Christmas & Birthday Celebrations

As of the date of this post Sydney is 2 years and 2 days old.

The month of December could probably be renamed The Month of Sydney. Sydney definitely thinks December is all about her. Between Chanukah celebrations, Christmas celebrations, and then her birthday, it sure does seem fitting that it is the month of Sydney.

We had a great time being able to celebrate with family and some friends throughout the month. We are blessed with wonderful people in our lives who make these moments all the more special.

Christmas Eve had us celebrating with the Herold Clan. Sydney and her two little cousins had such fun opening up lots of presents from the grandparents, aunts & uncles, and even from each other. One of the gifts we treasure most is a picture of the 3 little girls together in a frame that says "cousins forever". We really do hope that all of the girls grow up to be close and good friends.

Christmas morning had Scott, Sydney, and I celebrating by ourselves and it was a prefect way to start the morning. We were able to take our time, have a liesurely breakfast and just really enjoy the moment.

Christmas dinner was super yummy and lots of fun with the grandparents all there to share in the memories and the moments. Sydney is indeed lucky as she would say I have TWO pop-pops, as loud as she possibly can. Followed up with 1 Ga-ga, and 1 mom-mom. She loves her grandparents so much.

Then came her birthday which was such a great day of fun. All about that sweet little girl turning two. Scott and I made sure to take down all the Christmas decorations and just put up birthday decorations as it's important to us that she feel her birthday is separate from Christmas. She loved the balloons and had such a good time playing with them. As did her cousins.

We made her an elmo cake and had family over for dinner and dessert. She and her cousins played with the many new toys that she got over the holidays and the night was a success. We are so thankful to all those who were able to share in that special day with us and we missed those who live too far away to be here.

Here are some pictures from the holidays and birthday for your enjoyment.

Holidays 2009 - Slideshow Maker

Chanukkah Celebrations...

In this post Sydney is 1 year,11 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days old.

This past week has been filled with lots of Chanukkah celebrations in our house. We have celebrated with Sydney each night of Chanukkah by lighting candles, singing songs, and she gets a present each night. She is LOVING that part!

Then on Saturday night of this past week we were fortunate to be able to celebrate with Sydney's Aunt Cassie & Uncle Scott, and her 2 little cousins, Alissa and Taryn. They came over for a pizza party, candle lighting, present exchange, and then we capped off the evening with a trip to our local zoo for the light spectacular. It was a cold but fun night out.

Sunday had Mom-mom & Pop-pop and Aunt Anita over for another Chanukkah celebration. Sydney loved it! She ate lots of latkes and other yummy foods. She was blessed with all that she received in the way of presents. It was crazy! so many new toys and such to look at that she didn't know which direction to turn first or what to play with first. I think she is going to feel like that for quite awhile. Each day she is gravitating toward a different new toy. It's fun to watch her discover a new toy and how it works. Some of her favorites so far are the little tykes etch a sketch (Aunt Martha & Uncle Saul sent up from NC), her Dora doll & stroller from her Mom-mom & Pop-pop, and the remote control car that Aunt Anita gave her. I am not sure who likes the remote control zoo car more though, Sydney or her Daddy!!

Then last night Ga-ga and Pop-pop came over for dinner and Chanukkah celebration and we had lots of fun visiting with them as well. More candles were lit, more toys were given. And the hit of the evening was the Cozy Coupe Car. Sydney could barely wait for her Daddy to put it together. she just wanted to ride in it from the moment the pieces came out of the box. For now she will have to be satisfied riding in it in the house until the weather changes a bit.

Today she "parked" it in the center of the family room, got her sippy cup, her fruit snack, and sat in it with her feet up on the dash watching her Dora DVD on the TV. I think she thought she was at the drive in movies! Such fun.

We still have a few more Chanukkah celebrations left before the holiday is over. Sydney sure is one lucky girl.

Here are a few pictures from the festivities:

A Special Thank you

We also wanted to say a separate and special thank you to our friend Darby. She designed this beautiful banner for us, and her and Michael are just special people in our lives. Now if only you lived closer. We miss you!!

Big Doings in the Herold Household....

In this post Sydney is 1 year, 11 months, 1 week, and 6 days old.

Just like last time, life seems to be moving so quickly that I am horrible about updating our blog. One of my new year's resolutions is to try and update weekly. We will see how long that actually lasts, but I am hoping it will last for the entire year, as I would really like to capture more of our memories on here.

