11 weeks old and counting

It's me again...just chillin' in the bath.  December has been really busy.  Daddy has been working extra hard at his new job and mommy and I have even gone to his office to help him...plus there are lots of great restaurants in Bethesda so we are going to look forward to meeting him for lunch sometimes.

The holidays are over but mom wanted to share a few extra photos.  One day my parents will have to explain why santa doesn't come to our house but for now i like hanging out with my santa bear.  I think i am really going to enjoy Hanukkah when I grow up--with the presents, lighting the menorah, playing dreidel and potato latkas! These photos with mom and dad were taken the 8th night of Hanukkah.

Just another cute picture of me.  Now that I am 11 weeks old I am starting to get really interested in my toys.  I love things that light up and play music and I don't mind when my mommy sings although she has a really bad voice (don't tell her I told you so!). 

Guess what?!  Daddy and mommy are taking me on my first big vacation at the end of February.  We are going to DISNEY WORLD!  I guess that is not a surprise since my parents are disney freaks...daddy can't wait to buy out the disney store and mommy can't wait to torture me with pictures of me with mickey, minnie, etc.  I know I am too little to remember this trip but daddy has been working really hard and is going to golf and relax a little.  Mom wants to visit Give Kids the World and says we'll go again when I am bigger.  

Here I am: Princess Sydney and the 7 Dwarves

Pretty soon the new year is going to be here and I have a lot of fun things to look forward to in 2009.  Can't wait to share it all with you.  

Best wishes in 2009!!!

2009 is almost here!

What a fantastic year it has been!  One of our favorite shows is Best Week Ever and we must say--2008 has been the BEST YEAR EVER!  We can not wait to see what 2009 will bring.  This year we have had lots of fun occasions to celebrate: weddings of friends and family members, anniversaries and of course, the birth of our beautiful daughter SYDNEY!

We wish ALL of you a happy, healthy and joyous new year.  We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends to support us and share in our lives.  

BEST WISHES in 2009!!!

Jill, Jason and Sydney : )

December craziness

Congratulations Jason on the job change! 

Check out the newest (and cutest) employees at Morgan Stanley.  This past weekend we visited daddy at his new office and even helped out a little.  Sydney is all ready for her first job and is willing to do work for daddy anytime!  Jason's new office is in Bethesda so we can't wait to meet him for lunches and surprise him at work.

Since the weather has still been decent we continue our outings--Sydney still loves the car seat and sleeps better when we are out of the house so we try and go somewhere every day.  With the holidays approaching there is lots to do.  

Sydney had her official 2 month Dr visit on 12/17.  She weighed in at 8 pounds 9.5 ounces and 21 1/4 inches and is thriving.  She got the first round of her vaccines and took them like a champ.  But in the late afternoon she got her first fever and had a very rough night. 

After spending many years working in a hospital I have a new appreciation for all parents/caregivers.  It was heart wrenching to watch her cry out in pain but at least we knew what to expect and that this might happen.  We'll go back to the Doctors at 3 months for a weight check but for now thankfully she is healthy and doing well.  

2 months old!

I'm so happy!  Mommy wanted to snap some official 2 month old pictures and I decided to smile for the camera and help her out.  I go to the Doctors on Wednesday for my check up and vaccination shots.  Mommy used to work in a hospital with children so hopefully she can help me out during my doctor visit but I am sure she is going to cry more than me...but we've heard from our friends that these first vaccination shots aren't too bad and I'll just be sleepy afterwards.  Mommy is looking forward to seeing how big I've gotten (last week I was 8 pounds 3 ounces).  

Today was my last day at the JCC mommy and me group.  Here are a few of my new friends:

Me first, then Jackson (14 weeks old), Blake (14 weeks old) and Dylan Rose (6 weeks old).  I'm trying to keep up with the older boys with my tummy time and showing off my head/neck control...We enjoyed hanging out and talking (our moms sure do spend a lot of time talking about us!) and hopefully we'll get to see them again.

 

Here are a few more pictures from last weekends baby naming.  Mommy usually takes all the pictures but was pretty busy taking care of me so she just got these from Juliet.  More to come...

The 2 GREAT grandmas:

Granny Muriel 

GiGi Juliet

Nanny, mommy and me

Here I am looking all adorable and ready to go. 

8 weeks old

Sydney is 8 weeks old!  She is officially 8 pounds 3 ounces so she finally can use the baby bjorn.  Plus her clothes are starting to fit her and she has almost outgrown the newborn clothes.  We checked in with the doctor yesterday with a stuffy nose--I was just being a worried overprotective mom. Everything is fine and Sydney is doing well.  She's even had some good long stretches of sleep during the night and hopefully we are nearing the end of the "fussy" period during the early evening.  Next week is the official 2 month check up with the vaccination shots.  

