Happy Birthday Karoline

Please see Karoline Carozza's blog for wonderful pictures of her adorable cupcake party. Sydney had a great time, and was not shy in the least. She has been going through a little "mommy phase" you could say, but I know I saw Erin, Jennifer, Dayle, Jan, Mrs. Cosh, Jac, and Ashley holding her at times. I have heard there is a great picture of Syd giving the birthday girl "lovin" but Erin will have to email it to me. I did capture a great picture of Jennifer, who came all the way from Texas to join in the birthday fun. And did I mention that Sydney LOVED her???

Race for the Cure 2008

Team Tri-District Early Childhood

I am quite proud to say that my office of 45 had a 75% participation rate in this years Race for the Cure, and that we ourselves raised almost $1000. I read in the paper that this years race raised 2.1 million dollars! Wow!!!! Most of the girls were virtual walkers, but here is our crew at 7:15 am on Saturday.

"To love what you do and feel that it matters- how could anything be more fun?"

Katharine Graham

At least it wasn't picture day

Well, I am home from my conference and I couldn't WAIT to pick up Miss Priss from school. When I walked in, Miss Shannon said "Oh she has been missing you so much and talking about Mommy, but Daddy did a great job taking care of her. In fact, for the first time she didn't even take her hair down today" and kind of smiled. Then I saw Sydney.

Even funnier is that earlier today Brent said "I must admit her hair yesterday was a little sketchy but today I put it to the side. I even put a pink bow in and a black rubber band to match the black heart on her shirt." Turns out, he used one of my hair bands, which was wrapped around her little twig of a pony tail like 11 times.

Mommy, quit taking my picture and take me to Chuck E Cheese!!!!!!!

A little sneak peek for Mondays dance class...

Did I post our beach picture?

I can't remember if I ever shared our beach picture that we ordered. These pictures really don't do it justice! I love the "glow" that the photographer added that made the picture really pop. And now it is proudly displayed over the mantel to help us remember our first family vacation. I heart the beach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Busy Bees

Sydney's birthday twin Jackson. Hilarious. She grabbed onto him and was hugging and kissing him and he just stood there looking quite shocked.
Trying to be a big girl like the 2 year olds.

This is the birthday girl Sybil!

Wow, we have been really busy with school, work, travel and birthday parties. I haven't been great about taking my camera with me, because sometimes I just want to enjoy hanging out without trying to capture the moment for the perfect blog post! However, I did get a couple of cute ones from one of the 2 birthday parties we went to this weekend (happy birthday Sybil and Patterson!). Forgive my random thoughts, but here is a quick update on us. We have been loving the cooler weather and have been playing outside every day after school. I had the great idea to get TCBY and go eat and play at the park. I underestimated how messy melting ice cream is when you forget the diaper bag and wipes and underestimated how much dirt will actually stick to ice cream hands. It was a nice thought though :). Work is going really well and I am loving the kiddos on my case load this year. Today I had a client of mine ask me if I knew his dad. I said no and he replied "Well, he is tall and really hairy, even on his butt." His mother would die! Oh, and Welcome October! We are looking forward to watching the Razorbacks defeat Ole Miss (PLEASE Lord, PLEEEEEEASE!!!), going to the state fair, finding a new pumpkin patch because ours was flooded :(, Boo at the Zoo, and hopefully spending John Austin's first Halloween showing him the ropes of trick or treating. I will be going to the Arkansas Speech Language Hearing Association Conference in Hot Springs next week and Brent will be holding down the fort alone for a couple of days. He is an equal partner in the Walker house, so I am not worried (OK maybe just a little that Sydney will walk around the house yelling "Mommy" because she is lost without me). That is life in a nut shell. I need to move the laundry over, balance the check book, clean up the kitchen and playroom, and try to get in bed on time. Happy October 1st!!!

