21st Century Baby

It's amazing what technology does to peoples' lifestyles.  Now, Stephen and I don't live any sort of a technology-extravagant lifestyle.  Sure, we have cell phones, ipods, TVs, etc., but we aren't completely up-to-date on the latest fads.  It is crazy how quickly babies catch onto technology, though!  Sydney loves playing with my ipod, my cell phone, the remote to the TV.  (She calls it a "clicker").  Our SUV has a built-in TV/DVD player, so when we're in any other car, she immediately starts up with, "TV?? TV??"  We have to explain that the other car doesn't have a TV in it.  Not sure if she gets that quite yet.  Beginning when she was 18 months old, she always wanted to listen to music on my ipod.  She would cry "IPOD!" and say "moosic?".  Then she'll jam away, listening with the earphones in her ears.  We're not spoiling her too much, are we?

Let's see... what else?  Sydney always wants to sit at the computer and look at pictures and videos. She will stand up in her crib and try to turn on the CD player next to the crib. Sydney will play with my cell phone and get to screens I had no idea how to get to.  Usually she logs onto the internet on my phone.  She'll pretend to talk to people on the phone.  She once played with the TV remote and set it to be picture-on-picture, something I couldn't figure out how to get rid of.  (Turns out all you had to do was turn the TV off and back on again... duh).  My friend was showing her pictures on her iphone, and Sydney was using her finger to move the pictures on the screen to go to the next ones.  I don't even know if I would have known to do that! ;)

It's crazy.  Soon Sydney and others her age will be surfing the net, flying airplanes, going to space... who knows what's in store for them!

Sydney rocking out to her ipod.

It's a... girl!!!!

Stephen and I found out this morning that we will be having another baby girl!!!  We decided to do a 3D ultrasound to find out the gender early (at 16-1/2 weeks).  I'm way too impatient, it's pathetic.  Anyways, we went, and they actually just did a regular ultrasound, but it's cool because they project it up on this big screen, and show you all the parts- spine, brain, heart, feet.  We got to see our little girl move all around.  Very cool!  Sydney came with us, and was saying, "Baby, TV."  Yes, it looked like a baby on the TV.  So, they told us it was definitely a girl, and we were both stoked!  We would have been happy either way, but it's going to be fun having 2 girls who can be "buddies".  Plus, we won't have to buy a single stitch of clothing!  This will be the 5th granddaughter for my parents... no boys yet. :)  But they love being surrounded by girls, especially "D-Dad". 

So... Taylor Morgan it is.  We can't wait to meet her!!!!

She's laying on her belly, you can see her brain and spine here.

A little alien-esque, but beautiful! ;)

Plus, as a bonus, I got to see three of my favorite ladies for brunch.  And now USA World Cup soccer!  Great day!

Oh, Baby!

So, most of you know now that I'm expecting baby #2 in early December.  I was SO good with Sydney, taking belly shots pretty much every week to monitor her growth.  I've definitely been slacking on taking them this go-round.  The poor second child.  I will promise to make sure his/her baby book is kept up-to-date.  I wouldn't want it to be NON-EXISTENT like mine was!  Haha, just kidding, Mom and Dad. 

Anyways, I will try to get better about the belly shots.  In the meantime, I will put the last few pictures I've taken of my belly.  Yes, it's huge.  Apparently you pop out like crazy on your second one.  And by crazy, I mean my students were asking me if I was pregnant when I was 6 weeks along!  But, it's okay... as long as the baby is growing healthily, I will be happy. :)

13 weeks

14 weeks

Me at 16 weeks, Ashley at 28 weeks

Also, I want to give a shout out to Sydney... today, she is 21 months old!! I'd like to do a little compare and contrast...

Wow, has she changed!  My little girl is growing up so fast...

Summertime, Summertime, Sum, Sum, Summertime...

My summer is rapidly coming to a close.  Many of you might be thinking... Hello!  It's only June!  Yes, but my county goes back to work on JULY 19.  Well, I'll give it credit... normal, returning teachers go back on July 22.  Since I will be new to the county, I have to report 3 days sooner.  So, I thought I would reflect on the few short weeks I have had to enjoy summer, and then make the most of the next less-than-4-weeks I have left.

For Memorial Day weekend, Stephen and I went on a last-minute trip down to Daytona Beach, FL.  Stephen's aunt rented a condo and was so nice enough to invite us to come down.  We got to see Stephen's cousin Randy, his wife Ashley (commonly known as Randolph and Flash), his cousin Brandon, his wife Melinda, and his cousin Brandi and her husband Tim.  Sydney went on the 7+ hour drive down Friday evening after work, and I must say... she was an angel!  The last long roadtrip we had taken was to Nashville when she was about 13 months old, and she wasn't having it so much.  We popped in her Sesame Street DVD, and she was good to go!  We had a great trip and the weather was perfect.

Ashley, Stephen, and Brandi overlooking the beach.

Sydney, styling and profiling.

Sydney and Daddy on the beach.

The very next Thursday after Memorial Day, Stephen, Sydney, and I boarded a plane to head down to Tampa, FL!  We stayed in Treasure Island, FL at a beach house.  My whole family, minus my brother and his wife and daughter, got to stay together.  My mom's god-daughter got married that weekend in St. Pete Beach.  It was beautiful.  SO much fun. 

The beautiful wedding on the beach at sunset!

Sydney and Daddy at the reception.

This is my favorite pic. :)

Since those two trips, I have been trying to take it easy, hang out with Sydney, catch up with friends, and get the long to-do list of things I put off doing during the school year (like tackling my closet!).  I have been lucky enough to see my best friends from high school at Ashley's baby shower.  Ashley lives in California, Jackie lives in NC, and Erica lives in Atlanta... needless to say, we don't get to be together that often. :( 

Jackie, Ashley, me, and Erica

Things haven't changed too much, huh?

Jackie, me, Erica, and Ashley, around 1998.

So, there you have it... my first few weeks of summer break.  Here's hoping the next few go by veeeerrrryyyy slooooowwwlllyy.

Alright, Alright, I did it...

Yes, I have let go, given in, put my dukes down... and have decided to write a blog.  After a couple of years of friends recommending for me to write one, I am finally doing it.  Me, a blogger?  I'm not the best writer in the world, and I sure don't feel like my life is SO exciting that people will want to read about it... but I will give it my best shot! 

So, here it is.  I'm still trying to figure this thing out, but I had to put at least one blog on the website... otherwise it looked so empty.  Here is to Keeping up with the K-Bashes, may this relationship be long and prosperous.  :-)