Syd's 15 Month Pediatrician Appt

Yesterday, Syd had her 15 month appt.  It was during her morning nap time, so she was sure to let everyone know she wasn't happy with the situation.  She's. So. Loud.  She received two shots also, which didn't help.  Poor Pid Pid.

Stats: weight 24 lbs (80th percentile); height 31 inches (60th percentile)

It was a quick visit with nothing much to report.  Thankfully, she's extremely healthy and right on track with her milestones, talking, growing, etc!

Syddles Goes to School

Well...school is a strong word.  Play time away from mommy is more accurate.  Today was Syd's first day of Mother's Day Out!  I thought I was going to be fine, but then Millie and I dropped her off and tried to sneak out...but she caught us.  Then I felt guilty all day knowing she was sad when we left.  Ms. Bridget confirmed that Syd had a rough start, but once they went on their outdoor buggy ride, she was fine after that.  She seemed to be doing fine when we went to pick her up, and I almost melted when I saw how happy she was to see me.  My Syd Pid.  My baby.

Here's what her day looks like:

I've been trying to train her to do the door pics, like I've always done with Mills.

She's too quick for me though....

...until I ask Millie to stand next to her.

Millie can always make her smile ;)

A few new milestones for Syddles:  she's log-rolling everywhere now!  She can meow like a kitty cat.  She says "no" and communicates quite well, considering her limited vocabulary.  She climbs on everything!  She loves books and being read to...especially peekaboo books or books with flaps.  And big news...tonight, I found another tooth!  She is having the strangest tooth eruption order.  First, she got an upper central incisor (one week shy of her first birthday).  Just one tooth.  It's all the way in now, so its very noticeable that she has only one.  Then she got both of her bottom central incisors...not at the exact same time, but both between 14-15 mos old.  Then tonight, I found an upper first molar on her left side.  Uh...okay.  So I guess she has one top tooth to bite with and one to chew with.  I feel like a sous chef I do so much chopping of food into tiny bits.  I wish these teeth would hurry up!  For comparison, Beckham is 5 weeks younger and has 15 teeth!

Goodbyes & Back to School

Poor us.  We've had to say a lot of goodbyes lately.  First, we had to say sayonara to Cayden, Beckham, and Amanda.  They are officially back in Brazil.  It's strange because in some ways this goodbye was harder than the first time we had to do it back in January...because now I know how hard it is to NOT have them right down the street.  However, no tears were shed because they are making a trip back this December.  There is something so comforting about having our next visit already scheduled.  Plus, it's impossible to get too sentimental around 3 year olds who refuse to give each other hugs or smile for pictures without being bribed.

Pizza time with Millie, Elle, and Cayden - Elle's mommy needed to run an errand, so miss Elle was with us for lunch. Let's just say...I don't think Cayden and Elle will be great friends when he returns from Brazil. ;)

Pretty Pid Pid never has to be told to eat her lunch

Handsome Beck, with Millie licking her pizza in the background

Cayden. This is so Cayden.  He cracks me up.

I don't know what it is about Beck, but Syd loves hugging on him.  At least he lets her...

Playing doctor...Millie is listening to Cayden's heart with a badminton shuttlecock.  yes, that's the correct terminology.  and beckham cheeses for the camera now every time you pull it out for pics :)

goodbye hugs *sniff sniff*

Then we went to Denver.  Then we had to say goodbye to Nana.  Then the next morning, it was back to school time!  Millie missed the first two days of 3 year old preschool because of our vacation.  If you know me at all, you know this bothered me.  She's no longer in Mother's Day Out, this is big time Preschool.  However, I kept reminding myself that she's 3...it'll be fine.  And it was!  She was so excited to go, but since she hadn't met her teacher yet, she was a little leary about us leaving the classroom.  I dodged tears by promising her that Ms. Kim would let her use scissors later that day.  Then all of a sudden she was fine.  What is it with scissors?!  Anyhoo, when I picked her up that afternoon, she was in a great mood and said she had a great day.  I think she's going to have a good year!  Mrs. Kim seems like a great fit for her...very warm and patient.  She's very experienced and will keep an eye on Mills, who is the youngest in the class.  Not that she needs it.  She seems so grown up lately...proud of her.

A random little note: this year, I'm using the PlanetBox lunch box for Mills.  It's kind of like a puzzle.  I'm sort of excited about the challenge.  I don't get to use this piece of my brain very often these days.

Also on Thursday, it was Syd's open house for the mother's day out program.  She will have two different classrooms and teachers this year (Ms. Erika, who taught Millie, and Ms. Bridget).  I can already tell being the second child is going to make a huge difference.  No tears or worries from this one.  She's going to be just fine.  She pretty much owned that place in the first 5 minutes.  ;)

Then this awesomeness happened...

...and sometimes John and I crack up at stuff like this.

Friday was our summer babysitter, Natasha's last day.  She's been here one or two mornings a week this summer to let me run errands and have a blessed moment to myself.  It's been wonderful.  Millie really enjoyed playing with her, and she's been great with both girls.  Finally, we have a babysitter the girls know and trust...such a relief!

And she's good at getting Millie to take funny pics ;)  On her last day, they made cupcakes together. 

Friday afternoon, it was our last playdate with Grey before he moves to Memphis.  I told Millie he was coming over to play, and she said "yayyy!"...and then I said he was going away and we wouldn't see him for a long time, and she said "I don't like Grey.".  I think she's starting to understand what it means to say goodbye.  I don't blame her for being grumpy.

