A visit from Grand-Pierre and Raph's birth-WEEK!

Grand-Pierre and Sophia ready to ride.

Grand-Pierre's first visit to Yoder's.

Feeding the goats with Daddy.

Little monkey

Swinging

Ready to enjoy a lovely dinner at Pomme in celebration of Raph's birthday.

Our girl was such a little lady at dinner.

Sophia enjoyed spending time with Grand-Pierre and loved hearing him read stories.

Fun at the playground.

Aunt Anna came for the day! We are all set for our tea party!

After Sophia went down for her nap, my able assistants suited up to help me bake Raph's birthday cake. We would have made Julia Child proud!

Let the baking begin!

G-P looking lovely in his apron!

Anna whipping the egg whites into submission.

Daddy with his girl.

Toasting the birthday boy!

Posing with the masterpiece! To quote Sophia, "This cake is AMAzing!"

Birthday celebration round 3 at Supper Club. Bridget baked Raph's favorite chocolate cake.

Making a wish.

Our last evening with G-P celebrating the news of Baby Boy Sydnor! Thanks Mom and Dad for the beautiful flowers!

Sophia with her Pop and Grand-Pierre.

It was an exciting week enjoying a much needed Spring Break, having Pierre-Maurice visit from France, celebrating Raph's 33rd birthday, and learning that Baby #2 is a boy! It had been a year since our last visit with G-P and it was wonderful to catch up in person. Sophia kept him well entertained and she loved hearing G-P read stories and to keep her company in the back seat on car rides. The weather was perfect and Raph and his Dad were able to go for lots of runs around campus. We enjoyed lots of yummy meals and birthday cakes celebrating Raph and our new addition arriving in July!

OH BOY!

Our little man

Look at that leg!

Tiny feet

Number 1!

The four of us. Sophia was so cute in this picture - she climbed on our laps and said, "Look! My family!"

We were excited to find out on Wednesday that we will welcome a BABY BOY to the Sydnor family in July! Our little guy is already weighing in at 1lb. and by the feel of his kicks lately he is strong as a bull! Big Sister Sophia has decided that we should name her little brother "Super Why" after one of her favorite cartoon characters. Not so sure about that...

17 weeks, 7 days and counting...

Sporting the growing baby bump.

Sophia in her brand new big sister pajamas from Grammy!

I had a doctor's appointment last Friday and all seems to be going well with baby #2. Sophia was such a big girl and came with me to my appointment. She was very proud to tell Dr. Wamhoff, the same doctor that delivered her, that she was going to be a BIG sister (she really emphasizes the big part). Sophia and I both smiled when we heard the little heartbeat. It is truly the sweetest sound in the entire world. We only have to wait a few more weeks before we know the gender of Baby #2!

I have been feeling pretty well these days. I did have some sinus headaches/dizziness last week but that seems to be much better now. I have more energy than I did in the first trimester and I have started to eat everything in sight. In the past week or so I have started to feel a few flutters and I look forward to when the baby really starts to move and groove.

Sophia loves to talk to her future brother/sister through my belly button. She will ask to speak to the baby or she will just say, "I see it Mama?" Sophia usually starts off by saying, "What you doing in there, baby?" She will bring the baby toys or wrap my stomach up in a blanket. Sophia doesn't seem to have a preference on whether she has a brother or sister. Lately, when we ask her if she would like a boy baby or a girl baby she says, "I would like a ball."

Buddies

I had to copy this picture from my friend Em's blog of these sweet girls! This was taken on Valentine's Day at Ms. Pam's Sing-Along. Sophia has her arm around her buddy Sierra and Sierra is holding Sophia's hand. Too cute.

Valentine Week

Pop surprised his girls with Valentine flowers Saturday evening so we could enjoy them all weekend.

Smelling the roses.

Tiny pink roses and a stuffed animal for Sophia.

And, yellow roses (my favorite) for me! Thanks, Dad!

Heading out for date night Saturday night.

Grammy and Pop were so sweet to babysit Sophia. Bath time fun!

Monday night Grammy and Pop came out to keep the celebration alive with more Valentine goodies!

Sophia modeling her new cupcake nightgown in her fort under her bed.

We started celebrating Valentine's Day almost a week ahead of time with a Valentine/cookie exchange at the WFS play group. The kiddos were so sweet sharing their Valentines and I think all the Moms enjoyed the cookies even more than the little ones. My camera battery died during the party but Em got some photos that she so sweetly offered to share.

Mom and Dad kept Sophia Saturday evening so Raph and I could enjoy a night out. We were able to visit the newly renovated Willow Grove Inn for dinner which was so special because we hadn't been back since our rehearsal dinner nearly 10 years ago! We ate our meal in the greatest comfy leather chairs next to a fireplace. Lovely.

There were more Valentine presents and celebrating on Monday with Mom and Dad. And, Bridget brought Sophia a present last night at Supper Club! So between the cards, flowers, gifts, cookies, and chocolate we definitely celebrated the day of love in a major way!

Our budding artist

We do a lot of coloring, cutting, and pasting here in the Sydnor house. Last week, we checked out a book from the library entitled, Bridget's Beret, all about a little girl who loves to draw while wearing a beret. The book is so cute - a great read for any little one. Sophia was so inspired by the book that she pulled out my old beret and started drawing away. I think she pulls off the look quite well and I'm sure this will make her Grand-Pierre very proud! ;)

Sophia's new ride

Sophia (and Belle) taking her new sled for a test ride using the wheel option.

Posing with Grammy.

A snowy ride to the dining hall.

This girl knows how to ride in style!

Grammy and Pop surprised Sophia with a new sled a few weeks ago and we were so excited to be able to put it to good use last week in the snow. The sled also has wheels so it is multi-purpose. Thanks, Grammy and Pop!