That's all for now. I'm typing one handed now since Dean woke up and it's a lot slower. :)
Anyway, I wasn't going to say anything here until I told my Cal Poly job, but I figure the chances are low that anything will get back to them before I have a chance to turn in my notice. I just accepted a teaching position at Sierra Vista High School in Baldwin Park for the upcoming school year. I will be teaching 9th grade Biology. I'm excited and scared at the same time. It's going to be an extremely difficult year, but I'm sure I can get through it. It's strange to realize that I won't be going back to Cal Poly Pomona. I had a really good job over there and I'll miss everything. I hope I won't regret leaving!
As for this month, my class is much easier than most of the ones in the past. Last month I had the instructor from hell. This month our instructor seems pretty laid back and seems to be a nice guy. I might actually have time to breath a little bit - which is why I'm able to take time to blog right now. And how I was able to visit Emilio and Andrew last night for a barbeque. :)
Things are going pretty well. This week I get to observe in a Biology summer school classroom which should be interesting and Wendy and Micah are coming in next weekend so we get to see family which will be very nice. I'm going to pick Wendy's brain to try to prepare for teaching next year.
Our Pasadena house is back on the market. We finally got the 2nd unit thing cleared up (at least I think it is) with the help of a friend who knew some people to talk to in LA county - thank goodness!! The bad new is that the JERK who caused all these problems for us likely cost us a ton of money. We had a previous offer to purchase the property at about $100,000-$150,000 more than we will be able to get for it right now. With the drop in the housing market we will likely make nothing on the project even with all the work we put into it. I'm just trying not to think about it so I don't get too upset. I just want to sell it and be done with it!
Lastly, I seem to have stalled with 15 pounds to lose to get back to my pre-pregnacy weight - and I just ate a reeses pieces ice cream flurry. I really need to get my act together. Maybe when Dean is old enough I'll take him out in the jogging stroller.
That's all for now. I'm typing one handed now since Dean woke up and it's a lot slower. :)
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Dean Update
Dean is getting bigger every day. At some point I stopped picking out his smallest clothes for him to wear because I assumed they wouldn't fit. I didn't say anything to Jake and last week he put Dean in one of the onsies and it was ridiculously small. He came out to show me and then went back to change his outfit. So last week I went through Dean's dresser and pulled out about 10 things that don't fit anymore. It's kind of sad to see how much he's changed, but at the same time there is a lot of good things to go along with how much bigger he's getting.
Yesterday Dean also got his first hair cut. Actually, Jake cut his hair. Dean had a mullet going on with long hair at the back of his neck. It seemed like it kept getting pulled when we held him or changed his clothes, so Jake decided it was time to cut it. It was so sad to watch his hair go - I actually thought about keeping a lock of it. I decided against keeping the hair, but I will definitely keep one of the onesies that we had to put in the too small pile. I'll keep the "Dean Jacob" shirt that Wendy made me since no one else would probably wear it anyway with Dean's name on it.
Dean has also begun to smile somewhat often. It's very rewarding to entertain him when I see him smiling back at me. He's definitely not at Kiya levels of smiling, but I hope he will be someday. :) He's been so much more aware of the things going on around him. It's getting interesting to interact with him.
On the subject of his neck turning, he's looking to the left about an inch further than before, but we're still trying to get his appointment with the physical therapist. It's been impossible to work with the doctor's offices. They're slow and don't always call back when I leave a message. I think we're going to change our pediatrician because of our bad experience with that office. Dean has started to get a noticeable flat spot on the back of his head because he ALWAYS sleeps on the side that he can look toward. I really don't want him to have a flat head on one side so Jake and I have put him to sleep on his stomach the last three nights. I know that we've been told to always have babies sleep on their backs, but for years and years and years, it was the other way around (including for most of us) and we are all alive and well, so I'm not too worried. It's hard to know which is worse since I haven't been able to talk to Dean's doctor - a flat head or sleeping on his stomach?
Yesterday Dean also got his first hair cut. Actually, Jake cut his hair. Dean had a mullet going on with long hair at the back of his neck. It seemed like it kept getting pulled when we held him or changed his clothes, so Jake decided it was time to cut it. It was so sad to watch his hair go - I actually thought about keeping a lock of it. I decided against keeping the hair, but I will definitely keep one of the onesies that we had to put in the too small pile. I'll keep the "Dean Jacob" shirt that Wendy made me since no one else would probably wear it anyway with Dean's name on it.
Dean has also begun to smile somewhat often. It's very rewarding to entertain him when I see him smiling back at me. He's definitely not at Kiya levels of smiling, but I hope he will be someday. :) He's been so much more aware of the things going on around him. It's getting interesting to interact with him.
