This year the Collard family busted out the big guns guns and decided to take our Halloween holiday seriously. Aside from my constant downer attitude and resistance to dress up, Dave was still able to get us fabulously 'Potter-ized'.
Here you have Severus Snape, Professor Mcgonagall, and of course the boy who lived...our own little Harry Potter.
Dave was so frightening that it took me all night to be able to look him in the face. What started out as a very ugly drag queen turned into the most convincing Half Blood Prince I've ever seen. Notice his ability to stay in character for every picture.
I was not such a convincing Mcgonagall, without my glasses and black hair, but everyone seemed to catch on when they saw Dave and Dexter.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought Dexter could also pass for Simon the Chipmunk with these glasses. Just remove the cape, add a long blue t-shirt and vwa-la (no pun intended) Next years costume!
Let me make this perfectly clear, I do NOT condone the use of television as a babysitter for children, nor do I think it is okay to let children watch hours and hours of it a day. And in my defense I do divert Dexter's eyes when I catch him sucked into the flat screen. But...sometimes I watch PBS kids in the mornings with him because they have some very cute educational programs that I approve of.
Now I'll step off of my soap box.
Any-who. This morning he was fussing, and I needed something to hold his attention while I got dressed, so I turned on Sid The Science Kid and propped him up in bed. I started getting dressed and when I turned around I couldn't help but crack up when I saw him. He was totally enamored with the show (or maybe just the bright colors), and he looked so big just sitting here that I had to grab the camera and snap a quick pic.
Now, tell me I don't have a little science nerd(Dave is the big science nerd), sitting in his boyscout shirt, watching a science show. I seriously love this kid.
Well, I tried to hold off, but Dexter's straggly hair was driving me crazy. So, I finally grabbed my sheers and had my way with the little guy. Dave, being the good father he is, held him still while I took off a good 1/2 inch on top. It was virtually painless for all three of us. But I did feel a little sadness removing some of that dark hair. Now he is sporting his new blond due, which is getting lighter and lighter every day.
He looks so cute in his new haircut I can barely keep my lips off of him.
Hello All! I decided to post the pictures that I sent out in the email and posted on Facebook, due to multiple people who couldn't open the attachments. Sorry, I am a little technologically challenged. Hope you enjoy!
Dexter is now 12 weeks old and measuring in the 90th% in both height and weight. He's definitely a big boy, but I figure it's okay, because he appears to have the personality to back it up.
The first weekend after Dexter and I arrived in Illinois the whole family ventured into the city to check out our new home. It was overwhelming, to say the least, but spectacular all the same. Here are a couple of pictures of us in the city for everyone to snack on. Hopefully this will entice our friends and family to head in our direction for a quick visit. Just think, a free place to stay, the city of Chicago, and excellent company. What more can you ask for?
Instead of driving, because we aren't totally insane, (aside from carrying our 5wk old around Chicago) we hopped on the metro and took a one hour ride straight into downtown. This is right after we arrived, hence the smile on Dave's face. Unfortunately Dexter couldn't stay awake long enough to enjoy the sights, but he got a good little ride at least, while his dad carried him all over the city.
The street performers were some of my favorite things. Yes, I am easy to please. There we're everything from musicians playing buckets, to tap dancers, to whole groups of kids doing acrobatics. The statue people we're not to shabby either. And they we're more then happy to snap a couple of pictures with the tourists.
I know what you're thinking, 'This is a 7-Eleven?' Well you are correct, but what I thought was so funny, was that it was stuck right in the bottom of these huge sky scrapers. Not to mention the Beemer parked in front. Pretty much the nicest 7-Eleven I've ever seen.
This is right out side of some fancy shmansy store. Dave and I stopped at the park area across the street to rest and found ourselves just feet from this orange Lamborghini (I think that what it is). All I know is that it looks like the car from 'Dumb and Dumber'. Classy gal, aren't I? Anywho, aside from what you may think, this isn't a picture of the car. But rather the crowd of people gathering around it. It was the funniest thing. People were coming from every direction to take a picture of themselves with another person's vehicle. Why in the world that is appealing I don't know, but I thought getting a picture of them doing it was pretty funny.
