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Oh Sydney, what more is there to say than you bring so much joy into our lives, every minute of every day.  I love you with every fiber of my being.  

Happy 17 months, Sweetest Baby Girl!

Snickerdoodles and Shrinky Dinks

It is safe to say that I am a control freak.  No, my house is not crazy cleaned or straightened up all the time {although, man oh man,  I would love it if it was}, but I have a hard time letting other people do things that I think I can do better.  This includes my husband {sorry, babe} and my kids.  Doing a craft project?  Gotta be Pinterest Perfect.  And, I know that's not much fun for the kiddos.  

I'm doing better at letting Olivia's projects be hers and not mine.  It was fun letting her do the small gingerbread house with her friends and letting her decorate it as she pleased.  Today, we had our first experience with Shrinky Dinks and I had to just let her go with the coloring {err, scribbling} on her little princess pictures.  Fortunately, she let me have a few to do too...I needed in on the Shrinky Dink fun as well!

While I like to call myself a control freak, you could also say that I'm a bit of a helicopter mom.  I may hover a little too close to the girls because I don't want to see them get into trouble or see them get hurt, but I'm trying to give a little more space and a little more freedom to my almost four year old.  

Today, we rode our bikes over to Nana and Poppy's house for a quick visit.  I just google mapped it and realized that she rode her little bike for 3.4 miles round trip.  SUCH a big girl.  Was it scary at some points?  Yes - I don't like those cars even being on the same road as us.  But, now is the best time for her to learn the rules of the road.  And, the best time for us to teach her while Sydney is riding in the Chariot and not on a bike herself.  

And, bless her heart, I had promised her that we would ride to the playground after our stop at mom and dad's house and Sydney was just not having it.  Poor girl is still sick and it probably wasn't my brightest idea to have her out and about.  So, we had to cancel the playground at the last minute and she cried and pedaled the last few minutes home.  We made up for it with some snickerdoodle baking.  And, I let her make the first batch on her own.  {And, then I made some pretty ones for the second batch.  Baby steps.}

Horrible picture of her...sorry Liv.

They looked like Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets before they got baked.  Ha ha.

Three More Til Four

I had every intention of writing up this little post on the 17th, but the sickies sort of struck the Michelson ladies and today is the first day that I've actually felt like doing anything more than laying in a dark room.  So, my apologies to the birthday girl.

I know I say this every time, but I can't believe how fast time has flown.  In THREE months, you will be a whopping four years old! How in the world is that even possible?  Didn't I just announce to the world that you were in my belly?!  Oh, girl, how you have rocked our world for the better!

You are feisty beyond belief and gentle and kind at the same time.  You can {try and} give us an earful  in one minute and then be sweet and complimentary in the next breath.

For the past couple of weeks {or has it been going on longer}, you have been waking in the night {not every night, but some of them} and crawling into bed with us.  I love snuggling up with you at night...except when you sleep sideways and take up the entire bed.

Your favorite thing right now is singing.  You sing all the time.  You sing at school, you sing in the car and you sing {loudly} before you go to sleep.  Your favorite songs right now are from the Sofia the First movie/show.  After watching the shows a few times, you practically had the songs memorized.  I downloaded them for you and since then you have really perfected them.  I think I'm going to see you on Broadway someday!  {Here's a clip of you singing a Sofia song the first day I downloaded it.}

{You put this outfit together yourself.}

You are getting to be so good at riding your bike and tonight we had fun riding as a family to the playground with you.  I'm thinking it only gets better from here!  Love you a bushel and a peck...

Happy Grins

My big girl went to her first dentist appointment this morning!  {Yes, she was overdue...I told you I am behind on lots of things.} I sort of procrastinated because I was worried that she would freak out over it, but she did great!  David took her so I could stay home with Sydney who is sadly under the weather.  I made him take the small camera and told him to take lots of pictures.  YES, I am that mom making him be that dad.  He did such a great job too, texting me updates non-stop!  Anyway, I was worried that she would have cavities, but the girl is cavity-free!  Woo Hoo!

