Sydney Kate || 10 Months

Oh yeah sister, we're in the double digits!! You have started doing so many new things this month. I swear, every month is my new favorite with you! We started this month with that crazy double ear infection. Your left ear healed with the first round of antibiotic but that right one needed another round. I'm not sure how I am ever suppose to know if you have another one, because you never showed any signs! You are still going strong at swim lessons...even going under the water now! We made a trip to Oklahoma this month for a funeral and to spend my first Mother's Day with my mom. 

Sydney Kate || 10 Months

This Month...

*You've gotten so FAST crawling. You are all over the place and have the cutest little crawl. (crab crawl) 

*You talk all the time! You clearly say "dada" in most every conversation. I've heard "nana" and "baba" a few times and just in the last few days you've said "MAMA"

*You are able to stand up and hold it for about a second or two...but mostly just cruising around all the furniture 

*You've figured out how to walk if someone is holding your fingers...and you can go pretty fast!

* You can "zoom" with Ms. Betsy at swim lessons, which means go under water and I grab you when you come up. You love it...

*You still love to communicate through your facial expressions (squinting eyes and nose closed, and blowing out your nose or sticking out your tongue and spitting, lol) I love it so much! My most favorite is when you're drinking your bottle and we do it back and forth

You are probably about 18 1/2 lbs by now and are pretty much wearing all you 6-12 months clothes. A few of our favorites from Gap still fit in 3-6 month but I've just decided their sizing must be "special" You are wearing size 3 diapers and are 100% on formula now! I quit breastfeeding about a week after you turned 9 months old. The transition was flawless. You are eating organic baby food IF its out of the pouch. We started giving you little bits of real food and there's been no looking back on the baby food since. So far you're loving black beans, spaghetti, muffins, chicken, oranges, green beans and mac n cheese. This month you blessed us with full nights of sleeping, thank you baby girl- we big time appreciated that! She naps only about once a day for about 2 hours. Still no teeth, but I can feel them in there, so any day! 

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 10 months)

You wake up about 6:30am and we get ready for school. You've been eating 6 oz each morning since you've been sleeping through the night. At daycare, you've given up on that morning nap...probably because you LOVE playing with the girls there and don't want to miss a thing! Ms. Patsy is feeding you baby food for breakfast and lunch (and throwing a little people food in there too) You sleep from 12-2 on most days, sometimes a little longer. I try to pick you up between 4:00-4:30 each day and we head home. We play, you crawl around the house hitting every door stopper spring and we just have fun hanging out. You usually want a 4 oz bottle around 5:00-5:30 and will usually eat a little something when we are eating (If it wasn't much, we'll give you baby food too) You are still loving your nightly bath and going down easily around 7:30 each night. 

I've started planning your first birthday and I cannot barely believe it! My beautiful baby girl, I love you so much!!! 

Sydney Kate || 9 Months

 

Ekk! 9 Months Old! 3/4 of a YEAR. 275 days!! I feel like I just wrote your 8 month post last week. Ha! This has been a full month...you have learned so many new things and we {as always} have had so much fun with you. I have no idea what we really did before you, but life is SO much more fun with YOU, Sydney Kate! 

This month was Spring Break. We went to Oklahoma to hang out with the family and got to go to Stillwater and visit Mommy and Daddy's Alma Mater. {You even got to sit on daddy's old football field} We went to the zoo, Harper's 6th birthday party, the park and ton more things! 

Sydney Kate  ||  9 Months

This Month...

*was your first Easter. It was pretty low key, but you looked adorable as always 

*we found a patch of Bluebonnets and took your picture like all these Texans do. I have no idea why, but they all do it so we didn't want to leave you out

*you started swim lessons. You love bath time so much that I just knew you'd love the pool and I was 100% RIGHT! 

*you started crawling. Your little crawl is so cute. I think its officially called a crab crawl. You just decided one day to do it and have never looked back since. 

*you also started pulling up on everything and walking {while holding on, of course} back and forth along the coffee table and couch. 

