Popular

Thanks to my darling student teacher, who gave me a gift certificate on her last day (I miss her!!), we were able to go out to a pretty swanky restaurant tonight on the cheap!  And there was no need to get a sitter, because there was no other guest we'd rather have by our side than our sweet Sylvia.  We arrived with back-up plans, of course.  We had already browsed the menu online and had our to-go order written down in case she turned out to be super fussy and disruptive in such a classy joint, or in case we couldn't get a table.  I'm happy to report that neither scenario actually happened, and we had a fabulous dining experience, as did about three other tables near us.

Sylvia. Is. Social.

This child was smiling and waving and blowing kisses to every person who passed by our table.  One group of ladies next to us just couldn't get enough of her, so they kept talking to her and laughing at her, which, of course, just made her ham it up even more!  Then an old man at another table started waving and smiling, and before I knew it, I was making eye contact with at least three other people while chewing my crab cakes.  I had to take tiny bites so I could talk for her.  People would say "You're so cute!" and I'd say "Thank you!" because clearly this child can't understand what you're saying nor can she respond to you in any intelligible sense.  Here's how my dinner went:

Old lady: You're a sweet little girl!
Sylvia smiles
Me: Thank you!

Old man: What's your name?
Sylvia smiles
Me: Sylvia!

Younger lady: It was lovely to meet your acquaintance, bye bye Sylvia!
Sylvia smiles
Me: Bye bye!  Sylvia.  Can you say bye bye?  Wave bye bye!  Bye Bye!
Sylvia smiles, does NOT wave at all, and makes me look like a total dork.
Younger lady walks away and Sylvia starts waving at her and doesn't stop until we leave.  Sheesh!

And tonight she started playing this awesome game where she put everything on her head.  To which Sylvain started chanting "Chapeau!" in a sing-songy voice which made her love this activity.  Here's our Chapeau video, and although it might appear that she's running a muck in the restaurant, she's really being very well behaved.  I promise.

Then, at the end of dinner, while we were waiting for our check, I asked my husband a very serious question.  I said, "Did you ever think, in all of that time we talked about having kids, and all of that time I was pregnant, did you ever think that our child would ever be this great?"  I was expecting a smug and snarky response.  I was expecting him to point out the fact that I'm too sentimental.  But he just smiled at her and looked at me and said...

"No."

Getting Some Work Done Before Bedtime

The other night, Sylvia had a lot of work to do, so I let her borrow my laptop.  It looks like she had a pretty good time...

Let's just start this puppy up and get to work.  Control, alt, delete...aaaaaaand we're rolling!

Hey!  Look at that!  My stocks are climbing!  Now I can buy that sa-wheeet wave runner I've had my eye on.  Ch-ching!

 I'll just sell a couple of shares........

Move a couple of these stocks around....

These reports won't write themselves!  Makin' dollas is hard work!

Oh no!  Control Z!  Control Z! That was a close one!  Gotta be more careful.

 Think I'll check the UK score while I'm at a good stopping point.  Hey!  They're winning!  Go Cats!

 

Better hit escape before the boss lady catches me.  Yup, there we go.

 

Quittin' time!  I'll just save my work on my thumb drive.  And that's a wrap!

 

Whew!  What a day!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself.  She was being super cute, like she had just gotten off the phone with the eTrade baby and figured out how to use the computer.  She was typing and talking like she meant business!

Eleven Months

Sweet Sylvia,

Time is just slipping by faster than I can keep up with it.  Every month, I sit down to write to you, and there is so much I haven't said to you yet!  I always write about your milestones and the amazing things you can do.  I write about how much Daddy and I love you.  I toss in a couple of pictures and call it a post, but I feel like I haven't said anything important to you yet, and here you are, one month away from a year old.

As we begin the last month of your first year, I'm forcing myself to decide what's really important.  What wise words can I give you before you hit that magical one-year mark and take off into toddler-hood?  What do I really, really want to tell you?

Well, I think you need to know that Daddy and I are not the only ones who love you.  We are the ones who take care of you, and the ones who get to enjoy your sweet smile every day, but there are so many other people who think you are amazing.  You haven't seen most of them since Christmas, but they ask about you all the time, and they read our blog to see pictures of you, and they're thinking about you every day.  You have a gigantic family in many different parts of the world who are interested in your development.  Our Kentucky family is always wondering what tricks you'll do next.  And our France family is delighted that you're starting to understand their language.  Your grandparents miss you.  Your uncles want to play with you.  You are surrounded by such a loving and wonderful family.  I want you to grow up knowing that there are lots and lots of people who care about you, whether you can see them every day or not.

