familia

A few weeks ago my good friend Jen took our family photos/Sydney's belated one year pics. She's a super talented photographer and did an absolutely incredible job with our pictures.  Some of our faves (omitting potential Christmas card options):

toddlerhood

A little known secret about babies is that once they hit the year mark, they're immediately toddlers. Perhaps that was breaking news to me, but I've learned quickly. Sydney is definitely a toddler these days, with her own opinion on what she wants and when she wants it. We joke that she has split personalities or mood swings, and you know what? It's actually not a joke! Don't get my wrong, our little darling is still that, just more spirited. Now that she's officially walking like a pro, she has lots of great opportunities to find fun and trouble. Oh to be young again...
These days Sydney:

• Is all about mimicking. She'll mimic tones, voice fluctuations, and movements. My favorite is to hear her try and say works we really annunciate like "CAR, BIRDIE, and cocka-doodle-doo."
• has decided her car seat is akin to the electric chair and flips a lid every time we buckle on up. I have to remind her that's she's not committed any crimes and the seat is purely for her safety. 
• is a daddy's girl. She's going through a big daddy phase and it's pretty adorable. She just cannot get enough of Evan. And he, simply cannot get enough of her. Melt.My.Heart.
• loves, loves, loves school. I try not to take it personally that she's really excited to get into her classroom every morning and doesn't flinch when I walk out the door. Plus side? She's pretty well adjusted. 
• is a climber. Everything is worth a climb. Nothing is off limits. The Christmas tree will be a fun experiment.
• has really discovered the slide, although she's a cautious one. Rather than sliding down easily, she digs her heels in so she can control the pace in which she slides down. Such a safe little one. 

That covers her tricks. And now for pics.

topless carving

this is amazing!!!

masterpieces

enjoying Crocktober

papa and his girls 

such a seattlite

thrilled to be schooled

kicking at the children's museum

punkin

And it's officially fall. Hello leaves, pumpkins, etc. And hello mini candy bars. I'm having a love-hate relationship with my work enviro because there are always (ALWAYS) mini candy bars around and while my sweet tooth rejoices, my waist band expands. Just once, just once I would love to have a little dose of willpower. Grrr.

But you don't care about me and my first world problems, you care about this confused little nugget. 

And hopefully you really care about her Halloween costume, because really, that's the best part of this time of year. We've already worn the little strawberry twice and have some pretty serious trick-or-treating in store for the 31st (And again…my waist band expands). 

We hit up the pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago with some friends and their 1 year olds and had a fab time. Obvi.

checking out the chicks

solidarity circle

life is good.

giddy up

my love

And on an unrelated note, she's still not walking. I know it's fine and normal and blah blah blah, but as I expressed when she still hadn't started crawling, I'm just a little nervous. But more than nervous, I also am just pissed at BabyCenter, TheBump.com, Parenting magazine and any other literature I expose myself to. Turns out, I'm not a fan of knowing about milestones. It's a totally absurd statement from a parent, but in my nervous, anxiety ridden mind, I can't help but worry and panic if she's not EXACTLY where "they" say she should be.  Why? Apparently I'm a sucker for peer pressure.

1-12

so maybe, just maybe, she's a heck of a lot cuter now than she was in the beginning...
oh and maybe, just maybe I might have figured out how to use my camera. blah.

one.year.

Hi there,

It's good to be back. After a couple months hiatus, I think I'm finally ready to get back into this blogging game. Blogging is not joke…it takes some serious time and attention…and wit. Could be my own  opinion, but no one wants to read a lame post, especially if it doesn't have pictures. 

Now to the task at hand- we had some big things happen these past couple months. More teeth have barreled their way through for a total of 6 now, "dog" or some version of that has become a favorite "word," she's a cruising machine and of course, we had a 1st bday celebration. 

It's hard to find the right words to describe my feelings around all of this and I'm kind of, sort of hesitant to try. They simply couldn't convey the emotions and love I've had as of late. And by as of late, I mean since September 11, 2012. Sydney is simply the best.

 As she grows, it's been so fun to see her personality emerging. I still believe that she is very much a baby who does the same things as every other kid her age, makes the same noises as them, etc. Because really, up to a certain point, they really do all sound/act the same. But I think we're approaching the precipice of this, and certain "Sydney" qualities are starting to emerge. 

For example, she's a bit nosey.  

Or maybe it's that she just doesn't want to miss a thing, but our little lady is so interested in what other people are doing, she's not above craning her neck in all different directions just to get a good look at someone or be able to listen in on what's being said. 1 point for taking after mama. 

She's sweet.

I know, I know, all babies are theoretically sweet, but watching Sydney with other kids, she's typically the one just happy to be amongst friends. She's not aggressive with toys or invasive of personal space. She just sits there smiling and laughing. 

Okay, I was going to list out a bunch of other traits, but realized they're probably typical 1 year old interests, like the fact that she loves music and dances to any jingle she hears. If there's a tune, even for mere seconds, the girl is moving her body. Or that she is a chatty Kathy who's always discussing some crazy topic. They are all just some qualities that make her who she is at this time and I can't wait to see more of the layers as she grows. 

And now for the fun stuff.

 To set the scene for mine and Evan's, I mean, Sydney's party...It was a country fair theme (thanks pinterest) which I thought was perfect for the time of year and location (hosted at my brother's house near Puyallup).

a big ol' table of grub

month to month

a little art, a little booze

adorable fair themed cookies and cupcakes

yum.

the next sequence of pictures are my favorite...

apprehensive...

pissed.

frosting. yum.

feels good...

yes!!

whatchu looking at?

total cake victory

coming down from the sugar high.