where does the time go?

It has been months since my last update. Time flies when you are chasing around a toddler! Dylan is now 17-months old. She's so much fun. She has gotten such a great personality showing through these last few months. She is super silly and funny. She's also very smart. (I know,

every mother says this. That's fine though.) This is what Dylan has been up to lately:

expanding her vocabulary

mommy

daddy

dog

bird

cat

cow

sheet (sheep)

donkey

ball

eat

pay (pray)-she folds her hands and says this when we sit down to eat and usually 3 or 4 times during the meal

nanny

pops

josh-yes, with a j! she only said it with a d for a short time

ni-night-she says this when she's ready to lay down for a nap or bed time)

boss you (bless you)-said, in fact, when someone sneezes and sometimes when one coughs

daint doe (thank you)

aside (outside or inside, depending on where she is and where the desired destination is)

where doe (where'd it [or he or she or whatever] go?)

baby

bobby

bath

data (cracker)

bapple (apple)

nana (banana)

cheese

eyes

toes

bayee (belly)

no-brilliant right? i try not to teach her no and of course she enjoys the use of it!

yea

wa-wa (water)

oooh, teentee (oh, stinky)

who'saat (who's that?)

hi

bye-bye

dance

*update: she also says horse, bait-bo (skateboard), shoes and where's your shoes?*

Dylan uses all these words in their proper context.

Gosh, I know there are more. I will update that when I remember them! There have been a few 3-word phrases she has used as well. I knew I should have written them down, but they'll come back to me.

She also knows and usually uses sign language for eat, more, all done, thank you and she has her own for "love you". It started with teaching her to blow a kiss. We would say "love you" and blow kisses. She would blow kisses with her hand just under her chin instead of on her mouth. Now when we say blow kisses, sometimes she will do that. But when we say "love you" she will

put her hand under her chin (as if to rest on it) off to the side. and that's her "love you". It's the most precious thing you've ever seen. Trust me.

She also knows the sounds of a cat, monkey, cow, duck, sheep, owl, lion, and says choo-choo for a train.

Oh and she counts to 3. No big. There was actually a full day that she was counting to 5. But it hasn't happened since. She will count to 3 just before hopping down a big step or getting up from a seat, or doing something super exciting. And sometimes just for fun.

Dylan also enjoys high-fives and knuckles (or pound). Oh and you gotta see kung-fu hands if you haven't yet. My mom has it on video. I'll get that from her and post it on here. It's great! Anyhow, as you can see, Dylan's been busy growing and learning. Everyday is something new. It's so wonderful to watch her grow and to see her mind work.

Here are some recents: (Check out her hair, it's growing like wildfire!)

first painting experience for Pops today- Happy Birthday Pops!

paparazzi shot

Dylan Tim Tim seen shopping this week with her mother and grandmother at ToysRUs

learning to water the plants like Pops

mommy taught her how to line her dolls up

praying

enjoying the sunshine

hangin' with precious cousin Trey

flea market

every once in a while we make a trip to the Long Beach Antique Flea Market. It's just down the street from our house and they always have great things! This trip Dylan, Chad, Josh and Pops and I went. Pops scored big time on some great stuff and Dylan got this:

I think she likes it. Anyhow, the next day, Joshie sent me a link to the Patchwork Festival and said "we should go!" I said sign me up. Today I received an email about it through The Outfit. It is an online store that used to be a store down on Broadway. Anyhow, it confirmed it, we are gonna go. Should be fun. There's a fundraiser for the high school girl who was shot here in Long Beach last month. So that's a good thing too. And maybe we will score on some nice Christmas finds!

birthday girl

Our baby girl is 1! Dylan turned one on September 10. What a joy this last year has been. The time really does fly, but we have enjoyed every bit of it. Dylan is so fun at a whopping 14 months now. She really has a great personality. She is very social and very talkative. She took her first official steps back in August, but after a few tries, she stuck with the crawling. Then, on the day before her birthday she started taking off. There was no looking back from there. She tries to run now, but she usually eats it. She's a tough girl, inside and out. She's very strong-willed, independent, and loving. She plays well by herself and is getting used to playing well with others. She loves babies and says "baby" when she sees one. She says several words, but she mostly speaks in her own language. She definitely knows what she's talking about though. In fact, there are several "words" she uses often, but we don't know what they are. Dylan is very good at knowing what she wants and letting us know what she wants. She's very clear in asking for something even when she can't say the actual words.

