blissblog

Wedding Trip

2011-08-03T23:18:00.001-04:00

Here we are celebrating in DC without Sylvia...first time away from her for more than one night. We missed each other a little, but Syl had a great time with her grandparents, our friends' wedding was so fun and Paula was such a good traveler that it all worked out.

Slumber

2011-08-01T21:35:00.001-04:00

Paula G. is a great sleeper...at night, that is! During daytime naps she can sleep a bit lightly, but I am not complaining as long as nighttime sleep goes well.

My Lovelies

2011-07-23T16:48:00.000-04:00

Busy Busy Busy

2011-07-23T16:44:00.002-04:00

It's true what they say about having more than one child; the addition of another does not double the work, it increases it exponentially!
We have been enjoying Paula immensely over the past ten weeks, and Sylvia continues to be a loving big sis in between fits of running around and being a very active toddler.
Paula is really becoming herself these days, focusing and smiling a lot.

What Have We Been Doing?

2011-05-31T17:40:00.002-04:00

Gestating!
And now Sylvia's baby sister Paula Glynn is on the outside...born Friday May 13 at 5:29 a.m., 7 pounds 1 ounce.
Sylvia is a terrific big sis so far.
More to come as we adjust and deal with sleep deprivation!

Sylvia in her Natural Habitat

2011-02-21T12:47:00.002-05:00

Snack

2011-02-21T12:46:00.000-05:00

Uncle Eli's Visit, January '11

2011-02-21T12:45:00.000-05:00

Christmas 2010

2011-02-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

Birthday Number Three!

2011-02-21T12:43:00.002-05:00

First Snowman!

2010-12-19T17:17:00.002-05:00

With help from our neighbors Beth, Bridgette and Branwyn, Sylvia built her first snowman next to our garage. She's been checking every day to make sure it's still there.

Field Museum Visit

2010-12-13T22:04:00.001-05:00

Sylvia enjoyed several hours in the Field Museum on our Thanksgiving trip to Chicago. The kids' area held several highlights, including a woodland dress-up area (check out the cardinal costume), musical instruments to play, and a reconstructed Native American play house.

Birthdays

2010-12-13T22:02:00.001-05:00

We have attended several three-year birthday parties this year...with Sylvia's being in the middle of Christmas vacation I suspect we'll have a small family gathering. That will work until she gets old enough to request a theme and specific guests!

Run!

2010-12-04T13:51:00.000-05:00

Courtship

2010-11-20T16:47:00.002-05:00

Alex, the son of my good friend Sara, is obviously more interested in Sylvia than she is in him at the beginning of our weekend together.
But the magic of books brings them together (on Halloween night); and by Sunday morning she's lost a lot of her skepticism!

Twins?

2010-11-20T16:44:00.001-05:00

Our little friend Lena has the same dress; and the girls look alike too!

Stroll-n-Nap

2010-11-18T13:06:00.000-05:00

I Ate Off the Apple Tree!

2010-11-12T13:24:00.001-05:00

Sylvia's preschool visited Wasem's Orchard and picked a few ripe treasures.

Kritter Gitter

2010-11-12T13:21:00.002-05:00

This summer we caught a woodchuck who was making itself at home under our deck...Sylvia asked, "Why did that woodchuck go into the cage?" Bait, my dear...bait. We drove out of town and released our furry friend into the wild.

Cheese!

2010-11-10T14:32:00.001-05:00

Sylvia posed for a mini photo shoot for our friend Linda Diane Feldt's article on encouraging kids to eat wild and healthy foods in August.

Hands-On Museum

2010-11-10T14:30:00.000-05:00

Playing with the skeleton exhibit and projecting her voice through a sound maze.

Beachin'

2010-06-21T12:52:00.004-04:00

The heat of summer has come on, and what better way to escape than to take a dip in Long Lake? Sylvia enjoyed catching fish in a net with our buddy Tim.

BlissBlog, now with Carbon Neutral technology!

