Rylie 6 month update

I can't believe our baby girl is already half a year old!! Where has the time gone??
STATS: 14 lbs (9%) and 26" (52%). Rylie is such a happy baby. We love her so much. It is such a joy to watch her smile and play with Derek. She smiles all the time and is so much fun! This month Rylie got her first tooth (a bottom one, with a second bottom one not far behind). Derek had 4 teeth by 6 months. Rylie consistently sleeps from 10 pm - 7 am and naps 3 times a day (usually one long 2-2.5 hour nap and 2 short ones). She grabs everything and is discovering so much. She likes sitting up to play with her toys. I can tell she prefers this view! She rolls both ways and often goes from seated position onto her belly. Rylie holds the bottle all by herself and puts it in her mouth. She loves sitting at the table with us for meals in her own seat. This month we started her on solids. I made a ton of baby food and the freezer is stocked! So far Rylie has tried sweet potatoes and zucchini. She is getting the hang of eating, but only eats about 1 frozen cube per day. Rylie has discovered the bows that I have been putting on her head and pulls them off. She loves blowing raspberries, chewing on her toes and inspecting her hand. Rylie sucks her right thumb and left index finger.  It is the cutest thing to see her suck her thumb. Ironically, Derek sucks his left thumb. Sometimes she sucks her tongue (as in this picture).

Rylie is doing a great job sitting up.

Rylie likes sleeping on her side

Rylie LOVES her jumper!! Derek likes to help her bounce!  

She still has her beautiful big blue eyes! Her eyes are the most common feature that people comment on when they first see her.

 playtime after going in the pool

 pushing up on her arms

 A visit from Grandma and Uncle Kevin

I LOVE her smile.

I LOVE the time with Rylie right before we put her in the tub. She lays on her back and looks up at me laughing and smiling, squealing with joy. Derek likes to get in on the action sometimes and lays next to her too!

Giggling with Daddy

 

Playing with Derek

 We LOVE you sweet baby girl!!

 LOVE those cute feet! (pruney toes after swimming)

Jesus Loves Me
We have been singing "Jesus Loves Me" to Derek since he was first born. Last night, after dinner, while playing his trains Derek just started singing it. Up until that point he has never tried to sing it with us, but clearly he was always listening. It was so awesome to hear him sing! Its amazing how kids hear EVERYTHING we say and you never know when or how it will come out.

Maxwell
Welcome to the world Maxwell Thomas Sylvester! We love you already and cannot wait to meet you (at Christmas when you'll be 5 months old)! Derek and Rylie are so excited to have a new cousin. Max was born July 26th, 3 weeks early, at 5 lbs 8.8 oz (such a little guy).

the proud parents

proud grandparents (Grammy and Pops)

leaving the hospital

A Visit from Pops
We had a great visit with Pops. It was a quick four days, but packed full of fun. Derek couldn't wait to play with Pops and was sad to see him go. They read, played trains, played baseball, ran sprints down the hall after bath time, made cappuccino, laughed, built a project at Home Depot, watched Thomas and George, played at the Children's Museum and just hung out. It is so fun to watch my Dad play with Derek and Rylie. We are blessed to have him in our lives and can't wait for his next visit.

First Family Baseball Game
We took Derek and Rylie to their first baseball game this Sunday. The Diamondbacks played the Padres. We went with our neighbors and had fantastic seats (so cheap compared to Fenway). Matt and I decided to have Derek take an early nap and show up halfway through the game (hoping to make it to the end of the game). Our plan worked! By the time we got to the game we were in the bottom of the 4th inning. It was so much fun to watch Derek experience baseball game for the first time. He was bright-eyed the whole time checking everything out and soaking it all in. Baseball is Derek's favorite sport (right now)! Some of the highlights of the game were participating in the wave, seeing the bobble-head guys run in between innings, hearing "Take me out to the Ball Game" (I think he was too amazed to sing), eating ice cream out of a helmet, and running the bases after the game. Rylie enjoyed herself during the game as well. After taking a nap in the Ergo, she was entertained by Sophie. She loved the game until someone hit a home run and the crowd went wild, which scared her and she screamed! Matt and I had such a great time "watching" the game through Derek's eyes. We can't wait to go again!

family photo on the field after Derek ran the bases

(Thank goodness for our neighbor's front of the line pass)

 seats with our neighbors

(Chris, Rebecca and Stacey)

 listening to the National Anthem and Take me Out to the Ball Game

 enjoying ice cream in a helmet

 LOVE this one even though its blurry

Happy 9th Anniversary!

I LOVE you Matt! So much has occurred in this last year - moving, buying a house, starting a new job, having a baby and making new friends. I am thankful to look back and see God's hand in our lives. We started out the day with the Rylie sleeping from 10 pm to 7:00 am!!! This was first time in 5 months (minus a week stretch of her sleeping 8 hours straight). It was such a gift. During the day, Derek and I made an anniversary cake to enjoy after dinner.

Matt came home early and surprised me with a dozen red roses. Derek and I went swimming while Matt watch Rylie and then we watched our first family movie together, Cars! It was a special evening. As we sat on the couch all cuddled together as a family of 4, I couldn't help reflecting back...to when Matt and I first met. To think that God had planned this out for us!!
A week later we went out to dinner to celebrate (taking advantage of free babysitting while family was in town visiting).