Wagon

Della Gray's First Year

By skyork

  • Birth

    Birth
    Della Gray Dallas York was born Dec. 23, 2010, in Durham Regional Hospital in Durham, N.C., after 22.5 hours of labor. She weighed in 8 pounds and 4 ounces and stood (well, lied, 21 inches).

  • Going Home

    Going Home
    It was Christmas Day when Della Gray got strapped into her car seat and came home from the hospital. It was snowing, and Stevie Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely" came on the radio as we pulled away from the hospital. It was a surreal time for the new parents.

  • First Stroll

    First Stroll
    It was Jan. 3, 2011, when Della Gray went on her first real stroll around the neighborhood.

  • First Sleeping Through the Night

    First Sleeping Through the Night
    During her second month, Della Gray began sleeping almost all the way through the night. This was a major development for the mental health of her parents.

  • First Bouts of Smiling

    First Bouts of Smiling
    Della Gray began smiling at her parents and other folks that came to see her. It was surprising how nice and reassuring that new expression was for her parents.

  • First Bath Without Crying

    First Bath Without Crying
    Della Gray's first bath without crying was on March 8, 2011. But the party was short-lived. March 10 brought another bath, and this one was no party. It would be another several weeks before Della Gray truly enjoyed bath time.

  • First Bowling Alley Appearance

    First Bowling Alley Appearance
    Della Gray made her first appearance at a bowling alley on April 18, 2010. It was at the Village Lanes on Hardee Street in Durham, where her parents bowl in the Splitzkrieg League.

  • First Beach Trip

    First Beach Trip
    Della Gray took her first trip to the beach - Sunset Beach in North Carolina - on April 20, 2011.

  • First Solid Foods

    First Solid Foods
    Della Gray first started eating solid foods, though she still preferred her bottle. Rice cereal was her first victim, and then sweet potatoes made their way into the mix. Della Gray still hasn't met a food she doesn't like.

  • First Hike

    First Hike
    Della Gray's first trip to the mountains came in early August. Her first hike was Aug. 5, 2011, in Linville, N.C. She was fine as long as her dad kept moving.

  • First Swim in The Ocean

    First Swim in The Ocean
    Della Gray took her first "swim" in the ocean with her mom at Sunset Beach, N.C. As with most things, she took it in stride without too much ado.

  • First Crawl

    First Crawl
    Della Gray crawled for the first time on Sept. 14., 2011. It wasn't the prettiest crawl, but it moved her about five feet to pick up half of a plastic egg that she fancied. See the video at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasyork/6148105789/

  • First Birthday

    First Birthday
    Della Gray turned one on Dec. 23, 2011. She opened presents and ate her first cupcake to an audience of friends and family. See the video at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasyork/6561651191.

  • First Walk

    First Walk
    Della Gray walked on her own for the first time on Feb. 9, 2012. While it may appear that she had a few drinks before this walk, I can attest to the fact that she had not. See the video at http://www.flickr.com/photos/dallasyork/6849633813/.