A long overdue update!

Well here we are in February and I'm just getting around to posting pictures from our annual Dean Family Christmas. I do have an honest excuse for my lack in posting, which I will get to in a bit...

So for Christmas we headed to Milledgeville to Jason's parents for a gathering of all the Dean's. For the past couple of years, it seems we've had a new addition. For a while it was new daughter-in-laws, then we moved onto new grandchildren. So Christmas this year was a wild one, to say the least, with all 3 grandchildren, ages 6, 2 and 18 months.

Here's a glimse of the fun!
Andrew, Bryson & Matthew
Playing Nana's Piano

Opening one present on Christmas Eve! My Aunt Josie got Matthew Elmo Rocks. Matthew has a slight obsession with Elmo right now. Needless to say Elmo was a hit!

Matthew LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his cousin Andrew! And Andrew is so good to Matthew. Here they are on Charlie's dog bed, Andrew with Green Monkey and Matthew with his Lovey :)

And all the Deans together!

Now this is really how it all went down! I absolutely love this picture and everything it captured! Pure maddness!

So now to my lack there of posting... Matthew is going to be a big brother! Butterbean # 2 is expected to arrive August 1, 2012.

This pregnancy has been nothing but the opposite to my experience with Matthew. I was completely exhausted until recently, however I didn't have any morning sickness, so I can't complain too much. And everyone warned me that with baby #2, your body jumps right back into pregnancy, but I guess I really didn't believe it...

I will let this picture speak for itself! PS. I'm only 12 weeks in this picture... I am now 15 weeks and feeling like my energy is finally coming back, so needless to I'm going to attempt to take full advantage of it!

Matthew's language is growing by leaps and bounds. I was trying to keep up with all his words, but honestly he picks up something new everyday. At his 18 month appointment I was so proud to tell his pediatrician how was saying a few 2 word sentences - "Mama's / Dadda's car", "Bye-bye cars". Since then he's added so much more! It's definitely fun to watch (and hear) what he says next!

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".