Splishin and a Splashin on a Saturday Night!

Good News!
I gave Dane a bath last night and HE LOVED IT! He was splishin and splashin in the water, laughing and giggling and just having so much fun! He even made his own water fountain that only boys can create....haha! I am so happy he loves baths...I can't wait till he can support himself and sit in the tub and we can play with all his toys he has! He was sort of upset when I took him out of the tub, but his hands and feet were turning into raisins. :o)

Rubber Ducky You're the One!

Mr. Dane does NOT like baths...until now! Let's rewind...Up until my sister came to visit last weekend Dane has been getting bird baths...I didnt submerge him in water, just wiped him down with a washcloth. I guess I was just kinda nervous to do so, and felt comfortable with the bird baths. He was clean - so i figured it didnt matter! Cindy was kind enough to show me how to give Dane a bath in the bathtub and he screamed the whole time!

Well, I tried myself yesterday to give the dirty boy a bath (he had three "out the diaper up the back" poopie diapers in a row and was starting to stink...hee hee) and he hated it at first, but I sang to him and kept smiling and telling him it was ok and fun! Soon he started smiling and splashing in the water and really enjoying himself! It just goes to show you that babies really depend on their parents reactions to things to know how they should react...I am sure if i wasnt singing or talking to him or smiling he would have kept screaming his poor little head off!

He will get another bath tomorrow so we'll see if he remembers how fun it is! Maybe he will even play with the wonderful toys he has for the bath too (thanks Aunt Cindy! He loves the doggie wash glove thing!!)

Enjoy the pics of Aunt Cindy trying to give Dane his first bath in the "big boy" tub!! Doesn't he look relieved to be outta there and in his froggie towel? :o)

Tall, Dark, and Handsome!

That's our boy!
I took Dane in for his 2 month check up today - and he is one healthy baby!

He is 23 and 3/4 inches long - which is in the 75-90th percentile for his age. He is 12 lbs 3 ounces which is in the 50-75th percentile for his age. I cant read how big his head is, but whatever it is it is in the 50-75th percentile for his age! So he is doing really well! The doctor checked his hips, back, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, arms, reflexes - i think that's it.....and everything is perfect!!

I also asked the doctor if we could possibly put Dane on some Zantac or Prilosec....he has reflux and just gets so uncomfy from it sometimes. Luckily the doctor said yes and Dane will start his Zantac today - twice a day - for three weeks. If it doesnt work the doc will either up the dose or try something different. Dane was making that weird swallowing sound (which is an indicator of reflux) when we were in the office so the doc got to witness it first hand and wants to try and take care of it now before it gets worse. What a good guy!

Aunt Cindy came to visit last weekend and Dane sure had fun with her! She taught me how to correctly use the bath swing..(I didnt know that you were supposed to use it IN the tub)...and she let me know that Dane's diapers were a little snug and I should go up a size....I just thought his belly was supposed to roll overtop of the diaper like that! haha!! Arent first time moms funny??!?!? She was a great help to me and we miss her around here so much already!!

Holy Shitake! 8 weeks already?!?!?

Holy Shitake!

Dane is 8 weeks old today!! Time sure is flying by....He is cooing and smiling and blowing bubbles more and more each day! It is so fun to interact with him and amazing to watch him learn things. He is holding onto toys and starting to put them in his mouth. He watched the ENTIRE Baby Einstein video today too - normally he would only stand to watch about 5 minutes of it, but he was squealing and laughing along with the video for the entire 30 minutes!

We've posted some videos of Dane too! Yay!

Go to the link on the left "Our pics and videos" - then click on Danes folder and in it there will be a videos folder. Enjoy!

Let us know what you think!!

1st Play Date!

Dane had his first play date this week. His new best friend's name is Ethan and he is 3 months old. I met his parents at baby classes. We are essentially neighbors and I have a feeling these little guys are going to make a lot of trouble together!!

Zzzzzz Zzzzzzz Zzzzzz - Shhhhh, we're sleeping!!

Thought I'd share some nap time pics.....Enjoy!

Grandparent's Prayers

Darren and I asked Dane's Great-Grandparents on each side of the family to write a special prayer for him.

