Fall Adventures

We have been staying busy this fall. We made a last minute decision to visit Atlanta for the weekend and had a great time. Some pictures turned out okay and you can see those in the photo album.

We also visited our friends farm in Blountsville for Pumpkinpallooza 09! Sydney had a great time playing and dancing and her favorite thing swinging. We collected a few pumpkins and enjoyed the bbqed pig they had. A whole pig, it was quite the sight! They had some fireworks and those we're not so sure of. She didn't scream but wanted to be a little further away.

Sydney is loving her new addition to her playroom that we picked up in Atlanta at IKEA. We pick up our toys every night and sing a little song. It is fun and if you get the chance come over any time and come play!

We love you all and hope you are going to be with your families these upcoming holidays, like we are. We are all excited for some turkey and meat pies!!!

New Orleans or BUST

Well, it was a bust. I was suppose to leave last Thursday for a misson trip with my old honor society chapter (Beta Lambda Delta) from Jeff State to go work in New Orleans for a few days and I ended up getting strep throat. I was very upset but grateful that my parents were here. Originally to take care of Sydney, but ended up taking care of both of us. My family is super wonderful. My sister even came for the weekend and risked getting sick to spend time with mom, dad and Sydney. They all had a good time and I was able to rest.

I am feeling about 95% today, so I took the girls to the park. I uploaded a bunch of new and old photos so take a quick look when you get a chance. click here

I love the fall weather!!!!

A Nice Gift

I spent the last weekend in Cullman, Alabama at the Sacred Heart Monastery for a Wellness Retreat with my girl friends from our Young Families group. We all had a great relaxing time and we deserved the break. This was my first time to leave Sydney over night and I was so ready!!! I did miss her of course and when I returned home she started saying "Mommy"! This was the best surprise I could have asked for. I just realized though she will now NEVER stop saying it, hahaha!

BHM - PDX - SFO - BHM

Whew what a trip! Eric, Sydney and I returned from our west coast trip on Monday and we are finally recovered except our bumps and bruises (will explain later).

First our sweet, sweet, sweet neighbor Nikki drove us and our loot to the airport on Sunday afternoon, did I mention she is sweet. Sydney did exceptionally well on the plane considering she is a budding walker and does not want to sit in anyone's lap for more than 10 seconds. Our legs were glad to reach our first stop in Phoenix, where we all ate and ran around. Sydney is a huge fan of watching airplanes now, thanks to the great big window at the terminal in Phoenix. She would bang on the window and point as the plane approached and then she would bounce up and down, shouting something, that we assume was airplane!!! She gave everybody something to laugh at and pass the time.

On to our next leg of the flight Sydney was so exhausted because she didn't want to take a nap so she was screaming a little more on this flight. The flight attendant seemed to be the most bothered by it and kept asking if we could get her a drink, I was almost tempted to say sure "vodka straight up." She finally fell asleep in the most akward position on my shoulder, but she was quiet. We spent the night in Portland and had breakfast and then we were off in our rental car (Nissan Rogue, Great car!), to my Grandma's house in Sutherlin.

Three hours later we were there and ready for some lunch. Sydney hit it off with Great-Grandma Kay and Great-Great Grandma C right away. She even sat in GGG-C's lap for several minutes and rocked while we lowered the mattress to the crib. It was amazing how they connected and this broke my heart, knowing that Sydney would never really know this amazing women. We had a great visit with them and they were very hospitable.

We also are so lucky to have my Grandma Knox that lives about a mile down the road in the same town, so we had lunch with her and my Uncle Knox who drove down from Springfield, so very kind of him. The next day we went swimming at Cooper Creek where I use to swim on our visits and we had a great time, except for all of the yellow jackets. We didn't stay long, but we met up with my family for a picnic and we all enjoyed the great weather. Later that night Grandma Knox joined us all for a nice supper and visit. It was so sad to leave my relatives behind, not knowing when I would see them again. It had been 4 years since our last visit.

