Calm before the storm.

Dylan's first swing experience!

Memphis, TN...visiting with cousin Truman (Kaitlyn douses herself with the water and Truman watches with great intrigue-Special K did change his routine up quite a bit during our visit)!

Tandem bathing!

Auntie Cupcake with Chillin Dylan!

She's magical in my eyes even when she's up to no good. He melts my heart with each smile. Between the two of them, I'm often lost in another reality. My two blessings are nothing less than sunshine in my day, chocolate in my afternoon, and love in my heart. If I could write daily about the adventures of 24/7 diaper marathons, tandem bathing, duel body juggling acts, and the helicopter parenting that I seem to fall into more often than I want to admit, I would! There is more content than I wish to recognize-everything is a story worth sharing that I find my inner thoughts in conflict over how to prioritize my day...do a blog entry to document the latest happening or carry on to bed for a brief respite between brewing unnatural sleep cycles. The latter generally wins hence another entry that is way late, hugely anticipated and thus, like Swiss Cheese, missing chunks!

What feels like months ago was probably only six weeks ago; I woke up to solid poop in Dylan's diaper. MILESTONE. How has this already happened? He was just 3 months old and now I face his seventh month; the homemade baby food cubes are taking over the freezer, his birthweight has almost doubled and nursing habits are long ingrained within him that I fear my breasts will be forever harnessed in a nursing bra. While he can and will roll over, it is generally out of circumstance, a means to an end. He does not like being awake and lying on his tummy which leads me to believe he will bypass crawling and dive straight into climbing, standing and walking. Two teeth and swollen gums, his canines are proportionate to his hands and feet...all are large! He remains 'Chillin Dylan' unless the volcanic eruption begins and then it's hunt for mommy...fast. Dylan already shows signs of resilience and superior endurance. Heck I might too if I was getting daily hits to the head by books and blocks with an occasional foot. Yes, Kaitlyn expresses her love for her brother with great force and often with a repetitive edge. Needless to say Dylan continues to chill and handle her strikes with a stoic immortality.

This brings me to dear Special K. Kaitlyn has an uncanny ability to comprehend exactly what you are telling her, look right through you like she isn't listening and then after all verbal threats and reprimands, galavant off and successfully complete the request. It drives me nuts. She is a 13 year old in the body of a 2 year old...well, ok, maybe not that extreme, but she is truly already showing remarkable acts of defiance.

I'm not much of a reader and much to my husband's disdain, I'm not a pop culture hound, however, I do know that Special K has a keen sense of self and an intrinsic motivation for certain activities. My latest headline with her is PRESCHOOL. Where will she go, for how often each week, will she be the class bully or the class clown? Whatever the case, I'm really eager for this MILESTONE. She couldn't be more ready for engagement that is with someone other than her strung out, overly sensitive, hyper-hawk eyed mom...I'm sure I am making it out to be worse than it is...as, I said it before, my children are my blessings-nothing less than sunshine in my day, chocolate in my afternoon, and love in my heart!

Working Backwards

My blogging frequency has dramatically tapered off ... I sit here tonight realizing how many Dylan milestones and Kaitlyn songs have yet to be documented, I figured I would work backwards and see how much I can capture relying upon this pre-alzheimer mind of mine!

Dylan brings me joy that infuses my whole body. It's something about his smile and the way he meets my eyes that triggers this youthful spirit within me. He is so mellow and while he can appear to be a day dreamer at times, the eyes, once locked with mine, ignites his sparkle (among other things...generally dimples, ears raise and his arms extend with a little bounce). I just want to animate him so I can constantly get that refreshed joy. He's going to be a wonderful little brother to his passionate sister! And, might I add, a wonderful son that will keep his mother grounded!

Some exciting reports on this little BIG boy:

He wears size 12 months in tops, and size 9 months in bottoms and he's only 5 months old!

He has a deep voice and hearty laugh-both known to project across the room when Kaitlyn is conversing with him.

He pretty much gags on cereal at this point in the game and is jazzed that he's moving into the world of sippy cups.

He is still nursing...yesterday, today and I know tomorrow. This kid has NO interest in the bottle, believe me, we are trying daily, multiple times.

He loves peas. In fact, I don't think he can get enough of them. We offered him some this evening and it was as if he had never eaten all weekend, the poor boy lunged forward with every bite not too mention his hands were attacking the bowl.

As of this morning, Dylan has his first tooth!

Now, his sister, on the other hand, had her first dental appointment a few weeks back and I'm proud to report she did a swell job holding any tears for the very end of the appointment despite the many "Mommy!' calls she gave out in search of reassurance that I was present!

She has a slight accent with the words 'Four' and 'More'...I suppose it mimics what I used to do with the word 'Dirt' (what they tell me, anyway).

Row Row Row Your Boat, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, This Old Man, ABCs...her favorite songs to sing (and she really sings them)!

She counts everything, often leaves out the number 5, likes to save it for something really special like when she walks up or down the 16 stairs we have.

