toddlerwoddler

Just One Blog

2008-10-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

For the past year you have been able to read all about Sylvia from two URL's - this one and http://cpwallace.com/Sylvia. While that set-up initially made it convenient for Sylvia's parents to both make posts, it was a little overkill. So today, we consolidate those blogs into one Wordpress blog:
http://cpwallace.com/Sylvia

You will also find new photo galleries included in the site. And we'll be adding videos soon.

We'll see you at http://cpwallace.com/Sylvia

Charlie on the Shoulder

2008-10-25T10:43:00.001-07:00

Evening in the Rose Garden

2008-10-20T18:03:00.000-07:00

Sylvia and I took a walk through the rose garden this evening. The weather has turned rainy and chilly, and all the leaves are falling. But the roses are still in bloom. Not just a few flowers here or there, but the whole garden is colorful with them. The fountain was going and during our visit the garden lights came on. There was really too little light for my camera phone, but we gave it a shot.

The roses

Playing in the puddles

The fountain

Sylvia's new boots

The fountain again

Fall

2008-10-19T20:39:00.000-07:00

Sylvia enjoyed a true fall day today. The skies were blue and the leaves yellow, red, brown, and some lingering greens. She's learning the joys of scattering leaves and hearing them crunch underneath her feet. While we bought her a new winter hat, she insists on her "purple tassel hat" which fits in better with the fall weather. She is an avid scientist when it comes to her outdoor observations. Sometimes, it feels tedious walking with her especially when I'm in a get somewhere mode, but she really reminds me to slow down and be patient and to truly "see" everything again. She points out every dog, baby, bicycle, piece of trash, bug, and the like on these walks around our block.

We went out for a Sunday pancake breakfast this weekend as it was the first weekend I haven't had a long run in 4 months. Sylvia impressed me by saying, "thank you," to our server. She's enjoyed the Halloween books that grandparents have sent up as well as the decorations. We're still trying to decide on a costume, but we think we may construct something out of her ballerina outfit and her fairy outfit - some sort of ballerina fairy princess? The feminist in me feels somewhat opposed to this; however, she has more backhoes and construction equipment than any child I know, so I think she's pretty well rounded.

Darcie Finishes Marathon; Sylvia Behaves Herself

2008-10-13T06:35:00.000-07:00

It was a warm and cloudless Sunday in Chicago, but Darcie pushed through and finished her first marathon in just over 5 hours!

Sylvia, Chris, G (Marilyn), Aunt Monica, and Cousin Elaina tried to keep up with her in a mini van. Uncle Eric tackled 20 miles of the 26.2 mile course, but had to pull out. We're very impressed with all of the runners. Congratulations, everybody!

Sylvia's new cousin has arrived!

2008-10-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the world William Edward Wallace born Oct. 9, 2008. Sylvia is excited about a new baby cousin and can't wait to meet you. Congratulations from Uncle Chris and Aunt Darcie!

Big Balloon

2008-10-05T13:57:00.001-07:00

Another day at work

2008-10-02T13:19:00.000-07:00

A flooded building two weeks ago, fumes from construction the past week, and now a fire. We'll get some work done next week.

2nd 2nd Birthday

2008-09-29T19:09:00.001-07:00

Here are some photos from Sylvia's 2nd 2nd birthday party, this time in Chicago:

Cupcake

2008-09-27T16:45:00.001-07:00

Birthday

2008-09-27T16:37:00.001-07:00

Sept. 24, 2008

2008-09-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Sylvia officially turned two today. She celebrated with pancakes and two candles this morning. She also had a visit to her pediatrician who sang Happy Birthday to Sylvia. Sylvia's new stats:

She was 6 lbs. 13 ozs. at birth and now weighs 26 lbs.
She was 21 inches at birth and is now 36 and 1/2 inches.

We spent the afternoon in the park with friends and Sylvia had lots of phone calls from family and friends. Luke and Cindy sent her a pair of chopsticks from Japan; Dede sent ballet slippers; Eric and Monica sent name labels for her sippy cups; and Sylvia is still playing with her amazing collection of toys she was generously given while celebrating in Mississippi - backhoes, puzzles, and Mr. Potato Heads.

Happy Birthday, Sylvia!

Birthday Party, Mississippi-style

2008-09-16T20:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics from Sylvia's 2nd birthday party in Mississippi.

Baby Clark

2008-09-16T17:06:00.001-07:00

We got to meet Quin tonight. He's a healthy, handsome, sleepy little fella. Congratulations, Sabrina & Nathan!

Tybee Island Video

2008-09-07T10:45:00.001-07:00

We've put together a short video of our beach adventures on Tybee Island, GA over Labor Day weekend:

Savannah Slideshow

2008-09-06T11:15:00.000-07:00

We've put together a little slideshow of highlights from our trip to Savannah/Tybee Islad over Labor Day weekend. Uncle Will and Aunt Heather recently moved. Will has joined a cardiology practice and Heather is trying to stay cool waiting for the new baby to arrive.

The heat and humidity was a little tough on us Chicagoans but the beautiful city and the great beach helped us recover.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth...Has Arrived

2008-09-04T21:20:00.000-07:00

So, we thought we were in the clear - that so called 6 day incubation period seems to not hold true. Sylvia has been incubating now since August 15 and well, her little toes, bottom, and hands are covered. They leave the "bottom" part out of the name of this virus (perhaps, to keep parents hopeful).

She is being kept comfortable and is lucky not have sores in her mouth. Hopefully, all those kids on the United flight from Savannah to Chicago are not experiencing some of Sylvia's Hand, Foot, Mouth, and Bottom right now.

Ice Cream Cone

2008-09-03T20:49:00.001-07:00

Sylvia eats her first ice cream cone.

Yes, we have photos and video to post from Labor Day weekend in Savannah. It's coming soon.

Camp Run-A-Muck 2008

2008-08-24T18:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend we went to Morris, IL for Camp Run-A-Muck (formerly known as Stefapalloza) for Stef Foster's birthday. We all ate, played games, and hung out late into the night (10 pm) around a bonfire before heading off to sleep in our tent. Sylvia did great, sleeping in her little sleeping bag between us for the second weekend in a row. She's becoming quite a pro.

The location was perfect for a mixed adult/kid party. There was plenty of space amongst the corn fields to play cornhole, chase dogs, roast wieners, and play on the swing set. On Sunday morning we even got to pick green beans from the garden. Sylvia helped prepare them and ate a healthy portion for dinner.

Hand, Foot, and Mouth

2008-08-21T22:26:00.000-07:00

While I love playgroup, it is a petri dish. I've been neurotically checking Sylvia for sores on her hands, feet, and mouth as two of our baby camping buddies, Niamhy and Jonah, have hand, foot, and mouth (you can view the photos in the previous post and just see the virus spreading).