*your little personality has really started to come out this month and I love it! You just want to figure everything out and once you do, you're good at it and do it all the time! You are so sweet but have some sass on you too. :)

You are 17lbs 10 oz (40th percentile) and 27 1/2 inches long. (42nd percentile) You are starting to get into all your 6-12 month clothes (and still in 3-6 from Gap) You are in size 3 diapers which I guess you'll be in for a while now...the box says up to 28 lbs. whoa. You are still getting one bottle of breastmilk a day and formula the rest of the day. I've been struggling with when to stop nursing/pumping. Every time I think I am ready, you'll be upset and the only thing to calm you down is me. Ugh. The struggle. 9 months is pretty good though so when it's over, I'll be satisfied. :) You are pretty much just taking one nap a day. Some days you'll have 2, but over all its really more like one. Oh, and still no teeth. Apparently I was 14 months old when I got my first 4 teeth so it may be a while sister. :/

A Day in the Life of Sydney  (at 9 months)

You are waking up around 6:30am and eat. We get ready for our day and try to leave for school by 7:!5. At daycare, you LOVE to play with the other girls there...and you LOVE Miss Patsy. I don't know what it is, but every morning when we turn onto her street she starts kicking and gets so excited. She can't get out of my arms fast enough each morning. That makes this mama so comforted to know how much she loves where she spends her time away from us. :) She is eating cereal and fruit in the morning and fruit/veggies at lunch. Plus about 3 bottles throughout the day. Your big nap is in the afternoon. You fall asleep around noon and will sleep until about 3:00pm. I try to have you picked up by 4:30pm each day. We go home and play {aka chase you around the house} You have a bottle around 5:00, eat fruits/veggies for dinner around 6:30, play some more and then jump into the bath tub around 7:15pm. You're are still a dream with your bedtime routine. Most nights you are waking up once in the night. Some nights you just want to be held, others you are hungry...and some nights you just want to cuddle with mommy or daddy. 

My water baby. Now to find a pool to spend our summer vacation! 

This is your newest thing. You love to scrunch your nose up and breathe out of your nose. It's my favorite and so, so cute! You are also really into mimicking what we do...ugh, I just love everything about this stage. It's seriously so fun and I'm just trying to soak in every moment. I love you baby girl!!! 

Tyson

How is it that this little 4 legged fur baby could steal my heart completely? 15 years ago, I was terrified of dogs...big, little...all of them! I think I shocked everyone with my news of getting Tyson. I knew absolutely nothing about being a pet owner, so I did a lot of things wrong...but who cares if you never learned to sit, come or get in a crate. You were perfect! Oh Tyson, you were the best dog. You were so relaxed and adjusted to every situation. You loved sleeping and didn't bark unless you needed to get my attention. Your favorite thing was to get your ears rubbed...and your tummy. I will never forget how you'd prance around the house when you were so proud of yourself. You used to spin a circle to get your treat. That made me smile every time. You just wanted to live with your mama and get all her attention forever. My first baby, I will love you forever.

He went though my college years with me, was there as I grew up, made horrible mistakes, and great accomplishments. He wouldn't leave my side if I was sick. He was there the day I met my husband, when I graduated college, got my first real job, got married and brought my precious baby girl home. I think the reason its so hard to say goodbye is because he's done life with me. Every milestone, even in the years he lived with my mom and dad, he was always my baby. He was my friend I talked to and cried with...he always knew when I needed to cuddle. 

He wasn't so sure about Sydney. He was very interested in the little thing we brought home. He would come and smell her and sit by her sleeping. She was just beginning to notice him. She would scream and jump the second she saw him walk by. He had her just about to crawl. I know she loved him too. I knew he couldn't live forever, but I wanted so bad for her to remember him. 

They told me for months and months, its time...and you're just getting old. I never listened. You were old, yes...but nothing was wrong. You peed in my house but it wasn't always because you couldn't hold it. You're just stubborn and wanted my undivided attention. I promised to love you and be the best mama to you until the end. It did get harder...special food for your toothless mouth, special medicine, dog wraps...but you were so loved every step of the way. It wasn't until that night I heard you screaming from pain that I ever considered letting you go. Up until then I'd never witnessed you in a pain and that broke my heart. You had a good day that next day, but then it happened again. I knew in my heart that this was it. I carried you inside and wrapped you up. We sat and talked. I told you that you did a good job loving me and it was ok to go. I fed you lots of treats and sang all of our songs. You just gazed into my eyes the whole time. I told you at least 100 times how much I loved you. When my family arrived we went to the doctor and said our goodbyes. Its so strange that in that moment, I had courage and was able to make the hardest decision, but the best one for you. I don't think at any other time I would've been able to do it. I will never forget your last yawn that made me smile so big. Oh, I just love you so much my sweet baby boy. You are forever engraved in my heart and will never be forgotten. 

Tyson

December 7, 2000- March 16, 2016

Sydney Kate || 8 Months

Here we are, another month older! Eight months old. They weren't lying when they said it flies by. We just fall more and more in love with you every day, Sydney Kate! As we get to each new month, I think that month is just my favorite. 

