Sydney Elise- 8 months old

These are some pictures of Sydney at 8 months old. I am really pleased with them. I asked the photographer to capture some pictures that show her personality and that don't seem "posed" and I think she did a good job! My favorite is the top picture, but I also like the last one. If you know my mom, you will crack up at how Sydney is holding her hand and acting all "prissy".

My Little Turkey

The whole fam
Sydney's Thanksgiving "feast" of sweet peas :) and oatmeal

Sydney and her Daddy

Sydney's new favorite "meal" is her plastic food

Trying to break open the food

Sydney and Uncle John

Sydney and her cousin Tyler

Gigi and cousin Mary Lynn feeding Sydney her Thanksgiving leftovers.

We had a great Thanksgiving in NW Arkansas with mom's family. On Wednesday we got to spend some precious time with my grandparents in Fort Smith. Sydney is the first grandchild/great-grandchild, so it was fun and different having a baby around for the holiday. Sydney had so many wonderful people fighting to play with her- she is still having withdraws. How many blessings we have received this year!!!

I love the fall!

Thanks to Meredith for capturing Sydney at the park. I have had the opportunity, just in the past week, to observe some "Super Mommies" in action- Kelly Reddin, Meredith Eisele, Scarlett Luce, and Ashley Eaton- thank you all for being an encouragement to me! I still think I might jump off the 430 bridge if I was pregnant again (kidding!!) (OK mostly kidding) but you give me a great example of how to do it all with more than one kiddo.

Say "Mama"

Daddy- Look at me!

Brent has been out of town with work since before Halloween :( and he is dying to see Sydney crawling, or close to it. And, I finally figured out- OK after 2 hours and Erin's IT help- how to up load video. I have another clip of her clapping and "talking" but for some reason it won't upload. This is will work for now though! We will see you very soon Dad!!!

A great playdate

Wow, they are super babies who climbed into the jungle gym all by themselves and posed for this cute picture!!! ;)

Look how they have grown!!! The Birthday Twins at almost 8 months and almost 1 month :)!

Sydney, Jackson and Greer (and their moms) went on a walk and played on the playground today. Yea God for fall afternoons and Yea God for some great "mommy talk" about sippy cups, sleep, toys from Santa, and how having a baby changes EVERYTHING. Oh, and this is so weird! Jackson and Sydney are "Birthday Twins"- March 9th- and they BOTH got their first tooth this weekend! Yes, Sydney teething has been a whole new ballgame for Mom. She was up at 10:30, 11:30, 3:00 and 5:00 am last night crying for her Mommy to rock her (which of course I sort-of loved because she won't let me rock her these days). And I saw today- not one but two bottom baby teeth have broken through! Worth all the crying I guess :).

My First Halloween!

I can't wait to tell you all about my first Halloween. This morning I went to school dressed like a PEACOCK. Everyone thought I was very funny and I'm pretty sure I got voted best costume.
We took pictures with my friends: Preston, Lilly and Colby.

Then we went outside to the picture area and sat on hay with some yummy pumpkins and gourds.

This is my Miss Glenda. She whispers in my ear that I am her favorite, but I don't tell my other friends :).

My mommy and some other Mommies brought my teachers cheese dip, chicken enchiladas and cake for lunch, but I was asleep in the "Sydney Suite". Then, when she came back to get me I had on the cutest black t-shirt that I made during our party. I'm ready to head to our next event Mom!

Boo!

Isn't this a cute party favor?!? My teachers said I laughed when I got my foot painted but I don't remember how to spell my name so they must have helped me finish it.

Oh, this is my other favorite game- pulling my socks off...

and then clapping with them.

This is my treat bag from school- it had a bib with a ghost on it to match my shirt.

And THIS is my arrival to the Ashley's Halloween party.

My Gigi and Granddaddy came with me and Mommy.

There was a blow up haunted house with LOTS of crazy kids running in and out...

Tables with yummy food...

and my grandparents- who are kind of proud of me I think.

After the Halloween party, we went by Aunt Erin's house to trick or treat and I was a total ham for her whole family. Sorry we didn't get a picture of that! And now, I am pretty tired from such a big day. I crashed as soon as my head hit the, um, crib. Happy Halloween everyone!

Love Sydney

Who Does Sydney Look Like- Offically :)

Only by 3%???

A Sneak Peek

Greer's first birthday party was a Halloween dress up party, and here is a pre-Halloween sneak peak at Sydney. Let's just say that I am as "proud as a peacock" :).

Fun Times!

Corbin and John were in town for their baby shower, and Sydney made her first trip out to the farm on Sunday night. She loved all the sights and especially all the lovin' from her Aunt Teeny!
Her new favorite trick- clapping!

I highly recommend this toy- I think it is Fisher Price. It is a cement truck that rolls and spins and has 3 jingle balls to play with.

We are relaxing this weekend and spending time together since Brent will be out of town for training for a while. Sydney is still as happy as ever and such a blessing to us!!!

Bumbos are being recalled!?!?!

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Consumer/wireStory?id=3777051



Bumbos have been recalled?!?!?! Of course, I feel horrible for any child that was injured from sitting in a Bumbo, but parents have to take responsibility for their children!!! The reason they are being injured is because parents are sitting them on "raised surfaces" like counter tops and tables. Can the US Government PLEASE recall stupid parents? Seriously!!!!

"The First Time- Ever I Saw Your Face"

October 17, 2006- a day that Brent and I looked forward to with great expectation. We had our ultrasound that day, and we couldn't WAIT to see our baby. I will never forget how excited I was walking back with the radiology tech. Is it a boy or a girl??? But once I saw that sweet profile- all I could do was thank God for such a miracle! The words of my favorite poet are coming to mind.

"For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.

All the days ordained for me

were written in your book

before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139:13-16

One of these things is not like the others...

Thank you SO MUCH for weighing in with me on Sydney's sleep issues at school! I am proud to say that she has had 4 wonderful days with 2 solid naps each day! YEA!!! Life is funny. I work with kids with special needs and classroom modifications, and my child has them in place at 7 months old :). I am learning to be a better therapist everyday that I am a parent. I had great talks with one of the owners, the infant center director, and her two classroom teachers. Miss Jenny has officially titled our little project "The Sydney Suite". I actually had to write a letter giving them permission to place a sheet over her bed, like a tent, that helps block out some of the visual stimulation that was making her want to stay up. And, props to Lozada, I got a little sound machine that is working to block out some of the noise. So now, they give her some lovin', a silkie, and lay her down in the "Sydney Suite" during nap time. They are reporting a much happier baby during play time, and she is sleeping like a champ during nap time. Our goal is just to break the habit of wanting to stay up, and easing back into a regular "bed" soon. I stopped by during nap time today to find a sleeping baby, but I had to run to the car and grab a picture.