1 Year Pediatrician Appt

Syd's 1 year pediatrician appointment was this morning.  She had one finger prick and two shots...so she's still sleeping as I'm writing this. :(  Poor baby...this appt came at nap time, so it was especially hard on her.

Stats: length 29 inches (40th percentile); weight 20 lbs, 12 oz (60th percentile); head 46 cm (75th percentile).  Our growth chart shows her at 27" and the nurse measured her twice today at 29".  They measure her laying down though...so maybe that's the difference?!  JKK knows how much these inconsistencies bother me. ;)

Dr. Averitt gave us a new plan to follow for weaning.  I've been having trouble feeding her bottles with formula in them.  If it is only breastmilk in the bottle, she will take it just fine.  But when I add in the Alimentum formula (which is dairy free), she refuses it or will only take small sips at a time.  Dr. Averitt said the Alimentum formula tastes really strange, so that's probably why we are having so much trouble.  She is having us a try a different formula called Enfamil Gentlease, which has a small amount of cow's milk protein, but somehow it is broken down into a gentler state.  It's a good place to start to see if her body can handle the milk protein.  I'm thankful for a new direction because it has been weeks with no progress.

Otherwise, she's healthy, happy, and growing right on track!

12 Months Old

My baby is 12 months old...a whole year *sniff sniff*

Two hours from being on the "outside"...I was super excited to meet this girl!

Our first family pic <3

Just born

one week old

two weeks old

three weeks old

one month old

two months old

three months old

four months old

five months old

six months old

seven months old

eight months old

nine months old

ten months old

eleven months old

twelve months old

EAT:

Lots of finger foods for the girl with (almost) no teeth.  Still eating everything I mentioned in the 11 month post, but lots of new stuff too.  I'd rather stick to the pureed stuff, since she doesn't have any teeth (except for one tiny piece of top right tooth poking through)...but Syd isn't having the pureed stuff anymore.  She wants the real deal.  I'm trying to make it balanced with some protein at every meal, so she gets lots of scrambled eggs, black beans, and black-eyed peas.  She pretty much eats anything I put on her tray, as fast as she can get it in her mouth.  She's also drinking water from her sippy cup with each meal...finally.  She's terrible at it though and chokes herself almost every time by taking in way too much water at once.

She is now taking bottles 3 times a day, which include a mixture of pumped breastmilk and Alimentum formula.  I've had to cut back on the dairy again after she started spitting up, so I'm going to have to go to formula first and then work in the cow's milk slowly...like we did with Millie.  She still nurses from the breast for the first meal of the day because it is so early and we are still practically asleep.  I haven't been in a hurry to wean her, primarily because I enjoy the bonding time with her.  So we are taking it slow.  Plus, she is forcing me to take it slow with her hatred of the taste of formula.  ;)  Stubborn Syd is pushing back.

SLEEP:

She goes down between 7-7:30pm each night and wakes up between 4-6am to eat.  Sometimes she goes back to sleep...sometimes we have a really early start to the day.  She takes two naps per day: 9am, 1pm.  She is the easiest child on the planet to put to bed: put her in crib, give her a paci, turn on sound machine, lights out, close door, done.  

She looks so grown up in this pic with her bermuda shorts and shoes on.  I love it and hate it all at the same time.  She's wearing size 3 diapers, but I'll be moving those up to size 4s really soon.  Clothes are size 12-18 months, shoes size 4.

Syd's 1 year pediatrician appointment is later this week; her unofficial stats are: 27" tall and weighs about 21 pounds.  She is considerably shorter than Millie was at this age...and a bit more "padded". ;)  I sort of love how they are so different...not just body type, but hair color, eye color, skin color, personality and temperament.  