This month marks your first REAL sickness. I had to leave school, pick you up and get you to the doctor. Good news is, it was only a virus and was over in a few hours...but my goodness, seeing you so sick was a little terrifying for this new mama! We mainly just had a lot of fun hanging out as a family and loving on our little girl! 

Sydney Kate  ||  8 Months

This month...

*You went to your first birthday party. Our friend John turned 2 years old. You had quite a bit of fun. You played in John's "office" on the patio for most of the party and ate applesauce from a pouch. :)

*We had our family pictures taken. I love documenting every part of life and what a fun memory this will be to look back on us when you were 8 months old! 

*We had the Primary Presidential Election this month. We took you with us to the polls to vote! You were quite the hit in line and made a few friends. :) They gave you a sticker but all you really wanted to do was chew on my ballet, so when I took it away from you...well, let's just say that didn't make you happy

*You got to try out swinging and absolutely LOVED it! We were driving home one night and realized that they built a park right behind out house. We put you in the swing and you had so much fun. We've gone a few times since and you get so excited when we walk towards the park. I look forward to taking you all the time! 

*You are really starting to try out lots of new things. I usually will sit you in your bed while I get a bottle ready for bedtime and you sit and play with your lamb and bunny. Except, one night you figured out how to pull yourself up. You kind of gave me a heart attack, but at least nothing crazy happened and now I know not to do that anymore. :) 

You are probably about 17 pounds. (guessing) I thought you were about 16 1/2 last month, but come to find out at the doctors appointment you were just 16...so hopefully I'm close on my guess this month. You are still wearing 3-6 month in most of your clothes...and most of your clothes are from Gap which I've now figured out run really big on you. Old Navy's 6-12 month is a little big, but you can fit into it. You've got some 9 month clothes that are fitting you really well too. So in a nutshell, it just depends what brand you're wearing. :) You were wearing size 2 diapers for most of the month, but we ran out and moved you into size 3. They are still a little big on you, but we're making it work! You are getting about 1 bottle a day of breastmilk and the rest of the day is formula. I've been trying to make it last as long as possible for you, so we figured a little a day is better than nothing. You are still taking one nap a day, some days you will take 2, just depends on your mood. :) You are still going to sleep around 7:30pm and waking once in the night, then again around 6:00am.

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 8 months)

You wake up somewhere around 6:00am. The first thing you want to do is eat. Then you will usually play in our bed until I get ready for school. We get to daycare around 7:45 AM. At daycare, you eat your food around 8:30-9:00 then on a good day will take a morning nap, but you've been fighting that lately.  You'll eat more food at lunchtime maybe drink a bottle and have your afternoon nap. I pick you up between 4:00- 4:30 and we head home to play! You'll drink your milk again around 5:00- around 6:30 you'll have your dinner which is usually fruits or veggies. We start your bedtime routine between 7:00 to 7:30 and you're usually sound asleep by 8:00. Once you're down, you may wake up between 10- 12 but if you don't you'll sleep through the night!

Happy 8 Months, baby girl! We love you so much!!

Sydney Kate || 7 Months

M

Hey there, cutie pie! I know I say this every month, but I can't believe you are seven months old!! This has been such a fun month watching you learn and grow. I think watching you figure things out is my current favorite thing. 

This month has been pretty low key. We've been able to get back into a routine (Praise the Lord!) and enjoy every second with you. Gigi, Aunt Lindsey, Harper and Hudson came to visit us and we had so much fun. Other than that...it was pretty much school, playing at home and shopping (I think) every single weekend. I think the relaxation is just what we all needed! 

Sydney Kate || 7 Months

This month...
* You began eating solids. Your first food was avocados and you loved it. We started with eating 2 times a day and you are currently eating 3 times a day. So far you've tried peas, carrots, butternut squash, green beans, bananas and your favorites sweet potatoes and pears.

* You say "dada" all. day. long. It's the cutest thing ever. You are starting to associate with your dad and you already know that makes his heart melt every single time. I kind of think you may be calling me dada as well...but we'll learn mama soon!

* We moved your bathtub from the counter to the big bath tub. You can splash and play all you want and it doesn't look like a hurricane just hit. You still love your rubber ducks big time!

* You can go from sitting to standing while holding onto my hands. You'll even take a few steps when we're holding you...and lean against the couch or coffee table. (Still not showing ANY signs of trying to crawl)

* You really got back on a sleeping schedule and I couldn't be any more excited about that! Some nights you will wake up sometime between 10-12 but you'll go right back to sleep...no complaints over here!