I wish they would come up with a better name for this virus. While I like that it is specific and leaves no question as to what may be affected, by the name of it, I feel like I've somehow failed Sylvia because it sounds like I set her loose in a pasture full of wild animals.

So far, no sores, but I'll keep everyone updated. We have three more days left of the "incubation" period.

Illinois Beach State Park

2008-08-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a camping trip at Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL where we hung out with a few of Sylvia's best playgroup friends. After getting our camp set up, we hit the beach. The weather was perfect for a dip in chilly Lake Michigan. The beach was pretty rocky which made it difficult for some of us with city feet, but it allowed for great stone skipping in which Sylvia took a great interest.

After the beach, we started up the fire which ended up being the center of activity for the evening – even for Sylvia who was just too excited to go to sleep. She and dad finally drifted off about 10pm. Sunday morning we went for a quick hike with a very sleepy baby and then returned home to Evanston where we did a little more swimming in the Lake and digging in the sand.

Click an image for a larger view.

Company Picnic

2008-08-14T16:03:00.000-07:00

Just a Few More Beach Photos

2008-08-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Although the weather the past few days has felt a little cool for August, Saturday afternoon warmed up nicely - as did Lake Michigan, and the family hit the beach.

Getting our feet wet

Reserved Sylvia gets brave

Posing for Dad

The Backhoe Dance

2008-08-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks, Sylvia has a ritual of putting on a dance marathon. She has one dance called the "Banana (Nama) Dance," "Driving the Car Dance," and the "Ack Ack" (not sure what this one is all about).

The dance we've captured here is entitled, "The Backhoe Dance." Sylvia is intrigued by construction equipment. And, it seems that the Backhoe is the most inspiring to her. You can see how in the video.

Sylvia Sings the Blues

2008-08-09T19:50:00.000-07:00

So, we've caught Sylvia's flare for self-expression on film. Here she does a rendition of her first blues song entitled, "No Bath."

Climbing On a Dragon

2008-08-09T11:10:00.001-07:00

Sylvia bravely climbed on a sea dragon at Old Orchard.

My First iPhone Post

2008-08-09T05:30:00.001-07:00

Chasing rabbits.

The Floor, Part 1

2008-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

A picture from tonight's dinner:
Why are Sylvia and Charlie both in the kitchen with all of our houseplants?

Because we are getting new floors:
This is the result of the washing machine 'repair' a few weeks ago which dumped an inch or two of water into our condo. All things considered, the process has been pretty easy, and this has allowed us to upgrade to actual wood flooring in a lighter color which should lighten things up, especially in those dark winter months. The installation began this morning at 8:30 and should be finished up by the end of the day tomorrow.

We hope it will be. It is pretty rainy here now, and everything that used to be in our living room is now in Chris and Darcie's bedroom, so the place is feeling a bit cramped with a curious toddler. We'll post photos of the finished product later this week.

Sabrina's Baby Shower

2008-08-04T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sylvia and family are eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new playmate for Sylvia (arriving October 5th or so). We hosted a shower for Sabrina (and Nathan) and baby-to-be this weekend. It was fun getting to shop for little socks, newborn diapers, and all those wee little baby items. But, it was even more fun watching Sabrina ooh and ah over all the baby gifts.

Sabrina opens gifts while Sarah and Kate look on...
All of the yummy treats and the diaper cake we made for Sabrina.

Dede & Papa Visit

2008-07-29T19:10:00.001-07:00

This past weekend, Dede and Papa came to visit from Mississippi. While it felt like summer to us, they noted the pleasant, almost cool weather.

Hanging Out: (click on a photo for a larger version)

On Friday night we packed up a picnic, loaded a little table in to the car and headed up north to Ravinia to hear Hootie and the Blowfish. I know what you're thinking: those guys still tour? But it was sold out. Even the lawn. It was probably the biggest crowd I have ever seen at Ravinia. Sylvia certainly appreciated their music. Spen spent most of the concert near the stage dancing. Finally an hour or so past her bed time, we had to drag her away - still clapping and saying 'Yay!'

We also spent a good bit of time at the pool. Dede and Papa were convinced that it was a little chilly in the water, but they plunged in for Sylvia. Dede braved the steps in the kids' water park section, and Papa went down a water slide a few times for Sylvia's amusement. Sylvia even rode down once with Dad.

Sylvia is still talking about all the fun we had.

The Evanston Grand Prix

2008-07-20T13:06:00.000-07:00

Today was the Evanston Cycling Grand Prix, the cycling race held in downtown Evanston every summer. It was a given of course that Sylvia would be attending. She had never seen that many bicycles in one place before or bicycles going that fast.

Chris and Sylva watch the cyclists zoom by

Sylvia points out the course to the baby doll

We Have Pee in the Potty

2008-07-18T20:43:00.000-07:00

As reported by Chris, Sylvia Maridale Wallace urinated into the child-size toilet on Thursday, July 17th at 7:00 pm. Much to my dismay, I was teaching a yoga class, and came home to hear about this momentous occasion. I promptly asked for all the details, minute by minute from the time I left the house. At 6:25 pm, Sylvia and I said good-bye. At 6:30 pm, Chris and Sylvia danced to a few rounds of the Hokey Pokey ("mo pokey, mo pokey"). At 6:45 pm, Sylvia needed a diaper change by saying, "pee pee." Chris removed her diaper. He asked Sylvia if she wanted to sit on the potty and she agreed. During her time on the potty, she voluntarily urinated onto her toilet. We are so proud of her. I can't wait to see this miracle myself. And like any new event in Sylvia's life, I feel both pleasure, joy, and a twinge of sadness to realize that our baby is really, almost truly a little girl.

A Little More Water, A Little More Music

2008-07-13T17:57:00.000-07:00

Though Saturday morning showers rained out any trip to the beach or pool, Saturday afternoon cleared up enough for us to head to the water.

At the Lee Street Beach Sylvia worked the afternoon away on an ever-collapsing hole in the sand, while Darcie and Chris were instructed to get 'mo wata! Mo wata!' Though the sky was still cloudy, Chris was just hot enough to take his first full dunk in Lake Michigan this season.

On Sunday Darcie ran ten miles while Chris and Sylvia kicked a ball around. Then it was off to the Skokie pool.
At the pool, Sylvia was more brave than ever - walking right in up to her neck. She also let Darcie and Chris take her into the water park for some splashing.

After a good nap (for everyone) we went to our old neighborhood, Lincoln Square for the Folk and Roots Festival. We met up with Amanda, Sabrina, and Nathan and heard some good fiddling. Sylvia also got to try her hand at playing a ukulele (she was pretty good).

Eating Crackers at the Folk & Roots Festival

Friday Night at Ravinia

2008-07-12T17:34:00.000-07:00

Darcie and I got to have a date last night when we went to hear (not necessarily see) Feist at Ravinia. The concert was great, and the place was packed. We acted like kids with no cares - we drank wine and kicked our shoes off - until we decided to call the babysitter to 'make sure she knew how to work the TV'. Well, we're parents. Who don't get out much. Still it was nice to feel a little freedom.