To Dane from his Great-Grandfather David Miller

Dear Father God, thou who is great among men - we bow before thee with grateful hearts, for all thy blessings. We ask thee that this new life be accepted and blessed of thy hand as: Dane Lee Hartenstine - May 19, 2009 - to grow in grace according to your Divine will and blessed with the joy and happiness of a great and fulfilling life. Be with the parents and families this day and always give them the strength and will to guide him in the path of righteousness. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen

To Dane from his Great-Grandfather and Grandmother Richard and Ann Yeagley

Our prayer for all is: Your Daddy and Mommy will guide and direct your life to an understanding of right from wrong. Your choices in life will be many and your achievements will be whatever you set your goals in life to be. Dane, we pray you will learn at a young age about your special friend Jesus. Daddy and Mommy can read Bible stories to you and tell you how much Jesus loves you. As you follow the path God has prepared for you, enjoy every moment. It will be wonderful and exciting!
Dane, this is a prayer for you:

Lord let me walk with you although my steps are small

Stay beside me, hold my hand and never let me fall

We love you Dane, Butterfly Kisses and Teddy Bear Hugs. Amen.

Probiotics, The Tanga & Burbles!!

Hello Everyone!

It's been a while since I blogged....sorry!

We have been having tons of fun here at the Hartenstine homestead! Trudi (Nanny) and Denise came for a visit and we had so much fun! We went to the Mall of America and ate at Bubba Gumps. We had a little get together as well and Uncle Larry and Aunt Julie came to visit! Denise invented a great dance called the Tanga (not to be confused with the Tango). It works well to get burbles out (for those of you who dont know what burbles are, they are baby burps). :o)

I started Dane on probiotics - and can I just tell you how much of a miracle powder it is? The kid hasnt had gas pain since I started him on them. All you do is add a pre-measured amount of the probiotics to 1 ounce of breastmilk (or formula, juice or water) every day. It not only helps him with his gas, but boosts his immune system as well! I even started taking them and I feel great!

Dane is still doing wonderfully with is tummy time. He can turn his head when on his tummy with no problems. He is also smiling a cooing a lot too! I think he weighs about 11lbs now. What a big boy! I will know his weight for sure when he goes for his next pediatrics appointment in two weeks.

***We also updated our photo hosting site. You can view our pictures by either clicking on the link to the right "Our Pictures and Videos" or you can go to http://hartenstine.smugmug.com.

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!

4 weeks already!

Can you believe Dane is 4 weeks old already? I am just absolutely amazed at how fast time is ticking by....

When i took him to the peds office the other day I had him weighed and he is almost 10lbs already! What a chubby boy! Haha!!

Oh, funny story about the peds office....i was debating on whether to bring him in sitting in the car seat or just hold him. The car seat can get kinda heavy.....Well, I am really glad that i decided to bring him in the car seat because i no sooner sat down in the waiting room and KAPLOW!! Dane pooped a monstrous poop....It was everywhere! I had my first experience changing him in a public bathroom....and if you know me you know I am a germ freak, so needless to say i was panicking a little....there are germs EVERYWHERE in there!! But alas, we made it through....And thank goodness Darren put a onsie in the diaper bag.....because the one Dane had on was just covered in poop!

Dane is really enjoying tummy time and our daily walks....it is going to rain pretty much all week so we will be sitting outside under our new gazebo Darren put up for us. Can't wait!

Trudi and Denise (Darren's mom and sister) are coming to visit this week - can't wait to see them! Dane's cheeks are all ready for kisses!!!!

Not just one, but TWO!!

Poor little Dane, he has TWO different types of rashes right now. He has a heat rash around his neck, in his folds of his skin (elbows/knees) and he has contact dermititis all over his body including in his ears. The pediatrician seems to think it is our water as that is the only thing that has touched him all over his body. What is weird is that it only appeared on Friday morning and I have been giving him a bath since we got home three weeks ago. Darren is going to check to see if it is our water softener - maybe it stopped working for some reason?!?!

I am not allowed to give him a bath for 5 days (stinky boy!!!) to make sure that it really is our water. I am however going to wipe him down with distilled water. I cant just let the poor boy be the stinky kid....I know I know, someone has to be the stinky kid, but not my kid!!

The rashes dont seem to bother him at all - of course he is too young right now to know how to scratch, but he isnt fussier than normal.

The doc said I can put some cortisone on him just in case, so i will be making a trip today to pick some up for him.

We'll keep ya'll posted!!