Wow, its already June.............

I can't believe I have not updated this blog in over a month!!!!!! As you most likely know, a one year old goes through so many changes on a daily/monthly basis. This means I have so much to say about all of Sierra's accomplishments.

This update is going to jump from here to there, but I want to make sure I fill you in with whats going on with Sierra.

First, since our little squirt has been walking since 10 months, she has shown us how she can turn that walk into a run, climb and jump. Here are some examples of what she has been doing:

Running- Sierra loves to run from us when we want to change her diaper.

Climb- She loves to climb on anything she can reach (or not). Her newest proud moment, is climbing up the slide backwards and sliding down by herself.

Jump- Since Nana has been taking Sierra to music class 2x a week for the past few months, Sierra has learned to jump like all the the kids in class.



Speaking of music class, Sierra has come a long way. At the first class she would only sit on Nana's lap and watch all the kids. Now she stands in the front of the class with Mrs Susan (the teacher) and participates in singing, dancing and signing the songs. At home we have a TV in the loft where Sierra has all her toys and videos, and this is where she insist watching her "Learn to Read" video. She has learned to turn the TV on and we push play, and indeterminately she watches the show, but as soon as a song comes on, she gives full attention, and participates. (I am not sure where she gets the intermittent attention span). I think we have a musician on our hands.



With this beautiful weather we've been having, Sierra loves to help daddy out in the garden. They have planted flowers, trees, herbs and she even helps him move dirt. John has to do the watering really quick, because the minute Sierra sees the water, that is all she wants to play in. Maybe we have a swimmer on our hands?



Sierra's vocabulary has expanded with words like: Baby, Wren (for her cousin), grandpa, NO (which I am not sure she knows why she is saying it), Kitty and Dogie. Maybe we have a speech therapist (like auntie Arezu) on our hands?



At her one year appointment, the doctor mentions that Sierra has not gained any weight since her last appointment, but she is growing taller by the day. I think its because she is on the go all the time. Between playing with cousin Brady, running around with Grandpa, running down to the park for playtime and climbing up and down the stairs, she burns more calories then me lately. I think we might have an athlete on our hands!

What ever Sierra is going to be, she will be great at it. We love every second with her. I thank god everyday for the ability to be around this Extraordinary human being. As much as Sierra is learning, I am learning things all over again. Most importantly, I have learned to slow down. It takes us twice as long to walk to the mailbox, but did you know there are ants, snails, cracks in the sidewalk and birds outside? Well I do, and Sierra makes it seem like those little creatures are AMAZING...............

I hope everyone is doing well and you to will slow down and see the small creatures.
I will post pictures soon

More Pictures..........

More Pictures from Sierra's Birthday

Sierra is now 1.........

There has been a lot going on in the Whiteside household and I will let the pictures do the talking. Just to give you a few updates:

Easter was fabulous. Not only did Sierra do an Easter egg hunt at Nana's and Grandpas, with cousin Brady, but John was able to be home on Easter Sunday after a 3 day stay in the hospital. All is fine, but he had to have a plate put onto his clavicle after breaking it during Mt Biking.

Sierra had her first birthday, which we calibrated with lots of friends and family. The Rudolphs spent the weekend with us, and Sierra was thrilled to have lots of kids at our house playing and eating cake. I was blessed to have My aunt and mom help with all the food and preparation as well as have my long time girlfriend Cindy and her family come down to celebrate.

Sierra is talking up a storm, climbing on everything she can, going to music class once a week, playing with her friend Jack once a week, and cousin Brady on Sundays. With our newest little addition (cousin Wren), Sierra is surrounded by lots of friends and love.

With John having a few weeks off, we are off on a road trip to northern Ca. First stop is Monterrey where I am competing in a Mt Bike race, and for the first time ever, John is watching. Then were off to Santa Rosa to visit family and have a little memorial for Johns Dad. On our way home, were stopping in my home town of Simi Valley to hang out with the Rudolph's and celebrate Brandy's birthday and let the little ones have more time to play.

