Sydney's 1st Birthday

Here's Sydney's account of Friday, November 19, 2010. Her very first birthday.

On my birthday, I went into my big brother Gavin's room and woke him up by jumping on the bed.

It is one of my FAVORITE activities.

My Mom dressed me in my "Birthday Girl" t-shirt she was so excited about and dragged us off to MOPS.

After my nap time, my cousins arrived--they smothered me with kisses.

But then I found my Uncle Nate (my current obsession) and he played bugs with me. (For the record, he also let me sit on his lap ALL weekend...awesome.)

Auntie Christa read me books (about babies no less, hello, I'm 1 now!)

I wished for a REAL puppy but my Mom kept putting this dumb thing in my lap.

Grandma spoiled me with attention and I ate it up.

Mom got a little crazy with me which makes me belly laugh.

But she also couldn't stop gushing to me all day about how I was 1 now and time goes so fast and she can't believe that this time last year she was in shock that she had a baby girl....blah, blah, blah...she can be a real sap sometimes.

Then my Grandpa and I got a Birthday serenade--our birthdays are only 7 days apart.

And I finally got my first birthday treat everyone had been talking about.

It was a bit melty but delicious.

My cousins and brother got one too.

I ate every last bit of that cupcake up....

...and LOVED it!!!

Welcome Greta Jane!

Early October, Greta Jane Haan entered the world. So excited to have a baby GIRL Haan and accordingly a future BFF for Sydney. We got to meet her beginning of November and she is as sweet as ever.

Hand Me Downs

When Sydney was born my mom gave me some of my baby clothes. They are old and sweet. I think they are marked 12 months. I kept having good intentions of getting Sydney in them earlier than I did but just never did. As I jammed her chubbiness into these little dresses I was kicking myself. But still...I did it...I got pics...and she is adorable.

It is the above picture alone that for the first time ever, I looked at and said, oh my, that looks like me. I have a pic of me around the same age, I think in the same dress and this looks just like it. This may be the only time in life I can say that...but it exists...now, to find that picture and prove it. :)

Girls Vacay!

I just went on my first official girls vacation--on a plane, without my husband and without my kids! I enjoyed 4 glorious days of taking care of myself, waking up by myself and spending hours of time that did not revolve around meals, snacks, naps or bedtime! We ate dinners at 8 pm, we shopped, we slept in....glorious. Carrie, Lesley and I went to Naples and had so much fun spending time together and catching up. The weather was a bit chilly but that did not stop us from soaking up some sun and laying by the pool. It was totally rejuvenating! Honestly, us moms need to do this kind of thing more often!

Ladies shopping trip at the Best of Everything!

Pinas by the pool.

Carrie and I.

Downtown Naples.

Yum....sweet treat.

Mixing up a poolside batch of daquiris.

The girls.

Light Load

This is a picture of the contents of a carry-on bag headed to a girls weekend away (my very first!)--no kids, no husbands. I keep checking my list and racking my brain for what I am missing. Where are the diapers, pacis, extra outfits, bottles, dvds, crayons, toys, etc. Can't believe this is the only load I've got to carry for 4 DAYS!!




I cannot wrap my mind around the idea that for the next four days I only have to worry about feeding myself, getting myself showered and changed and put to bed. Is it possible to be simutaneously THRILLED and RELUCTANT?? When it comes to leaving my kids...I'm all talk...I'm going to miss those little munchkins like crazy....but if I'm going to miss them, I might as well do it poolside with a magazine, two best friends and a daquiri. :)

Happy Halloween!

This year Halloween fell on a pretty sunny Sunday and although it was still cold, we made it for about an hour and half outside before heading inside at the Thomsons to warm up with a yummy chili dinner. It was so fun to watch the kids together (although we did miss Harrison thanks to the nasty flu bug). Honestly, I have way too many pictures because I can't get over the cuteness of these children.

Gavin in all his puppy excitement.

First she can't see.

Then these two are hamming it up.

Finally--both looking in the same direction.

This is how they started...but it didn't last long.

Trick or Treat!

Can't believe people are really putting candy in their buckets!

Oh my. Cutest pair ever.

Syd's sweet tooth is getting the best of her.

A dog just like me!!!

Comparing candy.

My little lady bug stretching her legs.

Running no less.

Mom and my bug.

All this trick or treating makes a girl thirsty....

...REAL thirsty.

SO happy with his collection.

Dad brigade headed home.

One final group shot.

Ending the night with my work out...er, the kids horsey ride.