Back in the car we traveled about 3 hours to Crescent City, California for one night, and we stayed in a great vacation rental. The family was so sweet and even gave us fresh produce from their farm. They let us stay the night and also most of the day so that Sydney could take a nap after our hike in the Redwood Forest. You can look at the pictures we took, but it really does not do these magnificent trees justice. You must go visit them and stand next to these giants to truly see God's glorious work. We left at 7pm on our way toward San Francisco. Are you tired yet? We were ;)

We had a great drive and Sydney slept most of the way. We arrived in SF at 2 am and fell right asleep. The next day we woke up and were so happy to visit with Stephanie and Justin. They live in San Luis Obispo on the coast and drove up to spend a few days with us. We had breakfast and discussed our options for the day. We ended up taking the BART (train system) into the city and we walked from Market Street up through Chinatown, all the way to Pier 39. Quite the trek but it was such a pretty day we didn't mind a bit. Sydney was so tired though, she started to fall asleep on top of Eric's shoulders. She is some trooper. We had a great day at the pier with lunch and a carousel ride. We couldn't leave without a trolley ride, so we waited in line and it was well worth it. Oooops!! We forgot the sunscreen. Ouchhhh!!!

The guys grilled a great meal for us and Sydney fell asleep at 7pm after her bath and was out all night. We woke up had breakfast and went to church. Stephanie and Justin left after church and I cried, I wish we all lived closer. We were also able to visit one other relative, my cousin Chris and his family in Sacramento. We had the best sushi and had a great time visiting. Hope your kids are feeling better now.

Our flight left SF at 10 am and Sydney slept a lot more on these flights which was so nice. I was surprised of the number of children flying, maybe I just never noticed before. So we rode a plane, automobile, train and a trolley and we all had a wonderful vacation full of memories for a lifetime.

Oh, I almost for the the ailment list.
1. I fell down the stairs with Sydney in my arms before we left on Sunday. We are okay but I think the chiropractor will have some fun with my neck and back, still hurting after 2 weeks.
2. Sydney fell down a few stairs at my Grandma's house and almost gave G-Kay a heart attack.
3. Same day Sydney fell and busted her lip open at the house in Crescent City.
4. Same day we went to the light house at night and it was super windy. I put Sydney in the car seat and the door slammed on my knee.
5. A few days later I was putting lotion on my leg and slammed my knee into the corner of the vanity.
6. I mentioned the sunburns.

I think that about wraps it up. We were just determined to leave parts of us behind. Take a look at all the pictures on our Picasa site. We can't wait for our next adventure!

Hola

I don't think that I had wrote about my dad starting his new job. He started June 1 at the South Texas Project in Bay City, Texas. He is enjoying his work and they are busy looking for a house and praying their house in SC sells.

Sydney is walking really good now and her little shoes I got her seem to help her steady herself too. She is growing so fast. She also talks all the time, it is not clear yet what she is saying, but she is sure in charge of the conversation. She loves animals sounds and any music. We went out for Mexican food last night and the Mariachi band was great entertainment and so was Sydney for all the guests!

Eric and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary on July 3rd. Eric surprised me with a babysitter (thanks Janie!) and a dinner at The Melting Pot. We had a great time and it was really nice to have a grown-up conversation and to laugh with my husband.

Summer Time

We have had quite the busy summer so far and we are having a great time!

First, we were in Memphis for my sisters wedding. They went to Jamaica on their honeymoon via a cruise and had a great time.

Second, my mom came and stayed with us for a few weeks while my dad was getting settled in there new home town. Mom and Sydney had a lot of fun reading and playing in her new pool. I have posted some more photos so go check out the Picasa link when you get a chance.

Hope everyone is staying cool and we can't wait to visit with all of our family and friends in Oregon and Washington at the end of July!

Ross Bridge Fresh Market

I would like to invite all of you readers to Ross Bridge this Saturday June 20th from 8am-noon. My friend Mary and I are selling our paintings and we had so much fun June 6th, I just know you would all love it. If you can't make it this month, we will be there the first and third Saturdays through September.

Great music, fresh veggies and fruit, cute little gifts and watermelon for a buck! If you need directions on how to get to Ross Bridge, go to www.rossbridge.com.

This is our booth. Come by and check out our paintings and chit chat!

Quick Update

Sydney took her first steps Memorial Day night, when we returned from my sisters wedding in Memphis. Eric was the witness and I think it was a really special moment for him. She is now practicing her new trick whenever she can. :) I am sure she will be sprinting soon enough. She is also drinking milk and eating table foods, makes life so much easier.

Here is a link to a few photos of Sydney's 1 year photo shoot. Many more photos coming shortly. Enjoy! (you have to scroll down a little to find her)
http://kristenstewartphotography.wordpress.com/

Happy Birthday

How time flies little Sydney. We are so amazed by you each day. You have such a pure love and you share it with everyone you meet. I hope you have this always. Happy birthday!

I'm One!