2010-06-21T12:45:00.002-04:00

Every little bit we do for the environment helps; check out this organization that plants a tree for every registered blog to offset its carbon footprint.

Sylvia's down with that!

Toledo Trip

2010-06-12T19:06:00.001-04:00

Last weekend we took a quick getaway to Toledo, where we enjoyed the zoo, the Imagination Station, the waterfront park and more! Sylvia slept in a "chair bed," made from two armchairs in the hotel room.

Toledo Part 2

2010-06-12T18:52:00.002-04:00

Funny!

2010-06-12T18:50:00.000-04:00

Little Scientist

2010-06-12T18:42:00.001-04:00

The Lamaze Family Center offered a Little Scientist camp, which we attended in April and May. Sylvia got a kick out of digging for worms, pretending to be a bee (note the antennae and pretend pollen) and scooping a net in the pond.

Baby Jail Blues

2010-06-12T18:38:00.000-04:00

Thinking it Over

2010-04-23T13:26:00.002-04:00

Sylvia is inquisitive.
Overheard in the car recently:
"Is this our street? Is this Miller? Are we going? Are we going to the playground? YMCA! That's where we have swimming class. Are we going there? What's that? Is this Papa's street? Where is Papa's office? Are we going there? I see a dog! Are we going there?"

Big Girl and Little Girl

2010-04-23T13:24:00.000-04:00

Thank Goodness It's Spring

2010-04-20T21:08:00.002-04:00

After a tough late winter, rife with illness and a broken bone, we are now feeling a little less stressed-out! Here are some highlights of the past few weeks, including Sylvia's new backpack, eating cake at Sofi-Rose's birthday party, cousings giggling and flopping on the couch, and dipping eggs at Passover Seder:

Musical Friend

2010-02-23T16:02:00.002-05:00

We take a weekly music class from local kids' music wonderwoman Gari Stein. She has such a great way with people young and old. Here she is with Sylvia at a music performance at the public library; obviously Sylvia likes Gari a lot!

A Day Out

2010-02-16T16:11:00.002-05:00

Last month we went to a morning program for young ones at Leslie Science Center. Saw critters, took a nature hike, went for a sled and colored! With crayons!

Fleece

2010-02-14T10:12:00.001-05:00

It's colorful, durable, and oh, so comfy!

Infirm but Well-Read

2010-02-13T17:13:00.001-05:00

Dan's nursing a broken leg, and the cast has drawn much attention from Sylvia. He can't do much around the house, but reading goes on!

Grammy Dress

2010-01-25T15:31:00.000-05:00

Made expressly for Sylvia!

Christmas in Atlanta

2010-01-10T18:13:00.000-05:00

We had a nice visit and Sylvia enjoyed the first Christmas she has been aware of...including presents and tasty food!

Two!

2010-01-10T18:09:00.000-05:00

Already? Where did the time go?

Into Winter

2009-12-15T21:58:00.003-05:00

We've spent time with friends and family, and are geared up for the holiday season!

Joy!

2009-11-07T19:04:00.001-05:00

Halloween!

2009-10-31T19:48:00.001-04:00

Apple Orchard

2009-10-28T15:25:00.002-04:00

Sylvia and I visited Plymouth Orchards on Monday to pick out a pumpkin and check out other fun things...including photo opportunities and donuts. Sylvia liked seeing the goats, of course, and was more interested in the rocks and gravel in the muddy driveway than the pumpkins. Ah, the mind of the toddler!

Petting Zoo Redux

2009-10-12T13:36:00.002-04:00

Visited the petting farm with friends a few weeks back...just getting around to posting pics! A good time was had.

At the Table

2009-10-12T13:32:00.001-04:00

This Can't Be Comfortable...

2009-09-11T16:56:00.002-04:00

Bones and Boats

2009-09-05T09:24:00.003-04:00

Syl made a new friend (albeit a silent one) at the Hoxeyville Music Festival a couple of weeks ago. We had a nice kayak ride at Long Lake last night.