Some Photo We Found on the Web of Ravinia
(We forgot our camera, but it more or less looked like this from our vantage point.)

A Texas Wedding

2008-07-07T19:47:00.001-07:00

We just returned from Austin where Luke and Cindy were married last Saturday. Sylvia enjoyed the Texas heat and the chance to go swimming everyday (sometimes twice in one day). We all enjoyed getting to see old friends and make a few new ones.

The wedding was held outside at a beautiful Barr Mansion outside of Austin. The weather cooperated and the evening cooled off just enough.

Luke & Cindy heading to the reception

While in Austin we got to see a lot of friends and made some new friends such as Peggy who opened up her house to us and made us feel at home.

Alison and Sylvia

Ren, Darcie, Megha, Amanda, & Alison

Peggy, our host

Visiting with the Gouris Family (Can you believe Aimee and Jade were our flower girls!)

Chilly Barton Springs was perfect in the Austin heat. Sylvia splashed and even took a full dunk (thanks to her dad's unsure footing on the slippery floor of the natural springs). When we were not swimming at Barton Springs we could be found splashing in the pool with the Gouris family, and when not there, a little wading pool in Peggy's driveway did the trick.

Swimming at Barton Spring

Splashing at Peggy's house

Congratulations to Luke and Cindy! And thanks to everyone who made our trip so easy.

Having fun at brunch the morning after the wedding

News Flash: 21 Month-Old Sylvia is Amazing

2008-06-29T21:24:00.000-07:00

Since this is our blog to brag on Sylvia, I have to write how proud I am of Sylvia. Here are three incredible things she did today:

1) Bubbles. In between the rainstorms, we headed over to the Skokie Pool. Our favorite is Devonshire as it is small and quiet; however, it was closed due to lack of attendance (we weren't there). Sylvia cried when we left the parking lot. She just kept saying, "splash, splash" over and over. So we headed to Oakton Park where the pool was open and Sylvia really splashed. She walked in deeper than she ever has before and blew bubbles, actual, bubbles.

2) Pancakes. Sylvia's language has just exploded. She makes actual sense when she talks. She can say what she wants and we love it. She asked to have pancakes for dinner so we took her to Walker Bros. Pancake House in Wilmette (http://www.walkerbrosoph.com/) where she ate 3 of her 5 little dollar pancakes in under 2 minutes. It's a little frightening to see, but she loves pancakes. In between pancakes 3 and 5, she took time to pick up a gigantic gob of creamed butter and smear it on the table in an incredible, toddler inspired curious way. The server was impressed and promptly brought us napkins.

3) Pee. Sylvia has a bit of a love/hate relationship with the toilet. We haven't been pushing her since she has found other uses for the toilet such as a chair or place to store toys. Tonight, before her bath, she showed us how she could sit on her potty without her diaper (huge break through here). After the bath, while brushing her teeth (in the nude), she peed on the floor. I am proud of this because, it's the first time, I've gotten her pee anywhere outside of the diaper. So, yay, for pee on the floor.

Beach Movie

2008-06-28T09:58:00.001-07:00

We've added a short movie of Sylvia and cousins playing in the sand:
http://cpwallace.com/Sylvia/movies/movies.html

Back from the Beach

2008-06-25T19:08:00.001-07:00

We made it back home after our week in Jackson and Gulf Shores. It was great hanging out with all of the family, and the little cousins had a blast together. They are really getting to the age where they like playing together and mimicking each other (e.g. climbing on all the furniture).

We plan to post a gallery of photos from the trip, but these can tide you over:

At the Park with Grandmama

In the Yard with Dede and Uncle Will

Kayaking with Pop-pop

The Whole Crew

A Few Summer Pics Before We Leave

2008-06-16T18:15:00.000-07:00

We're headed down to Mississippi and Alabama this week, and we haven't been posting lately, so here are a few highlights from the past week:

Sylvia defies the condo regulations and sun bathes on the front lawn.

A little jam session

At the pool.

Sylvia has come a long way at the pool this week. She now heads right for the deep end and knows how to kick her legs. She likes 'jumping' off the edge and climbing up the ladder. She's still a little unsure of the area with the waterfalls and spraying water, but she's getting there!

Summer Begins

2008-06-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Summer has officially begun.

The summer heat is here. We've even turned on the AC a bit, though open windows and the fans usually keep us cool enough. There are other signs as well. This weekend we dipped our feet in Lake Michigan, the swimming pool, a number of puddles, and a minor laundry room flood. Our 'wet weekend' began Friday night when our newly repaired washing machine poured two inches of water onto the floor of our laundry room. Luckily the neighbors downstairs did not have any water leaking through their ceiling.
(Right: 'Soaking up the flood')

Saturday morning we hit the farmers' market early and then headed over to the beach. the rain came Saturday evening, so we went to Sears to pick out a new washing machine. On the way back we played in a few puddles.

Planting some mint from the market.

Grilling in the Rain

Sunday morning we met our friend Nathaniel (and parents Sarah and Jamie) for a breakfast of pancakes before heading to the pool for a quick swim. The rain has not returned. Water has been the theme this weekend.

Nathaniel gets brave

Splashing

G's visit with Sylvia

2008-06-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

Sylvia spent all of last week with G. G came into town so that I could do a yoga teacher training. This was the longest time that I had been away from Sylvia. I was gone ten hours each day and couldn't wait to get home to see her. This was the longest time that G has gotten to spend with Sylvia without Chris and I in the way. Sylvia has been asking for G for the past 2 days now since she left.

While on her visit, G and Sylvia went to the zoo, Wiggleworms, different Evanston parks, and Bennison's Bakery. Sylvia got accustomed to her trips to get a cookie and now when we pass the bakery she starts saying, "yummy," and pointing. We've had to remind her that she gets to go to the bakery with G everyday not with mom and dad.

Here is picture of G and Sylvia exploring at the zoo.

8 a.m. One Saturday Morning

2008-06-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

*we did not dig this hole.

Pop-Pop & Grandmom Visit Sylvia

2008-05-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

Grandmom and Pop-Pop came to Chicago for Memorial Day Weekend which included lots of bike rides, trips to the park, Hot Doug's for hot dogs, and a beach picnic. We topped off the weekend with a winning Cubs game and 80 degree weather!

On the see-saw at Raymond Park with Grandmom.

Digging in the sand on our cold, cold May day.

On the bike ride to the rose garden. Sylvia only wanted Pop-Pop to push.

In the rose garden. Sylvia found someone who would let her play with glasses - Grandmom!

At Hot Doug's waiting in line for some encased meats.

We all biked up to Wilmette for a beach picnic at Gilson Park.

Mmmm...picnic. Sylvia did a little splashing in Lake Michigan until her toes started turning a little blue.

