Fun at School

The teachers in the toddler room at Sylvie's day care are great about documenting their daily activities with the kids. Each week they send out an email titled "week in pictures" with photos and descriptions of the things they've done.
These come in Word documents, and I have not figured out a way to transfer them in their entirety, but here are some small photos of Sylvie that give a flavor of how much fun she has at "school": finger painting, checking out the town fire truck, playing with a bouncy ball and a hula hoop, and just kicking back on a Sylvie-sized couch. No wonder she sometimes runs to the garage door on the weekend and points at her school bag. She has a great old time!

PS: I know the color and definition are a little hinky - I think these are very small photo files they send, and so they don't transfer perfectly).

Meanwhile, back in Holliston

While Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben were busily bringing Cousin Aya into the world, Sylvie on Sunday was playing  hostess to a whole bunch of friends: Madeline and Jake O'Leary, and Sophia and Lily Cocchiarella came over for lunch. 

Sylvie had a blast showing them all her toys, sharing lunch and some of Mom's chocolate chip cookies, and just hanging out.  

Afterwards, Sylvie and Mom kicked back with some Barney and some iced coffee while we waited for the call from Uncle Ben giving us the all clear to come visit at the hospital!

More of the mayhem in the April Gallery.

Welcome Aya Elizabeth!

Sylvie and  her folks were thrilled this evening to meet Aya Elizabeth, who is cute as a button and just as social as can be.  A few photos of the happy new family!

Welcome Aya!

We got a call with wonderful news just before 1:00 pm. After a rough night of labor, Aunt Lia gave birth to Aya Elizabeth Halasz - 6 pounds, 15 ounces. We hear all are doing well. Sylvie is down for a nap, resting up for what we hope will be the first of many "play dates "with cousin Aya.

Congratulations, Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben!

Here's the text of Uncle/Daddy Ben's email:

We're very happy to announce the birth today at 12:45 p.m. of Aya Elizabeth Halasz, 20 inches long, 6 lbs 15 oz. Mom and Aya Betty are resting comfortably together, Grandma Susie and Jichan Toshi are here taking good care of us, and I'm just really happy.

Boogie Girl

Perhaps she sensed her cousin's impending arrival, because Syl was MUCH more enthused about her dance lesson this morning than she was last week.  Last Saturday, Wilson Pickett's "Land of 1,000 Dances" got her moving.  This week she sat down for that one, but got REALLY amped up for KC & the Sunshine Band's "Boogie Man."  

She got so into it that she insisted that both Melissa and I - and even Pax - join her (sorry for any seasickness that might result from my attempt to both participate and document.

Finally, I'd note that we did not teach her any of her new "moves" (ballet toes, the "rocking horse"... see if you catch them).

BIG NEWS!!!

Uncle Ben called this evening at about 8pm to say that he and Aunt Lia are on their way to the hospital!  Without getting too "medical," indications are strong that Sylvie's cousin intends to arrive tonight or tomorrow!  Sylvie, of course, is thrilled to meet the newest member of our family.  We'll be heading to Brigham & Women's just as soon as we get the word.  I'll probably bring my camera...  

Just for Fun

Dance Lessons

Melissa has determined to teach Sylvie at least one or two "cute dance moves" prior to Aunt Naomi's wedding in July.  Heh.

Sylvie the mimic

Unfortunately I have neither video nor a photo to illustrate this anecdote - as Melissa keeps telling me, I can't record every single moment of Sylvie's life...

Yesterday evening after I got home from word, we were all in the living room, watching Sylvie play on her slide and throw the balls from her ball pit all over the room. I was standing, and at some point I crossed my arms as I read an email on my Blackberry.

Melissa whispered, "Dan! Look at how she's standing!" I looked down and there was Sylvie, standing at my side, mimicking my exact posture with her arms crossed in exactly the same way I'd crossed mine. She was even facing the same direction I was facing.

I'm probably not doing the image justice, but in the moment it was absolutely hilarious.

Sylvie's new bath trick

I thought this was cute... at least until she decided to douse me.  Note that she's picking up words quickly now.

Spring is springing

At least it sure feels that way.  This morning Sylvie headed outside to do some driveway chalking, and almost immediately she insisted on pulling off her coat to soak in the sunshine.  Pax joined her in the warmth, and kept an eye on her.