Fayetteville Weekend

Mimi and Sydney
Calling the Hogs in her Cheerleader Uniform (please notice the belly overhanging ;) )

Mimi kept Sydney while we went to the game (fun but ouch on the score!)

Aunt Sherri singing "Little Bunny Foo Foo"

Playing in the Boyd's new playroom

We had a great weekend in Fayetteville. I love that my grandmother lives there now because we get to stay with her and she can spend lots of quality time with Sydney. Brent and I made the game with Jeff and Caroline and I will leave other blogs to discuss the state of Razorback football. Saturday night I managed to squeeze in a little shopping time with Keri and her mom while the husbands were left to manage all the little girls. Sydney is pretty exhausted and needy after such a busy weekend (and so I am now that I think about it!) but we had a great weekend and will probably be repeating it all over again in 2 weeks for the Florida game!

Happy Birthday Elli!

The Birthday Girl Elli
Who is having more fun- Daddy or Sydney?

We celebrated Elli's 2nd birthday at the Wonder Place with tons of their family and friends. I must say, we love the Wonder Place more every time we go. Sydney was way more mobile this trip and tried to see everything. Of course, she LOVED the cupcake (and asked for a 2nd one ;) ) and was not entertained when Mr. Scott asked for a bite. Happy Birthday Sweet Elli!

Our baby girl is 1 and 1/2!!!

Oh, my sweet Sydney girl! I can't believe that you are one and 1/2 now. I am finding myself saying that instead of a month for the first time when people ask how old you are. You are so full of energy and personality. We had a checkup at your ENT yesterday, and your ears looked better than ever. Both of your tubes are still in and doing exactly what they need to. Let's keep our fingers crossed for this winter and cold season. You wouldn't have anything to do with Dr. Garder, and actually is alot of times showing some initial fear of men. I guess it is just a stage. Your official 18-month check up will be next Monday, so I will post your official size information next week. Right now, you wake up around 7:00 ready to eat breakfast (current favorite is a waffle and a banana or strawberries and milk). You are in to everything around the house, but you love: the music table, fisher price house, taking care of babies, rocking in your little chair, dancing around, talking on the phone, bubbles, putting your "pretties" on (either chap stick rolled down or Mom's makeup brushes), eating ;), taking a bath, sliding or swinging outside, taking wagon rides, playing with play dough... whew no wonder I am exhausted at the end of the day! You are not eating too much meat, but I keep offering it. You will always eat fruit of all kinds, cereal bars, yogurt, applesauce and basically any carb. Speaking of eating, you are really trying to exert your Independence with a spoon. You will refuse to eat unless you are holding the spoon/fork and the food is in front of you on the tray. We are keeping Spray-n-wash in business! You LOVE going to school and your teachers are so fabulous with you. You are learning so much already, like colors, shapes, songs, following directions, sharing, being kind to others, and your current favorite- the pledge of allegiance. I am not kidding! They have a flag holder every day and Sydney is very serious about it! My favorite school story from last week: Sydney feel down and was very upset and sobbing. Ms. Shannon came over and said "Uh Oh Spaghetti-Ohs!" and Sydney immediately stopped crying, stood up and said "Eat eat??". Drama Queen!!! She is understanding practically everything we say and following directions like "go and find your shoes" and "put this in the trash please". Let me think about some of the things she is saying spontaneously... Momma, Dada, hi, nana, apple, uh oh, bye bye, Gigi, dog, bubbles, Misty, eat eat, bite, row-row (for boat), book, Izzy (Erin's dog), night night, Sydney (did-knee) please (peas) and thank you (dan to). Oh, and our 2 new favorite words to answer for everything: no and yep (especially no). She trys to imitate a lot of things, especially people's names when we are saying bye bye, like "bye bye Izzy" and often says "bye bye Daddy" when I hang up the phone. Once, my mom was leaving our house and Sydney said "Momma, bye bye Gigi" trying to tell me to say bye to my mom. Adorable.

