7 months old!

7 months old

Dear Dylann,

You are now 7 months old.  Over the past month you have gone from a baby to a 'little person'.  It makes Mommy sad to see how big you have gotten, but at the same time, you amaze me everyday and it is so much fun to see you grow and learn new things.  You have so much wonder in your eyes and are always exploring and taking everything in.  If there was one word to describe you it would be, 'aware'.   Even strangers comment on how alert and receptive you are.  You are also a sweetheart!  You have started reaching for people this month and love to grab for Mommy's face so you can bring it close to yours and give me a big open mouth slobber kiss... or chew on my nose... whatever your fancy might be that day. Haha!

Mmmm, big kiss for Mommy

You have so many funny faces!

Erin Go Bragh! 

This month you had a lot of fun adventures.  We went to Springfield, MO for Mommy's cousin Ryan's wedding over St. Patrick's day.  You have now rode in first class 3 times!  What a jet setter.  You also received your 'wings' from Delta on our trip back.  You were wonderful on the flights again, not crying a bit and sleeping for 2 of the legs.  However, we had to be on the ready because you were still in your 'shrieking' stage and would suddenly let out an excited AHhhhHHHHH! every now and again. Daddy and I laughed a lot on those flights.  Your cousin, Emma, and you had matching "Kiss me I'm Irish" shirts and hair bows for St. Patty's day and you had a great time with the family.

The cousins checking out each others Irish Threads

Dad and D hanging at the Bass Pro Shop

At the end of the month Grandma B came in town for a week to watch you while Daddy and I sponsored the Cooper River Bridge Run.  You guys had a lot of fun adventures, taking walks, reading books, and spending time together on the beach.  She did a great job trying to get you more comfortable on your belly and you guys worked on crawling!

Exploring nature with Grandma B

You are still not a big fan of the tummy, but you are trying hard now!  If we put a toy right out of your reach you kick those legs and stretch as far as you can to try and reach it.  Sometimes you get tired and just lay your head down on the mat face down with your arm out stretched like 'woe is me'. I probably shouldn't laugh, but it's pretty funny!  You are really solid standing now and love it when I prop you up to hold onto the coffee table or my hands.  Sometimes I have to remind you to flatten out your feet though because you are ALWAYS pointing your toes!  You definitely have Mommy's feet and love to jump on your toes when you are in your jump-up... it doesn't look very comfortable, but I know how that goes, so point on little girl! 

my sweet monkey

You have gotten so coordinated with your hands, it is amazing!  You have started eating finger foods and are really good about grabbing things with your little fingers and bringing them to your mouth.  You LOVE black olives and mandarin oranges and so far have not rejected anything we've given you.  Let's keep that up, ok? With your coordination you have also have learned how to push certain buttons on your excesaucer to play music or make things move and the remote and Mommy's phone are new favorite toys because of all the buttons. Just a glimpse of life to come once you are on the move and start getting into everything!

You are now weighing 16lbs and are fitting snuggling in those 6 month outfits.  We already have you in 9 month PJ's and I can not believe how long you have gotten!  When I hold you on my hip now your legs go down to my pants pockets!  What else?  You love playing peek-a-boo now, and giggle like crazy when Daddy comes to 'get you'! You love the song 'The Wheels on the Bus' and bath time is now our favorite part of the day. :)

Who's that baby in the mirror?! 

I can't wait for all our new adventures in the next month.  It just keeps getting better and better.  I LOVE you SO much baby girl!!!

Love, Mommy

Dylann's Baptism

We had a WONDERFULL weekend!  Dylann was baptized on Sunday March 27th, 2011 at St. Mary's of the Annunciation in Charleston, SC.  This is the same church that Mommy and Daddy were married in in 2007. :)  We are so happy that Dylann was able to be baptized in our beautiful church... and that the church now holds a Starck family tradition!  

Heading out to the church!

Dylann with Mommy and Daddy and her Godparents, Brandy and Thomas

The weekend was full of family and friends that came in town for the event, including Dylann's Godparents, Thomas Balzer (Daddy's best friend from college) and Brandy Misorek (Mommy's best friend from Atlanta).  Their significant others, Brad and Cassie also came down, as well as Brandy's parents, Joyce and Ron (aka- Chief and Pops).  Of course, Nana and Papa where there and Grandma B came in town just in time for the ceremony on Sunday.

"The Godfather" with his new T-shirt

Dylann hanging out with her Godmother, Miss B

Dylann with Chief and Pops! 

We had a great weekend of Southern meals, walks on the beach, fun downtown, and of course a little party time at the Starck house.  On Sunday we had a brunch in honor of Dylann and along with all our out-of-town guests, Mommy's friends, Blair and Roth, came over as well.  Nana made a cross shaped cream cheese bread and we opened presents and rang in the special day with Mimosas!  It was a beautiful ceremony and we are so happy and proud!

With Papa and Nana

Opening all of her sweet gifts! 

Nana's beautiful Cross Cake

With Nana and Grandma B

The Ceremony

          

You gave us all a good laugh when you arched back to see just who was giving you a 'bath'! haha! 

Congratulations Sweet Girl! 

