a post with adjectives

I know that it doesn't really need to be said but we love this girl. James is crazy about her and so am I.

I was thinking today that I need to record some things about Sydney that capture who is she is and not just what she can do. I am blown away by her personality and see more and more every day a unique individual taking shape before me. So for those of you who don't know her as well as I do I will try to describe her.

The first word that comes to mind when I think of her is enthusiastic (because she does everything with such gusto!).  The other day an acquaintance said about Sydney " that girl is a powerhouse". And she is. She plays hard, laughs hard, sleeps hard and is a non-stop go-getter kind of girl. It is hard to slow her down. She entertains herself very well. And she loves to express herself and loves a captive audience. I rarely (if ever) catch her hiding behind my skirt. She is always 2 feet in front of me waiting eagerly to greet the next person or experience life throws her way.  If we pass someone on the street and they say hi (to me) then Sydney says "hi" right back in a loud & confident voice.  I am realizing that this is not completely normal for every toddler.  She thinks (and acts) like the world is at her feet. 

 Another word that comes to mind when I think of her is sweet (because she is affectionate and attentive to others).  She is so social. She talks about her friends all the time (Kate, Anna, (Rach)ael, Jane-y, (Kai) mana, Mary Rose, JoJo (Kyle), daddy and the list continues to grow).  Just today we were at the beach and she saw a little girl a year or so older and after awhile went a few feet away from us to play with her. The little girl immediately ran to her mothers side like Sydney was going to attack her.  Sydney would never do that, she loves other kids (and that little girl probably does to but shows it differently). She has no personal space issues and will often hug another child in the first 5 minutes that they've know each other. This does not always put me in an easy spot!  She notices when other kids are unhappy or sad and it affects her. She says "uh-oh" with sympathy when another kid starts to cry. She has always been generous with the hugs and kisses with everyone (much to my dismay....I mean at first it was cute but now my daughter is going around kissing kids and adults on the lips!).  

But the best moments have come just this week. We will be playing or snuggling and she will look up at me and take her little hands and cup them on my face and give me a big kiss. Or maybe she just puts her hands on my checks.  Melt my heart. 

Sometimes when we are in the car I will reach my hand back and put my hand on her knee and usually she brushes me off. Or sometimes I tickle her and she laughs.  But the other day I put my hand back and she took it into hers. And she wouldn't let go. Eventually my arm got sore so I let go.  A few minutes later she said "hand" "mommy" "hand". Then the next time we were in the car she remembered and asked again to hold my hand. SO sweet.

I am thankful for Sydney and the joy she brings into our lives. (Even after the 5th game in a row of "hiding"...hide n'go seek)

Here she is ...after digging out her goggles and bumble bee costume and insisting on wearing them over her pj's. She kept saying "stung me" until I sang her the baby bumble bee song. And of course I did.