Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Baby Duke Belly Laughs! Mama is KINDA funny...

This sound made me SO happy today! This little guy just gets more and more fun everyday! I feel SO blessed!

Friday, May 20, 2011

Our Little Fish

Went swimming today! Technically it was our second swim date but I didn't have the camera the first time around.
I tried to get to teh pool quickly between naps, but got there at the end of his "awake" time. SO, you can see he gets a bit tired and shoves his thumb in his mouth. That's my cue to get the heck outta the water and feed the tired babe!!

Side note: ALMOST done with the condo! I cleaned for 5 hours tonight and all we have left is to vacuum and meet the carpet cleaners tomorrow! (Oh and move the tools out of the garage!)








This was how I knew we needed to get outta the water! Baby was tired!


I had fun swimmin' Ma!!

SO looking forward to moving on from the condo. Please pray we find our dream house and a reasonable price soon!!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Cousin Time

Duke's cousin Alex is 5 months older than Duke. Alex is Jeff's brother Joe's son. As you can see, they are both Mariner's fans, despite a bad couple of seasons. They already love each other and like to be affectionate......and rough house. Looking forward to many years of this!!

Baby Alex and Daddy Joe






Supporting my teams!!
 
Cousins hold hands!




Shhh Cousin!!
Favorite slippers


 

Leave us alone Mom, we're trying to watch the game!!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Back to Work

I started back to work this past Monday. Duke was 12 weeks old to the day.
The first night was tough....on him and Dad. I actually felt pretty good! I felt energized, kind of excited to be back at work, healing the world, one person at a time ;-) (Inside joke with a coworker of mine).
But seriously, I had 3 new patients my first night back and it felt really good to be problem solving with them and helping to get them better.
At home, Daddy and Duke had a rough first go at it. There were some tears and resistance to the bottle. But eventually, the little guy settled down and was asleep when Mommy got home.
Night two, not so bad! Daddy got little Duke down for a "nap" around 6 PM and he was sleeping still when I got home. I topped him off around 930 PM and he went right back to sleep.
Night 3: They had a great night! Duke ate all his meals from the bottle (last feeding at 630 PM) and went to sleep at 830. I just got home at 930 and all is well in the Van de Mark household! I worked a full shift from 3-9, treating 7 patients and it went by really fast. I even did a quick 15 min upper body workout before I came home (trying to get the guns back before summer).

I admit AFTER hearing the first night went the way it did, I struggled with a lot of guilt.
Guilt that I can't stay home and comfort my baby. Guilt we don't live frugally enough that we could afford me staying home on Jeff's paycheck. Guilt that I decided to work evenings instead of during the day so I could be the one to put him to bed at night.

It only took ONE night for the little guy to adapt and everyone is doing well. Guess Mommy may not be so special afterall!! ;-)

What it really means is that this family is a family of 3 (4 if you count Miss Pebs) and Daddy and Duke will have their special bond and do nighttime together and they will THRIVE at it!

Mommy and Duke will have our mornings. And we will enjoy that time together SO much! Already this week, I am treasuring each moment with him so much more than I did last week. I don't want to rush him thru any feedings or lay him on the floor to play while I do something else. I want to hold him, caress him, play WITH him and catch every smile, every giggle, and every sad face I can before I go to work.

Being a parent is better than I could have ever guessed. I don't mind the dirty diapers at all, I don't even mind the blowouts. Even the middle of the night feedings! I really love each moment I get to spend with him and I will take him any way I can get him!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Happy Mother's Day!!

Christy and my FIRST mother's day with our little men!!

Mom Van de Mark with us new mommies and the boys

My mom, sis, and I ~ we all got flowers from Uncle Ty and Alyus
I really had a wonderful first mother's day! We had breakfast at the Woodinville Cafe with Joe, Christy & Alex, and Bill & Kathy.
Then we went to church with the Hopkins clan and had a great lunch (compliments of my mom) back at their house.
Jeff gave me an adorable activity book for Duke and I to do together (when he's a wee bit older) that's all about us and what we know about each other. He also gave me a couple scratch offs that I won $50 on (score!)
My mom gave me a card and a hanging potted plant, my sister and nieces gave me an "I <3 Mom necklace" from Duke and Ty/Alyus gave me the flowers.
Everyone was so thoughtful in making my first Mother's Day special! I am TRULY blessed.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

First day at the horse races!

Duke got to go to Emerald Downs today with Mommy and Daddy. Dad picked the winner of the Kentucky Derby and it paid him $440!!


 We were joined by Aunt Jenna and Cousins Mia and Zoie.


Uncle Joe and Aunt Christy came by with Devin and Erin.
Joel, Dana, and Lauren came too!