PLAY:
She's learned how to sit in chairs this past month.  I remember this being a big deal for Millie.  They figure out they can do it, and they seem so proud of themselves.  It's adorable.  She loves to get in and out of her brown polka dot chair in her room...over and over and over.  Not only is she walking everywhere, but she's also starting to trot.  She gets going so fast!  I wouldn't exactly call it a "run", but it is way faster than her normal walk.  She loves for us to chase her.  Interesting though how she can do all of that, but she still has yet to stand up on her own without using the wall or some piece of furniture (or person) to help her pull up to standing.  I don't think it has occurred to her that it's possible.

We haven't really been working on waving, I kind of forget about those little milestones.  However, last week when Midge was taking her picture, I told her to wave and she did!  It only happened once though...and she still isn't into clapping either.  Her current loves: playing with Millie, riding on her new push tricycle, swinging, dropping toys in a bucket, grabbing Buddy's fur, walking/jogging laps through the house, putting leaves & mulch in her mouth, falling down to snuggle on top of mommy and daddy when we lay on the floor, taking sips of Millie's juice box, eat eat eating, walking up and down the sidewalk, reading books, listening to mommy sing (especially Baby Beluga), stealing clothes from the dirty laundry basket or shoes from the shoe basket, playing the puff-fetch game, peekaboo.

Dear Sydney Diane,
What an amazing year we've had with you...such a precious gift.  I thought I would be so sad to see you turn one year old, but instead, I'm so excited because I know it just keeps getting better.  I'm excited to see you change into a true toddler and start hearing you speak words and form your own ideas.  I know we have already gotten a glimpse into your laid back personality, but I can't wait to see if that sticks or will you decide to get more demanding?  Will you continue to let Millie boss you around, or will you decide to give it right back?!  I have a feeling it is going to get more interesting around here. ;)  Just can't wait to see what's in store for my sweet angel baby.  Syd Pid, you're the perfect addition to our little family, and we're all so grateful for you.  Beautiful baby of mine, with your deep laugh and gloriously chubby thighs...with your daddy's eye color and your momma's long toes...with your sister's sheer joy for life and love of a good chase...with your fantastic snuggling skills and curious nature...you are loved more than you'll ever know.

Houseguests

Syd Pid turned ONE last Friday.  We had a very busy week leading up to her birthday with so many visitors...it was pretty awesome!  I still have to do her 12 month post and then a separate post about her beautiful birthday party.  But first, let's see who came to see us...

My mom (aka Nana) arrived the previous Friday and brought Buddy home, as seen in the last post.  She stayed until Sunday morning, when she left to go see her parents and sisters on Mother's Day.  We had a really low key Mother's Day here, which was nice and relaxing.

Millie made this for me at school.  It came in a package labeled "don't open until Mother's Day"...so sweet.  She's always so proud of her artwork.

Monday, Christie arrived!  One of my oldest friends, and I don't get to see her enough.  It was really nice to have her here.  She loves to cook, so we always spend some time in the kitchen making something delicious and catching up.  Buddy was glad to see her too.

I even forced her to run some errands with me, so Petsmart turned into a field trip with the kiddos.

Millie was super pumped to go to the cupcake shop again.  We all enjoyed it!

Then we had to walk a little to counteract the cupcakes ;)

Christie left Tuesday evening, and then mom came back on Wednesday!

Thursday, Aunt Midge arrived!  Wheeeee

This was so sweet...Midge was FaceTiming with Kyle and both girls got to see him too.  I love how Syd is sitting on her lap. <3

Friday was Syd's actual birthday, so the day started with birthday donuts...she was a fan!

Nana surprised her with her very own tricycle!  It has handlebars to push her around...we all love it.

Saturday was the big birthday bash, and then sadly, Nana and Midge left on Sunday.  I was really sad to see everyone go.  I adored having so much company for over a week!  It was a very busy week with all of the party prep, but I couldn't have done it without my mom, Midge, and JKK (and plenty of wine).  Love you guys...so hard.

He's baaaack!

Buddha Bear has returned home.  My firstborn is back where he belongs.  All is right with the world.  Welcome home, Buddy Love!!

Millie cannot contain her excitement.  She wants to play with him all day long.  I wish she could understand how old and tired he is...he had to give her a warning bite earlier this morning to make her leave him alone.  Syd has been a bit more cautious and even a little scared.  Despite all that, I feel it is going really well.

