Sylvie and I often say that as we look to the stars from the porch or out her bedroom window.....or sometimes just looking up at the ceiling. And once we wished upon her bedroom fan (which was apparently VERY funny :) It took Sylvia a while to understand the concept of NOT telling her wish aloud, but I think she gets it now. The first several times she immediately told me her wish (it was always for a puppy...shhhhh.....don't tell!). 
The beautiful vase she made me has the look of a starry night sky on one side and I LOVE it. It will always remind me of holding her out on the porch to wish upon a star (or giggling hysterically in her little bed as we wished upon the fan). Thanks Sylvie girl!!
I'm sure I shouldn't be letting my 3 year old (she's 3 now!!) stay up until 10 o'clock to watch American Idol with me, but it is so much fun!! *AI Spoiler Alert* Her Lacey was sent home, so she is now rooting for Casey (because he rhymes with Lacey?), Lee, and Tim, and as of this week she has added Aaron and Katie. I like Sioban, but I think Crystal has just got to win. 
Last week we had a big weekend. Miss Sylvia turned 3, and Friday was a wonderful day. She had asked me earlier in the week if she could "help me make an awesome cake". I was concerned, because I believe I have only made one cake before, and I wouldn't have described it as awesome. 
Anyway, you can see from the photos that she had a great time (her favorite part was mixing), loved having Aunt Jill come out to help, and in the end, it was awesome to her. Friday night we went to Friendly's and both Grammy's, Pop-pop, Auntie Mo, Aunt Chrissy, and Mark were all there to celebrate. She wasn't sure what to think when the staff sang to her, but tried to ignore them as she ate her sundae :) Someone asked her what her favorite gift was the other day, and she talked about her binoculars and her fishing rod. I think she is as ready for nice weather as I am! 
Last Saturday, we went out to the Jukebox Cafe for breakfast (the "Juice Box" to Sylvia) and then went to the park. What a great morning!! That night we went to our neighbor Ally's sweet 16 party. Sylvia had soooo much fun except for the fact that she was feeling a little shy.
Sunday we went to little Audrey's 1st birthday. She was born 1 month and 1/2 before Stella. I can't believe these babies are turning one year old!! We had a GREAT time, and afterwards, John started to clean up the garage (yay!), and we took the girls on a wagon ride. It was Stella's first time and she absolutely loved it. The girls were soooo sweet giggling together. I hopefully caught some adorable moments. My heart melts when they are laughing hysterically together, which happens quite often these days :) 
So, it was Sylvia's big weekend (Congrats big girl!!!), but Stella also had some significant milestones. Little lady has refused to feed herself anything, regardless as to whether she likes it or not. Well, at breakfast last Saturday morning, she decided daddy's toast was worth picking up herself. Yay Stella! I'll be sure to proudly tell your pediatrician's nurse at the next visit :) 
About a month after that you started clapping and in the last month or so, you suddenly have three more teeth, with another that is close. Aunt Sarah found a few of those too - she is good at that! After months of crawling backwards and other unsuccessful ways, you finally got it all together about 2 weeks ago (age 9.5 months), and you are an expert now. You are also getting pretty good at walking with a walker, and you just love to stand up and let go of things for a few seconds at a time. "Look Mom and Dad, no hands!!"
You were sick for the first time last week. No big deal, thank goodness, just a bit of a fever and a rash. I'm pretty sure it was Roseola, and I'm pretty sure Sylvie had the same thing at your age. We had your regular doctor visit last Friday, and you are 28.5 inches long and 17.12 pounds, which is only 11% in weight. Really, I do feed you. Actually, they were a little surprised that you don't feed yourself yet. We need to work on that one little peanut - ok?
Good-bye February and everything you brought with you! I am soooo glad to see March, especially if the weekend weather was a sign of things to come. Friday, although sad because we know who is moving away soon, was lots and lots of fun. We hung out at Aunt Sarah's with Auntie Mo while Sylvie and Brock played in the "summer room" (Sylvie's name for the Sun Room). Later, everyone came over for sushi / game night. It doesn't get any better than that. We played Quiddler while Sylvie had a blast hanging with "her Brocky" and convincing Pop-pop to read every book on the shelf.
Just before I took that picture of Stella, they both had been on the blue thing and laughing hysterically. After that, Sylvia and I went outside, drew on the sidewalk, and she played on her tricycle as she searched for piles of snow to shovel with her little sand rake. Welcome, welcome spring. The project of the day was to decorate an old black clock I had. 
John and Sylvie got a book that teaches time at the library, so they wanted to make the perfect clock for a little girl's room. He helped her paint it and sparkle it, and I helped her add lots and lots of stickers. We all love the end result. I think everything in our house will eventually end up pink with sparkles. 
Later, John installed a new car-seat to replace Stella's carrier, because even though she is relatively light.....I am weak. Thank goodness for the new car-seat! Bath time was fun, as always. Stella lays on her back most of the time, and kicks as hard as she can with both feet. The whole bathroom is soaked when Miss Stella is done. Sylvie had some art time in her bath (she is no longer interested in sharing a bath with Stella, now that she realized how much little sis splashes!), and apparently drew a T-rex dinosaur [grrrrrr.......]. I was in the other room at the time, but there are pictures to prove it!! 