Whats In A Name

Sydney is modeling her personalized Hershey bar that we ordered for her baby naming.  It has all of her birth information on it and we just thought it was adorable--just like her.

Sunday December 7th at Clyde's Tyson's Corner we had Sydney's official baby naming ceremony.  The rabbi spoke about the different names we are given throughout our life and Sydney has quite a few of them!  

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved Australia and always dreamed of going there.  So I've had the name Sydney picked out for many, many years.  Lucky for me Jason was completely understanding and once we found out we were having a girl, it was decided that our little girl was going to be named after one of the places I love the most (good thing she was a girl as Disney Martin just doesn't have the same ring to it!).  I had traveled to Australia and New Zealand several years ago and that was the trip of a lifetime for me.  I had the most fantastic experience and that trip ultimately led to my moving back to Maryland from Chicago and meeting Jason.  So "Sydney" represents the best decision in my life and one of the happiest moments so it is only fitting that my daughter shares this special name.  Her middle name is Paige for my maternal grandparents--my grandfather Jack Paige died before I was born and I was named after him.   I've always been espcially close with my grandma and after I found out I was pregnant, my grandma was placed on hospice so I had wanted to honor her as well.  Fortunately, my grandma is incredibly strong willed and at 90 years old, she is actually stronger now than a year ago.  I do believe her great-grandchildren contributed to her improved health.

Sydney's Hebrew Name is GOLDA CHAYA.   She is lovingly named after Jason's maternal grandma Goldie who was a very important part of Jason's life.  Jason and his grandparents shared a special bond and spent a lot of time with Jason throughout his life.  Both Goldie and Morris are greatly missed but thought of all the time. We wanted to remember and honor Jason's grandma (Nanny) by giving Sydney her name.   

I didn't get to take too many photos of the baby naming and hope to post a few more when I get them but here are the few that I did take:

Hanging out with Karen at Clydes...this is one of the only picture were you can sort of see the room...

Sydney's cake

The food was delicious.  Clyde's had a full breakfast buffet but a party is not complete without cake!

Our friends Sally, Scott and daughter Izzy (1 week younger than Sydney)

Jeff, Yvette (friend from Syracuse), Sydney, Jill and Jason

Rosie and her husband Jesse are expecting their first child in February and we are so excited for them.  They haven't found out if it is a boy or girl and we can't wait to find out!

Josh, Jason, Adam, Sophia, Sydney, Jill and Jess

Jason grew up with Josh and Adam and we are so glad they were able to join us for Sydney's special day.  Josh was the Ketubah witness and Adam was the best man at our wedding.

My Uncle Bobby and Aunt Rhoda drove down from New York.  They were able to be there to celebrate my dads birthday (Happy Birthday Poppie) and join us for the baby naming.

Granny with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

Grandma Muriel also serenaded us with her piano playing during the event.  It is pretty amazing that at 90 years old she is still able to play and has never had a lesson in her life.  I wish I still played piano and we hope that one day Sydney will take lessons.  Maybe she will have Granny's natural talent to play by ear?!

It was a great day that we were so thankful to share with family and friends.  We appreciate all the love and support.  We look forward to sharing more special events in the future. 

Here is Sydney with some of her new toys.  

7 weeks

I'm 7 weeks old now and just about 8 pounds...I've found my fingers and like to munch on them-sometimes even my whole fist! I've been sleeping for 4-5 hour stretches during the night (most nights) which is great but mommy still wakes up, check the baby monitor and sometimes pokes me just to make sure I'm OK.  My eyes are now more of a hazel color like my mom.  

check out the hair....this is AFTER my bath. no wonder my family nickname is "Spikey"

Mommy and I have met some wonderful new friends at our Breastfeeding support group.  We went to Jen & Grace's house this week to hang out and mommy thought it was funny to get a picture of all of us babies in our car seat carriers.  Amazing enough-all of us were sleeping (except for Elizabeth-but she was quiet for the picture).  Mommy sure looks forward to these get togethers and so do I! 

Wednesday 12/3 Mommy and Daddy attended a White House holiday reception.  They even got to meet President and Mrs. Bush in the Diplomatic room (a picture was taken by the official White House photographer which we should get within the next 6-8 weeks).  There was a huge spread in the dining hall and wonderful desserts.  The White House was decorated for the holidays with a "Red, White and Blue" theme and it looked beautiful.  The following pictures are from the party:  in the library room, in front of the tree in the blue room, the orchestra band, White House made out of chocolate, and sitting in the President and Mrs. Bush's chairs in the movie theater.