Waffles!

And such a treat to enjoy them with Grandma.

Cuddling with Aunt Marilyn

Sylvia's first doll

Somehow, we went 18 months without buying a doll. She didn't seem to care, and I didn't think much about it. But today, we were at a consignment sale buying summer clothes for Sylvia, and she zoomed in on this stroller and the big glitzy Elsa doll in it. I talked her into choosing a different doll, and the moment she picked this one up (after turning down several others), they were best friends. The car ride home, dinner tonight, story time - all were done while hugging "Dolly." I guess she's been wanting a doll!

The only kid at the park

What we do when Paul works late

Mom looks away for a second and Sylvia dumps a box of Cheerios on the floor. It's a great tradition. (Come home, Paul!)

Watching the grass grow

Sylvia and Paul check to see whether the new seeds have sprouted.

Grant and Sylvia continue to hit it off

Also, she was incredibly gleeful playing with a football. Who knew?

Buddies

Sylvia and her new friend Grant, palling around.

Having a catch

The Roneys are in town this weekend, and 12-year-old Grant discovered that Sylvia loves to play football.

Mixing

Cutie

Sylvia's first St. Patricks day parade in KC

We lasted about 10 minutes into it

Walking to the St. Pat's parade

Holding hands with our friend Amy.

Pi day at the park

Sylvia turned 18 months old ...

... and I didn't even take a picture! But here are some notes from the world of Sylvia.

1. She can sing! She sings along to the songs we sing her, usually some humming sounds and then the last syllable or word of each line. "Once Upon a Dream" is a favorite. 

2. She is saying more and more words, often in the right context. "All done" and "No" (now with very serious scowls!) continue to be favorites. Interesting additions to the list recently are "Hola" (from our Mexico trip), "food" (accompanied by a toddle over to the fridge to bang on the door), and "Ee-ee," which means "Edie."

3. She has put her own pajama pants on two nights in a row now, and she absolutely does NOT want help, thank you very much! This not wanting help thing is making everything take eight hundred times longer, but it's still so new and exciting that I just say "Keep going, you almost got it!" over and over and applaud like crazy. 

4. When we go for walks she puts her hands behind her and looks at the sidewalk, like an 80-year-old man. Or she skips and dances and shrieks with happiness. And sometimes faceplants, but she usually catches herself these days and brushes herself off and keeps going. 

5. "Ow!" means "I hurt myself and I need a kiss" or "I spilled water on myself" or "I spilled water near myself." 

6. Speaking of spilling water, if she asks you for some water -- "Wan' wow!" -- it's ten-to-one odds that she just wants to dump it on the floor. Consider yourself warned. 

7. She basically talks about Paul all day. She says, "Ah wan' Paul." And then I say, "Paul's at work." And then she says, "Oh" and chuckles a little. And then we do it again. 

8. If I'm trying to get her to do something that she doesn't want to do -- like get in the car seat or change her clothes or put on her shoes -- she fights it for about a second and then she says, "Ah wan' NURSE." Because it used to be my habit to stop everything for a nursing request. She is such a smart negotiator. I'm trying to outwit her but it's not easy.  

9. Every dog or picture of a dog gets an excited "Woof!" from Sylvia. Every engine gets a "Vroom!" 

10. I'm totally besotted. Can you tell? 

Where is Sylvia?

Four eyes

Warby Parker home try-on. One of Sylvia's favorite games. 

Truck!

And yes, that is our Christmas tree in the backyard.