The Great Pacifier Debate....

I just think this is too funny not to share.....as most first time parents, the first month home w/ Dylan was a little stressful. Besides reading every baby book ever published, we were clueless on how to take care of a baby! Oh, and add that to the whole breastfeeding thing, can you say overwhelmed!

Anyways.....we were really caught off guard by all the decisions you have to make for your baby right away! I guess we thought he would just make them for himself. In the hospital, it was "Is he going to breastfeed?" "Do you want him circumcised?" "Do you want him to sleep in the nursery?" Do you want him t"o have this vaccination?" etc. etc....and THEN there is the "Do you want him to have a pacifier?" (this was specifically asked right before he went in for his circumcision which of course freaks you out!!!) So, after being asked this question Luke and I cluelessly look back and forth at eachother going "uuhh, uhhh, what do you think honey?" "I donno, what do you think?".

I, like many other breastfeeding moms, had been very well versed on the "Don't let your baby have a pacifier until breastfeeding is well established, they could have nipple confusion." Shoot, I didn't want that! And then there is the nagging grandparents, "He's going to be hanging on to it until he's like 3, those things are so silly" yada yada.

Well ultimately, we decided to say yes. The thought of little Dylan not having comfort in a pacifier while getting his wee wee snipped pulled at our heart strings.

Decision made, Right? No, not really....we kept debating that dang pacifier for the next month. He LOVED the pacifier, he could suck all day and all night, and if it wasn't the pacifier, it would have been me. And boy did I need a break! So eventually we learned to love the paci too. Whenever he fussed we popped it in and we were good to go. It was REALLY great when we were out in public. We didn't have to worry about a screaming baby.

Well ..... as I was making plans on how we will eventually wean the paci with the paci-fairy (yes I'm already thinking like 2 yrs ahead) Dylan decided the paci was overrated and it was more fun to chew on it. Yep, he now refuses to take the paci at all, actually it makes him mad when we try to give it to him or he just wants to play with it. No more easy solution for his fussiness, we actually have to work to make him happy (ha!). Ohh...all those irrational fears for that one silly decision we had to make. The joys of parenting have only just begun!

Starting Solids! Dylan's 1st meal!

We decided to try giving Dylan some rice cereal since he has been showing signs that he is ready...I think he really enjoyed it! He was a bit confused at first but caught on pretty quickly. We'll stick to the rice cereal for about a week, then maybe do oat cereal...then move into fruits and veggies! It so fun watching his silly faces! We took some video but I haven't been able to figure out how to get it on the blog. Here are some pics!

Playgroup Fun!

Dylan and I had so much fun this Thursday at our first playgroup! We are a part of a fabulous group on woman whom I met on some message boards while I was pregnant. They always invited me to events/get-togethers while I was pregnant, but it never seemed to work out that I could go (mostly because I was working). Well now that Dylan and I stay home, we are eager to get out of the house and make some new friends. One of the woman hosted the playgroup at her house this week (her house is beautiful by the way) and there were 10 mommies and 10 babies ranging from 6 weeks old-10 months (I think?). She provided breakfast for the mommies and her daughter had an array of toys for the babies to pay with! Dylan was the 3rd to youngest. Though Dylan doesn't really "play" yet he had a lot of fun observing and hanging out with the other babies, and of course his mom had fun talking to other adults for a couple hours! Anyways, here are a couple pics!

Dylan's first roadtrip!

This last weekend (1.14-1.17) Dylan took his first road trip to Houston to see his Uncle Steven, Aunt Tracy and cousins Max & Miles! He did great in the car on the way there, we left late afternoon and he slept most all of the way. The last hour he woke up so we stopped to feed him (and eat ourselves) and then he just talked to himself the last hr in the car. It was great. While we were there we went out to eat, went to the Zoo and played at the house. Dylan especially enjoyed watching and talking to Max and showing off his rolling skills. The only down side to the trip was when his daddy got the stomach flu Sunday night....but other than that it was a great trip! We left Monday morning to come home and he slept for the first couple hrs but was pretty cranky and not wanting to be in his car seat for the last two. I def. think traveling at night is the way to go! Here are some pics!

Happy 4 month B-day Dylan!!

I can't believe our baby is 4 months old already!! He is growing into such a little ham with such a big personality. He is so fun to be around. I has developed a little giggle that just melts your heart (he loves giggling at his daddy). He is reaching and grabbing things very well. He loves grabbing the hanging toys on his bouncy seat and reaching for whatever we are holding (i.e. glass of water, paper, etc.) He has also started to roll, tummy to back. And tummy time is a lot more fun for him now. His favorite book right now is "peekaboo kisses" which his grandpa Craig and Nana Joanne gave him for Christmas. He loves touching the textures in the book. His favorite toy is his star teething blanket. He pretty much likes to put anything into his mouth at this point and loves to chew on things. He hates missing a beat which means we are having a hard time getting him to sleep, and by himself. He knows his name and looks at you when you call him by it. He loves to talk, babble and yell, it's quite entertaining. Anyways, here are his 4 month bear pics! Oh yeah, and his hair is still falling out, yet growing back in short and blonde.

Edit 1.23.09: he had his 4 month apt. on the 19th and received his 2nd set of vaccinations, he was a little cranky/tired the next day and had a low grade fever. His weight was 14lbs 2 ozs, length 25 1/4 in! All in all doc. said he seemed perfect! =)

Some family photos from the holidays...

Mommy & Dylan:

Grandpa Craig, Daddy, Great Grandpa Wally, & Mommy:

4 Generations:

Mommy and Nana Joanne:

Mommy, Aunt Tracy and cousin Miles:

It's a white Christmas!

Snowing on Christmas Eve!!! Here are some pictures!
My blue eyed baby:

Dylan and his daddy:

Dylan's Great Grandpa Wally:

Dylan and his Grandpa Craig and dog Bailey:

Grandpa C & Dylan in the snow:

Christmas 09!

I have to say this was our biggest Christmas by far! Last year at this time we found out we were pregnant with Dylan. I can say, he is truly a Christmas miracle. This year was extra special because we had all sides of our family here to spend it with us. My parents, (Craig & Joanne) were here (though Joanne had to leave before actual Christmas) and my mom Diane and her husband were here. My grandfather, Wally, also flew in, and then Luke's parents and brother, sister-n-law and their kids all came up. It was definitely special! Not to mention Dylan was spoiled with lots of presents! Well and so were we!

Oh and to make it even better, it was a white Christmas!

Here are some photos: