Eat, Poop, Love

Dyllan is getting busier by the second. These days- she spends most of her time eating. So far so good with the solid foods- she has tried rice cereal, peas, spinach, and the latest- carrots. So far carrots are by far her favorite. She doesnt get the squinty nose with the carrots. Peas are her least favorite, then spinach. Although if you were going to count "tastes" of things shes had- her top pics would be BBQ sauce, lemon suffle, or margartinis..



Im a little scatter brained these days- theres been a lot going on- and not much time to update- so its this post has been piecemealed together.. But incase there are any mom's or anyone who knows someone feeding their babies similac formual.. I stumbled across this article today on WebMD while doing research for work..  I guess they have found traces of Beetles (and larve) in their formula.  YUCK!  Glad we dont use that.  In fact we recently switched from Enfamil Gentle- to the Costco brand- which I actually like better because corn syrup isn't the first ingredient.  Dyllan doesnt seem to care what she is drinking.. as long as she is drinking!

Continuing on with my scatter brained posting.. thought I would share some of the latest photos of Dyllan.  She's getting SUCH a personality now.  Its great! and so fun!

The BIG Two- Eight and the LITTLE Eight (..th month)

Today is my birthday.  And Dyllan's 8 month birthday.  Cool.  The big Twenty Eight.. sounds old, but then again since I turned "21" I've thought  every year on my birthday that the new age sounds old- but this year is different- it sounds old, in a "Im-getting-older-and-I almost-don't-want-to-share-my-age" old.  (But not quite!  I will still be proud to be 28- Im just happy to be under 30 still, phew!)  Besides- isn't it true?  You are only as old as you feel.  I agree. 

Today has been a great day so far- and its only half over.  It's so fun on birthdays to get calls, texts, messages on facebook, cards, and even a birthday blog post - from all your friends and family!  Feeling super special at the moment!  On top of all this- Dan (best husband ever), has planned the entire day.. I was meant to nanny early this morning (6am- 9:30am) and got a text from Lisa at 4:30am saying "Happy Birthday, go back to sleep, we will pay you for today- but you don't need to wake up" !  So I did- I went back to sleep until Dyll-Bug woke up.  Once we were all up- Dan, Dyllan and I took Mylo on a run in the woods- then stopped at QFC so Dan could get ingredients to make fresh squeezed juice (apple, ginger, carrot, celery juice) .  When we got home, I quickly showered, then headed off the a massage that Dan had arranged for me.  Ahh, just what I needed- it felt great! 

The rest of my birthday is meant to be a surprise- but Dan accidental posted my surprise party on facebook as a public event (oh facebook.. what would we do without you..)- so I know that we are going to a new sushi restaurant for dinner.. but the rest I'm not sure about.  I know it will be fun- Dan always does a great job with these things.  Cant wait to celebrate tonight! 

Dyllan has enjoyed her birthday so far too- she's had 3 bottles- rice cereal, peas, a run in the park, and is now down for her second nap.  I think she knows today is special- that's why she is cooperating so well with her naps.  Haha.  She has a big night in store.. Dan has arranged for her to go to our friends- the Lubner's house for a sleep over- while we have a night on the town.  Fun stuff, Dyllan.. another exciting night- with tons of attention, and best of all.. another night in your awesome tent!  I think she's starting to get sick of this little red tent... she's catching on that it means shes trapped in this little space- and there is no chance of squirming out.  In fact, she is getting so strong now, that we are a little worried that any day now she will be able to pull herself up by her crib handles- and jump over.  I think is time to lower the mattress..

Here are a few photos from our Skype call with Yum Cha (Dan's mom) and Lionel (Dan's younger brother). 

Arrgh, I'm gonna get you.. Mylo!
(Mylo is clearly not amused.. looking at Dan for some assistance)

Saying "hello" on Skype

Loves to stand.

Bored with Skype- onto crinkle book.

Back to her favorite furry toy.

Trying to place nice... untill she gives Mylo's nose the death grip.

