Will this rain ever stop???

Well, we all made it safely through Tropical Storm Fay. She just did not want to go away. Today is the first day I have seen sun since the beginning of the week and it is just barely coming through all the clouds. We didn't have any damage from the storm. Just a bunch of tree debris scattered around the yard. It is nice having Oak trees. However, it can be quite a mess to clean up after a storm!!

This was Devin's first week without Mommy & Daddy during the day. Devin adjusted very well to having my niece watch him. He loves hanging out with Brandy. Due to the storm, I was off Thursday and part of Friday. So, Devin's first week of daycare was part time. It gave him a chance to ease into a full time daycare schedule.

Of course right before Daddy goes back to work Devin comes down with his first cold (since he has been home). He is finally starting to do a little better but it has taken him all week to get over it. He is getting really sick of mommy cleaning out his nose with the little aspirator. First, he tried throwing a fit. Then he resorted to fake coughing and gagging. Now he realizes no matter what he does mommy is still going clean out his nose.

Devin has been walking for about a month. We are starting to see that transition from a baby to an independent little toddler. He has graduated from walking to running. We have had a bunch of falls. When we built the house we thought tile floors were a great idea. Having a baby has made made us second guess our decision. Tile floors and a baby's head are not a good mix. Devin has hit his head quite a few times recently a few even resulting in large bruises and bumps on his head. It makes me so nervous....

Devin is becoming more vocal. He still only says mama and dada. However, he is babbling and laughing a lot more. When he gets really excited his arms go up and down and he will start to clap. He also loves to play peek a boo with you. He will crawl behind something so you can't see him and you have to go find him. When you find him he cracks up!!! It is so cute.

We have transitioned Devin from formula to whole milk. He loves the milk. We have him down to two bottles a day. One in the morning and one before he goes to bed. Luckily, he never got attached to a pacifier so we don't have to worry about weaning him off of that. The bottles will be hard enough. His baba is a sense of comfort to him.

I will post some pictures soon.

New Look

I am sure most of you have noticed Devin's blog has a new look. I wanted to thank Jaimee at Centsibly Chic Designs for re-designing my blog. She had it done very quickly and it was exactly how I wanted it. There is a link on the right side of the blog if you want to check out some of her work or have her jazz up your blog!!

Look Who's One!!!

Over a year ago our little one was born. We are so grateful that his birthmother loved him so much that she gave him a chance at a better life. I am sure she has been thinking about Devin alot over the past few days. Words can not describe the amount of love and gratitude that we have for this women that gave us our son. Thank You, Ana!

To celebrate Devin's 1st birthday we had a party at our house. All went well. I decided to make his birthday cake. This was my first time decorating a cake. Prior to this, decorating consisted of using icing from a jar and adding a few sprinkles. I have to give my great hubby some credit also. He baked the cake for me and I decorated it. It tasted wonderful and the decorating was ok, too. I decided on a Backyardigans theme for his birthday since that is his favorite thing right now.

This is what Devin has been up to:
He had his first haircut
Walking around and loving it
1 year checkup today and he weighs 21.5 pounds and is 301/2 inches long
Graduated from swim lessons
Turned One

Philip is going back to work next week. I am sure Devin will miss him a bunch! The good news is that Devin will not have to go to daycare as soon as we thought. My niece is going to watch Devin at our house for the next few months.

Here are some photos. Enjoy!!!!

Hanging out in my new Thomas the Train chair

I love that icing!!!!

My first birthday bash...

Cool Backyardigan cake that Mommy & Daddy made

Swimming Graduation Day!! Yeah, I'm done for now...

Eating some spaghetti

I am a big boy. My carseat faces forward now!!

Having fun in my cabinet that Mommy let's me get in to

Watching T.V. with my puppy

My first haircut. Thank you Cheri!!!

11 Months Old!!

Well, back to work tomorrow for Mama.... This 9 weeks has went by very fast. I am soo sad to have to leave Devin. We had a great time together. He is definitely a Mama’s boy. Now it is Daddy's turn. I guess I have to share. UGH!!!

Here is what Devin has been doing over that past few weeks.

1/ 4th of July - Devin and Mommy went to Nanny’s house because Daddy had to work. We just had a good time hanging out with our family. We also went to the beach that weekend.

