Little Firecrackers

I mentioned earlier that I had a new niece.  Just two days after Sydney was born, my sister and her husband welcomed their sixth child.  Meet Abigail Grace.  

We decided to conduct a little photo session of the girls.  They were really excited about it.

I have a feeling that they need to get accustomed to this kind of craziness.  That's what you get for having a cousin who ALMOST shares a birthday with you.  

A Day Of Explorium-ing

The day before Sydney was born, Sam and I had a special day together.  My OB had told me at my appointment the previous week that if I hadn't had Sydney by the next week she would try to shake things up a bit.  I had planned on working right up until I had her, but when she didn't come on her own that week Shawn and I decided that it would be best for me to go ahead and start my maternity leave.  My appointment was on Tuesday, so that would give me Monday to spend with Sam and rest up a bit if I was probably having a baby (or at least starting the process) the next day.  

I was relieved to have a day to focus solely on Sam--he had been a bit clingy to me in the previous couple of weeks.  Between us buzzing around trying to finish up baby projects and my limited ability to pick him up, I was afraid he was feeling a little bit jilted.  As it turned out, though, I needed the time with him as much as (or maybe more than) he needed it with me.  We went to the Explorium and hung out, then we enjoyed lunch together at one of our favorite places--Panera.  

By the way--if you are looking for something TOTALLY cool to do with your kiddos in the Lexington area, I highly recommend the Explorium.  Sam had a blast!  We will most definitely be going back soon.  

Someday, maybe I will figure out how to take a self picture and not look like a dope.  Or like I'm on dope.  But doesn't my little boy look cute?  And ohmygoodness, can you say Little Shawn?!

They had all kinds of really cool exhibits, but this was by far one of Sam's favorite attractions.  It was part of a little garden exhibit to teach kids about growing vegetables.  I honestly think he would have been totally content to sit on this little Gator thing all day.

He didn't even have to be the one driving.  He made a new friend while we were there, and Sam was perfectly content to let the other little boy sit in the driver's seat.

But I eventually convinced him to go look at a few other things.  The Bubble Room was a pretty big hit, too.

They also had a really nice play area just for toddlers.

Sam took a little detour to the slide, then bee-lined it for the water area.  They very nicely provided plastic aprons for the kids to wear, but we didn't need no stinkin' aprons!

This picture is kinda blurry, but I just couldn't NOT include it.  Sam had a blast riding his horse all over the horse exhibit.  (I'll pause to give you time to picture my 9-month-pregnant self chasing after his little galloping tail...)

I'm thinking a visit to the Horse Park might be in order when the weather cools off a bit.

And this picture really has nothing to do with the Explorium...it's just funny.  This boy is too cool!

She's Here!!!

July...WHEW!

We're only a week in, and it's already been quite. a. month.

Our biggest news is that our sweet Sydney has arrived!  She is such a precious little soul, and I already can't imagine life without her.  Big brother is very curious and has been very sweet thus far.  We're all getting adjusted and settled in.

I have lots to post about, including a special mommy-son date, a new niece, the story of how Sydney came into this world (don't worry...I promise to keep it clean), 12 years with my guy, and my initial thoughts on being Mommy to two AWESOME kids.

But for now, I'll just post some pictures of our little beauty.

Ready to meet her big brother.

All set to go home in the outfit that her brother picked out for her.

Wearing her pretty hat for her first doctor appointment.  A girl's gotta have the right accessories.

Love that sweet face.

Samisms

-He has for some reason developed a bit of a German accent.  Everything that ends with the "ck" sound (and even a few things that don't) now comes out like "chhhhhh." 
Me:  Sam, what do you want for lunch?
Sam:  'Ot dochhhhhh!    (Translation:  hot dog)

Me:  Sam, go pick out a book to read.
Sam:  Boochhhhhh!  (As he runs into his bedroom.)

Me:  Sam, tell Daddy what we saw at the park today.
Sam:  Duchhhhhhh!  (Translation:  ducks)

-He has a new aversion to pants.  Seriously, I cannot keep pants on this kid for more than a few minutes.  I put them on him and he promptly takes them off and runs to his bedroom to put them in his clothes hamper.  At least he picks up after himself...

