Sydney is FOUR!

 My sweet baby girl is FOUR.  I don't know why time goes by so quickly.  Sometimes the days drag but then you look up and years have passed.  It seems like just yesterday I was pregnant with Sydney.  We didn't know if she was a boy or girl and I just knew she was a boy.  The minute she was born and Tye said, "It's a girl, Hayley.  It's a girl."  We both just cried. 

 She has always been a Momma's girl and to this day still prefers me over anyone else.  I don't mind and secretly have always loved it.  She's my girl.  She's my baby girl.

 She is sweet and sassy.  She has opinions and she isn't afraid to express them.  She is number four in our family but her voice is definitely going to be heard.  She is the sweetest thing and when she hugs she hugs with her WHOLE body.  I love it so much and the day that she's too big to wrap her legs and arms around me...I will cry.

 She is incredibly smart.  She learns quickly and loves to do "school" with us.  Ayden has been teaching her the letters of the alphabet and letter sounds for the past year.  She knows them all!  She can write her name and she LOVES to color and do dot to dots.  She is truly a sponge and soaks up all the information around her all the time.  I hope she never loses her curiosity and drive to conquer!

 She loves clothes, shoes, jewelry and shopping.  She always has an opinion on what she should wear and what shoes go with her outfits.  Her favorite outfit is her "summer dress" and her blue sandals.  Every time this dress is clean she wears it again. 

 Her favorite thing to play is "dollies" or Polly Pockets and her favorite color is pink.

 Her favorite show is Peppa Pig and she can't sleep without her Ellie.  

She loves to be rocked before bed and she really loves for me to read her books.

 The night before her birthday I ask her if I could rock her one more time while she was still three.  She said, "Don't worry Mom, you can rock me when I'm four too." 

 On her birthday, I had a lump in my throat the whole day.  Four is such a big step.  She really isn't a baby anymore and it just reminded me of how fast she is growing up.

Sydney Marr, you are my sunshine.  I love you more today than the moment I first saw you.  I didn't think that was possible but it happened.  Every single day I learn more about you.  I get to be your mom, your teacher and your friend.  You are truly one of my biggest blessings and I'm so very thankful that God made you!  I always tell you that you'll always be my baby girl, even when you're an old lady.  You always pretend to be an old lady and make us all laugh.  It is true though, you will always by my baby girl.  Daddy and I will never stop loving you!  Can't wait to do FOUR with you!

Sydney Marr is THREE

Sydney is 3 years old today.  My last little baby, my sweet little girl is 3.  I don't know why it's been hard for me today.  I didn't struggle when she turned 1 or even 2 but for some reason I've had a lump in my throat all day.

It started last night when we were putting her to bed.  I was talking to her about it being her birthday today.  I ask her if she knew how old she was going to be and she held up her little baby fingers, half painted with pink polish chipping off, the number 3.  I acted like I was going to cry because she's growing up and she said "Momma, are you sad."  Knowing that she didn't quite understand I said no I wasn't sad I just wanted her to stay my baby.  She said "Momma, I'm going to be 3 but I can still be your baby."

What she doesn't know is that her Daddy and I love her more than she could ever understand.

What she doesn't know is that I prayed for her before she was born.  I didn't know I'd get a girl and I didn't know it would be a girl as wonderful and fun as her but I prayed for a baby that would make our family complete.  I prayed for a baby that would bring something to our family that we didn't have.  What she doesn't know is that God blessed us more than we deserve by giving us her.

What she doesn't know is that Tye and I look at each other all the time with our hearts melting because she said something or did something so precious I feel like my heart could explode.

What she doesn't know is that as she is falling asleep I like to watch her rub her Ellie's arm with her fingertips and make a sweet little sucking motion with her mouth.

What she doesn't know is that I buy bananas, strawberries, peanut butter and Pop-Tarts at the store just for her.

What she doesn't know is that her siblings love her just as much and give up things...things that they want or things that they have just for her.  Just so she will be happy, just so she won't cry.

What she doesn't know is that she makes my whole world better.  Even when she's sassy, even when she doesn't like the clothes I picked out, or the shoes or the way I put her hair in two ponytails instead of one, or the fact that nobody else wants to watch Peppa Pig, Trolls or Blaze for the 50 times we love her.  

What she doesn't know YET is how God made her perfect.  He gave her Jesus and that will make her perfect.  What we will always tell her is that we love her, God loves her and she will never have to go a day thinking otherwise.  My little girl, my last child is growing up but she will always be my baby, the baby of our family.

Last night before I left her room I kissed her sweet smelling, chubby cheeks.  I took off her smudged little glasses and I stared at her sweet baby face.  I kept thinking of this quote over and over.

"Let me love you a little more before you're not little anymore"

Sydney Marr Mason, we are so thankful you are our daughter and we can't wait to watch you be THREE!