That about wraps up the last moth or two. I will give more details when we return from our trip, but for now I will let these pictures do the talking on how much Sierra has grown up, and all the great people in her life. Thanks to everyone for her Birthday wishes.

More Pictures

Just shy of 11 months.........

When I first started this blog, it was all about John and I and our adventures. Then our little peanut came along, and I have realized, she has taken over. Not only becuase she is the best thing in this world, but also becuase every time I go to blog, she has grown so much and has achieved more steps since the last time I blogged.

Speaking of steps, Sierra has been walking and climbing all over. It started Super bowl Sunday, and shhe has not slowed down since. I think she is loving the new house, because the new floor is easier to get around on, plus she has more space to cover. We think she is fearless (good and bad), she will climb to the top of the stairs weather we are with her or not, she will adventure down the hallways, and her most favorite thing to do, is hang out in the garage with her Dad.

Speaking of the garage, for those who had seen our last garage, you should see our new one. We could have moved into 1200 sqaure fooet, but we had to have a three car garage, and we now do.

John and Sierra are in heaven. There is room for the bikes, everything that comed along with the bikes, 2 cars, our deer head, our stuffed camen and all the boxes we have gathered over the years. Its GREAT>

Everything else is going good. My parents are celebrating their 38th wedding anniversary tomorrow. " Congratulations Mom and Pop, we love you".

I am planning Sierra's 1st birthday party, Yipppeeeee.

ohn, myself and my Pops have signed up for a Mt Bike race, which is what we all needed to get back in shape, after the long year we had.

And last but not least, Sierra is expecting her new best friend in a few weeks. My little cousin Corey is having a baby girl. Every time Cory visits, or we see her, we ask Sierra," Wheres CoCos baby?" and she pats Corey's tummy. We can't wait. Brady, Sierra and baby Willis are going to have lots of fun.

I hope everyone is doing well. When you want to come visit San Diego, let us know, we have room for you..............Finally.

Here are a few pics of Sierra and her adventures.

So much going on..........

Sierra's Famous Squoshy face

Well, it is official, The Whitesides are moving. After 2 years of looking, going back and forth on where to live, going through the torture of getting a loan, we finally choose a house and received the keys last night. Yippeeeeeeee.

Change and spending money are my least favorite things to do, and those are the two things that have taken place in my life this past week. I know its all going to be worth it, it will just take some adjusting. We are moving 14 miles away form Nana and grandpa, 20 miles away from my work and 35miles away from Johns work. But........ we are closer to Jim and Corey, closer to the beach, coastal, in a community of many kids, our new backyard is a mountain bike park and best of all, we have SPACE to move around in.

Everyone is welcomed to come over and visit anytime. Just be prepared to have a drink and hang out.

Now on to our little monkey. Sierra is going to be 10 months next week. She is changing everyday. Her vocabulary consist of Dada, Mama, Unk uo ( thank you), Ut oh (when something falls), nana and two syllabals that resemble grandpa ( who she adores). She took 7 steps on her own the other day. She walks all over one handed, pushing her toys, and then attempts to walk, but finds it more intriguing to stand on her own and then plop down and wait for the applause. Her new neighborhood consist of 75 kids, two parks and backyard where she can play in the dirt and ride her bike all over. We are so blessed to have her in our lives and we thank god everyday that she got to meet Grandpa Bill before he past away.

John and I are doing great. With everything going on, we have still manged to get on our mountain bikes. We have two races this year, the Sea Otter in April and The Downieville classic in July. John plans to continue working at Sharp and I am looking to do more in home personal training as well as working in Pure Motion. I cant get to busy, because in one month my little cousin is welcoming her first little girl, which means, Sierra and I have a lot of visiting to do.

I hope everyone is doing well, and when you get a chance to visit San Diego, you always have a place to stay.