Words she says (in bold are the words she uses in context):

mama (not often and only when I ask her to)

papa

baby

dog

ball

pops

bea-be (my mom-when we ask her to say Nanny she says bee-bee with an emphasis on the first bee)

eat (used with the sign language for eat)

yea (as in yes, don't ask me where she got that)

wow

cheese

please (even though it sounds just like cheese she often uses it in context)

hi (her new one, she'll walk into the room where you are and say hi, sooo cute)

The words she knows in sign language are: more, eat, thank you, hi and bye. She blows kisses and gives good kisses. She still loves to be outside and she loves water. She loves having books read to her and she loves to "read" them herself. She also loves "talking" on the phone (my current favorite). She makes animal sounds for a cow, a monkey, and she kind of knows the duck.

We had a party at the park down the street for Dylan's birthday. It was super fun with lots of friends and family. Our friend Becky Fisher came out and took some photos and here are just a few of the many amazing shots she took. (beckyfisherphotography.com)

Happy birthday Dylan B Tim Tim. Thank you for being such a light in our lives.

our Dylan...

I can almost shed a tear just typing this. Dylan you are 11 months old today. ELEVEN months! We are one month away from your first birthday! I honestly cannot believe it has been almost a year since I went into the hospital to deliver the most beautiful baby I've ever seen. Where does the time go?

Dylan you are such a joy and delight in our lives. Your daddy and I love you in a way you won't understand until you have children of your own. There is nothing you can do that will ever change the love we have for you. You are a precious gift from God. You brighten every day. Here's what you've been up to:

you make us laugh constantly

you dance a lot (gotta love those hand motions)

you "talk" on the phone (or remote or anything with a similar look/feel as a phone)

teeth count: 7!

you clap (well, you've clapped)

you have the greatest smile there is

you still love peekaboo

your favorite foods are cheese and yogurt

you say "yummy" in a way that only you can (kinda sounds like mmbaopmm?)

you are the most alert, interactive, social, happy 11 month old I've ever seen (so many others tell me this too, even strangers)

we get stopped when out in public so people can talk to you, look at you, smile with you and tell us how beautiful you are

you have blond hair! and after being quite the beach bum this summer, your olive skin has come out

you love water as long as it's not in your face

"dah", or dog, is your favorite word. you say it when you hear or see a dog (and sometimes when you don't)

you will be walking any day now

you sign "more"

you point. a lot!

your favorite place to be: outside

for over a month now you've been able to get down off the couch or bed on your own

one thing you do that makes us laugh is that you often bite your cheerios in half with your front teeth

you wave when we say "hi", "bye" or when you are waved to

you like to mimmic us when we read your "mirror book". you say "wow", stick out your tongue and do the tongue thing that I don't know how to explain

you like to sit in the window sill of the big window in the living room

and thank goodness, your separation anxiety phase is on it's way out! (praying, fingers crossed, knocking on wood here!)

Dyllie, you are such a happy baby and we are so thankful to have you as our daughter.

We love you!!

-Mama & Dadda

oh joy...

