"Come One Come All" - Circus Time!!!

We have had a VERY busy week!! Sydney started swim lessons on Monday. We started in the Parent/Child class where I was in the pool with her. By day 2, the instructor said we should move up to Level 1 class because Sydney was ready to begin learning swim strokes. This meant I would not be in the pool with her. This freaked me out because the water is above her head and she would need to latch on to the side of the pool until the instructor was ready for her. She is the youngest in the class - most kids are 4-5 years old!! She LOVES it!! I stay right at the edge of the water and make sure she is holding on securely - yes, over protective, I know!! But she's my baby!! She has one more week left of lessons and then we will practice at home with her for a bit. She got to used to wearing floaties and now has a false sense of security when she gets into the pool with them!! So, we are trying to get her to understand that she can sink to the bottom if she doesn't learn how to swim.

Yesterday, we went to the Circus!! So much fun and we had awesome seats!! I really don't know who was more excited to go...Me, Daddy 0r Sweetie!! We had a great time and it was a great show!! My pictures of the actual circus didn't turn out so well but at least we have awesome memories!! Enjoy the pictures!!

Their newest baby elephant!! They brought him out at the end of the show!! So cute!!

We had so much fun watching her expressions and excitement during the show!!

Clowns, clowns and more clowns!!

Beautiful bright costumes!!

She loved to watch the "Lions"!!

So funny!! She is watching an act up in the air over our heads!!

Same act - so funny!!

She got to pick a toy out - she picked this horse!! She has been playing with it almost nonstop since!! She has her Barbies ride him.

Clown noses!!

Silly girl!!

Before the show, we got to go on the floor and meet the entertainers and try on costumes!! She was a little nervous and overwhelmed, especially of the guys on stilts!!

Below are some of my favorite pictures!!! Sydney is going through a stage right now where she loves to dress up and put on impromptu shows!! The pictures below were taken this week!!

I swear, she put this ensemble together herself!! This is her "Super Hero" outfit!!

Could she be any cuter!!!!!

Before swim lessons. Love her profile!!

She was "posing" for the camera. She actually wanted me to keep taking more and more pictures!!

She was so proud of this moment!! She decided to set up a picnic for all of her friends. She actually did all of this herself!! So cute!!

A Great Day...

June seems to be flying by!! Sydney continues to say the funniest things on an hourly basis! She uses words like "scrumptious" "wonderful" "marvolous". She starts every morning by saying "Its a beautiful day" as she cuddles with us in bed. She ends most days by saying, "Mommy, that was a great day!!" And, at least once every hour she says to me, "Mommy, I love you!!" How could I not feel like the luckiest Mommy in the whole world with a daughter like Sweetie!!!
She is my little cuddle bug and loves to cuddle with me and give me tons of hugs and kisses. Sometimes it takes all I have to not just eat her up!!

She is doing wonderful with her potty training. She wears "big girl" panties around the house and is good about telling us when she has to go potty. Only a few accidents here and there. I still put her in pullups when we are out and about - but we are getting close!!

She is really starting to show an interest in dress up and role playing. It's very cute - I think I may have to hit up a few 2nd hand stores and look for some dress up clothes!! She loves to dance and put on shows for us. And one of her favorite toys right now is the keyboard and microphone that Nana got her before she left to go back to Minnesota for the summer. She loves to sing!!

Yesterday, we went with Aunt Peggy to the Glendale Aquatic Center and played in the water park. Sydney had a blast playing with Aunt Peggy. We got lots of sun and were definitely tired when we left. As Sydney would say (and she did say it before bedtime) Mommy, this was a great day!!"

Enjoy the pictures...


She was so excited and in awe!

So cute, thanks again Aunt Peggy!!

Cuddles for Mommy!! I could just eat her up!!

My 2 Sweeties!!

She takes my breath away!! Thank you God!

A rare moment of Ziggy showing affection!!

My buddies...

My beat up toes from the 1/2 marathon last week!!!

Mommy's 1st Trip Away!!

My trip to San Diego for the Rock n Roll Half Marathon was good! It was difficult being away from Sydney for so long and it was also difficult being away from Greg. The trip really helped me get out of a funk that I had been in and to come home feeling much more appreciative for what I have at home! Thank you to my wonderful husband for supporting the trip, even though financially, it probably wasn't the best time to go. And thank you to Aunt Peggy and Uncle Michael for babysitting Sydney on Sunday while Greg was at work. It was a big treat for Sydney to spend 2 Sundays in a row with you!!!