Watching Enchanted.

How cute is that?  Her doctor's name is Dr. Happy!

Whoa, What a Week!

This may be an incredibly boring blog post. {Sorry in advance.} Aren't all iPhone dumps?  That's really what this is.  I've got to get caught up because my nights have been filled with Homeland episodes and early bedtimes.  But, I have some strange OCD where I can't leave out any photographed activity from this dear old blog.  So here we go....

Last Sunday, we went to Desert Breeze to celebrate Zack's 1st birthday.  The girls had fun playing in the sand, riding the train and carousel and feeding the ducks.  And, Olivia enjoyed her lunch of Skittles {that she sneakily ate while I was chatting with some other parents}.

Jackie held Sydney during the train ride...all the kids rode in the caboose.  

You can tell she's a big sister!

On Tuesday, Olivia went back to school.  So Sydney and I cleaned the windows and had a picnic lunch together.  It was glorious.

On Wednesday, we were finally able to meet up with Marsha, Michael and Jessica.  It had been way too long since we had hung out with them and it was so good to finally reconnect.  We met up at the Children's Museum and even though it took twice the amount of time to get there than usual, it was most definitely worth it.

Oh my gosh - the cutest thing happened when the kids were up in the fort room.  Olivia closed her eyes and laid down {and then Sydney followed suit}.  Michael kept screaming for her to wake up and so she got up and whispered in my ear, "If Michael wants me to wake up, tell him he has to kiss me."  So, I told him to kiss her on the cheek and he planted a big one right on her lips.  They both cracked up laughing and wiped their faces.

Too Funny.

On Thursday, I decided it had been far too long since I had done a real grocery store trip, so after I dropped Liv off at school, I headed over to Fry's.  I no more than parked the car, turned around and Sydney was asleep.  So, I carried her around the grocery store like this for an hour.

On Friday, Mom and I took both girls back to the Children's Museum.  We love that place and I'm so thankful we have a membership that allows us to go for free {including my mom}.  It is to the point with both girls that I really don't think I could go by myself.  Not without going crazy at least.  They both want to run around and it never seems to be in the same direction.  I would have to lock us in the 3 & Under room if I went by myself.  So, thanks Mom for going with us.

Playing Sleeping Beauty with Sydney.  

The girls had so much fun with these Magna Tiles and the light up table.  They could have stayed here for another hour if we'd have let them.

On Saturday, we laid low for most of the day.  I woke to this though...it was the best way to wake up.

Still can't figure out if Olivia woke Sydney up or heard her awake and then went in there.

They were both happy campers though.

We ended up going to Amazing Jake's Saturday evening..  We all had a good time - Olivia went crazy on the roller coaster ride and the Frog Hopper and I about got sick from the Tea Cups and Carousel.  If we manage to stay healthy over the next week then we are the real winners here!  That place is a germaphobe's worst nightmare.

Aaaannnndd....we're all caught up.

Do you guys feel as good as I do now?

Beyond Behind

Oh my goodness, you guys.  I am SO behind.  I'm behind in blogging.  I'm behind in laundry.  I'm behind in putting away my Christmas decorations.  I'm just plain behind.  I DID tonight, while the girls were playing in the bath, finally put away their Christmas ornaments/our Christmas cards/Santa Claus letters in their individual Christmas tubs.  I love having something organized especially for them.  But, I'm afraid at the rate we are going, they are going to need bigger tubs in just a few years!  In case you are lost as to what I am talking about, you can check out my post here.  {Although I just realized that I don't have a picture of the actual tub.  Maybe next year?}

This year, I got the girls the same ornament -- it's a Mickey Mouse ornament to commemorate our two trips to DisneyLand this year.  I didn't want to get any cheesy princess ornament, which is a little hard if  you want something girly and Disney related, but I think this one will look pretty on their trees when they are older.

My mom got the girls ornaments this year too.  They are really cute and I love that she had their names put on them as well.

And, as I have every year since Olivia was born, I got the girls a pewter, picture ornament from Shutterfly.  I love these so much...I get weirdly excited making them and opening them up when they come in.

