Christmas 2012

We stayed in Singapore this Christmas, no traveling, just some quiet family time.  Dylan loved all the gifts but it was a little overwhelming opening all the presents.  He promptly took a nap after breakfast.

When Dylan got all his beauty rest we then ventured out for a Christmas Day brunch on Sentosa and after a quick trip to the Garrett's house for another traditional Christmas meal.   I think this holiday was all about eating... 

Merry Christmas from the Dunlaps!

Happy Boy!

Cut his hair just after this picture with the elf

Christmas morning- scooter from Grandma & Grandpa Dunlap
Loving some KungFu Panda too! 

So overwhelming!
Was ok opening a couple of gifts but got tired quickly

Fell in his new lego box!
Loves to build things now, taking after his dada?

Our typical Christmas Eve meal: Texas Chili, Apple Pie, Corn bread, and vodka sodas!
Some Southern food in the tropics

The loot!
Santa had it easy this year, no putting together toys

Santa has arrived

Thanksgiving 2012

Thanksgiving in Singapore was held at our house.  We always do a Movember theme with mustaches to support Prostate Cancer awareness but in actuality I think the guys just have fun growing facial hair for a month.

So 13 adults and 3 kids.  Dylan had his favorite girls come over, Mattie & Charlotte Paulsen.  Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of the kids together... but Dylan was a stellar helper in setting up the feast.  I don't think our last condo could hold this many people!!

The gang with their mustaches

Tim, David McVay, Kenny Chambers, Dustin Harbert, Theresa Harbert, and Dirk (back)

Andy Paulsen, Phil Gay, Tuan Do, Justina Wong (middle)

Gen Paulsen, Christina, Catherine Chambers (front)

We added some new people but also had a few return, Phil, Tuan, and Justina!

Dylan practicing his best Movember stache

Picture was for my brother's birthday, sign says happy birthday uncle ryan!

Movember is a family thing!

Helping setup!

Table settings were fabulous this year thanks to Catherine!

Table for 13

My little turkey!

Halloween 2012

Halloween and first trick or treating experience.  

We went over to the Paulsen's who live in a condo close by.  The condo had setup for people to go around trick or treating at people's doors that wanted to participate.  Our condo is actually doing it on Halloween so this was just the trial run. 

We had a great time but it was rather close to bedtime so the little man was rather tired.  He got candy from two doors, wasn't scared and walked right into the people's house. 

Gen & Andy's door decorations.

Dylan (14 months), Charlotte (11months), Mattie ( 2.5years)

I love how they are all looking at each other in this picture

Caught playing in bed together!

Daddy & Dylan the pirate

Mattie the jellyfish

Charlotte the owl & Mattie

13 months

Dylan is such a big boy now and saying that he is happy is an understatement.  He literally laughs all day, mostly sounding like Peewee Herman laugh.  He loves attention of adults and other babies, he is such a social butterfly and so independent.   He is securely attached as they would say in psychology, secure enough that after a few moments he is ready to explore new territory.

He is standing, pulling up, creeping, and even taking one or two unassisted steps. He can crawl faster than my brisk walk. Says the words dada, hiiii, bye bye (as he is waving bye bye), can give hi fives, sign "all done" in sign language, and imitates just about any sound you give him.  He is very verbal and boy, we all wish we knew what he was saying.  He still loves to play with Otto and his toys, favorite game is hide and seek (especially in his tent), and of coarse open and close all kinds of doors and drawers.

He is still taking two naps a day, depending on how hard we play they have be two, two hours naps.  He loves his sleep through the night, 7:30pm-8am, but wakes up some nights with nightmares??  He eats like a horse and loves his oatmeal in the mornings.  Lately mommy can't eat an apple in front of him without him wanting the whole thing.  This helps with teething immensely and we almost have 5 teeth now.

Still a cuddly little man and still LOVES his mommy, daddy is ok and fun to rough house with but mommy is still the favorite so far.  I know this will change very soon so I will soak it all up now.

