New Coat

You got this adorable new coat from Grandma Jill as an early Christmas present.

Here is proof that you don't always love when I run away to snap pictures of you. 

Yes, I agree, you should be the model for this coat. You are too cute!

16 Months Old

16 Months Old

25 Pounds

Uber Tall

Vocabulary: Thank you, no (said constantly), peek-a-boo ("pay-a-boo"), baby, more ("mo"), nose ("no"), eye, toes ("toe"), cheek, bye-bye, ow, etc. You don't really say your s's but you pick up on so many words so easily. You're a smarty pants. 

My dear sweet Dylan,

You are 16 months old today. I feel like I was just writing your 15 month letter yesterday. I'm already starting to miss your babyness. :) I love you so much. My heart just melts even thinking about you. 

You are becoming such a character. You find hilarity in almost any moment. You laugh when we bow our heads and pray. You just giggle. Then you'll try to mock it (fold your arms, bow your head) and look up at us and start laughing again. haha. 

You make faces at yourself in the mirror every day. You watch yourself smile, laugh, pucker lips, jump, dance, and even fake cry. 

You mimmic everything. You try to repeat a lot of words we say. If another kid cries, you will try to make the same sound and you'll distort your face to look like you're crying too. If we laugh, you laugh... this entertains large groups of people very easily. 

You love hugs. You give every kid a hug. You even kissed Lillie Killpack today (your 18 month old friend). Then she licked your cheek. haha.

You are independent, yet check to make sure I'm there. You like to walk off by yourself, but will check every 10 feet to make sure I'm behind you still. At home you like to sit on my lap while I work at the computer, you push all the keys on the keyboard and play with the mouse... it's hard to get work done with you here, but you are pretty cute acting like you have so much business to attend to. You like to play in the same room that I'm in, you do not like to go off by yourself.

We finally weaned you from the bottle. You're now using a sippy cup, happily. You were way attached to the bottle, so I'm glad the second time we tried to wean you it worked with only a few frustrated no's. 

No. You say "no" ALL.THE.TIME. You love that word. If you don't understand what I'm asking you, you think for a second because you don't want to say no if it's something you want. We sometimes ask you things just to hear your cute little "no." You'll even come to my face, point at me, and yell, "NO!" You may have learned that from me.

I make loud noises sometimes, just joking around or if I'm frustrated... you copy all of them. 

You understand what time out is now... but you don't really mind it. You find it a funny game to sneak away from the wall, have me "yell" at you to get back, and you run back to the wall. 

If Dadda or I are lying down, you like to come put your face right over ours and talk to us. 

You're a little chatterbox. You say hi to everyone. You say hi to every stuffed animal, action figure, picture of people on boxes or magazines, etc. When you say "hi" you smile and wait for a response and you'll say hi over and over until you get a response from someone. You also will lean forward and put your face in another kid's face to say hi.

You like to talk all day long. I'm pretty sure you think you make sense. It's fun to hear you try to learn a new word. Today it was "grapes" and you just kept make a "pake" type sound. It was so cute!

If we're at home, you can be a handful, but still pretty easy. If we're in public, you are sooo easy! You are so entertained by other people you barely think about your own needs. 

Immediately upon entering the car, you start to point at the radio and fuss until I turn it on. If I turn it down at any point, you fuss until it's turned up to the proper volume. You love music. You love any cartoon that is singing, cartoon-talking is boring.

You love to draw. You've discovered markers, pens, pencils, etc. and you always want to play with them and write all over things. You learned you can write on your hand and that entertained you for awhile.

I found you one day last week with blush all over your face. It was pretty funny. I didn't have time to take a picture because we had to run out the door.

You just got your last canine in yesterday. YAY! You now have all of your first 16 teeth... should be a break now from your teething tears. You poor thing.

You're sleeping like an angel again since you're not sick and you're done teething.

You're still allergic to milk and eggs, we're crossing our fingers this allergy goes away... for now, I'm continuously learning of new foods I can feed you as I used to feel so limited without milk. 

You had your first Halloween. You were a soccer player from Ireland. You really got the hang of getting candy from everyone. You got to have your first sucker, pixie stick, skittles, starburst, laffy taffy, sweetarts, etc. The only thing you didn't love was sweetarts and starburst. 