Note Sylvie is sporting the latest in military toddler wear, picked up by Grandma and Grandpa Halasz on their recent visit to Uncle Patrick.  If ever Syl needs to secretly infiltrate an all pink environment, she'll be virtually invisible.

Happy Easter!

Here's how Sylvie spent Easter Sunday this year in Ohio: Food, bubbles, a lot of family and fun, and then some relaxing time watching golf with Grandpa.  

All in all, a good Easter.

More fun in Ohio

Here's some more video of Sylvie having fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house last weekend.  Easter Sunday video yet to come.  

We were continually amused by her insistence on calling Lucy the dog, "Pax!"  She was very emphatic about it.  Poor Lucy didn't know quite what to make of her.

Meeting a Master

On our first full day in Ohio, Sylvie had the privilege of meeting a real live harmonica master when she visited Grandma's workplace.  In addition to her quick lesson, which she enjoyed tremendously, Sylvie had fun meeting all of Grandma's friends.

The best gift ever (Wiiiiiiiii!)

We're going back in time a week and a half, to the weekend before our trip to Cleveland, for a quick video of Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben's most recent visit to Holliston.  

They brought an *excellent* gift for "Sylvie."  She just loves it and will get many hours of enjoyment out of it.

Thanks Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben!!

Speaking of Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben, any day now they'll be truly giving Sylvie her best gift ever - a cousin!  

Glamor shots

The soon-to-be-newlyweds posed for a few shots in the Easter sunshine.  

More here.

Cousin Kaitlyn

Sylvie's second cousin Kaitlyn took good care of Sylvie on Easter Sunday, keeping track of her amidst the hustle and bustle of a full house.

Aunts and almost Uncle

Some shots of Sylvie and her fan club.

Girl in Easter dress

Syl was looking sharp for Easter Sunday, thanks to Mom's taste and some wardrobe help from her aunts.

The bubble series

Sunday morning Aunt Naomi introduced Sylvie to bubbles.  Syl immediately picked up on the fun word, exclaiming "bubbles" over and over.  One of these shots - the one every single person who has seen it says makes Syl look like Glenda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz - is one of the coolest accidental shots I've ever gotten (I think, anyhow).  I also like the one catching the instant in which a bubble burst in Sylvie's face.

Great time in Ohio

We had a great Easter visit to Sylvie's grandparents' house in Ohio, and are now back home.  Sylvie had a lot of fun with Grandma Lynne and Grandpa Steve, her aunts, her soon-to-be-Uncle, her GREAT grandparents and all sorts of extended family.  

Of course I have many photos and quite a lot of video.  I spent the afternoon today getting the former ready for prime time - the video will have to wait until the weekend (back to the grind!).  Here's a selection of Sylvie's favorite shots from the weekend.  More to come, and MANY more in the April Gallery.  

HAPPY EASTER!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

This is how she flies

The portable DVD player is the greatest gift to traveling parents EVER.
Syl passed the time with Barney on an uneveventful flight to Cleveland. She's having a great time with her doting grandparents, Aunts and soon-to-be Uncle Ben II. Photos and video when we get home Monday (or shortly thereafter). Happy Easter!

NOW she's into hats

Following a winter during which the suggestion that she wear a hat would throw Sylvie into a meltdown, on a 60 degree day today decided she *really* loves her pink winter hat.

I did not get much in the way of video this weekend, except for a clip documenting a most excellent gift delivered by Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben yesterday, which I'll post ASAP.

Sylvie is very under the weather this weekend, with a cold and - if past is prologue - likely an ear infection. She's on her way to the doc for a check-up tomorrow so we can get this thing kicked before getting on a plane to Ohio on Thursday!

UPDATE (Monday): Syl went to the doc this morning, and it's a "chest infection." Mild. She is on antibiotics and should be fine to travel on Thursday. None of this is surprising. She's been on a good run of cold-free weeks, but last week she transitioned into the toddler room at day care and was thereby exposed to a whole new universe of germs. We're probably looking at a run of sniffles for a while.

Interview with the... Toddler!

Sylvie's big news this week is that at daycare she's transitioning from the baby room to the toddler room.  Big stuff!  

So apparently she thought this as good a time as any to finally consent to a long-delayed interview.  This was not planned, but she ended up cooperating beyond my wildest hopes.  At first I thought she was just answering "yah" to every question.  But then she started in with "no" answers where appropriate, making me wonder - not for the first time - how much she understands of what we say to her these days.  Scary...

She ends with some fun at Dad's expense.  Enjoy!