You also need to know that you are not the only little baby in the whole wide world!  You might be the only kid in our house, but there are lots of other kids in the world.  I suppose you have plenty of time to learn this little lesson, but you're already starting to understand it, in your own baby ways.  You love your friends and your teachers at day care.  You are learning to share, to wait your turn, and to follow someone's directions.  The teachers tell me that you listen well!  They say you understand when they say "no" and you understand when they say "Come here!"  That's pretty impressive.

While you are playing safely with other students at day care, Daddy and I are helping other kids in our community.  Kids who aren't as fortunate as you are.  Last week, Grammy brought you to my classroom while she read a book to the fourth graders, and you won't believe this - they were shocked when they found out that you had books in your room.  They were amazed that a baby like you would be lucky enough to have people who read to her, every day.  I know you're much too young to understand this, but when you're older I hope you know that there are some babies who don't have any books.  Or a safe, cozy place to sleep.  Or clean diapers or fresh food.  You are so blessed.  We are all so blessed, my dear.

Here comes your last month.  My plan was to write you a letter each month during your first year.  I can't believe we only have one month left.  Just one.  After one more month, you'll be ONE year old.  That little number one almost knocks me down every time I say it.  It's not very little at all, is it?  It's a big, big deal.

Enjoy this month, sweetheart.  And take it easy.  You're growing up much too fast for me!  Slow down a little bit, and let me catch my breath.

Yours forever and ever,
Mama

Now I Know Why People Hire Nannies

Let me just give you a run down of our lovely week:  Monday was the highlight.  I was allowed to take the day off work so I could go to Frankfort for National Board Certified Teacher Day!  For real!  The Governor declared it!  I went to a reception at the Governor's Mansion!  It was fancy and I loved every second of it.  Next came a ceremony in the Rotunda of the Capitol Building, followed by a visit to the Senate and House of Representatives where everyone stood up and clapped for us.  Just lovely.  Really, really - a wonderful day.

Except...

Right before the ceremony I got a call from day care.  Wonh woooonnnnnhhhhhh.....

Sylvia was fussy and pulling on her ears.  I was supposed to get my picture taken in five minutes, so the magic tricks I pulled on that cell phone in the following minutes should have qualified me for some sort of Mommy-phone award.  I called Sylvain and told him he had to go get her.  I called the doctor and made an appointment.  I called Sylvain back and told him what time the appointment was.  I called day care to tell them Sylvain was on his way.  Boom!  I raced into the Rotunda just in time to smile for the camera.  Ta da!!!!

By Monday night, we were giving Sylvia amoxicillin for an ear infection.  Boo to the hoo.  She was not a happy camper.  Sylvain stayed home with her on Tuesday and by Tuesday night she was as good as new!  Then Wednesday rolled around and I started feeling yucky at school.  By Wednesday night I was shivering in bed with a fever, so I stayed home Thursday, hoping that would take care of it.  It didn't.

Enter the world's greatest fixer upper......GRAMMY!!!

Mom had planned to stay with us Thursday night so she could spend Friday with sweet Sylvia, and I have never been so happy to see her in my life!  She arrived late Thursday, and when we all woke up this morning, Mom gave Sylvia her bottle, and Mom got her up and Mom played with her.  And I.....I got to get ready for work like a normal person!  It was amazing.  Unless you count the fact that my throat felt like it was swollen completely shut.  I briefly considered staying home, but decided to go to school and try to schedule a late doctor's appointment.  I have never in all of my life taken two days off in a row, much less three in one week!  Well, except for that one time when I gave birth.  I took a few days off for that.

Mom brought Sylvia to my classroom in the morning, which was really great because the last thing I wanted to do today was stand up and teach!  She read a Dr. Seuss book to my class and they ooohed and ahhhed over Sylvia for a glorious 30 minutes.  For the rest of the day, while I was trying really hard not to pass out, Mom kept sending me pictures of Sylvia with cute little messages.  Here's the cutest pic, which really brightened up my crappy day.

I just kept thinking "Thank goodness she's with Grammy.  At least I don't have to worry about a call from day care today!"

I went to the doctor and found out I have strep throat!  Awesome!  I waited for a million years in the waiting room, then I waited for another million years at the pharmacy, and I assumed that Mom would be long gone by the time I got home, since she has to work tomorrow morning.  But guess what!  She was there.  With dinner on the table.  And she cleaned my house.  I'm not even kidding, people.  My house was clean.  My baby was happy (and eating real food!  Yippee!), my hubby was happy, and there was a roast in the oven.  Then, as if that wasn't glorious enough, she stuck around to wash the dishes before she drove off into the rainy sunset.

I feel like we just had a visit from Mary Poppins herself.  Thanks, Grammy!