Sydney Update

I decided to take Sydney to the doctor this morning. She started with her fever on Sunday early evening and still had a fever last night. Today is Friday and although her fever is gone, she has a very nasty cough and nose. The doctor said it's just a virus and gave us a cough suppressant for nighttime so she can sleep. That hopefully means that I get to sleep also:)

When Sydney is sick like this (thank heaven it's not often) it is so hard on us. Hard on her because she is the one who feels lousy and has to stay in doors, resting. Hard on me because I can't really get anything done at home because Sydney is very clingy and wants me to sit with her all of the time. And of course, I don't want to upset her anymore than she already is so I sit with her and watch the same shows over and over! It's also difficult for me because I am not a stay at home type of person. I need to be out doing things. And, I NEED my work outs! Unfortunately, I cannot take Sydney to the gym when she is sick and Greg works his long days - so - Mommy is pretty much going out of her mind!!

I am definitely looking forward to Greg being off of work tomorrow so I can go running!!

Our First Road Trip

Although Sydney wasn't feeling 100% on Tuesday, we decided to stick with our plans and take a road trip to Big River, CA (right outside of Parker, AZ) to go see Grandma & Grandpa Ramy and Uncle Paul. They were staying with Grandma's sister, Donna. Sydney did great on the trip there (around a 3 hour drive)! We stayed at a hotel in Parker. Considering Sydney being sick, we really had a nice trip. I wish we could spend more time with the family but I am grateful for what time we have!!

This is the view outside of our patio at the hotel. Beautiful!

This is Donna (Grandma's younger sister), Roy (Grandma's 92 year old brother) & Grandma (turning 85 this week)! I feel very blessed to have this picture and to have spent this short time with them. I felt very proud as they all watched our daughter play - knowing my Mom was with us also.

Uncle Paul and Grandpa John. I brought some of those grapefruits in the background home - yummy!!

Daddy and Sweetie being silly together.

Uncle Paul giving Sydney a ride down to the river.

The river bank.

Such a beautiful day outside.

Great Grandma and Sweetie sharing a moment. So sweet!

Uncle Paul, Grandpa & Grandma Ramy, Mommy, Sweetie & Daddy

Sick Day

Poor Sweetie...

We had a great afternoon at the park yesterday on Valentine's Day but then last night she started running a fever!! With in a very short period of time she went from singing and playing to burning up and clinging to my legs. She ended up coming into bed with me in the middle of the night so I could keep an eye on her. She had developed a hacking cough and her fever wasn't getting better. I think she must have fallen back to sleep around 4am and when we woke up at 7ish, her fever had broke. She is still not herself today but she is getting better, I think! Lots of love and popsicles today!!

My Organized Sweetie!!!

So Sydney and I got home from buying the dog food and a few groceries from Trader Joe's. I put the bags on the floor and had to quick do something. Sydney came up to me and said very seriously, "Mommy, I'm gonna cook us dinner!" I said "OK honey!" I could see over my shoulder that she was taking the cans of food out of the bags and putting them on the counter and it was keeping her busy for a few minutes, so I did what every sane mother would do, I let her be!! After a few minutes, I finished what I was doing and turned around to see what she was doing. OMG!!! I had to take a picture...

Notice how the cans are all color coordinated and all the labels are facing forward!!! I swear, I didn't touch anything!! I guess some of my OCD is wearing off on her!!!!

A Lazy Night

We ended up staying home for Super Bowl Sunday. Greg had to work and I was exhausted! Seems like I am exhausted a lot lately!! I put some ribs in the crockpot, put on my "Mommy Uniform" (that would be sweats and a sweatshirt), and turned on the fireplace! It was quite a lazy night!! Below are some pictures we took of us being silly!!

I Love this picture!!

Love the popeye face!!

Even Ziggy and Zoey got in on the action!!

Thinking this one would be good for next years Christmas card!!

Chocolate Festival!!

Yesterday, we took Sydney to her first Chocolate Festival!! Mommy, Sydney, Nana, Aunt Peggy and Uncle Mike had a very nice time - pigging out!!! This festival has everything - live music, vendors, and everything chocolate!! Sydney had chocolate covered marshmallows, chocolate covered cream puffs, chocolate covered banana, sweet potato fries, noodles and probably more!! It was quite a treat for us all!! She really had a great time and of course, we all had a great time watching her!!

Sydney absolutely adores her Uncle Michael!! Here she is watching some girls dancing on stage. She loved it!!

Here Sydney is eating her first chocolate covered marshmallow!! So funny!!

She is so funny when she is eating these type of sweets!! She holds it really close to her mouth and gets this really serious look on her face - like someone is going to take it from her.

Chocolate cream puffs!!!

Uncle Michael bought her a new hair bow!!

So cute!!

Nana, Sydney & Aunt Peggy!!

Mommy and Sweetie!! Oh boy, Mommy looks tired!!

My Sweetie!!

Popeye making her chocolate pizza!!

So precious... what a beautiful day!!

Sydney got a sparkly princess valentine in the mail from Grandpa Nick and LOVED it!!

Stuffington Bear Factory

Sydney and I had a great time at the Stuffington Bear Factory yesterday!! We went with our MOMs group. It was definitely "stuffed animal overload"! I think Sydney hugged every stuffed animal in the place!! Silly Mommy dressed us in black shirts...we were covered in fuzz by the time we left!! I LOVED watching Sydney during this new experience! She had a difficult time listening during the tour (what 2 year old wouldn't) but she was very attentive when it was time to make her Teddy!! Enjoy the pictures...

Sitting like a little lady by her new friend:)

There were so many kids running around us, it was difficult to keep her attention for pictures!!


Hugging one of her numerous new friends!!


Sydney absolutely LOVES stuffed animals so she was in heaven during our tour!!


This is a hallway made out of Teddy Bears - so awesome!!

She was a little upset that she couldn't get them off of the wall!!


More friends to hug!!

Surrounded with the love of her new friends!!!

Tackling a dragon during the tour (not exactly what she was suppose to be doing during the tour)!!

Sydney and her "human friends" watching and learning how the bears are stuffed.

She just picked out a pink bear to make...

Before the bears were stuffed, each child was given a yellow star to make a wish. They then placed the star in the bear before it was stuffed and sown shut! Sydney remembers this and will talk about the star in her bear. She got to step on the peddle to release the stuffing into her bear.

Next, her bear was sown shut...

Then her bear was given an "air bath".

This bear was huge! The kids all had a blast climbing and falling on him!

Sydney and her Angle Bear (she has wings) once it was completed!

We had to get at least one popeye face in there!!!

After all of the Teddy making, we had lunch with all of our friends~

What a great experience we had. Sydney LOVES to play with other kids!! I have worked with many children in the past who come from families with no siblings there age, and many times these children are shy and nervous at first to interact with other kids. Not Sydney!! She is such a joy to watch and she is so compassionate with other children. Makes me very proud to be her Mommy!!!