2/ Devin has started to stand on his own and has even taken a few steps.

3/ Devin started infant swimming lessons last week. He does not like it. He cries and screams the whole time. The first week his instructor taught him to float on his back. It has been quite difficult on Mommy & Daddy to see him so upset and taking in all that water. Although, we know it is for his own good.

4/ Devin turned 11 months old this week. It is hard to believe he will be a year old in less than 30 days.

5/ First Photo Shoot - Today Devin went for his first photo shoot. He would not sit or stand still. It was quite difficult for them to get a good shot. However, I think they turned out very cute. We had some pictures taken in a handmade shirt we bought in Guatemala for him.

Here are some photos. Enjoy!



My first photo session...

I am trying to float...

Getting ready for my first swim lesson...

Oops!! Mommy went a little crazy with the sunblock

Happy 4th of July

Update

Wow…We have had a busy few weeks.

We have had a lot of family in town, been to the beach several times, and had a baby shower. Devin got to meet his Uncle, Aunt, Cousin, Great Grandmother and a lot of friends. First, my brother and niece were in town for a week. We went to the beach for a few days. Devin had a blast with them. Then my sister and grandmother came into town. My sister has been a big help since she has been here. Last Saturday was Devin’s baby shower. Devin got to attend his own shower. How cool is that? The baby shower was an absolute blast. I was overwhelmed by the amount of people that came and the amount of stuff he got. He is definitely loved very much!!!

He has adjusted very well to all the chaos. He is doing much better when we leave him in his crib. He seems a lot more comfortable getting in his bed and us leaving the room. I think he just needed some re-assurance that we were not leaving him there and we would be back. He barely cries now when you put him down to sleep. The past few days he has not cried at all. This is a large step. He is still sleeping through the night.

Devin will be 11 months old in 11 days. I can’t believe he has only been with us for 6 weeks. It feels like he has been with us since he was born. He fits perfectly into our family. Here are some photos of our last few weeks. Enjoy!!!



Helping mommy open all my great gifts...


Having a great time at my shower


Aunt Kimmie made me a great cake


Hanging out with Mommy & Nanny under the umbrella

2nd trip to the beach. Playing in the sand with Uncle Mark & my cousin Marley

First time at the Beach!!!

Hanging out by the pool in my walker. Trying to pet my cousin's puppy!!!

Happy 10 months baby boy!!!

Our little man is 10 months old today. He has been home a little over 3 weeks and it feels like he has been with us since he was born. He fits right in to the family perfect. We can not ask for a better baby. He seems to be bonding with us very well. Almost too good because he doesn't really want to go to other people. We are working on that.

Devin's doctor did a bunch of bloodwork on Devin and everything came back good. That was great news. Now, he will just go for his regular checkups and immunizations.

Over the past few weeks Devin has went to a family get together on Memorial Day, Mommy's company picnic, and to the beach. The beach was quite an experience with a child. Devin loves to eat sand. At one point his Dad brought him out to the water to see me and he was literally covered from head to toe in sand. He wasn't sure what to think of the waves.

We are going to have family in town for the next 4 weeks so Devin is going to be pretty busy. I am sure he will adjust just fine. I probably won't get a chance to post much over the next month. Before you know it I will be going back to work. UGH :( I am not looking forward to leaving Devin. The good thing is that Philip will stay home with him for at least 6 weeks after I go back to work. We have Devin's daycare lined up and he starts Aug 25.

Accomplishments over the last 3 weeks:
1/ crawling all over everything
2/ pulling up to things
3/ he is starting to get better balance - today he stood by himself for a few seconds
4/ He got in his 8th tooth (it is on the bottom towards the front)

Pictures

Here are some pictures of our last few weeks as a family. Enjoy!!


Mommy loves my kissable lips



Eating at Mommy's company picnic



Scooting around the house in my elmo walker



I learned real quick that when I get in this chair I get food...



I love my pool...



Playing with my friends (the Dillons')



Meeting my cousins Michelle & Brandy



Nanny just got me out of the crib.. This is my sleepy look



Playing with Aunt Susie



I finally got to meet my friend Cayden



My first day home....