Merry go Around at Kiddy Fun with Mattie

Loving the indoor play gyms

Reading his Halloween book that Mimi sent him

Botanical Gardens- Food for Thought is are go to playground

14 Months

October 2012

Dylan is still such a happy a little guy, he has a social laugh that if he hears someone else laughing, even if it is at another table in the restaurant, he laughs along.

WALKing! He is more like running everywhere.  He can be cautious, like asking for mom's hand to go down the stairs and steps, but usually its full force everywhere! He would rather walk than do anything else right now...

FIRST words with recognition.  Apple, will take bite out of the apples he can see in the refrigerator which happen to be Jessa's.  Baby, points out pictures of all the babies.  Ball, loves loves loves balls! Hop on Pop (more like hop hop hop), the Dr. Seuss book which Dirk reads him every night.  He usually picks the book out and then sits in his lap for him to read. Bubble, otto, dada, tita (Jessa, sometimes me too), hot, out, and most recently thank you (which he understands the meaning to)

I have moved from "tita" which means auntie in Philippine to "dada".  I will even correct him with "mama" and he just laughs at me... its like he knows this is not funny to me.


He got a new big boy chair with his name on it from us for his first birthday and he loves it!  Will go sit in it and wait for his milk.

DANCING! The boy loves music, beats, anything with rhythm! Books that rhythm, his baby Einstein videos with songs, and any sort of music will make him start dancing.  The signature move is the shimmy!  He will also sing along, favorite song right now is Old McDonald but we can get him to sing back Du A Ditty Ditty Dumb Ditty Du and Ba Ba Baaa Ba Ba Raan.

BOOKS are his favorite toy at the moment.  He LOVES to read to himself or as soon as daddy gets home he hands him Hop on Pop.  Loves that book!

October 18th, 2012:

Pumpkin Painting Playdate at our house! Painted pumpkins, made ghost feet, and played in the bubbles.

Painting Pumpkins Play Date at our house

Dylan and all his friends painting their pumpkins

Ghost feet! 

Its BUBBLE time!

October 6th, 2012 High Tea at the Shangri La Hotel Singapore

First High Tea at the Shangri La Hotel

Cheering on the Aggies!

This is SO his personality right here, always making us laugh!

I can't hear you mom, or rather "dada"

My BIG BOY chair!

October 21st, 2012 Science Center in Singapore

Science Museum in Singapore, Genome project!

Watching a fire tornado at the science center

First Birthday Party

August 4th, 2012: The First Birthday Party Festivities

Dylan had a great first birthday party and mommy & daddy had a blast!!  We made fajitas, tacos, and enchiladas with all the Mexican food fixings. It was an under the water theme with goldfish cupcakes and blue streamers for the effect of water.

We had full use of the patio and the kids ran, crawled, and scooted inside and out.  In attendance, just because I didn't get a picture and for record sake: the Paulsen family including Andy's parents Eric & Diane, Garrett family (fresh off a 24 hour flight from Houston and just moved back to SG), Justina Wong & Chris Holmes, Dustin Harbert & Theresa Pena, Ray Guillory, John Lyons, Kenny Chambers, and James Riddoch.  The bachelor men were in full force as they were waiting for their wives to get back from summer holiday in the USA.  Usha Devi (my nurse manager) and Anne Lund (another colleague of mine) stopped by prior to the party for a couple of quick ones. 

It was a great time and these parents didn't get to bed until midnight!  Thanks to all who came out :)

All the gifts 

Picture mobile above the table

Under the Water theme: Gold fish cupcakes

First cupcake

Real Birthday was in Australia, so called for some Aussie beer!

Daddy's homemade sign

Justina & Dylan

Blowing out the candle

What is this stuff?  Hated the icing!

Mommy & Dylan

Had it with the cupcake!

The goodie table

8 Month Old Photo Shoot

Have I mentioned I have some really talented friends?  

My sorority sister from University is a photographer and she got some amazing photos of Dylan and I.  I think she was able to get all of his many expressions at 8 months. 

It was a hot day in april and we were pretty sweaty by the end of it but Dylan was a little trooper and held out.

One of my favorites

Just want to eat him up!

Wasn't born in Texas but got there as fast as I could!

Little monkey :)