It's been so much fun watching you learn and grow. You get really focused on different projects and you're so curious to understand how things work. You know how to turn on and off almost everything in the apartment, including all of your toys. You are mad that you haven't yet figured out how to take the lid off of your sippy cup (hopefully that will take awhile). You love opening and closing doors. People always comment on how it looks like you're trying to figure something out or comment that you're a thinker. 

After I change your poopy diaper, I put it in a sack to take out to the dumpster (they stink up our apartment). You love to play with the sack and you always want to carry it to the dumpster and throw it in yourself.

You've started hitting yourself in the head and you say "Ow" every time you hit it.

You give us kisses with flat lips. The last couple of days you've been practicing puckering your lips for kisses. You'll watch yourself in the mirror to make sure you're doing it right, then you'll lean in for a proper kiss. :)

You love to laugh. You love when daddy comes home. You love to dance and you love when people notice you dancing. You love nursery at church. You love to play with other kids. You don't mind being babysat, we've never had a problem leaving you with someone.You prefer if I come and get you in the morning rather than daddy, probably because you're used to it and you like a schedule.

I've started a photography business, who knows how long I'll keep it up... but for now, you're my number one subject. I LOVE this picture of you.

I love you forever and a day! 

Love,

Mommy

Playgroup

Here you are are playgroup!

You are just the cutest thing. You go up to every kid there and put your face inches from theirs and smile and say, "Hi!" Rarely do they say hi back, but you don't mind. You're just so social. Once you're done with your "hi's", you find a ball or toy and play pretty well by yourself. Sometimes you'll follow another kid around for awhile, especially if they have a toy you want. You've learned when another little kid comes up to you that they're probably going to try to take your toy away, so you quickly hold it out of their reach. It's pretty funny.

Other kids have hit you, but the worst thing you've done is take a toy or hug them. A couple nights ago you kept hugging Wade (the Bailey's 3 year old) and you wouldn't let go, he practically had to throw you off of him. Where was my camera??? You just love other kids and you love hugging them. You're so sweet. I just wish we could find another kid who wanted all of your hugs. haha. Sometimes you end up tackling them to the ground to get your hug (one hit his head on the cement from your hug, another just fell on carpet, but still cried).

We go to playgroup every Wednesday at 10:30 and you just love to go and play. I love you.

 

Bath time is your favorite time!

15 Months Old

Hi dear baby boy,

I love you so much. You are just the most precious little thing that I am so blessed to see and hold every single day. It's been so sad this week because you have croup, and it just would not go away, even with the steroids that the doctor gave you to help your throat not be so swollen. We had to go get the steroids a second time and your hoarse voice is gone... but you still cough a little bit. I can tell it's better, but it's still hard to watch you be in so much pain and so tired and sick. I wish I could take it away, but all I can do is hold you and let you watch cartoon songs on youtube in my lap or lying on the bed all day.

Today you finally have some energy back, so I followed you wherever you wanted to go exploring outside today. I didn't even make you come inside until you wanted to. Every walk we take you gather rocks in your hands and carry them the whole time. When we get back to our little apartment, you bang the rocks on the metal railing and you love the sound it makes.

You just got your first tricycle. It's so cute and you love it! Your feet almost reach far enough to use it yourself.

We spend most of our days playing, reading, building legos, going for walks, playing at the playground, going to playgroup with friends, eating, and sleeping.

All about you at 15 months old:

