It's true love.

Helloooo! I've been hearing from people that I have sucked at getting posts up, lately. Excuse me, but giving birth, and then actually taking care of the infant, is hard work. Plus, when I do have extra time, I find that I am holding Sydney...just cause she'll only smell like this for so long, she'll only have her baby orangutan hair for so long, she'll only be nine pounds for so long...you get the picture. Because I know for certain that this baby is the last, I find that everything she does is that much more enchanting. (It makes for boring blog posts, I know...but either you totally know where I'm coming from, or you will, eventually). I had forgotten how hard this is. I forget how hard, EVERY time, but it's well worth it. I've been carefully monitoring Riley and Cole around Sydney...and honestly, I don't think that they could love anyone more. Even when she stinks...and cries, and burps and farts...Riley and Cole are there to kiss her, and somehow translate each sigh and grunt into what she needs at that exact second. Then, of course, they relay the message to me, and it's MY job to alleviate her any annoyance in the timeliest manner, possible.
Sydney is making huge progress. She's a strong little girl. I'm posting one of those really boring "parent videos", in which my child does something that just isn't very interesting or original, however, because I think it's the cutest thing ever, I'm pretending that you'll think so, as well. So you can watch it, or not. You'd think that I would be over that sort of thing...but actually I'm just annoyed that the digital revolution wasn't around the first couple of times I had kids. It's just so sad that I won't have as many memories of Riley and Cole, simply because we couldn't afford the toys that we have now, then.

We've all had a hard/fun time adjusting to our new schedules. Riley and Cole got to stay home that first week that we brought Sydney home, and now they are back to school. (Luckily for them, it's only this week, and then they have two weeks off for Christmas break). Unfortunately for me, the kids have gone back to school and so in addition to not having their help, which was greatly appreciated by me, they will also be bringing every type of cold and flu virus...just in time for us to stew in all of it over the holiday break. Yay...
Riley has surprised me most with Syd. She said she was excited for her to get here, and she was excited to see what Syd would look like, but other than that, she wasn't overly interested in the whole pregnancy process. I guess being that I was a bigger, meaner, more tired version of me, it makes a bit of sense. Anyway, these days she wakes up early on her own to "help" with Sydney. Or when I'm changing Syd or she's mad cause I'm trying to get her fed but going about it too slowly, she's offering to help with distracting her sister for as long as I need, I am really lucky that our new little one is loved so much.
Cole is pretty chill about the whole arrival of Syd. He loves her, and he gives her hugs and kisses, but my son has a very weak stomach...the kind where he will just heave chunks if you even start talking about something gross. (Note: never mention zombies in his presence). Seriously though, he will start vomiting for no reason, only that you have officially triggered his gag reflex. If it didn't piss me off so much, I'd probably be amazed at his talent. Since Sydney is a newborn...and they are all equipped with the terrifying "Umbilical stump", Cole had to disappear each time I would change Sydney's diaper or clothing. Also, when she was bundled up nice and neat, he'd be compelled to talk to her and encourage her to play. If I were to expose her stomach in any way, he'd be out of there. And then he'd call to me from about two rooms away about when I'd be done, and when he could come back in. I didn't realize this was what was bugging him until Riley told me about it. I then confronted him, and asked if that were the reason he jets every time....I was answered when he started to dry heave and told me, "I just don't want to talk about it".
I do have an exciting announcement, however. Last night Sydney's umbilical stump came off. I think that's such a scary name for it...however, fitting. So now I don't have that extra stress, and this makes me happy. Also, scary belly button aside, we've noticed that Noony has been strategically placed wherever Sydney is. This is positive proof that Cole is smitten with his baby sister. I mean, I had pretty high hopes, but this goes way above and beyond him tolerating her and all the time she takes. That's pretty much it for now. I don't have a lot of news, as we are kind of home-bound lately. But it's been nice. So, I promise my posts will get better, eventually. Right now we're all a bit star-struck, and all my free time goes into holding Syd...just watching her.
Oh, and for those of you that are wondering, yes, Jeff does spend time with Syd, as well. I just need to get better about taking pictures. Right now she and Jeff take their evening bath together...and for the sake of my readers, I haven't got any of those precious moments on my digital devices. But as soon as I get a good one, you'll be the first to know.