Let It Snow...

Sydney got to experience the recent snow that we had last week.  She is now old enough to share her fascination of it.  She won't quite comprehend the bliss of school 'snow days' for several years still, but that didn't keep her from being excited about this new look of the world around us.

It's not that she's never been present in snowy conditions...in fact, it snowed quite a bit on the day she was born (as with the rest of that week).  It was quite a blizzard travelling to the hospital, and when we got to go home two days later, there was still quite a bit of snow on the ground, and plenty more coming down (as if driving in the snow isn't bad enough at times, try doing it with the pressure of a newborn on board!)



Picture from last holiday season.  Not a real
snowman if you were wondering...ha ha! :)



This year, the snow went away almost quicker than it came, so the necessary parental teachings that come with 'snow' will have to wait until another snowy day.  The future ensures that I teach her vital life lessons, such as how to make a proper snow angel, how to make the perfect snowball, and the most essential lesson...'don't eat the yellow snow.'  We will look forward to coming snow activities, like sledding, igloo building, and snowball fights, but perhaps that will take place another day this winter.

In other news, Sydney and her family had a great Thanksgiving.   She loved spending time and visiting with everyone.  She is getting in the holiday spirit and is looking forward to all of the festivities coming in December.  She already loves lights and decorations, and she will eagerly participate in that time-honored tradition of humiliating our animals for entertainment! 

We are looking forward to embarrassing our pets
again this holiday season!

Another year down...

What is hotter than the core of the sun???  If you guessed Karen's birthday cake, you would be correct.  I wish I had know in advance about the intense heat that would radiate from the dessert we were about to enjoy.  I felt short of breath as those flames consumed most of the oxygen in the room, but fortunately my mental and physical toughness kept me from becoming light-headed and passing out.  Apparently my arms were not long enough, as no amount of distance could have removed the physical distress the sheer heat produced.  As funny as that may sound...third degree burns are no laughing matter.  I was treated and released from the hospital the next day.  OK, while I my exaggerate some, it really is just a testament to the length of time Karen has inhabited this earth, and also to all of the wisdom she has gained and imparted on others.  See...doesn't that last sentence sound much better than just saying she is getting old?  And as far as the carrot cake, itself, it was very tasty.

The event provided a time not only to celebrate Karen's advancement in years, but also offered a nice social occasion to see friends and a few family members.  Sydney got to spend quite a bit of time coloring, playing with toys, and catching up on gossip with her friend Maggie.

Although it was a very busy week, I will keep this post brief.  We are, however, looking forward to the coming week which will include several great things, such as a short work-week and then Thanksgiving Day!  Who could ask for more...family, great food, some Starbucks, and also sharing the day with a great wife and daughter.  Those are enough to be thankful for :)

Have a great weekend!!!

Tickle Zones



Another fun picture from
Rebecca Brethauer.



Some people are ticklish on their feet, some in their armpits, others on their sides.  Everyone is different, but what is likely similar is that tickle spots can change over time.  When Sydney was little (obviously she is still little, but when she was littler), she wasn't very ticklish.  Most of the zones that can be common tickle areas did not trigger anything.  She would sometimes smile, but that was more likely a reaction to our behavior, one of amused curiosity of what in the world were were trying to do.  Fast forward to current...the tickle zones are rampant and provide a buffet for any fingers desiring to make a little girl with pigtails scream, laugh, and wiggle on the floor.  It's so easy it's almost like taking candy from a...well, baby :)

Her neck was the first zone to achieve the appropriate level of sensitivity required to provide a physical reaction.  And she quickly learned that just one finger in her neck area could do sufficient damage to any stoic look she might be trying to achieve at the time.  As a result, when I ask where her neck is these days...her neck promptly disappears as she creates a lock-tight formation between head and shoulders.  It's nearly impossible to penetrate this fortress.  Quadrants two (armpits) and three (tummy and sides) evolved later, but with no less potency.

 

 But, of course, it’s not just the act of tickling, but it is the threat of it. The slower you go, and the closer you get, it creates an unbearable situation.  She'll usually start busting up at the prospect of being tickled before the first zone has even been breached.

In other news, Sydney helped to celebrate Karen's birthday.  Karen is now just a young...um...I think she turns 21 this year.  I'll have to double-check, but I think that's accurate.  Happy Birthday ma chienne!!!



Sydney and Maggie in swim class.



Not for a lack of words...

 

She sometimes goes for a more
sophisticated look.

I read that toddlers around Sydney’s age learn about two new words every hour. That’s an incredible rate which translates into a lot of new speech. Inversely, with my increase in age and general lack of sleep, I think I am losing about two words per hour in my vocabulary. So, at least our household has ‘no net change’ in overall speaking abilities. But her advancement has led to sharing words we didn’t have a clue she new, and some we didn’t think she would say for quite some time still. She is starting to put together some simple sentences, and she enunciates many words very well. To try and trip her up, we’ll throw out an Italian or French word, and while she may not know the meaning or have a context for the word at this point, she’ll often repeat it back.

She’s also doing great on the potty training front. It’s not uncommon for her to go at school, and now she even asks to use the potty at home. I guess you could say she’s really getting her $h*# together!...haha. But it’s great to see her wanting to use the potty, and perhaps soon she can be switched to pull-ups or something along those lines. It’ll be nice to finally pull the puppy pads up off of the floor :)

Singing is also a favorite activity. Each night, Sydney loves to dance around to ‘If Your Happy and You Know It’ and a few other numbers she likes. When the song is done, she usually says…”Sydney happy,” and of course...”more.” While it is great to see her completely engrossed in the song, you would not want to be a fly on that wall. To that extend, let’s just say Karen and I would not intentionally submit any other creatures to our singing ability, or perhaps more accurately, lack thereof.  We apologize to the dogs, deer, raccoons, and other animals with sensitive hearing that live in the neighborhood.

Sydney and Dad show proper support
during the Sounders first playoff game.



Sydney will be wrapping up her swim class this week, but will also begin her new session of tumbling. That will make for a busy morning, as she’ll have just 30 minutes to lose her gills and grow her tumbling legs.  But she loves all of the activity, and we have a great time doing it with her!



Have a great weekend!!!