-One night this week, Shawn and I were sitting in the living room.  Sam was doing his usual run-nonstop-so-nobody-thinks-I'm-sleepy routine.  He was going between the living room and his room dragging out pretty much every toy in his toybox.  Suddenly, he came running through the living room and went into the kitchen where I heard him getting into one of the kitchen drawers.  When he came back through the living room carrying a dish towel and went towards his bedroom I decided a little investigation was in order.  He had apparently spilled his milk on the floor of his bedroom, and he was wiping it up as quickly as he could.  Molly was doing her part to destroy the evidence by licking up the milk. 

-A friend from work gave us some pink Winnie the Pooh pacifiers for Sydney.  Sam discovered them in her room a few days ago and has claimed them as his own.  He doesn't use a pacifier.  After he was about a month old, he just stopped using them.  And he doesn't put these in his mouth; he just likes to carry them around.  So lately my son has been toting a pink Pooh pacifier almost everywhere we go. 

And finally, a few pictures.  (Sorry for the poor quality.  They're phone pictures, and my camera has perpetual little boy fingerprints on it these days.)

We went to the movies a couple of weekends ago when we had company in town.  We saw Madagascar 3.  Sam saw about half of it.  And seriously, check out how long that kid's legs are!

Earlier this week, Sam was playing in the yard.  Mom has been a bit of a wimp where the heat is concerned, so I set my chair up in the shade and told him he could play as long as he stayed where I could see him.  On a side note, why is it that children are immune to the heat and will cry when you make them go back into the air conditioned house?

That same afternoon, I was sitting with my back to the garage.  Sam went into the garage, and I didn't think much of it because I thought he was just getting more toys out.  (Because you can't play in the yard unless you have every. single. toy. in the yard with you.)  I started periodically hearing, "Here Momo...here Momo," so I went to see exactly what Momo was getting.  My boy was getting in her food bin and getting handsful of food out and feeding her.

And she was standing there gently taking the food from his hands and gobbling it up.  I love that my boy has a best friend with four legs.

Father's Day Gift

I wanted to figure out some way we could incorporate Sydney into Shawn's Father's Day gift this year.  After lots of time on Pinterest (have I mentioned how much I love that website?), we headed to Michael's for a picture frame and some wooden letters.  Our picture frame has 3 holes for 3 pictures.  Below are the pictures we put in them.

Here's the finished product:

 Of course, any photo session with a two-year-old is going to have some pretty hilarious out-takes.  I think we took over 50 shots and somehow managed to get 3 that would work.  Here are a few that didn't make the cut.

What, you don't want me to scratch my butt with the letter?

If we had wanted the picture to include a sideways "D", we would have had plenty of shots to choose from.

I don't care if most of the shots weren't very good.  They are totally my little boy, and they just make me smile.

Stars Tutorial

These are the stars that ended up on Sydney's wall.  I am so tickled with how they turned out.  Not only because they're a craft project that I actually completed, but I'm glad she has something from my mom.  Someday, I'll explain to Sydney how she could never pass up a good deal.  How she would buy Halloween costumes for $1 or Christmas decorations for $3 just because you never knew when you'd need something like that.  These stars are a perfect example.  

This is what they started out looking like.  Nothing really special--just metal stars.

But a little spray paint and some glitter spray would quickly change that.  (By the way, if you've never used it, I highly recommend this glitter spray.  It is WAY fun.  I'm pretty sure I'll have to find some other things to use it on--maybe around Christmas time???)

 First they all got coated in paint.  I ended up using 3 coats.

 Then they all got a generous coating of the glitter spray.  (Actually, initially only two of them got glittered because I had thought the contrast effect might look good on her wall.  Then my husband got involved and sprayed the third--possibly without my knowledge.  But I totally dig the result.)

 The finished product.

Sydney's Room--The Big Reveal

I am SO excited about how Sydney's room turned out!  When we initially found out we were having a little girl, I immediately knew I wanted to make her room feminine without being in-your-face girly.  Personally, I think we hit the nail on the head.  

I love her bedding from Target. (Daniella by Cocalo.)

 The name art that my very creative friend Amanda made..