Sydney, we are so blessed to be your parents. We love you more than words could ever say!!!

Leopard Shoe Day

On our way out of the door this morning I had to document the first "Leopard Shoe Day" of the '08-09 school year. Please tell me the rain will end soon or I will be wearing my rain boots every day. I just realized that Syd is chatting it up on my cell phone in this picture.

What a cutie!!!!!

Good Bye Summer!

If you know me well at all, you know how much I love the summer. And not just because I work a teacher's schedule, I grew up a "lake rat" and I love everything about the summer. So I can admit it is with a slightly heavy heart I am saying good bye to it. But we will see you on the flip side of this school year, and I am already focusing on: Razorback football games, pumpkin bread, boots, Sydney's little butt in jeans, Halloween costumes, pumpkin patch visits, enjoying the changing leaves, park visits without sweating, making sugar cookies with Sydney, Christmas music, the smell of a Christmas tree as I walk in the door, and much more!

We heart the lake!

Henry Hamra is SUCH a great dog!
Sydney checking out the lake from the back porch

Waving at all the boats with Julia

Sleeping beauty on the boat.

Thanks so much to Julie and Ryan for having us (and Aunt Erin) over to the lake this weekend. It was so relaxing and fun. Sydney had a blast playing with Henry and boating on the lake. Looking forward to many more trips together, especially if Ryan is cooking!

Sydney met Alice Bagley

Oh, sweet Alice Bagley!!!! Especially since she is a red head, she is adorable and we loved getting to visit a little last Saturday. Thanks for sharing the day with us.

Greer and "Sissy"

Look at these sweet girls! Sydney and Greer got to hang a little last weekend at the Tuckers (OK I let her stay up a whole hour past her bedtime but she did miss most of the party snoozing away in her pack-n-play upstairs). I love that Greer calls Sydney "Sissy" and talks about her a lot. They are really sweet to each other and we need to play together this week!!!!

My very sweet friend Elli Eaton has been chosen to be an Easter Seals Ambassador for their annual Easter Seal's Rollin on the River walk. It is a big honor to be chosen, and this is an email I received from her Mommy regarding details on the walk. The Walkers will be honored to be in "Elli's Entourage" and I would love anyone else interested to see the following links.

Hey Friends and Family,

It's time again for Easter Seal's Rollin on the River walk. The walk will be held in North Little Rock on Saturday October 18th. We are so excited that Elli was chosen to be an ambassador this year. That means it's time for us to step it up on the fundraising. We really need your help in spreading the information to your family and friends. We would love to set a fundraising goal of $10,000. There are several ways to meet our goal. You can sign up to walk with our team, you can personally set a goal and raise money, make a tax deductible donation, or a company can have their logo on Elli's team t-shirt for a $250 or more donation. This year's walk will be more geared to children. I have been on the planning committee and am very pleased with the changes. There will be bouncy houses, face painting, carnival like games, and a contest for the best decorated wheels. (Stroller, bikes, wagons, plasma cars, tricycles)

Scott and I are very sure had Elli not had the interventions at Children's hospital and Easter Seals, Elli wouldn't be living such a normal life. Easter Seals is very dear to our heart and hope that you will help continue to support it. All of the profits go directly back to the Little Rock Easter Seals.

If you have any questions at all, please email us back. There are two links below. The first one is for those who want to walk with the team. The other is if you want to only make a donation. Please notify Scott if interested in an Elli’s Entourage team t-shirt. By the way, we are looking for a company to donate the t-shirts for our team.

Walk with the team

Make a donation -- Click the "Click here to support me" under her picture.

Cheese Burgers and Purple Milkshakes

OK, the Mommies had milkshakes but the birthday twins were so adorable this month. They would do "raspberries" back and forth to each other and laugh. Great conversation and the babies were good... what more could I ask for?!?!?

Even if someone had told me, I wouldn't have understood

I got a large portion of this from another blog and it really spoke to me and I adapted it to what I am feeling right now. Thanks Tenille (and your muse) for putting into words exactly what I am feeling!