The 13.1 miles in San Diego were beautiful! I ran the entire run with my friend Jamie. The last 13.1 I did in Jan., I was so focused on the pace and time that I really didn't get to appreciate the run. Because this was more of a fun run, I didn't put in as much training and didn't have to push myself as hard. The humidity affected us much more than we thought it would but we were fine - we just poured a lot of water over our heads as we ran!! My asthma didn't kick in until mile 11 but Jamie did an awesome job at pushing me and I was able to finish without the inhaler. I did however, have to stop right past the finish line and take a puff. With in seconds, I could breath again!! We had lots of laughs over the weekend and were pretty silly at times - all things I really needed! Now I am back at home and recharged and ready for summer!!

This morning, I took Sydney out front to water some potted plants. They are looking pretty rough due to the heat, so I decided to add a little plant food to the water. Sydney wanted to help but I explained to her that I didn't want the plant food to get on her because it could make her sick. She said, "OK Mommy...Mommy, what will the plant food do if I touch it? Will it turn me into a plant?" I stopped in my tracks and just had to smile and laugh. Man I love her!!!!

A Mommy Moment

Once a week, I go online and print coupons for groceries and other household items. This morning, as I was completing this task, I came upon a Huggies save $3 coupon and got all excited and was almost ready to print it and realized...Sydney doesn't wear diapers anymore!! She wears big girl panties when we are at home and pullups when we are out and about and at nighttime. I had to stop a minute and think about this. For the first time it really sank in...I will never buy diapers again.

I should be happy right?? I get to save money!!! Instead, I find myself a little sad. My baby is growing up.

A Very Important Conversation!!

Yesterday in the car, Sydney asked me a very important question:

"Mommy, how do I get these hairs off?" (pointing at her legs)
"Well honey, we don't take those hairs off, they stay there."
"But I don't want them there Mommy"
"Why"
"Because sometimes they make me scratchy!"

She cracks me up!!!

My Little "Big" Girl!!

We have started potty training with Sydney!! About two weeks ago, I took her to Target and let her pick out a pack of "big girl panties"!! She was so excited!! She picked out Little Mermaid panties and we brought them home to wash. The next morning, she was very excited to show them to her Daddy whom then proceeded to put them on her. Well she ended up wetting herself!! That's all it took - from there on in, she would announce when she had to go "pee-pee" and it was a mad dash to her potty!! Then, a week into it, her attention to detail faded and she started going in her diaper again. That is until this last week!! We watched her buddy Addison on Friday night. Addison is potty trained already and she used the potty a few times while Sydney watched. Sydney again became very interested in the potty and is now going "Poo-poo" in the potty but not "pee-pee". It's all very exciting and just a little frustrating:) When she does go in the potty we all do cheers for her and give high fives and hugs!! She gets so excited - LOVE IT!!!

So today, I am at work and Sydney is with her Daddy. Her Daddy decided to take her to Banana Republic to do an exchange. When they walked in, Sydney announced to the sales person, "Excuse me, where are the banana's"? Well it is called the "Banana" Republic!!!

Sydney is not usually shy when we are out and about. She will often yell out "Hi" and wave to people as we walk by them! It's so funny and sometimes a little embarrassing - but people are always pleasantly surprised by her "friendliness" and will often stop what they are doing to say "Hi" back to her! She will not back down for any opportunity to have a conversation with complete strangers either!! And the things she tells people sometimes makes my mouth drop open!!

The things she knows just amaze me - and most people around us!! Today, Greg said that a couple walked by them and were walking their dog. Sydney looked at the dog and announced that is was a French Poodle - it was!! Now how the heck does she know that??!! Her brain just soaks in EVERYTHING!!!

Picture Galore!!

I had an awesome Mother's Day this year! It started out on Sat. night with a nice dinner with Sydney and Daddy. Next was a 10 mile run in the a.m. (OK, that part wasn't so awesome - but I am in training for the San Diego Half Marathon and had to get the run in) and then a little rest. We then went to our friends Tim and Jessica's house and they hosted a little Mother's Day BBQ for us and Jamie and her family and a few others. It was a beautiful sunny day. Sydney had a blast swimming with her buddy Addison and Daddy took care of all her needs while Mommy sipped on cocktails and soaked up the sun!! It ended with a Peanut Buster Parfait - Mmmmmm!!

Me and my Sweetie!!!

Sydney and her buddy Addison on Mother's Day

So sweeet!!

Mother's Day

Daddy and Sydney being silly!!

This is a little arts and crafts activity we made. She was so proud of it as she ran with it and let the wind make the ribbon fly!!

This was a present for Nana for Mother's Day. Sydney pained all of the paper and then we cut out her hand prints in each one!! We then put them in a bright pink vase (not shown). She loved it!!

Sydney and her cousins Vic and Max!!

Sydney with Nana and Paps before they left to go back to Minnesota!! We miss them so much!!

This was taken yesterday at our friends pool. She was so tired by this point. She sat there for like 20 minutes!! I didn't mind at all - cuddles for Mommy!!!