Santa Attempt = FAIL!

We headed to Home Depot today to pick up our Christmas tree and Santa just happened to also be there too! Home Depot was taking free pictures, so we thought why not.

I think the pictures speak for themselves!

Is anybody looking?

It appears Matthew discovered the art of nose picking... I have to admit it's pretty hard not to bust out laughing, I mean doesn't he look cute, even with his finger is half way up his nose?

I'm pretty sure when he's older he will regret ever doing it, since his wonderful Mom proceeded to post this on the world wide web :)

Happy Halloween from the King!

Halloween has always been one of my most favorite holidays, now even more with Matthew! We missed Halloween last year, because we were in Las Vegas, so this year I was ready to dress him up. I also figured this would be the one year I could put him in something he wouldn't argue with me about :)
I think he's one good lookin' King!

Matthew in the Costume Parade at School

This is the only time he wore the sunglasses

Our neighborhood hosts a pretty big Halloween party each year. It was so much fun to watch Matthew look at all the kids and go door to door. He definitely caught on to the candy thing! Even more fun, cousin Andrew, Uncle Jon and Aunt Michele came over too!





This picture cracks me up! Looks like he's singing :)

And now some trick or treating!

Candy, candy & more candy!

He got a little scared at this house - his face is priceless!

And now he's running like you know what!

All in all, I think Halloween was a success! Jason took these videos too. I think Matthew likes Halloween!

15 months, well maybe more like 16 months...

Well it's now been well over a month since Matthew's 15 month appointment, but better late than never right?

I don't know the famous poet who said "It's been the best of times, it's been the worst of times" or however it goes, but I will say that is a good synopsis of the past couple of months. I have to guess right after Matthew started walking around 14 1/2 months, he started to show a "new side". A testiment of will let's say. Temper tantrums over anything. All I kept thinking was, where did my sweet angel boy go!? Then amongst that he got hand, food and mouth. Let me just tell you, if your child hasn't had it, YOU.ARE.LUCKY! It may have been the most awful week in our house. Sadly there is nothing you can do for it, except ease the symptoms. Again, all I wanted was our well, sweet big boy back! Oh and on top of all this 2 of his molars were coming in (finally), then the top 2 decided to peek their way in as well. Like I said "It's been the worst of times!" Maybe worst is a exagerating, but whew, we were ready for a break!

So Matthew did have his 15 month appointment and the big boy passed his appointment with stars!

Weight: 25 lbs ~ 60th percentile

Height: 32 1/2 inches ~ 85th percentile

Head Circumference: 19 inches ~ 85th percentile

I remembered at his 1 year appointment his pediatrician asking "how many words is he saying" and all I could say was "uh Ma Ma & Da Da", but I was so excited at his 15 month appointment to rattle off what he saying, and that he could walk too! It is really amazing how he picks up so many more words each day it feels like.

So far we've got:

Ball (his absolute favorite word)

Roar (or the sound of a tiger/lion for either animal)

Car

Bird (sounds more like Bir)

Up & Down (along with super cute arm motions)

The sound of a siren (for fire truck)

Thanks (or what sounds more like tanks)

Apple

Nana (For banana & his Nana)

Papa

Ice (yes, ice... He loves it and he just belted that one out over the weekend)

No :( (Really no already!)

Elmo

Choo Choo (for train)

He's developing such a sweet and fun personality too. Although he's totally obsessed with his Daddy, which of course can hurt Mama's feelings, boy when he comes charging toward me and plops in my lap, my heart melts. He also started blowing kisses! Again MELT.MY.HEART. Now this is definitely "The best of times!"

Fun times at the playground!

We went to Tybee this weekend for Jason's brother's birthday, so we went to the beach to feed the birds. Let's just say it turned into "attack of the birds!"

Matthew & his Papa - can't you tell how much he LOVES his Papa, look at that smile!

This is not staged, but I just think hilarious! Matthew digs in my drawers all the time, and look what he found ;o) Jason thought it was "gross".

And he's off!

Matthew has been toying with the idea of walking for a few weeks now.

Let's just say after this weekend, we can officially say we now have a walker in the house!

This video is from Friday, I'll post a better one soon. It's amazing in just a matter of days how he's mastered it. We are waiting for the running next!

It's like Twilight back here!

If you are a fan of Modern Family, as we are in the Dean household, I have come to find some commonalities in episodes. Last night was a rerun of Lily biting....

Clearly a foreshadow to our life...When Matthew was in the infant room, probably about a month before he moved up, we found out he had bitten another child. I was mortified! Well come to find out he had 4 teeth coming in.

Well time went on and he hadn't bitten Mom or Dad, nor had we heard anything from school, well until 2 days ago... He's been having napping issues. So I always ask "did Matthew wake up any kids today?" There have been a handful of days he's woken the ENTIRE class, and yes I mean all 11 kids! How awesome do I feel...

So for whatever reason I just happened to say, after my daily, "did Matthew nap today" inquiry "at least he's not biting" and BOY was in for a shock... His teachers looked at each other and said, well... I just looked at them and said how many times!? Oh 8+. I am now standing there MORTIFIED! Well, they reassure me it's normal at this age, although I am still completely mortified that "its my child who's the bitter..."

