Mornings with Syd

Syd's easy.  Syd's happy 99% of the time.  Things have gotten even easier now that she is communicating so well.  She's putting a couple of words together now, too.  For example, she likes to say "oh no, what happened?!"  or "where'd it go?"...and the cutest "I seeeee you".  She loves life and food and just about anything that Millie likes to do.

She really loves Buddy and he seems to have accepted her...except when she's plowing him down with her baby stroller.

Here she's saying "nose" while putting her fingers up Beansie's nostrils

duck-watching

begging for juice

watching Sesame Street in style...she loves Elmo and Barney is her current favorite

She loves TV wayyyy too much.  I don't remember Millie being able to sit still for this long.  We are really going to have to limit it.  Isn't her mullet pretty spectacular?  It's wavy and feathery...I'm not ready to cut it yet.

Elmo's so funny ;)

Some funny videos:
Video 1: falling asleep during lunch
Video 2: yet another version of twinkle twinkle

For the record book:
She now has both bottom canine teeth (both came in at 19 months old).  She has also mastered galloping and jumping with both feet off the ground.  And she can walk across the balance beam without holding on to anything or anyone.

A Good Morning

Fridays are glorious because we have nowhere to be at a certain time.  No school or gym...just free to roam in our jammies.  Or princess gowns, if we choose that route.  Which 2 out of 3 of us did, indeed, choose fancier dress this morning.  I love that Syd is able to communicate now and she has an opinion about what she wears.  She chose the Anna dress this morning. :)  It was a wonderfully calm morning hanging out in the new playroom.  I loved it.

3.5 Years Old

Millie is officially 3 1/2 years old now.  Boy howdy, so much changes in 6 months.  She's got attitude, which includes sarcasm.  She's silly and loves to pretend play.  She's a wonderful, nurturing big sister.  She refuses to play by traditional potty training rules.  She loves to paint.  She loves to be the leader and is still super bossy, but she's also becoming a good helper.  She's unique; definitely one of a kind, our girl.

 She's so tall!

She's grown 2 inches since her birthday ~ 41 inches

She's athletic and is constantly in motion...lately, she's been enjoying showing off her skipping skills

Oh, Blankie.  Blankie has become a family member.  She worries about her (yes, she's a girl) when we're gone and can't stand when Blankie has to take a "bath".  When Millie gets in trouble or gets hurt, she has to have Blankie immediately.  The attachment has grown strong; it's very sweet.

Millie's first Starbucks trip for hot chocolate.  Mondays I get Millie all to myself, so we get to do some fun stuff.

Sometimes, she can be moody...sometimes we clash.  The teenage years will be fun.

Thankful that she laughs often and seems like a happy kid.  She gives the best big squeezes.  Love her so so much.

Happy New Year!

We started 2015 with a bang...stomach bug got 3 out of the 4 people in our house, and it lasted for days.  Neither of my kids had ever vomited before.  Now we need to burn our house.  There was wayyy too much vomit and even a bit of diarrhea that hit the carpet (SYD...NOOO!!).  Seriously, it was unreal.  I was the lucky duck that didn't get the bug, which was good because there was tons of cleaning to do.  JKK was awesome about helping with wee hours cleanup, even though he was also sick.  It was pretty much a kickass way to start the year.  I had a measly glass of wine all by myself on New Years Eve. ;)  Anyhoo, Happy New Year!  We all survived and were healthy enough to start back to our normal routine this week.  It's been glorious.

these pics were taken only hours before the vomiting started...weird how they seemed just fine

ta-da!

Thankfully, Coco and family came out last weekend to brighten us all up!  They got the girls these adorable dresses.  Millie loved hers and couldn't stop twirling...and Syd looked absolutely hysterically adorable in her Minnie dress.  I must put her in the dress again soon to get pics!