Hangin' with Soleil

2009-09-01T18:37:00.001-04:00

We got to chill with Soleil and parents Jess & Steph last week during their visit from Cali. The kids had fun, and so did the big people!

Summer Shots

2009-08-28T01:21:00.001-04:00

Togs

2009-08-19T08:58:00.004-04:00

New duds! A yellow butterfly ensemble from Aunt Susie and a pink flower outfit from Minga. Thanks!

and Swingin' Again

2009-08-06T14:50:00.004-04:00

In what Sylvia refers to as the "hameek" out at Long Lake. Maximum chill!

Swingin'

2009-07-20T09:01:00.000-04:00

Messy Milestone

2009-07-16T20:10:00.001-04:00

Here's Syl helping with the dishes on our camping trip with Sheryl & Brian last month. Not the milestone I'm thinking of though...the real deal is that Sylvia has made "peepoo" in the big girl potty three times! We're on our way with potty training.

June!

2009-07-14T08:42:00.001-04:00

We've been busy with fun, including Sylvia's first camping trip.

Walkin' and Talkin'

2009-07-10T07:58:00.002-04:00

There's a lot of staggery yet mostly stable walking going on in our house these days, and a lot of narration too. Sylvia is loving using verbal language, and every so often she'll remember something she's seen or done and comment on it. Lately her favorite activity to recall is "Bobbie Mike house;" we paid a visit to Bobbie and Mike about a month ago, and we're still talking about it! Pictured are Syl and Dan walking with Bobbie.

Papa, Papa, Baby

2009-06-24T15:42:00.000-04:00

Sylvia's cousin Sofi-Rose and her two papas!

Father's Day Brunch

2009-06-21T20:01:00.001-04:00

We hosted brunch for Dan's parents, brother and family, sister-in-law's brother and family and her parents. A lovely affair.

365 Days Ago...

2009-06-18T16:24:00.000-04:00

Grans' Beach Three

2009-06-13T18:02:00.000-04:00

Grans' Beach Two

2009-06-09T19:06:00.000-04:00

On the Beach with the Grans

2009-06-08T14:09:00.003-04:00

Sylvia and I just spent a week with Grammy and Graddad in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. Several pics to follow!

The Things We Make Our Kids Do...

2009-05-27T23:55:00.002-04:00

New Hat

2009-05-27T14:45:00.000-04:00

Papa got Sylvia a little Yankees hat...funny, I thought she was a Sox fan?

Walking!

2009-05-17T19:31:00.001-04:00

Today Sylvia took her first independent steps, four in a row. Dan and I were both there to witness it. Way to go, Syl!

Petting Zoo Hullaballoo

2009-05-11T22:11:00.001-04:00

Granddad took Sylvia to her first petting zoo visit, where a goat nibbled on the flower on her shoe...she got so excited she had to make a call and tell the story.

Granddad Visits Again!

2009-05-02T11:44:00.001-04:00

Bicycle, BI-cycle, BIIII-cycle!

2009-04-20T14:06:00.002-04:00

Random Acts of Cuteness

2009-04-15T22:14:00.003-04:00

Ah - wooo?

2009-04-12T19:37:00.002-04:00

Since Grammy & Graddad gave Sylvia her first toy cell phone, she's been saying her own version of "hello."

Grans Visit

2009-03-28T14:42:00.000-04:00

I'm an Auntie!

2009-03-27T14:21:00.000-04:00

Welcome, littlest Meisler! Born Friday 3/27 4:45am, 7 lbs 15 oz, mom and baby and dad all happy and healthy. Sylvia is the big cousin now!

Yes, Nay-no

2009-03-24T18:39:00.001-04:00

Four nights in a row without asking for nursing; sounds fine to me!

