One Small Step for Sydney-kind

Just wanted to let whoever is out there know that Sydney took her first steps by herself today! Although we don't have video documentation, we have several witnesses (Grammy and Grandpa and Mom and Dad) who are happy to report that Sydney is almost there. And for you skeptics out there, no, it is not a hoax. She walks a couple of steps from person to person. She can also walk around the ottoman without help. And, she is also starting to do a modified crawl where she sort of rolls back and forth on her belly to get somewhere. Get ready, world!

Here are a few more pictures to satisfy your Sydney craving:

Here's cousin Maddie helping Sydney brush her teeth. Be nice...gentle...

Here's the cousins on their first stroller adventure together.

Sydney likes her finger puppet duck from the Olsons:

Just hanging out at the Mall in the 'Couv.

Our little girl is changing every day! We can hardly imagine our lives before January 3rd. And when we look back at those first few days with Sydney, we realize how far she's already come in two months. Isn't life grand?

Life Goes On

As Sydney begins her second year of life, we catch up on her busy existence. The past days since our last posting have been quite eventful:

Mom and Dad went back to work. Boooooo. (Says Mom.) Sydney spends three days a week at Grammy and Grandpa Pederson's, where she gets quality time hanging out with people who love her almost as much as her own parents. Mom drops her off in the morning and Dad picks her up in the afternoon. Sydney gets to eat two meals there and also gets to play with cats. Lots of them. Well, two are real and the other hundred (?) are watching her from every room in the house. Sydney also gets to go wherever Grammy and Grandpa want to take her, including the emergency room at the local hospital where, RELAX, Grandpa and great-Aunt Marlys do volunteer work.

Sydney finally got to meet her Uncle Mike (Wendy's brother) and Auntie Desiree from Arizona, along with cousin Maddie who is 20 days younger than her.

They were visiting along with Wendy's parents for four days, which coincided with an open house/shower thrown by Brian's aunts. The two wee ones had fun playing and getting to know each other. Maddie can walk already so she had a slight mobility advantage, but Sydney has more teeth and eats more (including a taste of Maddie's finger which Maddie offered several times).

With upwards of 50+ people attending our open house, Sydney met many new friends and family. She was a trooper, letting virtually anyone that wanted to hold her or walk her around. All that attention during prime naptime, no less! Her parents are overwhelmed and thankful to all who could make it and for all the gifts. We must say that cousin Jerry's gift stood out: a pink and black ball glove!

Here's Grandma Joe with the TOUCH: she mesmerized Sydney during storytime before bed.

Here's Grandpa Joe with his two granddaughters.

As far as progress goes, Sydney is now rolling all over the house. She still doesn't crawl, but there have been times when she gets on her hands and knees and head. She spends lots more time on her tummy and she will walk around our ottoman while holding on by herself. She also likes to do a trust roll off the bed or couch and into our arms.

Here's Sydney after doing the trust roll off the bed, right into Dad's arms.

She can now wave to people if they wave first, and also tries to copy our mouth noises.

Sydney has stopped drinking formula and is on to lactose-free milk. She has tried to drink water out of a cup but would rather sip it through a straw - although most of it dribbles down her shirt or goes back in as she blows bubbles. Today she drank some applesauce through the straw, like her cousin Maddie does. Very cute.

As for Ellie, I'm sure she can't wait till Sydney is walking. When Maddie was here, Ellie liked to follow her around and lick her. Sydney is now squealing with delight when she catches Ellie coming for her, or when Ellie and Dad rough-house and play-fight.

And such is life around the Pederson household.

One Trip Around the Sun

Our little girl turned one year old on Friday, February 2nd! Sydney started her birthday in normal fashion, eating breakfast, going on a walk with Ellie, and taking a short nap in her Jeep. Then the evening's festivities began at 5:00 as Grammy and Grandpa Pederson came over to celebrate. Sydney got two balloons!



Notice the jealous, attention-starved Ellie with her Milkbone ball...

We went to one of our favorite restaurants in Vancouver - Patrick's Hawaiian Cafe. We were even served by Patrick himself, who made Sydney laugh and smile. She had her first taste of kalua pork and teriyaki chicken and boy did she love it! Patrick then brought out a dish of ice cream with a candle in it. She liked the candle more than the ice cream. A little too cold!

Mmmm...pork!


Here's Dad eating Sydney's birthday ice cream right in front of her. She didn't really mind.



We returned home for opening presents, with Ellie helping to tear open the wrapping.

Then the real fun began - cake time!

Here's Sydney's first taste...

Now let's get down to business.

My mouth is too small.

I'm just about finished...

Thanks to Ellie for helping clean up!

And that's the way it was.

By the way, Sydney still doesn't like peaches.

Traumatic Day

Last Tuesday, Jan. 30th, we returned to get some immunizations done and some blood drawn. We also had to collect some "eliminates" as our travel friend Lydia so affectionately calls them. Sydney did pretty well with the shots, even though she was crying and very red in the face. However, the blood draw didn't go too well - apparently her vein collapsed or something because the blood stopped flowing into the tube. This, after being poked five or six times with the shots, and then having a little tourniquet placed on either arm to try to find the best vein. Needless to say, we have to return later to try again. They did get enough blood to do a couple of tests. As far as we know, nothing has showed up that is of concern.

Here's Sydney after we got home from the Vancouver Clinic. Note the little wrap on her arm.





Sydney was completely exhausted from all the crying and stress. After crashing for a long afternoon nap, she woke up and decided to pick at her bandaids. She had several on each thigh. She also had a TB skin test on her left arm. You may be able to see the pen circle on it below. It's so hard to be a baby.

Sometimes a nice warm bath can wash away all your worries. Sydney has already forgotten what she went through earlier.

Luckily, our brave girl bounced back the next day. Here she is having a rockin' good time on our recliner.

She was also very happy and grateful to receive some gifts in the mail from various friends and family. Here she is with a very generous offering from the Kendrick family in California.

All in all, everything worked out. We still need to get more blood drawn but other than that, Dr. Lyons says she won't need to see Sydney until about 18 months of age. She'll get more shots though! Yikes! Poor baby.