This hug was a little forced, but I know she really loves him and will miss him.

Syd could not get enough of sweet baby Susie.  A real life baby doll to play with!  She kept trying to touch her eyes and take her paci.

Somehow before we went to Denver, Tracey and I managed to find time for a night out on our own.  We met at The Little Gym when Millie was 7 mos old and Grey was 4 mos old.  We knew immediately that we would be good friends and over the past couple of years we've both either been pregnant or breastfeeding and could rarely get in these nights out.  I kept thinking there would be plenty of time in the future.  At least we fit in one last hurrah before they left.  I truly feel like we'll keep in touch and stay long distance friends.  They will be missed. :(

We are all sort of exhausted and out of sorts in this house.  The night before last we were playing upstairs after dinner and Pid Pid laid down on me like this...and fell asleep!  It's been kind of crazy around here, so I'm glad to get back to the school routine.  Syd's first day is Monday.  I hope she loves it as much as Millie did.  I know she will.  

Yay for school...Booooo for goodbyes!

Trip to Colorado

A week ago yesterday, we boarded a plane for the short flight to Denver to see my mom, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew.  We spent a full 5 days there with them, and it was such a wonderful visit.  If I hadn't been so busy with back to school stuff, I would most certainly be sulking around here missing them terribly.  And I do!  I just haven't had time to sulk. ;)

JKK & I were very nervous about flying again with Syd.  It's been 7 months since the last flight with her, and a lot has changed.  I can no longer nurse her to keep her quiet; she's very independent and wants down...then lets out an ear-piercing scream when she doesn't get her way.  I loaded up the diaper bag with snacks and treats and prayed to the God of Air Travel.  She must've heard my prayers because both of our full flights ended up having empty seats next to me.  So Syd pretty much ate the whole way there and back....and sometimes looked out the window...and sometimes screamed and pulled at her ears.  It was tense, but I know it could've been so much worse.  And it was still better than riding in a car for 12-14 hours listening to her whine. :)

Nana was waiting for us!  Mills was thrilled!

You know you're on vacation when both kids are up before the sun.  Syd was up around 5am every day.  Ouch.

Saturday, we went to a butterfly pavilion!

Millie has the best time with Kendyl and Ethyn.  They are the sweetest older cousins...I'm so impressed with their patience and very thankful for their help with both girls!

KK sandwich

our group <3

Leann found a beautiful new friend

Saturday night, mom babysat the four grandkids and let B & L take us out in Boulder

my boys...Brandon was our tour guide and took us to 5 different places for a LOT of delicious beer

miss these two.  it was a pretty fabulous night.  so thankful we could chat and catch up without getting interrupted by the kiddos ;)

meanwhile, these four were enjoying their time with Nana

Right outside Nana's door every morning were several hot air balloons with a mountain backdrop

Millie loved this playground with the sand.  She made Nana sit and "fish" with her for awhile.

Nana ride with a view of the mountains

I love this pic because Syd LOVES to put her shoes on.

Sunday afternoon, we went to B & L's for a celebratory bday cookout for Nana!

Happy birthday to my sweet, beautiful, generous momma <3

kind of jealous Kendyl and Ethyn get so much time with her ;)

funny faces!

more funny faces!

Syd's face isn't very funny

my girls

Uncle Brandon showed Millie his drums.  She LOVED drumming herself, but when he drummed, she felt it was a bit too loud. :)  Who knows, maybe we'll have another drummer in the family.  Ever since, she's been using makeshift drumsticks to play on bowls and tables.

I enjoyed watching Kendyl do some gymnastics in the backyard.  Really hope I can go to one of her meets in the future...she's pretty awesome.

backflip!

Millie had to get in on the action with her own "flips"

she put this cute little hop at the beginning...always the performer

Syd has been sooooo sweet with her baby dolls lately.  She hugs them and feeds them and is the best little momma.

sometimes she reeeeeeallly hugs them

...and sometimes, just like any other momma, she forgets to feed the baby because something interesting is on TV

Monday night, we went to see Jack Johnson at Red Rocks!  My mom, me, JKK, and our friend Stevo

In my opinion, this venue is perfect.  How can it get any better than this?!  A HUMONGOUS thank you to Aunt Leann for babysitting that night after a long day of teaching 2nd grade.

Tuesday morning, mom and I took the girls to an indoor play place in Lafayette.  They both had a fabulous time!  It's getting harder to take them places like this by myself because they are both off in different directions.  It worked well that Nana and I could divide and conquer.

For instance, Nana took Millie into one of the craft rooms and they made a dinosaur together!  And Millie got to use scissors for the first time, which has been a dream of hers for awhile :)

I mostly followed this girl around exploring and seeking out stairs to climb

Tuesday afternoon, we had to say our final goodbyes to B, L, E, & K.  The girls loved every second spent with them, even if Millie's 3 year old behavior didn't convey those feelings all the time.  Millie keeps asking questions about E & K, such as "does Ethyn like orange juice?  can we call and ask him??".

Sad to leave :(

Ivory and Ebony owned those walkways at the airport.  Will I ever get to read a book at the airport again?  Or enjoy a hot cup of coffee while I wait for my plane??  Exhausting traveling with these kiddos, but I'm so so glad we made the trip.  Worth it, for sure, to see my people.  Miss you guys already!