I'm a little teapot

Sydney was so cute tonight after her bath. I finally after 2 years figured out how to get videos off of my video camera so I just had to record this. Our bedtime routine includes bath, brushing teeth, reading stories and singing songs. Here is my little cutie in her singing debut.

My Bike

Sydney got a new bike from some of my very generous friends. She was so excited when she opened it. I took her to the park for her first official ride on her birthday. She had a hard time cuz mom put boots on her (silly) then got distracted by the slide. Last night she started riding it in the living room and is getting the hang of pedaling. Now we need to work on steering! She also went to her very first movie on her birthday. Unfortunately the movie we wanted to see was canceled so I had to take her to a non-animated movie that she really didn't get into. I was just going to leave and try again but she was so excited to go into the movies that I just couldn't disappoint her. She did really well until she got full on popcorn, then she did not want to stay in her seat. Then she had to go to the bathroom so we just left after that. It was a fun day of firsts for my 3 year old, and especially for her mom to watch her reach those milestones.

It's Sydney's Birthday!!!!

Three years ago today I met the love of my life. I am so greatful that I was lucky enough to have her. I think all children are miracles but I just know that Sydney and I were meant to be. She is my little princess and my whole reason for being on this earth! Now enough with the mushy stuff. Because Sydney is a princess, we had a princess party with her on Sunday. It was at The Little Gym and was the funest kid party I have ever been to. Also the easiest! I showed up with a cake, the presents and the kid. There were 2 teachers and all the kids got a private class and had an absolute blast. I ran around taking pictures like a crazy person. Then we opened presents and had cupcakes and we were done. Sydney had so much fun with all her friends and got some amazing presents too! Thanks everyone!

Week of Sydney - Day 7

I really can't believe that my baby is 3. I miss her being so little and sweet. But this little person that is emerging from my baby is hilarious. She says the funnies things. She is very much into singing and dancing and reading books right now. And of course anything princess. I need to remember when I get frustrated and she is driving me crazy that she is not going to be little for long. She is my Little Wonder. Sadly I have to remind my self to slow down and enjoy her. It has already gone so fast and I really want to enjoy this precious time in our lives. The times where mommy is the most important person in the whole world. I know the time will come in the not so distant future that she won't want much to do with me, as she grows and her friends become the most important people in her world. That will be a sad sad day for me because she will always be my whole world. Here are some of my favorite pictures of us together. I just realized while looking for pictures of Sydney and I together that I am usually the one holding the camera and there arn't that many!

Week of Sydney - Day 6

We had our second trip to the ER before Sydney was 1. She was at the babysitter and hit her head while she was playing in a playhouse (so her x-babysitter says anyway). I went to pick her up after work and the whole left side of her head was bruised. I of course freaked out and drove her over to Bryan and Nerissa's in a panic. Bryan thought it looked like superficial bruising but I, the glass half empty person that I am immediately thought brain bleed, seizure, coma, death. I know I tend to over react when it comes to Sydney. Being an nurse is really not an advantage for me, I think it just makes me freak out even more when things happen. So off we went to the ER. Nerissa had to work the next day so she called Tucker who came and sat with me in the ER for HOURS. What a friend!!! Everything ended up being fine (so the doctor said after about 2 minutes total time in the room with us.) He was right, and I had calmed down a little by then. So the worst we got was a horrible bruise and then a week later bronchitis!(Thanks to all the germy little kids running around in the waiting room - they clearly needed to be there as they were actually running). These pictures don't really do it justice. She was bruised from her forehead to her earlobe to the back of her neck. Poor baby. Actually poor mommy because Sydney really didn't care.






I don't feel so good!

Week of Sydney - Day 5

More of my favorite pictures!!

Week of Sydney - Day 4

Sydney was a wonderful baby. I was very blessed. Here are some of my favorite newborn pictures. Jena took the bottom 2.