Sydney had a great birthday on Thursday and my parents came to visit and we Skyped with Eric's parents so everyone could sing Happy Birthday. I made a cake for her, which was pretty yummy and Sydney liked it to but did not make a huge mess, my dad was upset and Eric was pleased :) Friday afternoon though Sydney was not feeling great and for 3 days had a fever above 103 degrees. Needless to say we were very worried and we also had to cancel her little birthday party with her friends. She slept most of the weekend and finally started feeling more like herself by Wednesday. It was a yucky little bug.

Zoo and Camping

We joined the zoo the other weekend and we had a great time. If you have never been to the Birmingham Zoo or have not been in awhile, we strongly recommend a visit. It is a great size for children, with many varieties of animals and a little water area for those scorcher days. We didn't stay much more than an hour and we saw so many birds and primates. Everyone really had a great time!

The Lorikeet exhibit was the best. You can purchase a cup of nectar for the birds and they will swoop down and land on your arm and gulp up the nectar. Auntie Kariann was a little freaked out, check out the photo album for more zoo pictures. Sydney loved it and wanted to "pet" the birds. That would have been interesting! =P My friend Amy has been telling me how much Eamon loves the Babe at the Zoo class they have, so we finally went this week and we had so much fun. Sydney petted a rooster (Colonel Sanders) and two snakes, a milk snake and a corn snake. We saw the goats, the rhino, and hippo. Come join us for a class sometime or find one that suits your childs age http://www.birminghamzoo.com/programs-classes.asp


Sydney's first camping trip with our Young Families group from church was so much fun. She loved being outdoors and had a great time on our hike while riding on Daddy's back. She fell asleep probably 5 minutes after this picture and did not wake up until we were almost back at camp. We had 6 children, 8 adults, and 2 dogs. We are almost outnumbered!

Holy Week

Our family had a great Easter and we hope you all did too!

Our week started out by receiving a package from my Grandma Kay (Sydney's great grandma). It was Sydney's Easter dress and it is absolutely gorgeous. The vintage fabric that she used was my mom's grandma's so Sydney's great-great grandma and is very delicate. She made the bonnet and petticoat out of that fabric.

I was able to participate in Holy Thursday at our church this year where the priest washes 12 parishioner's feet, symbolizing the last supper. It was a wonderful and moving experience and I would recommend taking part if you get the chance.

And on Easter our family helped greet all the Easter attendees and we had a great time seeing everyone in their Easter outfits. Mass was packed of course and our church even had mass in our parish hall also. Our priest said his faith was restored in the resurrection due to all the new faces. We only pray they continue to come.

Sydney is turning one in a little less than a month and she is such a good girl. Here are a few tidbits about Sydney:

• She has started to stand on her own and is doing that very well, but is yet to take her first step.
  
• Her favorite foods are broccoli, black beans, string cheese and applesauce.
  
• She is very smiley and loves to go shopping with me so she can meet all the new people.
• Sydney loves to play in her playroom and she will even play by herself for about an hour. Her favorite things are books, her soccer ball, and she loves to look out the window and listen to the birds.
  
• The only times she is not talking away, is when she is sleeping, which she is still sleeping so much. Sydney sleeps about 11-13 hours at night and still takes two, two hour naps during the day. I wish she would keep this up it has given me some extra time to work on some projects and spend time with Scamper. He recently has chewed up some pillows and Eric's hat, trying to get more of our attention. We hear you Scamper!
  

Here are a few Easter pictures and there are more in the Picasa album. Hope you are all doing well and please come visit us anytime. You can also find us on Skype if you want to video chat.

Having a bad day? Watch this.

Easter Duck Dance

This is the duck that Uncle Luke (Eric's younger brother) gave Sydney. It was an instant hit!

Great Weekend with the Cousins

Last weekend Eric, Sydney and I traveled to General Butler State Park, which is about 40 miles northeast of Louisville, Kentucky. We met Eric's parents and Eric's older brother Adam and his 3 kids Emme, Josh and Jake. We stayed in one of the cottages and had a great time. We were lucky the weather held up for us and did not storm until late Saturday night, so we had a lot of fun outside in the playground and around the park and we even had a campfire.

The kids were so sweet with Sydney and we could tell Sydney adored them too. The picture below is the only good one of all four of them together (so much movement all the time :) but I have posted some more pictures of our weekend on the Picasa album, link is on the top right.


We hope you are all enjoying the Spring weather. I can't believe in just over a month I will be writing about Sydney's first birthday! She is growing up so fast.

