Sydney Fuller

Heil Ranch

We took Sydney for her second hike today. The first one went well — so we thought we would push it. We planned for a shorter hike because we got started later in the day. We went to Heil Ranch. Its very close to home. Only downside is that they do not allow dogs there because its an animal preserve of some sort. We did the quick 1+ mile Lichen Loop which ducks in and out of the trees. Sydney continues to make giggling sounds the entire time especially when the trees move and the wind blows. Its pretty funny. At one point when we stopped to get water, we wondered if she was thirsty. Turns out she was. We “cup fed” her a bunch of lid fulls of our water. Yummy. The other cute part is that Sydney holds onto my index fingers like they are motorcycle handle bars while we move along the trail. Seems to help keep her steady I guess. Another fun hike. Attention Colorado visitors, you will have to go hiking with Sydney when you come and visit. Get in shape! (We forgot baby suntan lotion again — bad parents.)

Rollin, Rollin

This kid is on a roll, literally. You put her down and she is on her back, then her belly, then back on her back, etc. She keeps moving all the time. Her other new pastime is singing, or yelling as I like to call it. She just talks really loud making noise. Its obvious that she knows she is the one making the noise. She likes the sound of her own voice. I think she takes after mommy.

More Squash Please

So far Syd has enjoyed the new tastes of first carrots and then squash. I didn’t think the whole experience was going over well because she would hold her lips tightly closed at the spoonful of carrots coming her way (and then promptly spit them out). And then we tried Squash! I truthfully do not know too many people who would eat squash but Syd thinks its heaven on a spoon. She swallows her spoonful fast and immediately opens her mouth full for the next bite. If I am too slow she grabs the spoon and tries to shove it in her mouth. Though it normally goes up her nose instead. Tomorrow, we try sweet potatoes and then the green veggies start.

Since you have already seen pictures of Syd eating, we thought we would show you her next milestone. She has outgrown the newborn carseat and stroller combo and is now in her big girl carseat. She also gets to situp in her stroller now as opposed to lying down in the newborn combo facing backwards. Our walks are now always a joy since she gets to sit up and look forward at all the cool things around her.

Dinner Time

Doctor Visit

Today was Syd’s 4 month doctor visit. She weighed in at 14 pounds 11 ounces which puts her at the 75th percentile. She is 25 inches long which also puts her in at the 75th percentile. She must not be growing quite as fast any more as she used to be in the 97th percentile. So, maybe we won’t be dwarfed by our daughter someday. The topic of this visit was starting her on solids. Syd started Rice cereal last week which she loves. According to the doctor she is to start on her veggies next week. The evil woman at his office also poked her with really sharp needles four times. Needless to say we cried a lot after this and don’t think we are going to fall for that one again. This is the second time that has happened there. Syd doesn’t know that her next visit is in 2 months where she will get 2 more shots.

I Go Both Ways

So, this morning Syd woke up crying about one hour before her normal time. Thinking she would go back to sleep I let her cry for a few minutes until I noticed her getting more panicky. When I went into her room she was on her belly completely but squished up against the rails of the crib. For those of you who don’t know the significance of this, Syd rolled over from back to belly. I guess she was embarrassed by the fit we made over her first rollover that she wanted to master this back rollover on her own. Just to make sure it was real I put her on the floor and she immediately did the feat again. What a big girl she is becoming. Here is video of a rollover from later in the day.

Rolling Over

After we returned from the hike today, we put Sydney on the floor while we relaxed. Mom started playing with her and flipped her over onto her tummy. Sydney was really moving her legs around and lifting her butt up in the air. All of a sudden, Sydney started rolling and just kept on going over! There she was lying on her back all of sudden. I think she was as stunned as the parents were. So after a bit a of praise, what did we do? Of course, we flipped her back over to be sure its wasn’t a fluke. About a minute later, she did it again. After the third time, we decided that we had a rollover officially — from front to back. Now, we need to get back to front going.

My First Hike

Now that its cooling down a bit, the whole family decided it was time for Sydney’s first hike. We headed over to Button Rock, which is about 20 minutes from our house in the foothills. We hooked up the baby and the dogs and we were off. Its two miles uphill to the dam, our goal.

One of our stops along the way. The trail follows the river the whole way up so you hear lots of running water the whole time. The park service was nice enough to scatter restrooms along the way because the running water makes you think about pee pee — often.

At the dam, there is a huge wall that blocks the water and then it shoots out the bottom like a big firehouse. Mom and Sydney stopped to check it out. During the photo shoot, we noticed the dogs intently smelling a white stick. As I tried to get them to come away from it, I noticed ants on the stick. I decided that wasn’t normal and got them away from it promptly. Kim walked over to the white stick and determined that is was actually the partial leg of a deer. The hoof was still partially intact. Maybe we ought to get going before we are hunted down and killed.

All done. Sydney did great on the walk and was actually awake for nearly all of it. But she got a bit of sun today. Check out the red cheeks. We weren’t smart enough to sunscreen the baby. One thing at a time I guess — on the job training.

Screw Rolling Over

Sydney has decided to rewrite the book and do things out of order. So this week, she is sitting. Next week, she will probably be potty training and then learn to crawl the week after — I guess.

Uncle Dickie

This picture just came in from the Fort Wayne Visit. Sydney with her Great Uncle.

Carry Me

We have started taking our walks this way instead of in the stroller.

Home Again

Mom & Sydney arrived home today with no problems. Thanks to everyone who took time to say hi to Sydney during her visit to Fort Wayne. See you again at Christmas, Fort Wayners.

Who Are All These People?

Kim took about 100 pictures in the last few days of the visit. Here are a bunch of them.

Visiting with Great Aunt Mae Sheffer, sister to Grandpa Herb.

Once again hanging with my cousin Christian. I think these two look like they will be trouble in the next few years.

Cousins Edward (he is grown up now) and Ryan. The hot chick is Edward’s girlfriend.

Not to be out done by the 4 generations of Fullers, the Coburns weigh in!

Kim pulls the double whammy with the 4 generations of Knoxes picture as well.

Visiting with Aunt Jamie.

Um, guys, can we get some help here? Christian is playing with dolls. Somebody needs to have a talk with Dave. Get that boy a truck or a hammer or something!

Herb, who is currently undergoing some type of voodoo back pain, even caught up with Sydney.

Visiting with Jim & Lois Horn.

If you don’t smile properly for the camera, we will be forced to embarass you on the Internet.

Grandpa Ron finally gets to see Sydney but Sydney is must more interested in Grandma’s finger. Tastes like?

Great Uncle Kurt

Visiting with the Lasley’s.

Sydney, there will be a test soon. Hope you are good with names!

Daddy, Can I Have a Pony?

If she starts asking for a pony, Dad is sending her to live with the Grandparents. Our farm is full!

And Then The Rains Came..

Well, after 1 nice day at the lake — the rains came. It rained and rained. Then rained some more. Nearly a record. Flooding everywhere. So the the last 1/2 of the weekend was spent indoors sleeping, talking & playing with Sydney.