* You had your first sick day.  We had to stay home from daycare with a little stomach bug


You are around 16 1/2 pounds I'm guessing. You are still wearing your size 3-6 month clothes and will probably continue to do so for a while. The next size up at Gap is HUGE on you! You are wearing size 2 diapers. We are in our last box of them so we will move you up to size 3 when they are done. You are getting 1-2 bottles a day of breastmilk and the rest of the day/night is formula. We are winding down on the breastfeeding. The goal is to make it another month or two..I still enjoy our times in the night and on weekends :) You've really redeemed yourself in the sleeping department. You are taking 1-2 naps a day, going to sleep around 7:30, maybe waking up once in the night and if not you're sleeping until about 5:30-6:00am.

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 7 months)

You wake up between 5:30-6:00am. The first thing you want to do is eat. Then you will usually play in our bed until I get ready for school. We get to daycare around 7:45 AM. At daycare, you eat your veggies around 8:30 then on a good day will take a morning nap. You'll eat more veggies at lunchtime maybe drink a bottle and have your afternoon nap. I pick you up between 4:00- 4:30 and we head home for some quality time with our baby girl. You'll drink your milk again around 5:00- around 6:30 you'll have your dinner which is usually vegetables with a little oatmeal mixed in. We start your bedtime routine between 7:00 to 7:30 and you're usually sound asleep by 8:00. Once you're down, you may wake up between 10- 12 but if you don't you'll sleep through the night!

I love you, my beautiful baby girl!!! 

Sydney Kate || 6 Months

Hello from the outside...

SIX Months! What?!? Half a year gone by. 184 days and I can't seem to remember what exactly I did before you. You have made my world more than complete, Sydney Kate. Man, I still can't believe you are mine. I love you more than you'll ever know!!!  OK, ok...on to this months happenings. 

The biggest adventure this month was that you and I took a TWO WEEK trip to Oklahoma! Daddy had to work, but came to visit us on the weekends. Two weeks of being off schedule, naps in your car seat, non stop shopping and so much fun with our family. Let me not forget your favorite...you got to sleep with me at Gigi and Papa's house. My biggest mistake, but you loved it. I soon learned I created a monster and I would regret this decision big time. Whoops. Lesson learned. We celebrated all the Christmas festivities with our families and enjoyed every second! You were a big fan of the paper on your presents and got some really cool clothes and toys! Santa must've known you'd be graduating into a bigger car seat soon and brought you the next seat up from the one you love now. We were in Oklahoma for your first snow! It wasn't much, but we bundled you up and you were very amused by the little snowflakes! Gosh, what else? Your first New Years Eve party, OSU bowl game party, and tons of fun in between! 

Sydney Kate  ||  6 Months

This month...

*You perfected sitting up. It came out of nowhere (no longer the front lean) and you owned it immediately. You have such great balance and posture! 

*You love your voice and want the world to hear it. You have such expression when you "talk" and love to mimic our sounds. 

*You said your first words. Dada and Nana. Daddy was on cloud nine that you said his name first and with such sadness. He of course will drop anything and come to your rescue the second he hears his name. Nana, your Aunt Natalie believes, is you saying Natalie. She loved hearing her name as well. 

*You started eating cereal. We started you out on Oatmeal and you love it.

*You also started siting in your high chair. 

*Your sleeping pattern (at night) is not my friend. I've never missed sleep so much! If I tried really hard to find some sort of pattern (and this is hard) I'd say you're waking about twice a night.  -we'll talk more not this later. :)

You are 15lbs 13oz (44th percentile) and 25 3/4 inches long (41st percentile) According to your doctor, you are still perfect. You are still comfortably wearing size 3-6 month clothes- which is great because you've got an abundance of 6-12 months clothes but it would eat you up if you had to wear it anytime soon! We are still in size 2 diapers. You are still getting breastmilk during the day and formula at night. We started oatmeal at night, but it really hasn't taken the place of a feeding...mainly just for fun at this point. You love to sleep in your car seat and I don't blame you...it's the most comfortable thing ever! (big reason Santa brought you the next size up!) You've become quite the little shopping buddy. We usually spend our weekends shopping somewhere and you are always a trooper! Sleeping. Maybe its a 3-6 month regression, maybe its the total inconsistency of your little life with all the traveling we've done. Something has taken my 11-12 hour sleeper and made you not want to sleep. Remember earlier when I said I let you sleep with me? Yeah, I'm STILL paying for that. I really have started praying we can get you back to normal, even if its waking once in the night. I can live with that. 4-5 times, I just can't. :/

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 6 months)