She's TWO!

My sweet little angel is TWO years old today.  The last two years have gone by way to fast and I know that's how this next year will be too.  I'm cherishing every single moment with my last little baby...even the days that she isn't so precious!  She completes our family and is just perfect.  She is a girl who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to tell ya!  She loves to sing and draw or "cula" and will sit at the table for an hour with markers and a piece of paper.  She loves to brush her teeth and sits very still for me to curl and fix her hair.  She has such a little temper and will throw stuff down and then look at us with a sweet face and say "uh oh."  She doesn't like to get in trouble and all we have to do is say Sydney Marr in a stern voice and she'll fall to pieces. 

 The many faces of Sydney!

 She loves her siblings and loves bath time with Ayden.  She is protected by all and if she starts to cry at least one person comes running to her rescue.  She really likes our cat Lucy and calls her Luc Luc.  She also likes to feed the chickens and isn't scared of them one bit!  In the mornings when she wakes up she'll say "Momma, Daddy I up."  She likes waffles, muffins, pancakes, Pop-Tarts or yogurt every morning and will tell us the minute she wakes up what she wants for "bekfist."  Her favorite shows are Peppa Pig and Curious George.  Recently she has started sleeping with 500 things and must have her Ellie, baby, seahorse, unicorn, bunny, glow worm, Tiny (another baby) and princess cell phone to sleep with.

 She doesn't like sand on her feet or boogers in her nose.  She will tell you real quick if she needs a Kleenex.   She is very independent and wants to climb in and out of the car, her chair at the table and her bed "all by myself."

 She loves brownies for dessert and is a good eater!  She eats salad, broccoli, cabbage and a whole lot of other weird things normal two year old won't eat.  She also must salt and pepper her meal every time we sit down for supper.  Peppery yogurt is just fine with her!

 She is a mess and a sassy fireball most of the time and we love every single ounce of her!  She is so fun and makes us laugh all the time.  She is such a combination of everyone put together but puts her own Sydi spin on it.

 We all just love her.  We are all so thankful for her and glad God choose us to be her family. 

We love you our sweet Sydi girl!  We can't wait to watch you grow up!

She's 18 months old!

My sweet Sydi girl is 18 months old!  Where has the last year and a half gone?!  She is our baby.  She is everyone's baby and that's exactly why she's so sassy!  Everyone and I mean everyone in our family answers to her every whim.  If she wants a toy they give it to her even if they were playing with it first.  If she wants a snack they race to see who can get her one first.  If she falls down and is crying they race to tell me and then complain if I'm not running (literally running) to her to make sure she is okay.  

 Ayden can't wait for them to share a room.  We are going to move Sydney when Ayden is done with school for the summer and Ayden can't wait.  She loves her sister and would do anything for her.  She throws Sydney on her hip and can get anything accomplished.  She is such a little Momma in the making and Sydney knows it.  If I'm not around she'll lift her arms to Ayden and in that moment Ayden would move a mountain for her if she could.

 Ryan and Sydney have the most special relationship.  I love that all my kids love each other and are truly friends but Ayden and Myles have a connection (Myles is her baby) they are very similar in personality and both very laid back and obedient for the most part.  Ryan and Sydney act a lot alike.  Both little fireballs with places to go and people to see.  They both have a clear direction of where they are going and you won't change their mind.  Sydney loves Ryan and calls for "Bubba" any time he walks out of the room.  Ryan loves her and will literally give her anything his drink, his cow, his food, his toy anything she wants.  He's gentle and sweet and loving to her and when they are walking and she reaches up to hold his hand my whole world melts!

 Myles and Sydney are closest in age and spend the most time together because two days a week the other two are gone for awhile.  They are typical brother and sister.  They play together one minute and then the next Sydney is trying to push Myles out of my lap.  These two make me laugh all the time and it'll be interesting to see how their relationship grows next year when Ryan goes to kindergarten.

Many people have ask me what Sydney is like or who she is most like and the truth is I see a little bit of everyone in her.  She isn't exactly like anyone though and such a unique version of herself.  She is a fun, sweet, affectionate, spunky, sassy fireball of a beautiful little girl.  She makes our family perfect and we are so thankful for every ounce of her.  God gave us such a blessing and we feel blessed to help guide her to be the best version of herself.

She is the baby in our family and I know she will always be special in that way to all of us.

Sydney Marr (I have to say that a lot by the way), we love you sweet baby.  You will always have a special place, your place, in our family.

Sugar and Spice...

...and everything NICE!  My girls have been up to a lot lately.  I love how fun life has become.  It's always wonderful with these sweetie pies but watching them grow and change brings me so much joy. 

