From Fetus to Fantastic...One Year Down!!!

Sydney certainly decided that she could have her cake...and eat it too. She experienced a great first birthday...one that she'll remember for years to come (partly from the assistance of high resolution 10-megabyte pictures and high-definition video). She loved the gifts, loved the company, and embraced the conversations. She was also glad to taste the sugary delights of her birthday cake. Although she managed to maul the poor cake beyond recognition (before picture shown below), she was able to manage getting a decent amount of frosting (and hints of cake) into her mouth.

The conclusion of her first year on the outside has been an adventurous one for her, and for her parents. The time has been extremely rewarding, and no regrets can be found.

Her growth has also meant another change in her life...transition from the infant room to the toddler room at daycare. While this demonstrates positive progress in most respects, her mom was clearly not equipped to handle this information. Once the shock wore off, she began to accept that her little girl was getting bigger. In light of this change, Sydney would very much like to thank teachers Danielle, Sarah, and Morgan for watching her back while in the infant room. Because you had her back, she did not get shanked or shiv'd by unsuspecting suspects. She did thoroughly enjoy her time with you, and she plans to provide waves and big smiles everyday as she passes and visits.

What does the second year hold for Sydney? We can only guess. As her walking skills increase exponentially on a daily basis, we can assume that her progress on the talking front will begin to take off in the near future.

Tip #22: Children & Hotels
Many hotels offer roll-away beds. When travelling with a child, request several roll-away beds. You can use the mattress to create an enclosed area that will keep the sound of your screaming child to a minimum, much to the appreciation of other hotel guests.

Sydney...a year in review

Much like other 12 month old babies, Sydney wanted to have time to reflect back over her first year of life and discover what she has gained from her journey, both in knowledge and experience.

After reading a few recommended publications, she made sure she complied with all of the milestones..eating certain foods at the right time...showing the right growth...taking her first step within the expected period. But she wanted to overlook those mundane facts and focus her thoughts things that appealed more to her personal curiousities. And since many of her initial curiousities came in the form of simple yes/no questions, I've shared what she has learned using that same format...based on what she has told me.

-Yes, my parents do look tired the next day when I stay up late screaming
-No, the cats do not like clumps of hair removed from their body
-Yes, my bodily functions can match any full grown human adult as well as some larger mammals
-No, no matter how hard I scream I haven't been able to break glass
-Yes, however, I will keep trying to break glass
-No, strained peas are no fun...I don't care how old you are or under-developed your taste buds are!

-Yes, dad does like duct tape
-No, as fun as it is...poop does not make good artwork on the walls
-Yes, you can make parents react quickly if you vomit at just the right time
-No, I'm still not sure why if all you drink is white milk how poop can be brown (past experience)

-Yes, life on the outside is so much better
-No, I do not want to stay a toddler...now that I'm 1 I'm much too sophisticated
-Yes, my friends and family are just as cool as I thought they would be!

I would like to thank everyone who supported me in my first year of life. So, if you wiped my nose, wiped my bottom, gave me a hug, kiss, or support and encouragement during my physical, social, and emotional development, I appreciate it very much!

Tip #21: Gifts to your baby

Being the thoughtful parent you are, you will likely want to provide your child with gifts that trigger excitement and joy during special occasions, such as birthdays and the holidays. It is important not to take it personal if your child does not take a second look, or even first, at the nice gift you have bestowed on them. Odds are, they will be much more interested in the wrapping paper and box that held the gift, as well as any ribbon or bow. Take it in stride, and realize that you did not fail your parental obligations...at least not on this occasion. There's plenty of time left for that down the road :)

HAPPY 1st BIRTHDAY SYDNEY!!!

Love Mom & Dad

K2...you're next!

Sydney's newfound abilities never cease to amaze the masses...or at least her parents. She has a new interest in scaling stairs. While she only became curious a few weeks ago, she now scales them with great speed and precision. We can only believe that she may be ready for K2 or Mt. Everest in the near future...perhaps when she's five. Interestingly enough, she is just as proficient at coming back down. Fortunately, she is always supervised when performing her stunts, but even with nearby support she never falters or loses balance.

We will double-check to make sure she does not have an opposible thumb, as primates do, which often assist with climbing. We suspect that she does not have this trait, and we have every assumption that she will become a bipedal creature. If not, then we will embrace the close relationship we share with our primate relatives and try not be too judgemental. Actually, now that I think about it she 'does' like bananas quite a bit...hmmm :)

In other news, Sydney is gearing up for her first birthday. She will turn 1 year old on December 15th. She will be happy to reach that first whole number...the other day she told me she doesn't like having to tell people that she is currently .958 years old. Since we're close enough, we can probably eliminate the decimal point, round up to 1...and then call it good :)

Aside from her impending maturity that will undoubtedly come with her increased age, she has also been adding extra steps to her 'walking' endeavors lately. While we could count the number of her steps on one hand just a few weeks ago, she is happily moving along now. We look forward to giving you a progress report on this front next week.

Tip #20: Maintain Routines
Just because you’ve had a baby, it doesn’t mean that life is over, and it doesn’t mean you can’t do most of the activities you previously enjoyed. A great solution is to simply involve your child in them. Take them to the store, take them out to eat with you. Having said that…this does not give you permission to take them to any venue. If you were a frequent visitor to strip clubs, bars, or ultimate fighting matches, you should avoid them until your child reaches an appropriate age. And if you have a daughter, this likely means 90 years of age, if ever!!!