Happy Birthday Canada!

This is our Canada Day picture of Sydney & Logan last year.

I was hoping to have another picture like it this year, but it was not quite so easy. The "requested" picture was not agreed to, so Brad had to snap a picture of Sydney when she decided she was ready to oblige, but you will note there is no Logan allowed in the picture.

To celebrate the holiday we had friends over for a barbeque. I was worried we were off on a rough road when Sydney did not want to share her toys with our first arrival, Alina. But things progressed from there and I think Sydney was more than happy to share her pool with the kids. Emily was the oldest "kid" & I think she was Sydney's favourite new friend. Everything that Emily did in the pool, Sydney "needed" to copy & this was not always the safest thing for her to do.

Sydney is showing signs of being like her Mom...last one out of the pool.

Here are some more pictures from our day.
Emily decided to see if our cherry tree had any "good" fruit. I think she found them to be a little sour.
Matthew & Alana playing in the background on the slide while Sydney & Evelyn hang out at the table. I'm sure years from now they will have much to say to one another.
Macie, Emily & Matthew enjoy their ice cream & Macie is very happy that it is not raining.
Alina thinks the ice cream is pretty good too.
Our youngest guest for the day, Julia. She went for a slide ride with her sister, Evelyn, but I think her Daddy learned that wasn't the best idea. So, she just sat back & enjoyed the rest of the festivities.

[Note...Ian and Rachele, sorry I am not sure what happened to the picture I took of Brandon]

Four weeks & 6 days to go...

In less than five weeks I will hopefully be holding a healthy, happy, baby boy or girl in my arms. My induction date is set for July 31st, so Bradley & I will be at the hospital bright & early eager to bring our new little one into this world.

Up until now I have been sure that we are having a girl, but now I am starting to waver. I still wouldn't lay money on it, but I think that we are having a boy. The vote around me is a fifty-fifty split, so I guess we will have to wait until July 31st to find out. My labour was not very long with Sydney & with any luck this one will move even faster so that mid-afternoon we will have a new little Taylor. It would be great for Sydney to be able to come see us that day to meet her new sibling.

I almost made it...

Last week Sydney was sick with a cold & then once she was better Brad got it. I thought I was in the clear, but yesterday I woke up feeling like crap. Thankfully it was a planned day for Sydney to spend with Grandma & Papa, so after dropping her off I could sleep for the next three hours. This morning I feel a little more human, but I am now ready for my nap. Sydney is yet again with Grandma & Papa & it seems that taking her out there has used all the energy that I had stored. So I am off to bed again. Being sick is never fun, but I must say it is even less fun being sick & pregnant. I have my doctor's appointment today & I am hoping that we will find out what date we can expect our little mover & shaker to join us in this world.

I sincerely apologize if I infected anyone that I was in contact with over the weekend. Especially Great Grandma Taylor.

Henry & Liam

On Friday Sydney & I went to Stratford to meet Sydney's new second cousin, once removed (herein referred to as "Cousin" for simplicity), Henry, and to see her other Cousin Liam. She of course got to see their moms too (Stephanie & Carrie, respectively). Great Uncle Ralph & Great Aunt Marlene were the hosts of such an affair. Thinking back I hope we did not interfere too much with the Grandparents opportunity to be with their grandchildren since Steph & Carrie were only up for the day. If we did Uncle Ralph & Aunt Marlene, we apologize- but we thank you very much for your hospitality & not making us feel like we were intruding.

Sydney did not nap the whole way there, so she was not fully rested & therefore took forever to warm up to "playing" or "posing" with Liam for pictures. Of course just as we were getting ready to go home, they started "playing".

Liam spent much of the time trying to master the stairs...

While Sydney just watched...

Or Liam, played with the ducks...

While Sydney just watched...

We did eventually get them "together" for a picture, but it was not by choice.

I don't think Liam was too sure why she has to "squeal" so much & be so noisy.

Throughout it all, Henry did what babies do...sleep, eat, & poop.

Happy Father's Day!