The water front was so beautiful, placed right down the center off all of the skyscrapers, that we stopped for a quick pic with the fam on our way back to the train. It was a long hot humid day, but super fun. I don't know how many times we'll be able to make it back into the city, but if I had a couple of house guests it would definitely give me cause. (wink-wink)
If you've ever wondered what a 5 foot 1 inch tall woman would look like at the end of carrying a 9 and a half pound baby, look no farther. This is me at 39 weeks 2 days, four days prior to the arrival of Dexter. And for all of you out there who said behind my back what a whiner I was at the end, I say SHAME ON YOU, because that was one big belly!
As for those who have not yet had that pleasure of hearing the story of how this little guy (I mean this in the loosest sense of the word) finally made his way in to the big bad world, here is the rundown.
After two weeks of early labor with contractions every 2 minutes I was still being refused admittance into the hospital. Although I was 80% effaced I was only dilated to a 1 and because Dexter's heart rate was steady, I was sent home from labor and delivery for the second time to "walk" my way into active labor.
At my 39 week check I was yet again disappointed when my doctor informed me although I was 90% effaced I was still holding strong at a 1. But never the less my belly was still rapidly growing and there was now a decision to be made. At 39 weeks I was measuring 43 weeks. Doing the math that means I was 4 weeks ahead (I was measuring beyond what a woman should measure when she delivers). The question was, do I try to be induced at a one, which heightens my chances of getting a C-section. Or do I go another week hoping I go into active labor, and risk having a c-section if the baby gets too big. Hmmmmm.....let me think. If I recall correctly I think my exact words to my doctor were "GET THIS THING OUT OF ME!"
So, at 39 wks 5 days I was admitted into the hospital. I was given meds to dilate my cervix for 12 hours that first night and was ecstatic to find I was finally at a two the next morning. This meant they could start me on petosin and give me an epidural. Oh Yes, an epidural. After weeks of contractions I finally got some much needed rest while I waited for my body to progress. Unfortunately throughout the day Dexter’s little heart struggled a bit and I was put on oxygen. But I smoothly dilated from a 2 to a 4 and I was ready to get the show on the road by late afternoon. Little did I know we would hit a road block. For six hours I stayed at a 4 and by 6:30pm my doc had to break the news to us. The baby was just too big for me and a cesarean was our only option in delivering.
So...I was prepped, as was Dave. We were given numerous talks about how easy the delivery was going to be and I was wheeled down to the operating room while Dave waited in the hallway to be called in. But, the minute the baby's heart monitor was placed the scene took an unexpected turn. Within three minutes Dexter's heart rate plummeted twice and controlled chaos had begun. I lay on the operating table as people swarmed around me. Nurses wheeled carts in as they poured iodine over my belly. The anesthesiologist began poking at me with a sharp tool only then realizing I still had feeling in my stomach. In minutes my doctor had arrived and was announcing to all in the room that they had to get the baby out NOW. As they laid a sheet over my head I listen to the room pick up pace once again, only to be overshadowed by the anesthesiologist yelling, "Wait! She can still feel that!" Which my doctor respond to with, "Put her out! We have got to get this baby out of her NOW!" And the next thing I knew the whole room went black.
As I was passing in and out of consciousness I remember a horrific amount of tugging from my belly and then Dave standing next to me as a nurse held Dexter up so I could see him. He was out, and healthy. Hours later, after being stitched, stapled, and scrubbed clean I was wheeled back to my recovery room to meet Dave and our baby boy. He was perfectly plump the chubbiest cheeks I’ve ever seen and a full head of black hair.
The next day my Doctor told us he had Dexter out in less than 60 seconds.
So, without further adieu, introducing:
Dexter Scott Collard, born July 15, 2010 at 7:49pm.
Weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 6oz, 21 inches long.
Here are answers to a few questions we have received in the past while that we thought had already been mentioned.
Yes Steph and I are still alive. No, we aren't in a ditch somewhere. Yes, we live in Illinois. Lake Bluff, which is in the northern suburbs of Chicago (Chicagoland). Yes, I am finally in school again. I attend Rosalind Franklin University, Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine. Yes, Steph did come with me for the 7 years. (yes, this is an actual question Steph received on more than one occation)
Yes, school is 4 years + 3 year residency. No, we probably won't be living permanently in Utah again. Yes, Dexter is cute. Yes, we took him with us. Yes, he is still a chunky monkey. We might bless him back in Utah in November. Yes, we are awesome.
