Storyteller

Sylvia has started to tell Paul and me about her day. Actually, she's been doing this for a little while now, but just with one word here and there, leaving it to us to determine whether she's talking about something she did in the past or something she wants to do right now. (Aside: she has added "Right now!" to her lexicon, used precisely as an adult would: at the end of a demand. Example: "Cheew-ios! Ite now!") 

Anyway ... now she tells us about her day in longer strings of single-word "sentences." Like this funny one:

Me: Sylvia, do you want some Cheerios?

Sylvia: Talia! 

Me: Yes, you saw your friend Talia this morning, and she likes Cheerios, too. 

Sylvia: Bump.

Me: Yes, Talia bumped her head this morning because she fell over while you were hugging her. 

Sylvia: Mommy. 

Me: Yes, Talia was okay because her mommy was there with her. 

Sylvia: Sowwy. 

Me: Yes, you said you were sorry, and it's okay. 

She told me that story the same way four times throughout the day. She really felt bad! 

We just can't stop with these shades

But I still love those eyes.

Future's so bright

These shades remained on whether we were outside or inside today.

Wagon = Happiness

Wedding family photo

Sylvia makes some art

A rare moment in which I let her hold the phone.

Counting birthday blessings

Today was my birthday. It was such a good day. 

1. Sylvia started saying her name: "Seel-ya!"

2. I got to hold our neighbor's new baby, Theo, for a couple of very sweet hours. Such a tiny person! He's just over six pounds, and very alert. 

3. Sylvia played a game with me where we sat in two kid-size chairs and then switched at her direction, over and over. (This is way cuter than I'm making it sound.) She said "Mommy!" a lot and gave me several unexpected kisses on my elbows. 

4. Paul came home early so I could go out with a friend who is getting married on Saturday. We've been welcomed into her family over the years, and participating in her wedding feels like a culmination of that. 

5. Paul asked Sylvia if she knew it was my birthday today and she said, "Mm-hmmm!" And he asked her say happy birthday and she kind of did! She said something that sounded like it, with three or four syllables and a big grin. 

6. I got to have sushi and stay up late. 

7. And now I get to go to bed :) 

p.s. When Sylvia saw me tonight she said, "Tyler! Tyler!" and "Charlotte!" -- the names of the kids she played with while I was out. She has started telling me about her day like that, and she has also started talking, without prompting, about her cousins and other people she loves. And now she also says several two- and three-syllable words. All of a sudden in these past two weeks we're getting to see a lot more of what's going on inside her head. It's wonderful. 

Another day, another fab outfit

I'm not sure what's going on here

Flying

Look up and smile, Sylvia!

She got into the box of winter stuff today.

Boxers? No, this is a dress!

Swinging with Grandma Anne

Reading nook/entryway

Another way babies are like cats: they find the busiest spot in the house and sit down.

First whipped cream beater

She figured it out pretty fast.

Reading buddies

Learning interesting new words

Sylvia watches her first movie: Back to the Future!

I didn't know she could do this

What could be better?

Mara and the shoe

Two girls, one slice of pizza

Sylvia was leaning against the couch, looking away from Mara, but holding her pizza slice in range of Mara's little hands and open mouth. And while we all watched ... Mara bit the pizza! An astonished Sylvia grabbed it back, but then, once we all burst out laughing, Sylvia pulled some cheese off of her pizza and gave it to Mara. This is the start of a beautiful friendship.

Picking out headbands with Aunt Marian

Sunday night stories

With cuddles.

Boom boom boom!