• You are still 25 pounds and growing like a weed. You are so tall!
• Your a social butterfly - wherever we go you will walk up to groups of strangers and just look at them, sometimes you say hi to them.
• You love hugging other kids.
• You love kisses.
• When you're done eating in your highchair you throw any remaining food off. It's so frustrating and we can't get you to stop it! haha, but you find it funny and will throw things off pretty fast before we catch you.
• You love the spacebar (on the computer keyboard) and the mouse. You've learned that the spacebar will stop and start your videos.
• You love cell phones and get nervous when someone answers the calls you make.
• When we go somewhere new, you shoot off and start exploring everywhere you can go.
• We left you in nursery without us for 30 minutes and you didn't care we were gone (my calling is a nursery leader).
• In the mornings I have to be the one to get you. I try to sleep in, but if Daddy gets you then you cry and knock on my door until I come out. He can usually distract you for a little bit, but you need your momma cuddles first thing.
• You love falling into our soft bed.
• You make faces at yourself in the mirror. I even caught you looking at yourself while you fake cried to see what you look like. haha.
• You love to laugh. You fake laugh if all the adults around you are laughing.
• You love to dance. Your newest dance move is lifting your shoulders up and down.
• Your crib is right next to a dresser; when we leave you in there to sleep, you will open the top drawer and empty all of Daddy's garments out.
• You like looking under things like couches and cars, or if there's a hole you like to look in it and see what's there.
• You love water. Baths are the highlight of your day. If it rained, you like to play in the rain gutters (as water drips out of them). If I turn the water on in the sink you fuss to be lifted up so you can play in the water.
• You love cameras. I can hardly get you to perform though because you just want to watch yourself on video.

Night Night

At 15 months old: You just walked to your crib, said "night night," and tried to crawl in... or climb in. It was sooooo cute! I'm so glad you learned to say "night night" from a friend who just babysat you this weekend. You actually asked for a nap!! Finally!! Hopefully this means the end of fighting naptime. Not like you were that bad anyway...

How I Describe You

When I'm telling other people about you, this is what I usually comment on:

• You're in the 90th percentile for height, weight, and head size.
• You've been 25 pounds for 4 months now.
• You are very independent and wander off on your own. You throw fits when I make you come inside rather than let you wander all over outside.
• You love books. You get excited when you hear me say "book" and you run and get a book and I help you carry it over so that we can sit down (with you in my lap) and read it.
• You've got really curly hair. I'm sad I had to cut it, it just looked like a serious fro sometimes.
• You are teething like crazy. Your 4 first molars are swollen and huge... you're not sleeping well as a result. Dear teeth - please pop through already.
• You are a mini-dadda
• You are addicted to the computer. I can't sit down at it without you coming straight over to get in my lap. You'll be very focused on anything I'm working on. You like to pull my hands off the keyboard and mouse... not sure why. We can't even walk by our room or else you'll see the computer and fuss to come in and sit here.
• You love phones. Everything you pick up can be used as a phone. You have practically destroyed my phone... it is now off-limits.
• You love kisses. You give kisses all the time. You even say "mwah" when kissing. You kiss your little toy figurines, also.
• You love crackers, cheerios, and bananas. That's pretty much your whole diet.
• You love to play with kids. If there is a kid you follow them everywhere laughing and flapping your arms.
• You like to sit in laps.
• You love to say hi to everyone.
• You get out of being in trouble by smiling and saying "hi" or "uh-oh" right after you do something you're not supposed to.
• You think walking is super fun.
• I could drop you off in nursery today and you would not even notice I wasn't in there. However, I am in there (as it is my calling) and so are you, I've left you in there for 20 minutes and you didn't care. I hope it's the same when you are 18 months.
• You love attention. You hate when I do the dishes and you just stand at my legs and fuss for me to pick you up. You like to be held. You like to be played with, you don't seem to entertain yourself very long.
• You are a flirt and love to be acknowledged for every little thing you do. If you climb onto your train, you look up and smile waiting for someone to applaud you... this is how it is with almost everything you do. So sweet.

Sadly, that picture of you looks like a toddler. Where is my sweet tiny baby?

Mr. Attitude

You have developed quite the attitude lately.

Don't get me wrong. You are still one of the easiest going babies on the planet... or toddlers, I should say.

But, when you don't want something, you show me. Rather than your cute little lip-pucker and turning away of the head... now, you grab whatever I'm offering and throw it on the floor!

Last night I tried to give you Ibuprofen to help you feel better (teething majorly) and you grabbed the cup and tried to chuck it. Luckily, I held on and saved it from being dumped all over the carpet. You do this with crackers and other food during the day... I tend to give you the wrong thing all the time. haha.

I'm not sure why you like to show me just how much you don't want that item... I think sometimes that you just like to throw things. Please go back to being sweet and accepting everything from me. Maybe when your molars finally poke through you'll be less agitated. You poor thing. Your teeth are hurting you so bad right now.

