*It's Fun to STAND at the YMCA...*

My mom goes to the YMCA almost everyday to swim to ease the pain in her back that has never gotten better since her surgeries 2 1/2 years ago. They have a new splash pad, so Dylan and I went with her one morning. It was so fun. One hot grandma, no? What, no rainbow suit? I finally retired it this summer. It was so loose and worn out it was getting indecent. It's pretty bad when my dad noticed I had the other one since before I got married. Much better, if you ask me.Dylan stood unsupported for the first time in the splash pad. I wanted to get a video of it so bad, but I decided it wasn't a good idea to leave him in the water to go get my camera. I should have. It would have given the poor life guard something to do. Later that night we went to watch Desiree's volleyball match. Dylan fell asleep on the way home. He woke up coming in the house and stood again. I promise Desiree' is not touching him. He was tired and out of sorts, but it is the only video I got this trip of him standing:

Such a little flirt. Gonna hafta watch this one!

I can't wait to come back for Desiree's Senior Recognition Night next year!

Mini Trip in a Trip

Dylan and I flew the coop to visit mom, dad, and Desiree' for a week. Instead of flying straight to Baltimore, I decided it would be fun to have a 3 hour layover in St. Louis to see a few of my friends who were free that day. I have really missed them. They are some of my adopted family members. Kristi is an 'other mother' to Cambria, Rock, Dylan and I (and many others). Yes, simultaneously mothering 2 generations. I'm sure that kind of family tree is only acceptable in West Virginia, but she doesn't act old enough to be a grandma. They picked us up and took us to lunch. Good times with an overly perky waiter. Rock was playing while Dylan laughed and laughed:

Tiffany is another adopted sister to me. She lived next door growing up in PA, played basketball with me, and was my spider killer at Girls Camp. She plays a mean game of SPUD and kick the can. Just love her.

I didn't get to see everyone because I was crunched for time, but I'll be back soon!

11 months

Most days after I run and walk the trails, Dylan and I go to one of the park playgrounds. Autrey is able to go with us on Saturdays.

We also stop by the dog park to look at the dogs because Dylan likes them so much. Apparently, the dogs agree.

And now, the 11 month update:

*Dylan is wearing 9 month clothes, and size 3 shoes and diapers.

*He is finally saying the sound "mama" all the time. I just love it.

*He started opening his dresser drawers. Luckily he doesn't pull his clothes out, yet.

*Since he likes remotes and cell phones so much, I got our old ones out for him to play with. Remember my old Twinkie-looking phone? Autrey's was bigger and looked like something from the set of Saved by the Bell. They were cool at the time. They were a big hit, but Dylan can tell our new ones are better and has lost some interest.

*He has been dropping things for a while, but he is now throwing his bottle, toys, books, etc. on the ground on purpose and then lunging after them. This game is more fun for him than us.

*He still loves books. One of his favorites is a counting book that makes a tiger roaring sound when you press a button. It used to scare him, but those days are long gone. Now he sometimes will make a roaring sound to imitate it. He will crawl over to his book shelf or the diaper bag, pull books out, and look at the pictures on his own. He loves them so much I've had to glue a few of the 3-D features back in place.

*He loves to plug and unplug the drain in the bath tub, and not always at the right time.

*A few times he has been standing in the tub and starts peeing. When he goes to look down the stream stops. He looks up and it starts again. When he finally sees it he tries to grab it. Too funny.

*He is great at giving and receiving high 5. He doesn't really wave any more. Probably because he got a much better reaction from me when he started giving "High 5" and it sounds very similar to "hi," his cue to wave. I am trying to say "hello" instead to see if it is less confusing for him.

*I have been putting my hands on either side of Dylan's to teach him how to clap. Now, when I clap he puts his hands on either side of mine. Once again, I think I confused him. He doesn't realize clapping is usually done by yourself.

*Dylan loves to play with my big water bottle. He likes to hold it up to his mouth to try to drink from it. Sometimes he tries from the wrong end, but he has the right idea. He's still warming up to a sippy cup. He likes to play with it more than drink from it. I'm sure if I drank from it he would want it.

*When I am eating he crawls up to me smacking his lips, saying "num num num."

*He is getting better at grasping food on his tray, but doesn't know how to get it to his mouth. When I try to guide his hand he usually drops the food.

*We are pretty sure Dylan has a soy intolerance. When we gave him bottles using the hospital sample of soy formula as a newborn he would spit up every time, which he normally never did. Also, recently I put away my personal feelings about tofu and gave him some to add variety to his diet. I was proud of him for eating it straight without any fuss. Then we noticed little red bumps all over and he had a low grade fever. To be safe I am staying away from soy. Sad, because he is one of the few people that actually enjoys the stuff.

*Dylan has the best fake laugh/cough. It is so funny. Then he starts laughing for real. And so do we.

Peek-a-Boo

So cute! Dylan playing in his crib:

Mr. Suit

I am absolutely LOVING the sweet suit Aunt Elaine sent and onesies with ties she made for Dylan. A little pint size stud if you ask me. Mozzie would call Dylan a 'suit.' (White Collar fans, anyone?) Actually, it kind of looks like something Patrick Jane from the Mentalist would wear. If I can't find a costume for Halloween, maybe I could find a curly wig and have him go as Patrick. Adrian Hewitt, our new friend in the ward, now refers to him as P. Dylan (as in P. Diddy). He's a light skinned brotha if you ask me. White chocolate, maybe? Such a business mogul: In business casual:
My amazing Aunt is throwing around the idea of creating her own website and taking orders. I'll make sure to let you know if she does. Interested?

Texas State Fair

Doug and Mona drove up for the weekend to go to the State Fair with the Dallas Duke crew. I have never seen so much fried food in my life. Ever heard of fried butter, fried Snickers, or fried beer? Ech. The fried cookie dough and fried cheesecake might have been alright, but I passed. We went to a petting zoo:Longhorn Turtle and Kangaroos
Have you ever seen a 4-horned sheep? It was a first for me...
...as were the pig races.This was Tommy about 2 seconds before the ride started and the car BOLTED. Poor guy had a look of sheer terror:The car show was torture for Tommy, who loves to drive. He finally got to get in a few of them:A walk with Papa made him happy......as did the Blue Bell ice cream Mimi gave him.But no sweets for my sweet!The little boys in their sweet ride:The big boys deciding to do the Speed Pitch:Autrey reliving his glory days. So fast it's blurry: Matt and Autrey are convinced the speed gun was wrong. Autrey threw 54 mph. Way less than the 85 mph he used to in college. But he beat Matt, so it wasn't a total loss. Tommy was also disappointed with his lack of strength. Haha:

There was a little parade:
On a walk around our neighborhood:
Dapper Dandy with Mimi and Papa before church: