12/13 Months

Sydney is a loud, lively, lovable, little lady.
And Sydney is onto month 13.

UPDATE

At the start of Month 12 her growth update was:

Weight: 19 lbs 5 oz (40%)
Height:  28.5 in (25%)
Head Circumference: 44.75 cm (45%)

At the doctor she got shots and from what Daddy says she gave those nurses a piece of her mind with angry grunts and screams. They commented that they have never seen a baby so mad at them, usually its just closed eyed tears and wails.

In terms of other growth Sydney's in Size 3 Diapers with Size 4 around the corner; she is filling out Bella's hand me downs from 12-18 months. Still only 4 Teeth!?!?! Not quite sure whats going on there but some more would sure help. She is a full on sippy expert and now mastering the straw. She has transitioned to the crib finally. And is a runner and climber and de-climber (turning round to shimmy off) and dancer all the time. She is not much of a talker but she has started really identifying "MaMa", "DaaDaaaaaa", "Watsat" (What's that? -while pointing); and she is super at nodding yes and no and waving bye,bye and opening and closing her fist for come here.

Sydney is not all smiles. She sure knows how to smile and lays it on thick at home when she's being tickled or entertained or given insurmountable loads of attention. Or on really good days she can turn to Miss Smiles. But normally our Sydney is not smiley. Honestly I wish she was a little more free with her smiles especially when the camera comes on or we are out and about. When strangers stop and compliment me on my gorgeous children and especially baby, I would love Sydney to smile and put the icing on the cake of her adorableness but instead a stranger stares and she stares back with more of a "You talkin to me?" face. Not at all inviting and half the time getting the stranger to try and make her smile with gimmicks that almost always results in crying from Sydney and an embarrassed stranger running away. All in all when it comes to happy, she is most times, she just has her moments and just isn't as easy to read as our other two have been and she saves her smiles for the right time and place. She sure has plenty for Daddy! Sydney is Sydney she is all ours and she has her own personality and we wouldn't change it for the world.

This is her facial expression most of the time. 

LIKES

Sydney is a thumb sucker. She loves it. I have a love/hate relationship for it. Obviously I worry about the habit, the teeth, the self soothing, and yadda yadda yadda. But I also can't help but relish in the ease it brings quiet and sleeping anywhere anyplace. One day this will end and hopefully it is by her own volition.
She loves her blanket she has particular ones that she has used since birth that she needs to snuggle every time she gets tired and if they aren't there any cloth will do.
She loves to slap her own nakey belly!
She loves being tickled.
She loves chase anytime anywhere baby.
She loves babies.
Bonking. Sydney loves bonking her head on walls, windows, doors. She does it when she's upset on the floor but all the other times its just for fun... don't ask me!?!
She likes hats and putting things on her head or over her head like necklaces.
Sydney's our pickiest baby eater as of yet. (She just definitely has her favorites, and when texture or taste deems it a no, no its time to smash and crumble in a wide spread area.) That being said she is a friend to many; all fruit, grains, soft meats and cheeses, peanut butter, crackers, yogurt, and french fries fall under her food friends. Since Sydney is hungry all the time and even though she is pickier as a baby she's still probably our best eater, so it is no surprise that her sippy cup and high chair are the keys to her heart.

She loves phones of all sorts; and remotes, and controls of any kind.

Hair brushing is also a favorite. Usually it is brushing her own hair ...

mid brushing

 or baby...

 or her own ...

 or baby's.

DISLIKES

Baths are still not ever really pleasant no matter how hard we try. They are just not her thing.
Bows have never really stayed on, but now we're starting on teeny pony tails and such, which she seems ambivalent about.
Vacuums. There is nothing worse then a vacuums fury.
Sydney can't stomach chocolate and no one is more devastated by that then her.
The bumps and bruises from climbing and running and inevitably falling are not highest on her list of happy. But they don't stop her either, no matter how much Mom wishes they would.
And alongside the bumps and bruises she gets scraps and scratches from wrestling with brother and sister. Which more than half the time she instigates.
Her Wings. She is not too fond of the wispy hair that just drives her crazy especially by her ears. I hate that she yanks at it daily!