Saying the Nay-no to the Nay-Nay

2009-03-16T19:46:00.003-04:00

In recent days Sylvia has been nursing twice a day - once upon awakening and once before bed. She's been getting a little frustrated lately with having to lie in a still position while nursing, and has been interrupting nursing with crying.

Last week I had an evening meeting, so I left the house without nursing Sylvia at bedtime. She cried a little for Daddy (which may have been due to a bedtime poopy diaper) but went to sleep and slept the whole night through.

Tonight after her bath I was putting on her PJ's and she signed "book." Seizing the opportunity, I offered to read her a book after brushing teeth, and she went for it. We read, then she asked to be put into her crib...not a word about nursing!

Don't know if this is the start of a trend or a temporary sidetrack...stay tuned!

Six Teeth Coming In at Once

2009-03-12T20:50:00.000-04:00

Not much more to say about that!

Gadzooks!

2009-03-08T23:16:00.000-04:00

We just heard Grammy and Granddaddy and Great-GrandMinga are coming in two weeks! Hooray! We'll have Christmas in March with leprechauns instead of elves.

Downward Dog

2009-02-28T10:57:00.002-05:00

Sylvia masters her first yoga pose!

Seeing the Signs

2009-02-28T10:51:00.003-05:00

As Sylvia grows more and more interactive she's making more effective use of the sign language signs we've been teaching her.

We also notice that she associates certain things with us and communicates these associations to us.
For some reason she insists that Daddy put on a hat when he puts on his coat, and sometimes (though Dan denies this) she'll use the international sign language sign for hat when referring to Daddy.

Sometimes she'll think of a random concept like swimming, then sign "swimming" to us. I'll wonder, "what brought that up?"

If she hears a dog, we get the "dog" sign. We'll also get that sign if she hears a crow, so we'll work on that one.

Perked Up

2009-02-17T22:15:00.002-05:00

The teeth have broken through and the mood is improved. Relief!

Not to say Sylvia won't throw a mini-tantrum if things don't go her way; her latest trick is to lean all the way forward and plant her face on the floor like the whole world is ending. I'll have to get a picture of that sometime...

Cranky Pants!

2009-02-11T22:18:00.001-05:00

Two teeth are coming in, so the pants are in a crank. Mostly Sylvia is in a good mood, but if she gets frustrated, bar the door!

Our Days are Numbered

2009-02-05T19:23:00.002-05:00

Sylvia's standing...next come the steps!

Don't Talk With Your Mouth Full...

2009-01-22T20:42:00.002-05:00

...or when there's not much to say! The winter blahs seem to have gotten the best of my blog lately.

Bibliophile

2009-01-15T23:41:00.001-05:00

It's time for Monday playgroup, and all the kids are busy with toys...here's Sylvia holding up a book for me to read to her in the midst of all the balls, blocks and whirligigs!

Yo, Baby, Yo, Baby, Yo!

2009-01-04T11:16:00.000-05:00

New Year

2009-01-01T21:57:00.000-05:00

Decidedly happy.

Ready for another year!

Glad the holidays are over, though...

One Year!

2008-12-22T08:53:00.002-05:00

Yesterday we threw a party for Sylvia's one-year birthday...we were a little busy, so we didn't post about her birthday until today.

What a year it's been! It was a long year, filled with adjustments, physical changes, tiredness and great effort...but it was also a fast year, filled with unmeasurable joy, laughter, wonder, smiles, growth, amazement and happiness.

Happy birthday, solstice baby!

Family Resemblances

2008-12-11T20:24:00.002-05:00

My great-aunt Lillian, not a blood relative; could be me in 30 years. Dig the glasses!

My dad's cousin Charlotte as a baby; could be Sylvia now!

More Thanksgiving Pics

2008-12-10T19:48:00.001-05:00

Granddaddy Love

2008-12-05T21:57:00.001-05:00

First of the Thanksgiving visit pics.

Five Things...

2008-12-05T21:53:00.002-05:00

...I do daily for a healthy mind.

I've been tagged!

