2009 - Thoughts & Recap from Shannon

BANKS FAMILY PHOTO - 12/6/09

While I think back on 2009, it started with much sorrow. We learned our beloved dog Avalanche's health was failing and we had to have him put to sleep on 12/30/08, which was very difficult.
And then Emily & my mom unexpectedly died on 1/5/09, it was terrible.
The grief, sorrow and ache we experienced was unbelievable and still hurts at times, probably always will.
All of our hopes and dreams focused on June and getting to June when we'd meet our growing and recently announced baby.
I can't tell you the encouragement and hope this baby gave me during the most difficult times. I will never forget the hope & excitement I had when I felt my baby move for the 1st time on 1/9/09, the day of my mom's funeral. I know that was a special gift from God.
Lots has happened between then and June, but most of it I don't remember as I was pregnant (LOL!) and I still don't remember well yet. I am afraid this memory loss may be permanent for me.
I do recall we spent time with friends and family, found out our baby is a boy!!!, enjoyed participating in our Bible Study group, and spent TONS of time preparing, shopping, buying, etc for Baby Boy Banks (BBB) as I often referred to him. We went to Texas in March, Andrew had a sinus surgery in April, and we had a wonderful baby shower in May as well.
My water broke (at work!) on 6/9, at 4:03pm and our darling son, DAKOTA PAUL, was born on 6/10/09, at 7:50am.
His birth was difficult and he actually had to be transported from our hospital to the Intensive Care Unit in a nearby city. We have NEVER been so terrified in our lives, but we THANK God for a clean bill of health and a perfectly wonderful & healthy son!
Dakota was discharged on 6/15/09 and overall things have only been getting better and better since!
I took 12 weeks off of work to care for my baby and absolutely dreaded leaving him, but I returned to work on 9/9/09. Andrew was also uncomfortable with my return to work so he majorly adjusted the budget so I could quit my job!! I am thrilled to have been home with Dakota since 10/10/09!!!!!!!!!!!!
Life has been a whirlwind as caring for a baby is shockingly time consuming and both Andrew & Emily have very BUSY schedules, but I LOVE being home with Dakota, taking care of our home, and taking care of my family. I am even enjoying cooking now, which is something I never enjoyed before.
Andrew continues working to earn his Accounting degree from Northwood University. He usually takes 16-17 credits a term so his days are extremely full with work, school, homework and family time, but he is motivated and is handling it all very well.
Andrew continues to enjoy various outdoor activities like: skiing, climbing, fishing, hiking, etc, but since Dakota arrived he has taken a break from those things, as he can't wait to get home to his boy every evening.
Andrew is a super fun dad and he & Dakota have a special relationship already! It is awesome! I am absolutely thrilled my son has such a loving father.
Emily got a car in August and started her Junior year at Dow High School & began Beauty School in September! Emily worked at our local mall from June to November and will begin a regular babysitting job in January.
Emily turns 17 on 12/26/09 and has planned a nice birthday party that we all are looking forward to. We have an extra special birthday present for her! We seriously can barely wait to give it to her, in fact Andrew really wanted to tell her last night but we stayed strong & hope to contain our excitement until her b-day.
She is really doing great and loves being Dakota's Aunt! She often makes up fun sounds for him and he is always so impressed!
For Dakota's updates, just stay tuned to this blog, seems like I am regularly posting new pictures and stories about him, since he grows and changes so quickly.
Dakota is a very good natured little guy, he has a gorgeous smile, an adorable laugh, is very social, and tells us terrific stories! However he definitely makes his dislikes known and he is not a good napper or sleeper. Every single day he amazes me and brings me so much happiness I can't believe it!
I had my last Spanish class in May and look forward to resuming my lessons in 2010. I can't wait to teach Spanish to Dakota! I am excited to continue learning to be a mom to Dakota, sister & "mom" to Emily, and a homemaker & wife to Andrew.
I finally feel like what I am doing is meaningful and will actually add value & matter someday. I never felt like that when I worked outside of our home. I know what I am doing right now is the most important job I will ever have. I am surprised though at how fast the weeks fly by and how much work being a stay-at-home mom and homemaker really is, wow, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I feel absolutely blessed to be where I am right now.
In addition to everything I mentioned above, from July to December we spent time with numerous friends and family members, took a vacation to Colorado in July, Andrew had another sinus surgery in September, and I quit my job in October.
Dakota has changed all of our lives and all for the better! I think our lives were fine before, but now things are extra special. I am shocked at how we've changed and how our priorities have changed since his birth. I am so thankful we have him! I truly cannot express in words the JOY my son has added to my life and to our family! He is absolutely amazing, a precious gift from God and the most valuable & wonderful gift I have ever received!
Now we are settling down and looking forward to relaxing during the holidays and enjoying our baby's 1st Christmas, we are SO excited!!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!! ENJOY IT! :) And Happy 2010!