Back to the park. Pop-Pop and Grandmom couldn't get enough of the see-saw.

Another type of ride for Sylvia.

Outside Wrigley - Go Cubbies!

7th inning stretch - Sylvia took it literally.

Happy Memorial Day everyone.

Beau Cou

2008-05-16T18:24:00.000-07:00

Beau Cou (from the French meaning 'beautiful neck') is often used in the toddler tongue to mean 'bicycle'. While what she has is technically a tricycle (or Tro Cou), Sylvia has been saying Beau Cou non-stop this evening since we bought her this:

Learning to pedal

Attempting to pop a wheely

Giving the bike a quick tune up

And back on the road

Mothers' Day, 2008

2008-05-16T18:07:00.000-07:00

Dede and Papa came into town for Mothers' Day (just a few days after Dede's birthday). We had a great weekend, though the weather was just a bit chilly and drizzly. We did manage a number of trips to the park, and we even got in a visit to the Edward Hopper/Winslow Homer exhibit at the Art Institute.

At the Park

It took about 20 slides to get this shot

Negotiation at Millennium Park

Refreshments

Outside the Art Institute

Happy Mothers' Day (Belated) to all you mothers, grandmothers, and soon-to-be mothers!

Downward Dog

2008-05-16T18:02:00.000-07:00

Please excuse the diaper, but we just wanted to show off Sylvia's advanced yoga poses. Here she does downward facing dog (adho mukha svanasana).

Chicago Botanic Gardens

2008-05-04T20:19:00.000-07:00

This morning we visited the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Since we tend to be up around 6:30, we had eaten breakfast, played, gotten dressed, and were at the gardens at 9 AM sharp, early enough to park in lot 1. Other than that, these photos tell the story better than I could:

Corny

2008-05-04T20:17:00.001-07:00

Adrian Comes to Visit

2008-05-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

We're playing catch up here because we've been so busy the last few weeks. Please forgive the inactivity on the blog. It certainly does not represent the state of our lives.

Adrian flew from New York to visit the last weekend of April. We all had a great time hanging out with her. We were able have dinner together, to get out to the playground with Sylvia and ride our bikes. I had a little girl time with Adrian and Indira, and Sylvia did get to join us for lunch.

Adrian and I made it out to see "Baby Mama," to help Adrian prepare for her pregnancy and her baby on the way in October. We also shopped for some maternity clothes, and Adrian received special treatment in the yoga class we attended.

Playgroup Album

2008-04-20T18:55:00.000-07:00

We just added a new album to the blog. It's a compilation of some of the fun we've had with our playgroup friends. It's hard to believe that we all got together in February 2007 at Manda and Zella Rose's house. At the time, the babies slept, nurse, slept, nurse and some weren't even born yet (Owen). We've all worried together about when our babies would roll-over, sit up, crawl, stand, and walk. Sometimes, I miss those days when I feel too tired to catch my own little runner.

This has been a wonderful group of moms and sometimes dads. We've all been able to share notes on breastfeeding, sleeping, working vs. not-working, playing, birth experiences, sleeping, diapering, sleeping, solid foods, mothering, sleeping, plastics, sippy-cups, parenting books, naps, and all the cool things all the babies are doing these days. Now, these babies are toddlers. It is amazing to watch all their different personalities explode. Some are climbers, some are cautious, some are very verbal, and some are excellent with their sign language. They are exploring everything from the dog bowls to swapping shoes, hugging one another or hitting (ah, the pre-verbal joys), and excited about any snacks they can find either in another friend's snack trap or on the floor.

http://cpwallace.com/Sylvia/albums/albums/playgroup.html

Just a Little Shaken

2008-04-20T10:40:00.000-07:00

Early Friday morning (4:36 AM), I woke to Darcie asking, 'What was that?' and the bird thrashing about in her cage. Darcie and Charlie had been awoken by a rumble. Darcie felt the shake, and the bird was thrown from the perch on which she slept. I didn't really wake up enough to notice.

What some of us had felt was a 5.2 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was a few hundred miles away in West Salem, IL. No one was hurt, and the damage in general throughout the region seems to have been minimal. Apparently this happens every 50 or 60 years.

Back to Nature

2008-04-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

The city kids took all their mamas to Starved Rock for a little get-away this week. It was our first attempt at a Mom/Baby Retreat. It was a sunshine-filled trip that included hiking, swimming, food grazing, baby sleep-overs, and red wine (it was the only way we could get the kids to sleep). We had a great time at Starved Rock Lodge; although, I'm sure they were happy to see us go, especially the staff in the restaurant.

Fish in the Rain

2008-04-13T11:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday we woke to cold rain. Looking out the window, we knew that the park was out. As was bike riding along the lake front. We needed to find someplace that was dry. So we went to the Shedd Aquarium.

We were some of the early birds, arriving just fifteen minutes after the doors opened. This of course meant that we got the freshest catch of fish and we got a parking meter spot instead of having to pay for the parking garage.

Sylvia loved the Wild Reef exhibit where a SCUBA diver talked about the coloration of all of the fish, turtles, and rays that swam around her.

Then we hung out with some sea horses for a bit. We weren't quite sure how to explain to Sylvia what she was looking at, but she enjoyed watching anyway.

Next we came across a yellow-footed tortoise (or land turtle) crawling across the floor. Shedd employees told us all about the different types of turtles.

Finally, even though we had purchased the cheap tickets, we rounded a corner and found ourselves at the dolphin show which was just about to begin. Sylvia picked up the word 'Whoa!' from the kids next to us. She now associates the word with dolphins.

Whoa!

Is Spring Finally Here?

2008-04-06T12:19:00.001-07:00

Spring has been slow to appear in Chicago this year, but this weekend we finally got a glimpse of it. While it was not Mississippi weather by any stretch, temperatures were in the low 60's without a cloud in the sky. And as is customary in colder climates, when the weather begins to turn warmer, everyone flocks outside. On Saturday, we pulled out the bikes and went for a long ride up the lake front. Since Sylvia has become so attached to her hats, getting her to wear her helmet this season required very little pleading.

Biking by the lake

Biking took a lot out of Sylvia who napped for almost three hours afterwards. Later in the afternoon, Dad and Sylvia went to the park, and then we cracked open the grill. It's officially Spring.

On Sunday we spent the morning in the courtyard blowing bubbles and then joined all of the kids from the building at a park to celebrate little Wesley's first birthday.

Sylvia does some digging while Wesley sits in his mom's lap

The kids celebrate with cupcakes

Rub-a-Dub-Dub and a Wedding

2008-04-03T16:24:00.000-07:00

Sylvia made a trip to Mississippi this past weekend to celebrate Carter and Matt's wedding. She attended her first bridesmaid's luncheon with Carter.

In between celebrations, she got a chance to see her aunts & uncles, play with her grandparents, and bathe the Mississippi way (with your cousins).