Before Sydney was born, I imagined that this child whose face I had not yet seen would sit with me at bedtime while I carefully read passages of Scripture aloud. Everything would be Perfectly Orderly; I would Teach With Care while my child Listened Attentively. We would have wonderful, long days together with no fits or tears that I could not handle or control quickly and efficiently with the perfect parenting technique. And this child of mine would grow and learn (and have perfect manners) and surrender her life to following Christ without any questions or doubts that would follow.

Because I wasn’t idealistic or anything.

But the reality, as anybody with a little one knows, is absolutely nothing like that. The daily process of teaching and leading a precious little heart is about as orderly as a room full of hungry, pregnant women! And you know what else? It is hard. On every single level. So much of parenting uncovers our own imperfections, and we are constantly being humbled, broken and refined in our own lives while we try to nurture the little lives that have been entrusted to us. Did I mention that it’s hard? Did I mention that it is humbling?

There are days when I’m really disappointed in myself as a mother; I get so tired of struggling to balance the things I need to do with the things I want to do, and as a result of that I am confronted with the reality of my selfishness over and over again. It’s a mighty good thing indeed that I don’t have to parent in my own strength, because I’ll tell you right now that I couldn’t do it. I wouldn’t last a day. I might last a day but I definitely would be reported to higher authority!

But the rewards of parenting? They really are huge. They’re immeasurable. They’re eternal. And the longer I’m a mama, the more I am beginning to understand that it is not what I can do in my own strength or thought process, but what God can do through me (which blows my mind that I could be worthy of mentioning his name, much less be used by Him!)

In many ways motherhood is absolutely nothing like I imagined but so much more than I expected. So Lord, please give me understanding of the situation on those hard days and faith to see you at work in our lives.

Sydney is a freshman!

Look at this sweet face during naptime!

Well, this past week brought some big changes for the Walkers. Sydney moved up to the freshman class at school. I was so nervous all day Monday (my first day back to school) to see how she did. The teachers couldn't wait to brag on what a big girl she was! I can't believe it, but she is sleeping on a mat during nap and eating at the table in a chair during lunch and snack. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of her teachers, and she does too, so that makes life much better. Sydney actually took the longest nap of all her friends Tuesday, a record breaking 2 hours!! If anyone remembers "The Sydney Suite" from last year, you can imagine my relief! One sweet story, Ms. Shirlene told Sydney on Monday "Now when you wake up, you have to stay on your mat until nap is over" and put her down to sleep. Then after nap, she said she looked over and all the other kids were up wandering around and Sydney was just sitting on her mat with her silkie! The second picture is one I snapped of Ms. Glenda, our wonderful teacher from the infant room. She said she is having Sydney withdrawals and sneaking over to her class to get in some lovin'.

Sweet pea, I love you more than words could ever describe. I feel so proud to be your Mommy and I am so thankful for all the wonderful days we have spent together this summer. Thank you for being such a brave and big girl this week. Please know how much your Mommy misses you every second you are at school, but keep learning and growing too. I love you!!!

Play Time Pizza

OK, I have a new favorite place. Play Time Pizza out by the Rave. Anyone been there yet? It is a mix of Chucky Cheese and Dave and Busters, so there was stuff to do from toddlers to adults. Brent and I may just have to get a babysitter one night so we can go again! They had tons of games, a bowling ally, bumper cars, go carts, and someone said laser tag but I didn't see it. My favorite games were the guitar hero you play with your feet and a big wheel like on The Price is Right. And, a pretty decent buffet of pizza, salad, potatoes and the fixin's, soup, dessert, plus some veggies. Sydney had a yummy lunch of pizza, green beans, corn, and a sugar cookie (plus half of my cobbler and ice cream). We met the Eatons and had a blast if I do say so myself. Kind of pricey but definitely worth the trip!