Tulips

My mom and I (plus Dutchy) decided to meet up at Thanksgiving Point this year to go to the tulip festival. Neither of us had ever been before, so we didn't know what to expect but we had a lovely afternoon strolling the gardens- in perfect weather. Not too hot and not too cold.

 

  We debated on getting a yearly pass but decided against it because it's just too far to drive every week and that's what it would entail to get your money's worth. 

Yum

Mom, what are these things?




Well, I guess I'll eat them.




Shoes, what are they good for....

9 months old

NICKNAMES: Mr. Dutch, Mister, Dutch-A-Roosky (thanks to Spencer)
Nicknames that stuck from last time: Dutchy, Dutchy Cup, Dutchman

STATS:
Height: 27.5 inches........................24% percentile
Weight: 17 lbs 3 oz..........................6% percentile
Head circumference: 45.5 cm..........55% percentile

Just call me skinny!

FAVORITE THINGS: Dutch loves to "flap his wings". When he gets excited he starts flapping his arms up and down at varying speeds.  When he sees a dog or another child he flaps his arms really fast. When he's hungry or wants attention he moves them slower but either way he flaps and waves all the time.

He is starting to mimic - if we stick out our tongue or grunt or clap our hands he will usually do the same. Right now his favorite thing is clicking his tongue. 

He still loves to go for walks but lately he want to "drive" the stroller. He sits up straight and puts his hands on the drink holder...and occasionally he'll wiggle his head or body.

He is also intrigued with mouths.  Beware, he wants to put his fingers in your mouth and touch your tongue and scratch your teeth and pinch your lips - which really hurts might I add.

He loves to eat solid foods. He loves them so much that he's now decided that if mom isn't around to nurse he won't take a bottle thereby forcing the poor babysitters to give him solids or have him yell all afternoon. Another sign of his "strong"personality is that he only wants to binky himself. If we try to give him his binky he pushes it way or moves his head, but if HE sees the binky and grabs it, then he's fine to put it in his mouth.

Dutch loves to pull out all the toys from the toy basket and then throw them. Hillary called this a "toy coma".

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: He is not crawling yet but I am worried that he wants to walk and not ever crawl.  He can get from sitting to the crawling position and he rolls like crazy.  He's also just started to pull to a stand in his crib - not super stable yet.

Dutch feeds himself all sorts of finger foods, his favorite being yogurt drops.

He is babbling up a storm. We routinely hear "dadadadada, mamamamamam, baaaaaabaaaaaaba" and lots of screaming.

He is more interested in books and likes to sit on our lap in the rocking chair and turn the pages. He will also touch the Usborne touchy-feely books and he likes when we make animal noises especially "oink oink".

He is still bald. Since I can't make him grow hair, I better just accept it.

PLACES HE'S BEEN:
-Ikea.
-Kiwanis Park for our first "play date".
-Dutch has now been out of the country and has his own passport. We flew from SLC to Denver, Denver to Cancun and then drove down to Puerto Adventuras-which is about 1 hour south.  Bart and I went to Tulum and Coba but Dutchy stayed at the condo with Gammie and splashed in the pool and played in the sand, which he loved!

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED:
Ness: Just when you think you've got things figured out it CHANGES! Whether it's sleeping, eating, travelling or my work schedule.
I didn't mind taking Dutch to Cancun and the flight wasn't terrible but I'm afraid Bart disagrees.
I didn't know that babies could keep their binky's in their mouth and still scream and cry.
I love making Dutch laugh. It's addicting to hear him giggle with delight.  

Bart: Dido on Canessa's learning points - except the flight back from Cancun.  Not because of Dutch, but because of the flight attendants and passengers next to us.  It was a nice break when I had an excuse to take Dutch to the lavatory to change his diaper - I drug it out as long as I could!  Who knew changing a diaper on an airplane could be your saving grace.  Let's see, what else have I learned, Ness is a wonderful mother; being gone just for a day makes me miss home;  I love the little recording Ness send's to me while I'm on the road; Dutch cracks me up when he grunts and giggles; you never know what he will find funny next - it's my constant quest - hmmm, what can I do next to make him laugh...?...?