Week of Sydney - Day 3

On with our story. We were discharged from the hospital on Saturday afternoon. It was very weird leaving the hospital with her. I kept expecting someone to stop me and tell me that I had to give her back to her mother. That feeling lasted for a couple months at least! I took a nap on Sunday (my mom finally had Sydney to herself) and when I woke up I went downstairs leaned down kissed my baby and noticed 2 things. The first was a rotten smell coming from her and the second was that she was burning up. I took her temp and it was 101. One of the things they tell you on discharge is that a fever in a newborn is bad. So I of course panicked and called my ever faithful friend and nursery nurse extraordinaire Nerissa (the first of many calls I must say). Then I called the on call nurse for the pediatricians office. She said it was probably nothing and to watch her for an hour and recheck her temp. So while we were waiting my mom and I decided to investigate the smell coming from what we discovered was her umbilical cord. So I thought better clean it and when I tried the whole thing slid sideways and almost came completely off. Sydney was only 2 1/2 days old at this point. This is when my panic turned to nauseating fear. All I could think of was that her umbilical cord was infected and that was a direct line to her entire body. So off we went to Phoenix Children's Hospital. We got into a room pretty quickly, they don't mess around with newborns. Thankfully she didn't have a fever at this point but if you even mention the word they have to do a complete sepsis workup. That included labs, IV, straight cath, and even a spinal tap. I have never been so terrified in my entire life. I knew exactly what they were doing to her and what it meant. Babies can die from sepsis, that is what kept running through my head. We finally got into a room at around 6 am after being in the ER all night. That night to this day remains a haze of exhaustion and overwhelming fear. Thankfully the only thing abnormal with all the tests was severe jaundice and dehydration (breastfeeding not going so well). Sydney was given 2 different kinds of antibiotics, fluids and was under triple bili lights. We knew after 2 days that she wasn't septic (thank God!) but we still had the jaundice to deal with. Also the antibiotic gave her such bad diarrhea (it literally shot across the room) that we had to stay an extra day because they wanted to watch her for that. She was admitted on Sunday night and we were finally discharged on Thursday afternoon. I was so happy to be home with my healthy baby. What a wild ride this parenthood thing is.

Week of Sydney - Day 2

Sydney was born January 20, 2006 at 01:18am at 36 6/7 weeks. My mom, stepmother Diann and my good friends Jena, Annie and Nerissa were all there for Sydney's arrival. I was 4cm when I got admitted on the afternoon of 1/19, sort of in labor. I had 2 fabulous nurses Vanessa and Karyn. I got an epidural, my water broken, a little pitocin and after pushing for 2 contractions there she was. I can't even describe what it felt like seeing her face for the first time. She was so beautiful, and believe me I was wondering what she would look like since I only had a description of her donor (there were definitely jokes made during labor about that, for example did I get what I ordered ;). I wanted her for so long, dreamed, planned, obsessed and she was finally here. She was mine! It was so surreal to be on the other side because that is what I do everyday, help bring other peoples children into the world. It still feels like a dream sometimes. Going through pregnancy, labor, delivery and seeing her beautiful face for the first time is the single most amazing thing I have ever been through in my life (thanks everyone for putting up with me I know I wasn't very fun to be around when I was pregnant!). Being Sydney's mom is the most rewarding, challenging, and wonderful gift I have ever been given. Every day I look at her and think wow, how lucky am I.

The week of Sydney

I am going to continue the tradition that Nicole started and Kristi continued with a week of Sydney. I am going to start off with the amazing baby shower that my wonderful friends had for me. It was 3 years ago today! I was 36 weeks pregnant and had been on bedrest for 2 weeks for high blood pressure. Thankfully I got the ok from Dr. Mayer to attend. I was so glad to get out of the house for something that wasn't doctor related. I have to say that I have never felt so special in my life as I did that night. There were so many people there to celebrate Sydney's upcoming arrival. Sydney came to be in a very unconventional way and I have received nothing but love and support from all of the people in my life. I can never thank all of you enough for that. I love you guys!





Unfortunately I don't have any pictures with Annie, Jena, and Nerissa (they threw my shower) on my computer. I have a couple hard copies that I have already scrapbooked!