Side note: You are SUCH A SHOWOFF!! Your cousin Baylie (16 years old) came over yesterday and you tried to show off the whole time she was here. When you clapped, you'd look at her and smile and wait for her to notice. You played all your games and showed her how to put the toy envelope in the toy mailbox. You ran around and giggled. It was sooooooo funny!

Legos

I am so glad that we got you legos for your birthday. You LOVE stacking them. You put the legos together and pull them apart and put them back together again. You are really good at it, my talented little child.

Nighttime Lovey

In everything I read, it says that you will naturally have a "lovey" that you just HAVE to have to fall asleep at night. For awhile this lovey was a little stuffed bear with a rattle attached to it. You would tuck in between your legs and fall asleep.

Well... it is official... your new "lovey" is a book. You have a few favorite books and you haven't seemed to mind which book you fall asleep with... but you just HAVE to have a book.

Tonight you put the book down in the crib, then you laid down, and you rested your head right on the book. I swear you would have slept on that thing if I hadn't pulled it to the side for you to look at instead of sleep on.

You are my little bookworm. Your favorite thing to do all day long is read books. You keep going and getting a new book, then you bring the book to me or daddy and turn around and sit in our lap for us to read it together. This activity probably takes place about 5 times a day for about 30 minutes each time. You are obsessed with books. I love it.

Standing Up Part 2

You stood up tonight about 10 times all by yourself! I caught you in your bedroom practicing, then you came out to the living room and you purposely fell so that you had to practice getting up. It was so cute!

Today we played in the sand at the park and then went over to a friends and you played in their little blow up pool and in the sprinkler... but you couldn't stand up when you fell, so you got quite muddy crawling around!

Standing Up

You just stood up on your own for the first time 5 minutes ago. It was so cute! You've never actually tried to stand up without holding on to something until today. And you did it on your first try. (You stand on your own, I mean getting from sitting to standing is a first today).

It's pretty funny though because you keep trying to stand up again and you can't quite get it because your legs are too far apart. haha. You're grunting and looking at me for help. lol.

13 Months

My how time flies...

Dylan, you continue to be the highlight of my life. I've never been happier than I am now.

I get to see you first thing every morning with a big smile on your face. After you drink a bottle, you are quick to go exploring. You wander through the apartment, find your favorite toys, read some books, and of course give mommy kisses and quick cuddles.

WEIGHT: 25.7 LBS.

HEIGHT: 31 INCHES

• Your favorite toys: big legos - you stack them and break them apart for hours, books - you flip through the pages and look at all the pictures, balls - you throw or roll them back and forth with us, and anything small enough to fit in your hand... like pens (or tampons!)... you carry around all day.
• Your favorite game: Peek-a-boo. You play this all day every day. Literally. You even play with strangers at the store. You duck down behind a chair and then pop up and scream. haha. If there is no chair, you just turn your head away as if you are hiding, then turn around and scream (happy screams/cheers).
• Your other favorite game: "Uh-oh" You learned to uh-oh and it is oh-so-cute!! You know when to use it. You throw a lego on the floor and then look at me and say "uh-oh" with both hands up in the "where did it go" position and shrug your shoulders. Then you pick it up and do it again and again. Oh my gosh!!! You crack us up!!
• Your favorite place: Outdoors. You also love your grandparents homes. You always walk to the front door and knock on it to go outside.
• Your favorite food: Cheerios. You love a lot of food... but, once you see Cheerios, nothing else exists.
• Your current vocabulary: "nana" banana, "uh-oh", "hi" said with cheesy smile, "meh" meow said every time you see kitty, "puh" up - when you want me to pick you up, "no no no" when you are doing something you shouldn't be doing and you know it (you also shake your head "no" when getting into cupboards), "mama", "dada", and other random animal noises you try to mimic like an oink or nay.
• You're a good napper and sleeper. You sleep from 7:30 pm to 7:30 am and take one or two naps during the day. You still sleep on your tummy and knees with your bum in the air and a toy tucked between your legs.
• You love when I lay a blanket over you in your crib. Such a big boy.
• You love attention. You don't play alone very long before you're at my side handing me a book or a toy or wanting to crawl into my lap. I love it... but, you need a sibling. haha.
• You are such a "sosh" as Grandma Jill calls you. You are so social. You smile at most everyone and say "hi" with your cheesy cute smile.
• You still get shy and stare very seriously at others.
• You love kids. Any age... as long as they're not an adult. If you see a kid, you immediately go up to them and smile and play with them.
• You walk really well now. You just haven't figured out how to stand up once you fall without the help of someone or something. You get nervous in new places and prefer crawling in public or on grass.
• You're a chatterbox. You talk while doing almost anything.
• When you get lost and I'm trying to find you, I call out Dylan... and you sit still and silent until I find you. I call out "uh-oh" or "meow" and you can't help but repeat it back and I find you a lot faster. :)
• What people often say about you: I'd guess he's 18 months old, he looks like the Gerber baby, you should put him in baby contests he's so cute, he is such an easygoing baby! you are so lucky!, he's big for his age, he's seriously one of the cutest babies I've ever seen.
• On command: you wave hi, you wave bye, you blow kisses, you know where your head is and point to it, you give us kisses if we say "kisses", I say "let's go for a walk" and you put your hand up and we go walking.

