Party!

Sylvie was very excited yesterday to get in her patriotic party dress and play hostess to almost 100 friends and family at the Haleys' 4th Annual Saturday Before the 4th Cookout!  

For the first time this year the weather was less than cooperative.  After a gorgeous morning the clouds rolled in.   We started at 3, and at exactly 3:15 the thunder boomed and the skies opened up.  Everyone retreated into the house, but it didn't last long.  Clouds threatened the rest of the day, but never hit us again.

Sylvie was happy to see teachers and friends from daycare (including her main squeeze, Daniel), and her Dad's cousins from Connecticut along with their kids.  Cousin Aya made the scene... though she probably won't remember it since she snoozed through all the madness!

Poor Syl really wiped herself out bouncing, running, and playing with Madeline and her 11 year old friend Kristen from up the street (who likes to carry her around!).  She played so hard, in fact, that today she's a little under the weather with a fever and a tummy ache.  We're sure she'll bounce back fast though.  Today she's just really cuddly.

A few photos below, and tons at this link.

Rainy Weekend Videos

When we were home this weekend, we were indoors - it hardly feels like summer with temps in the sixties and a steady drizzle.  Sylvie took the opportunity to help with the housecleaning and work on her words.

She also spent some time working on impromptu gymnastics moves on a barstool (we really need to get this freakishly strong and coordinated toddler into a tumbling class...).

On the other end of the mood spectrum is this clip, caught surreptitiously yesterday afternoon as Syl really hit the wall.  She continues to LOVE her puzzles; especially the new foam number puzzle Grandma Lynne sent back from Ohio with Mommy.  She's really good with the numbers, but gets a little mixed up between the 9 and the 6 (and really, who doesn't?  I still do.).  Anyhow, I caught a moment of extreme frustration followed by surrender.  I shouldn't be so amused by this as I am, I know...

Happy Fathers Day!

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there, especially Sylvie's grandfathers and great grandfather.

We celebrated by going to lunch at the Noon Hill Grill.  Syl had a grilled cheese, fries and multiple fruit cups (most of which ended up sucked dry and then spat out onto the table and the floor - Sylvie's preferred method of fruit consumption).

Speaking of babysitters

Sylvie has a real special relationship with Patty, who was one of her teachers back in the infant room at day care.  Now Patty comes to baby sit every now and then, including last night when Mom and Dad went out to dinner with friends after Aunt Mary's party.

Sylvie keeps an eye out for Patty at school now that they aren't in the same room, and has been known to cry when she sees Patty go by.  It's good to know that the people Sylvie spends so much time with during the day make such a positive bond with her.

Happy 80th Birthday Aunt Mary!

Sylvie's favorite babysitter Aunt Mary turned 80 years old this week.  Syl was very happy to be part of a great celebration yesterday in Taunton.  Luckily the weather cooperated for a change.  Everyone had a great time. 

Sylvie missed her naptime, so she was a little irritable at first.  But she had fun meeting Charlie, the Rea's cocker spaniel, trying out the trampoline, and learning the ups and downs of a see-saw!  

Mostly though, she was happy to be there with Aunt Mary on her big day.

Many more photos in the June gallery.

Fun photos from daycare

Sylvie spent a lot of time at daycare this week - Mom was really busy with work (maybe an early sign of economic recovery?). Based on the photos the school sends out every week, she had a really fun time: finger painting, playing with cymbals, watching the ever-popular recycling truck and - as you can see from the attached photo and narrative - witnessing a momentous occasion in downtown Holliston.

The talking thing

Sylvie has been picking up words a few at a time for a long while now, starting with no (since evolved to "no WAY!"), moving through shoes ("suze") and socks ("ocks") to her favorite, Pax ("Pack-zzzz").

All of a sudden this week, though, things are accelerating. She's using multiple new words every day: hat, cheese, banana, toes, hair, cup, jump, hop... More importantly, she is listening closely to what we say, and trying frequently to repeat us. She has the cadence of the alphabet song down pat, and chimes in on the high note letters (c, g, p, s, v, z - with a final and emphatic "meeeeee!" at the end).

Finally, it's become clear that she's truly understanding a lot of what she hears. On Sunday she was watching Sesame Street while I chugged away on the treadmill. I guess I should say we were both watching Sesame Street - one of those small sacrifices. Nothing motivates a workout like Big Bird. Anyhow, the episode was primarily about Elmo looking for a Salsa dance partner. At the end, he has an epiphany and asks the viewers to be his partner. "Stand up, put out your hands, and dance with Elmo!" he says to the screen. I turned around on the treadmill (danger!) and was surprised to see Sylvie following that little red monster's instructions exactly, bouncing to the beat while reaching out to 'hold Elmo's hands.'

It won't be long now before we're conversing with our little Bean.

