happy hump day!

Last Wednesday, Sydney and some of our good friends went to the "Hump Day Market" in downtown Provo. We ate delish steak sandwiches, shopped a little, listened to live music, the kids got their faces painted, they jumped around in some big blow up thingy, they got ballons made in the shape of dogs and frogs. It was fun.

wow! have i really not blogged since april...

I lost all of the photos I took from mid-April to mid-July. Sad. I know.

sick day

Sydney got sick for the first time just this past February. She ran her first fever ever (100.7) - poor thing. For nearly four days all she wanted to do was lay in my arms. It was so sweet but so sad at the same time. After a few days of medication, she started to feel like her busy self again. As a first time mom with a first time sick child, I now understand why mothers go to such great lengths to keep their children from getting sick. Nothing breaks your heart more than to see your little one in pain. Through it all, Sydney was such a trooper. She managed to give me a smile AND a finger point (her signature move) despite being less than 100%.

sesame street junkie

Okay, I hate to admit it, but my daughter is addicted to Sesame Street. Not that there's anything wrong with Sesame Street, it's just that I didn't want her to like TV. I know, what kid doesn't like TV? Well, she loves it, in fact, and her favorite show is Sesame Street. Every time we walk into my bedroom she immediately points at the TV screen and says "Mo" over and over and over again. Mo = Elmo.

I definitely have a love/hate relationship with the TV. I love that it occupies my daughter so I have an opportunity to get things done, but I always feel so guilty after I've let her watch it. If she watches more than 30 minutes a day, I feel like the biggest slacker. What's the happy medium? I know nobody reads my blog but my mom and sister; however, if someone happens to stumble upon this post and has some thoughts on the subject, please don't hesitate to share. :)

picasso

So, as I mentioned, I'm really trying to make sure Sydney gets in at least one fun activity a day. I'm actually starting to feel bad for the kid. Most of her day is consumed with running errands with me and trying to play with me while I'm trying to clean or cook or pay bills or whatever. Will life ever slow down?

Here she is playing with finger paints in our laundry room that has yet to be renovated. It's pretty much the only room in the house that she can't hurt. As you can see from the photo, she's creating some exceptionally beautiful artwork.

P.S. Thank you, church nursery, for the snotty nose.

just call her syd...

Actually, no, never call her "Syd." I hate Syd. Love Sydney. But, with the boy t-shirt compliments of Grandma (Mom, did you forget I had a girl?) and no bow, she could pass for a Syd, I suppose.

We've been struggling with things to do as of late. I just can't wait for the weather to turn so we can hit the pool, park, river trail, etc. In my desperate attempt to try to occupy (and teach) my very active 15 month old, I pulled out one of my mom's old tricks - shaving cream on the table. Sydney loved watching the shaving cream go from a thin blue line to a mountain of white fluffy stuff. It was like magic. I proceeded to try and write her name, letters of the alphabet, and numbers in the shaving cream in order to create a "learning experience." It didn't really work. Sydney just wanted to smear her hands, arms, and entire upper body in the shaving cream. So, that's what I let her do for about 10 minutes or so. Then she had a bath.

born to ride

This post is for you, Kylie. Now hopefully, you'll get off my back about blogging for the next few days at least.

We had a snippet of nice weather (for Utah this time of year) a few weeks ago, and Sydney and I took full advantage of it! Sydney loved playing with all of Kate and Jane's "big girl" toys. It was so funny watching Jane and Sydney cruise around in the Barbie Jeep.

oscar night

Sydney participated in this year's Oscar festivities by glamming it up before the show. She wore a makeshift halter gown by Luna Lullaby Blankets. She kept her jewelry simple - only wearing a few bangles from Forever 21 and, to mix it up, a brightly colored teething ring. She looked absolutely stunning - definitely a Joan Rivers best-dressed contender. (p.s. don't mind the mess in my bedroom and closet)

sydney doing a little shopping

disaster of COSMIC proportions

Sydney caught Cosmo's attention at a BYU basketball game. She was scared stiff. Literally, she went as stiff as a board. Cosmo kept his distance at first, but he eventually reached out and touched her hand. The pictures tell the rest of the story. And, yes, her outfit is on backwards. Thanks, Jared... :)

then & now

then

now

Happy New Year! We rang in 2010 at the Courtyard in St. George - our 4th year running! No, it's not Time's Square or Vegas or somewhere exotic, but it is full of family and tradition. Every year the Overton boys play in a New Year's Day tournament in Saint George. So, whether I like it or not, St. George will likely be our New Year's destination for many years to come. It's crazy to think that Sydney was only 3 weeks old last year. Where did 2009 go?

