Just random January pictures

To finish out January, here's a few random pictures we've taken this month:

(Proof that I really do exist.  I don't think there has been a picture of me on the blog in a while!)

Shaggy Dog

Sometimes we forget how fast Landon's hair grows.  I always cut it because it's just easier than making him sit still for a stranger.  He cooperates so much better when he's just sitting on the stool at home watching his favorite show. I've found that boy's hair isn't very hard to cut.  As a matter of fact, I cut Braydon's hair too.  I just use scissors and the clippers and ta-da! you have a nice hair cut.

Here's a before picture.  Haha!!  He always starts to get really bad bed head when he needs a haircut.

"My hair isn't that bad, Mom!"

"Oh my!  It does look pretty bad!  No more pictures of it!"

And an after.  Much better!

I also got Landon to stand a pose for these pictures because I told him that I wanted a picture of his Angry Birds shirt.  He was very happy to stand and pose for me after that.  Then he wanted to see the picture afterwards...what a diva! :)

The Puzzle Man and the Dishwasher Princess

Landon has become a pretty good puzzle completer.  He has gone from doing the little kiddie puzzles that have the little knobs on them, to actually doing the ones that look like puzzle pieces.  Santa got him a number Dr. Seuss puzzle for Christmas, and he has become a champ at putting it together!

"Literal Larry" is back.  I told him to lay down next to his puzzle (like maybe resting on his elbow or on his back) and this is what he did.

With occasional encouragement, he can do the whole thing by himself!  He started out only doing the top row, then he got to where he could get the middle and we would have to constantly remind him to finish the rest.  Now he buzzes through it like it's nothing!  Of course, he loves it because it has numbers on it, but it's also testing his patience, hand-eye coordination, and his attention span.  Goodness knows he needs help in all three of those areas!! :)

Sydney on the other hand, has been getting into everything!  She has been crawling for a while now, and has been pulling up to stand on things for a little bit, and recently has been standing on her own for a few seconds.  All this progression has lead her to taking a few steps!  Akk!!  

Recently, she's become obsessed with the dishwasher.  Every time it's open she makes a bee line for it.  The girl is on a mission.  And every time, she just wants to take all the silverware out.  Preferably the knives.  We took note of this after the first time she went for them and now they are the last thing to enter the dishwasher before it is closed.  I caught her red handed a couple of times with the camera for evidence.

"Sydney!  What are you doing?!"

Nom, Nom, dirty silverware.  :P

This one was blurry, but I had to put it in.  Her little smile doesn't show up too often for the camera. :)

I'm hoping she'll outgrow this phase soon.  I think it annoys Braydon more than me though cause he does the dishes at night.  Hehe!

Some extra cake and ice cream :)

I found a few more pictures from Sydney's party on Sunday.  These are some that I snapped as the party was winding down.  They are no where near as good as Megan's, but they are still good (even though some are blurry).  I hope you can look past some of the blurriness.  The second I think I've learned my camera, I can't take pictures when I need too.  Sigh.  One day I'll get it.

Sydney's opening her birthday cards from her Great-Grandma Harris, her Nonna, and her Great-Aunt Gail and Uncle Rob.  Thank you for thinking of Sydney!  She had fun opening them and closing them and opening them and closing them....  you get the idea. ;)  We all send hugs and kisses your way!

Playing with other people's goodie bags.

Our attempt to get a picture of Mason and Sydney together.  This is the best you get with one year olds...what can I say?  Immediately after this, they both crawled away.

Partying is exhausting!

Can you believe it's been a year?!?!

Sydney is 1!!  Can you believe it??  I can't believe it's already been a year since my sweet little baby girl was born.  She's such a joy to be with and a little stinker all at the same time.  It's so fun to watch her grow up and learn.  I can't imagine life without her and I'm so glad that I get to be a part of her life everyday.

We had a birthday party for her on her birthday (Sunday the 22nd).  We had a few of our closest friends over just to keep it simple.  I decided to go with an Abby Cadabby theme.  If you don't know, Abby Cadabby is one of the characters from Sesame Street.  She's a cute little fairy that carries around a magic wand and turns things into pumpkins.  When Sydney was really little, we went to a birthday party where one of the moms gave me a book that had Sesame Street characters in it.  We carried it around everywhere because every time Sydney would see Abby in the book she would smile.  It was my only way to get her calm when she was having a melt down.  So, ever since then, she's had a thing for Abby Cadabby.  She always smiles and gives her Abby doll a hug (and says "aww" for extra emphasis).  :)

Sydney was so excited to see all the Abby stuff when I started putting her party things out.  I got her a giant Abby balloon and she absolutely loves it.  She'll point at it and smile.  She'll just stare at her.  I'm not sure what it is about Abby, but she's got a magical touch! (No pun intended.)  Ha ha!!

Once again my amazing friend Megan stepped up and offered to take pictures for me.  I'm so glad she was there and am so thankful for such a thoughtful and amazing friend.  I was able to enjoy my daughter's birthday because of her.  Thank you so much Megan!!!  Here are some of her wonderful pictures:

Sydney's very own cake to eat!  More on that further down the page... :)

Strawberry birthday cake with vanilla icing...Delish!

Ham, cheese, and cucumber sandwiches

Fairy fruit wands

The amazingly huge Abby balloon that Sydney loves!

Cute little birthday girl

Sydney and Beth (Sydney's boyfriend's mom) 

Landon building towers to knock down with Aaron.  Poor Aaron.  He was so patient with Landon.

Ms. Heidi and Sydney

Cute little Hunter (Ms. Heidi's little man)

Sydney playing with Mason (her boyfriend) :)

Mason and his mommy, Beth

"Mason, come here, I have to tell you a secret!"

Pointing out Abby on her birthday cake

Cute little Roslyn...this girl likes her fruit!

Opening the present that brother got Sydney.  Landon was very excited to give it to her...cause he wanted to play with it.  He was asking all morning about it. 

Hunter wanted to give Sydney a hug during present time. :)

Giving Abby a squeeze

We're all a little shocked by how fun this present is. :)

Cute Landon bug

Our updated family picture...Landon didn't want to take one.  So we tried again...

Yeah, nevermind.  Sydney was wiggling and grabbing Landon, Landon was trying to get her off of him and me and Braydon are laughing to keep from crying.  Better luck next time I guess.

First glimpse of the cake...

She was mesmerized by the flame.  She didn't move the whole time we sang happy birthday to her.

Starting her off with some icing...

And off she goes!!

Hmmm...I think I need some ice cream

"Brother, do you want some?"

"This partying thing is exhausting!"

We had so much fun at the party and were so happy that people came to help us celebrate one year with our little Sydney bug!