This pic cracks me up...as if I wanted Beansie to be the subject ;)

the girls love them <3

Back to school on Monday!  Syd was so happy to get back to Ms. Bridgett.  No tears or any hesitation.  Millie was a bit more apprehensive and asked me to come in with her.

Nana got Millie these heels, but Syd thinks she looks better in them.

Tuesday night, I organized a small craft night in honor of Amanda.  They left today to go back to Brazil.  It's been so nice getting to see them every 5-6 months; and they'll be back again next Summer...yay!!

Millie has really enjoyed playing with her best buddy over the holiday break.

A crazy arctic blast has hit this week.  Not fun.

We have enjoyed snuggling down inside with lots of pajama time and movies...

...and even an afternoon nacho feast!  They love carpet picnics.

This week has been exhausting.  In a good way. ;)

Now for the resolutions.  Last year's post helped me to stay on track, so I'm doing it again.
1) Still need to clean up my potty mouth.
2) Still need to eat more fish.
But those two are just going to be resolutions every year, I think. ;)
3) Learn to use my camera.  I got a good start last year with buying a camera and taking an introduction class.  I still don't feel comfortable at all though, so I hope to make 2015 the year I really learn how to take good pics and understand my camera.  I can do it.
4) Use my R + F exfoliator more.  I got off track this Summer and never got back into a routine.  I've used it twice so far in 2015 though, so I'm feeling better.  I don't want to look 50 at 35.  I've got to be better about sunscreen.  Ugh.  So much maintenance!  And I should really quit making my mom's "mad face" because I'm getting those lip wrinkles.
5) Learn how to make a good homemade pizza.  I never did this last year.  But I really want to.

Five resolutions seems attainable.  I'm obviously not feeling like making any real life changes this year....can these even be called resolutions??  More like a to-do list.  ;)  70 days until Spring!!

Abby's Getting Married!

Our little Abby is getting married, and we're all so excited to share in the celebration!  Millie is going to be one of the flower girls, so we'll need to start practicing that walk down the aisle soon.  Last Saturday, we helped host her family shower in Tulsa.  Despite the snow, it was a lovely affair!

Flower girl and Future Mrs. Harris - congratulations, Abby...you're going to be a beautiful bride!

Millie was great at the shower...very well behaved, and I was proud of her!

Dina is the best storyteller I know...

sisters

macarons = my favorite

Silly Millie & Nana

The family shot <3

Afterwards, we went to Mimi & Papa's.  JKK & Syddles were supposed to come, but I made them stay home because I thought the roads were getting icy.  We did miss them...and the others that could't come because of weather or illness. 

Uncle Larry!

hide-and-seek

It was so good for Oliver and Millie to get to play together!  Here they are being starfish ;)  I think they bonded over their love of underwater life.  He has such a fun imagination.  And the sweetest little face.  And voice.  Very much wish we could see them more often!

Millie was very intrigued by his walker.  She was overheard telling him how much she liked it.  Thankfully, O didn't mind sharing.

practicing smiling for wedding pics

I actually didn't have my camera out the whole time, which is a good thing.  I'm learning that sometimes I want to document an event and sometimes I just want to experience it.  Our time with Mimi and Pa was relaxing and low-key...I love going to their house and our coffee time in the mornings.  And I love looking through their old photos - doesn't this pic of my mom (bottom right) look just like Syd??

Christmas with Nana

Nana spent Christmas Day with B, L, E, & K....then she had quite the adventure getting to Arkansas to see us. ;)  Not one of her favorite travel experiences...

...but she made it!  Finally!

Quick dinner at Chuy's, which Millie calls the "chip place"

Then home for snuggle time before bath...

squeeeeeeeze

Then opening presents...they both LOVED the art easel

Syd gave herself a Madonna mole ;)

Millie drew this beauty, complete with a very detailed bottom.  See the ears, eyes, nose, hair, mouth, arms, legs...and bottom is the dark scribbled area.  Hahahaha, nice Mills.

We love Nana!  The travel delays cut into our time, but it was still a good visit.  <3