4th of July

This year we had a very low key 4th of July.  Kyle had off 2 whole days from work (yippie!) so we just relaxed and did some things around the house.  On the 4th we were thinking about going to Patriots Point for the fireworks but they didn't start until 9pm and with Dylann we knew that was going to be a little late for bedtime.

So we decided to shoot of a few fireworks in the street early.  The first ones we did when it was still pretty light out and Dylann jumped a little from the noise, but I don't think she really saw them once they exploded.  We ended up giving her a bath and got her ready for bed and then took her back out once it got darker to try a few more.  I think at that point she was just overly tired because we set off 2 and she started crying and grabbing at my neck.  We went inside and to bed and Kyle set off the rest with our neighbors.  Oh well, maybe next year it will be more fun for her.  She did look pretty cute in her little outfit though...

Happy 4th of July! 

Someone has the rubby eyes

Not so sure about those fireworks

Grandpa & Grandma Starck visit!

We had a very exciting week at the end of the month.  Grandpa Starck came to visit with his new WIFE, Dawn!  That's right, we were honored to host the newlyweds for what ended up being their surprise honeymoon. :)

Having dinner at The Wreck

It was a great having them in town and I know Dylann had a wonderful time with them. We went to the beach, enjoyed some Southern cuisine, went to Fort Sumpter on a boat ferry and just relaxed.  Grandpa was nice enough to watch Dylann in the mornings when I had boot camp and Kyle went to work early.  I usually caught them in the 'play area' when I got home, Grandpa laying on the baby blanket, head propped up with the boppy, and Dylann crawling over him or on him to get to toys.  A great way to wake up, huh?

Grandpa and D at Shem Creek

Enjoying the sun at Sullivan's Island

"Oh yeah, that's going in the mouth."

One exciting adventure we had over the week was that we all had our 15 minutes of fame!  That's right, Dylann has been on TV at 9 months old! We decided to meet up with Kyle one morning to see the first 787 land at the Charleston airport.  Channel 2 News was there and they interviewed me and took some B-roll shots of the whole family watching the plane come in.  The reporter misspelled and mispronounced our last name as well as misquoting me, but Dylann sure looked cute.  ;-)

Daddy and Dylann in front of the Boeing 787

Dylann also worked hard on walking over the week and is getting really solid on her feet.  Grandpa gave her a thrill by going "fast" across the living room and then spinning her around to go back.  She broke out into giggles every time he did it.  I'm sure his back was giggling too from all that bending over. :-P  I made an interesting observation as she was taking me on a 5th or 6th rotation around the kitchen... she's figured out how to 'fly' using our hands.  For instance, she'll pull down on my right hand if she wants to turn to the right, and vice versa.  I told Mike it's like she's doing toggle turns... I think that made him proud. :)

I love this shot of the two of them :)

Last but not least, we went to Skydive Walterboro on Friday before they headed home and Dylann got to see Daddy skydive for the first time.  She loved walking around the drop zone and was enthralled with the bright canopies landing.  I did have to keep an eye on her in the hanger because all she wanted to do was go walk on lines and parachutes that were laid out for packing.  But, hey, maybe that means we can put her to work early on like Kyle? ;-)

Hanging at the DZ

Thanks for the great visit Grandpa and Grandma Starck... and CONGRATULATIONS!

The Lovebirds 

10 months old

Dear Dylann,

Wow, where did that month go?  I swear I was just writing your 9 month letter yesterday.  It's amazing how fast time is going by especially as we close in on the 1 year mark.  Well, you officially turned 10-months-old on the 4th of July! This has been a fun and exciting month, by-far, one of my favorites.  You are officially a toddler in personality, size, and actions, and although it's sad that I can't say, "I have a baby" anymore, I love the person that you are becoming.

So patriotic!

One of the most exciting things that happened this month is you that took your first baby steps!  Since then you have gotten more and more sturdy on your feet and love for Daddy and I to 'walk' you around the house holding on to just one of our fingers for support.  I love watching you cruise around the furniture and let go from time to time to stand for a bit on your own before plopping down, but it's also been a bit scary.  A couple of times you have just taken off from the coffee table and walked strait for the kitchen on your own.  This is very brave of you, but you always gain speed and if Daddy or I can't get there in time you take a face plant right into the tile floor.  You've only done it twice with two bloody lips to show for it, but I think it's been enough to scare you away from taking off on your own for awhile.  It will come though. For the meantime, you are still crawling away with your half drag/step method which I think is adorable.  You have started getting really fast and if you hear me coming up behind you you start shrieking with laughter and take off until I 'get you' and pull you off the ground.  I will miss that once you really start walking.

You are eating more and more finger foods now that you have SIX teeth!  They are super cute and getting big.  I think your back right molar is about to come in as well.  Your new favorites are cinnamon raisin toast, gold fish, grapes that I cut into thirds, and mommy's lasagna.  I am starting to ween you from the bottle very slowly, so now I have cut out one bottle a day.  You are still getting your morning, dinner, and bedtime bottle, but now at lunch you just get a meal and juice.  You eat a lot more at this meal now, so I'm glad you are getting more solid food.

Lasagna is guuuuuddd!

Sleep wise, you are still taking 2 naps a day although we can skip one from time-to-time and it's not too bad.  There's definitely a fine window to put you down for a nap and if it's missed, then that's that, we just keep you up and it's an early night to bed.  Our bed time routine has a new step in it now... teeth brushing!  You love it and Grandpa Starck actually got you a fancy electric tooth brush while he was in town.  We brush your teeth in the morning and after your bottle right before you go to bed.  You light up when we go into the bathroom and I turn it on. :)

Fun with bubbles

You have started babbling a lot more this month and I can tell you understand some of what I'm saying now.  If I ask you for a kiss or a hug I'm more likely to get one, although sometimes I still just get a smile or a giggle.  You have learned how to shake your head 'no' this month which is hilarious because you do it for everything.  I ask you how your nap was, I get a head shake 'no'.  I give you a piece of banana and you eat it while shaking your head 'no'.  I tell you it's time to go to the pool and you shake your head 'no'.  It's pretty much a reflex at this point.  haha.  I'm trying to teach you that your head can go up and down too, but it hasn't caught on yet.

Mmmm, daddy's ear is tasty!

I need to weigh and measure you because I know you have grown a ton this last month.  It's amazing picking you up now what a big girl you are.  A couple of days ago we were out running errands and I think I had 3 people ask me how old you were but they asked saying ages... "Is she just over a year?", "around 14 months?", etc.  I guess you really have turned into a little lady.

I can't believe in just two short months you will be a year old.  I am so excited to see you continue to learn and develop, but I already miss holding you in the crook of my arm like when you were a small infant.  I guess that's just the joy and hardship of being a parent.  All I know is everyday my love for you grows!

Love- Mommy