Campaign Cook"out"

Today Trystan, Brendan, Madeline and Jake very kindly hosted an open house cookout for Dad's campaign.  A few dozen people braved the weather (which was NOT cooperative) and turned up for burgers and dogs - and we moved the whole shebang out of the rain and into the kids' playroom.  Madeline and Jake were very understanding.  Lots of photos in a new gallery, and at some point Dad might put video of his speech up on his campaign website (unless, of course, it's too embarrassing).  

The hat in the last shot was not a prop - never fear.  Mr. Husselbee of Highland Street was kind enough to donate it to the candidate on his way out.

Visitors from 90210

Today Sylvie's second cousins, or third cousins, or something... (Dad's cousins and his kids - anyone who can decipher the relationships as to Sylvie wins a prize (the prize being gratitude and publication on the blog) stopped in for a visit all the way from Beverly Hills, California!  Dad's cousin Gregg is a police officer in Beverly Hills.  Her own Beverly Hills Cop!  (I'll bet he never gets that...)  Here's a shot of him with Syl.

Just kidding.  Here are some shots of Syl with Cousins Gregg and Diane, and their kids Kendall and Ryan.  Syl was a big fan of her family from Beverly Hills!

In other news...

Mom finally buckled to Dad's will and visited a chiropractor - who told her that he's never seen such tensed up lower back muscles.  He was amazed he's been functional at all!

Here she is doing her prescribed stretching, while Aunt Emily and Sylvie bark instructions.

Dry food!

Sylvie started eating "dry food" today - these little banana flavored cereal things.  As you can see, she mostly got them on her face, on the floor, etc...  Pax is a fan.  

Because I'm a little weird, the placement of one of the flakes prompted this... I hear Pepsi might be looking for a new spokesmodel...

Videos

First, the bath video...  Yes, I know the soundtrack is predictable.

Then a quick clip of her first time standing for Dad.  Also predictable - maybe inevitable - soundtrack.

The next one is a peek into the game we play (ok, Melissa plays) almost every evening, as Sylvie's pleasant disposition transitions slowly but surely into the pre-bedtime fussies.  One of her favorite things is to watch Melissa play peek-a-boo, but sometimes even that can't stave off the meltdown for long.  In fairness to Sylvie, I should point out that this isn't a video of her just sitting there slowly wigging out - she's reacting to her mom.  But it is a good look at how she gradually transitions from happy... to manic... to just fed up with it all.

And finally - she likes to move it move it.  Syl is definitely in the "move everywhere and get into everything" stage - which we understand will last about three to four years.  I'm amazed at how instinctively she goes for (1) consumer electronics, and (2) danger.

Helping Mom with her work

A Day Out on the Town (Suburban-style)

A few photos and shaky video clip of Sylvie's Saturday out with Mom and Dad: lunch at PF Chang's followed by a quick stop at that New England landmark, Jordan's Furniture.  Sylvie loved the restaurant - they gave her a spoon to bang on the table, after all - but was unimpressed with Jordan's massive selection of quality furniture at 'Underprices.'

Splish Splash

Been awhile since we had some bath time photos.  Syl really enjoys it these days.  We're almost going to have to move her to the big girl bath though - she's learned how to grab the faucet lever in the sink, and unfortunately down = hot.  More in the July Gallery.

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Don't Fence Me In...

Overkill?  No.  Syl has leapt from sedentary to crawling, climbing, grabbing menace in less than a week!

She seems to like her new play area though - we'll see how long that lasts.  

She also managed to find time in a break from playing to hang out with her mom and aunts this weekend.

Miscellany

A few things to report, all documented more extensively in the July Gallery...

1. First, Sylvie has graduated to the big girl crib. This does not mean a change of crib, just an adjustment in elevation (lowering the mattress). As you can see, she demonstrated the need for this change by pulling herself up and pulling down her mobile. Not far from that to climbing out of the crib at the higher mattress level, unfortunately.

2. Speaking of standing up, she's doing it every chance she gets now, and is quite comfortable on her feet... so long as she has something to hold onto.

3. She really loves her dad.

4. And her mom (seeing herself in mom's eyes... or at least her glasses):

5. And her relationship with Pax continues to evolve in a good direction. Whereas a few days ago he wouldn't countenance her presence anywhere near him, now he seeks her out on the floor and settles in next to her. Whether this is out of affection or just the realization that where Sylvie sits is where the action is, we cannot know. But he lets her touch him now - a big step. If we could get her to stop trying to grab his eyes we'd be all set.