Eggs and Grandmama

2008-03-26T20:55:00.000-07:00

Grandmama (a.k.a. Mama or Marilyn) visited last weekend to celebrate Easter and her birthday. Her trip began with a late winter storm that dumped about 6 inches of snow on Chicago, but the sun came out for the rest of the time melting a little of the snow in time for Easter. Sylvia was excited to see Grandmama but now expects to get gifts inside plastic eggs every time she visits, of course.

At the lake front

"Hidden" Easter eggs

The 'Ah-Ha' Moment

What is a holiday for if not to dress your child up as an animal?

Her Easter dress

About to head to church

The traditional after-church Easter romp in the snow

Looking Back

2008-03-20T20:11:00.001-07:00

Well, in three days, Sylvia will be a year and a half which seems a lot more significant than turning two. At this time, a year ago, we had just moved into our new place in Evanston and Sylvia was trying to sit up. She was just trying mushy bananas mixed with breast milk and was smiling when we shook things in her face. We would tap her on the swings, afraid to send her soaring too high, and now, she loves to be pushed high and lifts her head up to watch the swing move back and forth. She holds her own bananas (I still get to peel them) and she's weaned herself of breastfeeding at 16 months. Instead of just sitting, she is now trying to climb everything in sight - the rocking chair, the coffee table, the bed, the sofa - anything climbable. Where did this baby go? Perhaps, we'll be asking this the rest of our lives. It is exciting to be part of this growing adventure with Sylvia. She learned how to tickle me tonight which she and Chris thought was quite amusing. Serves me right after all the tickling she gets.

I have to say what is most amazing is her own patience. She is training us, right? I'm not sure where is she is hiding the books about raising parents. She, the 18 month old toddler, at her check up today, waited more calmly than I did for an two hours for our entire appointment to be completed. Another child was ill, so there was a back up. Not knowing this, I felt crazed - how could these people leave me caged up with this child for an hour in a small doctor's office? I felt like it would have served them right if she had dismantled the computer which she almost did, however, I set up a blockade with several chairs. After the doctor told us that another child was very ill, I felt extremely grateful that other than a few colds and coughs, sleepless nights, and a little vomit, we've had this amazing year and a half of wellness.

During our 2 hours, Sylvia entertained me. We improvised and played move the raisins from one ziplock bag to another for a good 15 minutes, then there was count the cars, marching in a circle, take the pen in and out of the bag, and a small tantrum about the computer (Sylvia, not myself). Sylvia, however, managed better than I did. She is 32 1/2 inches and 22 lbs now. She is talking up a storm and moving even faster. She also braved her shot well and was proud of her sticker.

Breakfast with Shaira

2008-03-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

A good friend was in Chicago this past weekend and we got to catch up over cinnamon rolls and other breakfast foods at Ann Sathers. Here are some photos of our fun time with Shaira.

Dress Up

2008-03-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Sylvia continues to amaze us adding new words to her vocabulary. Some of her latest additions include: purple, buttons, and pee-pee. She is always practicing words that we say to her, watching our mouth, and trying to repeat it. She's choosing what she wants to eat, wear, and play, and trying her new toilet. But the part that I enjoy the most is watching her observe and then imitate all around her. She has great phone conversations on her play phone or my cell phone. She cooks some fabulous imaginary soups. She also is well-versed in dress up. Here are some of my favorite photos throughout the past two weeks. She loves bags, shoes, hats, and keys. I'm hoping I can tone these interests down and help her find her "inner tomboy." It does make me quite happy that one her most favorite hats is Chris' bike helmet. I'm hoping that this bodes well for this summer.

(Re)Visiting Europe

2008-03-12T18:46:00.000-07:00

If you weren't on the trip to Europe the past few weeks (or even if you were), you can see many of the sites for yourself by visiting our photo galleries. Photos from all of our destinations are now up. Enjoy!

A Few Photos Posted

2008-03-10T19:41:00.000-07:00

We have posted the first two albums from our trip. Take a look at our time in London and Bristol, England.

Home Again, Home Again

2008-03-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon we made it through U.S. customs and were greeted by Sabrina who drove us home. Our trip was fun, but we were all happy to be home. Sylvia immediately began pulling out all of her toys (and integrating some of her newly acquired toys). We hope to have lots of photos posted in a day or two.

Sylvia taking in the sites in Lille, France

A Day in Wales

2008-02-28T13:13:00.000-08:00

Today Luke took us to Tintern Abbey in Wales.

View Larger Map

Tintern Abbey was a Cistercian abbey founded in 1131. After falling to King Henry VIII's dissolution in 1536, the abbey was destroyed leaving only the stone shell behind.

Sylvia had a great time running and climbing stairs (her new trick).

Tomorrow we are off to Dover where we take a ferry to France. This will probably be the last post for a while, possibly until we are back in the states. We can't wait to share all of our travelers' tales in a week.

A Snapshop of London/Bristol

2008-02-27T08:17:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of our initial photos:

Darcie, Sylvia, and a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London.

Luke giving Chris and Sylvia a tour of Bristol.

Sylvia at the end of the tour of Bristol.

Don't worry. There is much more to come. We've taken about 80 photos so far.

From London to Bristol

2008-02-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

We are happy to report we have safely arrived in England. After being delayed two hours, the flight over was a bit of a test. There was very little sleep - for us and the neighboring passengers - but once on the ground things went smoother. Luke picked us up and took us to the flat where we stayed until Tuesday. The location was terrific, in Kensington just west of Hyde Park.

View Larger Map

From the flat we toured Hyde Park. The highlights of Hyde Park included Kensington Palace, feeding the ducks, and playing on the swings with Luke, Cindy, and Alison.

On Monday, we toured Westminster Abbey, Parliament, The Tate Modern Museum of Art, & St. Paul's Cathedral.

Today, we visited the Tower of London where we learned about the rich history of England, imprisonment, heretics, and betrayal. Sylvia enjoyed chasing the pigeons and climbing the stairs. Darcie loved the tour, and Chris was happy to be in sunshine in only a sweater! We travelled on from London to Bristol. We are now in Luke and Cindy's flat and are awaiting a tour of Bristol tomorrow.

Sylvia has been a trouper and seems to have adjusted to the time change better than her parents. She loves the tangerines, digestive bisquits, and bananas of England. She also loves that mom and dad have relaxed on nap time and are letting her stay up until 8:30 pm.

We will do our best to supply updates, but once we hit the continent, we are not sure how much internet access we will have. But fear not. We will certainly have plenty of photos to show in a week and a half.

European Vacation

2008-02-23T08:33:00.000-08:00

The bags are packed. We've fretted over every last detail. Now we're just waiting for 12:30 to roll around so we can head off to the airport and begin our two week trip abroad. At 4:30 US Central time, we take off for London where we will be spending time with Luke and Cindy.