This is her I'm upset but
I'm not in the mood to cry face...

Pillsbury Dough Boy Tickle Pokes

FAVORITES

Daddy loves this girls evolving expertise in giving and blowing kisses. And she freely gives them, especially to him.
Shea and I are both in love with her insistence to dance to music, where ever we are and we encourage it whenever we can.
When you pick her up especially when she has really wanted to be, she pats you on the back, most definitely my favorite Sydney-ism there is!
Her blankie love is adorable and insistent when it comes to comfort.
Her big eyed adoration for sister or brother when they aren't even watching is so heart melting it is hard not to turn into a puddle on the floor when I see it.
Obviously tickles are a famous favorite and she loves them and Mommy has to go through rounds of them with the kids with shouts of "me next" in between. I kind of love it.

SIBLINGS

BELLA

At the beginning of month 12 I would have cried talking about these sisters. Bella seemed out right angry with Sydney 90% of the time and would pinch and shove her constantly. I was at a lost. I was trying to be calm. But it was frustrating and made me worry what this out bursting from Bella continually was creating in these sisters. Sydney never knew the wiser, but I could see the stirring in Bella every time her spotlight was stolen by Sydney. I did what I could and mainly it came down to the fact that it wasn't about Sydney and Bella, it was about Bella and her Mommy and Daddy. So after Shea and I discussed how and what kind of attention we were giving Bella -especially when interacting with Sydney- we came to an epiphany and things are a lot smoother now. (What it really came down to is that many times we unintentionally ignored the good and overreacted on the bad, now we are doing the reverse.)
These two sister now laugh together and play together and seek out one another and are gentle and really are loving with kisses and hugs frequently between them. A world of a difference from a month ago. They love the Bonk Bonk Game? These two sisters bonk their heads together over and over again. It hasn't ended in tears yet but as a mother I know the time is imminent. They laugh hysterically together over it and Bella loves shouting "Look Mom We're Playing BONK BONK!" Bella is actually really gentle about it, its Sydney I'm worried about. These two sisters also share a room now and I think that has been the best idea ever. Bella and Sydney are our earliest risers and wake about the same time anyway. Bella is a sweetie and goes and gets Sydney a bottle in the fridge most mornings when she hears her and then comes and tells Mom "Sydney's awake I made her happy, I made her laugh." And then instead of greeting a frightened crib hater in the morning I get to see a happy girl playing in her crib making goo goo eyes at big sister. I know this is probably still the honeymoon stage of them sharing a room, but I couldn't be happier.

CONNOR

I know Syd looks mad or something here,
but in reality this is her content face.

Connor yearns for a tackle buddy, a rough playmate and an effervescent friend. And Sydney does her best to keep up. Connor is the party, he is the go,go,go machine, and he is never out of energy or ready to turn down an opportunity to play. Sydney loves Connor. He thinks of wild imaginative games that fill our home up with bursts of energy, excitement, and giggles; which unfortunately end up in tears from someone if not from everyone. And Syd and Con wipe their tears in seconds and are on to new daredevil tricks and loud ear defying antics.
Sydney and Connor wrestle and laugh and spit and bang and chase and scream and hug and snuggle and fight and poke and blow bubbles and give wet raspberries and pats on the back and then they end in heaps of exhaustion because the day is through and they are finally wiped. And that is when Mom breathes.

Just try and keep up Mom.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend began with Friday Night Dinner with my Mother and family, out at Houlihans. Where we enjoyed the most amazing scallops and stuffed mushrooms I've ever had.

Then I planned my perfect Saturday. Breakfast out, and a day IKEA shopping.

Sunday, I got to help and hear Connor and Bella up on the podium as the primary sang to us Mothers.

When we got home from a stressful day at church, I got surprised by flowers, chocolates and cards. Of which I loved all.

I also had put together a joint Mother's Day gift with my siblings to surprise my Mom. So I delivered it and spent some time with her. 

It was a wonderful Mother's Day.