Ice cream couldn't make her happier.

Make him laugh...

Kaitlyn loves Dylan and Dylan loves her right back. It's been a joy to witness Kaitlyn's recent tenderness toward her brother. Now that she is border-line motor mouth, I hear her saying sweet terms of endearment...

'Brother, I love you.'

'Brother, eets ok'

'Don't worry baby' (when he's crying)

It's just priceless and of course most of her sweetness is coupled with a kiss or two!

Jellies & Jewels

Girls. Girls. Oh my. They are fun to shop for, dress up and adore!

Worst Cook in America

BEFORE

WHAT WILL IT BE?

PORK LOIN..UGGG NO!!!! THIS CAN'T BE TRUE!

AFTER

Rutland Court will never be the same. Now living admist the fire fighter, the medical sales guy, the truck hauler, the fitness equipment owner, the Rancho Cucamonga housewives and more, lies an Iron Chef...me! Ha! That's right folks, somehow I was awarded the title of Iron Chef at our first Iron Chef competition this past Monday night.

It was an evening of flavor as Steve and I competed against each other to create three dishes: an appetizer, an entree and a dessert using a secret ingredient (revealed 15 minutes prior to our chop chop chopping)! We agreed upon five potential secret ingredients, went shopping for all five-and then some (evidenced by the mounds of food in the background of the photos). When Pork Loin was selected I wanted to faint. Disbelief was planted upon my face as I secretly refused to accept that pork would ever make it to the competition. So wrong. I faced my doom and panic set in.

I say I won because logistics were in my favor. Steve says I won as I always make incredible salads (without boring anyone with details...we both never completed all three of our meals within the two hour time frame thus my appetizer was competing against his entree-the fully plated dishes when the clock struck). Between my over peppery/pungent arugula and the under-roasted beets, tough and hidden pork loin salad and Steve's grossly overuse of garlic in his cauliflower puree, we both could have been labeled the Worst Cooks in America.

Despite the random ingredients that now line my pantry, ranging from a costco sized bag of pine nuts to a dozen avocados to a chunk of lard-our future meals will be composed out of desperation to make a dent in our overstocked shelves. We purchased all the ingredients that had potential of being used...I think I have three cartons of whipping cream in my fridge, six filet mignon's and three tubs of fresh raspberries hanging out along with 25 uncooked beets...that should paint a clear picture!

As I embrace this new week I'm strongly considering menu planning to beef up on my Iron Chef skills as the competitions will continue. We have already discussed the possibility of doing another one in June!

By the way, I had Dylan on my back the entire time. Maybe that added to my kitchen merit? No, I think the judges were overly kind...and really darn hungry.

Swinging Child

Mom was visiting and while Kaitlyn and I were prancing through the grass she placed Dylan in the swing. How could I let this moment slip by without documentation! He's such a grown boy. At 4 months he is wearing size 6-9 months in pants and up to a size 12 month in shirts!

I can't believe the joy that my children possess. Dylan is most certainly his own character, however, I have begun to notice new sounds and expressions from the guy. He is often squawking these days instead of cooing. His verbal capacity is being showcased and often in competition with Kaitlyn's. Between Kaitlyn's excessively high-pitched screams and Dylan's bird-like sounds, you can't talk over them expecting to be heard. They are downright loud.

When he catches my eyes his legs begin to kick, his eyes twinkle and his dimples go CRAZY! Otherwise, when he can't see or hear me, he pretty much gnaws on toys and chills (assuming he is hanging out in the same room as myself and not in anyone else's arms). I've also noticed his physique changing. Breast milk is at it again...his thighs are forming those Pillsbury Dough Boy rolls and his arms are thickening up. Any day I anticipate him rolling over as well as sitting up on his own. He is a momma's boy right now and while it can be exhausting at times, there will come a day when he won't want anything to do with me.

I have a feeling that he won't be too different from Kaitlyn when it comes to how jolly he can become. While Kaitlyn has been expressive every given minute of any given day, Dylan is expressive for at least 70% of his awake hours or 100% of the time when he's in my arms!

Nana's Birthday at Harold's and Belle in LA

The cousins pre-cat fight! They are just darling together. Hugs and kisses, then holding hands. It's real love and like all real love, the fighting began about an hour into their hanging out!

Natalia sporting some haunting eyes...Kaitlyn had just risen from her slumber.

Alexis and sweet Natalia.

Yeah, S@$t, I mean Spit Happens.

He just woke up from a long slumber...

Dylan chillin with Uncle Stan...a rare moment as he

NEVER seems to like chillin with Daddy!

Yummy. Two days in a row, blown diet.

Sweet potato pie, I think it was worth it!

Nana in all her birthday glory!

Hanging with both grandkids...They just love their Nana!

Cousin Todd, Uncle Stan and hunk of a boy, Dylan. (Dylan began the lip quiver shortly after followed by an outburst of tears..mommy to the rescue!)