GREAT LAKES LOON'S #1 FAN!!!

Guess who???? YUP, it's Dakota Paul!

These pictures were taken today, 12/15/09. SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Loons!!!!!

6 MONTHS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12/10/09

DAKOTA TURNED 6 MONTHS OLD YESTERDAY! WE CAN BARELY BELIEVE OUR BABY BOY IS 1/2 A YEAR OLD -WHERE'D THE TIME GO? I WAS CALLING HIM SANTA BABY SINCE THAT IS THE 1ST DAY HE WORE HIS CHRISTMAS OUTFIT! (AND HE LIKED IT!) HE IS SIMPLY AMAZING AND ADORABLE!! WE ARE SO VERY IMPRESSED WITH HIM!
I LOVE STAYING HOME WITH HIM-IT IS A BLESSING AND HE IS THE GREATEST JOY OF MY LIFE! WE CAN'T EVEN IMAGINE LIFE W/O HIM NOW....HOW BORING!
DAKOTA HAS BEEN DOING MANY NEW THINGS LATELY:

1. HE CAN NOW SIT UP WITHOUT OUR HELP FOR A FEW SECONDS (BEFORE HE LOSES HIS BALANCE).

2. HE DRINKS OUT OF A SIPPY CUP.

3. HE HAS LEARNED THAT IF HE ACCIDENTALLY ROLLS TOO FAST AND ENDS UP ON HIS TUMMY HE CAN KEEP GOING AND GET TO HIS SIDE OR BACK, SINCE HE REFUSES TO DO TUMMY TIME.

4. HE REALLY SHAKES HIS RATTLES NOW - HE LIFTS HIS ARM ALL THE WAY UP & SHAKES LIKE CRAZY.

5. HE LAUGHS HIS HEAD OFF AT MANY FUNNY THINGS INCLUDING: PEEK-A-BOO, THIS LITTLE PIGGY, THIS LITTLE PUPPY (MY VERY OWN VERSION) & PATTY CAKE, WHEN WE TICKLE HIM, AT BURPING SOUNDS, AND WHEN WE GET HIS BELLY, JUST TO NAME A FEW.

6. HE SMILES WITH DELIGHT AT EVERYONE AND THEN PRETENDS TO BE SHY SECONDS LATER!

7. HE POKES HIS HEAD WAY OUT OF HIS CAR SEAT CARRIER'S COVER SO HE CAN LOOK AROUND/SEE BETTER.
8. HE IS TEETHING-OUCH! OH, HE IS EATING TOO BUT I MENTIONED THAT IS A PREVIOUS POST.
9. DAKOTA CAN SIT HIMSELF UP FROM THE RECLINED POSITION IN HIS BOUNCER AND SWING, AND HE CAN ALSO PULL THE MUSICAL FROG ON HIS BOUNCER-GREAT FUN!
10. HE LOVES TO WATCH PEOPLE, KIDS & BARNEY, SHOP, PLAY WITH ALL THIS TOYS & THE TV REMOTE, THE COLORS RED & PINK, DANCING, SINGING, MUSIC, AND TO LOOK AT BOOKS & BE READ TO! HE ALSO LOVES IT WHEN HIS DADDY AND AUNT EMMY GET HOME, VERY EXCITING! HE LOVES TO LOOK AT HIMSELF IN THE MIRROR, TALK ON THE PHONE, TO BE CUDDLED, TO SQUEAL & SCREAM LOUDLY, AND TO GIVE HUGS TOO!

....I COULD GO ON AND ON, BUT THESE ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BLESSING, JOY AND FUN DAKOTA HAS ADDED TO OUR FAMILY.....

