The Big FIRST Birthday Bash!

(I had a hard time scaling down my picture choices to get ready for a lot of them!)

After our brief but full time in NH with my parents, on July 4th, we packed up and headed back to Boston. Unlike the rest of the country, we didn't do much to celebrate independence day. We had bigger fish to fry. We were doing party prep for Dylan's first birthday!

My Dad and Mike stayed very busy trying to finish putting together the swing set for the party. They got on everything but the slide, which they then finished the day after the party.

Sliding Dylan

My Mom stayed VERY busy ALL day long working on little masterpieces - cupcakes for Dylan's party. She has been the official cake maker for grandkid birthdays in our family and we were lucky enough to have her creative skills lent for Dylan's big event. Kids normally have themes for birthdays. Since Dylan's not old enough to really choose a theme, we went with what he really enjoys - our household pets. Each pet had a representative cupcake; Oliver (orange cat), Luci (gray cat), Smokey (gray chinchilla) and George (the tortoise). No one suspected, even her, how time consuming this undertaking would be. She was a trooper and (mostly) really enjoyed devoting an entire day to do this for her grandson. Kudos to her....they were a BIG hit!

Birthday Cupcakes

I spent the day shopping for food (with Mike), doing some clean up, assisting where possible, and keeping Dylan entertained. After our full day of prep, we were ready for a cookout party.

On the 5th, the day before Dylan's birthday, around noon, local family and neighborhood friends filled our house and yard. The day was VERY hot. All our window AC units were running at full blast to try and keep the house cool for heat relief. But, for the most part, folks found ways to stay cool outside. They used the swings....

Dylan Enjoying His New Swing Set

Friend Ryan Enjoying the Swings

We also tried to stay in the shade and have cold drinks.

Shaded Mimaw and Dylan Digging Into the Watermelon

Silly Bands in the Shade (Corwin, Emily, Dylan and Jacob)

Mike had bought a small wading pool the week prior and this was the perfect time to use it.

Jacob Helping Maureen Set Up The Pool.

Kids Enjoying the Pool (Corwin, Emily, Dylan, Jacob, Luke)

After we finished eating and were absolutely done being the heat, we headed indoors for the traditional birthday fare - singing, cake and presents. It wasn't until the day before the party that it dawned on me that I should maybe sing the "Happy Birthday" song to Dylan to prepare him for it being sung to him by a group of people. During a diaper change, a time he doesn't particularly enjoy and always take creative entertainment on our part to get through with minimal unhappiness, I sang him the song. He immediately smiled and was calm during the change! Now, he is a boy that likes songs but I was impressed at the magical powers the song possessed - no familiarity with it and instant love. When the time came at his party for everyone to sing to him, he didn't get freaked out and even seemed to like it. I'm still using the song at diaper changes...I suppose I'll have to stop at some point so it still retains it's "special occasion" appeal.

Happy Birthday To Dylan!

Now, of course, it was time to watch the birthday boy eat his cake. The joy of the first birthday is seeing the messiness of the cake eating. Dylan did not disappoint. At first, he didn't really know what I'd stuck in front of him. After a couple of pokes of the icing and me breaking off a little and giving it to him, he was good to go. He picked it up bit by bit and ate it all. We gave him a second (hey, it's only your birthday once a year). This time he knew what to do and was all over it!

What's This Squishy Stuff?


That Was Good! I Got This! I'm Ready for More!




Not Messing Around This Time


Mojo Helping With Cleanup

Dylan was pretty sleepy when we started with the singing and cake. Thank goodness for sugar! It gave him enough energy to open most of his presents before he crashed for his nap.

Croc Walking Toy From Nana and Bumpa

Special Book From Mimaw and Pipaw

Most of the way through the presents, we just couldn't keep him up any longer. Down for his nap he went. The party broke up and folks went home. After he woke from his nap, Dylan finished opening his gifts with just Mike and myself as well as his Mimaw and Pipaw

Pop Up Toy From Mom and Dad
Wagon of Sand Toys From Friends Luke and Ryan

Our friends and family were so generous and thoughtful and brought Dylan some really sweet gifts. That kids has the coolest pj's to wear, some awesome new books to read, and lots of new toys to entertain him. He seemed to have a great time at the party and we were so thankful for all that were able to come and share such a special day with us. Thank you all!