But for now -- we have big goings on in the Herold household. Baby #2 is on the way!! We are half way through what feels like a VERY long pregnancy (for all of us), and we were able to confirm this past Tuesday that we are expecting another baby girl in April 2010. We are very excited. The baby is doing fantastically so far, and one of these days my morning sickness might even subside. I can hope right?

Sydney is going to be 2 years old at the end of this month and I am forever amazed at how quickly time is going. She is such a joy and the light of our life. Every day she makes us laugh and smile, and sometimes makes us want to pull our hair out!

She is doing a ton of pretend play, loves her "guys" as she calls them (refering to all of her stuffed animals, baby dolls, and assorted other friends) and is talking up a storm (just like her mama!). She likes to play with her ABC toys, and she counts okay... her favorite right now is to go 1, 2, 8. We have no idea why 1,2,8. But 2 is still her favorite number.

She keeps growing taller and needing new shoes, but I guess that is to be expected when you feed them. LOL

Sydney is really excited about the upcoming few weeks. With 2 Chanukah celebrations, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and her Birthday -- there is much going on. She has learned to say Happy Chanukah, although it sounds like happy hada, but that's okay we understand what she is saying. and Merry Christmas comes out sounding like Mer Mer Ca Ca.

We really feel blessed with the life that we have. Scott and I are both well and Sydney is happy and healthy, so really we couldn't ask for more.

A few holiday pictures of sweet Sydney. Hope you enjoy! I hope we get to see many of you over the holidays but for those we won't get to see, please have a safe and fun holiday season.

Long Time Coming

In this post Sydney is 1 year, 7 months, and 5 days old



We have no excuse for not updating lately so we aren't going to make one. We have been very busy since the last update. I'll try and capture all that we have been doing and hopefully won't leave out too much.

When we last updated we had gone to the Turtle Back Zoo. That was at the beginning of May. Since then we have spent many days at various local petty zoos and farms. Sydney just loves to pet as many of the animals as she can, as well as feed them. She also had her first few pony rides this summer and loved loved loved them! She never seems to want to get off the pony when she is riding on one.

June brought the celebration of father's day and we were fortunate enough to have both sets of grandparents come over to celebrate the day with us. Sydney loves both of her Pop-pops so very much.

June also had us taking a trip to Cape Cod & Wharham MA with our friends the Hermans. Scott was able to finally take a tour of Factory Five and we all got to see so many pretty (and some not so pretty) Cobras! It makes us want to be on the road all that much faster.

We have also celebrated several birthdays since our last update. Sydney helped her Daddy celebrate his birthday on 2 different days with LOTS of cake. She also helped her Poppop Herold celebrate his birthday again with cake! We still owe him a cherry pie though, so pretty soon we will be baking pie! Aunt Anita had a birthday in May as well but unfortunately we didn't get to see her this year on her birthday.

Sydney's Aunt Martha is celebrating her birthday on Tuesday and while we can't be in North Carolina to celebrate with her with lots of cake (see a theme) we will see her at the end of August and celebrate with cake then!

We have been getting out almost daily with our local moms group and playing at various parks or swimming pools. Sydney is a little fish who loves being in the water. She puts her face in and tries to blow bubbles, but mostly drinks the water.

Tuesday mornings are spent at storytime where we hear a new story every week, sing songs, and color pictures! Sydney loves seeing her storytime friends and playing with them often at the park after storytime.

We have done a bunch of picnic lunches and spend as much time outside as possible. This summer that is really hard because it seems to rain all the time lately in NJ. But that's okay... some days we even play in the rain. Mrs. V bought Sydney a beautiful raincoat, umbrella, and rainboots but right now they are too big for her to wear, so hopefully she will be able to use them in the fall. Then she can stomp in puddles without getting her feet wet!

Sydney has also discovered her love of amusement park rides. So far she has spent time at Storybook Land, The Land of Make Believe, and various fairs that have amusement rides. The antique cars, planes, and carosels seem to be her favorites so far! She has told me though that when she gets bigger she wants to ride on the Tilt A Whirl with cousin Alissa.

July brought about a fun bbq at our house on the 4th with lots of our friends and family. Scott and some of his friends put the engine in the Cobra for the first time and since then we have been going non-stop with getting things moving with the car! The 2nd weekend in July brought about the first official go-cart riding of the Cobra! We are all truly excited and so proud of all Scott has accomplished with the car. He tells me there are a few more things to be done, and then over the winter is body work and paint! Our hope is to be on the road with a finished car this Spring!!

