Almost One

Can't believe our little monkey is almost one. Here's some shots from a photo session we had at our friend Joann's house.







The little dress Dylan is wearing was G-ma Montana's when she was a baby - the rattle was hers as well.


These little booties I've had tucked away in my 'hope chest' for years and years. They are very old and special! So cute to see Dylan wearing them.





This little outfit I got years and years ago when I went to India. I've had it tucked away for just this moment.


Just wanted to say thanks to Joann for letting us take over her house. Matt got some great shots!

TP Fun

A Funny Gym Story

After seeing how much Dylan loved the water in Hawaii I decided that it would be fun to join our neighborhood gym which has a pool. I was also feeling like it was time to shed those final baby pounds I'm still packing on. I looked at the schedule and saw there was a spin class I wanted to take, so Dylan and I headed down a little early to check out the daycare center. It was my first time leaving her with complete strangers so I was a little nervous (okay really nervous), plus I wasn't sure how she was going to be. I gave ourselves plenty of time just in case. We walked in, introduced ourselves, and looked around. I was asked to fill out some paperwork so I put Dylan on the ground by my feet. As I was filling out the paperwork I looked down to see D crawling towards the middle of the play area, not even looking back. I quickly finished and for a moment wasn't sure what to do.... 'do I say goodbye?', 'do I just leave?'... I figured she seemed pretty darn happy and wasn't concerned about me what so ever so I left. I got a glimpse at what parents must go through having to go back to work or the first day of kindergarden. Let me tell you, it was the longest hour of spin class ever (okay for more reasons than just leaving Dylan but that's a different story)! After class I hurried back to the daycare room, which was only two doors down. I wasn't sure what to expect as I walked through the door. But of course being the mellow girl that she is, I found Dylan laying on the floor sucking on a ball as content as can be. The women running the place all came over to me and assured me that we have one happy kid and that she was great the entire time I was away. I leaned over D and said hello, she looked at me and smiled which melted my heart! Maybe she didn't miss me but she was happy to see me. As we walked out Dylan waved goodbye to all her new friends.

We then went down and put on our bathing suits and hopped in the pool. Let's just say I'm not sure if Dylan like the water or all the people in the pool more. She was waving and smiling to everyone - lifeguard, people walking around, and the woman swimming laps next to us (kept cracking her up each time she swam by). She had a great time splashing and kicking. AND when we got home all that swimming and playing made for a good long nap!!!! It was PERFECT. Now I can feel comfortable leaving her so I can get in a little exercise, she gets to have fun with all the kiddo's in the little daycare, go swimming, and while she's taking a good ol' long nap I can get a few things done around the house. Wow, why didn't we think of doing this sooner.

Hand In The Cookie Jar

Okay in this case it's hand in the yummy case of beer the Hostetter's gave us for Christmas. "Uh, Dylan, not quite old enough love, sorry!".

New Girl In The Office

She can type 40 wpm and....

files at lightening speeds

Miso Happy

Today for lunch we had grilled salmon sushi rolls, they were so yummy Dylan had three, seaweed and all! She loved them.

A Fun Day In The Snow

Last Sunday we packed up the Eurovan and headed up to play in the snow. We found a great place just past Snoqualmie Pass. When we first got to the parking lot I thought "Oh no, everyone and their brother are here." But I should never doubt my husband as we blazed our own trail through the woods. Dylan and Maggie were both smiling from cheek to cheek - I'm not sure which one fell asleep first on the way home. It was a super fun day!

Too Smart For Her Own Good

The other day Dylan and I were in the kitchen playing. Next thing I knew she was standing right beside me opening up the cupboard under the sink - little smarty pants. Now, as I write this, I'm watching Matt install baby locks. Hopefully this will at least slow Lil miss d down.

No More Stinkin' Baby Food....

"Uh, I want what you're having, please." says lil d (as she's noticing our plates look different than hers). So we gave it to her and she ate every last bite and wanted more!

Peas, Salmon, Beans, Risotto, Mango, & Avocado (yes, it's her new favorite) all arrange very pretty on her plate, just like she likes it (I have to practice my food styling skills on someone).

"Hummmm... think I'll give this pink stuff a try."

"This is some tasty viddles! Thanks mom."

Christmas Unwrapping Event '09

Here's some shots of Dylan opening a present from her good buddies Miles & Gia. As most of you know Shannon (Miles & Gia's mom), our friend, Tiffany, and myself have had this squirrel thing that has been going on for years. So for every holiday, birthday, or just out of the blue one of us will present yet another fabulously ridiculously hilarious squirrel tchotchke. The tradition is now being passed on to our children as you can see from the pictures below.

Notice the t-shirt Dylan is wearing and sitting next to her is a squirrel ornament, also both from Miles & Gia. Nothing better than your first ornament being a squirrel - how perfect.

Paper eating break.

Squirrel down, squirrel down....

"Oh did I show you my t-shirt and ornament?"

Here comes help.

"Hmmmm, I wonder what this is?"

Maggie to the gift unwrapping rescue.

"Oh cool, a new book!"

"Oh sweet look at all these pictures! Thanks Miles & Gia!!!"

"This jacket would go swell with these boots as I walk on the grass in search for frogs...."

Santa Jeff, a Little Hula Girl, & An Elf Named Jill

Well here's a very funny story. Before leaving for Hawaii I thought as a mom I should start the traditional Santa pictures. You know get a shot every year of all the stages - the screaming sitting on a scary man's lap, the "wow, I'm going to make a good impression on this guy so I can get everything on my list", and the "oh god, I'm way to old to be sitting on this guys lap, hope none of my friends see me!" - all good, classic stages, all making for a good laugh and it's part of history - right? So since we were spending Dylan's first Christmas in Hawaii I asked Auntie Jill to search for a good Hawaiian Santa - you know to go with the theme of Christmas in Hawaii. Jill and her friends searched for a good one and had it all lined up. Little did anyone know, apparently Hawaiian Santa's stop working on the 22nd and we got in on the 23rd! After our plane landed we headed over to Santa's village to check it all out. We saw the schedule was only until the 22nd but thought oh for sure he's still working! So the next day (24th) we headed down and nope, no Santa. "Oh crap, (pardon my french) I've failed as a mother!!!". So Auntie Jill and friends got on the horn searching the island for a Santa, but no luck. "Double crap!!!!" I thought. So we quickly came up with plan b. One of the farm Wolfer's (work trade person) had a beard and was totally into being our Santa guinea pig - THANK YOU JEFF, is all this mom can say! Everyone searched their closets and we came up with a Santa outfit - okay it's a little pathetic but on such short noticed it had to do. Jeff got really into it, even came up with the idea of putting flour in his beard to make it white. He was a trooper! So after Christmas brunch and D's morning nap we loaded up the car and headed down to Santa's little workshop in the strip mall - thank goodness it was still up. And since it was christmas we had the whole place to ourselves. We got in an entire photo shoot - thank goodness d's dad is a photographer! At first d wasn't so into it - I think she wasn't quite awake from her nap so the actual Santa's workshop shots came out just okay but then we headed out to an open space where they had a big Christmas tree decorated. Jill and I found this very cute little hula outfit at Target of all places. By this time Dylan was waking up and totally into the photo shoot.

Thanks Santa Jeff! What a trooper let me tell you.

So now we have Dylan's first picture with Santa. Next year I'll be first in line at Santa's little workshop, that's for sure!!!! Thank you all for your help!