And for those that weren't able to come, I hope you were able to take part in the festivities through this posting.

Day 2 NH - Another Full Day

After a fun filled day of sightseeing during our first day in NH, our 2nd day in NH was full of outdoor fun.

It had been a while since I'd hiked in the backyard of our condo to check out the waterfall. So, first on the agenda that morning was to head that way. While Dylan was taking his morning nap, as well as Mike, my Dad and I headed out (Mom opted for some relaxing time indoors).

For some reason, the wooded land owned by the association is always a little muddy and buggy. Other than those slight irritations, my Dad and I had a nice hour plus hike, making the nice loop on the trail up the hill to the waterfall, up a little further and then down another trail.

Dad at the Waterfall

Self Portrait of Us Both

We returned back to a happy, rested bunch. Next on the agenda, something Mike and I never get to do anymore - play tennis! When Dylan was a wee one, we would walk him to the courts, he'd fall asleep en route, and we'd play until he awoke. Now that he doesn't instantly have a snooze when we're out walking, we don't get to play anymore. So, we took advantages of our on site babysitters and hit the courts. Dad and Mom both jumped in and played some with us too! Dylan had a great time hanging out in the shade on the lawn and playing with his Mimaw and Pipaw.


After a very active start to the day, we weren't done with the fun yet. After lunch, we all packed up and headed up to Mirror Lake, which Mike, Dylan and I had our kayak maiden voyage on back in May. While Dylan finished his nap in the car, Mike and I took a paddle around the lake. Then, Dad and I took a paddle around the lake. When we came back in, Dylan was awake and ready to join in the fun.

Me and Dad Being Welcomed to Shore By Dylan and Mike

My Dad loves to take his grandkids fishing. This was a great opportunity to take Dylan on his first trip. Even though they didn't catch much more than a couple of logs and branches, Dylan seemed pretty entertained by the casting out and the spinngin of the reel. I'm sure it won't be the last time these two fish together.

Fisherman and Fisherbaby

While Dad and Dylan fished, I stayed in the kayak and was joined by......my Mom!! She scoffed at the idea of kayaking when I brought it up prior to their trip but after seeing that lake kayaking really is FAR different than the white water kind my brother used to do regularly, she was actually up for trying it out! And wonder of all wonders, she really enjoyed it. In fact a little birdy (also known as my Dad) even said she expressed interest in renting a boat and paddling around the lake near their home in Dallas!

My Adventurous Mom

When Mom and I paddled in, we found a diapered Dylan splashing around the water. He's had lots of practice splashing around during his tubbies so he did a great job, and had a great time, splashing around in the lake.

After an extremely full day of playing in the warmth and being under the sun, we did what any sane person would do - get ice cream! There's a new place just off the parking lot of the tavern near our condo. On the way home, we stopped to check it out. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, especially Dylan - he's a great ice cream eater!

Ice Cream Group Self Portrait

Dylan sat right on the picnic table, downed his whole cup of ice cream (and a few bites of ours) and started bouncing up and down with joy....or with a sugar rush. Either way, it was the perfect way to finish off our very full NH tour.

Yummy!

And Hiking Through....

Our first busy day in NH was not over. After going down and up mountains, it was time to go through....well, not through a mountain but through a gorge. An hour drive back to Franconia Notch and we began our journey through the Flume Gorge.

As it was a weekday (Friday) and towards the end of their open hours, there were not any crowds to contend with and felt like we had the place (almost) to ourselves. And since we were the last folks to leave the park, we actually did for a little while.

The Flume is easily one of my favorite sites in NH, which is saying a lot. It's an absolutely beautiful site, well maintained park and great for folks of all ages to enjoy. The first time I went here was with Mike's sister's family. This was 3 years ago so her kids were really young at that time and we had a great time with them. Everyone in our group on this trip, from my parents to Dylan, enjoyed the sites and the total experience.

The two mile trip through the Flume first takes you by a covered bridge (one of two on the trail), beside water cascading down ledge (makes you want to just slide down it), up to the lowest point of the Flume. Then, you walk up stairs and across boardwalks attached to the Flume walls.