The itinerary seems a little daunting - 4 countries in 2 weeks by plane, car, and boat with a 17-month-old. First we'll be staying in the London area for a few days to acclimate before heading on to Bristol, where Luke and Cindy live. For the second week, we travel by Ferry to Dunkerque and Lille, France. From there we drive up to Brugge, Belgium and then on to Amsterdam.

Other than the two nights in Brugge we will be staying with friends, friends and family of friends, or rented apartments, so hopefully Sylvia will be able to settle in and feel at home along the way. We will be making posts to the blog as often as we can, though we can't always promise pictures.

First things first, though - adventure number one is the eight hour plane ride!

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-20T19:31:00.000-08:00

Tonight we were treated to a beautiful lunar eclipse lasting from about 9-9:30., the last one until 2010.

Fun with Zella Rose

2008-02-19T20:13:00.001-08:00

Zella Rose came over to play while Manda was speaking on a panel about home birth. This weekend, Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein, came to Chicago for the showing of their film "The Business of Being Born." Their film explores how birthing in America has become a business and has taken the labor out of the hands of the people doing the birthing, the mothers. It's out on DVD now; I recommend it.

Sylvia and Zella Rose got to play together. They had fun exchanging sippy cups, watching me blow bubbles, throwing the ball, walking the halls, and playing in the snow. Here are some photos.

Sylvia insists on trading sippy cups.

Sylvia gives Zella her cup back.

Zella gives Sylvia's cup a try.

The Skokie Exploratorium

2008-02-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

Sylvia and I have found another winter play space, thank goodness. We are frequenting the Evanston Library and the Ridgeville Community Center weekly, but now we've also discovered the Skokie Exploratorium which has Sylvia's favorite, a water play station. It also has puppets, indoor slides, an art center, story time, and lots of cars to drive. We met up with Lily and Victoria to play last Friday. Sylvia didn't want to leave when it was time to go.

Lily and Sylvia play in the kid fountain with their rain gear.

Sylvia mesmerized by the water...thinking of ways to get something like this in our home.

Sylvia and Lily sitting on the toddler sized sofa before story time (they didn't actually sit long enough for story time or this photo).

Happy Valentines Day

2008-02-14T17:11:00.000-08:00

Today Sylvia received a Valentines gift from Dede and Papa - a pink apron and cards with recipes. She immediately put them to good use by cooking up something that involved a knit cap, a plastic bag, and a little piece of cracker (dagu, as Sylvia says).

Chewing up the cracker.

Making sure the cellophane bag is fresh.

Hope everyone had as much fun on Valentines Day!

Behind the Scenes

2008-02-11T17:54:00.000-08:00

This weekend Sylvia helped out on a film shoot that Chris was working on. Friday night the whole (small) crew traveled south to Morris, IL to a lake house where we filmed all night until 5am Saturday morning... outside. Sylvia was allowed to stay indoors and catch a few z's.

The next day was another full day of shooting outside.

Sylvia tries not to slip

On Sunday it was out to Palatine for more shooting - this time indoors. We were lucky to have had the mild temperatures on Friday night, because Saturday night and Sunday the temperature plummeted. It was a brisk -5 degrees on our way to the shoot Sunday morning.

Sylvia helps prep the camera.

Sylvia prepares to take measurements for focus

At the end of the day Sylvia decided she liked being in front of the camera more than being behind it.

My Valentine Bakes

2008-02-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

Sylvia and I (self-confined due to the snow) baked Valentine's cookies today. She poured flour and sugar. And did the decorating. I manned the oven. The best part was that not only did Sylvia get to wear her favorite outfit (her thermal underwear) for the event, but she also got to eat a lot of the dough.

The Latest Fashions - Watch Out Vogue

2008-02-06T08:27:00.000-08:00

Well, the latest hot items in Sylvia's drawers include the Target thermal underwear, her bee bib size 0-6 months (but, she swears it still fits), and the winter hat a la faux pink pig-tales. She is currently in love with these items and found them in the clean laundry pile. I washed the thermal underwear after she insisted on wearing it 4 days in a row. I guess we are starting up the next cycle.
http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.photo.gif
She was already dressed for the day, but we ended up changing into the thermal underwear after a bit of heart wrenching, lay flat on the floor and sob display. Sometimes, it's easier to give in...

Papa's Birthday Weekend, Part 2

2008-02-04T19:54:00.000-08:00

Dede and Papa sent us a few photos from their camera, so we thought we'd share them.

Sylvia Plays a Tune for Dede

Sylvia and Papa play at the condo

An interesting contraption at the Kohl Children's Museum

Watching the ice-skaters at Millennium Park

All bundled up

Papa's Birthday Weekend

2008-02-04T10:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend Papa and Dede came up to Chicago for Papa's birthday. It was pretty cold and snowy, but we managed to get out and have some fun.

On Saturday morning, we all headed to the Kohl Children's Museum. The museum, as Sylvia learned, does not display children in glass cases but offers kids a few dozen themed interactive play areas. Sylvia drove cars, played drums, danced with streamers, took care of animals at a veterinary hospital, captained a ship, talked on a phone, shopped in a grocery store, and ate pretzels all while other kids dashed about.

Playing a drum.

Shopping for produce.

Saturday night all five of us went out to dinner at the Italian restaurant Campagnola where the staff worked diligently to meet the demands of a 16-month-old customer.

On Sunday, after a nice brunch, we all headed down to Millennium Park to see an 'ice painting' exhibit and all of the ice skaters.

Chris, Sylvia, and Darcie in front of the Bean

A reflection of the whole crew in the bean.

It was a great weekend, and Sylvia had a blast with the grandparents.

The snow, the snow, the snow...

2008-01-31T12:13:00.000-08:00

It's expected. I mean we know we live in Chicago. But, we've had enough. Sylvia needs out! She bangs on the door in morning saying "bye-bye." Then, we get outside all bundled and freezing and she wants to return inside. We've found a play lot in Evanston with a big car that Sylvia can drive. So we get out of the house and into another place for a bit. Once we return home, Sylvia's enjoying a new found treasure, the oven mitts. I never knew they were such a hot item with kids.

A Sign Post

2008-01-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Sylvia and buddies have been taking sign language for three weeks now. We have all expanded our depth of American Sign Language and are deepening our abilities to hopefully communicate better some day. We can read Eric Carle's, "The Very Hungry Catepillar," in ASL now. Whenever, we sign with Sylvia, we also say the words so that she is learning both.

The idea behind teaching Sylvia sign language is to make her bi-lingual. She'll have two ways of telling us what she wants - her hands and mouth. Sylvia's sign vocabulary includes: "more," "eat," "all done," "milk," and "bird." We are teaching her additional food signs, feeling signs, and signs about family.

She's just turned 16 months and her verbal skills are also exploding. Some of her current favorite words are: "baby," "fish," "shoe," "turtle," "bubbles," and most importantly, "ball." She has also started singing her own rendition of "Old MacDonald" which consists of "e-i-e-i." She really likes the refrain. It is pretty catchy.