Here are Olivia's four ornaments.

{Such a big change from her 2nd and 3rd picture!}

Here are Sydney's two ornaments.

{That's a big change too.}

I have to try and remember that Olivia will always be four months older than Sydney for each holiday, but here are their pictures of their 2nd Christmases.  You can definitely tell these girls are sisters!

Pheeewww.  Feels good to have that part caught up.  I'm about to blog about our week's worth of activities, so be prepared for a zillion pictures.

Christmas 2012, Round 2

We were so lucky to have Grandma and Poppa come to visit us last week!  We hadn't seen them since May, so it was so wonderful to catch up with them.  Of course, they showered the girls with gifts and we ate like kings while they were here, so basically it was an AMAZING week on all accounts!

She was so excited for her second Christmas!

Loved this little beach bag to put all of her swim gear in when she goes to lessons!

Grandma and Poppa carried on a huge pink box filled with princess dress-up clothes just for Olivia.  

She LOVES them!

Day 2 = More presents!

Grandma got Olivia the most sparkly, princess bike there was!  She was so excited and went out immediately to ride on it.  She is a pro and has ridden it every single day since she got it.

It took Sydney awhile to warm up to Grandma and Poppa, but by the time they were ready to leave she was giving kisses and even crawled up in Poppa's lap for a story.

We had so much fun hanging out together and were even able to enjoy some adult only time.  Irma made us her super yummy spaghetti bolognese and we went to see the funny Parental Guidance.  Thanks again, Peter and Irma, for coming to visit us and spoiling him rotten!

My Christmas Birthday Girl

I know that I am probably biased, but I have to say that babies born on the 25th of any month are pretty much AWESOME.  I mean, I was born on the 25th {of April}.  Sydney was born on the 25th {of August}. And, Jesus Christ himself was born on the 25th {of December}.  Okay, so I know that last one is probably not the truth, but you get what I'm saying...

So, on Christmas day, we had a huge celebration for Sydney's 16 month birthday.  She got to open up presents galore! And pig out on all sorts of yummy food! What a lucky girl.  

Oh my sweet Sydney...You've had two doctor's appointments this week -- our final one with the pediatric surgeon and your 15 month well check {yeah yeah, a little behind on that one}.  You are all cleared from the surgery -- your scar should be almost completely faded in the next 6 months and there are no signs of the mass growing back. {YAY!}  At your well check yesterday, you weighed in at 24 pounds and were 34.5 inches tall.  {Although, the day before they measured you at 32 inches...}  You wanted nothing to do with the doctor so he checked you over as quickly as possible.  He did a quick check of your mouth and informed me you have 8 more teeth on your way in.  EIGHT.  That's how many you have in your mouth now.  Poor thing, you had to get 4 shots and you screamed your little head off before they even gave you the first one.  Lucky for you I had a dum-dum stashed in my sleeve and gave it to you the second they were done.

I guess I felt so put on the spot at your appointment because when your doctor asked me what words you were saying, I could only come up with Mama, Dada and ball.  So, of course, ever since then you you've been saying uh-oh, WOW, shooz {shoes} Mahnum, and ticka ticka ticka {which is tickle tickle tickle}.  You are also signing more, all done, book and eat.  You LOVE books and your favorites are the Peek-A-Boo books and Pat the Bunny.  At the end of the Pat the Bunny book, Paul and Judy are waving goodbye and their arms are raised up in the air.  Every time we read the book, you raise your arm up high in the sky. I love it so much.

You want to do anything and everything that your big sister does.  It's so sweet to watch you two play side by side {even if it only lasts for a few minutes}.  The other day she was playing with a few toys in the family room and you had access to her box of princesses.  I sat and watched as you stood the princess figurines up side-by-side and did exactly what your sister does when she plays with them.  It's amazing how much you observe and put in that pretty little head of yours.  

I love you so much and I'm so lucky to be the recipient of your endless hugs, kisses and snuggles.  

Happy 16 Months!

{a week+ late}