You are waking up anywhere between 4:00-7:00am! (depending on how our night went) You eat, get dressed and play a little bit before we go. We usually try to leave the house between 7:00-7:15 each morning to get to school. At daycare, you love to play with the other kids there. Since we've returned from the holidays, you have decided you like your morning nap again. You sleep about an hour in the morning and 2 1/2-3 hours in the afternoon. I pick you up between 4:00-4:30 and we head home to cuddle and play! You eat about 4 oz soon after we are home. We eat cereal around 6:00 each night...then you play a little while longer. We start your bedtime routine (eat, bath, book, sing, sleep) around 7:00pm. I'm currently experimenting with maybe keeping you up a little later to see if that will help. I'll update that next month. You are taking a little longer to go down in your crib these days. Hence, you'd rather be held than sleep in a crib. Once you go down, you're waking up around 10:30pm and 4:00am (sometime 1:00am also) That 4:00am wake up is the worst...its the last hour and a half before my alarm goes off. If I can get you back to sleep quick you'll sleep until 5:30 or 6:00...if it takes a while, you'll sleep until I wake you around 6:45. 

I'm trying so hard to slow down and enjoy every single moment because this is all going by entirely too fast! Oh, my beautiful girl! I love you so!!! 

Sydney Kate || 5 Months

Sydney Kate, you are FIVE months old!! This month flew by...Thanksgiving, traveling, and getting ready for Christmas...whew! You are such a blessing to daddy and I. We love you so much, sweet girl!

We had so much fun this month! We went to Tulsa for 10 days! We went to your first Affair of the Heart craft show and you were a perfect angel for all 6 hours of shopping! We had Thanksgiving #1 at Eufaula Lake then drove to Shawnee to have Thanksgiving #2 with the other side of the family. You were so cute in your little Thanksgiving outfit. :) Another awesome thing that happened this month was that you met your cousin Ella Kate. She brought you a Sofia the First bracelet for the Kate Club. And I can't forget Tyson, he turned 15 years old on the same day you turned 21 weeks old. 

Sydney Kate  II  5 Months

This month...

* You love talking with us and it really feels like we're having a conversation. You are so expressive in your talking. 

* You have just about mastered sitting up. As long as my feet are around your thighs, you stay up just fine...and I think you really enjoy sitting up as well

* You still love books...you decided you loved putting them in your mouth more so than reading this month.

* Still no teeth, but they've got to be coming soon! You're still drooling like crazy and chewing on everything!!

* You transitioned from your Pack N Play to your crib. It took about a week, but you got used to it pretty quick.

*  You have become very inconsistent with your sleeping. You spoiled us with sleeping through the night the first 2 months... most nights you get up once in the night, other nights its 2-3 times.

* You love your bouncer! It's so fun to watch you bounce around in that thing and play with the toys.

* You met Santa twice. You loved him both times...especially his beard! 

{3:00am party face}

You are about 14 1/2 pounds by now. You started wearing your 3-6 month clothes this month. They were still pretty big on you at the beginning of the month, but by the end fit you just right! We also moved to size 2 diapers! What a big month of growing and changing sizes!! You continue to drink breast milk during the day and formula at night. Except for weekends or vacations, then we are more breastmilk than formula. I don't know what to say about your sleeping. You have turned into a day by day girl when it comes to that. I tried the sleep training, but your daddy just can't stand hearing you cry and comes to your recuse immediately. We'll figure out this sleeping through the night thing eventually. You prefer to look out if you are being held. (or standing and bouncing) You are so observant and constantly want to check everything out! 

A Day in the Life of Sydney (at 5 months)

You wake up around 6:00am each day and come and hang out in mommy and daddy's bed while I get ready. Then we eat and go to your closet and pick out your outfit for the day. We are usually at Ms. Patsy's by 7:30 each morning. You started the month with a morning and afternoon nap, but by the end, you decided you didn't really need that morning nap anymore. You usually eat 12 oz at daycare. I try to pick you up between 4:00-4:30 each day. We play and cuddle when we get home, then go eat. You usually eat about 4 oz around 5-5:30. We moved your bedtime up in hopes you'd sleep a little longer...You now are eating 6oz around 7:00pm, then taking a bath and getting ready for bed. The little change in our night time routine went flawlessly. I now hold and sing to you until you fall asleep (usually less than 5 minutes) then put you in your crib. On average, you're waking up around midnight to eat but then you'll go back to sleep. 

We are so thankful for you! No one could've ever warned me how much I would fall in love with you. Seriously, I want to kiss on your face all day long!!! Lucky for you, it looks like you'll have 5 million pictures to remember how cute you are! I don't care...I just can't keep the camera away from you! You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen!!!