.....NOW HERE ARE SEVERAL PICTURES WE TOOK ON HIS 6TH MONTH B-DAY! WHAT A FUN DAY WE HAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

YUMMERS!

On November 15, I started Dakota on Rice Cereal and he LOVED eating. I had noticed that a few days before this he was really watching us eat so I thought it might be time for him to start eating too.
I don't think he loved the Rice Cereal so much as within a week he refused to eat it. I tried adding Applesauce and that made it tolerable, but he didn't really love that either.
As you will see whenever Dakota does anything new it is a family event, as none of us want to miss a thing!! We think he is SO amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The picture of me feeding him, is of his very 1st feeding. The picture of Emily is round two, on that same day, 11/15.

Here is Dakota when he finished is very 1st feeding - he is SO proud of himself, what a cutie! And here is his daddy, just as proud of his eating boy!

More recently I decided to go cold turkey-straight to Veggies and Fruits since Dakota didn't seem to like anything mixed with the cereal and he LOVES it!!! He likes Green beans and Carrots just fine but Sweet Potatoes and Peas are his favorites, and it is confirmed now that he surely dislikes Applesauce.

Here is a picture of Dakota on Thanksgiving Day, trying Sweet Potatoes for the very 1st time. Yummers!!

Last Friday (12/4), Dakota realized that opening his mouth helps me feed him and now every time I sit down to feed him, I tell him "Open" and he does, lol!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Here's our little Turkey, SO THANKFUL for him! Gobble,

Gobble!

Still Catching Up

11/7/09 - Dakota watching mom and dad rack up the leaves! Very fun, for him! ;)

11/6/09 - Daddy and Dakota snoozing after a busy day!

Dakota's 1st time in his Exersaucer - He LOVED it!!!!

Diaper baby - so cute!!!!!!!

11/4/09 - Aunt Emmy and nephew

Dakota, "reading" in his Bumbo! He loves books!

Special Visit from a New Cousin!

On 10/30/09, Dakota met his new Cousin Ty, Cousin Lindsey, Great Aunt Becky & Great Uncle Mike!!! What a fantastic time we had visiting and catching up, it was fun!!!
Look at these adorable boys!!!!!!!!!!!! I can barely stand the cuteness!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!

Here are we, the proud moms, with our precious sons. This is my cousin Lindsey & Ty's moma!!

Emily with Ty - very sweet.

Shannon, Emily & Lindsey - Cousins
Dakota & Ty - 2nd Cousins....I think....I remember we talked about this during our visit and I think we decided the boys are 2nd cousins. Pls correct me if I am wrong.

Here is Dakota's Great Aunt Becky and Great Uncle Mike who drove all the way down from Alpena, MI to meet him and introduce Ty & Lindsey to him....isn't that special!?!? :) We sure think so and appreciated the visit greatly. Hopefully these boys will be seeing a lot more of each other. ;)

Happy Halloween

Hi! I just realized I forgot to blog about Halloween & one other special event that took place in October.
Here is my Pumpkin on Halloween! There is a picture of Dakota & daddy and one of him & me too. We had 78 Trick or Treaters and Dakota loved seeing all the kids. We also had a surprise visit from Great Gma Schneider and Great Aunt Cathy, which Dakota (& we) also loved a whole bunch!!!!!!


Here we are on 10/30 carving our pumpkins. Mine is in the likeness of a crying baby...lol...Can you guess who??!??!! :) There is one of Aunt Emily and Dakota being all Halloween Crazy too, Fun!

This is Dakota & mom getting ready for Halloween on 10/17.

Finally, here is Dakota at 100 days of age (9/18/09) with a Halloween background, Awh!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!

Dakota - Catching Up - At least I am in November now - teehee!

Here is Dakota on 11/1, showing off his rolling abilities! He's been able to roll for a long time now, but he will NOT roll to his belly as he absolutely hates Tummy Time, lol!

There are a few pictures of Dakota and me too as we matched this day and didn't even plan it, fun! :) I sure LOVE my boy!

Here is Dakota on 11/2, he is giggling hard in his "house stroller" and enjoying the newspaper in our big, comfy, green recliner...he prefers to lay in it while he reads the paper!

More updates to follow! :) I sure enjoy being Dakota's moma!! Thank you for checking in. :)