Dear Sydney,
Whoa, where have we been? Just call me a slacker! Well, actually, I haven't been writing because I haven't had a free minute to write! It's a good thing, really. I love being busy. You've been able to spend time with your Aunt April this weekend. She came over and babysat you while your Dad and I went out. I'm sure you two had lots of fun together! The next morning my cousin Ben and his wife babysat you while we went to a funeral. They said you did well until you threw up all over Ben! Oh well, I guess you are just giving him good practice for when their baby is born in two weeks!

I thought for sure since you threw up already that day that you wouldn't do it again. But I was wrong. Way wrong. Yes- you covered our couch in stinky throw up later on that afternoon. Don't you know that when we are trying to get you to gain weight...you aren't supposed to throw up?

Yesterday was a warm day so I wanted to dress you in a "summery" outfit. Well, you don't have too many of those just because you are still so small and you don't fit into the summer clothes that people had given you. But I decided I was going to make an outfit fit you. So I picked out an outfit that I LOVE (Ryan and Stacie Graham gave it to you...Thank you Stacie!) and I rolled the shorts around the waist and then pinned them in the back so they were smaller. There wasn't much I could do about the shirt but it didn't look too big. You looked so cute I couldn't help but take pictures. You are one smiley girl! We also have some good news to report....You have officially grown out of your first outfit! Yes, we are so proud. The other night I went to put your pajamas on and they were too short. Your shoulders were popping out the top. There was no way I was going to be able to keep your feet in the bottom and your shoulders in the top all at the same time. They were newborn sized jammies. Now I am just waiting for you to grow out of your other newborn clothes. I better not hold my breath.

Here are some more family pictures for you. Thank you Brandon for doing such a good job! The final product of these pictures are still in the making. He goes back and plays with the lighting and things to make them look really cool and they aren't done yet. So what you are looking at is just the raw photos. You sure do make our family look good, Sydney.


















We love you!

Love always, Mom

Dear Sydney,
You earned an A+ on your weight check today! Last week you were at 8 lbs. 13 oz. (only gaining one ounce from the week before) and this week you weighed......drumroll please........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9 lbs! Yes, you were such a good girl! You gained the exact amount that we were hoping for. I was a little nervous because last week you didn't do as well so I was afraid you had lost weight this week. But, instead, we were all pleasently surprised! You are still in the 3rd percentile but at least you haven't gone down to the 2nd.

Your cousins were finally born today! Dylan came first weighing in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and then Claire came feet first weighing exactly the same amount you did at 6 lbs. 2 oz. We sure waited a long time for them to get here!

We walked to the grocery store today and of course, you slept. You seem to really love your stroller. I got to talk to a good friend while I was there. As frustrated as I get with Rexburg, I know I will miss it here.

I think that is all for today. I sure love you, Little Lady.
Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
We took another video of you today. You don't say much...in fact I don't think you say anything at all but it's still cute. Just scroll down to the end of this post to watch it. You are 11 weeks old now. Wow. I can't believe it. It makes it even harder to believe it when you are pretty much the same size as when you were born! The outfit you are wearing in this picture is the exact same outfit we brought you home in from the hospital.

You have another weight check tomorrow morning. Lets hope that this time you have gained more than an ounce. Tomorrow you should weigh exactly 9 lbs. We'll see if you made the cut our not. You have been eating really well today and you haven't been as sleepy. If only we could have this kind of day every day! Hmm...I'm thinking that won't happen until the end of August. The doctors say that you'll be a completely different baby after the surgery. I wonder how different you'll be? It makes me a little nervous because you have been such an angel...what if that all goes away? Oh dear. I guess we are going to find out very soon!

Here you are in the video we took of you today at 11 weeks old.


You are a dream. I love you!

Mom

Dear Sydney,
We made it back from Twin Falls and we enjoyed the rest of our weekend here in Rexburg. It was so good to be in Twin with my Grandma. She is always so uplifting. Someday I hope you can have conversations with her and learn from her wonderful example. While in Twin we took a walk along the rim of the Canyon. Beautiful! The canyon rim looks down on two golf courses which Jordan was very excited about. You also see the snake river winding through the canyon walls. We kept you nice and bundled though because the wind was blowing a little bit of cold air and we didn't want you to get sick! We even watched as base jumpers jumped off the bridge that goes across the canyon. Boy, do they have some guts! I have so many good memories in this town. It is where Mamo (my mom) grew up and climbed the flag pole on a date with a boy! It's where she learned how to play the clarinet, waterski, and snow ski. It is where she got taped to the toilet by her brothers. Yes, Twin Falls has witnessed many important moments in my family's life.




We celebrated the rest of the 4th at Jordan's sister's house. Cori and Colin had as all over for BBQ chicken. So good. We watched fireworks and played card games. It was all very entertaining.You and Tyler slept through the firworks until you decided to throw up everywhere. You sure know how to crash a party! It's ok, we still love you.