Self Portrait at Covered Bridge

Reading a Sign Along the Way

Looking Up Through the Flume

At the top of the Flume you reach Avalanche Falls. Up and around the trail a bit further, you walk down some stairs to get a great view of Liberty Gorge cascade. Beautiful sights!

Me, Dylan and Mike at Avalanche Falls

Me, Dylan, Mom and Dad at Avalanche Falls

Dylan and I at Liberty Gorge

After a long day of sightseeing, Dylan (as well as the rest of the group) was still in great spirits, but getting a little tuckered out. After seeing the sights, it's about a mile walk back to the car. I had a great time running around the large boulders to the side of the trail with Dylan on my back to keep him entertained.

My Cute Traveling Companion

Also a Very Cool Dude!

After sliding down a mountain, driving up another, and hiking through a gorge, we called it a day, headed back to the condo, had some dinner and all slept very soundly.

Sliding Down and Driving Up

After spending a couple of days at our house, we took my parents up north to spend some time enjoying things around our other home in the White Mountains. The first and only other time they had been there was their visit in October\November of 2008. Incidentally, it was the day they left for home on that trip that Mike and I found out we were expecting Dylan.

Mike and my Dad had spent the day, Thursday, working on the play set and my Mom and I had spent the day running some errands. It took some time to pack up the 5 of us and all our gear, so we arrived to the condo at night. That meant that we would start fresh the next morning and have a full day of fun.

Friday morning, we drove through the beautiful Franconia and Crawford Notches on our way to Mt. Washington. En route, we passed by several mountain ski resorts, one being Attitash mountain. Attitash offers some great activities in the summer, including the alpine slides. You ride the ski lift up and then get down the mountain by riding down "carts" on cement slides that ride down the mountain. It's a ton of fun! Mike and I had done this once several summers ago and have tried to again on several occasions but were unable to for one reason or another. So, when passing by, we made a last minute decision to stop at the mountain to slide down! Unfortunately, they won't let kids go down the slide with you unless they can walk on their own. Dylan's just shy of mastering that skill, so he waited at the bottom with Mimaw and Pipaw.

But Doesn't He Look Cute As a Wanna Be Rider?!?

Pipaw and Dylan (left) Watching Me (Right Slide) at the Finish

Me and Dylan on the "Water"

It was a really fun detour. Then, we continued our drive to Mt. Washington, the highest peak in the northeast. We paid our entrance fee to drive up the road, popped in the cd audio tour provided and headed up. After about a quarter of a mile, the light to our gas tank came on, so we headed back down and filled up the tank at the station conveniently located at the base. With a full tank, we headed up again, this time going ALL the way up!

It's a really exhilarating drive - narrow winding road, a steep drop down to the right and a low gear to handle the climb. I think it was nerve racking for my parents at times but they were troopers and kept gasps to a minimum. At the top, we parked and headed to the summit point. Man, it was COLD (41 degrees) and WINDY (47 mile an hour winds)! (I might have gotten thos numbers switched but it was cold and windy either way!) But, it was also a clear and gorgeous view. We took our pictures as quickly as possible so that we could get indoors and warm up.

Dad at the Summit (Rocks and Wind Kept Mom From Getting There)

Mike, Dylan and I at the Summit

Windy Family Self Portrait (LOVE Dylan's Straight Up Hair!)

After a few photos, we went in and checked out the small museum they have up there. Mom and Dad enjoyed the exhibits while Dylan, Mike and I just played, warmed up, and let Dylan "walk" off some energy. One more photo of the group and we were off again.

Group Photo - A Little Less Windy

It had been a fun full day already but it was not over yet. We had one more awesome stop to make. This story is to be continued.....

The Playset Pain

Oh the joys of the assemble it yourself playset! I had read\heard about the drama but didn't believe that it could really be that bad. Well, apparently it is! If you're planning to get a wonderful wooden swing\playset for your kid, save up the extra dough and have someone assemble it for you. You'll save yourself a lot of time of and A LOT of headache.