 The diaper motorcycle that my friend Alicia made.  I'll eventually take it apart, but so far I haven't been able to, so it's just sitting on her bookshelf.

 Family picture frame to hold our first picture as a family of four.  Wooden butterflies made by my friend Amanda.

Remember this little guy from our baby shower?  He and his purple friend decided to make an appearance in Sydney's room.

Lamp from Target.

I am so excited about this glider.  Many thanks to Shawn for biting the bullet and buying it.  And also for putting it together.  :)

We ended up using the dresser that we had previously had in this room (our guest room) as her changing table.

When we were cleaning out the closet in Sydney's room, I came across these metal stars.  Mom had bought these for me years ago.  I'm sure they had them marked down 75% off or something, and she could never pass up a sale.  Having no idea what to do with them, she gave them to me, and they got tucked away.  (Full post on them to follow.)

And finally, every girl needs plenty of hair accessories.  These are just a few of the head bands and hair clips that my friend Amanda made.  Having 3 boys, I think she was just excited to be able to make something girly.  It's a good thing the ultrasound technician told us she has hair!

A List For Sydney

I haven't kept it a secret that I'm a little nervous about having a 2nd child.  With Sam, we were so elated about being pregnant and so clueless as to what we were getting ourselves into that all I really talked about was our excitement.  (Ignorance truly was bliss...)  And it's TOTALLY not that we're not excited this time around.  Quite the contrary.  But I think this time we have a better idea of what to expect, we know that even though we've done this before you're never FULLY prepared to add a new member of the family to your house, and we know there will be an adjustment period for all of us.  Change is good--this change is exceptionally good--but it is a change and one that will take some time for us to figure out a new normal. 

One of the reasons I have this blog is so I can record memories for my family.  But I also like recording a little piece of me.  Someday when I'm gone, my children and their children and their children's children can look at this and know me a little better.  And I got to thinking that Sydney might read my posts about this pregnancy and think that we were less than happy about her. 

Let me say this right now, for the record:  NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

But I also think it's important for her to know that I wasn't a perfect mother, and I knew it.  I didn't have it all together.  There were times that I was pretty sure I had screwed up her life.  That way when she's feeling the same in the face of whatever is going on with her children, maybe she won't feel entirely alone.  Maybe if I'm not around to give her a hug and reassure her, this can be almost like a cyber hug through the ages...preserved forever. 

So I thought it might be appropriate for me to post a list of things I'm looking forward to about having a daughter.  Do I have concerns?  Yes.  Am I certain that the joy she brings to our hearts will far outweigh any of my insecurities or anything I could ever mess up?  A thousand times yes.

So here it is...just for my Sydney...a list of reasons I'm glad God picked us to be her family.

