Growing Up Too Fast

My babies are growing faster than I ever imagined possible...

Dallen started preschool on Monday August 13th. He looked so grown up and was totally ready to go. He was so sentimental all day, saying "I love you" every 5 minutes and manipulating me to play with him by saying "it's my first day of school so you better play with me cause you're gonna miss me". He LOVED his first day. He was so proud and felt so special, just like I wanted him to. Immediately after school he got in the car and woke up his sister to say "It's ok Sydney, I'm back now! You don't have to miss me anymore. I thought about you the whole time"!! He is having a great time in preschool.

Some more things about Dallen:
*A little while ago we went to a cousin's baseball game and I overheard some little girls talking about Justin Beiber and told Dallen, "they like Justin beiber too, you should see if you can play with them". And it was so adorable to watch him muster up the courage to go talk to them. It was like watching a little teenage Dallen and it totally melted my heart!!
*Speaking of teenage Dallen, that boy has a little teenage attitude. He watches the little teenage shows on Disney channel and learns the funniest things to say like, "Oh nards" and "awwwk-warrrd" so cute!!
*Even though he is so grown up he is still my little boy and he reminds me when he says little kids things like 'I'm drinky' instead of 'I'm thirsty' or things like 'cattepitter' (caterpillar), or stellakin (skeleton), or calling the hamper, the Camper.
*When he goes shopping he picks out his own clothes and takes them into the dressing room all by himself. I feel like he is way too young for this but he LOVES the independence or it.
*One of my favorite things is to watch Dallen and Sydney interact with each other, it is so special. Dallen tells Sydney, "When I'm an astronaut someday I will take you to the moon with me, is that alright Sydney? Do you want to go to the moon?" And a lot of times he calls her Sydna or sister but lately he's been calling her pretty girl.

Dallen is such a sweet boy and I love this age he's at. I try so hard to maintain my patience and make good memories out of these times that are passing all too quickly.

***
Sydney Rose turned 8 months old just a few days ago and gets older and wiser every minute.

A few things about Sydney:
*She surprised me when all of the sudden one day she could crawl, wave and give open mouth kisses, all on the same day!! She has a tendency of growing really fast all at once. Although she is kind of funny with the growing. Just after she turned 2 months she started wearing 3-6 month clothes and now at 8 months, she is still wearing the same clothes. Since her 6 month check up she has only gained a few ounces, she is a tiny little peanut trying to grow up too fast!!
*She rolls around and scoots and does the cutest little bouncing thing when she's sitting.
*She has the sweetest little voice and babbles all the time.
*She loves the squeeze baby foods and sucks them down in less than 5 minutes.
*She is getting so smart and has the sweetest little personality. She knows what "NO" means, she plays games with her binky and when you hand her a football she puts it over her head and holds it there until you say "touchdown".
*I just love everything about my little girl but the one thing I could do without would be that she is an EARLY riser!!

I hope I can remember each and every high and low about this little girls life right now because it is racing by.

My Blog is My Journal

Does anyone remember the episode of Saved By the Bell when Jessie gets addicted to caffeine pills to help her stay awake? She has a serious breakdown yelling "there's no time, there's never any time!!" Most days I feel like that, minus the pill addiction (in fact I've had NO caffeine in months because of breastfeeding which is quite an accomplishment for me). I go to bed at the end of my day completely and utterly exhausted and worst of all, usually with work left undone to do the next day. I seriously considered quitting my blog, since blogger changed everything and made it take even longer to post. And thanks to Instagram I don't feel the need to post my pictures so my family can keep up with my ever growing children. Then I realized that my blog is my journal. My memory stinks so I need to write down special moments that happen in my life while I still can, if not for my readers (if I have any left), then for myself. So, although our vacation to California was nearly a month ago now, here is the documentation of that wonderful trip, my favorite holiday week of the entire year!!

{The two kids and I hopped on a plane, all by ourselves. They did great}

{We were so excited to finally get to go to the new Talega pools and splash pad}

{This is in the running for my favorite picture of the trip: cousin love, Sydney & Blair}

{Dallen and his CA girlfriend Siena on the giant wheel at Irvine Spectrum}

{A trip to Sea World, AZ represent}

{Totally tubular}

{Just look at that face in her sparkly whale shirt, she was such a trooper for the long day at Sea World}

{He was so proud to touch a starfish}

{So glad I was able to take my boy to Sea World, he loved every minute of it. Couldn't have done it without Mimi and so glad Blairski and Aubs could join in on the fun}

{A lone boy and a beach, endless possibilities}

{Some more of my favorites...}

{Such a little model}

{A foreground as pretty as the background}

{Great Uncle Pickle, everybody loves Dave}

{Gigi missed the fireworks, but she didn't mind at all}

{Yup, Big D got to ride Uncle Matt's motorcycle}

{Tiki at the Bagel Shack, probably our new favorite San Clemente stop}

{Five kids, in a pool, on the beach, without water}

{Bracken family Independence Day vacation 2012}

{A little reading on a cloudy day at the beach}

{Sisters}

{Never wanna say goodbye}

Little & Big

It is amazing that I wasn't even 6 months pregnant when this picture was taken...

And now that little ultrasound picture is my beautiful 6 month baby girl...

Our little rosebud is a pure joy to have around. She is the best little baby. She only fusses when she has a real complaint: hungry, bored or tired. Sydney sits up so well, loves to eat carrots and plays with all of brother's toys. We have lots of nicknames for Sydney: I sometimes call her Ms. Rose, Dallen calls her Syn or Sydna and most often we call her sister. She is a great little sister to her super brother. The two were made to be the best of friends!! No one can get a laugh out of her quite like her brother can. He always has to kiss her first thing in the morning and last thing before bed. We all love to kiss on Syd, she is just so perfect. I couldn't have ordered a more perfect baby for our family. We love you Sydney Rose, happy half birthday!!

{In Pictures & Words}

{Oh her eyes, make the stars look like they're not shining}

{Her hair, falls perfectly without her trying}

{She's so beautiful}

{And I tell her every day}

{When I see your face}

{There's not a thing that I would change}

{Cause you're amazing girl}

{Just the way you are}

{When you smile, the whole world stops and stares for a while}

{Cause you're amazing}

{Just the way you are}

{Her lips, I could kiss them all day if she'd let me}

{She's so beautiful}

{And I tell her every day}

{Oh you know I'd never to ask you to change}

{If perfect's what you're searching for, then just stay the same}

{When I see your face}

{There's not a thing that I would change}

{Cause you're amazing}

{Just the way you are}

{Girl you're amazing}

{Just the way you are}

Pictures by: Alexia Sotelo of Ty Bebe Photography
Words by: Bruno Mars