dinner party for four lovely ladies

I LOVE the holidays because I LOVE parties! I love decorations, themes, beautiful table scapes, delicious food, well-presented food, dimmed lighting, and so on. However, we're not quite settled into our house well enough just yet to really throw a good party. But, I did end up hosting a small dinner for my dear friends - "the first ladies of Xocai." :) I can't believe I didn't get a picture of Jenny, Mieka, Natalie, and myself before our dinner. I did, however, get a few shots of the table prior to the feast. I was actually quite pleased with the way it all turned out considering I threw it together the night before and, for the most part, with things I already owned. Regardless the setting, the most important elements to a successful party were there - good friends and good food. Bon Appetite!

everybody out of the way! sydney's walking!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBEUl84Aevc

Sydney's walking! Because we clap every time she walks, she now applauds herself. It's really cute. Jared thinks she looks like a zombie or a really drunk person as she stumbles and fumbles to put one foot in front of the other. She took a few steps to Aunt Kylie in November when we were home for Thanksgiving, but she didn't really get going until the night before her birthday. Jared was playing with her upstairs, and, out of nowhere, she decided to walk the entire length of our hallway.

happy 1st birthday, sydney!

Party at Grandma & Grandpa Sturgills' house

Yes, she had a bath immediately after the party.

I just can't believe it! I can't believe Sydney is already 1! Crazy! Where has the time gone? Where did the seasons go? It's as if someone hit the fastforward button on my life in 2009. These milestones are bitter/sweet. Of course sweet because it's so fun and rewarding to watch her grow and develop. But, also a little bitter because I'm coming to realize just how quickly these years will go. It's in these moments of realization I remind myself to live in the moment and savor every minute!

Thanks to Aunt Kylie and Grandma for throwing Sydney a fabulous pre-birthday bash in Kentucky! As you can see from the pictures, she had so much fun digging into her little cake. All of the gifts were perfect. Sydney is so lucky to have so many people in her life who love her so much!

On her actual birthday, December 7th, I threw Sydney an intimate shindig at the house. I went back and forth trying to decide if I should go all out or keep it simple. I ended up keeping it pretty low key because we had only gotten back from our trip the day before.
Thanks to Grandma & Grandpa Overton, Brad & Aubrey, and Katie & Elliott for sharing in Sydney's special day.

jet setter

A few pics of Sydney on planes. She's been an excellent little traveler - with the exception of our most recent flight to Kentucky. :) In fact, she's been so good that on one of our flights a flight attendant asked to hold her (see photo).

home for the holidays

We went to Kentucky this year for Thanksgiving. There's nothing better than being home for the holidays. And, thankfully, my parent's house still feels like home. Sydney had lots of fun being spoiled by Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Kylie! We spent a few days in Gatlinburg, Tennessee before Thanksgiving. It felt just like old times!

Side story: In keeping with the Sturgill Family tradition, we took in the Christmas show at Dixie Stampede - which didn't disappoint. Sydney was mezmorized! Anyway, back to my story. After the opening horse show, the host came out to discuss the "rules." We were on the North side (and we won by the way). The host explained that we needed to hoot and holler and make noise for our team during the competitions. Then he asked the audience, "so, what er ya gunna do when you've got a roll in yur right hand, an ear of corn in yur left, and a chicken thigh stuck in yur gizzard?" The crowd was silent. Before the host could scream "STAMPEDE," my dad, who's seen the show at least a dozen times, beat him to it. He screamed, "STAMPEDE" as loud as he could and began stomping his feet. The host turned and looked my dad's way and said, "it sounds like some of you have been here before."

lioness

Sydney was our little lioness for Halloween this year - her first Halloween. I'm sad I didn't get a picture after I painted her nose. Oh well. Jared bought this costume when she was only a few days old because he though her little cry sounded like a lion roar - a very pathetic one! So, he dressed her up and took some video of her crying while wearing the costume. It's pretty cute. I'm sure she'll enjoy watching the video one day. It's crazy to see her almost too big for this costume. I never thought this day would come!

happy halloween!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGifw9HU3c8&feature=channel

hmmm...which one do i want?

where's waldo...i mean sydney

after
before