Mylo:  "ohhhh bothhher...."

Spinach Face

Yesterday was a busy day- I worked most of the day while Dan worked from home and watched Dyllan.  We all met at noon to get Dyllans passport application and photos at the post office.  Since she was fast asleep in her car seat- the lady at the post office suggested we put a white bag behind her head in her car seat- and she could snap the picture  while Dyllan stayed in her car seat.  I think you're not supposed to smile for your passport photos- but Dyllan couldn't help herself.  She had a big grin on her face for the picture.  But mostly because this weirdo gypsy lady decked out in all kinds of chunky jewelry and a giant multi colored cape- and platinum blond hair and so much make up you couldnt see her face- was up in Dyllan's car seat telling her "ohh, aren't you so cute- I am just going to take you home..and spoil you... you ask my dogs.. wont I spoil you?  ohh yess, I am just going to take you home with me.. yes you are... yess.. goochi goochi goo.. you're just going to come right home with me..."

Anyway- after that excursion, I went back to work- and Dan and Dyllan met Colin for lunch and work.

I came home around 5 and decided to try making a new pure for Dyllan- this time spinach.  I really didn't expect her to like it at all- since she squinted her face and spit out the peas..  She LOVED them!  Dan fed the spinach monster 2 bowls of spinach- and a bowl of rice cereal.  We were both dying laughing at the mess she was making- and the fact that she has a bigger appetite than any baby we have ever seen! 

Spinach pure
Notice the giant glass of wine.. haha

Dan bathed Dyllan after her spinach fiasco- and Sean made us all taco salad (yum!) at the Casita- while we watched Glee.  I have to say- its so nice not having to make dinner!

Good Morning Mercer Island!

It was so pretty out this morning that I decided to take some photos.



Sunrise at the Casita





Sleeping in..



Gooo Huskies!

Wow- we have been so busy lately.  Between work and fun- there hasnt been much time to update the blog.  No excuses- so we're BACK!

I cant believe its Monday already- this weekend flew by.  The weather has been really funny lately- it will vary 20 degrees from day to day.  Friday was rainy- but pretty.  The lake looked misty and flat as the rain pored down.  We decided to have a night in- made a healthy dinner- hung out with the Dyll- Bug, and watched Dexter with a bottle of wine. 

All decked out in Huskies gear- except Dyllan..

Managed to get Sean to carry the Diaper bag.. Hoping to impress the LADIES!

E. Newton St.

MY street

Saturday we had tickets to the Huskies Game - a big game against the Nebraska Corn Huskers- (haha, Huskies Vs. Huskers..)- anyway we woke up early- took Mylo and Dyllan on a run- I nannied for an hour- then we made Polish sausages for our pre-game feast- and headed to the game.  The sun was out- and it was actually HOT!  Dyllan had been coming down with a cold- so we were hoping that she would just take a nap under the bleachers at the game.  Husky stadium was packed- I dont think I've ever seen it so full (and we have had season tickets since I was about Dyllan's age.. )  and the crowd was pumped! 

Goooo Huskies!

Dyllan was doing some shopping ..
she thought she needed a Husky jersey..
(but maybe it was her dad that needed the jersey more.)

Or a cheerleader outfit.

We put Dyllan under our seat- on her tent cushion- with ALL her toys, bottle, etc.. and she might have dozed off for about 10 min... so much for her nap.   The huskies were down by 20 pts in the third quarter- so we decided it was better to beat traffic and head back. 

We were supposed to do down to Tacoma to meet Heidi and Ryan for dinner- but by the time we got home- Dyllan's cold was pretty bad- and she still hadn't taken a nap.  So we called off dinner- and tried to get the Bug to bed.  The entire night she would only sleep a few min at a time- then wake herself up with her sniffling nose.  Luckily Dan has better hearing than I do during the night- so he spent most of the night up and down- trying to help Dyllan settle down- and feel better. 

