Four months later

My blog slacking means I've been remiss about celebrating my new nephew.

Bennett will be four months old this week. What an amazing and sweet little boy. Of course, he has the most wonderful parents. (More info here: http://thepeellefamily.blogspot.com/)

Here are some photos from their first West Lafayette visit.

Sydney chats with the professional Mommy about the best way to care for an infant.

This image is pretty obvious. Sydney is making Jackie smell Baby Nora to see if she needs a diaper change. (Sydney's twin baby dolls, Nick and Nora, are named for Nick and Nora Charles in the Thin Man movies)

Sydney follows Jackie's lead on proper swaddling technique.

Yes, we are all smitten with the little guy.

According to Sydney, anything baby-related means it's Bennett-related. Sydney does well with Bennett, but it does make her anxious when I hold him.

Fountain of Youth

We rarely ate out while I was growing up. My Mom was an above-and-beyond gourmet cook (seriously, she would easily bake a half dozen cakes for the school carnival cake walk), so fine dining took place at home.

However, we did have a favorite Mexican restaurant, Ramones, that we would eat at when we went out. I remember always getting a side of shredded cheese for my tacos, I remember the decor (much fancier than the local Mexican places we eat at now) and I remember the fountain in the lobby. I remember the fountain the most. There were three lights that rotated in the base of the fountain. We would stare at it for what seemed like hours while we waited for a table, or Mom and Dad would let us visit while we were waiting for our food. I have lots of memories from that restaurant. I remember that my father took Julie and I there the night we were going to see my Mom and meet our new baby sister Jackie in the hospital. I remember the last time I was there with my family: we were with Jackie and some of her friends, including the Prybella family. The kids had just had an event (maybe, OM?) and we were all celebrating.

The first time I took Brian to Colorado I wanted to be sure we ate at Ramones. And, he won't ever let me forget it. We went for lunch, and the restaurant was completely empty. Chip refills were a $1 (what Mexican restaurant charges for chips refils?). And my favorite, when we asked for Coke refills, the waitress brought one glass, and split it between us. Ramones wasn't the same, and I think it even closed the following year.

I thought about all of this on Saturday night while Brian, Syd and I ate dinner at Panini Deli. We had an early dinner, and we were able to sit right next to their fountain. Of course, Sydney was ecstatic and talked about the fountain non-stop. It made me think of Ramones.

"I don't do fashion, I am fashion." Coco Chanel

It only took us 90 minutes to leave the house on Saturday morning to meet a friend at the 'Round the Fountain Art Fair. A pile of clean laundry inspired Sydney to experiment. And who am I to interfere with an artist?

Of course, despite the 90-minute prep period, we only spent 9 minutes at the Art Fair :) At least we got to meet our friend Christy for strawberries.

Real time

Spring is here!
Finally!
Today was devoted to yard work, then we enjoyed dinner on the patio. Sydney and I competed in field races while Brian refereed. Then ... we saw it. A hot air balloon in the distance.
But it kept coming closer and closer and closer ... then it began its descent.
We jumped in the car and chased it to a nearby field.

Sydney was ecstatic.

I'm pretty sure she's dreaming of the blue hot air balloon right now.

Back bLogged: Tree shopping

Yep, it's kinda sad that I'm posting these Christmas images now.

We live two-minutes from a Christmas tree farm.

Must smell everything ...

Back bLogged: Harry Otter

Here is Sydney this December with her beloved Harry Otter.

The coordinated outfit is a gift from family friend Helen Kenny. Pretty spiffy!

We introduced Syd to finger painting tonight. She wasn't impressed.
"It's messy."
"Sticky."
"I need a paper towel."

She's always been a polite pal who uses "thank you,""you're welcome," "please" and "excuse me." We've been encouraging "No thank you" for some time and she's finally using it. She appropriately used it today when Brian was trying to brush her hair. I guess she ran from him yelling "No thank you.":)

Back bLogged: Our little Smurf

These photos are from November 2008.

Her eyes are quite striking in this image.

Syd tries on Brian's shoe.

Speaking of shoes. Syd and I went shoe shopping this week. She was a gem as we made our way to the shoe store. She chose to push her penguin in the stroller, and walk alongside me through the mall. At Track n' Trail, she pointed out different shoe colors, and sat next to me on the bench 'helping' me as I tried on trail running shoes. As soon as I took off the second pair of shoes I was trying on, Syd (also known as Flo Jo at our house) bolted out of the store. I turned to the sales lady, said, "I'll be right back." Then, sprinted after her in my socks.

She made her point: who needs running shoes to sprint?

Sometimes folks who see me running or at the gym ask me what I'm training for. My reply, "So, I can catch my daughter."