I'm so thankful my mom has taken such good care of him for the past year and a half.  It was good for him to have a break and good for me to focus on the kiddos.  However, I'm so glad to have him back home...and he seems happy to be back.

Sweet Babies are Growing Up

I love our one-on-one time with Syd on Millie's MDO days...we usually have lunch with daddy.  Can't believe this baby is going to be one year old next week!

When we pick up Millie, these two are so happy to see each other.  Future BFFs...I hope.  Sidenote: this was Millie's first sucker (to my knowledge), and she thought it was the best thing EVER.

So tall and able to do so much...I thought it would be years before she would be climbing the ladders at the playground.

I was so so happy to get to spend some time with just Mills last Saturday.  We went to a nearby outdoor mall for a kids expo.  They had an area called "touch-a-truck" where they had fire trucks, dump trucks, cranes, bulldozers, semis, police cars, etc. all set up for the kids to climb in and around and all over them.  I thought Mills would love it, since she's really into talking about these big vehicles and reading books about them and pointing them out on the road.  Turns out, it was a bit overwhelming...horns and sirens were blaring and there was a lot going on.  She enjoyed looking from afar though.

The only truck she would get into was the UPS truck...I can only assume it is because she's used to seeing this one at our house on a regular basis.  hahaha ;)

It was a really cool event for kids...nail painting and a car that blew bubbles, bouncy houses, and an area with small farm animals (she wouldn't do the pony ride though), free cupcakes, and she was thrilled to get another sucker...and we got to see Mr. Stephen from The Little Gym!  She gave him a big hug; it was adorable.  He was Millie's teacher at gym for a long time, but in recent months, she kind of outgrew the class so we cancelled our membership.  I was kind of sad about it...the end of an era.  Anyhoo, this is a yearly event and I can't wait to take both girls next year.

Syd takes this little strawberry purse everywhere (thanks Amanda!)

Sunday morning, JKK had to go to Tulsa, so it was just me and the girls.  Syd has been waking up soooo early....like 5am early.  I'm very tired.  But since they both get up early, it is fun to get our walk in before it gets too hot.  Yes, it is already hot here...almost in the 90's a few days this week.  

We were on the walking trail by 7am; it was a gorgeous morning and we stopped to pick some dandelions...then went on to the playground.  Brunch was pancakes with sprinkles and it was such a good memory in the making.  Truly my perfect morning, if only JKK had been there with us.

Millie can't get enough of the tricycle; she's so good at it now!  She's at the age where she wants to show us stuff and she's constantly saying "mom, watch this!".  Syd loves to follow her down the sidewalk, and so far, Mills hasn't complained about the turtle pace.

I can't express how thankful I am about the way Millie treats Syd.  She is so sweet with her!  I took this video to show Syd's awesome excited-to-be-eating laugh that she does when we feed her, but I love how it shows Millie's adoration, as well.  My sweet babies.

Poor Syd is teething.  I guess she is going to bypass those bottom teeth and go straight for the top ones...her gums are red and swollen and she has been a cranky monster.  Then if you sit on the ground, she'll stop whining and come over to snuggle...I can't get enough.

Ms. Kimber sent me this pic of her and Mills on the slide at MDO.  Millie really likes her, and I'm so happy it is mutual.  Kimber is always telling me funny stories about Mills.  However, last week she had to get on to Millie during nap time for not being quiet, and Mills had to sit in timeout, which absolutely crushed her.  We had a good talk about it though, and she knows Ms. Kimber is the boss.

Kimber was cracking up that Millie named this bunny "Princess Carrot". ;)  Seriously awesome name and also, how awesome is that coloring job on the ears??!!  Great job, Mills!

Millie is cracking us up with her comments and constantly asking "why?".  Recently, we had Grey and family over for dinner, and when Tracey & Rush were talking to Mills, they asked her what her favorite color was...she replied "brownies".  That's my girl...