On the subject of his neck turning, he's looking to the left about an inch further than before, but we're still trying to get his appointment with the physical therapist. It's been impossible to work with the doctor's offices. They're slow and don't always call back when I leave a message. I think we're going to change our pediatrician because of our bad experience with that office. Dean has started to get a noticeable flat spot on the back of his head because he ALWAYS sleeps on the side that he can look toward. I really don't want him to have a flat head on one side so Jake and I have put him to sleep on his stomach the last three nights. I know that we've been told to always have babies sleep on their backs, but for years and years and years, it was the other way around (including for most of us) and we are all alive and well, so I'm not too worried. It's hard to know which is worse since I haven't been able to talk to Dean's doctor - a flat head or sleeping on his stomach?
Monday, July 07, 2008
Dean Pictures
These are some current pictures of Dean. He's getting bigger and bigger every day. I wish he was wearing a more flattering outfit. I'll have to take more pics when I change his clothes.
This weekend we went to Las Vegas and Jake and I went to a play and out with friends for about six hours while Diane's mom watched Dean for us. We had a really good time and got to see friends that we don't get to see very often. I'm hoping to steal some pictures from Emilio, but I'll have to see if that happens.
This weekend we went to Las Vegas and Jake and I went to a play and out with friends for about six hours while Diane's mom watched Dean for us. We had a really good time and got to see friends that we don't get to see very often. I'm hoping to steal some pictures from Emilio, but I'll have to see if that happens.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Doctor Appointment
When Dean was born his foot seemed a bit crooked so we made an appointment for him to see an orthopedic doctor.
This last week we've also noticed that he doesn't really turn his head to his left. I planned to make another appointment with his pediatrician.
At his orthopedic appointment today the doctor said his foot seemed just fine. We should exercise it regularly to make sure it has full range of motion, but this is very common for babies that were a bit squished in the uterus.
He then asked if he was having any trouble turning his head - weird! I asked how he knew and he said they are related when a baby is squished. He checked out Dean's neck and said we need to start making him work to turn his head the other way. We are going to put him the opposite way in his crib and talk to him from the other side so he has to stretch to see what is happening on his bad side. The doctor thought he might actually need a bit of physical therapy, or at least have us get some training on how to gently turn his head to work on stretching his neck muscles. I'm hoping his neck will be fine after awhile for him to get things worked out. Poor little Dean must have been really smashed. We joke about how he didn't want to come out of me, but maybe he was just stuck/wedged in there and couldn't get out. :)
Anyway, things seem good so far. Looks like it's time to do some neck exercises.
This last week we've also noticed that he doesn't really turn his head to his left. I planned to make another appointment with his pediatrician.
At his orthopedic appointment today the doctor said his foot seemed just fine. We should exercise it regularly to make sure it has full range of motion, but this is very common for babies that were a bit squished in the uterus.
He then asked if he was having any trouble turning his head - weird! I asked how he knew and he said they are related when a baby is squished. He checked out Dean's neck and said we need to start making him work to turn his head the other way. We are going to put him the opposite way in his crib and talk to him from the other side so he has to stretch to see what is happening on his bad side. The doctor thought he might actually need a bit of physical therapy, or at least have us get some training on how to gently turn his head to work on stretching his neck muscles. I'm hoping his neck will be fine after awhile for him to get things worked out. Poor little Dean must have been really smashed. We joke about how he didn't want to come out of me, but maybe he was just stuck/wedged in there and couldn't get out. :)
Anyway, things seem good so far. Looks like it's time to do some neck exercises.
Blanket and Onesies
Sarah recently sent Dean a blanket. It's very cute and even has his name on it. The pictures above do not do it justice since they were taken under florescent light with my cell phone. Thank you Sarah!
I should also take this moment to mention that Wendy made some onesies for Dean with his name on them. They are adorable and we use them all the time. They say "Dean Jacob", "Buddy", and "DJ". I don't remember what the last one says. There is a picture below of one of the shirts. It's the one where he is crying. Thank you Wendy!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Weekend in Big Bear
Last weekend we went to Big Bear for Jake's family get together for his grandmother's 80th birthday. Everyone was really excited to see the baby. Unfortunately Jake's mom couldn't make it so she still hasn't met Dean.
The only reason we were able to go is because Mom and Jim let us stay at their place on Saturday night. There was no way we were going to go camping which is what most of Jake's family did. It worked really well to be able to hang out a little bit with Mom and Jim and to visit Jake's family at other times.
Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. My mind has been on other things lately. Oh well. :(
The only reason we were able to go is because Mom and Jim let us stay at their place on Saturday night. There was no way we were going to go camping which is what most of Jake's family did. It worked really well to be able to hang out a little bit with Mom and Jim and to visit Jake's family at other times.
Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures. My mind has been on other things lately. Oh well. :(
Currently Dean's Favorite Toy
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
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