You are just a happy boy. We are so blessed to have you in our lives. Happy 13 months!

1 Year 3 Weeks

You are just a serious crack up!! You make us all laugh every day. We are still staying with Grandma and Grandpa Richardson... and you just adore them! We have one more week here, then we'll head back to Laramie, WY for Daddy's last year of law school. Yay!

Today you started signing "more" correctly, rather than the cute pointer finger tapping the middle of your other palm. It sure is cute to see you catch on to things so quickly.

You are a master mimicker!! I know I've said it a million times... but you mimic EVERYTHING!

Yesterday, Grandma Terry was giving you a drink of water and some spilled on Daddy (he was holding you). Gma said, "Oh, sorry" and brushed the water off of Daddy's shirt. For every drink after that you brushed off his shirt as if that is just what you do after drinking. haha. Today, you were brushing off your own shirt after drinking.

You were so perfect for your babysitter last night, we all went to a Dodger's game, you stayed home to sleep. You just played and giggled and the babysitter reported you were the easiest baby she's ever watched. Good job baby!!

Uncle Jake came out here to Bakersfield to visit last week. You showed off all of your tricks for him the first night he was here. It was so funny. You showed off your clicking, signs, walking, clapping, etc. You just love him.

Your First Drawing

You are starting to grasp the concept of pens actually writing on paper rather than just being something fun to hold in your hand.

You may have even had a pen mark right by your eye... now that I'm aware of where the pen is going when I look away... I don't much like you having them.

Here is your first masterful piece of artwork on the MagnaDoodle. You tend to prefer using the wrong side of the pen... but once you get the right side down, you become quite the artist.

1 Year Cake Smash

When you turned one year old we let you dig into a cake and just go at it! It's called a "cake smash".

At first you just poked the top of the cake with your pointer finger. It was pretty funny. Finally... you dug in and obliterated the cake... I think you even ate some it... but most just ended up all over you.

Happy first birthday my dear baby boy! I love you!!

This is the end result of all that cake smashing!

Swimming with Grandma

You LOVE swimming. You're just a little fish in the water. You kick, as Grandma Terry says "kick, kick, kick" you say it back which sounds kind of like it, haha.


You kick your feet and do a dolphin kick. You can float on your back for 10 seconds and are very patient in the water. Grandma also takes you under water, which you don't love, but you don't inhale water cause she blows in your face so you hold your breath.

This other pic is 2 days before you turned one. You were walking around on your knees pushing the bus. You were too nervous to walk, so you used your knees. haha.

My Jig

My favorites are at the beginning when the music stops - he stops. haha. Then when he tries to kiss himself in the mirror and it keeps moving too far away. haha.

My Walking Boy

Dear Dylan

My precious little boy. It seems like just yesterday you were brought into my life. I can hardly believe the sweet, funny little boy that you have become. Today you are ONE year old!! I can't believe it. Happy Birthday my sweet angel.

