Little Miss Muffet

Clearly, I am just like Little Miss Muffet... except for the fact that I was sitting on my chase lounge in my living room updating Twitter, when the spider crawled up the arm of my chair and I freaked out.  However, let me set the scene...
Sunday evening.  We were watching that night's episode of Ice Road Truckers on DVR.  Frank got up to take something to the kitchen when he saw The Spider on the wall about 3 feet to the left of me.  He ran to get something to kill it with, but was too slow and when he came back, it was gone.  Not really, though.  It was hiding behind the book shelf.  Mind you this is a 6 foot tall, 3 foot wide shelf with a back.  While we tried to figure out a way to get The Spider out, I decided to stand on the chair and push the shelf back towards the wall - in hopes that I could push it back enough to crush it.  That didn't work.  Since we didn't think of using hairspray as many of my Tweeps suggested, we did use Lysol.  Which, just for the record, doesn't kill a thing.  What it did do was drop the spider 5 feet to the floor.  Which is where the story usually ends.  But not at my house.  Frank proceeded to move stuff around on the floor - school bag, his guitar case, a small magazine rack.  As he was unable to find the spider, he retreated to the kitchen.  Moments later, I screamed like a school girl, hopped out of my chair faster than I have ever moved in my life.  Why did I scream?  Well, only because that spider was crawling up the arm of my chair, about 3 inches from my arm.  This is where I tweeted this.  Frank then started scouring the chair and found The spider in the corner of the chair crawling down into the seat of the chair.  So, this of course, prompted us to pull the chair out, and everything that is lurking behind it.  After moving EVERYTHING, looking with a flashlight.  No spider.  That night I dreampt (not well but that's a story for a different time) about spiders.  It was not awesome.  Now, a week later, I am sitting in the chair for the first time with only minor heebeejeebees.  Also, still no spider.  I am convinced that The Spider laid spider eggs in my house and we'll have a huge mess to deal with.

The First Birthday

This weekend, we celebrated a milestone.  My sweet baby girl is no longer a baby.  She has morphed into a toddler and turned one whole year old.  In the days leading up to the celebration of her birth, I remembered where we were and what we were doing last year. 
Last year on the morning of August 14, I looked like this:

(Yes, I think that was the last shirt I owned that covered my belly.)

I wrote about the last appointment and I also wrote about the labor.

All day on Saturday, Sydney's actual birthday, I was thinking about where we were.  My labor went so fast that by the time we were ready for her party, we had missed the actual time she was born.
We had just our immediate family over, even though I would have loved to have a big party for her, we only have about 900 sq ft in our condo so less is definitely enough.  We crammed 17 adults plus a rambunctious toddler into the lower level and watched her put on a show. 
First, we played outside for a little while before everyone came over to celebrate.

When our guests arrived, she posed for everyone.

Then, we had cake and ice cream.


Next, we opened presents.

And admired outfits.

On Sunday, we spend the day at my parent's house.  A friend from high school came to take pictures of Sydney.  Sydney was a sweetheart the whole time and Jenny takes some amazing pictures.  The one picture I did see from yesterday is awesome.  So awesome that I was speechless when I saw it.  (Yes, Dad, I had no words!)
We also had her 12 month check up today and she is doing great. 29 inches tall, 20 lb 4.5 oz heavy, and the Doc gave us two thumbs up.
My baby girl is growing up.  I'm a little sad and a lot excited.

Have You Missed Me, Blog?

Well, hello there, Blog.  It's me, your writer.  I know it's been a while since I've been here to visit and tell you my stories, but I promise I'll be coming back soon.  It's been a busy summer.  I have a story about a flood.  Well a couple stories about a flood.  It may take a few posts to get the whole story out.  I also have a story about a vacation.  And soon I'll have a story about a birthday.

See you soon!

Happy 10 Month Birthday, My Dear Sydney

I can't believe how fast the time goes. It seems like just yesterday you were in my belly.

And then you were out of my belly - my little peanut.

Over the weekend we spent time with the extended family to celebrate Jeff and Jamie's marriage.  Just about this time last year, we were celebrating Breakfast on the Farm and I was about 7 months pregnant with you.  I can't believe the difference a year makes. 
I am so proud to have you as my baby girl.  You are always so happy and you make me forget about all troubles.  I mean, really, who can resist someone so cute!

I can't believe you'll be walking soon and then you'll be talking using real words.  Don't grow up too fast Baby Girl!  I love you!

p.s. I also can't believe I'm still nursing you!

Friday's are Cool

I love Friday's.  They are my day off for the week and my time to hang with Sydney - just the two of us.  I am amazed each Friday when I get to spend the day with her how much she has changed since Sunday.  Today when she woke up, she was a bear.  Just not a happy girl and I'm not sure why.  We did our usual Friday routine - played a bit, then had breakfast.  She was sassy during her cereal and apples so we finished up fast and put her down for a nap.  She screamed a solid 10 minutes and then was silent, like flipping a switch, and slept far more than an hour.  Then we went to the library so I could pick up the book I had on hold - yes it's about running (Thanks Diane).  This is the first time Sydney has been to our local library and she had a blast.  She watched the other kids very intently and we read several books, including one about her favorite Wonder Pets.  Once we were done at the library, we watched a teenager driving a Yukon back right into the parked Camry behind her.  You can only image what that crunch sounded like and boy am I glad I was parked on the other side of the street.  I watched her for a bit to make sure she wouldn't just drive off, which she didn't, then we walked across the street to visit the park and see the flowers and fountain.  Sydney sure does love the water and begged for me to let her go in.  I did not - silly girl.  Our next place to visit was the mall - specifically Barnes and Noble and Lady Foot Locker.  Sydney got a new musical book and I got coffee - not the shoes I was hoping for.  Not one of the three athletic shoe stores carry the brand of running shoes I was looking for, so the hunt continues.  By the time we were done walking all over the mall, Sydney was hungry and tired.  She ate, then napped for a long time.  Instead of doing anything productive, I stared at Twitter, Facebook, email and my Google Reader.  When she finally woke up, she had a snack and we played and sang along to her new book.  Pretty soon it was time for Daddy to come home, then supper.  She tried noodles for the first time tonight.  She wasn't too sure about them, but we'll keep trying.  She was out like a light by 7:30 - gotta love it.  I decided that I was going to mop the kitchen with the new mop Frank bought last week.  Unfortunately mopping the kitchen took about two hours - our kitchen is very small - it should take 20 minutes, tops.  The mop he brought totally fell apart when I tried to use it.  We use the kind of mop with the sponge on the end that you have to squeeze the water from.  Well, when I tried to press the handle down to squeeze out the water, the sponge kept popping off.  After this happening several times, I threw the mop out the back door and walked to CVS for a new one.  A bag of Doritos, Women's Health, a new mop and $28 later, the floor is finally clean.  Dishes are done, floors are vacuumed/mopped and now I'm going to bed. 
Friday's are cool, even if I only get some of my to do list done.  Hanging with my baby is better than any to do list anyway.