News Flash: 21 Month-Old Sylvia is Amazing

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

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

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

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

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

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

*we did not dig this hole.