Merry Christmas Dylan.....

Our Holub Family!

Cheeser Dylan!

Precious, our two little miracles!

Dylan LOVES to read books.

Dylan opening presents with Cassie & Kenzie!

Hey daddy, look at this!

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas it was for Dylan this year. He got to celebrate with his new little sister at home! It was priceless this morning when Dylan woke up and came into the living room to see what Santa had brought. He ran over to his new toys and said 'oh what's that' and was pointing to everything! Here is a video of him checking out his new toys, pretty cute!

Christmas Eve we went out for a family dinner at the Olive Garden. It was a great time and both kids were great. Dylan ate a whole kids pizza, 5 pieces! He loved it and got his belly full.

Then we were back home and to bed to get ready for Santa. It was priceless this morning seeing Dylan get into opening gifts this year and really 'knowing' what was going on. He wasn't too much into tearing them open but he would tare open a part and the peek at what was inside. Santa must have thought that he was a pretty good boy this year! Then it was off to Great Grandma Holub's house for a Christmas visit. She was very happy to see the kids and Dylan's 2 cousins were very happy to see him also. Cassie and Kenzie helped him open a few gifts from their family also.

We were back home for an afternoon Christmas dinner. Mommy made a Pork Tenderloin and smoked ham. Dylan wasn't much for the pork tenderloin but he did eat the ham and some green bean casserole. That was all that he was hungry for this Christmas dinner. He sure was pooped out after a long Christmas day. He was a very good boy and loved playing with his new toys and mostly he loved reading his new books. His Thomas book plays 'twinkle little star' and he loved that and his new dog book was very appropriate and telling all about his favorite animal 'puppies'! And then the toys that make noise, the new tool bench and daddy's favorite the non noise maker 'big boy' basketball hoop!

What a memorable Christmas 2008 was. We think back to just 2 years ago when we spend Dylan's first Christmas with him in the University of Iowa NICU. That Christmas was just as memorable as this year but the difference is that now Dylan is able to enjoy his holiday at home and now with his little sister! Dylan had the enjoyment of opening many of Danielle's gifts also. A few he really wanted to keep playing with so the new challenge will be for him to let Danielle play with her toys and she can share with him.

Our family is really taking notice of the true meaning of Christmas more and more every year. The first year when we found out we were pregnant with Dalton we thought we were finding out the true meaning of Christmas then, but the next year having Dylan in the NICU we thought then, last year with our first Christmas with a child at home we thought then, and now this year with two little miracle babies at home we think we have found out the true meaning. What will next year, Christmas 2009 bring for our family? We hope it will bring togetherness thru God's love. What a blessing to be able to spend one of the most important spiritual days of the year together, with our children in our home with the ones we love. We have been thinking as sad as it seems that some people have lost the true meaning of Christmas.....for them we pray, that they find the meaning in their hearts and share it next year with the ones they love. We will try and do the best we can to raise our children in a well rounded home with family traditions and spiritual meanings and we hope this will stay with them for the rest of their lives. Tis' the season for togetherness, Merry Christmas 2008. 'Miracles happen to those who Believe'!~

Dylan's big adventure.....cutting down a Christmas tree!

'Hey this one is just my size!'

This one was the winner! Dylan's trip down the hill, holding on to daddy for dear life!

Say Cheese!

The weekend after Thanksgiving we decided to take advantage of the nice warm weather and continue our family tradition......cutting down a Christmas Tree. We got a sitter for Danielle and took Dylan out to Wickiup Hill Tree Farm for a journey amongst hundreds of tree's. This is a place that Brad and I have gone the past 5 years and we have been very pleased at what they offer.

It was pretty funny this year because last year Dylan was not walking when we took him. This year was a whole another story! This place is very hilly and is a little bit rough terrain. Dylan immediately took off up the hill, and then across the hill, and then he decided he wanted to run down the hill......'not so fast little one'. A tumbling he went, he stopped, got up and laughed, he was having a great time. They do have John Deere Gators there, they will take you up to the top of the hill if you want so it is easier on little feet, but we declined and walked, the little man loved it, about 15 minutes in we found the perfect tree!

So daddy got out the saw and cut it down and slid it down the hill while I held a tight grip on to Dylan's hand trying to avoid another tumble down the hill. Brad and I talked and this year because of all of the toys and baby gear in the living room we were going to get a smaller tree that was slim and not as round and not as tall. Well Brad stood the tree up to see how tall it was and......so much for our nice thoughts we had, we wound up with a 8.5 ft tall tree and when we got it home it was as plump as ever! We looked at each other and laughed considering our ceilings are only 8 ft tall! So we had them place it on the shaker, good thing because there was a birds nest hiding in there, had it netted and we were off on our way back home! It was a wonderful experience carrying on with our family tradition and we can't wait until next year when we will have 2 toddlers to chase up and down the hill trying to find the perfect tree!