Happy 8 month birthday

I am 8 months old today! Can you believe how time flies? To think I was once little and quiet (relatively) HA HA, that will never happen again. I love to scream. I squeal with delight... and when I'm angry. I yell so loud, that mom thinks Hillary and Spencer in the basement can hear me.

"I'll do what I want, hmmf"

Today for my birthday mom let me eat mango's. I loved them and when mom tried to stop feeding me...well you guessed it, I yelled until she gave me more.  I open up my mouth quite nicely when I like something and I have lock jaw when I hate something...like green beans.

"N.O."

We went out to lunch at a cafe called Black Sheep.  I was hoping that there would be a "Baa, baa, black sheep"  like the song says but alas. It was boring, mom ate and talked and laughed BUT she didn't give me any of her food AND they didn't have any spoons for me to throw.  Mom told me I might poke out my eye with the fork or knife.

Mom took me shopping at target and made me try on clothes.  I like shopping more than daddy does, and mom even let me get the yogurt drops that I had a death grip on.

"I look pretty good in mom's hat"

All in all, being 8 months old is pretty good.  I have 2 bottom teeff and I sleep through the night, so what more could mom ask for.?.

6 month review-just a tad late

New NICKNAMES: Fuzzy Wuzzy, Mr. DutchMan, Mister man
Nicknames that stuck from last time: Little man, Love Bug,  Bumski and Dutchy.

Look at my fuzzy wuzzy hair!

6 MONTH Stats:
26.5 inches---50%
15lbs 3.5 oz.---25%

FAVORITE THINGS: Dutch loves stuffing anything he can in his mouth-fingers, hands, toes, stuffed animals, chew toys. blankets, burb cloths, paper, chip bags, books pens and markers, his own binky, spoons/forks/knife, camera, cellphone and he especially loves eating the ties on moms sweatshirt or jacket.

 

He put in his own binky sideways...he fell asleep chewing on the side not the nipple

 

He does a funny wiggle his head and body thing. We first noticed it when he was lying on his back but now he does it when he sits or even on Bart's chest-needless to say he has a bald spot on the back of his fuzzy little head.

Dutch is ruining his onsies and outfits because he is pulling on all the necks and stretching them out.

Dutch has a love/hate relationship with noises. He knows what sound the door to his room makes both opening and closing- and that noise usually means mommy or daddy are coming to play. He loves the crinkling of bags and his toy books. He doesn't quite know what to make of coughing, sneezing, blowing your nose, cupboards banging, or loud cars driving up the road. Dutch did not like Grandpa Leeflangs vacuum up at Bear Lake or mommy's blow dryer-both scare him and make him cry.

Bad vacuum!

AVERAGE NIGHT SLEEP: 12 hours!  About 3 days after he was 6 months he started sleeping 12 hours a night. Can I tell you that I almost feeling like a real person? 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Saw the cardiologist, had his first IV, made it through his first IV sedation and echo cardiogram. Yep, mom cried.

Eats squash, applesauce, bananas and rice and oatmeal cereal. We also managed to get more applesauce and oatmeal cereal up his nose than boogers.  We had to suction out his nose so he could breathe :)

Dutch SITS all by himself and loves bouncing in his exersaucer

"I love to play with dad, mom's boring"

PLACES HE'S BEEN: Pizzeria Limone

 

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED:

NESS: I am learning just how hard it really is to be a working mom! I'm also learning how to change your frame of mind between being a mom and nurse practitioner.  I also am feeling much better...ie, not crazy, since I've started sleeping 8 hours, and I'm not reading the news or talking politics. Plus, I also asked Bart to try to be optimistic instead of pessimistic.

BART: If Dutch has an explosion it can be hard to get his poopy clothes over his head without smearing it all over his head.  I don't think I'd make the qualification heat in the diaper changing olympics.....  Don't tell mom, but dad used about 5 to 6 wetwipes for every poopy diaper change.  I might be a diaper changing failure.  But I think Dutch loves me anyway.

