Sydney's 1st Year

Finally! I figured out what I was doing wrong, and how to get a video on. Enjoy!

The week in review

We had a pretty busy week week so far, which is a good thing!  With Gymboree, swim lessons and Chinese New Year we have a lot to keep us busy for a while.  Sydney is beginning to enjoy Gymboree (we have been twice now).   Her first experience with anything is to really take it all in and figure out what is going on before she really lets go and enjoys it.  While she loves people and people watching, she is on the timid side when it comes to trying new things.

Speaking of new things, Sydney started standing on her own from a crouching position on her 14th month birthday!  She thought it was the greatest thing and just laughed and laughed, especially when she fell to her bottom.  She will stand for several seconds before she sits down.  I don't know how long it will be before she is taking her first steps on her own, but it fits with her laid back, timid and cautious personality that she will walk when she is good and ready :)  In other developmental news, her bottom molars came in and she now has 14 teeth.  She is using more sounds in her vocabulary and able to use several more signs.  Her favorite words right now are "cat" and "yes".  She is AMAZING and such a joy!

Playing @ Gymboree

Chinese New Year
Many of the festivities we had planned to go to for Chinese New Year were cancelled because of the snow,  but we found one at a local mall to attend.

 Ready to go!

Watching the Lion Dance

Swimming Lessons

 I think Sydney enjoyed her first swimming lesson for the most part, and although she had her little legs clamped around me most of the time, she didn't cry or make a fuss...she was too busy looking at all the things going on around her.

Home at last...having a snack before bed. 

Snow Daze

And I thought we got a lot of snow in Japan!  We got at least 24" within a 12 hour period in our part of Maryland.  And there is supposedly more to come again this week. Oh, joy!

It took Erich all day and part of the next to get us shoveled out, but we still could not go anywhere.  The roads are still really bad and pretty much populated by idiots right now, so we are staying home.  

UGH!  These are the times I really miss Hawaii.  

The morning after the storm.  Still snowing and blowing.

Exploring the snow...

Even our cat Simon enjoyed a brief foray out into the cold.  He wasn't going anywhere!

How we spent our day snowed in.

  Getting ready to go on a winter walk.

  "It is really bright! Good thing I have sunglasses just like Mommy."

Yes, we did get a little bit of snow ;)

Life is Good

Sometimes, being a new parent to a one year old can be hard.  I worry "am I doing enough to aid her development?" or "am I doing the right things when it comes to guidance and discipline".  But then there are the times like this that make me feel we must be doing something right. :)

Sydney loves to greet Daddy when he comes home from work. 

           

Can you ever get enough photos of your baby eating spaghetti?  Probably, but I love how she loves it!

Goofing around with the camera.

Help

Does anyone know how to upload a video to blogger with the updated version?  I don't have the icon for video on my toolbar.  I tried using the old blogger format, but it never uploads.  Any info would be greatly appreciated.

A day in the life...

Sydney on her computer

Getting Mommy!

Exploring...

Visiting one of the many historical mansions around Laurel.

Sydney and her daddy on the steps of the mansion.