You have been extremely tired these past few days. I know it is because of the extra toll your heart puts on your body. It is hard to see you sleep so much. Especially today. You have slept through almost the entire morning and afternoon except to eat and give us a few smiles. I can't wait for you to go to the repair shop and get a tune up job. Aw. How wonderful it will be.

I just have to mention one thing that life has taught me this weekend. Our time here on earth is precious. It is so comforting to know that life goes on after we leave this world and that our families can literally be together forever. Life isn't as frightening when we know what awaits us on the other side. Tell your family you love them but more importantly SHOW them you love them by Hugging a little tighter and speaking a little sweeter. Actions speak louder, so much louder, than words. So, now I am going to tell you, I love you. You are beautiful. You are an answer to so many prayers and yet the subject of so many other prayers. You are our world and we would do anything to keep you safe and healthy. And after I finish here I am going to go and give you and your Dad a great big kiss and hug. Don't be afraid to show people you care, Sydney.

All my love,

Mom

Dear Sydney,
After lots of brainstorming we figured out what we were going to do this weekend. We decided to go to Twin Falls to visit my Grandma. We got here last night and we will be staying until tomorrow afternoon. We have thoroughly enjoyed our time here. Grandma "Crunch Crunch" loves you to pieces, Little Sydney. The name Grandma Crunch Crunch was coined by your cousin Sara who was unable to say "Christensen" so instead said Crunch Crunch. It has stuck ever since. Oh, how we love our Grandma Crunch Crunch. I could talk with her for hours and listen to her stories. She keeps me laughing and you smiling. Your Dad has even found a good golf course here and took himself golfing.

Before Grandpa Christensen died he used to call me "Nooners." No one is really sure where that came from but that is just what he called me. He nicknamed your Aunt Mandi "Moomers" and once again we don't know where it came from. I am pretty sure that if Grandpa Christensen were still here he would have nicknamed you "Mooners." I miss him. All he wanted to do was have some fun and he made sure of it. He loved curly fries and to go on roller coasters. I can still hear him whistling to his favorite songs and cheering for the BYU football team. I'm sure you two had quite a party in heaven before you came here.



Your cousins should be born any day now. Aunt Mollie is about ready to pop with her twins inside her little belly. We are all hoping that they are born on Monday but if they don't come then the doctor has set her inducement date on Wednesday. We can't wait!

This is your first 4th of July. I had bought you a cute little outfit to wear on the 4th a few months ago thinking that FOR SURE it would fit you by now but...it doesn't. Oh well, we can't go out anyways so it doesn't matter that you aren't wearing red, white, and blue. Maybe next year.

I love you. Love, Mom

Dear Sydney,
8 lbs. 13 oz is what you weighed yesterday although right before I went to pull you off the scale it had gone down even further to 8 lbs. 12.5 oz. Not exactly what we were hoping for. I have to admit, I was fighting tears the whole time inside the office. I truly know that you'll be ok but its just hard to watch you go through this process of struggle. You are now in the 3rd percentile for weight. The nurse said to not let this get us discouraged. This kind of weight issue is to be expected with your heart defect.

We had plans to go to the Rexburg Parade on Saturday morning, swimming in the afternoon, and then to the Idaho Falls Fireworks on Saturday night but while we were at the Dr's we were told that it wasn't such a good idea. If Syd gets sick at all, even with a minor cold, the surgery will be cancelled. Her body has to be 100% healthy to do the surgery because all her body should be focused on is recovering not recovering and fighting a cold. It's just not worth the risk. So, we aren't sure what we are going to do this weekend but whatever it is it's going to be fun!

We got our family pictures back yesterday. He did such a great job. I am putting a couple up but there are more that I love. We did more pictures where we are wearing white shirts with jeans but I am too lazy to get off the couch and grab the disk that has those pictures on them so for now...you just get to see 2 of the 100 that were taken while we were wearing brown.





I sure do love you. Your Dad loves you.
Love Forever, Mom

Dear Sydney,
You have a weight check today at the Pediatrician's office. Our goal for today is 8 lbs. 15 oz. I am in high hopes that you beat that goal because yesterday morning you drank 4 oz! That never happens. All morning I waited for you to just throw it all up but nope...you kept it in! Good girl! After that, however, you only ate about 2 1/2 oz which is your usual.

You slept until 10 o'clock today. You were one tired girl! And then around 11:30 I sat you on the couch to make you a bottle and I came back and you were asleep. I hope this means you are growing and not because of your heart.

We took family pictures last night. I'm so glad we did them except I could have managed without the millions of mosquitos that were swarming around us! I came home and counted at least 20 bites on my body, you didn't get any and your Dad got 1. You and your Dad must have the kind of blood that mosquitos don't like. I was so glad you didn't get any, though. I would have felt so bad if you did. I am excited about the pictures. We should be getting them back pretty soon. I can't wait to see how they turned out.

I think we'll go for a walk today. It is so nice outside. After that- I'm not sure what we'll do. I've been working on a little sewing project so maybe I'll come and do that while you sleep. No matter what we do, I still love having you around. I love you so much.

Love Always,
Mom