'97 Reunion

OK, I'll admit it, I didn't have really high expectations for my 10 year high school reunion. But it was really a very fun weekend!!! Hot, but really fun to hang out with the ole' group again. I have totally embraced my nerdiness, but I also enjoyed visiting with people that were not close friends in high school. It was interesting to see where people were and what life had brought their way. We missed you JC!! Erin has tons of great party pics from all the events, but here are the ones I caught!

Adorable Clip of Psalm 23

Maria sent me this link. It is SO PRECIOUS!!! Please watch this little girl! Of course, I am partial to red heads :)!!! Maybe this is a glimpse of Sydney in 3 or 4 years?

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=9e7c4b40cf5a13cea6ca

Amen Sister!!!

5 Months Old

Well, Miss Sydney is 5 months old today! We really can't believe it. It has been a long time since I have given an update on all the things she is doing, and I want to be able to look back and remember! She is still smiling and laughing out loud a lot. I swear there is no sweeter sound than a baby laughing!! She is sitting up with assistance, but she would rather stand. She stiffens up her legs all the time and really doesn't like to be sitting. The top 2 pictures look like I'm trying to make her walk, which of course I'm not. She was just balancing on her feet after I changed her diaper so well! She loves to "talk" and just this week has started these vocalizations that go up and down in pitch. She is drinking 5 6 oz. bottles a day and rice cereal once a day. I'm going to start baby food in a couple of days- maybe green veggies first? I know that she is gaining weight! I've been calling her "Chunky Monkey" lately! She is still wearing size 2 diapers and 3-6 month clothing. Praise God- she has learned to sleep!!! She has been consistently sleeping through the night for 3 weeks now- Bedtime at 7:00pm and waking up at 6:45am. I don't even need to set an alarm clock! Sydney is still taking 3 or 4 naps a day- varying from 45 minutes to 2 hours.

Which leads me to my next thought... Sydney will be starting at her infant center full time on Monday! She has been for several half days this summer, and a couple of days I had to work so she stayed until 3:30ish. Honestly, she likes school. She is happy, clean, well rested and overall very well taken care of. This morning she went and I think she recognized the door because she stiffened up her legs and smiled! Oh, what to say about my emotions going back to work?!?!? One fear is that I may not survive just getting out of the door every morning with everyone ready and on time. Another fear is that she will like her teachers more than her mommy! Or that I will miss even a small moment in her life! But Brent and I both have complete peace that, for now at least, this is the step to take. And if that is God's plan- whom am I to fear??? A co-worker said "If you have a peace about it, then God's grace is all over you and Sydney and Brent and you would be missing out on blessings if you didn't obey!" So, "Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work I go" on Monday! We have a super busy weekend planned- my 10 year high school reunion! Stay tuned for pictures!

My Sunday Afternoon

I hung out with my Daddy...
Watched my cousins Nick and Drake beat Daddy in NCAA Football '08
(an XBox Game)...

Played in my chair while Mommy made lunch...

And practiced chewing on my favorite new toy, my finger! Hope everyone else had a great Sunday too!

Morning Sweet Baby Girl!

OK, poor Brent. He is surrounded by girls who LOVE morning time!!!

I can't think of anything I would rather have wake me up than Sydney just talking and singing to herself in her crib. She just grins from ear to ear when she sees my face come in to get her. I LOVE IT!!! Unfortunately, it takes her Daddy a shower, a cup of coffee and usually an hour before he can even fake a smile in the morning. But we will keep working on him!

SI swimsuit model :)

Brent and I took Sydney over to my mom's last weekend for a little pool time. She loved it! I had her in the water up to her shoulders and she was trying to put her face down in the water. But then, on Monday we tried the water park and she cried in the water-? I will certainly be trying again before the summer is over though!

Funny Sleep Habits

I just snuck in a took a picture of how Sydney is sleeping these days. She has been sleeping on her stomache now for several weeks. I know, SIDS precautions say for all babies to sleep on their backs. I promise I always lie her down on her back, but she almost always flips. You can't really tell in the picture, but her little butt is up in the air- it is so cute! The other morning I went in to check on her and she was not only at the top of her bed flipped around, but she was bear-hugging her bumper pad!!!

Sydney's Latest Pictures

These were really taken a couple of weeks ago, but it took awhile to get them back. A special "THANK YOU" to Erin for use of her scanner and technical support!