You light up our lives every single day. Not a day goes by that we don't talk about how cute or precious or sweet you are. Nothing in my life has ever made me as happy as you have made me.

Dylan, you are just the funniest little thing. You play peek-a-boo, make silly faces, dance, and do all sorts of silly things and everything you do makes you laugh and laugh... which then makes us laugh and laugh. You love giving your cheesy smile to strangers and you love waving to everyone. You love attention and we always give it to you.

People still tell us that you look just like the Gerber baby. Others will stop just to comment about how handsome you are or what a beautiful baby you are. Everyone says you look just like your daddy... which you really do.

You are a very smart and focused little boy. You love learning new things and figuring out how things work. You love music and love to dance. You move every part of your body when you dance. You love to laugh and will laugh at almost anything, especially if you hear other people laughing, you give your forced laugh because you want to join in on the fun. haha.

You love when we tuck you in at night; you giggle as I put the blanket around you and wave as we leave the room. You love cartoons, especially if they're singing. You pick up on things really quickly. You learned the sign for more after just a couple days. You also turn around to go down stairs or off edges of things, we were so surprised when you picked up on it and started doing it. You constantly amaze us.

You are the apple of my eye. Thinking about you makes me cry. As I leave your room, I often put my hand on my chest and pause for a minute to reflect on my love for you. I love singing to you, I love that you'll try to sing along.

I love watching you laugh. It breaks my heart when you cry, but I sure love the cuddles that follow. I love watching you so focused on figuring out what buttons do or where the block fits. I love watching you watch a cartoon song, you get so mesmerized, lately you've started sometimes dancing to cartoons, but you used to just sit still and stare. I love when you sit on my lap. I love when you stand next to me at the desk and empty all the drawers while I work.

I love when you lay your head down on my shoulder. I love when you miss me and need a cuddle. I love how you let me change you while you're drinking a bottle and know how to change hands holding it while I take your pj's off and put a new shirt on.

I love when you give me kisses. Slobbery... yes... but I LOVE IT!

I love when you try to repeat the words we are saying like, "Go" or "Up", you are so talented. I love when you show off your tricks like clapping, raising your hands straight up, walking, etc... you just giggle and giggle.

I love that you wake up so happy in the mornings and that you can't wait to play. I love spending every day with you. I love helping you learn to walk... it's just so much fun.

I love kissing your cheeks. I just smash my face in your soft little cheeks. I love your hugs... even though they don't last long... you're such a busybody.

I love how you are always exploring new places. I love how much you love to climb stairs up and down and up and down. I love that you make me eat healthier because I try to feed you such healthy food. haha. You sure do have a sweet tooth and throw a fit if I have a Fanta soda that I have not shared with you... you don't even like to wait a let me take a drink between your drinks.

I love the way your face lights up when I or Daddy enter the room. I love how much you love to be held and wish I could hold you forever.

I love how much you love other kids and can't wait for you to have a sibling... one day...

I love who you are. I've loved every minute with you since the day you were born. I'm so grateful I have you in my life. I am so excited to watch you continue to grow and learn, even though I'm so sad that you're already 1 year old. I just want my baby to stay my baby. Thank you for bringing so much happiness and light into my life. Here's to a wonderful year and to many many more!

Happy birthday sweet baby.

I love you forever,

Momma

1 YEAR OLD!

Happy One Year To Me!!!!

(Photo is actually Dylan at 11 months at the Little Monkey Playhouse in Denver, I just love his profile. It's so cute!)

Milestones:

• I said my first word!! YAY!!! My FIRST WORD is GO! My Grandma Terry taught me this one. We play together and they say, "1, 2, 3, Go!" and I now say "Go!" when playing. It almost sounds more like "Doe", it's pretty cute.
• I point to everything. I point to where I want to go and at what I want to eat.
• I have my 8 front teeth! All 8 are officially in.
  

