Dillon Dancing & Waving

(Sorry for the sideways video, I didn't know how to fix it) Dillon was looking so cute last weekend in her new skinny jeans that grandma Lori & auntie Randie sent her. She is getting so big so fast! Everyday she does something new. She is so good at waving and a little bit of dancing. I cannot believe how quickly she is growing up.

Other Moments with Dillon

We have had so many wonderful moments with Dillon. I was so behind in blogging that I could never catch up. So I made a slideshow of pictures and some captions of moments we shared. It is on the side panel of our blog. I hope you enjoy...

First Basketball game

We really missed Pop Pop when Dillon was born but by some luck Tech got to play the University of Iowa. It was really great for Dillon to get to spend some time with her pop pop and see him in action. She surprised us all by doing great at her very first basketball game. She even dressed the part.

Dillon's Room

Lot's of people have asked me to post pictures of Dillon's room. It was so much fun decorating this little girls room. It is so colorful and fun. I don't really love too much pink so I went with lot's of colors. The best thing of all, Dillon loves it! She just smiles and looks around at all of the bold colors.

Dillon's closet - She already has a lot of clothes (already like her mommy)

Changing Table - I love the grey & white dots

I have always wanted a giant giraffe in a baby room

We love her crib and the bedding - it is really fun with the grey and white stripped flat sheet

We couldn't paint since we are renting so we put up this giant sticker

(It was so much work when I was 9 months pregnant but well worth it)

Mobile - I would have never guessed how much she would love this

We just could not find the perfect dresser so we just got a plain white one and replaced the knobs with beautiful yellow flowers from anthropologie. We also couldn't find anything to put on the wall over her dresser. I am so happy we waited. After Dillon's first photo shoot, we got this beautiful canvas picture of her in her daddy's arms. Nothing else could have been more perfect.

The first girly thing we bought when we found out she was a girl

For someone who can't read yet she already has tons of books. I also love the two hand puppets on top. They are made from old sweaters. I love this company!

And here is the whole picture. Dillon loves to lay on her comfy rug and to look at the beautiful curtains grandma Lori made for her.

I wasn't sure at first if it would all come together but I really think it did in the end. Once she came we realized that it totally fit her personality. I cannot wait to see her to continue to grow up in here.

Dillon Rolling Over

Our little girl is so strong. She started lifting and holding her head when she was only days old. Now at two months she is rolling over. She grows each day, I wake up every morning in amazement of her. Watch out world, here comes our Dilly Bear!

Dillon Loving Bath Time

Christmas 2010

We spent Christmas with Eric's family this year in Phoenix Arizona. It was an extra special Christmas since it was Dillon's first. We started a few of our own traditions like buying her an ornament and mom and Dillon got Christmas jammies (Dad was too much of a Scrooge). We really had so much fun spending time with all of Eric's family. Dillon also got to hang out with all of her cute cousins.

After Christmas we headed over to Utah so Dillon could meet some more of Mom's family and friends. And of course she met even more cousins. She is such a loved little girl. Here are some pictures from our holiday adventures.

Christmas Day

Cousin Genesis

Cousin PJ

Cousin Lexi

Cousin Kaia

Mom and Dillon in Christmas Jammies

Dillon and Grandma Maxine

Dad, Auntie Jay, Dillon, and Cousin Genesis

Dillon and BJ

Dillon and Allen

Mom, Dillon, and Caitlin

Trip to Utah

Dillon and Great Grandma June

Auntie Randie, Cousin AJ, and Cousin Bellah

Dillon and Cousin Griff

Betty and Dillon

Dillon wearing hat Taisja made her

The Best Day of Our Lives

After work on November 10th, Eric, my mom, and I went for another doctor's appointment. I really had not made enough progress so we discussed finding a time to induce me. As the doctor left the room, Eric insisted that they do a non stress test on Dillon and me. I was so grouchy that I wasn't having a baby that day, I didn't want to get the test or spend any more time at the doctor. I had the last appointment of the day and my doctor had to work in labor and delivery that night so I had to go there to get the test. While I pouted through the entire test, a resident came in and informed me that I was having contractions 2 minutes apart. They wanted me to have my baby now. I was so happy. The doctor came in to explain my options but all I had to say was "YES!!!!" Let's have this baby. For an added touch my doctor was actually going to be there. At the hospital it is very uncommon for your own doctor to deliver your baby so I was really pumped about this.

After 9 hours of labor with 2 1/2 spent actively pushing our little baby bear was born. It was such a surreal experience. It's all a little hazy to me but I remember being really happy and extremely tired. My mom and Eric remember how big she was. We didn't think she would be much bigger than 7 lbs but to everyones surprise she was 8 lbs 10 oz and 21 inches long. We finally had our baby. It's everything we had ever wanted.

After she was born she was having a little difficulty breathing and she ended up getting a little infection. She had to be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit. It was really scary! We all ended spending the first 7 days of her life in the hospital. It was pretty intense. Eric and I got a little delirious from time to time. Our only connection to the outside world was my mom. She would bring us lunch and dinner each day.

Here are some pictures of the first week of baby Dillon's life...

Moments after delivery, I wish we had a picture of the proud dad's face. It was unforgettable how he looked at his baby girl

This is when we knew she was not only our baby girl but also a baby bear

She has been a daddy's girl from the start

Waiting for Dillon

Throughout my entire pregnancy we thought for sure she was coming early. I was having early labor signs all the time. We started to rush to get everything ready. The baby showers all happened early on so I could share that time with friends and family in Utah. Overall, we hurried up to wait. I think Dillon was just teaching us an early lesson that we no longer can plan on anything happening when we think it will. Here are some photos of our time waiting for Dillon.

Triple Shower (Lindsey, Brooklyn, Me)

It was so much fun to share this experience with my sister. It was really nice for her to be a little further along than me so I could call and ask her questions about what I was experiencing. I am so blessed to have so many amazing sisters!!!!

Dillon in My Tummy

I hated getting my picture taken but I am sure Dillon will love it, so I am happy I took a few.

There are a lot of events that also happened while I was pregnant with Dillon but I was terrible about taking pictures through it all. So here is a list of what happened in our lives while we waited for our amazing baby girl...

• Eric and I saw President Obama speak at the University of Iowa. It was an incredible experience. I was so exhausted from standing and waiting for him but it was all worth it. It is something I will be able to tell my grandchildren.
• Eric took his First Step Board test (He did well :))
• We took a vacation to San Diego and got to spend lot's of time with Shelby, Bellah, Rob, Allie, and Adeline. We visited Sea World, The Zoo, and the Wildlife Zoo. This was an amazing trip and if I ever find the time I will post photos from it.
• I went to Pittsburgh for work and loved it. The city had so much character and I ate at some really great restaurants.
• Spent the 4th of July weekend in Utah. In that time I had 3 showers. It was quite a whirl wind. I am very sad I did not take more pictures. I had fun shower with Lindsey and Brooklyn. Another shower that Jen and Taisja had for me. It was really beautiful! And best of all I got to spend some time with friends. The third was a family friend shower my mom had at her new condo. It was such a crazy, busy, wonderful trip.
• Randie came to visit. She saw what a boring life Eric and I have been living. We love it though.
• I am sure many more fun and important things happened while we waited for Dillon but I hope you enjoyed a few of them.

Even though we thought Dillon would be early she was actually 6 days late. Those last days felt like they would last forever. My mom came a week early because she didn't want to miss my delivery but she ended up making curtains, making dinner, and spending a lot of time alone while Eric and I were at work.

On November 11th, 2010 at 8:40 am all the waiting paid off!