Here goes:

1 - I eat something I want to eat (at least once per day)

2 - I look at the sky

3 - I take a nap (most days)

4 - I think about exercising at a minimum, and on a good day I walk for a long time, or dance, or swim, or kayak

5 - I try to keep up with world affairs; arguably good for the mind but maybe not so good for peace of mind?

Funny how "healthy mind" can be interpreted to mean mental function or well-being.

A Year Ago..

2008-11-23T21:47:00.000-05:00

Hard to remember!

Al Fresca

2008-11-23T21:40:00.000-05:00

Finally getting around to posting October photos of our fireside dinner!

Family Changes

2008-11-22T21:44:00.004-05:00

Here we are, all cleaned up and in our finery for Uncle Josh & Aunt Tobi's wedding last weekend; it was a lovely celebration, and we're happy to have Tobi in our family.

We lost our dear Mackie dog this week; she was 13 1/2 years old, and brought us much joy, love and laughter. She will be sorely missed.

Looking forward to Thanksgiving with my father's family in Georgia next week!

Cell!

2008-11-11T19:43:00.001-05:00

Sylvia destroyed Grandpa's cell phone recently, not sure if it was the moisture or the force of the biting that caused its demise. A replacement phone is being kept out of her mouth...probably a good idea for the phone and the baby!

Wedding Bells

2008-11-11T19:40:00.003-05:00

Uncle Josh and Aunt Tobi are tying the knot this Saturday; Sylvia will have her first taste of wedding cake!

Rubber Ducky...

2008-11-08T10:42:00.002-05:00

...you're the one!

Sitting Pretty

2008-10-24T23:14:00.002-04:00

Sylvia seems amused by my choice of dresses for her in this pic; it's a vintage original made by her Grammy for me in 1970!

Speaking of sitting, our friend Kathe babysat for us tonight as we went out (after dark!) to see David Byrne at the Michigan Theater. Delightful. Nice to have good friends who like babies!

Closer

2008-10-16T22:41:00.003-04:00

The baby's on her way. Already I love her.
The baby arrives. My heart's dam bursts.
The baby is with us another day. Rockets explode, flowers bloom and I'd be content to hold her tightly 'til I end.

Honorary Relatives

2008-10-16T22:39:00.001-04:00

"Aunt" Julie and "Uncle" Stan visited from North Carolina; they are two of my dearest college buddies. So glad they could come meet the baby!

Grammy Loves

2008-10-16T22:35:00.002-04:00

Where have we been? Right here, enjoying Grammy's company for the past two weeks.

She sang for Sylvia. She put Sylvia's shoes and socks on, then back on, then back on again. She fed Sylvia. She even changed a couple of diapers. And she brought Sylvia the stuffed animal version of the little bunny from "Goodnight, Moon" so Sylvia knows that real things come from books.

Now Grammy's back home in Florida and we're all missing her!

Fun-damental

2008-09-25T21:26:00.002-04:00

Sylvia's favorite toys are books. She delights in opening them, closing them, turning the pages, pointing to images. She recognizes the cadence of a few books that we've been reading to her since she was only a few weeks old, and smiles when we begin. Book reading is the last thing we do before bed, and something we do at least a couple of times during the day.

I can't wait until she's old enough to really make use of the public library; it will be fun to browse for books with her!

In the Pen

2008-09-21T08:31:00.002-04:00

We have a Pack-n-Play playpen/port-a-crib that stays in our living room. Sylvia ends up there when we need to do something in another room, usually the kitchen.

Funny how parents develop "things," little requirements that are part of baby care. One of my "things" is that we must put socks on Sylvia if it's even the slightest bit chilly. One of Dan's "things" is that she must be put in the Pack-n-Play pen if we're leaving the room for longer than a minute or so.

I don't feel the need to pen her as urgently as he does, and he doesn't see the need for socks as clearly as I do. But one of us will say, "that's one of my 'things,'" and the other complies. Ah, the art of compromise.