Sunday morning we woke up and took Mylo and Dyllan to greenlake- it pored rain the entire time.. like showers.. it felt like I was in a shower... we were SOAKED by the time we made it around the second lap.  Dyllan had both of our raincoats on her stroller- and managed to sleep peacefully- as we got drenched. At least she slept!

We stopped off at the Mercer Island farmers market on the way home- and didn't get anything.. next time I think we will go to the Ballard farmers market- its much better and way bigger.  Later- we went to visit our old neighbors Kieth and Deb to say hello - and talk to them about having a joint garage sale (or at least using their garage for ours- since our renter wont be out by then).  Oh boy- garage sales are a lot of work.. here we go!  Anyone need anything!?

We topped off the weekend with an amazing dinner/desert/wine at the McCullum's house!  Dyllan slept in her tent while we ate- love the tent!
Today- she seems to be feeling much better- but still not sleeping as much as she normally does.. wonder if its the cold.. I hope she's not outgrowing her good sleeping habits (Two 2 hour naps, plus bedtime at 7:30pm).

Just one of the Girls



Girls weekend in Manhattan Beach ~ August 21,2010



Dyllan Lately

So every week I get a friendly little reminder how old Dyllan is from www.babycenter.com .  I signed up  for the website when I was pregnant- plugged in my due date- and off it went.  Like a good friend, it would tell me every week, what food I had in my stomach.  One week (week 11 to be precise) Dyllan was the size of a fig- and the nick name "fig newton" stuck.  The weeks went on- and I had all sorts of random fruits and vegetables in my stomach.. I got such a kick out of each week- because they got weirder and weirder..  week 10 Dyllan was the size of a kumquat (huh?), week 13 she was the size of a "medium shrimp", week 17 a turnip (haha, haven't seen one of those in ages!), week 22 she was as long as a spaghetti squash, week 25 she was a rutabaga (whats that?!), and week 28 - she was born the size of a Chinese Cabbage.  Thanks babycenter!

Anyway, after Dyllan was born I continued to get my weekly emails from my friends at babycenter.com.  Its a great way of seeing where Dyllan should be on her growth and learning curve- however- they didnt make one for preemies- so she is usually a little behind the weekly email.  This week (7 months 3 weeks) it says that Dyllan may get separation anxiety- and it is smart to leave her with other people from time to time.  No problem here- Dyllan has more babysitters than anyone- I think she will be ok in this department.  It also says that as she begins to crawl more (she hasnt yet crawled..) she will quickly lose her chub.  Haha- she is starting to look like a little sausage- and if she doesnt start crawling she might just explode.  Such a cute little sausage though..  Tonight I was stuck in traffic and went a little longer than usual between feedings- and Dyllan cried her head off the entire hour we spent in traffic- as if she got her finger pinched in the door.  I kept looking back to make sure nothing, in fact, was pinched in the door, or carseat.  Nope- she was just hungry.  As soon as I got home- I threw the car into park- raced around to get her out- practically threw her into her bumbo- and quickly mixed up some rice ceareal and some butternut squash (she HATED the peas I made last time..)  She chowed down the entire mini bowl (guessing 4 oz or so) of rice cereal, and polished off every last oz of butternut squash.. frantic because she was still so hungry- I mixed up more- and also gave her 8 oz of milk!  Holy Cow!  She MUST be growing.. and hopefully ready to crawl soon.. I was actually worried that I might over feed her and she would throw it all up in the bath after dinner.  Good news was she was fine- and in fact, I gave her a little more milk after her bath (only 15 min after dinner..haha!)

I love this picture- this is right before the bucking bronco (Mylo) pounced down and licked Dyllan's face.

Help me!

Close to crawling...

In other news- Dyllan is doing great- no new teeth- just the bottom two.  She has been coming to work with me a few days a week- and has been such a good girl.  She keeps herself pretty busy with her toys and her naps- and can feed herself (with the help of a pillow)- so I am actually able to get stuff done. 

Tomorrow I will post some more pictures from the phone camera- I have gotten behind.. but its off to bed for tonight- gotta get up at 5am tomorrow to nanny.