Where have we been?!?!?!

A couple weeks ago we got to head up to the mountains (Quincy/Meadow Valley/Bucks Lake) to spend time with friends and family. My dear friends, Elena and Kelly, their hubbies and kids were in town too. HOW GREAT WAS THAT!?!?! (We really missed Melissa, Matt and Finn though!) Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures at the Stentzels BBQ Fest...Can't wait to see them from all who took them though!

I did manage to get some shots at the Plumas Sierra County Parade...which wouldn't be complete without an entry from the Beer Family. Dad towed two of his kayaks (with my Uncle Doug in one, Aunt Monika in the other) and one of his canoes (with Mom and Kellyn in tow.)
Dalton slept the WHOLE TIME!! NO WAY...even through gunshots and horns honking! Talk about shutting it all out!


Mom and Kellyn join in the fun!

Auntie Elena! Dalton loved her!
My goddaughter, Maisie, and Dalton chilling on the grass before the parade. Maisie LOVES Dalton...it is the cutest! What a great big sis she will be!:)
Back home after all the fun in the mountains....

Dalton is stylin! Thanks to Auntie Annika!!! Check out the Vans!!!!


Dalton LOVES laying on his changing table and chatting...he smiles and laughs...sometimes just at himself! Easily amused!


He's found his thumb...most of the time.... too cute! Gets so frustrated when he can't get it in his mouth! :)


Talking in the car...quite the way to pass the time.


What you looking at Willis?!?!


WOW! Baby push ups!
"Look at me!!!" Dalton is getting sooo strong and changing each day! Today he was laying on the couch, lifting his head with ease, and rocking back and forth. He sure was trying to move! And was one happy boy about it! (Yes...he is losing his hair...booo....funny little head now! It'll grow back.:)
So....I am back to school...Hard to be away from Dalton each day...BUT so busy at work that I don't have much time to think about it. We are soooo blessed though...he gets to stay with his Nanny (Trav's mom) two days a week, my cousin Marlene two other days, and is with Trav on Fridays! He is with someone who loves him each day, which is a HUGE relief to me! What a lucky boy!!!!

We are a'changin'!!!

Well, it has been a while since I posted...so let's see...what have we been up too??? Dalton will be 10 weeks old on Sunday...SO HARD TO BELIEVE! He is growing and certainly changing!!! Just yesterday Dalton discovered his left hand is attached to his body...He was laying on the changing table just staring at it! He would lift it up, hold it still in front of his face, and stare! Too cute-one of many discoveries he will make! :) This afternoon he spent his time concentrating on the blinking star and toys on his play gym...He loves this thing! (So do I...sometimes it is the only time I have to get some things done.)
This past Sunday pm-Thursday am my mom and niece, Kellyn were here! WE LOVED IT!!! Kellyn is the ROCKSTAR COUSIN! She knows how to take care of Dalton so well! She loved picking out his clothes too. Needless to say...she LOVES him immensely! To quote her..."I could just squeeze him, he is so cute!"...well, won't argue with that, though I know I am partial!

The 3 Doyles at Claimjumper on Travis and Derek's birthday! Dalton zonked after his bottle...just in time for dessert! :)
Grammy and her boy! What an awesome mom I have...she would even wake up in the middle of the night with me to feed him and would then take him to let me rest...I am so blessed! Dalton LOVES his Grammy...she became quite the expert at reading his cries!

Just thought this was a funny picture...I entitled it "What Now Mom?!??!" I think that is the look I was getting.:)
Well, we have survived his first NOT FUN virus...I couldn't believe that he got a yucky tummy bug at 7 weeks old, which lasted over 2 weeks! Thank goodness, he is getting better each day...This was a tough one! Despite his bug, he still managed to smile and be in a pretty good mood. (Especially for someone blowing through 12+ diapers a day!)
His fascination with a stuffed animal that we call "Scuba Steve" (a frog wearing snorkel gear and an inner tube) has made diaper changing fun!

Scuba Steve!
Dalton has also been enjoying tummy time...although he would MUCH prefer to lay on his back and bat at the hanging toys. We are trying to tell him how good tummy time is for him...though I don't think he cares...lol!
I had to share this picture...The onesie is the cutest! Actually this day it should have said "Mr. Crabby" BUT most days he is Mr. Happy!!! (Uncle Derek and Auntie Candace gave this onesie to him...one of my favorites!) PS. Check out the cute khakis above.:) He looked so grown up in this outfit.

Concert in the Park

Last night we enjoyed a nice night of music and picnic at Central Park in San Ramon. It was a great way to spend a summer Sunday evening with the family. Nanny, Uncle Derek, Auntie Candace, and cousin Kellyn joined in the fun! Dalton thoroughly enjoyed the music! :) Hehehe...he slept much of the time. (Guess he likes 70s music!?!)
Kellyn loved chasing Uncle Trav around on the lawn.
Auntie Lici and her lil peanut!

