O. K.!

Today I noticed how much influence I have over this little being living with us, watching our every move, and eagerly imitating us. About 2 weeks ago, Dylan started responding to "yes" questions by saying, "O.K!" Now, it's really hard to share this hilarious emphasis in writing, but just believe me. She draws it out real long and has such passion behind it without yelling. I can only call it spirited. I wondered where she got this response from, until I noticed myself responding to her wants and needs by saying, "OK! We'll play with crayons." or "OK! We'll get you some cheese." I was using this same spirited OK to her and she had began to mimic it perfectly. It still (even after 2 weeks) cracks me up every time I hear it. Immediate smiles on my face and probably a giggle or two encourage her I'm sure.

Then today at lunch (Dylan and I are spending the day in Champaign with Gma and Gpa Breeze), she was eating some delicious baked beans and she started saying, "Nummm, so Good!" Her first 3 word sentence! Then I realized, hey wait a minute, I say that all the time when I'm trying to convince her how delicious something is so she will taste it. "Dylan, YUM! It's SO good!" How cool...what else should I teach her to say?!

Caroline!

Cayowhine! Cayowhine! That's what Dylan yells when Caroline goes out of the room and she can't see her. I just started babysitting yesterday for our downstairs neighbor and good friends Carson and Christy. Their daughter, Caroline just turned one and so she's 4 1/2 months younger than Dylan. They are becoming fast friends/sisters as they play together during the day WAY more than they are used to seeing another little peanut. They seem to be having a good time, and I know it's way more interesting than hanging out with boring mom all day long alone.

We were playing in Dylan's room and Caroline ran out of the room. I called out, "Caroline! Caroline, where are you?" in a playful tone. Dylan repeated me calling out pretty loud, "Cayowhine! Cayowhine!" It is hilarious and now whenever I call out her name, Dylan will repeat me, like she's the big sis helping out.

Right now they are both sleeping and it's awesome that they are doing that at the same time so I can relax for a bit. It's a lot MORE work and a lot LESS work watching two. It's less work cause they sort of play together, or at least are entertained by one another. It's more work cause you have to change 2 diapers, feed 2 mouths, keep 4 hands out of the garbage can, stop 2 little bodies from climbing up the toychest, etc. Ohhh...I hear one waking up now. The rest is over. Caroline and Dylan pics and more stories I'm sure are to come.

two word sentences and ray charles mimic

Dylan recently has decided to put together two words into sentences...amazing us and showing us what a true verbal kid she is. She has said, "Hi Bear, Hi Mama, Bye-Bye Dada, I know, and me too" to name a few. Yesterday I was at the park with her and she was getting super dirty. I told her, "We're going to have to wash your hands when we get home...they're dirty!" She immediately replied "No way!" and ran away across the playground. It was so funny.

The other funny thing she's doing lately is imitating Ray Charles. She has this shy routine that she goes through when strangers are talking to her, flirting with her, waving at her, etc. She looks at them and then crinkles up her nose, closes her eyes real tight and sways her head back and forth with a little tilt in it...just like Ray! We've called it that a couple of times when she's done it, and now we can say "Do Ray Charles" and she'll do it! Oh she is so eager to please.

lots of pictures!

Seriously, how adorable is that daddy/daughter combo?

I'm so long overdue for a post! So, I'm going to post a bunch of pics here to make up for lost time. (especially for you, Lara!) So, Dylan wasn't the total gem we hoped for during our roadtrip out to PA, but we still had a great time while we were there. A highlight was going to the beach - Ocean City, NJ with Matt and Emily and staying overnight at a hotel right on the Boardwalk, Ocean 7. It was so fun and something I won't forget. Dylan had an AMAZING time on the beach.

Before we went to PA, we also went to Iowa to visit J's family for a family reunion. We had an awesome time with everyone and really got to relax and enjoy the great outdoors, Iowa style.

Dylan LOVED the fountains at the Coralville, Iowa pool.

We put these on her as a joke, but she didn't want to take these goggles off! I don't know how she could see anything, but we thought it was hysterical.

This is when we realized we can't live in the city forever. She's so happy out here in the "wild!"

In between both of those trips we went to Lollapalooza, an amazing musical extravaganza in Chicago's Grant Park. We saw SO many fabulous bands and it really started to feel like pre-baby with all the time we had together as a couple. We did bring Dylan with us one afternoon and she had a fun time participating in a drum circle and just chillin in the outdoors.

She walked up and down these little mini "hills" under this tree about 60 times. So cute!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks for watching!

journey out east

Now is when I ask all you mothers and fathers for your advice. Traveling with youngsters. We embark on a 12 hour car trip to Souderton, PA this afternoon (broken up nicely in half with a stop at a motel with a pool in Youngstown, OH tonight). We are visiting college friends Matt and Emily Rittenhouse for almost a week, and I am having a girls weekend thrown in there with three other girlfriends from college too. I am slightly worried about a screaming one year old in the backseat with my whole back of tricks exhausted within the first hour. I wish she was old enough that we could all listen to a family book on CD, or I could give her a fun new coloring book and crayons and she'd be thrilled, but most likely she'd suck on the crayons and then just throw them on the floor. SO...any advice for entertaining a one year old on a long car ride? Anything you have for me will be much appreciated.

Here's what I'm planning so far:
lots of snacks to pass back
books to read from the front seat
good kids CDs to sing along to
a few favorite toys that might last 30 seconds each
????? I'm drawing a blank...

Write back soon if you read this and I'll be anxiously awaiting your help.