new hair

Okay so this was just before Christmas, but I'm a little behind.
Dylan got another hair cut, and I must say, he looks adorable.

before

 after

with a little gel

Now I just have to figure out the scissor cut on my own. I'm not ready to buzz cut his hair yet. It's still so baby soft.

who's that boy?

My Dylee Bug got his hair cut for the fist time last night.

Seriously. Who is that kid? I can't believe how much it changed the way he looks!

Here are some more photos from the big event.

 After lunch earlier in the day. I think he enjoyed it.

 Modeling a headband for me.

 Sitting in the big chair, ready to go!

 Look at all that hair!

 The finished product. Isn't he handsome?

He was just too cute this morning so I had to snap another photo.

He doesn't look like a little baby anymore. *sigh*

a bug safari

Since Dylan was a baby we have called him Dylee Bug, so for his 1st birthday we decided to have a bug themed party. We invited family and a few friends to help us celebrate by going on a bug safari!

 These are the invitations that I made.

 The birthday boy!

 His fabulous bug cupcakes!

 All of the kids got a bug jar with a magnifying glass in it to find bugs.

We put candy bugs (in wrappers of course) and rubber bugs all over the yard for the kids to pick up.

 Dylan wasn't quite sure what to think of all the extra people in our backyard.

 We turned on the Elmo water mat for the kids to play in (it was such a hot, gorgeous day!) and the boys had to show off their muscles.

 I think Dylan really liked the water!

 He wasn't quite sure what to think of the cake at first, but once he got a taste, he was good to go.

 The kids got to enjoy ice cream as well. Dylan didn't even care that it was cold, just that it was sweet!

 After opening some gifts we enjoyed a BBQ with the family. Dylan even got to try his first hotdog.

 He loved it!

Then it was on to opening all the gifts from the grandparents. I think we have enough toys now (as if we didn't already!)

His birthday was a perfect day. I just can't believe it's already been and gone.

Happy Birthday, Dylee Bug!

It's hard to believe that an entire year has gone by since the day I first held you in my arms. You have changed our lives (for the better) in so many ways. You bring so much joy to my world.

Later today we will celebrate your birthday with a few friends and family. You'll get to have cake for the first time, and open lots of presants that I probably won't be able to find a place for. At the end of the day, I'll nurse you for the last time. It's bittersweet. I'm ready to be done, but not ready to let you grow up.

These days you are full of so much personality! You dance and sing whenever you hear music, or if I simply say "Dylee, can you dance?" You are incredible.

Your favorite word is "okay". I must say it a lot for it to be one of your first words, but sometimes you say it so clear that if I'm not looking at you I think it was one of your brothers. You're such a smart boy.

One week before your birthday you finally took 2 steps and can now take about 8. I've been trying to get you to walk for a while, but you have your own schedule. There is no hurry to grow up. When I stand you to make you walk, you get a huge grin on your face and lunge at me. It's your favorite game. You giggle with delight as you hit my hands and quickly push yourself up for more. You are my sweet, silly little boy.

Next week we are going to get your hair cut for the first time (aside from when I trimmed your bangs in April because you couldn't see). I love your long, shaggy, surfer boy hair. It's soft, and keeps you looking like a baby. At the back of your neck there are some wispy curls. I love them! I will be so sad when we cut them off because I am almost positive that they will not grow back. You're the handsomest 1 year old ever! No matter what your hair looks like!

*We go to the doctor tomorrow and will get all of your stats then. I think you weigh about 21 pounds. You wear size 4 diapers, though size 3 would probably still fit, the 4's keep you from leaking at night.

*You only take your pacifier when you are going to sleep and have been doing this for over a month.

*You still love your blankie and cannot sleep without it.

*You are really into playing with cars. They make you giggle.

* Mommy is still your favorite person.

* You wear size 3 shoes, but we need to find them in wide. 4's are too big, but regular 3's are almost too narrow.

* You wear mostly 12 month clothing though some or your shorts are wierd and you cans till wear 6 months in them.

* You love to play in the water. Bathtime, swimming pool, sprinkler, water table. It doesn't matter. You love water.

