A Good Santa??

I have learned many new things as a parent. One of the most important, I am sure, is that there are 'good' Santa's and 'bad' Santa's- and that if you want your child's picture taken with a 'good' Santa- you have to make an appointment in March.

I thought I had time and could sqeeze in somewhere. But no- the best Santa in town at Phipps Plaza was ALL booked and had been since October.

I think Sylvie had her picture taken with a 'good' Santa. His beard is real, at least.

I- on the other hand- was my own worst nightmare. All the photographer was doing to get Sylvie to smile was ringing a bell. Really??!!

So I took matters into my own hands and proceded to jump around and try to get her to smile. It obviously didn't work.

Great Grandpa

Ralph's Grandfather came to Atlanta after Thanksgiving.

Sylvie enjoyed meeting him! She knew he was very special!

Ralph and I and Sylvie are planning on taking our first airplane ride as a family in March to see Great Grandfather again, and Great Grandmother!

The Moon, Venus & Jupiter

On Sunday November 30th we got home after dinner one night and the Moon, Venus and Jupiter were in an unusual grouping. I had heard that this happens every 50 years so I thought I needed to get a picture. Sylvie was none too happy and could have cared less. The next time she see's this will be in the year 2052. She will be 44. Ralph will be well into his 70's.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081125/ap_on_sc/sci_sky_trio

Thanksgiving 2008

The Turkey being prepared on the silver platter...

HA! Just Kidding. What a good sport though.

Turkey?

The Whole FamilySylvie and Aunt Katherine

Sylvie Bath Time

Sylvie loves her bath time- and who wouldn't with all the special treatment she gets. She is so spoiled- I wish I had the spa treatments she gets every night! First she takes a nice warm bath, she is then cuddled and wrapped in towels. In her room we have a nice lavender lotion massage for her on her feet, hands and back. Then she has a manicure.

The only reason her nails get filed though is becuase I am too scared to use the baby nail clippers!

No wonder she sleeps so good at night.

Emma & Sarah

Today we went over to Katie's and David's to take pictures with their little girls and have a play date. Emma and Sarah are so sweet and beautiful! When we got there, Sarah was napping so Sylvie and Emma got to know each other. Sylive just loved watching the older girls run around and play. Emma even made Sylvie smile! Katie, Emma and I played a game while we waited for Sarah to wake up.

Emma just turned three and got a camera as one of her presents! She wouldn't show me her pictures but I let her take a picture with my camera. I must say I was impressed with her ability! Emma took this one of Kaite and I- just like the good ole days!

Sarah woke up and we got some good pics! We hope to come back and take more!

New Friend

Meet Rufus (I took the liberty of naming him). He's a silly lion that Sylvie likes to talk to.

A little rude though- why's he gotta stick out his tongue all the time?

Yaya and Papa

Yaya and Papa, Sylvie's Grandparents, came to visit last weekend. We had a nice time relaxing with them and catching up. Sylvie was on her best beharvior (as usual!) and had a great visit with her grandparents from Texas!

We went to dinner on Sunday night with Yaya and Papa, Grandma and Opa, and Aunt Rochelle. Sylvie was asleep the whole time and this was the only picture I could get.

Thanks for visiting Yaya and Papa, we really enjoyed your company!

Before they got to our house, we had a little photo session. She was very serious.

Or she was just falling into what is known as the abyss of our couch.

First Day of 'School'

This week was super busy. I went back to work and Sylvie went to daycare- or school as we like to call it. She seems to not mind school. She comes home at about 2pm with Ralph and is very relaxed (and tired!) all night. Me on the other hand- work is just the same and I also come home tired (maybe not relaxed though!)

Sylvie and daddy try to take a nap when they get home. Sylvie alwasy gets a nap. Daddy, not so much.

This is Sylvie before school- happy as can be!

And this is Sylvie after school- still happy as can be!

She is smiling alot more now and even laughs at her mom and dad! I cannot beleive that she is three months old and she used to be this small.

Trip to Tallulah

Every October Ralph and I drive up to Tallulah Falls with friends and family to camp and see the leaves changing. This year we opted not to sleep in a tent (we thought this might be bad news with a 2 month old) and stayed in a cabin. It was a great cabin right on the water with heat and all the comforts of home- so many comforts from home, in fact, that our Explorer was packed to its capacity. Sylvie didn't even know she wasn't at home. She was all prepared with her warm weather gear.

The first night we always have steaks and baked potatoes. Ralph outdid himself when buying the steaks this year- look at the size of them! I must say though that he ate the whole thing! Amazing. I only could eat the filet side of mine. It was so good.

As you can see below, Sylvie was as snug as a bug in a rug. She actually slept in her travel crib but i find the need to put her in beds and chairs that she is too small for- just to see how cute she can be!

Sometimes she gets tired of this and just wants peace and quit. Here she is sheilding her face from the camera, as if I was a paparazzi. Doesn't she know that her mother is a photograher?

Saturday it was a beautiful day. I put Sylvie in her baby Bjorn carrier and we went for a walk. Here is some of the wonderful scenery we found.

This was right outside our cabin.

Grandma and Grandpa Maloney were there as well with their motorhome. Anytime Sylvie was upset- Grandpa was the place to be. She must feel so safe with him- he calmed her down immediately!
Here is is pointing out her bald spot though. She's growing her hair as fast as she can, Grandpa! :)

She really loves being outside and didn't seem to mind the cold. She was bundled up pretty good with hats, mittens and sweaters and blankets the whole time though.

Lots of dogs join us camping.

Zuma, the smallest and most fierce (fashionably and personality wise!)

Karen and Mike's beautiful white German Shepard Luna. The sweetest dog you could know!

Tim and Michele's dog Squirt. She is always shaking she gets so cold!
And of course, our other daughter- Addie.

On Saturday we all also went to a local farm to go through a corn maze and get some apple cider. They also had the best peach cider!

I am always intrigued by businesses that advertise with happy characters of the foods they sell. Doesn't the happy apple in the sign realize that he is about to be eaten- by everybody at his store???

Sylvie had her first halloween pictures taken here with the pumpkins. She is a princess spider!

And here she is attacking her daddy!

All in all it was a great weekend! We cannot wait for next year!

So much has happneded since our last post! Sylvie is now 11 weeks old and she is just great. she is holding her head up all on her own now, she is about 13 lbs and growing and sleeps around 6-7 hours a night (for the most part). We sure can't complain!

At her two month check up she had her first round of immunizations. That was definitely hard to watch but she has a trooper. She cried for awhile, I think her little feelings were hurt, but she was smiling on the way out of the office.

Yesterday we went on an outting to see my sister -in- laws grandmother -so....Sylvie's Great Grandmother -in- law?? :)

We were complete with vistors passes and all.

Sylvie has a tad bit upset but when we walked in Great Grandma -in- laws apartment she was happy as could be! Once she heard Mrs. Pryors voice she was all smiles and it was like she's known her for years!

After visiting we all went out to dinner and everyone took turns trying to comfort uspet Sylvie.

Both Opa and Uncle Brian were great at this.

Uncle Brian was especially enthusiastic about this!

Last weekend was Sylvie's first BBQ at Tim and Michele's house. She wanted to match mommy and daddy so she wore jeans and a t shirt.

She really liked hanging out with daddy and talking with the guys.

This was a bit tiring so she passed out in her stoller by a nice window.

Most of the time we just hang out at home and play with our beautiful daughter! She is doing something new each day and is such a joy!

This one's for all the grandmothers....

and thanks to Sylvie for taking a long nap so mommy could post this long post!