The joy of teething. Poor Dylan. She now has 6 teeth. 4 on the top, 2 on the bottom. She got 2 this last week. The first 4 didn't bother her too bad. She would be a little fussy, wake up a couple times at night, whatever. These two she got this week have been hell. Poor baby, I wish I could go through it for her. It started with nonstop fussing and if you know Dylan, you know she's just not a fussy baby. So when something continues to bug her, you know something's wrong. I then realized she had a painful rash in her diaper area. Not just a diaper rash, I'm talking solid red covering her skin under her diaper. It was accompanied by a minor fever. Once I got the rash treated and got her some Tylenol, she began to feel better. She was a little restless that night and then continued with a small fever on and off for about 5 days. She was also a little fussy here and there. She got both teeth through and then it got worse. The last two days she has been nonstop clingy, crying, fussing, whining, sleepy and fevery. This is soooo not like her! I feel so terrible for her! Today she has been sleeping most of the day. Normally she takes 2 one-hour naps during the day. However, the last two days she's been very tired and today she has only stayed awake about 45 minutes at a time! (hence the time to blog!) I ended up calling the doctor today (and of course my dr. whom I love and totally trust is out of town!) because Dylan's fever spiked to 103.3. However, rest assured because it's the under-the-arm temperature, her core temp is much lower. So....anyhow, the Tylenol, teething tablets, frozen rings, damp washcloths continue. I pray that this passes quickly. I miss my sweet baby Dylan! I did happen to capture some bittersweet pictures of her today. They are so sad, but precious and I know I'll appreciate having them later. These are from my iPhone with a filter applied to them.

Happy Father's Day...

to Chad. You have been a father for a little over 9 months now and I'm so proud of who you have become. You have always been an amazing and caring partner and friend, but to see you as "Dada" is such an incredible blessing. You are always attentive, caring, compassionate, helpful, honest, playful, and most of all loving when it comes to Dylan. To have you alongside me in this adventure means the world to me. I know you are ready for more and whenever that time comes I know that you will continue to be as incredible with any others that come along as you are with Dylan. Thank you for being the daddy that you are. Dylan is so lucky to have you.

Great Strides

As many of you may know, our dear friends Justin and Holly Reynolds have a daughter, Ojaio, who has Cystic Fibrosis.  Every year we participate in the Great Strides Cystic Fibrosis walk to raise money towards finding a cure.  Unfortunately, this year we will be out of town and unable to attend the walk.  However, I don't want this to deter our fundraising efforts.  The following is a note from Holly, Ojaio's mom.  Please read it and support our friends with your prayers and if possible, a donation in any amount.  Also, please pass this on to anyone and everyone!  Thank you! (and thanks Josie for the pic of me, Ojaio and Dylan)

Ojaio Lux -- Investing in a Lifetime

Dear Friends and Family,  By now you have probably heard Justin or I explain, "It's all we know," when asked about raising a child with Cystic Fibrosis. This past year we have begun to truly feel this way. The daily regimen of treatments and medications in which we were at one point bombarded with now feel normal, like changing a diaper, or giving a bath. Ojaio is as healthy as any other three year old. While we are always living with CF, these days, we have been able to focus more on living.  From the heart of someone surrounded by Ojaio's love everyday, let me tell you a little bit about her spirit. Ojaio is determined, loving, dramatic, independent, funny and extremely intelligent. The first time we played the memory game, she won. Ojaio is dainty, and at times prissy, but very strong. Sometimes she amazes us with her grip, or by the things she can lift over her head. She prefers hopping, skipping and tip-toeing to walking, she can shake her booty and carry a tune. Ojaio is special. She makes friends with everyone she meets, she knows how to be cute, and she eats up attention. Some of Ojaio's favorites are books, chocolate, our dog Oka, and her cousin Rhianna. She is athletic, and interested in soccer balls, fishing and bicycles, yet equally enamored by dress up, nail polish, and anything in the color pink. She sings, she dances, she giggles. She is hugs, she is cuddles, she is kisses. Ojaio is love.  Though we have become used to it, living with Cystic Fibrosis and keeping up with all it entails is a full-time job. Throughout the day Ojaio takes seven different medications multiple times. When she is healthy she does two half-hour breathing treatments each day, and when she is sick, this doubles. When things are going well, we see the CF team every two months. Ojaio has five doctors, a dietitian, a nurse case manager, two respiratory technicians, a physical therapist, and a social worker. This is what it takes to keep Ojaio alive. For Justin and I, parenting is more than providing shelter, ensuring proper growth and love. It also means investing in new therapies, and a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. I truly believe we will find a cure in Ojaio's lifetime, but only money will make that possible. Drug companies and the government will not invest in CF, because it is not profitable -- only 30,000 Americans suffer from this disease. It is up to us to give our kids a long life. Cystic Fibrosis is the number one genetic killer of Children in the US. While the median age of survival is 37, as hard as we try, sometimes it doesn't matter. CF does not discriminate. More than 60% of kids with CF won't make it to adulthood. My cousin Megan lost her precious son Liam to CF as an infant. Just last month, an eight year old lost her life to this disease. We CANNOT let this happen to our Ojaio.  Times are tough, but please give what you can. Five bucks will bring us that much closer to a cure. Any amount is appreciated.  After you give, please send this to your friends and family. Justin and I need the world to know how special Ojaio is, how much we need her in it. Thank you.  To make a donation, please visit http://www.cff.org/Great_Strides/HollyReynolds Words cannot express our gratitude. Thank you so much, Holly, Justin and Ojaio Reynolds