You are such an amazing baby little boy. You love your brothers and follow them everywhere. I look forward to celebrating all of your future birthdays, but try not to grow up too fast. I love you!

more

While I was feeding Dylan yogurt for breakfast this morning he started saying "more" and signing it witout me even prompting him. It was adorable! So I ran and grabbed the camera, and of course he decided he was no longer going to sign it. I did capture him saying it though.  He's become so vocal lately. Mostly babbling of course, but he does say "more" "okay" and "go" along with the usual mama and dada. I love it!

Isn't he so sweet?

10 months

I took a few photos of Dylan yesterday. He's becoming quite handsom.

 In this photo he was smiling at Daddy for turningon his favorite song, "Magic" by B.O.B.

spring break splash

We were very thankful for such beautiful weather the first part of our spring break. The boys got to spend lots of time playing outside and even got to enjoy playing in the water table. Dylan enjoyed the water most of all.

He's just so stinkin' cute!

9 months

Yay! Pictures!

My precious Dylee Bug is now 9 months old. How can it be that in 3 months he will be a year old? My kids are growing up way too fast for my liking.

(look at those cute teeth! and that ornery face!)

Dylan is a bundle of joy, 95% of the time. He's still working on those gosh darn top teeth. His gums are still so swollen that his top lip sticks out a little, and now one side of it looked bruised for a while but have calmed down. Poor baby.

His sleep pattern at night is still iffy. He has nights where he sleeps till 4:30 or even 5:30, but then he'll have a night where he is up 2 or 3 times. However, he naps really well. Most mornings he sleeps for about and hour and a half, a good 2 hours in the afternoon and a short 30-45 minute evening nap. We've tried to give that last one up, but the poor kid can't do it. Today I layed him down for nap wide awake and he crashed in minutes.

We went to the doctor today (finally) and he weighed in at  18.6 pounds  and is in the  12th  percentile. He first measured 26 inches puting him at less than 5%, but then the doctor remeasured and he was 28inches but did not give me a percentile.

He is crawling all over the place, pulling up and walking along the furniture. Climbing up the bottom 2 steps (and when I'm behind him he can go all the way up) and basically getting into everything. His favorite toys are anything that his brothers are playing with at the time. What fun would it be to play with the toys mommy actually put out for him? Sadly with all his curiosity comes lots of bumps and bruises. Generally they happen as he tries to walk from one piece of furniture to another, but occasionally his brothers play a part. Thankfully he has not yet fallen off the steps.

Dyl still nurses every 4-5 hours, but is beginning to eat more food. We generally do pureed fruit and oatmeal in the morning, finger food at lunch (cheerios, puffs, peas, carrots, banana or mango) and pureed veggie and rice and fruit and oatmeal at dinner. His new favorite food is mango. I bought some when they were on sale last week and he  LOVES it. I started by just giving him some really small pieces but now have some stored in the freezer. He's gotten really good at using his pincer grasp to pick up food and is fairly content to sit and feed himself.

95% of the time Dylan prefers mommy. I love that he loves me so much, but there are times in the evening when I wish he would be more content hanging out with daddy so I could have a little time without someone crawling all over me. However, I know that these days are going to fly by and there will undoubtedly come a day when none of my sweet boys want to snuggle their mommy. So for now, I'll take it.

(snuggling with Mamaw)

Dylan is still wearing size 3 diapers but has recently moved up into some size 12month clothing. 9 month stuff still fits, unless it is jumper type outift with the shirt and pants all conncected. Apparently my little man is long.

I find myself in awe of him (and all my boys) on a daily basis. I just can't get over how incredibly blessed we are. Dyl has the cutest laugh, and on occasion sounds like sheep. He giggles when we sing "monomana. do dooo do do do. momomana. do do do do." And has been recently trying to clap. He's not there yet, but I know when he gets it it's going to be adorable.

(attacking his big brother)

We've also been working on signing. He thinks it's great stuff when I sign to him, but hasn't gotten the motion down himself. partly because I haven't been consistent. We're working on "more" for the most part but I've been trying to teach some signs to Ronan and Collin as well.

Only 3 months until his first birthday. Sigh. I better get to working on his party!