Playtime

Today Kellyn and Dalton spent some time playing...Dalton is so alert and loves his monkey. (Thanks Auntie Jillian!)
OOOOHHHH!
There's that sweet smile! Lil cutie!
Kellyn and Dalton enjoy the new play gym...Thanks Gail and Allen! He loves it! Mommy does too, I can actually get something done!

Oh...THE LAKE!!!

Dalton took his first road trip up to Meadow Valley and Bucks Lake for the week of July 10-17. What a lil trooper he was! He loved it up there and even spent two nights in the fifth wheel "camping."
Here's the new spot at Bucks Lake...It is soo relaxing and beautiful! I look forward to many more summers here.As soon as we got there, Dalton got comfy and relaxed in Grammy's arms...Ah, the lake will do that to you! (Of course, Grammy's touch helps too.)

Daddy and Dalton enjoy the new campsite. It is big and spread out with a huge tent in one area, two hammocks for relaxing in two other areas, the deck, the firepit and bench area, and more! There will be many great memories made here for Dalton. (PS...Trav took a swing at carving a duck head on the head of golf club, just like Dad carves....not to toot his horn, but Trav did a nice job for first piece of art.)
Here's Uncle Gerald meeting Dalton for the first time. Gerald commented about how babies like to be walked and how babies know the difference between when you sit and hold them and when you stand....He said, "They must like the altitude."
On Sunday night we ventured from the lake and made our way to Mom and Dad's...Yes, it was time for showers and the king size bed was calling my name! Here's Dalton SUPER comfy in the armchair on Daddy's lap. Man, this kid loved the mountains! He slept 7 hours straight one night! WOW!!!
Kellyn is a pro already...Dalton loves her! She is such a help to me too! THIS KID ROCKS!
A trip to Quincy wouldn't be right without stopping at the Polka Dot. Just so happened that Auntie Niki was there too!
Uncle Trav and Kellyn enjoy the stream at the Polka Dot...Brings back many memories as a kid.
Ok, sooo we happened to be back in town the next day, and low and behold....Polka Dot stop again! This time Grammy came too. Here's Dalton with Auntie and Grammy...getting tons of loving!
A couple days later we made our way back up to the lake. It was time to get out on the boat. We suited Dalton up in his lycra UV protectant shirt, hat, trunks, and a baby life vest to top it off. He looks like a lil sausage in the vest, but hey, he was safe! He loved the motion of the boat and fell asleep most of the time. (Of course, we brought an umbrella to keep the sun off of him since he is too young to be able to wear sunblock.)
Here's Kellyn and Dalton.
Mommy and Dalton
Last, here's the 3 Doyles loving the lake!

5 weeks and growing!

Lil Dalton is 5 weeks old in this picture taken on July 5th. The sleeper he is wearing is a newborn size and barely fits anymore....which is a bummer since it is so cute! He is now longer fitting into newborn diapers either and is becoming more alert and responsive each day. In fact, yesterday, he smiled at me (no, it wasn't gas!). He actually SMILED at me when I was chatting with him and smiling at him in the chair. Then later on when Nanny (Travis's mom) came over he gave her a crocked smile followed by a full on smile with his pacifier in his mouth! SO GREAT! It is amazing!

Today, he is 5 1/2 weeks old and had a check up at the pediatrician's office. And my, oh my, how he has grown!!!! He is 23 inches long and 12 lbs. That's right! I said TWELVE pounds...no joke! Apparently he is in the 87%tile for his weight, 81%tile for height and 86%tile for head circumference. WE HAVE ONE HEALTHY BOY! After his appointment, we hung out with Nanny for lunch. He was pretty pooped...must be all that growing! Note: Check out my boys cubby cheeks! Not too much, just enough!

Sleep

So, they say that this time of life is all about sleep, eat, poop, cry...repeat. Pretty much true! Dalton has been doing great! He takes regular naps throughout the day, sleeps about 3 hours at a time at night, and is becoming more and more alert when he is awake. He is the best! (Of course, I am partial.) This post is all about the sleeping part of his day, which makes for some great photo ops and is an opportunity for mommy to get a few things done...like shower!

We stopped by Nanny's house for a visit the other day. Clearly Dalton is super comfy with his nanny and loves her very much! Check out the relaxed little boy! My dear friend Ruby fly up from LA to spend some time with us this week. We have loved it! She has the touch with him! He would be a bit fussy and Ruby would walk around with him...then ZONK he would be out! I think she needs to stay! (Especially when we get to sleepless nights.)
A close up....entitled..ZONKED! Check out the hair too!