Mother's Day reminds me that being a Mother is hard. It simple is. It is full of great love and unmatched reward but often full of a lack of appreciation and triviality. It is full of long days and sometimes even longer nights but those bring about the happiest of children and laughter that is heart melting. Am so happy to be called Mom. 

My Mother loved being a mother and she showed it each and every day. I am so grateful for her example. She is smart, and has always taught me to overachieve and never give up. She is strong, and has always taught me to never stand down and never give in. She is determined, and has always taught me to go after my heart and never look back. I believe in myself, because I believe in her and that which she has taught me and instilled in me. I love this job as Mother. And no matter how the world changes and tries to diminish the insurmountable influence Mothers have, I know being a Mother is a lifetime commitment and an opportunity not everyone gets and a blessing most don't appreciate. 

I am so grateful to be a Mother. I love this life. 

Love Mommy

Dear Connor,

You are getting closer and closer to your fifth birthday and as each day passes I see you getting older faster then I have ever spotted in the past. I turn around and catch myself overwhelmed (emotionally) with how grown up you look. Your becoming you, more each day, which sounds weird, I know. But what I mean to say is that your outgrowing the toddler ways of the egocentric life and are becoming the little person you are meant to be. You are so aware of others feelings and actions. You perceive more than most adults and the things you say some days shock me with how purely and simply wise they are and your only four! 

You are at this amazing age where you truly amaze us with how quickly you learn new things and how obedient you are (*most days*). You are still filled with that endless energy but you commonly think of your own solutions to your boredom. One of my most favorite things in the whole world about our one and only Connor is your expressions. Everyone who knows our Connor knows how filled with expressions you are. You LOVE life! You love the ups and downs, the discovery, the mystery, the new things and old things, the here and now, and the there and then, and everything in between. I wish everyone had the energy and passion you do for everything. It is contagious and hilarious, and undeniably you!

I must say lately you have been really impressing me with how well you are with "changing plans"; for instance, the "we're watching a movie tonight with popcorn and candy" switches to "early bedtime". Bella always ends up in a mess of tantrums when plans change and you; even though I can see it on your face are heartbroken, you adapt. You focus on the good and even try and cheer your sister up most times. I must say this is something I think is well beyond your age, and I am eternally grateful for! 

I wish I could express to you how happy life is lately with you. You are happy 90% of the time. Yes, you still struggle with taking turns and doing things someone else's way; but we are working on that :) And you are doing better all the time. Lately, we are getting ready for KINDERGARTEN! I am all smiles and excitement when talking about your new school with you; but inside I am filled with knots and tears. I am looking things up online everyday to prepare you, or me. It's hard. I worry all the time and think of new worries everyday. I know I need to relax but let me tell you relaxing when your first baby is preparing for the biggest day of his life, aka the beginning of his 13+ years as a student in school, is like trying to sleep during a tornado. And don't get me wrong I know you are going to do amazing, I really do. But I want to give you the best start, I want to make sure you face things now before they hit at school, I want to give you lots of practice, since we missed out on preschool this year (mom fail). You are a great little student at home as we do our own little abc and 123 schooling to get ready, and at church your getting better and better. You do have a class full of girls in CTR 4 so yes you definitely play the boy card when you get the chance, but I notice your efforts and your struggles. And I know you try! So very, very hard. And that is all I will ever ask of you in life. Trying despite how hard it is. And because of this simple fact I know you are going to do GREAT in kindergarten, because not only are you smart, and outgoing, and kind; you always TRY!!!

Connor I love you. I  love you for all the things that make up my Connor. And I hope that you never forget that I see you. I am your Mommy. I am going to do my absolute best I can to be aware of your world. Because I hope to see your struggles before they become greater and I hope to see your efforts before you have to point them out. I feel like I am doing pretty good so far, because lets be honest your around me 24/7. But come Fall this job is going to get a whole lot harder. But my number one goal as Connor's Mom is to see you, always. And for you to have the confidence that I always have your back no matter what. Because guess what buddy, I do!

Love,

Mommy ❤