Just playing

Disregard the fact that I am on the phone while filming this. I tried to make as little noise as possible while still participating in the conversation. I can't believe how active he is getting.

Don't miss a single second.

I feel like I have to watch Dennis ALL the time... otherwise, I might miss something. He is changing so fast. And, when I only have a couple of hours with him everyday... I don't even have time to blink. I love how he is sticking his bum in the air! Almost got it!
He likes to let everyone know that he is working hard... I think he takes after me with this one. I don't want anyone to not notice if I happen to be working out really hard. :)

Our 'walker' walker

So, the other day I was wasting time on the computer... like I, all too often, do... and I heard the walker zooming accross the floor like someone was pushing Dennis. I turned around, and to my surprise Dennis was running accross the room in his walker! All of a sudden he figured out how to make his legs work. After many attempts at getting this on film, I finally got him to walk a little. I love how he waddles back and forth!

a little backwards

Watch this video. Dennis is learning how to scoot but just a little bit backwards.

updates from Dennis

Hi Grandma and Grandpa, Nonnie and Papa!
I'm getting used to this eating thing. I love my carrots.... but sometimes I like to blow raspberries through them. Its really funny to see the looks on daddy's face when it goes everywhere. I wish I could already walk. For some reason, my feet just won't do what I want them to. I'm pretty good at standing though.

My next step is going to be to try 'no hands'. Way better than crawling... who needs to crawl when you can just walk. Tummy time is so frustrating because it hurts my neck and I want to see everything that's going on. You know what I mean? You would get frustrated too if you had to lay on your belly all day.

My mommy puts these funny hats on me and says that I look cute.

Hey, have you ever tried eating your toes? They are pretty tasty. If you can't reach yours, you can try mine sometime if you want. The offer is open any time.

Well, I sure miss you guys. Love you tons!

Bye,

Dennis

Just me

I don't express my feelings very often on this blog thing... In fact I think I have only done it 4 times total. Today I have 3 things that I want to talk about. This might come accross as ramblings...

1. Tonight when I put Dennis down to sleep, I wanted to capture the moment in ways that I don't know how to. If I was able to take a picture- that wouldn't have captured my feelings or the smell. Dennis has had a really long week- he has been sick for 7 days now... some of those days were really hard meaning that he was not happy and there wasn't much that could make him happy... but not meaning that I was not happy. Its funny, I thought that it would be unbearable to have a baby that cries all the time but its different when its your own baby. As a mother I am gifted with patience for Dennis. Anyways, today he was feeling much better and as I put him down to sleep, I gave him his lion that he sleeps with every night and he held it up close to his face and he rolled to his side and gazed into his lions eyes... then I put his blanket on top and have him a hug and a kiss and he smiled. It was as if time stood still for a moment. I wanted to capture it as he was smiling at his lion. simple moments are the best. I LOVE being a mom.

2. I have been reading Three Cups of Tea and it has made me really sad that we live in such a complicated world. I am not good at summing up books so you will have to read it. Its amazing to me how quick people are to judge another group of people. We make assumptions of people or areas from watching the news. The news is just what someone thinks we want to hear or should hear about- its not everything that happens. I also feel that war is such a sad thing... so many innocent people die. Mortenson talks about refugee children who pick up explosives thinking that its a package with food and die. Most of the people in Afghanistan are innocent victims-innocent victims are always a bi-product of war... and its sad. (this is not what the whole book is about- its just what has been making me think - so read the book yourself)

3. I watched Dan in Real Life tonight with Ryan and it made me really excited for the future and life. I love families. The majority of this movie takes place at a family reunion at a cabin. It has made me dream about being grandparents (I know I just became a parent) and gathering all of our children and their families together... so fun. I have always been a dreamer (ask my mom). One thing that I really want to do as a family on vacation- is exercise together to music like you do in a kick boxing class or something- they do this in the movie and I thought it was so dorky and fun-- and to my amazement Ryan did too! So, watch out... I'm bringing the boom box to our next family vacation. :) Definitely, a good movie- I would see it again. Ryan

thought it was a little slow... he started reading a book in the middle and claimed to be following both...