 1)  The moment I see her for the first time will be unforgettable.
 2)  The new baby smell.
 3)  Pigtails.
 4)  Painting her toenails.
 5)  Getting our toenails painted together.
 6)  Taking a break from Christmas shopping together to get some hot chocolate.
 7)  Sharing the books that I loved as a child with her.
 8)  Feeling her baby breath on my neck when she falls asleep on my shoulder.
 9)  Hearing her call me Mommy.
10)  Hearing her play with her brother.
11)  Hearing her dad sing to her.
12)  Little sundresses.
13)  Eskimo kisses.
14)  Teaching her and her brother that licking the beaters is half the fun of baking.
15)  Secrets between just me and her.
16)  Secrets between just her and her brother.
17)  Little sandals.
18)  Telling her she is beautiful on her wedding day.
19)  Sending her flowers just because.
20)  Watching her eyes light up when she "gets it"...be that a hard math problem, a football defensive strategy or the punchline of a joke.
21)  Learning what makes her tick...be it music or sports or theater or science...or all of the above.
22)  Helping her find her niche.
23)  Talks late into the night when she's home from college.
24)  Phone calls late into the night when she's at college and feeling homesick.
25)  Whispering "I love you" to her even when I know she's asleep and she can't hear me.
26)  Hearing her tell me "I love you" back.
27)  The first time I hug her and she really hugs me back.
28)  Movie dates with her to see chick flicks.
29)  Pony tails.
30)  Letting her try on my lipstick.
31)  Shopping for a new shade of lipstick together.
32)  Cannon ball contests off of the diving board.
33)  Watching her roll her eyes at her dad participating in the cannon ball contests.
34)  Shopping for shoes with her.
35)  Knowing that she will reach for me and that alone will be enough to make her stop crying...sometimes.
36)  Teaching her that it's polite to share your food when eating in a restaurant.
37)  Beach trips as a family of four.
38)  Hearing her tell me about "the one" when he really is the one.
39)  Games of patty cake.
40)  Games of peek-a-boo.
41)  Hearing little girls giggle into the night during sleepovers.
42)  Planning birthday parties together.
43)  Twirling together.
44)  Teaching her to walk in high heels.
45)  Watching her do something that she is good at and seeing her confidence soar.
46)  Singing silly songs with her.
47)  Coloring with her.
48)  Saturday morning cartoons.
49)  Watching her brother make her laugh.
50)  Going to football games as a family.
51)  Going to basketball games as a family.
52)  Going on vacations as a family.
53)  Letting her play in my makeup.
54)  Introducing her to new foods.
55)  Going wedding dress shopping with her.
56)  Going maternity clothes shopping with her.
57)  Holding her baby in my arms--and telling her that no matter what she will always be my baby.
58)  Baby dolls.
59)  Coordinating Easter outfits.
60)  Spending the day with her on her birthday just doing something she likes.
61)  Trips to the zoo.
62)  Going to see the Nutcracker at Christmas.
63)  Helping her pick out her first-day-of-school outfit.
64)  Watching her and her brother share an inside joke that their dad and I have no idea about.
65)  Picnics in the back yard.
66)  Saying "the kids."
67)  Teaching her that praying is just a conversation with God.
68)  Hearing her pray.
69)  Chubby little hands.
70)  Chubby little feet.
71)  Feeling her grasp my finger in her tiny hand.
72)  Watching her play in the mud with her brother.
73)  Seeing her brother hold her.
74)  Heavy-lidded eyes when I'm rocking her.
75)  Getting hugs from two kids at once.
76)  Reading the Christmas story on Christmas Eve.
77)  Little hair bows and barrettes.
78)  Learning her toddler language.
79)  Learning her teenager language...or at least trying.
80)  Hearing her laugh in her sleep.
81)  Sharing old family traditions with her.
82)  Starting new family traditions with her.
83)  Cooking with her.
84)  Teaching her to swim.
85)  Hearing her squeal as she runs from her dad--and knowing that she really wants him to catch her.
86)  Afternoons at the park.
87)  Having 2 kids come running and jump in bed with their dad and me on a Saturday morning.
88)  Blowing bubbles in the yard.
89)  Sticky kisses.
90)  Frilly dresses with ruffles on the panties.
91)  Backing her up when she stands up for something she believes in.
92)  Just one more bedtime story.
93)  Hearing her laugh.
94)  Running my fingers through her hair.
95)  Teaching her and her brother to spit watermelon seeds.
96)  Halloween costumes.
97)  Easter egg hunts.
98)  Snuggling on the couch with some popcorn for a movie night.
99)  Tea parties.
100) Seeing me in her.  Seeing her dad in her.  Seeing her in her.  And loving all of her.

Dear Sydney,

Is this my first letter that I've written to you as Sydney and not as Baby?  I think so...  To be honest, I'm not sure why.  We've known your name is Sydney for a while, but I have referred to you as Little Sister, The Baby and various other names much longer than I did your brother.  Maybe it's because you still have no middle name?  (Which your dad, by the way, is freaking out about just a bit.)  He sends me almost daily texts with suggestions for your middle name, but I think I just have to see your sweet face to know what your full name will be.  I mean, how awful would it be if we named you Sydney Kaitlyn and you totally look like a Sydney Nicole?  You'd be stuck with it for the rest of your life, and it would be all my fault for not being patient.  Trust me, you'll thank me for this someday.

