Sylvia is 22 months old!

Sylvia is continuing to transform from a baby to a kid in very noticeable ways. Her vocabulary seems to multiply daily, and she seems to be putting words together more and more. She has learned to ask for "un mor, pleeez". She has regular playmates who she enjoys seeing and interacting. She's capable of following our instructions very well (including things like returning pilfered toys or closing an off-limits cabinet), or of refusing to do so with a definitive little "nope" or "nope, bye-bye."

She can be pretty sensitive and emotionally volatile. (I have absolutely no idea where she could have gotten that.) But she can also be extremely sweet. She often comes up to me or Max and gives us hugs and kisses.

Today, Max & I got some disappointing news about a job opportunity. While there are a lot of benefits to remaining in our current situation for another year, we were really hoping to have some more financial security and to be able to to start making more longterm plans. On top of all of that, I had a headache all day, and Max is suffering from a sinus infection as well as the side effects of the antibiotic treatment for said infection. Sylvia had started out the day in a very good mood. She seemed to pick up on our moods, and rather than getting upset or demanding attention, she was very sweet to both of us. I was holding my head and laying down, and she kept coming to me and saying "ouch... sad..." and giving me hugs and kisses.

We can hardly believe that the tiny little bundle we brought home 2 summers ago is now this giant talking, running, screaming, fighting, singing, hugging, kissing little girl.