Yesterday was of course the day that you spend honouring the men in your life who are special to your life & your child's life. I must say that I am continually thankful for Brad & how involved he is in "life" as it happens day-to-day. I have never have the excuse to bitch about how much I nag him to help around the house or help with Sydney. He has always been there as a particapatory husband & father.
Sydney is very lucky to have a Daddy who is going to know her so well & be able to tell lots of stories about what she was like as a little girl. She is also lucky to be so close to her Grandpa (who she has chosen to call "Papa") and have many opportunities to be loved & spoiled.
Like my husband, my selection of Father's Day gifts were...practical. The most amusing part of the gift giving was the sunglasses. I know sunglasses are a personal choice & was taking a chance on selecting them, but was pretty sure that I had made a good choice. Sydney seemed to like my choice at the time, but when they were actually delivered to Daddy things changed. You see she received these star shaped sunglasses from Nana at Christmas & whenever she chooses to play with a pair of sunglasses she made, Daddy has to wear the star sunglasses. So when Daddy put on his new glasses, she immediately had to go get him the "right" ones. Oh well, she hasn't made him go out in public with them yet.
We had Brad's family over for a barbeque to celebrate Father's Day & much fun was had playing with the kids & finishing it off with a water fight.

Grandpa with his two grandchildren. He's going to have to grow another arm for next year.

Uncle Robb teaching Sydney & Max to "ready, set, go!"

Max enjoyed getting his Dad with the hose, with great encouragement from Uncle Brad.

Sydney got caught in the crossfire.

And now we wait...

About three weeks ago my cardiologist told me that she wanted me to be finished work by 30 weeks so that I could rest more & get my ticker in better shape for delivery. So, I picked this past Tuesday to be my last "official" day at work. Our company was planning a night at Woodbine, so I thought what a perfect last day of work. Work during the day, have fun at night & then rest appropriately the next day. Well, it didn't exactly work out that way for me. A project that I have been working on required a few more last minute changes than I was counting on so I went back into work yesterday. I didn't mind too much at the beginning of the day, but by the time I left I was quite snarly. You see, my boss was kind enough the night before to announce to everyone that it was my last day & that she wished me well. So of course on Wednesday when I am back at work, everyone asks, "I thought yesterday was your last day?" Not exactly the words you want to hear over & over as you are trying to wrap things up & get out the door. So if any of you are reading this & found me to be rude, you have my most sincere apologies.

For me, I knew that I was not completely finished work on Tuesday because I planned on keeping my laptop to work here & there from home until all my projects are wrapped up & could be in contact when needed. Technically I am on sick leave &/or vacation time until mid-July so I also planned on taking a couple of half days here & there with my team to be sure I left them everything they will need in the next year (ha, as if that can all be planned for!). But my continued "work" time was to be set at my pace & so my mood was dampened on Wednesday when it turned out to be a full work day. Like leaving work early, that was not my plan- so it took me awhile to get out of my funk.

But then I came home & got Sydney who was in a great mood so she lifted my spirits & then Brad came home from work with these beautiful flowers for me which lifted my spirits even more. Especially when he remembered that I love a bouquet of all white flowers. Thank you very much.

So, now what do I do? Well today I am not touching any work, but going out to buy a couple of things for Sydney's new room & some Father's Day presents. Other than that? NOTHING!

Family Reunions

Sunday was the Annual Thompson reunion & the same "discussion" occurred between Brad & I. He complains that he doesn't want to go to his reunion, why should he "want" to go to my reunion? Well, I personally think it important to go & I love any opportunity to see my Grandma, Aunts, Uncles, cousins & their respective families. Reunions are good because they "force" this opportunity. However, I must be honest & admit that my "catching up with family" does not extend too far outside of the family that I already know. I probably have gone to 75% of the reunions, but I still don't know who everyone is...too much time is spent with those who I do know & catching up on what is going on in their lives.
Frankly, I don't really understand the grumbling that Brad insists on doing. I truly believes that he likes my family (if not, he does a pretty good job of faking it) & it is not like I subject him to speaking with the family members that he doesn't know (nor do I for that matter). I firmly believe that he does it because he thinks it is "expected". Everyone's day-to-day life is very busy & it is very easy for you to miss opportunities to get to know your family better or provide the opportunity for your children to get to know their family better. I love taking Sydney to family functions & watching her get to know her cousins & slowly start to interact more & more with them. Yesterday was no exception...when we pulled into the park, she immediately spotted the playground & lunch was no longer on her mind. But, alas the child needed to be fed, so it was inside for lunch- an entrance that I did not enjoy since EVERYONE was already seated & eating.
After lunch there was games for this kids. Unfortunately I was too busy gabbing inside & missed the photo ops while Brad was busy "directing" Sydney in the various skills competition. So, the only moments captured from the day were on the playground.

