August 29, 2010

Took a family outing to the Denver Botanic Gardens today and enjoyed some Moore in the Garden. This is the view from our little patch of buffalo grass, a shady spot we claimed for a little rest and picnic.

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August 28, 2010

This happened tonight after I went to bed. My husband, brilliant as he is, doesn’t always read/notice labels. He put dishwashing liquid in the dishwasher instead of diswasher soap. Hardly a semantic difference as you can see here.

And yes, the kitchen floor was dirty again by noon the next day. (See the news from August 25, below.)

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August 27, 2010

Ryan did the grocery shopping today and came home with some beautiful dahlias (my favorite flowers this time of year, along with goldenrod and asters) and white lilies. …This was before the dishwasher fiasco. As if, somehow, his soul knew he would need some brownie points.

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August 26, 2010

Sydney, Uncle Marcus and I went out for a late lunch to Austin’s in Old Town. We had a great seat on the patio, and my cobb salad with cornbread never tasted so good. (This is the view, looking up, from Sydney’s seat at the table.)

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August 25, 2010

We’re starting Sydney on finger foods. Somehow, I think she actually prefers the spoon. Even all gooey, though, she’s looking beautiful and demure. Who the heck does she get that from?!!!?

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August 24, 2010

Oh to be an unemployed 24 year old with a Master’s degree and a penchant for 11AM naps in the middle of the living room. …I swear, my brother could fall asleep in a construction zone.

And now for a bonus shot:

While Uncle Marcus napped (cough cough cough), Sydney and I had some play time. Here she is in her Daddy’s corduroy overalls enjoying her “doughnuts.” Five minutes before this, she was enjoying Annie’s water dish (in the background). It is the simple things in life, i’n't it?

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August 23, 2010

Gram and Gramps came for brunch this morning, and we had a chance to catch up.

Look who looks a bit like Gram! Funny, I always thought Syd looked more like Rick, and then I see this facial expression and I laugh laugh laugh. She’s got a little Becky in her after all. PS We Johnsons take our books very seriously.

You’ll notice this month that Ellie Jean the Elephant is missing. That’s because Sydney has the motor skills to toss her off the chair. Nice, right? The Queen has claimed her throne!

Sydney Olivia Johnson, 8 Months Young

This past month, we’ve seen HUGE physical/motor skills, social and cognitive skills develop with Sydney. She is crawling. She is kneeling. She rolls over onto her butt and sits herself up. She is trying like the dickens to pull herself up into a standing position, and she’s succeeded a few times. She is walking with assistance (5 steps here and there). She actually cruised on the sofa for a minute today. She is waving now. She used sign language to tell me, “More please,” today while she was eating her second lunch. She understands words like No and Eat and More Please and Drink and Mommy and Daddy and Annie and who knows what else. She has her MomMoms down pretty well (it’s her chattery phrase of choice, not always directed at me), and I’m pretty sure she says Annie sometimes, too. She is eating broccoli and peas (she came around on the peas) and carrots and sweet potatoes and winter squash and summer squash and asparagus and lamb and turkey and egg yolks and avocado and yogurt and peaches, nectarines, plums, prunes, apricots, bananas, blueberries, brown rice and quinoa, pears and applesauce! And yes, I am still breastfeeding her. I will continue to do so for while (if my milk holds out, no problems yet, fingers crossed).

LOVE this kid. LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE ad infinitum her.

clockwise from top left: 7, 6, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4

August 22, 2010

Annie looks like how I feel every time I go to the hairdresser’s.

…Okay, I’ve lived in the West too long. I just referred to The SALON as the hairdresser’s. I need some highlights. STAT.

Somehow, I think Ryan’s parents — retired dog groomers — would be proud to see Syd’s a natural. And I’m thinkin’ we’d have better luck keeping bows on Annie than we do on Sydney.

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August 21, 2010

Sydney surprised us at dinner with a rousing game of Peekaboo! She totally initiated it, and I recognized her effort right away. How cool to see her cognitive and social skills advance like this. …Am I one of those parents who thinks her kid can do no wrong? No, I’m quite sure she can. And will. But, I am definitely one of those parents who thinks her kid is the smartest, coolest kid EVER. Get used to it. (wink)

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August 20, 2010

Now that Sydney is mobile, she is pretty much obsessed with Annie. Let’s nest in Annie’s bed. Let’s play with Annie’s toys. Let’s splash in Annie’s dog water. Let’s crawl on Annie. Let’s crawl on Annie some more. Let’s… Annie Annie Annie. It’s really darn cute. And I wouldn’t be surprised if “Annie” is one of Sydney’s first and favorite things to say soon.

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August 19, 2010

And the heat is back. Today, Daddy filled a bowl with water and we had splish splash time. With Sydney’s creamy skin, bright blue eyes, the sun shining on the hardwoods and sparkling in the bowl, it was like watching a painting come to life.

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August 18, 2010

Thank God it’s not Ayn Rand.

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August 17, 2010

We’ve had cooler mornings and a few cool days this week. Syd got to sport her new polka-dot ensemble. And her first headband. Which stayed on for all of 5 minutes.

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August 16, 2010

SOMEBODY loves her daddy. Whenever he comes home from work, she starts to bounce and rock wherever she is and has nothing but smiles and hugs and chatter for him as soon as she sees him. Can’t say as I blame her. He’s a good man and a GREAT dad.

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August 15, 2010

Guess who cut her third tooth last night? OMG. If you look at her center top left gum (hers, not yours) you’ll see that little slice of tooth that broke on through. …She was up crying twice last night, and we couldn’t figure out for the life of us why. Then, when she got up in the morning, Ryan was in changing her diaper and noticed it in the morning light. SURPRISE!!! And ROAR!!! Somebody’s got three teeth!!!

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August 14, 2010

My brother Marcus arrived today. Now that he’s gradumacated with a Master’s Degree, he’s moved from the East Coast to the High Plains, and will be learning the most important lessons of his life to date: (a) Hell hath no fury like your sister tripping over your shoes (2) eggs will treat you better than Pop-Tarts any day (d) morning people get more out of life.

PS This is all he came with. Besides his wit, good looks and charm. Good man.

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August 13, 2010

Somebody is getting the hang of the hardwood floors. Though she can’t understand why she’s not allowed to play in Annie’s water dish.

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August 12, 2010

Annie’s Eye View. AKA “I’m Coming to Get You.”

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August 11, 2010

This is Sydney’s favorite book right now. It’s called Peekaboo Kisses. Here she is on the last page which reads, “Peekaboo, I see… YOU!” When she gets to this page, she gets so excited she bounces in my lap, grunts or calls out and chirps, chirps, chirps!!! Then she opens the flaps to reveal the mirror and she leans in to kiss herself in the mirror.

ADORABLE OFF THE CHARTS!

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August 10, 2010

Yesterday, I bought Sydney some crayons. Today she made two drawings. This is her first. She did this all by herself! We have framed and hung it (and the second drawing) already.

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August 9, 2010

The rest of Ryan’s prize arrived in the mail today. These are some really nice notebooks, and I’m excited to read this book. After I finish The Optimistic Child and maybe Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.