Beckham Family Blog

New Blog Address

We were notified by VOX that they are going out of business this month.  Thus we had to create a new Blog address, sorry for the inconvenience.  

We're sorry that we haven't posted anything in a while, it seems that Facebook is getting most of the attention with new pictures and updates.  We'll try and do better.  

Thanks for looking...

Sydney Tubes 11.20.09 and Thanksgiving 2009

We had a great Thanksgiving with family this year.  Dad and Martha went to Boston to visit Kevin, Tina and the kids.  I'm anxious to hear all about Jake and Ella and their development...they are so far away and we miss them terribly.  We are looking forward to hosting them when they come in for Easter next year. 

Sydney got tubes a week ago.  I never thought a kiddo could have more issues than Isabelle did (and does) but if it's possible then Sydney is in the running!  While we were worried about having the procedure done at such an early age, we were more worried about the continuous antibiotics and potential hearing loss that comes with multiple ear infections.  That said, she tolerated the procedure very well and was back to her jovial self that afternoon.  See picture of Sydney in her hospital gown :-)

Sydney is sitting up very well....totally unassisted and for lengthy periods of time.  However she still falls when she's really tired and the fall is quickly followed by a cries of distress! 

Isabelle is such a (big) little lady.  I was so proud of how she behaved at Mom's for Thanksgiving.  Everything was "please" and "thank you" and "you're welcome".  She continues to be at such a fun age.  She is so funny.  She talks in paragraphys and you would likely think she was three or older by her vocabulary.  Lasat week she was saying her prayers before bed and it went something like this..."Dear God, please bless...Mommy and Daddy, Isabelle and sissy....and Grandma Wadl, and Grandma Mimi....and Skittles (as in the candy!)....and green beans, and pizza....and cake.  Amen."....So funny I laughed out loud!  And then that began a giggle-fest....So fun!

So much for the terrible 2's as this has been the best year of my life! 

 

 

Sydney's 6 month well visit: 11/6/09

My little peanut is getting so big so fast!  I told myself after watching Isabelle grow so quickly that I would pay extra special attention to Sydney each day, so as not to miss a moment of her development.  And no matter how much I'm with her, I just can't keep up with her progress. 

She is just six months old and already sitting up.  Last week she was sitting up but leaning forward on her arms and this week she's as straight as an arrow.  She's talking (cooing) like crazy, grabing for things and moving items from hand to hand.  I also think she reached for me the other day but we've yet to replicate that. 

The doctor says she's ahead of schedule.  She couldn't believe it when she came into the exam room and saw Sydney sitting up by herself.  Matter of fact, Dr. Bindner said..."Wow, Laura, your kids are so advanced!"  Can you tell how proud I am??? 

We are feeding her about 30 oz of milk a day and baby food 2-3 times per day, whatever we can squeeze in.  She isn't really napping at daycare so she's exhausted when she gets home and is falling asleep for the night around 6:30 pm.  She will then sleep until 4:30 am.  Some day I will tell her how hard 4:30 am is for her mother....God didn't give me the gift of waking up at this hour.  I'm pretty much a 7:30 am girl....The things we do for our kiddos!!!

She continues to be on the same growth curve.  She was 26.75" long (80th%) and 17lbs 3 oz (75th%). 

One more note:  Sydney is thinking about crawling.  She will get up on her arms and only the knees for a quick second.  I suspect she will be crawling by Christmas, if not sooner. 

Love to you all!

Happy Halloween 2009

If you have kids, you certainly know what it's like when it comes to illness.  And as usual, someone was sick this Halloween.  Poor little Sydney was stuggling with croup.  Halloween morning we rushed her to the doctor hoping it wasn't the H1N1 virus, and fortunately it was just croup.  That said, my Sydney didn't make it into her pumpkin costume....she pretty much just slept! 

Isabelle however, loved her ballerina outfit.  After last year's fiasco with Tinkerbell, I really didn't know what to expect when it came to whether or not she would wear her costume.  But to my surprise, she loved it!  She got to wear it at daycare for their parade and then again on Halloween night.  She was the cutest little ballerina you ever did see!  And with her lean frame, it suited her perfectly! 

 

See attached pictures from Huber's pumpkin patch and from Halloween.

July 4th 2009

Here are some pictures from July 4th.  Isabelle had a blast with the sparklers!!!

Day at the pool Aug 2009

Sydney's 4 month well visit: 9/9/09

Hey everyone, hope you're enjoying the last days of summer!  Just wanted to blog a little on our precious baby girl Sydney....She is growing faster than we can keep up with....Literally!  I was pulling out some of Isabelle's hand-me-down's the other day when I realized that Sydney skipped a clothing size overnight.  She was in 0-3 until about three weeks ago and now she is busting at the seems in the 3-6 months.  Doesn't look like we get to take advantage of Isabelle's hand-me-downs....at least not for a while. 