30 and counti.. 'er now subtracting!

Disclaimer: For those that may not appreciate mushy I'd skip to the next blog post.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY NESS!

 

I've been waiting to pass this milestone for a long time... like 15 years long. I can now officially say I've known Nessa half her life! A lot has happened since we met in sewing class 15 years ago - lot's of school, trips, dates, more school, work, weddings, more school, less work, more trips (though fewer than before), kids (one in particular), babysitting, husbandsitting, etc, etc. All the while, all of "THIS", has worked itself into the ultimate, beautiful collage that is my wife.

Grammy Nee gave little Dutch the "Just a Little Critter" collection for Christmas....  You'll have to forgive me, but it is a favorite of mine.  One of the short stories in particular, I think, is fitting for this occasion - "When I Get Bigger".  For those that are familiar with Ness, you will know she was "getting" bigger from the day she was born. But now times have changed.  I've taken the liberty to provide Nessesary commentary as it now relates to her outlook (in parenthesis) - imagine her thoughts as she reads this to our little Dutchman:

• When I get bigger I'll be able to do lots of things - (Please save me from everything I have to do!).
• I'll go to the corner store all by myself - (shopping is chore!).
• I'll spend my allowance on anything I want - (of course it must be within the budget!).
• I'll have my own watch and I'll tell everyone what time it is - (It's helpful if everybody is on my schedule!).
• I'll go on a bus to Grandma and Grandpa's - (I don't really like the bus - or public transportation for that matter!).
• I'll go to first grade - (Can I please go back to first grade!).
• When I get bigger I'll have a real leather football, my own radio, and a pair of super-pro roller skates - (Where will I store all this stuff!).
• I'll have a two-wheeler and a paper route.  I'll make lots of money - (Work is overrated and not worth the money!).
• At the playground I'll help the little kids on the swings - (Swinging makes me sick - I guess helping all I can do now!).
• I'll pick out my own boots at the shoe store - (Oh yes, this is a good one!).
• I'll make a phone call and dial it myself - (if only Bart wasn't so boring to talk too....!).
• I'll order something from a catalog - and it will come in the mail - (Only if it's on sale!).
• When I get bigger I'll camp out in the backyard all night long - (Camping? but my new bed is lovely!).
• Or I'll stay up to see the end of the late movie. Even if I get Sleepy, I won't go to bed - (Who wants to stay up and watch a movie when you have the luxury to go to bed?!).
• But right now I have to go to bed... Because Mom and Dad say... (Thank goodness this story is over so I can go to bed - because I say.....!).
• I'm not bigger yet.  (I wish I weren't already bigger!)

Getting bigger isn't always that much fun.  But having more time to experience life with your best friend is probably worth the trade-off.  I couldn't help but think back on some of the fun we've had.

 

 

I'm excited to get a little bigger with Ness - learn more, work more, play more, grow more, live more.  I'm sure, if it is up to her the next 30 will be as full as her first - and I'm lucky she'll let me go along for the ride!  I'm grateful for the wife and mother she is.  She puts up with me, worries about me, takes care of me and works hard for me.  She is even going to let me get chickens (even though she doesn't know it yet).... 

Best Birthday wishes to my Ness

I love you!
Bartus

 

12 of 2012

Our number one and two events of 2012 won't be a surprise to anyone but we still want to list out the year, so without further ado...
1. Dutch was born. We are PARENTS and are totally smitten. We love everything he does and now our vocabulary has changed to poops, toots, spits, daipee change, eats, etc.
2. The house is " substantially" completed...but is a house ever 100%?
3. Two weeks in Hawaii- our last real vacation EVER.
4. Bart got a new (used) truck. Bart majorly upgraded to power windows, locks and air conditioning! Ness got a new (used) Audi. Thanks dad for finding it for me!
5. We got a new mattress. Foam is the way to go!
6. Found a great, and I really mean great/ fantastic/wonderful/amazing, couple to rent our basement apartment! Thanks Hillary and Spencer.
7. Bart passed his PMP (Project Management Professional) licensure test, so now he's an MS, PE, PMP. Yea, honey!
8. Ness had a great pregnancy and multiple people told her she should have 10 children with how smoothly everything went- I am too old though :)
9. Grandpa Lael turned 90 and Bill and Kathy celebrated 40 years of marriage.
10. We celebrated our five year anniversary by Canessa working and going to bed at 9:00- gotta love how children change everything.
11. Carter Paul- my youngest brother returned home from his two year LDS mission
from Honduras.
12. We did NOT get chickens- even though Bart bugged, bothered and has hounded me weekly about it. Darn chickens!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

