A Visit With Great Auntie Doris

Well let the fun times begin! Or maybe I should say let the laughs begin!! A few weeks ago we were very honored by a visit from my aunt Doris - d's great auntie D. Doris (as I never really did call her aunt) is only 8 years older and was always more like a big sister to me than an aunt. When I was growing up she'd come out every summer. We had a lot of fun together and I always looked forward to her visits. So now that my cousins are both away at college, Doris decided to come out from Philly for her Spring break and get some lil d time. We only had her for a very short week and boy did it pass by quickly! She and Dylan had the best time together, they played and played and played some more. Doris bought Dylan a play ice cream set which lil d hasn't stopped carrying around - now everyone that walks in the house gets an ice cream cone (a true McBride at heart). It was really great having you out Doris ~ please come back anytime!!!!! We love you!!!!!

A beautiful day out in the garden.

Dylan loved feeding Doris.

Pike Place Market - Dylan LOVES people watching. She waved and greeted everyone that walked by.

A girls lunch at Etta's.

Dylan's favorite - playing in the garden.

And watering plants.

AND her new ice cream set. Cones for everyone!

A visit from Nan (Anne).

No time to stop and eat - so busy, busy, busy.... eat and run.

Everywhere we go Dylan makes friends. One day we met Matt at his office and all walked to Fremont for lunch. Doris had never had Thai so we headed over to Jai Thai - within 3 minutes Dylan had all the ladies from the kitchen singing, laughing, and playing with her. In about 4 she had several other staff members gathered around. Very comical. And this isn't the first time this has happened.

For Auntie Doris's last night we went down to La Rustica, our favorite Italian restaurant down on Beach drive. While waiting for our table we went across the street to a little beach for a few last photo opts. Oh and by the way my aunt really is that short - just kidding!

Me and my girl.

Oh what we will do for a good laugh.

Dad & Lil D

Pappa Matt has been healing up great since our crazy Philly adventure.  Although he's still having to take things slow he seems to be getting better everyday.  It's been great having him around more and he and d have been having some fun adventures.  Every morning they've been watching the Tour de France, playing in the garden, reading stories, working on rolling over, and laughing.  It warms my heart watching them together.  Matt's a great dad and D just lights up when he walks into the room with the biggest smile.

While Gone D Learns a Few Tricks

While in Philly Dylan learned a few new tricks, like picking up her head, rolling over, sucking her fingers, and busting out of her swaddle.  

I just have to say that she's my hero - after all that we went through she was a real champ!  Even before the accident she was an angel and all during not one peep, she just hung in with everything that was thrown her direction!  It was so hard to be away from her for 6 days but I knew she was in the best of hands!

AND Philly CONTINUES! & First Father's Day

And here's the extended vacation story in a nut shell.... After the Phillies game Matt passed out smacking his head so hard on the concrete that his brain actually was forced forward in his head hitting his front right lobe.  After coming to we opted to take him to the ER.  Well 2 ER's, an ambulance ride, 2 hospitals, a fractured skull, bleeding & internal bruising to brain, 6 glorious days, many tests, CAT scans, Xrays, monitors, a breastpump (that was for me), a Neuro team, a Trauma team, and a Cardio team we were released to go back to the Sifer's.  Amongst all this Lil D was back at the Ranch with Auntie Jill and the Sifer's.  They were driving into the city, an hour each way, picking up milk supplies to take back for Dylan.  Matt spent his first Father's Day in Jefferson Hospital - not much fun, but we did sneak Dylan in.  After spending a few days at the Sifer's and just about to get on a plane to come home Matt took a turn for the worse and we had to pull the plug and get him back to yet another hospital for 3 more days. Thank goodness for the Sifer's family friend, Dr. Tinkoff, who just happens to be head of the Trauma department at Christianna Hospital (the 3rd hospital we were at).  He was a huge help through it all - I can't begin to thank him enough!!!!!  AND a very special thank you to the Sifer's and Auntie Jill - they were all such a huge support and help!!!!  We love you guys. 

Matt getting busted out of the hospital.

