Passed out in the midst of eating a Candy Cane...awesome!

Tyler sharing his chair with Sydney.

What a loving big brother! Sydney loves to watch him already.

"Mom!" Check out that crazy hair!

Capturing Sydney's smiles on camera is not very easy. She is starting to smile quite a bit now.

Another smile from my pretty girl! :)

Sydney - 5 weeks
Trying to recreate a "Tyler" pose (see below).

Tyler - 6 weeks

CYCLONES Game:

Bean & Matt invited us to join them at a Cyclones game. We had such a blast & Tyler LOVED watching all of the action. In his first game we saw a fight and a Cyclones shoot out win.

Checking out the action on the ice.

Tyler LOVED going to the Cyclones game. His favorite part was the zamboni! :)

It was Sydney's first game too! ;) Thanks for the invite Bean and Matt...what a blast!

Tyler showing Uncle Matt where the puck is.

Dancing to the music.

Uncle Matt got Tyler his first Slush Puppy! He drank about a quarter of his blue slushy non-stop and then asked Matt for a red one.

Loving that Slush Puppy!

Oh! So close! Tyler was into the game! Until he saw the zamboni for the first time...then that was all that he wanted to see!

Go Cyclones!

November Fun

Our friends, Bryan, Airi & Tiara came over to meet Sydney. Tiara LOVES babies and did a great job holding Sydney and made sure her pacifier stayed in her mouth! ;)

Sydney hanging in her swing.

Tyler likes to help out with the pushing and makes sure that Sydney does not "slow down".

Tyler loves his baby sister and likes to be with her.

Sydney snoozing on Papa watching a Benglas victory!

Uncle Matt came to meet Sydney - YEAH!

My two babies! I can't believe how big Tyler got...overnight!

Meeting GG for the very first time.

Snuggling with my new bunny! :)

Sydney found her thumb.

"Brilliant" Tyler. He enjoyed finding and wearing Grandma & Papa's glasses.

Sydney and GG hanging out getting some reading done.

Cousin Kathleen took great care of Sydney & Tyler. Tyler did not want them to leave!

Sydney and Aunt Amy...another set of comfortable, loving arms!

Checking out that Uncle Jeff character! :)

"Closely" watching Charlie Brown Christmas.

Smiling at Grandma.

Tyler wearing "Sydney sock gloves".

"Look Mom, no hands!"

4 Generations!

Pumpkin Patch Adventures & Catcher Tyler

Pumpkin Patch Adventures:

Spent some great time hanging with Uncle Jeff and Mama was so excited that she had help chasing me all around!

Playing in the "corn box"!

On the hay ride with Mama and Gretch.

Picking out my pumpkin.

Uncle Jeff let me help carry one.

Riding in the cart with all of the pumpkins after the hay ride.

Catcher Tyler:

Getting ready to follow in Papa's footsteps. I love to put on my "catcher's mask" and get in my ready position!

Throwing with Daddy. I almost have it!

Sydney Nicole has arrived! :)

Sydney Nicole was born on 10/31 at 4:34pm at 7lbs 8oz and 20.5 inches. Consistent with family tradition so far, Sydney seemed perfectly content to remain where she was at all the way up to her due date. After several doctor's appointments where no progress was being shown towards Sydney's delivery we began to anticipate a late arrival.

We were pretty low key Friday evening (Sydney's due date - 10/30) and settled in for the night with a couple of milk shakes and of course a sundae for Tyler. Despite being exhausted Tyler fought going to bed so Mama went in and rocked him for a bit (anyone knowing Tyler knows that he NEVER allows this to happen), when I went to lay him down in bed he asked me to lay down with him. After a few minutes of laying quietly in the dark, he pushed on my belly and repeated "Baby Sister" a few times and fell asleep. This, too, was quite unusual as he never talked about his sister coming without prompting from Mama or Daddy. I am convinced that he knew she would be arriving shortly. A few hours later, labor began and Tyler was at Aunt Gretchen & Uncle Jeff's and Mama and Daddy were in the hospital by 7am.

We were admitted to the hospital and labor remained pretty erratic throughout the day but around 4:00 it was time to begin pushing. Sydney needed a bit of assistance arriving into the world as her umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck causing her heart rate to drop at times. And at 4:34pm our beautiful, healthy, happy, and peaceful little girl arrived in our arms!

Sydney has such a sweet personality so far and loves being around all of the visitors that have come to see us. So far she is a snuggler which Daddy and I spoke about her before she arrived. We are enjoying every minute with her.

Due to our hospital policy in the midst of all of this "flu scare" children under the age of 14 were not allowed to visit us at the hospital, including siblings of the newborn babies. I was pretty disappointed to not be able to have Tyler come up and visit us and meet his sister at the hospital. We checked out of the hospital literally 24 hours after having Sydney and Tyler got to meet his baby sister at home.

Tyler spent a couple of days up at Grandma and Papa's house and Mama and Daddy enjoyed a quiet house and some bonding time with Sydney. He arrived home on Wednesday morning and within 10 minutes of his arrival I had my introduction of being a Mom of 2. Two dirty diapers to change back to back...and we haven't stopped since! ;)

Tyler has been a very loving and protective big brother so far. He always comes running to check on Sydney if she is crying and tells me to "pick her up" if she is laying in her crib. He loves playing with her fingers, petting her hair and "beeping" her nose. He helps with her bottles, finding her pacifiers, and likes to hold her for little chunks of time. We are working on the "gentle" aspect of this love, but overall he is doing a great job and being a big helper. I am still holding out that being a big brother will now help him be interested in potty training...but so far it is still just a dream.

