Sylvia, Reese & Co.

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

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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

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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).

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