I took Sydney for her 4 month check up yesterday and she is growing perfectly!  She is 25 inches long and 14 lbs 12 oz.  Both are in the 75%.  While her weight and length are perfectly proportional, you wouldn't believe the fat rolls on her legs!  There are some that would say she got that from me....although I'm hoping they have that wrong.

She started rolling both directions when she was 15 weeks old.  She follows you with eyes as you walk through the room and she giggles a lot for no reason at all.  She is doing everything right on schedule....trying to keep up with Isabelle I think.  She is probably the happiest baby ever.  Sometimes she's so content you forget she's there.  She is also sleeping nicely through the night which is just another blessing.

Isabelle is still loving her little sister Sydney.  She is forever wanting to kiss and hug her.  I even caught her trying to change Sydney's diaper the other day!!!  Even though Isabelle is the big sister, you still gotta keep an eye on her at all times. 

Love to you all....Check for new pictures in a few days...

Sydney 12 weeks

OMG!  She is getting so big!  I don't know exactly what she weighs but it's certainly in the 13 pound range. 

Sydney's already lights up the room.  She must be the best baby ever....seriously, she is SO EASY!  She never complains and is always smiling and is now laughing out loud.  Her teachers at school talk about how she smiles at everyone when they enter the room.  She doesn't require much at all....just some food, some sleep and a lot of love....

As far as other updates go, she began sleeping through the night this week....about six hours at night, which I consider "through the night".  It's been five consecutive days without a middle of the night feeding and I am not complaing at all!  Guess the upside to a plump baby is the fact they can sustain several hours at night without a bottle!

Sydney's not rolling over yet but she's close....no rush on my end.  I'm savoring every minute I have with this angel.  Thank you God...for yet another perfect miracle! 

We will have another update at her four month appointment.  Love to you all!

Potty All The Time: 7/31/2009

.....Or perhaps the song was "Party All The Time" by comedian Eddie Murphy.....

As one might guess, we've been potty training Isabelle.  And while comedy it's not been, it's been swift.  As always, she is quick to master whatever we teach her.  We began "talking" potty a few months ago and then started asking her to sit on the potty.  During the month of June she woud occassionally sit on the small potty chair but was definitely scared of the "big white one" as she calls it (i.e. the toilet).   

I had researched so many methods on potty training that my head began to spin and potty was all I could think about.  Matter of fact, Beau would probably say that I became obsessed with potty.  If I couldn't convince her to sit on the potty how would I ever teach her?  Then, it came to me....Ask Dr. Phil.....So I did!

While you may be laughing, that Dr. Phil knows a few things about potty.  We decided to follow his advice and invest in a baby doll that wets.....so that's where Lola came into play (that's what we named Isabelle's new doll, Lola).  When we brought Lola home from the store, Isabelle thought it was a hoot to see Lola go pee.  And every time Lola went pee, Lola got an M&M (not really....Beau and I ate them!). 

After a few short evenings, Isabelle began to put Lola on the potty to pee.  As soon as she did this I realized the time was NOW!!!  So last weekend we did immense potty training.  We began by throwing away the diapers and only wearing big girl panties.  With each success, we rewarded her with M&M's and stickers on her potty chart (both have been a HUGE hit!).  After only a few accidents, Isabelle caught on.  I am thrilled to say that from Friday night to Sunday evening she had only three accidents.  She was so successful that we sent her to school without diapers on Monday.  It is now Friday and she's only had three accidents all week long!  We are so proud of her and so thankful that she is a quick study. 

Now, if I can just find a way to phase out the M&M's......... 

PS--See Isabelle and her potty in the photo's section.

Sydney @ 9 weeks

We took the girls for their check-ups yesterday.  Sydney is a whopping 11 lbs and 13 oz (75th%) and 22.5 (50th%) inches long!  She's getting so big so fast.  We have moved her to a faster flow nipple on her bottles and last night she slept six straight hours!  Was fantastic for all involved!

Isabelle also saw the doctor for her two year check-up.  She was 24 lbs and 34" tall.  She screamed through the entire visit.  Every time the doctor mentions the word "ears" she freaks out.  Guess that's a result of so many ear infections and sets of tubes in her ears.  Anyway, everything was perfect.  Per the doctor's recommendation, we are now moving her to skim milk.  Doc says there's no need to keep her on whole milk after the second birthday. 

Take care.