Life this past week has been full, but we are loving every minute of being a family of 4. Now for some pics! :)

Daddy's favorite picture to take of his children...the elongated head!

Look at all of that wild hair!

That's better.

Grandma and Papa meeting Sydney. It might have brought back a few memories for them as Sydney has a slight resemblance to her Mom and Aunts.

Papa's comfy arms.

Aunt Bean

Aunt Gretch

The red headed ladies of the family.

A happy Mama and Daddy that Sydney has arrived!

3 generations!

Gammy Fallat meeting Sydney.

Proud Grandparents.

Snuggle time!

What a long day!

Daddy"s girl!

Beautiful roses for Sydney from Gammy & Grandpa. They picked out the lavendar roses especially for us! :)

Snoozing with Daddy in the warm sunlight.

Tyler meeting his baby sister before heading to Grandma & Papa's house! He loves tickling her little fingers.

First picture together with our family of four.

Tyler holding Sydney for the 1st time. He was so excited.

Uncle Ken & Aunt Michelle.

Cousin Taylor

Uncle Dave & Cousin Chris...they are so silly!

Taking a nap in my crib.

Hanging with Daddy.

Uncle Jeff

Aunt Gretch

Helping Sydney with her bottle.

Aunt Angela and Cousin Colin

First morning with both kiddos home...snuggling on the couch watching Thomas! I love being a Mama!

Big brother Tyler already protecting his little sister!

Time for prayers. Every night Tyler asks Sydney to come into his room when it is time for him to go to bed to say prayers.

Relaxing in the tub.

Helping Mama with the laundry!

Notre Dame vs Michigan State:

Mama and Daddy went to the ND vs MSU game and had a great time.

Outside Notre Dame stadium.

View of Touchdown Jesus from their seats.

Taking in pre-game.

Daddy in front of the Consensus All-American Board... who knows, my name may be up there someday replacing that "Future All-American" plate!

I love to watch football and my favorite team to cheer for is the Bengals! "Go, go Bengals! Who dey!"

Hanging out with Daddy after we got matching hair cuts!

Katie's Athens Wedding:

Daddy and I at the chapel for his cousin Katie's wedding out in Athens. We had a fun time.

Playing trains and cars with cousin Colin before the ceremony. We didn't last long actually in the chapel...there wasn't much sound proofing in there so Mama took me outside.

Family picture after the ceremony. I loved to see the "pretty princess" in her white dress and the "baby pretty princesses" too!

Taking a break from running all over OU's campus.

At the reception with cousin Chris and Taylor.

Cousins Ben and Elie. I have so much fun playing with my cousins.

Taking a "spin" around the dance floor. I asked my first girls to dance that night. Mama danced with me and then I asked Taylor to dance with me. We held hands and danced to the beat. This was the best part of the night because I was FREE! :)

Blue Ash Harvest Festival:

We went with Gammy, Grandpa, and all of my cousins to the Blue Ash Harvest festival. We had such a good time. Ben and Chris got to throw tomahawks, shoot bows and arrows, and fire a sling shot...I can't wait until I am big enough to do that!

My very first pony ride! I rode on Oreo and had SOO much fun. I can't wait to ride a pony again!

Returning after out stroll down the trail. Thanks Gammy for the pony ride! :)

Daddy started a new job and had to go to South Bend for 2 weeks for training so Mama and I went to Grandma and Papa's house for a couple of days to get a break. Here I am playing in the Jungle...my new favorite place at Grandma and Papa's house. I love to find sticks, pull leaves, and spy on people from inside trees.

Playing on the big red train at a park near Grandma and Papa's house.

I got to "drive" the train too!

Running on the tracks.

Mama and I getting ready to leave, it was really hot at the park and I was tired from running around.

The Big Boy Haircut:

Mama cut my hair and buzzed it just like Daddy's! I now look like a big boy! Enjoying my new haircut and a popsicle on the porch.

I stole Mama's red popsicle too so I could have the juice!

YUMMY!

Mama does not like this picture of her, but thought I was too cute in it so decided to post it!

St. Susanna's Festival:

Bean and Matt were working at their church festival, so Grandma, Papa, Mama, Daddy, and I went to go check it out. I got to ride all kinds of rides. Here I am on the Merry-go-Round with Papa.

It was fun but not as cool as...

driving the Fire Engine!!

The Fire Engine was so cool, that I shared it with another little boy that wanted to drive too! We had a lot of fun together.

Here I am giving my ride tickets to the lady so I could drive the trucks on train tracks!!

This was my favorite ride...I rode it 5 times and got to drive in the front truck 4 times. I am a really great driver and cannot wait until I can drive Daddy's car! :)

Showing Papa where the hot air balloons were...way up high!

I love getting rides from Papa!

Mommy has not been very good lately about taking pictures of her handsome boy, but here are a few of the pictures she has captured recently. Let's hope she picks up the pace soon...I only have so much time for solo pictures. Pretty soon it will be me with my baby sister!

Daddy and I discussing how a boat can travel faster in the Ohio River with the current versus against the current.

Daddy trying to demonstrate to me how his reasoning is accurate.

After the demonstration, I concurred. Daddy is SO smart!

Getting down to some country music.

A nice picture of Mama and Daddy at an August Reds game.