Together At Last

2008-01-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow Sylvia's virtual exploits, may have felt over the past few months that the Price-Wallace clan has been somewhat of a house divided. We have presented ourselves through the blog at Sylvia & Co. as well as through the Blogger site ToddlerWoddler. Well, today marks the beginning of a new age of reconciliation as we officially join the Sylvia & Co. blog and the ToddlerWoddler blog in to a Super Sylvia Blog.

What does this mean for you? Basically you'll be able to read both Chris' and Darcie's posts on either blog. As with any technological advancement, there could be glitches or the whole thing could burn to the ground, but so far we haven't had any issues. Please, let us know if there are any problems, and get ready for the next step in Sylvia's online evolution.

A Little Tropical Weather

2008-01-20T19:19:00.000-08:00

When the highs are in the single digits, you just try to stay warm. That usually means wearing long johns, drinking a cup of tea, and wrapping up in a blanket. But today, we thought we would do better than that. We headed over to the Garfield Park Conservatory where the weather is always tropical.

Sylvia enjoys a little warmth in the Palm House.

Sylvia tends to be quite literal. The sign says 'Touch Me!' Darcie and Chris assumed it referred to the plant beside the sign.

Sylvia is impressed by the Fern Room.

Hope everyone else is staying warm!

I survived and so did Sylvia and Adrian was SURPRISED!

2008-01-19T18:24:00.000-08:00

So I arrived back home last Sunday evening at 9:00 pm. Sylvia was very much asleep and I insisted to Chris that I had to see her. I poked my head in to see her sleeping on her stomach, stretched out, breathing deeply, and in one complete piece. I wanted to pick her up and squeeze her so badly, but I wasn't allowed to.

Adrian was completely surprised! I met her on Canal Street somewhere after several phone calls and directions from her stepmom. We had fun and enjoyed the afternoon in a bar. Later in the evening was her real party where we had appetizers, drinks, and chatter amongst a lot of sports fans - something about a New England Patriots game. It took Adrian three times to blow out all thirty candles. We managed a limo ride home somehow which was fun because I had never been in a limo. I thought we were going home to sleep, but Adrian's three younger siblings and her cousin Jenna were gung-ho for an after party. I surprised myself and held out until 2 am when I fell asleep on Adrian and Jess' couch.

The next day Adrian and I went on a walk through her hood - the financial district. Oddly enough, we saw a wild turkey and this very friendly squirrel. Adrian was kind enough to pose with the squirrel for me. We couldn't catch up with the turkey.

The Problem with City Kids...

2008-01-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

The first time Sylvia comes face-to-face with a bear, and what does she do?

Luckily this was just a test at the public library and not a real encounter. You can be sure we'll be practicing our 'animal responses' before our next camping trip. You know, I'm going to blame this on all of those kids books that make bears, lions, and snakes seem cuddly and cute.

Leaving the Kids at Home

2008-01-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

Darcie went to New York this weekend to surprise Adrian for her birthday. She left Chris and Sylvia to fend for themselves. For some reason we see this playing out like Home Alone or something. So far we haven't gotten into too much trouble, or if we have, we're pretty sure we can have it cleaned up and repaired by the time Darcie comes back.

Sylvia promises me that she's old enough to see a 10:00 o'clock movie and drink a coke all by herself, so we'll see how that plays out tonight. Otherwise, our weekend has consisted mainly of walks to the park and dirty diapers. We did play a lot of guitar, but it was more Wiggleworms than rock n' roll, so no neighbors complained. Also in the 9 hours since she left, we have spoken with Darcie 4 times.

An Overnight Adventure Sans Sylvia

2008-01-11T20:37:00.000-08:00

I'm headed to New York tomorrow morning for Adrian's birthday party. This will be my longest separation from Sylvia. I leave at 9 am Saturday morning and return 9 pm Sunday night. I've tried multiple times to make reasons to stay in Chicago, but I really want to surprise Adrian. She doesn't know I'm coming. I could bring Sylvia along as she still flies for free, but I don't think she'd be up for the party. I've spent all day searching for clothes that looked "cool" which I've never really been, but I thought I'd try and look not-so jeans and t-shirt. Since I haven't been to a bar with adults in the evening in a long time (about a year), it's hard to try and fit in again. We'll see if I can pull it off. Sylvia and Chris helped me pack and perhaps for one night I can remember that life of going out. I know I'll be wondering about Sylvia and Chris the entire time.

Our Junkyard

2008-01-04T18:45:00.000-08:00

The glorious days of marveling at Sylvia sitting and wondering when she would ever crawl and then marveling at Sylvia crawling and wondering when she would ever pull up and then all of a sudden Sylvia was pulling up and I was wondering when she would ever walk and then she started walking and now I am wondering when she will ever sit still again.

Yesterday, she discovered the joys of digging in the houseplants. It's really hard to negotiate with a 15 month old. I mean I sympathize with her and perhaps if I didn't have to clean up all the dirt again and again, I'd be amenable to the repotting of all the houseplants. Sylvia walked out of the kitchen after I said, "no." I returned to washing dishes. Sylvia perhaps thought that I obviously couldn't be serious as she decided to go to the other plant nearby and unearth some more soil.

Sometimes it is so hard to tell her, "no," without cracking up. I have to use my forceful voice and manage not to laugh. I know that I'm not telling her "no" in vain as she has to learn to manage some level of frustration and our house has to have some semblance of order.

After the Holidays

2008-01-02T17:37:00.000-08:00

We all went down to Mississippi for Sylvia's second Christmas. We had a great time visiting family and friends. We went to parties, opened presents, and ate until we had to loosen our belts a notch. Sylvia is really beginning to get into toys, and she loved the variety of things she got to play with - whether they were meant for her, an adult, or one of the pets. She loved getting her hands on anything she hadn't seen before. The big presents this year were a piano, guitar, drums (do you see a theme?), and baby and stroller. Santa brought her lots of books, too.

After Christmas, Darcie and Sylvia stayed in Jackson to celebrate cousin Austin's birthday and hang out with the Price family for the annual reunion. Sylvia even got to ride a horse for a bit (she still doesn't like helmets). On New Year's Eve, the ladies returned to Chicago (and snow).

We've posted photos of Elaina's baptism, Christmas, Austin's birthday, and the Price family reunion in the photo section.

Sylvia in the courtyard.

The rose garden.

That's a Teva sandal in her hand. She was not allowed to wear it outside.

Our holiday card collection.

Hope everyone had a great holiday is enjoying a wonderful new year. Happy 2008!

Mississippi for the Holidays

2007-12-23T08:28:00.000-08:00

Sylvia and I had a close call making our flight out Friday morning. By the graciousness of some fellow travelers in the security line, we were able to cut to the front of the line and scramble our way through. I was so stressed out, but Sylvia knew how to lighten up the situation. As I was sprinting to the gate, she started giggling. Running in mam-mam's arms is pretty hilarious. It was just the laugh I needed since we were the last people to board the plane.