'Twas..

'Twas the week before Christmas and the house was a mess, it's all Bart's fault definitely not Ness;
The hardware was hung on the walls with care, in hopes that new towels soon would be there;
With Dutchy fed and put down in his bed, we hoped that the painting voc's wouldn't hurt his little head;
Ness was in her sweats and Bart in his ball cap, had just hung the mirror, so they could finally nap;
When out on the street there arose such a clatter, Bart opened the bathroom window to see what was the matter;
The fire engine drove up the street in a flash, while we prayed the noise wouldn't make it through Dutch's window sash;
The street light shown on the newly fallen snow, and gave just the right lustre
to our cabinet and tile below;
But what to my wondering eyes should appear, but 2 new light fixtures and a toilet just for my rear :)
With a turn of the screw driver and few swear words that where quick,
the bathroom was finished in time for St. Nick.




The End

5 month review

New NICKNAMES: Mister Man
Nicknames that stuck from last time: Little man, Bubski, Love Bug, Baby Dutch, Little Dutch and Dutchy.

Santa holding Dutch, sorry this is a picture of a picture

FAVORITE THINGS: Squealing and talking! Lately I've been able to lie him on a blanket with some toys and he will entertain himself for 30 minutes.  I know he's content and happy as long as he is talking and squealing. He loves to pull his socks off and eat them. He really enjoys scratching....he will open and close his little hand on blankets, our leather couch, my shirt, etc.  I think he likes the noise it makes and the feel.

AVERAGE NIGHT SLEEP:  Who knows.  He's given us 11 hours but then two nights later he woke up at 1:33, 3:00, 4:58 and 6:45. I kind of feel like it's Russian roulette-are we going to sleep or are we going to cry.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Started on rice cereal and thinks it the greatest thing ever, but now Bart is sure he's constipated.  We, of course, think it's so cute when he gets excited to eat and screams for the spoon.

-Dutch has almost roller from his back to front but seems really happy on his side ...so why bother going to all the work to really roll over.?.
-First Thanksgiving and first taste of mashed potatoes-he gagged-I guess we will wait longer :)
-Did a great job smiling and being happy for our first family photos.
-Got his first cough, which made mom go crazy thinking that it would turn into bronchiolitis. Went away in 9 days.

In case you haven't seen this on facebook

PLACES HE'S BEEN: The Provo Library, University Mall, Seagull Book, Bed, Bath and Beyond and Big 5 Sporting.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED:

NESS:  I'm not sure if I have insomnia, postpartum depression, if I'm crazy or if my type A/red personality is rebelling from the LACK of control I have in my life, but I stay up worrying for 2-3 hours a night.  Now I can fall asleep very easily but as soon as Dutch cries, whether it's 1 AM or 5 AM my brain turns "ON" and I'm wired. Now this isn't just your run of the mill thinking about the next day, or meal planning, or thinking about family/issues. My brain worries that someone is breaking into my house or that we've had a natural disaster-aka-earthquake, and I'm all alone in Provo and I have to fend for myself and keep Dutch safe.  Yes, I know I can't control natural disasters and yes I know I shouldn't worry, but I do, every night...for hours.  So there you have it. I've learned that I'm crazy.

BART:  Life is pure bliss and happiness.  Ness did not mention this, but at Big 5 Dutch helped me buy him is first gun - of course when I tested it out for him it bruised my shoulder... I guess I'll have to wait a couple of years to turn him loose on it.  He's on track to be a real man! 