July also brought about Sydney spending time in the Poconos with Gammy, Auntie Cassie, and cousins Taryn & Alissa... along with Mommy & Daddy of course! She is learning from her cousins all about camping and how not to eat the stones on the ground! So far so good... she seems to really like visiting there!

Sydney had her 18 month well baby appointment as well. At that time she was 33 inches tall and weighed 24 pounds. The doctor says we can continue to allow her as much to eat as she wants, including all the ice-cream and treats that she wants because she is still only in the 40th percentile for body mass. And believe me Sydney likes her icecream! She is just super active and always on the go!!

Okay if you are still reading and aren't sleeping by this point, God bless you for having the patience to read through all of our comings and goings!

We have taken so many pictures so far and it would take forever to post them all so we put together two slide shows for you to enjoy as well as a link to a short video of Scott's first ride in the cobra (during go-cart prebody stage. Enjoy!!

Car Ride

Make a Smilebox photobook

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Turtle Back Zoo Trip

In this post Sydney is 1 year, 4 months, 1 week, and 2 days old.

At the end of April Mommy and Daddy took me to a local zoo. (Turtle Back Zoo). It was such an unusually hot day though -- about 90 degrees in April in NJ -- that most of the animals were no where to be seen. But here is a small slide show of what I was able to see that day.

I had a great time and so did Mommy & Daddy. We will definitely go back again.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

A few video clips

In this post Sydney is 1 year, 4 months,1 week, and 1 day old.

Mommy finally had time to post some video clips of things I have done over the past couple of months. Mommy, Daddy, and I hope you enjoy them. This video was taken at 1 year and 4 months exactly. I took my first steps on my 16 month birthday! Mommy & Daddy had been waiting for FOREVER for me to do it, but I waited until I was ready. Now I still don't walk everywhere but each day I walk more and more. Mommy says this looks like frankenstein learning to walk. Mommy is silly.


This video is of my first time having a lollipop. My pop-pop Leon got me this lolly to eat during Passover and i sure did have fun eating it and getting EVERYTHING and EVERYONE very sticky. I was 15 months old in this video.


Daddy thought this video was funny because I couldn't stay awake during dinner. It's not my fault that some days I don't want to nap so by the time it's dinner time I am soooooo sleepy. This was taken in January, so I was 13 months old.


hope you all enjoyed these... next installment will be my first trip to the zoo. Mommy just needs to find the time to post the pictures.

Today's Adventure....

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 3 months, 4 weeks old.

Today Mommy & I met up with Mom-mom & Pop-pop for lunch. Since Mom-mom & Pop-pop are headed to St. Marteen for 2 weeks, we wanted to see them before they left. So we met 1/2 way at the Freehold Mall.

Lucky for me the mall has a tot area, where I got to play and have fun. I even got to ride my very 1st Carousel ride. It was a lot of fun. Thanks Pop-pop for taking me on the Carousel.

Here are a couple of pictures from today's adventure. Maybe next time Mom-mom will get in the pictures also.

Pictures and more pictures

Bashful Sydney receiving some presents at Passover 2009.


Sydney & Poppop - Passover 2009


Pigtails for the 1st time


Out with Daddy on our way to Gammy & Pop-pop's house.


Playing with my Bus -- I love riding on my Bus.


Driving Daddy's Cobra -- I wonder if someday he will give me this car! Mommy says: Doubt it!!

Finally Mommy decides to update....

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 3 months, 3 weeks and 6 days old. I'm also 31.5 inches tall and weigh 23 pounds

It's been FOREVER since my Mommy update our blog. I'm busy eating animal cookies and watching Elmo while mommy tries to update things. It's been 2 months since our last update and Mommy's only excuse is that we have been darn busy. Me... I could eat animal cookies and watch Elmo all day every day if they would let me... so not sure why Mommy couldn't have let me sooner.

Over the past couple of months we have all had colds, ear infections, stomach viruses, and assorted other germie type things. We also celebrated a few holidays and dealt with a few snow storms. And here it is now, finally Spring and the flowers are starting to bloom and I get to play outside more now. Daddy also has been busy with his Cobra building. It's coming along so nicely... by this summer we should be in the go-cart stage with a working engine and everything!

The holidays were fun... at Passover I got to visit with Uncle Saul & Aunt Martha and that was totally cool. I don't get to see them very often since they live far from me. They bought me a really awesome book that teaches me all of my colors, shapes, and such. I sit and read it every day with Mommy, and sometimes with Daddy. Cousin Amanda was in school so I didn't get to see her. Maybe she will come visit me over the summer.