10 Months

This is the dress I crocheted for Sydney. It was a really easy pattern, but I think it looks difficult. I am really pleased with it and can't wait to make some more cute little outfits! Sydney had a blast with Granny Jan. Thanks for coming Mom!

Believe it or not, we had snow in Alabama! Only 3 inches and it did not stick to the road and it melted by the afternoon. We saw many attempts though at snowmen.

A fun weekend with Auntie Kariann

There are also some photos in the photo album for your viewing pleasure! Enjoy!

9 Months and Having a ton of fun

Mommy made a new hat and I love it!

This hat is for sale if anyone would like to buy it.

Food Fight!
It does not look like it, but the food won this battle.

Theall Update: Eric is enjoying his job and is staying busy. He has been able to go fishing again and he didn't realize how much he missed it. Sydney was at the doctors office twice this month for her check up which was great she is 17lbs11oz and 27.75 inches tall and the other office visit was for mommy's nerves. Sydney has been sleeping 13 hours at night and then 4+ hour naps and missed her lunch Monday and Tuesday. The Doctor said she was fine and we checked her white blood count to make sure. She is just growing and needs her sleep. The doctor also made fun of me, because most of his patients are complaining about their kids not sleeping enough. I know, I know, I sound silly but my nerves are settled and I feel good knowing it is just her and not something else. I will enjoy it while it lasts, I know it won't last forever!

My dad is still looking for work and has an interview in a few weeks in Texas, so please keep them in your prayers. Also, please pray for my friend Trina, she has been diagnosed with lymphoma cancer for the third time. We hope all of you are well and are looking forward to spring as much as we are.

Name that Green Food?

Here is another new food for all you blog fans. I will announce the prize later.

Happy Valentine's Day!

We hope you had a great day with your sweeties too!

Love the Thealls

If you look closely, you can see TWO teeth.

Sydney having the best time punching her balloon. Mommy has been dodging it all day!

And the winner is.....

Broccoli!!!!!

Grandpa Knox and Ashley are the winners.

New Play Room

Check it out! Eric had the most fun he has ever had with this home improvement project. We bought the tiles from Sam's, with our friends Janie and Brian's help. Eric finished the floor over the weekend and Sydney is loving it. All her friends are welcome to come over and play!!!

The floor was two weekends ago, and this last weekend was the evil virus. Sydney was sick Friday and only drank 8 oz all day, she slept and vomited the rest of the day. Well that was not the only fun that we were going to have that weekend. My parents and my sister and her fiance came to visit us and we stuffed and sealed all of their invitations for the wedding in May. Sydney was not the best company and I ended up getting sick Sunday night and Kariann and Seth woke up on Monday and stayed home for two days. We are just praying that Eric and my folks don't get sick either. We hope your family does not have to deal with this little bug!

Sydney is not vomiting anymore but the diarrhea is not so forgiving and her little tummy is just not interested in much food. I hope to post a much more happier story toward the end of the week (maybe a job offer for my dad, keep the prayers coming)!

Two New Firsts

Sydney has her first tooth this week and it is really wigging her out. You can see her mind spinning when her tongue rubs up against that sharp tooth, "what is this thing in my mouth!"

And check this out...

Inauguration Celebration

Sydney does not usually get to watch much television, but I just could not miss this. I hope somewhere in her brain she will remember this historic day. I feel so blessed to live in a country where dreams do come true. If you work hard enough and believe that you can accomplish your goals, then everything is possible. Congratulations to our planet for striving to make this world a better place for our children. I truly have faith that Sydney will grow up in a world that is kind and loving to all people, animals and the earth. God bless America and good luck President Obama!

Can You Guess that Food?

Sydney's new favorite food. Do you know what it is? Post a comment with your guess. Winner gets a big messy green kiss from their favorite little gal!

Sorry this is so late

We had a great Christmas and New Year and we are safely home. Sydney has been practicing getting ready to crawl, any day now. I have been been sick all week with the flu, upper respiratory infection and pink eye. Just get it all over at once. Eric has been enjoying his job and he has been taking care of the house and me. Thanks wonderful husband!

Thank you everyone for your prayers while Eric was looking for work. He started his new job December 29th and he is fitting in really well. He works for DAXKO and is a quality assurance tester.

I have posted a bunch of new pictures on Picasa (upper right corner link), but for an instant fix here is a video taken the other day of Sydney playing. If you watch closely you will see her get onto her knees for an attempt at crawling and Scamper sneaking in a taste of his sister.