Now, we are in MS where it is nice and warm. It was 68 degrees when we arrived. We played all day at Grandmama's on Friday. It was too exciting to nap so after some play time, we drove around until Sylvia fell asleep. Sylvia has been chasing Dede and Papa's cat and dog around and yesterday, she enjoyed playing with the gigantic red ball outside. We got to see everyone at Uncle Eric and Aunt Monica's house. Sylvia and Adriana danced together. She also had fun running around the church with Noah during Elaina's Baptism. The temperature dropped a bit overnight, but it's still warm to us. Sylvia has three parties today - her step-dad's 60th birthday, cookies and hot cocoa with Cheryl and Charlie, and then a Christmas party!

Winter in the City

2007-12-16T19:53:00.000-08:00

While Chris was scouting a location for a film, Darcie and Sylvia dug the car out and headed down to Marshall Fields (ok, Macy's) and Millennium Park to enjoy some of the city's holiday cheer. Here they are in front of the Bean (ok, Cloud Gate):

And here, Sylvia tries to get a view of Frank Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion, though it was a little hard to see with all of the snow:

More posing at the Bean (because Chris was adamant that there had to be photos to post):

Unfortunately, the line to sit in Santa's lap was bit too long, but Sylvia should have nothing to worry about. After her afternoon nap, she bagged up homemade sugar cookies and took them to the other kids in the building and her 2nd floor neighbors. She knows what this season is all about.

Super Saturday Video!

2007-12-15T19:15:00.000-08:00

We've posted two new videos to the collection. Just click on "Movie" in the nav menu to the right to check them out. The first new video shows Sylvia walking around the condo. The second shows her walking around in the snow. Enjoy!

It's Not as Cold as It Looks

2007-12-14T19:38:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in so long. We've been a little busy shoveling snow and chasing after a toddler who now has no problems walking to find trouble.

Over the past week or so, we have had a lot of snow, though most of it has melted now. Here's what it looked like when it was fresh:

Sylvia asks to go outside:

Sylvia goes outside:

We told Sylvia about Santa and encouraged her to write him a letter. We're not sure where she got it, but she found a phone number for him instead. Kids these days.

Settling Into Winter

2007-12-14T19:28:00.000-08:00

Sylvia and I are trying to figure how to make it outside this winter. Last winter she was small enough to snuggle into a little bundle in my coat. This winter, it's all about walking! She often doesn't feel that the stroller is "cool" enough, but she hasn't quite mastered walking on ice, not that I have either, but suffice to say, me trying to carry her on sidewalks that people haven't salted isn't the best idea. Wednesday, we got in the stroller (with a little bribe of a cracker, one of those things I saw parents do and swore I'd never do that) to run some errands. I had promised a trip to the swings so there we landed after our grocery trip. It was desolate and snow covered. Sylvia was in her snow suit and me standing in ice coated snow pushing her back and forth. We both marveled at how close her feet were to the ground because of the snow. We attempted to wipe the slide clean, but she looked at me like, "woah, mam-mam you are c-a-razzzy." So she walked me home, pushing the stroller for me!

Holiday Decorating

2007-12-03T17:20:00.000-08:00

While Sylvia napped and the rain fell outside, two elves dug through lights, ornaments, and decorative soaps. We decided that a real tree might not survive the season in our household this year, so we pulled out our little 18 inch plastic tree which has served us well since 2001.

White December

2007-12-03T17:15:00.000-08:00

Technically it snowed on Thanksgiving day, but we weren't around. So on December 1, as if someone flipped the winter switch, we got quite a little snowstorm.

We think that might be it for the basil this season.

Don't worry. Sylvia was prepared.

The night it snowed was just a little too icy and cold for us to drag her out in it, though, and the next morning the snow had pretty much melted and was replaced with 45 degree rain. So you'll have to wait for the first pictures of Sylvia making a snow angel.

Thanksgiving Photos Are Up

2007-11-27T18:36:00.000-08:00

Here.

Thanksgiving 2007

2007-11-26T18:19:00.000-08:00

We flew down to see the family for the Thanksgiving holiday, making a week vacation of it. We began the trip in Fairhope, Alabama where we stayed with Dede and Papa. Uncle Will and Hoya joined us.

Dede, Sylvia, and Darcie walking along the bay.

Next it was on to Gluckstadt to see Pop-pop and Grandmom and all of the animals.

The rest of the week was split between Grandmama and Granddaddy and Dede and Papa and all of the uncles, aunts, and cousins.

Grandmama and Sylvia read a book.

Sylvia and the Wallace cousins pose for the annual gorilla photo.

Don't worry, there are plenty more photos (and some video). We'll be posting some of our 217 snapshots in a photo gallery soon. Happy Thanksgiving!

Introducing the New Darcie

2007-11-14T17:12:00.000-08:00

A Few Images That We Should Have Posted About a Week Ago But Are Just Now Getting Around To

2007-11-12T17:50:00.000-08:00

Preparing dinner.

Eating dinner.

At the Shedd Aquarium. Giving a kiss.

The Number Is 4

2007-11-07T08:57:00.000-08:00

While I can't comment on this first hand, I received a call from the main Sylvia and Co. branch today that Sylvia took four steps! Apparently she had a puzzle piece in one hand and a ball in the other so made the decision to take a few steps without the aid of parental support. I will fill in the details as they are made available.

A Step!

2007-11-06T19:12:00.000-08:00

Mom signing on here...

Exciting news today! During Wiggleworms (our weekly music class at the Old Town School of Folk Music), Sylvia took one gloriously exciting step. There were no hands to hold onto and she was dying to get her hands on Julie (our teacher) and the puppet cow! So for a brief moment, Sylvia's right foot lifted off the ground and took a step forward. I thought she was going to go for the second, but then she remembered what a super-duper crawler she is and she got down on her knees to reach Old MacDonald's cow who of course, goes - a moo, moo here, and a moo, moo there.

She loves to practice walking holding on to our hands and has recently started walking with just one hand.

Another Blog in the Family

2007-11-05T09:26:00.000-08:00

We have started a blog at work in which we discuss our various projects. Have a look:
http://nuamps.at.northwestern.edu/blog/

Dad's Day

2007-11-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

Saturday was a day for the books (or blog). Chris spent more alone time with Sylvia than he had ever had during their brief relationship. 8 AM to 5 PM. But don't think of him as a bad parent for not spending an entire day alone with his child before. After all there has always been someone else in the way. Perhaps that's the real story - Darcie had her longest period of separation from Sylvia on Saturday. Sleep not counting.

Darcie was at a Social Work conference all day so Chris was it. The weather was nice enough for a lot of time spent outside by the lake.

No one was injured and Sylvia took a 2 1/2 hour nap, so Chris did ok.