Ayden is (I know I shouldn't say it) but a perfect child.  She is so good.  Her heart is sweet and honest and caring and just wonderful.  She is the type of child that wants to obey, she wants to please us and make us happy and proud of her.  Being her Mom is easy...and I'm really thankful for that.  She is our oldest so we get to experience all of our "firsts" with her.  It honestly sometimes pains me to look at her.  I look over while she is watching tv and notice that all those chubby cheeks have turned into a slim face with missing teeth.  When I go to give her hugs in the morning her head hits my belly...and she's heavy now.  Like really heavy I have to tell her to jump when I pick her up...

...and I don't really pick her up anymore.  She is growing up so fast.  The other day we were outside and she called me into her playhouse.  She cleaned, swept and dusted the whole thing by herself.  She said, "Look Mom I cleaned my house just like you clean our house."  Before I know it she'll be in her own house.  Her childhood is whizzing by...so for now and until she tells me no more I'm going to let her make me dirt cakes, herb soup and have as many tea parties as we possibly can.

Speaking of things whizzing by Sydney started walking!  She walks right into dirt piles, falls in and then tries to see if it's edible.  Turns out it wasn't but she didn't mind.

This is her I know I'm cute and can do my WOW face and everyone will do whatever I want.

Cutest sisters ever!

Ayden: We will always be sisters even when we are 100 years old.

Sydney loves her baby.  She can feed, rock and sing to her.

Sweet kisses

Ayden's first school project!  She got to pick any president (she picked John Tyler and when we ask her why she said, "because Daddy your name is Tyler") so we all learned things we didn't know about our 10th president.  She was so cute looking up stuff about him and deciding what to write. 

She also lost another tooth!  It turns my stomach to see a child wiggle their tooth.  UGH...however when your terrified 6 year old wants YOU to pull it what do ya do...pull it.  So we both over came our fears that night.  It wasn't too bad and I can say I would pull another one if I had too.

Little Miss Priss is also getting so big lately.  She is becoming more independent and can feed herself almost anything.  She still has a hard time with liquid and spoons but she'll get it eventually.  She loves pancakes, syrup and sausage.  

There are so many things that are bitter sweet with her.  She is our last sweet baby and I know that every thing with her is our "last."  The other night I was rocking her and she saw a dog on tv.  She pointed at the screen and said, "woof woof."  I told her yes that is a puppy and talked to her about what color it was while she sat there listening.  Something so simple just hit me like a ton of bricks...she IS my last baby.  She's the last one that I'll ever do baby things with and while I'm completely at peace with that fact it doesn't make it any easier.  So for now and until she tells me no more I'm going to bark, meow, quack and read Goodnight Moon a thousand times.

I love them so much 

but more importantly I'm thankful God loves them more.

 

Twelve Month Milestones

We can't believe our little baby girl is twelve months old.  For all of my kids I've done milestones every month until they turn one...boo hoooo!  It's so fun getting to look back on them and see how much they have changed or what their likes/dislikes were.  I'm also proud to say that I've almost got Sydney's baby book done up until this month too!  She can never, ever say anything about being the fourth and having nothing written down or no pictures!!

 She is just so cute and smart and cute!  She can pull up and has started taking a few steps cruising along things.  Her favorite thing to do at the moment is pull up on stuff and then cry because she wants someone to come save her so she doesn't have to land on her bottom.  Ryan and Ayden are the worst about every little whimper she makes they come to her rescue.  They/we/me have created such a drama queen!

 This little smirk is so common.  She wants to smile but doesn't...little turkey!

 She has so many teeth!  She has 6 teeth and 3 molars!  She eats most anything we give her and is completely weaned as of a week ago and I didn't even cry!  Some of her favorite foods are granola bars, french fries, hamburgers, carrots, oatmeal, yogurt, applesauce, chicken and her absolute favorite thing is chocolate chip cookies.

 

 She had her very first piggy tail and looked so big.  She looked so much like Ayden this day.  Ayden always had a pigtail because she had so much hair and this little dress was Ayden's.  I love when Sydney wears Ayden's old clothes.  I can remember everything and the exact way it looked on Ayden who is six now.  Oh the memories kill me!

Sydney's vocabulary has really developed quickly this month.  She can say dada, dats (which is what she calls me), that, duck, uh oh, bye bye, done and light.  She can tell you what a cow, duck, chicken and puppy say.  She can also point out her tongue and nose!  She can do the motions for Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, This Little Light of Mine and The Creation Song.  She loves the moon and looks for it anytime we are outside at night.  She'll point to it and just jabber.  It's so sweet.  The first thing she does in the morning is give hugs and kisses and then point to the kitchen for her breakfast.  She loves playing with her brothers and Ayden and will follow them around the house.  Her favorite thing to do is go with us to feed the chickens.  You can just ask her if she wants to and she points toward the door and starts jumping and squealing!  

We just love our girl so very much.  This next year with her is going to be so much fun!  I can't wait!