Dylan has been picking up new words it seems like every 4-5 days now. It is pretty funny listening to him spit out a new word that we have not heard him say or worked with him on. Last week it was 'Hawkeye' and 'Uh oh, who's that' and 'why', everything now is we ask him to do something or better yet to NOT do something and we get, 'why'. It is very hard not to laugh when we are trying to discipline him and he is asking us 'why'. It is pretty cute and very rewarding listening to your children learn new things! Dylan also last week has started to get a little jealous of his little sister. We started noticing him wanting picked up every time we are in her room. So I started putting him in the crib with her in the mornings when I give her breathing treatments. He loves to sit in there and watch her as she lays in her boppy and he plays with her stuffed animals in her crib. This weekend daddy was deer hunting and mommy had the kids, I noticed him being envious a little more. During nap time he wanted me to hold him while I was holding her, it was a little challenging but it worked and eventually I was able to put them both down after they fell asleep. So Brad and I are just going to continue on working on giving him some extra attention and snuggles and play time in the evenings before he goes to bed and hopefully this will make him feel special! Our sitter has not noticed this at daycare so that is good, but he also has his little friends to play with there to keep him content.

Our little man is just getting so big. We look at Danielle and it is crazy thinking that just a short time ago Dylan was her size and now look how big he is and what a little man he has become! He is such a little character and he keeps our lives busy and keeps us on the move every day. We pray for continued health, happiness and safety now and throughout the New Year.~

Happy Thanksgiving...

This is what we live for...our beautiful children! Sneak pic at Christmas pics!!

This outfit that Dylan wore today has a very special meaning to Brad and I. I picked this outfit out and bought it when I found out that I was having a boy when I was pregnant with Dalton. I always hoped I would have another little boy that would be able to wear it, it is our favorite. Today was the very special day, I just felt that Dylan was extra happy today and we could really tell that his big brother was really cheering him on and whispering in his little ear all day long ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dylan had a wonderful Thanksgiving today. The weather was beautiful, he was able to spend the whole day with mommy, daddy and his little sister and he was even able to play outside!!! Daddy took Dylan outside for a little catch and even a roll in the grass. It was so much fun to have those wonderful memories fill our minds. Dylan loved every minute of it and is sleeping soundly this evening. He wasn't too crazy for the turkey today but the broccoli casserole, surprisingly enough, was his favorite! We got him to take a few bites of mashed potatoes, daddy is bound and determined that he will like them one day!

This year our family has many things to be thankful for. Foremost we are thankful that today our family was able to spend the whole day together, away from hospitals, doctors etc. Our children were able to relax and we as parents were able to enjoy every single minute of them, all day long. Dylan is feeling much better now. Thank you lord for helping our children to be healthy this thanksgiving.

Our family has been very fortunate this year with the surprise birth of our precious daughter, Danielle. She came in to our lives a surprise and we could not be happier to have her as our daughter and to have another child warming our hearts daily. Danielle, as Dylan is also, is a miracle baby to us. Both of our children have been through many things in their little lives that most people never go thru in a lifetime. Their amazing strength has gotten them thru everything and our belief in our children and their belief in themselves is truly showing as wonderful as they are growing, and thriving, especially now it is even more noticeable with both children at home and our family all together. The lord has blessed our family in numerous ways. We are so very thankful for our 3 beautiful children, it is truly a testament to our love for each other as we look at our children every day. What a wonderful gift we have been given, the symbol of our love, our beautiful sons and our daughter. It is so rewarding being a parent, and truly it is so amazing to think about how our children were created and chosen for us and now we have the wonderful gift of being able to raise them into the amazing people they will become.We hope that your Thanksgiving has been filled with family, and memories, especially of the wonderful times that were spent with those you love, that you were not able to be with today. We are very thankful for our first son Dalton, he was and always will be our first child, our first love. He is the one who gets us thru every day when trying times arise. It is Dalton who helped Brad and I become the strongest couple we ever thought we could be, he made us realize how being united together is such a gift, he made us realize how strong we have to be for our children. We have really realized over the past 4 years that no matter the trials and tribulations that come your way, it is your love for each other and gods love for you that will get you thru anything. We hold this very close to our hearts.We are very thankful for the gift of family. Thank you for blessing our family, keeping us strong, keeping us believing and never giving up and helping us become the united family that we are today.~

*November is Premature babies awareness month*Big, little man!

Hey, look at my Hawkeye shirt!

Dylan knows right where the Hawkeye is on his shirt and points to it when you ask him where it is!

Here is my belly, somewhere under my turtleneck!

Dylan is such a little character these days. On the previous post I remarked how he is really into books, now we have determinted we think he would have us read books to him every day all day if we could. He now wants to take them in the car all of the time and to bed even! He has a new favorite to replace Elmo now, it is the 'sky' book as Dylan calls it or better named as 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star'. He also pretty much knows where his features are, like eyes, nose, mouth, toes, hand, hair etc. Well he now points to ours then his then back to ours then back to his while he wants us to name each part either on us or him whichever he points to. It is just hilarious! And everything is Mamma, Brad is a little disappointed he doesn't say 'daddy' much, but when he does he surely wants daddys attention, right now! If I discipline him he says, mamma then starts to cry or whine, he will look me strait in the eyes and say 'mamma, mamma' until I say his name back. He is such a smart little turkey and a riot to be around. Tonight we had our carpet cleaned and every other minute he was saying 'hi' to the cleaning people. And he wouldn't stop until they said 'hi' back. But its not just 'hi' its 'hiiii', its just so cute.