Along those same lines, I have been completely incapable of making decisions throughout this entire pregnancy.  I always struggle a little.  I feel like if I'm given only 2 or 3 options, I do pretty well.  But when I'm presented with endless color combinations, fonts, patterns and choices I just get overwhelmed and something in my brain shuts down.  But this pregnancy has only magnified that.  It took me forever to settle on bedding.  Your dad finally just went and bought a diaper bag because I was incapable of making the decision.  He also bought a glider because I wouldn't ever decide which one to get.  Come to think of it, I think he's the one who finally picked out your carseat, too.  Seriously, you should probably thank him because if preparing for your arrival were solely on my shoulders who knows what you would've come home to?

As of this week, we are officially in the home stretch.  We are less than one month from your due date, and at our OB appointment this week the midwife told me that they would let you come anytime you decided.  That's a little dose of reality for me.  While I'm so. stinkin'. excited. to meet you and hold you and get to be your mom, I have some concerns.  Adjusting to life as a family of four seems daunting.  Childbirth is a little scary.  Handling two kids sounds intimidating.  Childbirth scares me.  Working through the inevitable sibling jealousy makes me sad that my kids might actually think I love one more than the other.  Childbirth scares the bejeezes out of me.  Getting two small children ready to leave the house and out the door anywhere near on time seems almost impossible.  I mean I already feel like I've run a marathon just chasing Sam around trying to get him to leave his pants on long enough to get out the door. 

Also, I'm starting to get a little nervous about this whole childbirth thing.  (Just in case you didn't know...)  Our goal is to go epidural free this time.  I'm all for modern medicine, and I think minimizing pain is awesome.  But after the negative experience and postpartum complications we had last time, your dad and I have agreed that we're gonna give the natural birth experience a whirl.  Last time we made it to 8cm before we got the epidural.  (Ten is your ultimate goal.)  And I remember 8.  Eight was no fun.  To be honest, at that point the epidural was a pretty easy sell for my OB.  And I'm trying to not put a lot of pressure on myself this time.  I know there are no absolutes in childbirth.  Ultimately, the ONLY goal I have is to get you here safely.  But skipping the 10-day-long, debilitating headache this time would be pretty cool, too. 

I'm pretty sure that unless God has other plans for us, this is our last ride in this rodeo.  And that honestly makes me sad.  So while I'm kinda ready for this pregnancy to come to it's end, I'm trying to savor these last few weeks.  Your little kicks and jabs.  The hiccups.  Knowing you can hear my heartbeat and you are learning the sound of it so it brings comfort to you when you lie on my chest.  And while it will be nice to walk at something greater than a snail's pace, I know I'll long for that constant togetherness with you. 

Sweet Sydney, we are so anxious for your arrival.  I have no idea what the next few months hold for us.  I'm sure there will be days that I want to pull my hair out, but I know that they will pale in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of moments when I just want to freeze time and feel that overflowing happiness forever.  I have no idea what your role will be in this family--will you be a peacemaker, will you be the instigator, will you bring music or art or dancing into our lives?  Or will you be the one for whom we will sit at ballgame after ballgame and cheer for until we lose our voices?  Will you love science and try to blow the house up at some point or will you be the one who sits in her room dreaming up stories about heroes and damsels in distress? 

We can't wait to find out...

We love you so much already,
Mommy

Showered With Blessings

My friends at work had a little shower for us a couple of weeks ago.  I never cease to be humbled and amazed at the kindness, generosity and creativity of our friends. 

I just love this little name sign.  It now lives right above Little Sister's crib.



And keep an eye on these little fellers.  They may just make an appearance in the bedroom too!

The shower was at the clinic right after work, so I had Sam with me.  He thought the electronic paper towel dispenser was the best shower game they had.

Here's another game we played.  You had to drop clothes pins into a Mason jar.  Sam didn't really understand why some of the adults were having such a hard time with this one.

Three guesses who the winner was!!!

And what's the good in taking pictures if you can't post a couple of the more embarrassing ones of your friends on the internet for the whole world to see?  In this game, each team had to blow up their balloons and put it under their shirt, then "birth the baby" by popping the balloon.  If only it were that easy...

We got so many nice things.  Our little Sydney is going to be so fashionable in all of her new clothes, and her room looks so sweet with all of the little trinkets we got to go in there.  Stay tuned for the big reveal of her nursery!