I guess I did learn that for as innocent and bland as rice cereal may appear, it can pack a real punch comming out the other end.  Talk about packing a punch - he's got a real good kick - I keep thinking we'll find bruises on his heels.  Some of the little baby nuances bring to me flashbacks of my own infancy - Oh how I loved the flavor of my well sucked thumb - granted it was always bitter at first.  (Maybe that wasn't as long ago as I like to think?)  And who can beat the rythmic, however irregular, hum of the car and bumps in the road - it beckons sleep.

Dutch 4 months

New NICKNAMES: Little Man and Bumski (this is what grandpa calls him. My dad will walk over and grab Dutch's toes and say "how's my little bumski doin"? and now I call him that all the time.
Nicknames that stuck from last time: Love Bug, Little Dutch and Dutchy.

FOUR MONTHS stats:
Height: 24 1/2 inches (40%)
Weight: 13 lbs. 4 oz. (25%)



FAVORITE THINGS: Dutch loves to talk. In the last 2 weeks he has started "ahhh, ohhh, blaa, oww, eee-ing" all the time-on his changing table, in his crib before his naps and then when he wakes up and also when he's hanging out in his papasan. 

Dutch LOVES to go for walks in the stroller. I told my mom that when he gets fussy to put him in his stroller ,with his soft blanky, and go for a walk. She was amazed that he didn't make a peep for her hour walk and he didn't fall asleep either.
Dutch always wants to be facing out when we are holding him and boy does he fuss and arch is back until we turn him around the other way.

AVERAGE NIGHT SLEEP: The average night is 8.5 hours. BUT we had seven days in a row of 11 hours then he'd go back to sleep for 2 more hours, BUT then the next week Dutch started waking up 3-4 times a night!If anyone has any recomendations, I'm all ears. Bed time is between 7-8 PM and I try to go to bed by 9-9:30, morning time is 8 AM, with 2-3 naps usually only 45 minutes long.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Rolled over from his tummy to his back. Laughs. Found his feet and loves to hold onto his socks.

Absolutely, positively loves sucking his fingers-he stuffs them in his mouth at any chance. Mainly he sucks on his 1st and 2nd fingers but sometimes I find 3 fingers in his mouth. He can't figure out how to get good suction around his thumb so his pointer finger is his favorite. 

Dutch got his 2nd round of immunizations and did great. 

He still fits in most of his 3 month clothes but he has a cute little fat roll on his thighs. 
Dutch is a great spitter-he spits and spits all day long. I think the record is 4 bibs and 5 outfits in a day just from spit, no poop.  I know that he doesn't do well with tomato or tomato sauce on spaghetti or pizza, it totally has something to do with what I eat. 

Last but not least, Dutch is starting to sit longer by himself before he topples over.

NEW PLACES HE'S BEEN: Macaroni Grill, JC Penney, Fat Cats for bowling, daddy's office, Wendy's, Arbys' and lots of lighting stores.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED:

NESS:  I. HATE. DIAPER. RASH. Dutch has had diaper rash for 2 months! I've tried 2 different prescription medications and tubes and tubes of desitin original, desitin creamy, butt paste, triple paste and calmoseptine, still to have him squeal in pain.  I've changed brands of diapers twice and used only cotton balls with water to wipe him, I'm changing diapers every 2 hours and using baby powder-I am failing as a mother and as a Nurse Practitioner... and yes I cry over this regularly.

 

Your child can decide to wake up 4 times/night and scream for so long that you are sure he's sick but in the morning he acts totally normal and doesn't have a fever or ear infection. 

 

 

Bart:
1. I have a new appreciation for a parents bond with their child! 
2. Babies and routines are bogus. Babies will do their own thing. 
3. It's even more fun to come home to a baby and wife (don't get me wrong, I love to come home to Canessa too)- the smiles and coos are great.  Travelling for work is crappier than it used to be ... when I'm gone, it makes me feel a little more home sick.
4. No matter how frustrated you are in the night , when morning comes and Dutch smiles I can't do anything but love him.