We've got one!

Dylann has cut her first tooth!! :-)

Today while I was grocery shopping for her baptism brunch this Sunday, Dylann was working out those vocal cords.  Yes, she has started shrieking for lack of a better word.  It is VERY VERY loud, and a little ear piercing, but she loves to hear herself "sing".  I'm pretty sure all the people in the grocery store were looking at me and asking themselves, "what is she doing to that poor child?"  Sigh.  So I started letting her chew on my finger to keep the noise down to a dull roar, when suddenly, OUCH!  Her little razor blade of a tooth literally cut... on my finger.  Guess I'll have to find another way to keep the high notes at bay until this fun phase is over.  Like ear plugs.

Congrats on your first tooth Dylann!  It is the bottom right and it looks like the left is close to follow!

Happy 'Half' Birthday Dylann!!

Wow- where did the time go?  My baby girl is already 6 months old.  I turned around and you went from a small little infant sleeping on my chest to a big girl sitting on your own and reaching for my face (or Daddy's in this case).  It has been an amazing 6 months and I can't imagine my life without you in it sweet girl.

Maybe if I pull hard enough I can get it in my mouth... 

You had a lot of new adventures this month and have really started to show us just who Dylann is.  You are definitely a flirt and we get compliments and attention from strangers wherever we take you.  You are still just fine being held by new people and will smile at anyone who will give you one back. You love to talk and blow raspberries and one of your new favorite games is to make noises while Mommy and Daddy flap our fingers over your mouth so you go "bah bah bah bah".  You have also started popping your mouth like you are giving very exaggerated kisses. When we do the same thing back you break out in giggles.  One of the funniest things you now do is laughing through your nose.  You blow air in and out of your nose while it is scrunched up when you think something is funny.  It is hilarious!

Hanging out with your biggest fan

You started sitting up on your own this month and right away you were able to play with toys and pass them back and forth between hands!  Now at the end of the month you are able to reach and pull in toys from a small distance away and you reach for peoples faces when they come down to play with you.  Murphy has really warmed up to you since you started sitting.  I think he now realizes you are a little person.  The first time you sat by yourself he brought his ball over and dropped it in front of you.  I don't think he understands that you still can't throw it yet, but I think you will be great friends once you start crawling and can chase him around!  From watching me and Daddy pet and scratch Murphy, you do the same thing... to everything, including blankets, the couch and Mommy and Daddy.  :-) The other great thing about you sitting up is that we can now leave the car seat, IN the car!  Now we bring you in to the grocery store or restaurant and sit you up like a big girl.  It's amazing how such a small thing can make life so much easier, especially on your back!

In your big girl stroller

You have grown SO much this month!  I can't believe how strong your legs have gotten, which makes changing your diaper a fun challenge now.  It must be all that time you spend in the johnny-jump-up!  You have also gotten really coordinated with your hands and can grab toys (and Murphy) with really close precision. You love rattles that make lots of noise when you shake them and you still love to put everything in your mouth.  I took you in for your 6 month check-up on March 9th and you have grown 3.5 inches in 2 months!  You are now 28.25 inches long which puts you in the 99th percentile!  You are 14.11 lbs which drops you down into the 22nd percentile for weight, but the doctor says you are doing fine and that number will gradually go back up as you get older.  Lastly, your HC is 17.25, 84%.  You barely cried during your shots, but you did give Mommy a scare the next day when you got a fever of 103 degrees. This is the first time you have had anything wrong with you, so it was very hard to watch you not feel well.  I gave you some baby tylenol, put a cold rag on your head and filled you up with fluids and it broke pretty quickly.  Still, let's not do that again anytime soon ok?

Fevers Stink!

I can't believe you are already 6 months old.  I know everyone tells you the time flies by, but you never realize how fast until you have one of your own.  I am so excited to see what the next 6 months have in store and yes, I have already officially started planning your 1 year birthday party! haha.

What I learned from my elders...

While Mommy was out of town for a week with work, Dylann got to spend some special time with Nana and Papa and then Grandpa Starck.  It's amazing how much she changed just in the week I was gone.  She increased her strength and balance twofold and she picked up a couple of fun new skills from her grandparents...

Nana and Papa taught her how to hold her own bottle, all by herself!

Yum-o

And Grandpa Starck got her sturdy on her legs and standing up! Yay! 

Look mom, no hands! 

Awww yeah, I'm standing.

Rub-a-Dub-Dub

Now that Dylann is sitting up really well, we decided it was time to retire the old baby bath tub that she was quickly outgrowing.  We gave her a big girl bath and she loved it!  It was fun to see her reaction to the water coming from a different angle, the bubbles, and all her new water toys.  It is actually easier for Mommy and Daddy to give her a bath now too since she is sitting up and her long legs aren't hanging over the edge of the bath tub. Haha!

Hmmm... this is different.

Yay-new toys!

You are my Sunshine...

Here are some cute pictures of D at the SEWE event (South Eastern Wildlife Exhibition) in downtown Charleston this past weekend.  It was 75 degrees and sunny, so Dylann had to sport her cool sunglasses, in February! Yep- we love Chucktown!