Spotlight on Sydney

Curly hair in only 20 minutes!
Sponge rollers - birthday gift from gramma and papa

New scooter!

Better safe than sorry.

Patiently waiting

I love my new bike!

Cupcakes with bling

Flying a kite - she looks so happy!

3 years old!

Syd is usually very hard to wake up in the morning but not last Tuesday. Kevin and I went into her room and started singing “Happy Birthday” to wake her up. Boy did she pop right out of bed. She had been looking forward to her third birthday for some time. In the weeks preceding her birthday, anytime she heard a knock at the door or the front door open she thought everyone was there for her party. She would yell, “Cupcakes, frosting, sprinkles, presents!” and run to the door. So needless to say she was ready for the big day. We had decorated the kitchen and living room area the night before so when she came out of her room and saw all of the pink balloons she went crazy. I thought it was going to be hard to get her into the car to go to daycare but she was too excited to give all of her friends the cupcakes and goody bags we had put together. Miss Sandy and the gang did a wonderful job of making her feel special. The celebration continued after daycare. Sydney picked hot sticks and dip (French toast sticks and syrup) for her birthday dinner and then the Peuler clan came over afterwards for the party. She wore a dress and tiara her Aunt Kelly Sanchez bought her and looked like a total princess. Her cupcakes were decorated with lots of “bling” – every princess needs bling. She and her cousins opened her presents – many princess and Littlest Pet Shop themed gifts. Her big gifts were a big girl bike with training wheels, a scooter, and princess helmet and accessories. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the greatest so she couldn’t try them out until the next day. She doesn’t really feel like pedaling yet but she loves her scooter.

A lot of people have told me that three is the new two. Sometimes I agree with that. The last month or two has been quite challenging. Some days I feel more like a referee than a mom. Sydney definitely has her sassy moments (mom and dad say she’s just like I was at her age) but I am loving three so far. She’s so good at expressing what she’s thinking and wanting. She’s is treating Easton more like a brother than a punching bag – I have even caught her going out of her way to be nice to him (gasp). She is mastering 24-piece puzzles. It’s so cute to watch her play with her dolls and animals – often tucking them in, giving them medicine/bottles, reading them books, etc. She has begun to memorize some of her favorite books – saying phrases like “fly over your domain to check on all of your devoted subjects” (from Princess Pruney Toes). She is a lot more independent than last year (that makes me happy and sad). She will stay in the driveway and yard and not go into the street. She can climb on our jungle gym with no help. We can trust her in all areas of the house. She can put her clothes and shoes on all by herself. She goes potty with no help at all now. They sure do grow up fast. My favorite part of everyday is when I tuck her in at night. She and I have our own ritual. I put all three blankets on her. Say, “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” I give her three kisses (one from me, daddy, and Easton). She gives me a hug and a kiss. As I walk out of the room I say, “You’re the best.” She always says back to me, “No mommy, you’re the best.” Those are the last words I hear from her every night. What a great way to end every day.