He is still battling his cold. Last weeks visit into Dr. Collins bought him 5 days on prednisone and lots of breathing treatments. He still has a nasty cough and little bit of buggery nose. We have sucked some major and I mean major buggies out of that nose with his suction machine, thank god for that! Daddy is taking him in tomorrow for a re-check. Last week Dr. Collins said he did not quite have RSV and not quite Pnemonia.....we were freaking out and thank god we took him in. This is just how fast things can come on with him. VERY FAST....and he doesn't even go anywhere but daycare...ugg.

Dylan continues to love and notice his baby sister. Everything is baby now and he looks for her when he wakes up in the morning and looks right over at her when we pick him up from daycare and says 'baby'. It is pretty cute. He pretty much leaves her alone, still somtimes the gradual push in the swing, but he always seems to like to be aware of where she is at all times. Just like a good big brother watching out for his little sis! Here are a few pics of Dylan sporting his favorite teams gear. He does 'touchdown' and raises his hands strait in the air above his head then he will clap. Oh, all of daddy's little tricks he teaches Dylan, including that Dylan thinks that passing gas, burping or sneezing is just the funniest thing ever!! We are so blessed to have our precious little boy with us today. We miss you baby Dalton, forever in our hearts 3.30.05~

Halloween 2008...

Where are my hands?

Cheeser smile!

What is this thing?

Yay!

No more kisses today...Skylar!

'Well hi there little sister'!

Daddy & Dylan being silly at the

Koppenhaver wedding

Last family pic at the hospital!

Bringing Danielle home!

Story time is our favorite!

Dylan had a wonderful Halloween this year. He was a puppy, how appropriate since that is one of his favorite words to say. When he got home from daycare I took him out to play with the puppy, and as you can see by his pictures he wasn't too much for playing with Skylar on this day. She was wound for sound and he was ....not! Of course when he cried, I picked him up, and then of course he wanted down for more puppy kisses! They are big pals.

Daddy took Dylan out trick or treating while mommy and Danielle handed out candy. This past week has been a change for Dylan because his little sister Danielle came home from the hospital. He isn't too interested in her, he will ask for her right away in the morning and when he comes home at night. He will also come over and squeeze her toes and he gives her the absolute funniest face we have ever seen when she cries. It is hilarious, we are going to try and capture it on camera. I have tried to get Dylan to hold her for a picture, he is ......not interested. He shoves her off of his lap! I think this is probably a good thing so we hopefully will not try and pick her up on his own time, any time soon!

On the day Danielle came home Dylan went with us to bring her home. We wanted him to see where were getting her from so he didn't get angry with mommy and daddy for showing up with this new person that is here to stay! He did very well, we took lots of video and both kids slept in the backseat with daddy the whole way home from Iowa City.

So, Dylan is adjusting well. We do not feel like he feels left out. We have really been trying to give him and Danielle equal attention and so far things are good. Only one time did he throw a ball at her and that bought him 2 minutes of time out on the rug. He hasn't done it since!

Dylan is continuing to love his little friends at daycare. He is getting upset now at times when he has to come home. I think it will be fun in a few weeks when he has his sister to share his little friends with too.

This morning Dylan woke up with a low grade fever and runny nose. Thank goodness for our suction machine, that thing is wondrous! So hopefully a good nights sleep will kick that in the rear.

One of Dylan's favorite things to do now is read books. We have been reading them since he was a very tiny baby, but now but just the past few weeks he wants to read one every second we are with him in the evenings and on the weekends, he would rather read books then play with us or anything else. His favorite book is this grow with me Elmo book. It says 'Elmo is touching his nose, hands, toes, waving goodbye' etc, Dylan does all of these things and mimics the book when we read that page. It is hilarious, we have it memorized! We will ask him to go get his Elmo book or a few others he knows by name and will dig thru all his books until he finds that certain one. He is a smart little fella!

Dylan is doing great and we are very happy that he is adjusting well to sharing his home with his little sister. It is very nice to be able to enjoy both kids under one roof and at the same time. Thank you lord for blessing our family and uniting us together.~

Dylans big adventure....to the Pumpkin Patch!!

Getting a little sleepy at the end of my 1st hay rack ride!!

Almost 3 feet tall in 2008!!

Crazy goat!!

Today Dylan had a big adventure to the pumpkin patch @ Bloomsbury Farm. We went last year but this year will be more memorable for Dylan. Dylan took his first tractor ride with daddy!!! It was so cute watching daddy's eyes light up as he got in the little wagon with Dylan. Then all of us took a hay rack ride back to the pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins! The weather was absolutely beautiful today, perfect for our little man's adventure!

Dylan also got to swing on the swings and go down the slide for the 1st time with daddy too! There were lots of animals, cows too, Dylan's favorite.....as he now says 'mooooo'!

It was a great chance for Brad and I to spend some time together with our little man, an adventure that we will remember forever!! :)~