nap time

Okay, so sorry for the obnoxious amount of posts right now, but Dylan's napping, the house is clean, Chad's gone so I don't have to fix a big dinner.  Therefore, it's time to blog!  Check out how big my girl is getting!  

Oh Dylan B!  You:

are 8 months old

are one of those speed crawlers

have two bottom teeth and are working on the top two!

say "Dada"

love to give zerberts (or raspberries) on our faces, shoulders, arms and even your own arm!

are just now starting to reject some foods, but mommy knows good tricks and you eat them anyway!

sleep a lot.  two naps during the day and 10-11 hours at night.  

no longer nurse at night

are the youngest member of our church

just started doing the cutest eye squint thing!

are waking up from your nap

look at those pearly whites!  haha!

Dyllie at the park

in her frog pool!

is that a gang sign?

Dylan playing guitar with Chad

ah, life at BJ's.  the best thing I ever got from working at BJ's was the relationships.  I met a lot of people working there for so long, but there were a few who I know will be lasting friendships.  These are a few of my most favorite people in the whole wide world, honestly.  I absolutely love each one of them. Since I vow never to return to work at the restaurant again and because some of them will be moving on from there soon as well, we have committed to meeting for lunch hopefully (yes please!) once a month.

Amy, Andy, Sara and Erin.  I love you guys so much and miss seeing you all the time.

just a shot of Dylan in her room (yes, it's still a work in progress, are you surprised? really? didn't think so).

oh the sheer delight of being tossed in the air...look at her face!!

keepin' up with the Jones'

For those of you who don't know, the Jones fam, Darrin, Julie, Sawyer and McKenna, are super special to me and my family.  Darrin was my youth pastor for a couple of years when I was in junior high.  He worked at a church with my mom at the time.  He is also the one who married Chad and I nearly 4 years ago.  He is an incredible person and his family is no different.  I can't say enough about how wonderfully spiritual and loving this family is.  God called them abroad several years ago and they have been living in the south of France, where Darrin has been pastoring a church since then.  They are now moving to Africa where they will be working at a school.  They were recently here for a short visit and we were able to spend some time catching up, hearing stories, laughing and enjoying their company.  They also got to meet Dylan for the first time.  We love you guys and hope to see you again next year!

Dylan with Julie

having fun with silly McKenna

p.s.

one of my fave sites, ohdeedoh.com, introduced me to an awesome bike by Madsen Cycles.  I was on their website checking it out and they are having a giveaway!  So...I've posted a link (to your right) and you can help me win the bike by following the link to check out their super cool new bike...click away my friends!  Thanks!

"Easter Bunny Bock Bock"

We started off our Easter day with a celebration service at the Pacific Amphitheatre where 150 people were baptized!  It was awesome.  We then headed down to Fallbrook to Uncle Phil and Aunt Debbie's house for the annual party there.  Thanks Aimee for setting up a wonderful day!  We had so much fun and Dylan got to spend some quality time with the fam!

singin' and dancin'

Casa de los Campos 

Dylan and Daddy ready to find the "Golden Egg"

getting ready to start the egg hunt