A mystery at the Cooper's

This is never the sort of text you want to see when heading home from the office:

Apparently a true IASIP moment had happened right at home.  We may never know the culprit.

On a positive note, our new flooring had coincidentally arrived that very day!  

A Fairy Garden Party

Far, far away, in a magical place, 

lives a cute little fairy with a smile on her face! 

She waits for her friends in the afternoon sun- 

won't you come June 14th for the 4th Birthday fun? 

With fairy food to eat, crafts, and garden games to play, 

your arrival at one o'clock would make Elsie's day! 

Only those in proper magical attire will get through the gate, 

so fairies, elves, wizards (and family), please don't be late!

In lieu of gifts, Elsie collected donations to the Heartland Farm Sanctuary.  She followed up her birthday party fun with a tour of the facility when we dropped off the supplies.  She got to pet goats, lambs, llamas, pigs, ducks, chickens, and even a rooster named Baby!  She was able donate money in addition to many physical donations like office supplies, animal carriers, and cleaning supplies.  A big bag of cracked corn was donated, and for weeks after our visit, she would pull me aside and say, "Mama, I bet the animals are eating my corn today!" and offer a huge grin.  She was also thrilled to learn that "her" money would most likely be going toward a new "swimming pool" for the birds, a thought that filled her with joy! 

A big thank you to all our lovely friends for making her special day so magical!

Sylvie is 15 months!

Health and growth:

Sylvie now weights 17 lbs, 12 oz (5%) and stretches to 29.75 inches (19%) [for those interested, Elsie weighed 18lbs, 8oz (2%) and was 30.5 inches (51%) at this age - and yes, the percentages have changed since Elsie was little!.  She wears size 3 diapers (when she uses disposables), 18 month clothes and size 4 shoes.

Sylvie still wakes three or four times a night to eat, and consistently takes 1-2 naps a day, totaling about 2 hours. 

Sylvie's abilities have expanded so much in the last three months!  She easily navigates stairs, climbs down from beds or couches, climbs onto tables and chairs, and even climbs ladders!  She loves to dance, bounce, and chase- she runs faster than I can walk!  She is learning to blow bubbles with Elsie, and loves to carry the bubbles around the yard until she finds someone to open them for her.  Her other favorite outside activities are sliding, swinging, and chasing Elsie's bicycle down the sidewalk.

It was funny to look back at Elsie's notes from her 15-month well-child appointment and realized that Dr. Lo made the same comments about her little sister three years later!  He commented on both their verbal abilities ("very advanced, on par with a two-year-old"),  and their inquisitive natures, noting that each was "exploring and easily opened the exam table drawers", something he doesn't expect to see until two-year check-ups. 

As Sylvie grows up, it is delightful to see how similar these two are becoming...the same smiles, humor, attitude, desires, and energy.  They are starting to make each other laugh on a daily basis, and regularly engage in cooperative play (Elsie is definitely the ringleader, and Sylvie is very good at following her orders).

When she first wakes in the morning, Sylvie runs out of the bedroom yelling, "She-she!  She-she!" until she finds her big sis.  She loves to share kisses with everyone, and especially thinks it is important to give Elsie a hug and kiss before she takes her afternoon nap.  When Andy comes home from work at night, she literally sprints to the front door, yelling "Dadadadada!" a the top of her lungs and demanding to be held. 

Communication:

Words Sylvie says:
Mama, Dada, ma (milk), ja (yes), no, bottle, baby, down, up, more, food, book, ball, She-she or Esh (Elsie), shoe, nose, ear, woof (dog), meow (cat), Go (Pongo), out (outside), "all da" (all done), "all ready", Cece (Sylvie), foot, booberry (blueberry), flower (and a few more that I keep intending to add, then forget as soon as I sit down at the computer).

Signs and words Sylvie understands:
Too many to count!

Watch me grow:

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

12 months

 

15 months

And just for fun, Elsie at 15 months:

 

The amazing Papa Todd.

While driving home from school in an utter downpour:

E: "Mama, we aren't wet inside Kermit car, but Kermit is very wet!"
M:  "That's true."
E:  "How does Kermit go?"
M:  "His engine turns and makes his wheels go around.  Maybe next time Papa Todd is here, he can show you how a car works."
E:  "Papa Todd knows how cars work?  Wow!"
M:  "Papa Todd even knows how to make cars.  He can take a lot of little pieces of cars and put them together to make a new car that you can sit in and drive!"
E:  "WOW!  Do you think Papa Todd can make ME a car?"
M:  "Maybe you can ask him when you are older." 
E:  "Okay.  Papa Todd can make cars!  Wow...(thinks for a minute)...hey, MAMA!  Does Papa Todd know how to STOP THE RAIN, too???"

Outdoor Spring Fun

Elsie flying her owl kite all by herself.

Sylvie deciding she is big enough to climb the ladder at the playground.

Sylvie enjoying a picnic in the grass.

Sylvie and Henry "driving" a spaceship.

Sylvie grabbing some ice cream on a hot night.

Grilling with friends!

Easter

We headed to Iowa to celebrate with Andy's family on Saturday.

The kids' favorite game was "Throw things over the baby gate and down the stairs."  Even Sylvie got in on the action.

The brave egg hunters (Sylvie and Augie decided to sleep through the festivities).

Big kids chasing bubbles.

Back home in Madison, Sunday morning...

We finished out the weekend with a Easter morning egg hunt of our own.

Sylvie was confused..."Wait, WHO put WHAT in our yard?"

And distracted..."Ball!!!"

"This is kind of a silly game, guys."

"Next year, try not to leave so much stuff on the lawn for Elsie and I to pick up.  Sheesh."

And....Elsie showing off our hand-made eggs filled with little animals (and a few jelly beans).