Okay, I'm getting WAY ahead of myself. This story begins last week with the happy arrival of Mimaw and Pipaw (my parents) for a visit. Dylan hadn't seen them since our trip to Texas in April so it was a much anticipated trip. The main reason they came was to celebrate his big first birthday, but we managed to fit a lot of other fun, memorable events into their time here. Unfortunately, the arrival of the playset we had ordered for our yard (that came several days late along with lots of drama with the delivery company) for Dylan coincided with their visit, so my Dad had the "privilege" of helping assemble it. Poor guy!

Yay! Mimaw and Pipaw are Here!

Fun With Pipaw

What should have been a one day event turned into 4 full days of madness. The problems varied from crappy instruction manuals and missing hardware to flat out mislabeled pieces and missing parts (as large as the slide) altogether. After many hours in the hot sun, a half dozen trips to Home Depot, several do overs of steps and cutting and hacking pieces to our needs, Mike and my Dad (with some supervision help from my Mom) finally finished the playset.

The bad news is that my poor parents were put to work far more than they should have. The good news is that Dylan has a set he's already really enjoying and will (or at least better) enjoy for many years to come.

Wahoo! It's Finally Here!

What's In This Box?!?!

This Clubhouse Is Awesome!

Rewind: Emily's Mojo Birthday

Three weeks ago we celebrated Mike's niece's, Emily's, birthday party which was also a party for her cousin, Noah. The family just installed a new pool so the kids had a great time playing in it. We had a great time hanging out with family, playing in the pool and getting to meet Emily's big birthday present, their new puppy Mojo.

Happy Birthday Emily and Noah!

Mojo is probably the most mellow puppy I've ever met in my life. He snuggled with most of the adults at the party throughout the day. Right before we left, he went out on the yard and played ball for a bit. We took the opportunity to get some uber cute baby\puppy pictures. There were so many I wanted to share. Lucky for you, I narrowed it down to just a few. Enjoy!

Must. Get. Puppy!

Gentle Pets

Extreme Double Cuteness!!!

1 Year!!!!!!

One year ago today, Mike and I welcomed our little Dylan into the world. What a wonderful and crazy whirlwind the last year has been! Over the last day and a half, I've been reliving the memories of our labor and birth story. It's very surreal to try and take in what a incredible difference a year makes!

Yesterday, we celebrated Dylan's birthday with some family and friends and had a really great, albeit very hot, time. That story will be a post for another time. For now, I want to focus on Dylan's milestones for the last month.

To add to the firsts of his first year, he had his first haircut (to lose the mullet) and first time drinking out of a straw. He's also continued to try more first new foods (pretty much anything we eat) like cherries, brussel sprouts, clams, whole fruits (apples, plums), garbanzo beans and much more. The addition of his 5th and 6th teeth helped with those efforts.

Big events for the little guy during his 11th month were celebrating his Daddy's first Father's Day and having lots of fun having his Dallas grandparents (Mimaw and Pipaw) here to vacation with him and ring in his first birthday party.

Dylan is cruising everywhere and smiles ear to ear when we're holding his hands and helping him walk around. He wants to walk SO bad, but just hasn't quite made that leap yet. He got a little closer today, on his birthday, with the help of his new toy (given to him by his Nana and Bumpa...grandparents).

Walking!!! (With a wee bit of help)

We continue to take this boy as many places as he'll let us and he is such a trooper for just about any event that we throw at him. Over the last week or so (that I've been on vacation), he's been a bit of a momma's boy....clinging to me whenever possible. We suppose this is either a new phase in life or he's just needing a little extra comfort during a developmental transition. Only time will tell!

1 Year!!!

As I'm sure it's fairly obvious if you've read this blog over the last year, Mike and I have had as much fun with this little guy as possible. Even though this parenting thing is hard, tiring, confusing and overwhelming a good portion of the time, we also just eat up the laughs and good times we all have together. Family is a good thing. We couldn't wish for a better kid, absolutely cherish the time with him and just can't wait to see what else is in store for us all in the future.

His Mimaw and Pipaw leave in the morning and then we're headed off to vacation in NH with Mike's cousin and family. Since we have limited internet access there, I won't be posting anything, but promise to soon. There are lots of events to report on....the grandparent visit, before and after pictures of our lounge and backyard, AND (of course) the big birthday bash! Stay tuned!