The long awaited update

Back after a 2 month blogging hiatus, here are some family updates.  We have been loving life these past couple of months as Sydney is an extremely interactive and happy baby.  As you can see, she has only gotten cuter over this time.  She loves people and is always looking for opportunities to make friends by flashing that irresistible smile.

The only thing cuter than the pink baby Uggs is the baby that wears them

Sydney was the highlight of Christmas

Daddy is totally jealous of Sydney's sleeper and may have one for himself next year

Tired after a long Christmas day in Carmel Valley and Fresno

Sydney is the sixth of seven great-grandkids for Poppy and Grandma

Here with her younger cousin, Etta James (Steven and Cassi's)

Mommy and baby chillin' at Shaver Lake

Sydney learns the "Pyro" ways of Daddy

All bundled up for her first hike in the snow

The snow feels good on those teething gums

The rainbow jumperoo gets quite a bit of action these days.  Sydney will jump and laugh in it for as long as we let her.

Sydney's first flight (to San Antonio) and she was great!  She was her normal happy self on the plane and made friends with the surrounding passengers by the end.

Sydney lookin' cool like aunt Cami

Yes, she's a big flirt!

Excited about our walk around the neighborhood.

Halloween

Our halloween was pretty mellow this year. We went to the pumpkin patch as a family on Halloween, then we came home and speed-carved a bunch of pumpkins so our house would be festive. Our friends the Hughes came over, so we hung out, ate candy, and answered the door for trick-or-treaters.

Just chillin

So tired!

The bumble bee and the strawberry get cozy

Hi Ashlee!

Ariel (Kira) and Bat Dog (Cooper)

Just Hangin Out

Our baby girl is so much fun! She is so active and playful- she engages and smiles, shreiks and squeals. She LOVES her daddy. When David comes home from work, her whole body wiggles when she smiles and talks to him. He will say something to her, and she will squeal with joy- they go back and forth like they are in a conversation. We just laugh, because it is the cutest and funniest thing we have ever seen.

Sydney loving her daddy

Kisses from daddy

Kisses for daddy

Sydney's Dedication

We dedicated Sydney to the Lord on October 26th. Our church dedicates babies instead of baptizing them. For us, it was a committment to God to raise Sydney up in His ways, and to pray over our baby girl as a family and a congregation. Sydney has been God's greatest blessing to us, and it was a joy to dedicate her to Him.

Smiling Sydney

Its now week 8 and for the past 3 weeks our baby girl has started focusing on objects, smiling and laughing. She is becoming very interactive and sometimes will hold a smile and laugh for lengthy periods of time. It is truly the highlight of both of our days to get a reaction out of her. We have so many pictures, I couldn't help but post a few of her flashing those pretty gums. She's also getting pretty strong as you can see above

Sydney and Ashlee's first football game

At week 6 we went to the Bulldog game vs Hawaii with the Hughes'. The game was exciting, but disappointing in the end, as the highly favored Dogs lost both the game in OT as well as their #22 national ranking in the polls. Overall, it was a great time as the 6 and 8 week olds slept through the entire game and Kira (3 1/2) had a great time screaming without restraint at the top of her lungs at the highlights.

This camera can't resist that smile

Kira strikes a Heisman pose with daddy helping her balance

Proud daddies

Shannon, Gabe and their girls will probably be moving to Egypt for the basketball season, so we are trying to get the girls as much hang out time as possible before they leave.

The September Adventures of Sydney Brie!

Our first trip as a family was to San Francisco when Sydney was 2 1/2 weeks old. We were thrilled when we realized for the rest of our life we are carpool lane eligible!!! We went for the California Dental Association annual convention and more importantly to catch up with some of our closest friends from dental school days. Cheyanne threw a "Meet Sydney" shower for us at the Westin St Francis where we stayed.

My favorite postion these days

Cheyanne lovin' on Sydney

Jason, Jernell and their 10 month old Annika

John and Adam are naturals already

Glass elevators on top of the Westin

Union Square gardens

Our next trip was again to San Francisco and then to Sonoma at age 4 1/2 weeks for our 5 year anniversary. We went to a Giants game, stayed at the luxary suite in Adam's 1 bedroom apartment, and Sydney and Liss hung out in the city while I golfed with Adam.

First Giants game and Sydney was totally into it...in her dreams as she slept peacefully through the entire game
Friday nite we went down to Saratoga to the beautiful Mountain Winery for a Chris Bode concert with my parents and Jimmy and Wendy (who then announced they are 12 weeks pregnant!!!). It was an incredible concert with probably the most well-known jazz trumpet artist and his band and special guests. After seeing a concert at that venue, you are spoiled for life.

The Mountain Winery

With Mom, Dad , Jimmy and Wendy (and Sydney's first cousin coming in April!)

After that nite we drove to Healdsburg, Sonoma for our romantic anniversary get-a-way. We almost felt like we were in the Tuscan hills as we drove around the Dry Creek Valley and visited winerys and gardens. It was a weekend of amazing food, great wine, a flat tire, and fun toting Sydney Brie around. Yes we were that couple with a baby while wine tasting.

Dinner on our anniversary...again, she slept through the whole nite

Ferrari Carano Winery in Healdsburg

We have always loved traveling and have never wanted to be a couple that stopped everything when we had a baby. As we have heard from EVERYONE and their moms, enjoy it while she is a newborn because it doesn't last long... well... we will just take it one day at a time. For the time being...we are loving experiencing all kinds of things with our baby girl!