Backseat Driver

Sydney takes Dad's car out for a spin.

When infants first begin riding in the car they are almost always rear-facing.  Eventually, they are able to graduate to the next stage and transfer to a forward facing car seat.  It's all about making the proper adjustments at the right time, specifically accounting for the correct weight and age of a child.  It's really all about proper safety...which reminded me of the day when I realized I had to quit putting Sydney in the trunk because of the danger posed if the car got rear-ended.  Don't think I'm a bad parent...it was only on her noisy days!!!...ha ha...I'm only playing...or am I?...LOL.

Actually, when Sydney started to sit forward-facing it was great for her.  She truly enjoys being able to look out of the window and see the world as we drive down the road. 

Could she be any cuter???

Unfortunately, it does comes at a price. She tends to back seat drive. She'll say, 'you're driving too fast, you're driving too slow, you should be in the other lane, you should have made a left there..." All of this from someone who can't reach the pedals. But we take it in stride, and are glad that she is willing to voice her opinions.  And I'm sure she'll be a great driver. So when she turns 35 and we let her try for her license, I'm sure she'll make us proud.



I wanted to keep this blog a little shorter so that we could share a few of the many delectable pictures taken recently by Rebecca Brethauer.  She is always able to capture great moments.




Part 1: Dad tells funny joke to Sydney.

 
 







Part 2: Sydney can't believe how incredibly

funny the joke was, or how funny Dad is...

 




Another family day under a bridge...and loving it!

Having fun in Fairhaven!

Anniversaries, pillows, and more...

Ever wonder where Sydney gets her
weird behavior?

It's so hard to believe...just a few years ago, Karen saw and became quickly interested in a particular guy...we'll just call him eye-candy to protect his true identity. He was funny, charming, and definitely handsome...and actually still is to this day. Of course, she couldn't resist him. So, we fast forward three years later and poof...Sydney exists. This post could be about many things, but since this blog focuses on Sydney and her family, it couldn't be helped but to write about two major forces in Sydney's life...her parents! I know you were thinking Starbucks and her shoes, but those are two 'other' important forces...ha ha!

So, this September 15th Karen and I will be celebrating our third anniversary. We've had an amazing journey together so far, and it just continues to get better.  Happy Anniversary babes...I love you!

In other news, there has been a recent purchase.  If Sydney had any doubt about where home was, that doubt was quickly laid to rest...no pun intended, with the purchase of a new pillow.  We recently got Sydney her first ever toddler pillow.  So, she's got a great reason to hit the hay every night, snuggling up with Kooky (her plush kookaburra), Mr. Hooter (her plush great horned owl), and her new soft pillow.  The first day we got it she was inseparable from her new pillow.  We hope this new acquisition makes for enjoyable sleeping patterns.

 

The Family at Jessica's 18th Birthday.



Upcoming...Sydney will make her Seattle Sounders debut...as a fan, of course, on October 2nd.  Seattle will be hosting Toronto, and Sydney will be making every effort to ensure the Canadian team returns home non-victorious.  This means she will engage in the chants, the taunts, and other behaviors that will send the rivals home beaten, battered, humiliated, and without an important three points.  Sydney has been working for several months on the songs...so we look forward to hearing that in action!  She may be painted blue and green or she may just show up with her feisty 1.75 year old attitude, but regardless...she will be a force to be reckoned with!!!



I think something is clogging the sink...
just had to share this picture.



We hope everybody has a great weekend!

The Council of Mothers...

What a cute face!

Every now and then history finds a unique gathering of sorts...one that has been rarely seen throughout time but where the purity of wisdom can only be imagined.  Is it mere coincidence, or are some mysterious forces at work that gathered these individuals on a holiday which just happens to be called "Labor Day."  While the pun is present but not intended, no greater truth is present than the fact that an extensive and raw collective knowledge of motherhood exists here.  While this gathering cannot accurately be named...if we had to title it, we 'd call it the Council of Mothers.

The council in session...

OK, so maybe that is just the dramatic way of saying that we had a Mother's BBQ.  I guess in Sydney's case, it was her grandmothers.  It was a fun afternoon, where Sydney got her dosage of grandmas, ya yas, nanas, and more.  It is great when they can all be in one place at one time :)  It is great to see that the generational relationship is strong and thriving...what could be better...

The group imparts wisdom to
the youngest.

Burgers, corn, potato salad, fruit salad and more marked the items for consumption, but interesting stories and entertainment provided by Little Miss Pigtails were the true entrees.  Sydney of course loved every minute of it.  She enjoyed showing off her new words and new skills.  She's quite comfortable in a group, and she often likes the attention of so many caring individuals.  We hope the Council of Mothers can unite again in December, over the holidays.

Exhaustion sets in... 

In other news, Sydney's vocabulary has grown exponentially in the past few months.  She uses new words on a daily basis, and in context with correct meaning.  It is too hard to even keep track of them now.  As parents, we feel like we have truly succeeded so far in her speech development, as she has never once used a swear word (despite her parents)...ha ha!!!

We look forward to other great upcoming activities.  Sydney will soon be traveling to Oregon to visit her Uncle Nathan and all of her cousins, and then she'll experience a life-changing event in October...her first Seattle Sounders game!!!  She's learning the skills needed to attend the game, such as the appropriate chants and holding her scarf high!

Have a nice weekend everyone!!!

Galileo or Picasso?

A sampling of Sydney's abstract art.

Left brain...right brain...it'll be a fun to see which side Sydney embraces.  Whether it's art, or its the fundamentals of science, I believe Sydney will excel in both.  She is certainly genetically predisposed for greatness on both fronts!...ha ha!

Right now, Sydney enjoys both and we will encourage both.  She loves to have a deep conversation about quantum physics, but she also loves to draw, color, weld, and be creative through other mediums.  At daycare, she also gets plenty of exposure to art and the ability to express herself.  You should see her interpretive dance number....ha ha!  But, she is often creative at daycare and comes home with a number of 'works of art,' as can be seen from the pictures in this blog.

Nothing beats a good book!

In other news, Sydney has had a fun and enjoyable week.  She has spent most of her days with Nana from Montana.  She's loved reading, coloring, and playing with Nana.  She has also enjoyed playing with Nana's dog, Alex.

A collection of works from daycare!

On Friday, Karen, Nana, and Sydney all had lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant.  Since Sydney is a well-refined and cultured little-lady, she tries to honor the eating traditions of the meal at hand.  In this case, she quickly learned to master the complexities of the chopsticks!  While she was waiting for her food, she managed a little maneuver only seen in Karate Kid...the catching of a fly with chopsticks.  She is a truly gifted child and will have much success...our young grasshopper.  OK, so in reality her chopstick use may have room for some improvement, but she certainly has no fear of trying something new, and in some cases she actually does a pretty good job picking up the activity quickly.

Her first run using chopsticks.

But if all else fails, go with the reliable

standby...the hands!!!

Have a great weekend everyone!!!