Well, that's all for now.

Dalmations at heart

Some people really feel like they should be good at something... but they aren't. Or, born somewhere... but they weren't. Like me: I should have been born in Finland with long skinny legs. Ryan should have been a pro tennis player. Dennis should have been born walking. And, I just found out that Buster and Bruno should have been Fire Fighter Dalmatians.I found this out because I am home for spring break this week so I am home to see them more and its beautiful weather- so they are outside most of the day. Whenever a siren sounds both Buster and Bruno start howling for as long as you can hear the siren. It doesn't matter what they were doing in the meantime. I saw Bruno snoozing and then start howling without moving from his position... Maybe they are warning the people that there is a fire somewhere, or maybe they are sad for the people in the fire. Whatever the reason, it is pretty darn cute. We love our dogs.

Hopefully, we will get it on video someday.



(This blog is not implying that Ryan is not good at tennis, or that I have a bad self image, or that Dennis won't be a great walker someday... I was just trying to find some good examples)

St. Patrick's Day Mischief

So, Dennis has learned how to navigate his way around the living room in his walker. While I'm working on the computer, I will turn around to find Dennis somewhere totally different than I left him. His favorite thing now is opening my china cabinet. A couple of different times, he has made his way over there. This stage came a lot sooner than I had anticipated... looks like I will have to make a trip to Target to secure all of my doors so that they are baby safe.

XOXO

Dennis wanted to send some hugs and kisses to grandma and nonnie. Here he is blowing XOXO. Hope they find you well.

Medball on Pi day

Pi day is the one day that we get to have a party in my math class at school-it was great. Even though it did not fall on a school day we took Thursday and Friday (block schedule) and had parties. It was a great start to our spring break this week. We ate junk food and watched "Stand and Deliver", one of my all time favorite movies. And, then on the real pi day we had med ball, which is like prom for medical students. I look forward to this every year and drag Ryan along with me. Unfortunately, I don't think I will be able to drag him next year seeing as all of his classmates will be gone to residency and we won't know anyone. I am pretty proud that we went every year. It's weird that we would be graduating Medical school too... I don't like to think about that too much. So, the following day... we woke up to find that Dennis had a fever 100.7. Not bad, but he sure was warm. Despite not feeling well, he was a pretty happy baby. So, we took some pictures. Dennis would turn bashfully every time he would smile so it took a couple of times before we got a really good one. But, I thought they were cute anyways.

There's my beautiful boy with rosy cheeks.

STATS

I know this has become Dennis's blog but that's why I got a blog in the first place- so that our family could see Dennis from far away. So, I guess I don't feel as silly when I think of it that way. Anyways, we went to the doctor today for the 6 month check up... Dennis was in the 20% for both height and weight. Just perfect if you ask me.

height- 25 & 5/8 inches
weight- 15 lbs 11 oz
head- 42.8 cm

See you again in 3 months!

kung-fu

We have our own little dragon warrior in training.
flexibility is key...

focus and agility are crucial...

... with standing a little torture is expected.

and remember, there is no secret ingredient!

(if you haven't seen the movie kung-fu panda, you must! It is my new favorite.)

Giggles with MOM

Dennis doesn't look much like me... but he does have my color eyes!

We had such a great time in the bath yesterday. Yes, that is me dressed up like a shark.

Even though these pictures of me aren't my favorite at all- they are the only ones that we have... and I usually have to say, "hey take a picture of us!" The only one that I like of us together recently is one of Dennis's bare naked bottom and Ryan doesn't want that one on the internet... bummer.

6 Months!

It has been six months since Dennis was born. It's funny how time flies. Dennis is unfortunately not feeling very well today but I guess he wasn't feeling too good six months ago either... coming out of my belly can't be a pleasant experience, so it is fitting. So, Happy Birthday Dennis!