Cutenicities:

• When I get tucked in for a nap, I giggle when I see mommy about to put the blanket on me and giggle once it's on, I'm such a big boy using a blanket. I then wave bye-bye and blow a kiss and roll over to go to sleep.
• I get in every drawer and cupboard that I can. Nothing is baby proofed here at Grandma & Grandpa Richardson's because we're only here for 6 weeks. I keep mommy very busy.
• I am walking more steadily, still at about 5-10 steps. I get sick of walking though and will sit down if mommy won't hold my hands while walking.
• I love buttons. Especially if they make noise, play songs, or light up.
• I love animals. I call out to birds if I see them outside, and will crank my whole body around to watch them. I love Grandma Terry's cat, Simon, I always pet... ahem hit... him, he bit me and I didn't even notice because I love him so much. I daily go looking for him and give him forehead kisses.
  
• Yesterday I was standing by myself and I didn't mean to, I looked all around me looking for support and I couldn't believe I wasn't holding on to anyone... but I grabbed mommy's hand and I survived.
• I still drink Nutramigen about 4 times a day... I am allergic to milk so I'm not sure what I'm going to start drinking now, as I was allergic to soy a few months ago. We're hoping that allergy has passed so I can drink Soy Milk.
  
• I love my bottle and have not yet found a sippy cup that is as nice as a bottle. It's too hard to get the drink out and I throw my sippy cups on the grounds and get frustrated. I just want my bottle.
• I am a major momma's boy. I want mommy over anybody else. She is my favorite.
  
• I am a dancing maniac.
• I mimic all sounds. I mimic sirens, dogs, babies, intonation in people's voices, motors, etc.
• I love swimming. I went under water a couple times this week and didn't swallow any water... but I didn't like it much. I love after swimming cuddles in my nice warm towel with my head down on mommy's shoulder.
• I love playing in the sand at the park. I love the slides and swings, too.

11 months 3 weeks

I'm getting so big! I look like a toddler, yet I am still a baby and crawl everywhere. haha.

• I love giving "five's" high and low five's. I always have my palm open and slap people's hands or arms.
• I learned a couple weeks ago how to go down stairs backwards, and now I'm very careful and always turn around before descending any stairs. I also go backwards off of couches, beds, or anything off the ground. I'm so smart.
  
• I've been scooting around backwards lately. I think it's pretty fun.
• When I lie on a hard floor holding my bottle, I will scoot myself around the room and do some sightseeing while drinking my bottle.
• I hate sippy cups. I'll take one sip, then push it away.
• My sign for Grandma Terry is swiping my cheek, it makes me laugh.
• I sign "All Done" when I'm done eating. I also sign "more" sometimes, but just cause I hear mom say the word, I don't quite know what it means yet.
  
• I give lots of kisses, both with my open mouth and my forehead. I gave daddy his first mouth kiss today, usually he only gets the forehead.
  
• I create new silly faces all the time. I can't describe them, they are just funny. I think it's funny when I close my eyes, too.
• I love playing peek-a-boo. I play it multiple times a day. I either hide around a corner and pop back out or hide my face with a blanket and uncover it with a squeal and smile.
  
• I still go to sleep really easily, within minutes of lying down. I sleep in until 8 or so.
  
• I love meeting new people. We were out to dinner last night and I waved everytime someone walked by. I would wave to them with my right, then after they crossed behind me, I would turn and wave to them with my left hand too. I'm very social and find friends everywhere I go.
• We had a swim party here and I called out to all the kids from inside the house. I could hardly wait to get outside. I call out whenever I see or hear someone in another room until they come and see me.
  
• I throw fits - they never last longer than a minute - but I throw my head back, slamming it into whatever or whoever is in it's path. If you set me down and I don't want to be set down, I'll hit my head on the floor and cry (when on all fours).
  
• I'm a speedy speedy crawler. I get places fast.
• I'm a very happy baby. I laugh at almost everything and everyone. I love attention.
  
• I'm very focused. I love putting little circle blocks into the circle holes. I like to learn new things and figure out how things work.
  
• I love swimming and playing basketball in the pool. I grab the ball and dunk it over and over. Daddy never gets tired.
  
• I love dancing and music. My newest moves are twisting and stomping my feet, I also prefer to dance standing up. I will stand up when music comes on so I can bounce. Even if I'm drinking my bottle, when music comes on I lift my bum up and down and kick my feet to the beat.
  

Dear Dylan

I post so much about you on my blog, that I've decided to start your own blog. I will make it from your point of view and probably will use these posts in a photo book for you. I love you!!