I wish I could find the "it's like Twighlight back here" scene, but this clip is just as good!

This phase as with others, will pass soon (WE HOPE!)

It's FUN to be 1!

I cannot believe that Matthew is 1. His birthday has come and gone, and I think we have finally recovered from his fun celebration.

First things, first, his 1 year appointment. As with most of his appointments, it was pretty uneventful; with the exception of the fit he threw the minute we walked into the pediatrician’s office. I am talking a fit I have NEVER seen this child throw before. Granted we did have to wake him from nap, and I have recently learned, this is not ideal for sweet Matthew. Like his Mama, this child needs his sleep!

As always my favorite part of the appointment his stats:

Weight: 23 lbs (65th percentile)

Height: 31 inches (80th percentile)

Head Circumference: 18 7/8 inches (90th percentile)

Matthew continues to grow by leaps and bounds. He's pulling up on everything, cruising anything that will hold him and recently discovered the stairs. He's quite the dare devil and braved climbing up the first 4 steps, although Mama is not a fan. He's still an amazing little eater and we have officially let go of bottles. A transition I was really worried about, but we did it cold turkey and like a champ he went with the flow. He hasn't braved walking, but we know in due time he'll be running :)

So now on to the Giant's birthday celebration. As with anything, I tend to go totally overboard. Jason's Dad even said "you realize you have to throw this big of a party for Matthew's siblings right..." In the back of my mind I'm thinking, his poor siblings are going to get totally jipped. However, deep down I know that won't be the case.

I was so pleased with how every detail turned out, the friends and family that came and the overall fun we had.

Liz (who took all the pictures!), me, Aunts Jill, Brandy & Jori Aunts & Uncle Curt
We did it! Made it through our first year as parents!




Sharing with Mama!
Being 1 is A LOT OF FUN!
He was a total mess, although he barely made a dent in his cake!
My Aunt Josie made the trip for Matthew's first birthday!
I LOVE presents!



Uncle Bill (my Daddy's brother) and Aunt Lois drove 10 hours from Maryland to be apart of the celebration. It meant the world to us!

Now a special message to our sweet, amazing boy.

Happy 1st Birthday sweet Matthew! I have said it once, and I will say it again. You have blessed our lives beyond belief. Each day is a new day of experiences, filled with new memories we will cherish forever. But most importantly you have taught your Mom and Dad how to love more than we ever knew we could.

We love you Matthew to the moon and back and can't wait to see what this next year will hold!

He graduated!

I seriously can't believe it, but today was Matthew's last day in the infant room. On Monday, he's a wobbler. Really, a wobbler... I remember so vividly, crying my eyes out the first day we dropped him off at daycare and on Monday, he moves onto the next class.

I have a feeling every year, this will be the moments as a mom that will be so hard. Knowing our sweet little Matthew is really growing up! Man, why don't they prepare parents for this!

The best part of today was our "surprise". His teachers mentioned they had "something" for the kids but it was a surprise. What a great surprise! My heart melted when Jason walked in.

Happy Graduation Matthew! You've come so far since your first day of school.

The Giant takes over the beach!

8, 9, 10 Months - so much to report and so little time!

I know an apology is due. I'm not sure why I'm 3 months behind on any updates on our sweet boy. I really don't know where the time has gone, or why I haven't had time to post updates. Ok, it's been a matter of sheer laziness - I will admit it.

So this is an attempt to not write an entire novel of what's been happening the last couple of months so bear with me :)

8 Months Old - our little swimmer, Matthew's first St. Patty's Day & first hair cut!

Since Mama isn't quite the swimmer, Jason and I really wanted to get Matthew used to the water, so we enrolled him into swim lessons and he did so well!


Matthew also celebrated his first St. Patrick's Day! Check out his rockin' St. Patty's Day pants Aunt Josie made him!

We also took Matthew for first hair cut. Jason was getting tired of the "oh what a pretty baby girl" comments :)
9 Months Old - Matthew's First Braves Game & a 9 Month Check up

The month by month pictures are getting harder and harder, with a more mobile child!
Well if you're a son of Jason's, clearly you will be sports fan, so as you guessed Matthew has already been to his first Brave's game.

Matthew's 9 Month Appt
It was time for another well check up. I was of course anxious to see how big our little giant was getting. He seems to weight a ton, since he LOVES to eat!

Weight: 21 lbs 9 oz (70th percentile)

Height: 29 inches (75th percentile)

Head Circumference: 18 1/4 inches (78th percentile)

Clearly he's a growing boy! Matthew also started crawling right after his 9 month appointment! And he hasn't slowed down yet!

And now here we are to 10 months old

Sadly we haven't taken our monthly picture. Matthew also had 4 teeth, yes I said 4 teeth come in all at once. Honestly I don't think it would have been so bad (other than the massive amounts of drool) but he also had his second ear infection at the sametime. Poor kid!

And finally, we took Matthew down to Hilton Head for his first beach trip. I was worried how he would take to the sand and water, but like his Mama, he LOVED the beach!

Whew, there's the past 3 months in the shortest update possible. More to come, since someone is turning 1 oh so soon!