At Easter my cousins Alissa & Taryn came over to my house for an Easter Egg hunt. That sure was a lot of fun. I hope that the Easter Bunny visits again next year so that we can do that again. Mommy is waiting on Aunt Cassie & Uncle Scott for some pictures of that day since they were the ones with the camera that day.

I'm still not walking on my own yet... even though every day Mommy & Daddy try and encourage me to do so. But I am doing so many other things:

I sing Baba Black sheep.
I do Inky Dinky Spider
I know many body parts (nose, ears, belly button, eyes, and toes)
I am learning to use a fork & spoon.
I do pretty great at feeding myself.
I play ball and love blowing bubbles
I will sometimes dance and sing.
I love going on the swings and slides at the park.
I enjoy playing with my little friends.
I love to read books and will spend hours a day doing this if Mommy lets me.
I still love Elmo, he's the bestest!

I'm sure there are other cute things I do, but that's all Mommy can think of at the moment.

Mommy does have some pictures of me doing various things over the past couple of months... so hope you enjoy them. We promise to try and update much more often. Silly mommy...

Long Day....

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 1 month, 1 week and 3 days old.

Mommy and I had a very busy day today. We went out to Target with my friend Ashley and her Mommy. Our mommies sure can shop. They had us go through the entire store and they still only wound up with a few things. But it was quite the adventure. Then Ashley and I, and of course our mommies, went to the library and spent time reading books and exploring the children's section. I heart the library. It's a lot of fun. Mommy told me tonight during dinner that she would be sure to take me to story time at the library. yay for story time!

I was so tired from my big adventure with Ashley that I fell asleep while waiting in my highchair for mommy to give me dinner. It's hard being 1.

Shopping Cart Walking

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 1 month, 1 week and 3 days old.

I'm walking.... oh yes Siree... I'm walking... for all to see. Okay so I am walking with my shopping cart, but this is my first attempt at walking other than holding onto furniture or mommy and daddy's hands. Pretty soon I will be able to walk all by myself. But what good practice this is for when Mommy and I go shopping.

Yummmmm...Yogurt

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, and 1 day old.

So this morning I decided that I didn't want Mommy to help feed me yogurt. Even though she insisted on helping me with most of it, in the end I managed to secure both the spoon and the yogurt container for my very own.


Look Ma.... I'm messy!! But it sure did taste good.




And then at lunch I did my very best at feeding myself berry applesauce.





At this rate Mommy will need to give me a bath 3 times a day.

Splish Splash I was taking a bath

In this post, Sydney is 1 year, 1 month, and 5 days old.

My mommy & daddy really need to find something better to do with their time than to play with video cameras while I am trying to take a bath! Sheesh Mom & Dad... a bit of privacy please.

Fun with Video

We are just now getting around to doing something with a ton of video that we shot during Sydney's first year. I think I have figured out how to post the video as well to this blog. So here is a clip of when Sydney first learned how to roll over. I can't believe how much she has grown and changed since that time. We are so blessed to be able to be her parents.

Some Winter Time Fun

Here you go folks.... at least someone is having fun in the snow. It sure wasn't Scott or myself... but Sydney had a great time a couple of weeks ago in the snow. There are more storms coming for sure and no doubt she will be sledding up a storm these next few months.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We have teeth....

Sydney finally has more teeth. Poor thing has been teething for what seems like forever, and finally she has a new right-side bottom incisor, and a right-side bottom molar. The left side doesn't seem that far behind. Now if only she would smile big enough so I could capture the memory on film.

Winter stinks....

Sydney sure seems to do better in Spring, Summer, and Fall than the winter. The poor little girl has been hit hard the past few weeks. First with a cold, then she had a yeast diaper rash that appeared out of no where, and now she has ear infections in both ears. Seems like she barely got sick until she turned 1. Now 3 weeks into 1 years old, and bam... hit like a ton of bricks.

But she is taking it like a champ. Sharing her pain *laughs* and making sure we all know how miserable she is. But she does it in such a cute way that we can't help but think she is adorable even when sick.

No pictures with this update because snotty nosed babies don't sit still for pictures. Hopefully pictures next week.

2008 in Review

2008 was such a blessed year for us. Sydney is amazing. She is the best blessing we could have ever been given. To get to watch her 1st year of life was incredible. It all went by much too quickly for my liking. I can't believe she is already one year old. I am thankful every day that I spend with her. She enriches my life and our family for sure. I wanted to capture moments of the last year in pictures, so here goes....

Make a Smilebox scrapbook