December was full of new things. Dallas' first doctor's appointment was the first of December and he got a sticker from it.
I thought it was appropriate where I put it. Later that month we all went to Bass Pro Shop to get Dallas' picture with santa. I called ahead and was told that there was a 3 hour wait but atleast you just go pick up a pass and don't have to stand in line. I was worried we would be really bored but actually we ended up having a lot of fun! The store is huge and there were a ton of cool attractions and things to look at.
We spent a lot of time taking pictures of Dallas next to different animals.
Dylan and I were laughing so hard.
It is so much fun to pose Dallas in different situations. Dallas got hungry only 40 minutes before it was picture time with santa so I just fed him in a changing room. That was another first for me.
Finally when it was our turn Dallas did such a good job!
He was so happy and the santa was so sweet. After we were done we went to Hebron ward's christmas party that was fun too. That was the most Dallas and I had been out since he was born. Getting ready for christmas this year seemed very stressful to me. Now that we have a baby I really want each christmas to be memorable so I went all out on the tree, decorations, candles, presents, and food. We did for the first time the tradition we want to do of C.H.R.I.S.T week and that was also a lot of work but I hope it will be something fun and worth doing when our kids are old enough to remember. C- we made cookies and gave them to neighbors (I also hope in the years of doing this tradition that I get better at making cookies.) H-we helped the missionaries. They needed a ride to the temple so we took them up to Chicago and since we had Dallas with us we didn't do a session with them but we had a great day driving around, window shopping and looking for a blessing outfit for Dallas (which we never found). R- we went to the library and checked out some of our favorite christmas stories. We got very enthusiastic and checked out a LOT of books. It was fun and we didn't get through reading even half of the books but we drank hot chocolate and had some good laughs. I- We invited people over to our appartment for a little get together. It was originally going to be little but ended up having 18 people crammed into our little home but and I was very stressed out but it was very fun! We had chocolate fondue, played some games and we had the missionaries over to share a christmas message. Everything came together and it was really cool. S- This one we never really got to. We were going to go to an old folks home and sing christmas carols but I ended up spending ALL day going christmas shopping and wrapping presents. T- We spent the evening talking about the week, christ, and our testimonies then we watched the church video of Luke 2 set to the song "Breath of Heaven". On Christmas eve we went down to the Caggiano's and watched some christmas movies and I made Wassel. Then all of us slept up in Gabe's room, including Taitum. She was so cute and didn't mind that Dallas kept waking up all night. In the morning we went downstairs to see a ton of presents and I WOULD post the pictures of us opening them but I can't seem to find them in our files. I am so mad, but when I do I will add them. It was a good first christmas for Dallas. He got some cute clothes, a baby einstein movie, (my favorite gift because he loves to watch it and it is a great break for me to get things done). He got some books and toys, including his special stuffed animal Dylan and I spent a lot of time looking for and decided on a little monkey. His name is Mr. Monk :) We had a lot of fun with the family and had an awesome christmas dinner. Thank you to the Caggianos. I also wanted to include these pictures that I took in December.
Look at how small Dallas' little foot is
and how big his pacifier is!
We have gone to Rue 21 to show Dallas off to my girls (I love that job and the friendships I made) and we have been down to Dylan's parent's home. Dylan is just starting to get used to juggling full time school while working at the bank, and being a dad. I feel so bad that Dallas keeps him up all night. Dylan never gets to sleep. But Dylan is the cutest dad and he keeps saying that he wouldn't trade it for the world. He is so thankful to be a dad and have the strength and dedication and time it takes to manage everything. He is thankful for the little man in his life that he gets to teach. He is already giving him life lessons and teaching him about different things. Dallas loves it when Dylan talks to him and he listens intently. I am thankful this year to have my body back. I loved being pregnant, I really did but it's just that last month when you get really excited to have your own body again. I am so grateful that I can sleep on my stomach again! Eat food again! Tie my own shoes again! Have bladder control again! Watch a movie laying down because I can see over my stomach now! So many great things I can do now :). I am nursing Dallas and I am so grateful that I am able to do that, I know some women who don't make enough milk and I am grateful that I get to share with my baby. And even though it KILLS so bad to breastfeed, I just cringe, curl my toes, and often cry, I know it's the best thing for Dallas and I'm grateful to be able to do it.
Dallas is grateful for bath time. He loves his baths. He is so calm and happy (when I get the water temp. right). He didn't care for the sink in the bathroom at The Caggiano's house that we used while we were there over Thanksgiving but Once he sucked on Dylan's thumb he was able to tolorate it.
Dallas loves it when Daddy comes home and gets to snuggle and play.
He is playing "sloth" here with Daddy.
I don't remember why we put him in Dylan's hoodie but it was so funny and Dallas didn't mind at all. He liked being so snuggled and warm. 
Dallas is thankful for the fun days that he shares with us. He is so observant and you can just see the weels turning in his head all the time. We all had such a good thanksgiving down at the Caggiano's home. We missed Gabe but it was fun having Dallas be a part of the day. During dinner we set him in his frogger on the counter right next to the table so he could be a part of the festivities. Of course Thanksgiving is football day at the caggiano's. It was very relaxing and nice to lay around after eating way too much dinner, and watch the games. Happy Thankgiving!
at 9:59 AM in the Porter Hospital in Valparaiso IN, Tuesday Nov. 2, 2010, and it was the most amazing sight I have ever seen. I didn't know he was out at first because my eyes were closed and when I looked up I saw this perfect little angel breathing in his first breath of life. Dylan and I both just started crying.
Dylan cut the cord and the nurse handed him to me for the first time and I fell instantly in love. The first time he opened his tiny eyes and looked up at me I will never forget. I never wanted to let him go but they weighed him and measured him. Dallas was 6 pounds even and was 20 inches long.
We stayed in the hospital 2 more days and had some visitors in and out. I loved the hospital staff and even the food. Although after so long of being dieabetic ANYTHING carbs tasted amazing :) Dylan even suprised me the same day that Dallas was born he drove clear out to merrilville (25 minutes away) and went to the mall and bought like 8 Cinnabons. haha. it was so delicious but i could only eat a couple of bites every few hours because I was not used to so much carbs and sugar. Mom was so so so SO helpful throughout everything. I can never say enough how grateful I am that she flew out here from Utah. She would stay with me so Dylan could go home and sleep and she would always make me comfortable and get me everything and help me with the baby and was so excited and loving.
As much fun as the hospital was, by the end of the second day I was ready to go home and take our little bundle of joy to his first home. The car ride home I was so nervous. I think Dylan drove 20 miles/hr the whole way. He is the cutest, loving, protective father. The first couple of nights home mom was so sweet and had Dallas in the frontroom asleep with her and she would bring him in only when he needed to eat. I thought that things were going pretty easy and despite being so sore, so tired, and so weak, mothering wasn't as hard as everyone made it out to seem... until my mom flew back home and Dylan went back to school and work the next week. Dallas seemed to be colicky at night. The first two months he would scream from 11 pm till 2 am. I don't know how Dylan and I can still hear and I also don't know how the cops were never called on us ;) but every minute was worth it when he would fall asleep and Dylan and I could see him so cute and peaceful. We have DEFINITELY learned so much these past 3 months. Especially patience, and that Dylan and I are ment to be good parents :) because we have accepted that each day is different and you just gotta' roll with it. We have the best life and the best little family!