Back to the playground

Between her illnesses and the rain, it's been a while since Sylvie visited her favorite playground.  We went for a quick evening visit today, to round out the holiday weekend.  

Turns out Sylvie is something of a brute!  There was a little boy there - Marco - who is almost exactly her age.  After exchanging pleasantries (almost identical "Hiiiiiiii!" greetings exchanged), Sylvie noticed Marco making for the big kid jungle gym.  She followed. When he turned to greet her again, she planted a firm shove right in the center of his chest and said, "No."  Poor Marco started to cry.  After a lot of apologies by us to Marco's parents (she's the youngest at her daycare, she plays with a lot of boys, etc.) we thought all was well.  Then Marco tried to get *on* the (very large and spacious) jungle gym.  "No!" shouted Sylvie, extending her hand toward him again, palm out firmly.  "MINE!"  

We of course removed her from the jungle gym and explained to her about sharing. Not sure she got it.  But it looks like we have some assertiveness issues to work out!

Other than all that we had a great time at the playground - and I got my favorite recent shot (the last one of these I'm posting here).

Her mother's daughter

See the resemblance?

Contrast?

Here are a couple of video clips taken last week.  The first was Sylvie on Monday, the worst day for her strep throat.  She had a 102 degree fever, stomach issues and a sore throat.  Despite all of that, she found the ambition and energy to bury her mother repeatedly.

You might think she doesn't look all that sick.  Of course I don't tape her when she's pitching a fit, and there were a lot of those for a few days. Anyhow, this next one is Sylvie fully recovered.  See a difference?

Sunshine - at long last!!

After what seems like months of rain, the sun finally came out in Holliston this weekend.  Sylvie took full advantage, playing (and dancing) in the driveway, walking not one but TWO big, black dogs (Baxter O'Leary is staying with us this weekend) and even trying out Dad's hammock.

We also went over to Ben and Lia's last night for a cookout with cousin Aya - who is growing like a weed! - and with visiting Uncle Zach and Aunt Emily.

Sylvie showed off for her cousin by eating in a real big-girl chair, with only a pillow to boost her up.

All in all, a great Independence Day weekend.  Video to come.  Check out the new July Gallery!

All better!

And back to "school" today! Antibiotics are a wonderful thing...

I'll try to get Sylvie to have a "conversation" with the camera this weekend. She is really talking now - repeating almost everything she hears and even stringing together rudimentary sentences and telling us what she wants in "English." Example: last night she told me which book to read before bed. "Baybee buk." When I pulled out the wrong book, the pushed it away. "Noooo. Baybee buk." She wanted the book called "where are baby's hands?"

Baxter O'Leary is staying with us this weekend. Sylvie never gets tired of seeing Baxter and Pax in a room together. One dog, it seems, is mildly annoying. Two are hilarious.

Under the weather again - health update

A few people have emailed asking for an update on little Syl's health - thanks for the concern!

After a miserable Sunday, post-party (fever, lethargy, the runs, lots of couch time with Barney and Big Bird) Melissa brought Sylvie to the doc's Monday morning. Turned out that in addition to a slight stomach bug, the poor kid had strep throat! That's the flip-side of her fantastic disposition; it's really hard to tell when she's truly uncomfortable, because she remains so generally agreeable.

Anyhow, the doc put her on an antibiotic and prescribed the BRAT diet (Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast) for her belly, and suggested that we advise "anyone Sylvie has had contact with over the past few days" of her strep. Sigh. Ordinarily that would mean a call to day care. In this case, it meant an email to over 100 people!

We've since come to find out that a couple of Sylvie's classmates came down with strep last week, so at least it didn't originate at our house. We have not yet heard of any new cases amongst our party guests. Hopefully the fact that most of the interaction happened outside will minimize the spread. Of course, the fact that Sylvie was a serial sippy-cup stealer all day on Saturday probably did not help matters.

Anyhow, yesterday she was feeling *much* better - both the fever and the stomach issues had abated. Melissa reports that she's better still today.

Thanks again for the concern.

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.