Happy Halloween!

Dad took Mom and Sylvie the Bear to a Halloween Party in Hopkinton tonight (campaign thing).  She was of course the hit of the evening.  And she even kept her ears on for a little while!  These shots were taken before we left.

As you can see, she was quite pleased with herself as she tore her hat from her head... and then it was back to her favorite activity.  Moving stools.

Does a bear move stools in the woods?

More cute bear shots in the October Gallery.

Big News on the Sylvie front!

On the cusp of her first birthday, Sylvie this evening took her first unassisted steps. From her vantage point on the treadmill not three feet away, Melissa witnessed this milestone - achieved casually and without any acknowledgment by Sylvie of the accomplishment.

As related by Melissa (Dad was at his final debate): Sylvie was seated, playing, in the middle of her play enclosure in the workout room. Suddenly, and very casually, she stood upright and walked over to the railing. This strikes me as particularly remarkable in that she began from a seated position - but what do I know? She's our first! Anyhow, first steps today, October 28, 9 days short of her first birthday. Good stuff. I'll try to get video.

Videos...

What do a harmonica, an apple, and our family room all have in common?

Pretty much nothing other than that they figure into this week's random assortment of Sylvie videos...

Growing

A few shots from recent days...

A few more in the October Gallery.

Thinking Thanksgiving

This is the first post on this blog that is not about Sylvie in any respect, and for that I apologize. But I had a little incident on the campaign trail today that I just have to share. I am driving around the district, knocking on the doors of undecided voters to try and make my case personally. I've run from more than a few big dogs (ok, and more than a few little ones). I've almost stepped on a sunbathing snake, fallen down a voter's front steps, and almost been hit by two cars. But today's incident tops them all.

I'd pulled down a long drive to a house set a few hundred yards back in the woods. I got out of the car and was halfway to the front door when three massive wild turkeys rushed at me out of the woods, flapping and clucking. I don't know how many of you have been attacked by wild turkeys, but they are some pretty serious animals. I retreated into my car, and they commenced circling me. I started the engine and honked, but they didn't budge.

As I was taking the photo and video below, this kid came out of the house - picture Spiccoli in Fast Times - and said, "What's the deal here, bro? You scared of a few turkeys?"


Because I have committed to being honest with the voters, I was constrained to answer: "Yes, you'd better believe I am."

More on Sylvie soon, I promise. I have fun video involving her, a harmonica and an apple.

Doing my best

Doing my best to throw up a post every now and again.  But they are probably going to be kind of sparse for the next 2 weeks or so...  Here are a few photos from the last week:

1.  Thanks for the outfit, Grandma Lynne!

2.  Thanks for the costume, Grandma Lynne - it fits!  (Alternate title: Sylvie in the Box)

3.  Getting coffee with Mom

4.  Breast cancer walk (before Syl melted down and spent the last 3 miles of a 5 mile walk screaming at the top of her lungs)

5.  Fall festival with Dad.

Syl is pretty under the weather this weekend.  Fever yesterday - gone today, but she is still really out of sorts.  Very little eating, very little sleeping, a lot of crying.  She definitely has a cold, but it seems like she probably has something else going on too.  Perhaps teeth.

Getting a new perspective

Syl has decided she likes the world upside down.  This is her latest new thing, and it absolutely. Cracks. Her. Up.

Maybe it wasn't an exaggeration after all...

Another day, another...

Joy

Sometimes the best videos (in my opinion) come out of the times when I have a backlog and need to do a compilation to catch up.  This is a series of clips from the last couple of weeks.  Looking at the finished product, it really gives a good sense of our little girl's personality these days.  The soundtrack is titled "Joy" - very appropriate, as you'll see.

The other day Melissa dropped Sylvie off at day care before any of the other kids were there.  One of her teachers, an older woman who has been there for a lot of years, told Melissa that Sylvie has the best personality of any baby she's ever had: happy all the time, social, and just generally agreeable.  That is, of course, the best thing a parent can hear (at this stage).  Or maybe the second best, behind "your baby is perfectly healthy."

Anyhow, this vid really does give a good sense of her demeanor most of the time - other than when she's hungry or really tired.  I hope you enjoy.  Oh, and in a couple of the clips you can see her "dancing."  That's my favorite new Sylvie thing.  It's all in the hips...

Last Bath Video?

Good thing it's a cute one, because this may be the last bath time video I take for a while.  She's getting very active.  After seeing this video - especially the ending - Sylvie's mom set out some new ground rules: No video camera when I'm supposed to be minding the baby in the tub.  Watching it, I can't say as I blame her.  Even though I know it turns out fine - as usual, the jerk of the camera makes it look like a closer call than it was - the fact remains that she tried to make a leap for it out of the tub, and I only had one hand to catch her.  

In my defense, I had no idea the kid is capable of leaping...

Fun with Cheerios

Who knew rolled oats could be so much fun. 

Syl finally has the whole "eat 'em don't spit 'em" thing down - although we have to hand them to her one at a time or she chokes, which can be time-consuming.

She has a whole lot of fun with the process, as you can see, applauding her every successful bite.  Then she figures out that PAX likes Cheerios too, and the hilarity really ensues...

October Gallery

This is certainly the deepest we've gone into a month without a gallery.  I have a few things going on...  But better late than never.  Here's the beginnings of the October gallery, with some cute, random shots.

Mom and Syl in matching fall jacket, Syl in some cute "school clothes," and Syl showing off her tooth.

COUSIN!!!

Sylvie just got the news that Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben are planning to give her a late birthday present - a COUSIN!! (this is her 'overwhelmed with excitement' face)

Congratulations Lia and Ben!!

And now an update - the first photo of Sylvie's cousin, who looks pretty excited to meet Sylvie too...

Another Day, Another Parade

Ok, so maybe the title is an exaggeration.  But Sylvie isn't yet a year old, and already she's been in TWO parades!  Yesterday she joined Mom and Dad, and a whole bunch of Dad's excellent supporters, in the Celebrate Holliston parade.  It was a little chilly, but in her new coat (matches with Mom's) Syl was comfy and happy.  And she brought smiles to a lot of faces... smiles = votes.  Right?

See a lot more parade photos by clicking here.

Still pushing it.