Pop-Pop

Mommy's Pop-Pop went to heaven last night, Sydney. He went to be with Mom-Mom, and to watch over all of us. I wanted to tell you about the time he held you. We had a family barbecue at Berkeley Island in NJ just so the whole family could meet you for the first time. You were almost six months old. Pop-Pop was very sick, but he made the long trip in from Delaware JUST to see us. He wanted to meet his great grand daughter. Because he was so weak, Mommy had to help hold you on his lap. But he was so happy. He adored you. He loved you instantly.



I just wanted you to know that, Sydney.

Change Me

Today I was reading my book, lounging on the couch as Sydney quietly played around the living room. She suddenly crawled over to me and began whining. I asked her what she wanted and she raced down the couch as if she wanted me to follow her. She reached the end, paused, and signed "change me". It was the first time she signed it without me signing first, so I signed it back and said, "Let's go change you!" She grabbed hold of my hand and we walked, side by side, to her room. Sure enough-she had a wet diaper. I'm so proud of her! This whole signing thing has saved us so much frustration. She is so happy when she can communicate without knowing the words. Now I can't wait for her to sign BEFORE she dirties the diaper....

A Great Day; A Rough Night

We had a very busy day yesterday! It was our Gender Reveal party and everyone found out Sydney is going to have a little SISTER! We are so very excited to be bringing another beautiful little girl into this world and are hoping they will be the best of friends.

Unfortunately, we FORGOT to grab Dolly when leaving. Oh. My. God. Never again. Syd fell asleep in the car on the way home, but when she woke up in her crib at 11:30, ALONE, she began screaming her poor little head off. It was heart wrenching. I felt so bad I actually cried. Sydney kept looking around the house as we paced the rooms trying to soothe her. She was calling her by name. It was horrible! The only thing that calmed down her breathing was leaching on to me while watching Mickey Mouse. So that is how we stayed-until 3 in the morning.

I'm a very tired mommy today.

Gender Party Sneak Peak

Sunday we are having a gender reveal party to announce the sex of Sydney's new sibling. Jason, Sydney and I will actually find out on Saturday and are going to enjoy the secret as a family till then. We are very excited! I've been super busy being crafty and thought I'd take a moment to give you a little sneak peak of what's coming.

Chocolate Milk

Due to Sydney's weight stalling out, we have been adding Carnation Breakfast Essentials to her milk. The only flavor available in the powder form was chocolate. Well. Isn't Sydney the luckiest 13 month old EVER?

Chocolate milk is one of the greatest joys of childhood. Can you remember? Can you picture just one of those times when you felt like you were getting away with something all because you were allowed to have some chocolate milk? Oh, sweet little heaven.

Sydney now downs her milk in what seems to be her own little chugging contest. The only thing in between that milk and her tiny little taste buds is that straw-and her lips are glued. Puckered up with suctioned cheeks, you can tell the moment it hits her tongue because her eyes light up. I hope I never forget her chocolate milk face. It makes me smile every time I see it.

Sydney's Lovey aka Dolly

A woman from my mommy forum wanted to conduct some unscientific research and created a poll regarding children and what is formally known as a "lovey", or transitional object. She was trying to see if loveys were more favored by children who never took a pacifier. The results were pretty interesting. Of the 36 people who voted, only six of them had children who used a paci daily.

Sydney never took pacifier and she has become quite attached to her Dolly. Dolly was a gift from my cousin, given for Syd at my baby shower. We go way back, Dolly and me. I thought she was the cutest little doll, who was easily transportable, so I began sitting her next to Syd since she was born. It's because of this that I wonder if I've been responsible for "pushing" it on her. But she LOVED her. She instantly had a preference for that squishy, pink, smiling face.

These days Dolly gets dragged around and thrown from the crib. She gets offered goldfish and pancakes. She is brutally forced into giving Beaker kisses. She even has almost had her fluffy guts hugged out of her. She's been on a plane and to the park, to the mountains and to the pool. She's never missed a car ride or a doctor's appointment. She's enjoyed a garden and accompanies us on our daily walks. She has dried many tiny tears. She lives a very full life, that Dolly.

We can always tell when Squid is ready for bed because she stops talking, crawls over to Dolly, and scoops her up for a snuggle on the floor-right then and there. It's like an instant mellow drug. Other times Dolly will be hidden away in the toy massacre that swallows our living room, so Syd will instead sign sleep while she says "nap". Once in a while, during times like these, Jason forgets to grab Dolly as he carries Syd off to bed. That is until he hears a little chant whispered in his ear.

Doll, Doll, Doll, Doll.

She is very loyal to her Dolly.

I haven't thought far enough into the future to decide when it would be appropriate to separate those two. I have, however, been thinking about purchasing a few impostures. Even after weekly baths Dolly still looks dirty. I like to think of it as loved. She looks very loved.


And I think it is the most adorable affection.

Sunshine and Sydney

Syd and I spent the afternoon outside-eating hot dogs, playing, and just enjoying the beautiful sunshine. I'm going to miss days like these. When it was just the two of us. When she had every ounce of my attention. When I could close my eyes for ten seconds to soak up the sun and not worry about her because she can't get very far. I'm going to fully enjoy our last six months as a twosome. I'm going to be selfish with her hugs and kisses. I'm going to take advantage of every day like today, even if I'm tired. Our whole world is going to change come September. It's not going to be just the two of us anymore. Sometimes I think "Oh crap! What did I do?". But I know it will be wonderful. Syd will have a best friend for life, and I will have two beautiful children to enrich the rest of mine.



So today we just played. I chased her down the driveway. She threw blocks anywhere she felt like. We shared a bowl of purple grapes. Then we decided to explore the street. As Syd practically ran down the sidewalk, all the while laughing at herself, I had to take a moment and just smile. She's so incredibly happy and loving life. We should all be so lucky.

Prologue

A month has passed and Sydney has grown. Well, not physically. Actually weight gain has been an issue since her one year check-up, but we're working on that. Mentally, she's turning into the toddler I've been waiting for. She's a genius. Really. Ok, so it may be too soon to officially give her that title, but she's got a 21 word vocabulary! That's not a typo. 20! Wanna see the list? I thought so:

Mom, Dad, Dolly, Pop-Pop, hi, bye, cat, bear, fish, duck, baby, bubble, meow, ruff, stinky (my personal favorite), up, nap, more, this, thank you, hot

No, they are not ALL crystal clear, but the majority of them are. She also is signing six words (sleep, milk, more, eat, all done, and I Love You). We're working on bath, book, and change me. She just seems to "get it". She's been practicing her shape sorter and is getting the idea. She enjoys helping mommy clean up the toys when I sing our clean up song. She's still my funny girl with a very social personality. Sydney is walking with a one-handed assist. Any day now she's going to let go and take off! She still only has the same 8 teeth since Christmas.

I'm excited to see what her second year will bring. I'm excited to know if she's going to have a little brother or a little sister. I'm even more excited to see her BE a big sister. I'm beyond happy to still be at home with her, day after day. I'm not missing a thing. Not a milestone, not a smile. And she loves me the most. Well, it's a close tie with her daddy, but I know I've got a special place in her heart-as she does in mine.