Although not well represented by this picture, Hayleigh did enjoy playing with Sydney but I think she wishes that maybe Sydney could move a little faster to make it up to the top of the slide. Five-year-olds don't have a lot of time you know to be waiting around.

Emily on the other hand, can't keep up! Actually, Sydney cheated & got a head start!

Next came the log rolling contest which Hayleigh was the star.

Which Regan too tried to master...

...and Sydney learned that maybe she should wait a couple of years before trying again.

The dreaded "F" bomb...

I can probably count on my fingers the occassions that I have heard Brad use the "F" bomb in the 9 years that I have known him. Well, one of those occassions was this weekend. In preparation for the new baby we are getting the "spare" bedroom ready for Sydney to move into. This weekend's task was a bookshelf & in the building of said shelf, frustration led to "the" word.
The first time he said it, I didn't say anything because I don't think Sydney really noticed & he had a right to be ticked. However, he then said it again & guess who "repeated" it? Thankfully Sydney's "ph" sound is actually a "sh" sound, so to the unknowing ear she just said "SHUCK". Nonetheless, I figured it was time for Sydney & I to leave the room & let Brad fix what he started.
So, Sydney & I went & made a brownie pie to have for dessert. I think she had much more fun doing this than watching "Daddy build?".

Yes that is another bruise on her forehead. This one was my fault, I was reading a notice on the door into swimming lessons & opened the other door right into her head! I knocked her right back on her keester! No glowing Mother acknowledgements for me that day!

I think I'm having one of those moments...

Tonight I think I am starting to struggle with the balance between a mother's pride & a mother's fear.

For the last week we have started to get more "serious" about starting the whole potty training process. Sydney has showed some interest, so we figured we would follow her lead & start having her use the toilet. Well for the last week she has successfully gone on the toilet in the morning & for 60% of those trips she has told us that she needs to go. However, her success is not as great throughout the day, which is partly the fault of her "support" team not emphasizing this new learning opportunity & Sydney's keen interest to keep playing rather than running off to the bathroom. So, I must say I am proud of her success because we really have no idea what we are doing & have not "researched" the best methods before starting. So, we are truly playing it by ear.

The next "big girl" thing she is really wanting to try out is drinking out of a cup without the "safety" lid on. So, tonight at dinner we let her drink her milk without the spill-prevention lid. Again, she did pretty good considering she is just starting out. So I was feeling a twinge of pride from the moment, but there was something else there that just blocking the full pride moment.
Well, I think I have figured out what the block is. I am starting to realize that she is growing up & becoming a little girl, not a baby. Because of Baby T2's imminent arrival, we stopped calling her a baby awhile ago. But really it was more of a semantic approach, now I am realizing that she is no longer a baby- but truly a toddler...sniff, sniff.

Add to this realization of mine- I read my cousin's blog & she is talking about coaching her 3-year-old's soccer team. It made me realize that before I know it Sydney will be 3 and we could be looking at getting her involved in an activity that she can enjoy as her own independent person!

So my moments of mother's pride, seem to be mixed with wanting to slow things down & not have her grow up too fast.

May 2-4 Camping days are definitely a thing of the past...

I remember being in highschool & looking forward to our annual camping trip on the May long weekend. That seems so far in the past, that I can't believe it was ever warm enough to go camping. I do know that I have NEVER been so adventurous that I would choose to go camping on a weekend that was forecasted to be as cold as this weekend was...so I think it is definitely colder now.
Our weekend started with swimming lessons & Daddy came so that some pictures could be taken of Sydney's first set of lessons. Here are just a few...

Back float...she does pretty good, but does not like the water going in her ears.

Front float through the tunnel, but then with a big DUNK underwater.

After Dunk.

The rest of Saturday was just filled with doing...stuff. Maybe not the most fun for Sydney, but definitely a "must-do". On Sunday we made it more fun for her by going to Laura & Patrick's for lunch & play. Morgan has (or should I say "had") a very colourful play doh set, which is probably now mostly gray.

Happy Mother's Day!