Playing with the girls

A few clips of Sylvie having fun with Aunt Willow and Mom last week while Daddy was away in New Jersey.

Speaking of Mom, Sylvie wants her home - NOW.  After just a few questioning "Mommy?"s since Friday morning when Melissa left, all of a sudden this afternoon she went into complete meltdown, yelling "mommy? mommy? mommy?" and bawling while running from room to room.  Wasn't anything I did...!  Anyhow, we both think it's a good thing Mommy comes home tonight!

Hi Uncle Pat!

Sadly we had to scrap plans yesterday to go to Aunt Lia and Uncle Ben's house for lunch with Uncle Pat, who is visiting on leave before he starts the next phase of his training, because Sylvie has come down with her first summer cold.  It's a doozy - we've gone through a forest worth of tissues in 24 hours.  

Lucky for Syl - her Uncle really loves her.  Pat, Ben and cousin Aya came by for a quick visit after Sylvie's nap in the afternoon.  Cousin Aya probably isn't aware the visit happened - she snoozed contentedly the whole time!  

Sylvie gave Uncle Pat a tour of her favorite part of the yard - the brick walk.   Here are a few photos - more in the June Gallery of course.

Home Alone

This weekend marks the first time Daddy and Sylvie have been left home alone, while Melissa heads to Cleveland for Aunt Naomi's wedding shower.  We're looking forward to lots of Q.T.

The hair washing progression

Willow captured a sequence of events that plays out every night at bath time.  Sylvie does not like to lay back in the bath - an understatement if ever there was one.  So in order to wash her hair, we have to dump water over her head.  She's usually a good sport about it.  She keeps her eyes open, and has learned to blow out during the pour so she does not swallow water.  Thank goodness for no-tears shampoo.

Bye Aunt Willow

Sylvie was sad to see Aunt Willow leave this morning, after a fun week of togetherness.  I am shamelessly expropriating the many, many wonderful photos Willow took of Syl while she was here, and have of course posted even MORE of them in the June Gallery.  Here are just a few of my favorites from the last 4 hours of Willow's visit, which featured lunch at the brand new Pejamajo (sp?) cafe in downtown Holliston, much frolicking, and - of course - a bath.

Thanks for coming, Aunt Willow!  We'll miss you!

What a difference a year makes

Occasionally I find it fun - and amazing, each time - to look back at a post from a year ago and compare Sylvie then to now. I can't really "remember" Sylvie any other way than she is right now, strange as it seems. But just a year ago, in June 2008, this was her.

Her features were pretty much locked in by then, and of course she still loves Elmo ("Mel-mo," in Sylvie-speak). Most of the physical difference is the hair and the coordination.

By the way, I snuck onto the computer and uploaded all the photos Aunt Willow has taken this week to the June Gallery. She's gotten some really good ones!

Some great new Sylvie shots by Aunt Willow

She's putting me to shame!

Of course the upside from my perspective is I get to be in some of the photos with Sylvie.

Thanks Aunt Willow!

Fun with Aunt Willow

Sylvie is having a great time with her Aunt.  Willow is, if you can believe this, even more tenacious with her camera than am I.  She's gotten some great shots of her niece.

They had fun together last night while Mom and Dad went into Boston for a good time with the Liggetts, who were up visiting from Connecticut.  Willow changed her first diapers - no doubt an adventure for both participants, and also enjoyed full responsibility for feeding time and the aftermath.  Sylvie reports that her Aunt did a great job.

Good to see you again, Aunt Willow

Aunt Willow's plane got her in after Sylvie's bedtime last night, but she was greeted this morning with a big bear hug, a long cuddle and an immediate invitation to do some reading.

They are going to have a lot of fun together this week, starting tonight when Willow babysits while Mom and Dad go to Boston with the Liggetts.

Settling back into the routine

Syl had a bit of a delayed reaction to our vacation.  She was fine - great, we're told! - for Grammy and Grampy while we were gone.  Since we've been back, though, she's had separation anxiety to a degree she'd never had before.  She cries whenever one of us leaves a room.  And for the first time in her life, every day this week she's bawled when Melissa dropped her off at daycare.  

Of course she's fine shortly thereafter, and still loves her "school."  But it seems she did notice our disappearing act.

In other news, Sylvie is finally greeting me when I come home with a squealed "DADDY!!"  Pretty much what I've been waiting for my whole life.  Makes my day every time.  

This week she's looking forward to visits from both Godparents: Aunt Willow arrives tomorrow and is staying with us almost a week; and Uncle Pat is on leave and visiting next weekend!  Good stuff all around.

Here are a few fun photos.  Rough-housing with Mom, playing doctor, and a slightly 'enhanced' photo that graces the invites to our annual Saturday Before the Fourth BBQ.