Dean seems to have darker toned skin that the previous 3 kids. Good. Because the first 3 just burn within the first 30 minutes of being outside in the summer. Maybe Dean won't be relegated to spf 600 for the rest of his life like Trent and I.
I think it's funny when babies are nursing and it's like they forget to breathe inbeween gulps. All of a sudden Dean has to unlatch to catch his breathe...then he goes back in for more...as if that was all normal and commonplace.
Dean came to us with far more hair than any of our other babies. The first 3 were practically bald, and it wasn't until Kyleigh was 2 when I could finally gather enough hair to give her two little piggies. I remember it well....we had just moved to Akron, Ohio and I pulled Kyleigh into our 1 bathroom upstairs, got excited that it finally worked! and took a picture to document the monumental event.
Dean has had baby acne for longer than I remember any of the other kids. Perhaps it's the dry desert air? All the others were born in Utah and Ohio.
I find it so neat how many small miracles and amazing things surround babies. From their conception and growth to how they manage to squeeze through a birth canal. And the latest in my fascination with all things baby, is the protective layer on Dean's lips. It looks like a blister, but it's actually a barrier that forms on its own to protect his lips from getting blisters when they nurse (since they have to eat so much and often).
It's an internal struggle I have daily: I want to hold the guy after he enters his milk coma and while he sleeps, but I know that it makes it harder for him to learn to sleep well in his bassinet after he's enjoyed natural body warmth to comfort him. I usually lay him down in his bassinet or on the couch if I'm downstairs, but I sure like watching him sleep and holding him when I can.
Dean usually wants to eat when I'm about to either cook dinner or eat my dinner. It's a no fail coincidence. Breakfast and lunch do not have this timing problem...it's just dinner. How rude, dude!
Trent and I have observed, and a few others have commented the same, that Dean's feet seem to be extra long...aka: he's going to be a tall dude like his older brother Brenden. B is still about a head taller than everyone in his class and in his Scouting group. I wonder what puberty is going to do to these two boys. (Kent leans more toward the average height spectrum).
I just love love love having 3 boys. It's so cool. I've enjoyed buying blue blankets, church ties and Nike tennis shoes. I like having more bins full of cars, capes and trains than princesses and prince charmings. (Though, I have absolutely nothing against princesses and prince charming. Kyleigh has her fair share of dolls with crowns and gowns).
Kent has battled a cold all winter long. It seems forever ago when the poor kid didn't need to blow his nose a few times a day. Well, it got worse and today I took him in to see Dr. Duddy after he was holding his ear and saying "Owww". He has a double ear infection. We got his meds, he's drugged up and fell asleep on the couch (first time that's ever happened!) because he was waiting for me to finish putting groceries away that needed to be refrigerated and frozen and visit the 'John'. He must have been exhausted because he was out cold in no time at all. Thus far, Dean has been able to escape getting infected....and I pray that the blessing of full health and strength continue with baby Dean. It's so hard on these babies when they get congested...difficult to nurse and since they're on their back all day, the post nasal drip is a serious problem. I've done my best to keep the two boys separated as best I can...especially since they're both home all day long with me. I've tried to place Kent on a different couch if I'm nursing or distract him with something outside if I need to hold Dean. Otherwise, I can be with Kent easily while Dean sleeps in the comfort of his bassinet. It's just a cat and mouse game Moms play to try their best to protect and keep the newborns as healthy as possible. There is so much growth happening in the first few months, it's nice if it has no impediments.
Dean is a growing boy. He usually wakes me up every 2 hours at night. He goes roughly 2-3 hours during the day, but 2 hours is the norm for him at night. I've had a few stretches here and there of 3 hours, and a fabulous 4 hour sleep stretch, but overall, I'm always looking for a cat nap after spending so much quality time with Dean during the hours from dusk to daylight.
Kyleigh and Brenden continue to be great older siblings to their new little brother. They're very helpful to grab a diaper, a blanket or rock him until I can finish up and get to baby Dean.
Kent has been very sweet to his little brother. He says, "Baby Nee-nah." and then smacks his lips together like a kiss. I lean over and present Dean's head, Kent gives him a quick kiss and then smiles in contentment. That's one of my favorite things.
Kent was definitely pushing boundaries and going through terrible twos, but after Dean was born, instead of keep trying to get away with stuff, he seems to have gone the other way and likes to please us. We ask him to do something and he says, "Oh-kay, Momma!" He looks up to Trent and I when we praise him and flashes the best toddler grin. It's pretty darn angelic when he knows he has done good and we're praising him for it. Dean brought something special into our home and it's permeating even the 2 year old!
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