First Father's Day.  To the best Dad - we love you!!!  Here's to next year, maybe we'll do something a little more fun!

Phillies Game Video

Here's a little video Matt took while enjoying our sweet box seats at the Phillies Game.  Dylan seemed to enjoy her first baseball game - we didn't see her most of the night, as she was passed around the entire night but what we did see of her seem was having a good night.

While in Philly

While in Philly we did a family history tour.  Momma C was born in Philly so it's always fun to go visit the old spots in growing up.  We all piled in the car and headed to go find my family's first town house, both my grandparents houses, and to go visit the grave yard where my dad's family is buried.  We also drove by my Aunt & Uncle's first house.  It was a great time.  I know this isn't directly about Dylan but it's part of her roots.

Momma C & Auntie Beans showing Lil D her Great Great Uncle Wayne's & G-pa McBride's gravestone.  They would have just loved her!

Momma C & Lil D sharing a little McBride family history.

Dylan's Great G-ma & G-pa Douglas's house.  Momma C spent many a night catching fireflies there.

Momma C's first townhouse.  I was 2 years old when we lived there.   Funny, I remember those side stairs being soooo big! ~ new owners must have shrunk them.  Also I'd listen every night for the ice creme truck to come by - I'd catch wind of the first chimes of the truck, would grab my little purse and be at the corner waiting in an instant.  I was and still am a girl who loves her ice creme.  

Philly Continues

We had a great time visiting Philly. There was the crazy graduation party for Alyssa, the family history tour, the downtown Philly history tour with tour guide Uncle Cupcake, Rita's water ice - uh, yum!, the Herr's potato chip factory tour with hostess with mostess, Alyssa, the mushroom growing tour, AND the Phillies game, awe the Phillies game, that one will never leave our memory banks! The night that extended our vacation - but that's another blog entry. Up to that point it was all fun, laughs, and tours! And Lil D was a champ through it all!

Uncle Cupcake scored us a box @ the Phillies Game - it was sweet!

Family time fun.

Great Auntie D explainin' to Dylan the game of baseball.

Great Auntie Doris & D - all love & hugs!

Alyssa & D.

The Herr's family tour - hair nets and all!

Family shot in front of the Liberty Bell.

Doris & Dylan.

Girl's day out @ pick color. D opt'd to say home with Dad & Uncle Cupcake.

Shhh! Deer.

Awe, Rita's Water ice!!! Love it!!! Look at D eyen' up her dads.

This is a rare picture of the "McBride's" side of family. Ken (My Dad's Cousin), Christine, Dylan, Louise (Ken's sister, my Dad's Cousin), Doris (My Dad's Sister/Aunt), Jill, Danny (Cousin), & Alyssa (Cousin).

A Trip to Philly

Well it's been a while since we've posted an entry, a long story which we'll get to.  Oh, where to start ...perhaps at the beginning?  In June we took Dylan back east to Philly to visit Mamma C's roots (that's where I was born).  Matt and I soon discovered that traveling with an infant there is a lot of gear that goes along for the ride (and actually Great Auntie Doris had us all set up on the other side so we didn't have to take too much).  Here's a few shots of our adventure getting back east.  We were so proud of D, what a great traveler she was - taking after her Mom and Dad.  Before we even took off she was passed out.  We laughed as on one of our flights someone had a dog which made a lot more noise that Dylan - everyone on the plane was very impressed.  AND we were very relieved - Dylan's first plane adventure was a success!  Although we were bummed that she didn't get her first wings due to the fact that the airline flight attendant was out (darn airlines cost cutbacks!).  

On the approach to land in Philly.  

Here we are in Denver about to get on our second plane.  You can see Dylan is very comfortable...and asleep.

She's still asleep and stayed that way for 95% of the flying time.

More proof of her ability to sleep where ever.

Didn't matter who was holding her, she just slept.  That made us very happy!

But she was excited to be in Philly to see Uncle Cupcake and Auntie Doris.

That's only about a quarter of the gear we had to take on the trip that Matt has there.  Babies need so much stuff!

This is our driver that took us to the airport.  The car service is so much better than a cab and the same price.  He had great stories to tell, too!