On Saturday we had a wedding & Sydney stayed over at Grandma & Grandpa's. Therefore, my first present on Mother's Day was the absence of a 6:30 wake-up call from Miss Chatty in the next room. However once your body is conditioned to waking up at a certain time, it continues to wake up at that time. BUT...I did not have to get out of bed, which was a treat.
We picked up Sydney, Grandpa & Grandma and went to a Butterfly Conservatory for a Mother's Day brunch. We met Robb, Michele, Max & Michele's parents there & had a good time. Again, getting kids to pose is not always easy...

...we pretty much had to hold Max down & made Sydney do the "mermaid" pose.
Max was obviously much more interested in the millipede, while Sydney...
was not too sure about this thing.

After the butterflies we were off to Sandi's to visit with my Mom, sister, and extended family. Lots of fun was had with the girls playing tag (which I pulled a muscle doing- quite pathetic) and ring-around-the-rosie.

Sydney will play this forever if you are willing.

We finished the day with a couple of photo ops with Nana & GG before the drive home. All in all, it was a very good Mother's Day. I must admit that it crossed my mind today that this time next year we will have a 2.5 year old & a 9 month old...yikes!

Catching up with family...

This weekend my Mom came for a visit...well actually I can't call it a visit since she spent all of yesterday working around our house. Since I am not supposed to do any "heavy" housework, my Mom was kind enough to come down & wash our windows while Brad & I worked away at other items- no small feat with a year & a half year old underfoot. No surprise to anyone who knows my mom or me, but our windows look much better than if I had done them. My Mom has a clean fetish when it comes to windows.
There was a reward to my Mom's hard work. This morning my Aunt Marj, Cousin Lynn & her little guy Jack came by for a "play date". We have not seen them in years & it was great to see each other, meet Jack & gab. Again, what was Brad doing while Sydney & Mommy had fun? Painting. We did let the poor guy take a coffee break to meet the family.
Sydney & Jack are only a few months apart, so it was nice for her to meet her little cousin (second cousin, once removed- I think) & hopefully in the future they will be able to see more of each other.
It was nice to meet a Bowman grandchild that has brown eyes, since there sure hasn't been any yet on our side. Mom & Dad obviously passed the recessive blue-eyed gene to us since we keep having blue-eyed babies! I am holding out for Baby T2 to be our brown-eyed baby- only time will tell.

Here are some pictures from the morning.

Another belated post...First Haircut

A couple weeks ago, my Mom was here & gave Sydney her first haircut. I was going to save these pictures for when I didn't really have anything to post, but looking ahead we have a busy month & I am afraid if I keep waiting she will have had her second haircut & I still haven't posted the first.

I realize she doesn't have much hair, but I really wanted to get her hair cut before she turned two & she was starting to get some hairs that were much longer than the rest. Needless to say, there were not many clippings on the floor- but that means that we are keeping each piece rather than just one curl. Although she didn't really "need" a haircut, it does look much nicer now. Thanks very much Nana.

Happy Birthday to both Dale & Kim!!!

Today is my sister's birthday & my mother-in-law's birthday. I won't expose any of their secrets by sharing how many years apart they are- just in case they are age-shy.
On the weekend Sydney & I went to Kim & Pete's for a visit while Bradley stayed at home to paint Sydney's new room. Sydney & I had a very good time, but Brad's day did not go so well. First he did not get as much done in the room as he hoped & then his day ended by driving around for an extra hour to find the restaurant that Kim, Pete & I were patiently waiting at. A 45 minute drive took him 2 hours...Brad may be a very intelligent person, but he can be directionally challenged. Especially in an area that he is not familiar with...but we had a nice cold beer waiting on the table for him when he arrived. We discovered that yet again, directions provided by Mapquest led him astray.
While we were out for dinner in Toronto, Nana was a brave soul & took Sydney & Regan out for dinner in Tottenham. Apparently both girls were very good & Nana did not develop any new gray hairs.
Here are some pictures from our weekend.

Regan tried to teach Sydney how to jump, so that soon she can use a jump rope.

Aunt Kim taught Sydney the rules of soccer.

Regan let Sydney play with her sidewalk chalk because she heard that Daddy won't let her have any at home. However, Regan's Daddy once said the same thing! So we will see what the future brings.

Future plumber apprentice.

On your mark, get set...

GO!!!

Kissing cousins.