Dylan's Girlfriend

Katie is Dylan's girlfriend. At least that is what her and Dylan's parents say. Here's a shot of them having a roll in the hay (OK, blanket) at a party with other kiddos.

Mama-Roos

This blog would not be complete without talking about my mama-roos group. It consists of mothers and babies that are roughly Dylan's age (although Dylan happens to be the youngest in the group by two days) that originally met at Kangaroo Kids on Thursdays at noon as a nursing moms support group. Some of us started hanging out after the meeting, then started going out to lunch, then met up at the zoo for an afternoon, then met up at someone's house for a potluck, and you get the idea. All in all there are about 15 moms in the group. Some of us have gone back to work, others stay at home now and meet up once a week at Kangaroo Kids, and we still get together about 1-2 times a month on Thursdays for some kind of planned get-together. We have an online group where we can post messages to eachother, which is a great way to keep in touch as a group. I met these women when I was just 1-week postpartum, sore and emotional about being a new mom. We've seen eachother through the initial latching-on problems associated with nursing, mastitis, sleepless nights, first colds and ear infections, family vacations, first holidays, moves and the like. We've bonded.
And to put it plainly, I don't know how I'll ever find another group of women as friends like this again.

Tonight clenched it. These are the most awesome group of friends.
Ryan and I went over to Laura & Dave's house for what we thought was just a simple dinner get-together with them and Rob & Julie, and the kiddos, of course. When we arrived, we were completely surprised with a room full of my mama-roos friends, for a full-fledged going away party. I was in total shock that they pulled this thing off without a hitch. Julie even managed to make Dylan the most beautiful quilt with all the babies' handprints on it and Laura made me the most incredible scrapbook with pictures and letters from all the mommies in our group (see pictures of both below). Once the party was over and Ryan and I were heading home, it really hit me. I started to cry and, of course, cried again once I got home and read the letters from everyone and pulled out the blanket again to hold and cry into. What a wonderful group of women. What a blessing it has been to know them and have them touch my life in such a precious and difficult time. The past 6 months have brought us all together through both joy and sadness in our growth as women and mothers. I'm so blessed to have met them all.

On album cover: Side by Side, or Miles Apart, Good Friends are Always Close at Heart

No matter where life may take us, some friendships are forever

Amazing Feats

He has been growing and changing each day so dramatically. We are visiting family down in San Diego and he has been really thriving on the constant attention. Yesterday he sat in a highchair for the first time at a restraunt, contentedly. He has started drinking from a sippy cup, on his own! He can sit up unsupported now, balance on all fours and rock back and forth, and reach for objects while lying on his tummy. Last night, while Ryan's parents and I watched tv and waited for Ryan to come home from his business trip up in Pasadena, Dylan and his grandma came up with a little game where Dylan made noises and she patted his mouth to make cute little noises together. It was halarious. He loved his new game!
I wonder, what will he do today? It is pretty cute how family members call now each day and ask to come by and visit to see "Dylan's latest trick."

On another note, Ryan and I have gone to have my wedding rings resized. I used to be a size 5, but have needed a 1/2 size bigger since I was pregnant. I've been hoping that my seemingly 'swollen' fingers would return to their prepregnancy size, but alas they have not. After 6 months of waiting and walking around town with a baby in tow and no ring on my finger... I've accepted the fact that my body may just have changed permanently. So, tonight we are going back to Fashion Valley to pick up my rings. I'm kind of giddy thinking of wearing them again. It has been so long.

Six Months

Dylan has made a few outstanding developmental milestones in the past two days. The day before yesterday after a long day of travel and being held by lots of people he crawled (1/6), and yesterday on his six month birthday he laughed (1/7). He has squealed before with delight, but not a distinct laugh like this. It was absolutely precious and it melted my heart. Today we are expecting calculus.

*Important caveat: He can't hold his head up when he crawls! He could get his body on all-fours, but the head was too heavy. But he was definitely moving. He moved 3 or 4 feet, he just had a strawberry on his head afterward!

Pasadena Success!

We're moving to Pasadena, CA next month and we're in CA now. We've found the place where we're going to live for the next year or two. It's a 2 bed, 2 1/2 bath townhouse built in 2003/2004. New!! We're paying @#$%&*.00 per month for it. Rediculous compared to MO, but it can be done. More to come, but here's a few pics...
Look at the last one with the view of the mountains from our bedroom windows! (although the mountains will only be visible about 10% of the time because of the smog).