Always all smiles in the bath!
Check out my dimples
First time with rice cereal- not quite sure what to think about the spoon
She was so excited to sit in her highchair like a big girl! She knew something was going on and laughed when I put a bib on her. Lord knows she must get her excitement about food from her Mommy!

Already very into books. We'll start reading Harry Potter in the morning :).

We have had the best week! I really committed to have a week devoted to being "homebodies" and really working on a nap and sleep schedule. If you know me at all, you know that I can't sit still long. But I have really enjoyed just hanging out with Sydney this week and trying to not be revolving around a "to do" list. We have played, walked, and swam at my Mom's, but also focused on napping during the day (in her bed and not riding around Target in her carrier:) )and really sticking to our bedtime rituals (playtime, bath, bottle, book, and bed by 7:30). And it is working! Sydney has slept through the night the past 3 nights, and I am banking on Ashley's advice that 3 nights makes a habit. We tried a little rice cereal tonight. She probably ate 3 or 4 bites of it, but wasn't too crazy about the spoon. I am sure that part of my optimism is having 3 nights of sleep, but we really had a great week!

Playdate with Reese

Reese and Sydney got together for some play time this week. I love the tongues in the second picture!

The Luces

The Luces came for the weekend for a much needed visit. We had dinner Saturday night at the Flying Fish to celebrate Brent's birthday. Of course I managed to go all weekend without getting a picture of Bowden and Sydney together, but honestly, he was much more impressed with Misty (our dog) than he was a silly ole baby :).

Dinner with my Birthday Twin

Sydney and I met Jackson and Melissa for dinner last week. The babies were interested and smiled at each other for the first time, and the mommies got to catch up!

4 month stats...

Well, Dr. Wilson reassured me that she is growing and just on the "petite" side for now. Today she weighed 13.1 pounds, and was 23 1/4 inches long. She went from the 50% to the 10-25% in height and head circumference, but I'm trying to trust the doc and not worry. She is still growing and developing and moving like a wild woman. We did graduate to size 2 diapers this weekend, and most of her 3 month clothing is fitting now. She has been a pitiful pearl all afternoon (she must get that from Aunt Teeny), but I understand after getting 4 shots in her little thighs! She is so pitiful, in fact, that she fell asleep around 6:30 and hasn't woken up since, so I don't have a new picture. I promise I'll take some tomorrow!

Sydney is 4 months old!

Sydney is 4 months old today and I just had to re-post a picture of the first moment I got to see her sweet face and alert eyes. It is amazing how much she has grown in just 4 months. We go for a check up tomorrow so I'll post her newest "stats".

WOW this is a cool chair!

Sydney has decided that she likes her exersaucer. I mean- look at all the cool toys right at eye level!

All the babies...

All the babies and friends got together at the Gerans this afternoon! Poor Caroline had to share her grandparents house and have all these other babies all over her. Carlee slept through the whole thing like a champ. I love the middle picture, you need to click on it to view each child's face up close. Greer and Jett are trying to look at Caroline and Sydney is SO focused on trying to take her pacifier! I would cry too! Loved getting to see Julie Kay, Merrit, Erin, Keri and all the kids!

My cousins Nick and Drake

Sydney got to spend some time at her Aunt Jamie and Uncle Rodney's house this week. What can I say- she LOVES it there! She slept like a champ and was a perfect angel for them. Her cousins Nick and Drake got to love all over her and we can't wait to get together again soon!!! Thank you all for giving Mommy and Daddy a date night!

Happy 4th of July!

Brent, Sydney and I went over to my parents for a 4th of July cookout and swim. Great burgers and company! I got in the pool with Sydney and she liked the water I think. Maybe a little cold though. Oh, and we put Sydney in an exersaucer that Mom had and she went to town on the toys! It was so cool to see her interact with all the toys and know just what to do with each thing already!

A Year Ago Today...

A year ago today, we had a great 4th of July weekend at the lake. Then we came home and found out we were pregnant with Little Miss Sydney! What an exciting and challenging and blessed year it has been!

Sweet Baby Girl

Before Sydney headed to Emma's party, she stopped by her Aunt Erin's to show off her party dress and shoes. Erin captured her sweet expressions perfectly!!! Please see Erin's blog for witty comments and more pictures...

Sydney went to a birthday party

Sydney got invited to her first birthday party. Sweet Emma turned 3 over the weekend and had a great party at the Wonder Place. Sydney was a little overwhelmed by everything but had a good time watching all the big kids play. Emma was WAY to excited to take the time to take a picture with "Baby Cindy" as she calls her :).