Sylvan turned 3 in October, and for the first time really "got" the birthday thing. He celebrated over 2 different weekends in addition to his real birthday - one weekend with his Nana (Courtney's mom) and Richmond family and the other with G-Mer and G-Pa (Jim's folks) and Davidson family. The trip to North Carolina was particularly special because Sylvan's birthday is just 2 days (well, 2 days and 72 years!) apart from his grandfather's. Morris's surprise party and fancy birthday cake graciously included Sylvan, complete with a train on top. We continue to be amazed by Sylvan's growth and development. Some days it feels like you can see it happening! Of course, on other days it's very clear that he's 3 and still sorting it all out. He continues to love collecting, sorting, measuring, and organizing things, though that doesn't translate to wanting to clean up very much. Trains, blocks, firetrucks, and construction tools are his favorites, though he also loves working in his "kitchen," which Courtney made from some old cardboard boxes. It's full of random chotckes that he has collected as well as whatever kitchen tools he can sneak from the "big" kitchen. He's got a broad and interesting vocabulary that sometimes gets ahead of his verbal skills. A few words are still babyish (squirrel sounds like squalor, and we hope that lasts forever!) and he stutters sometimes when his mouth can't keep up with his brain. He is an imp with a fun sense of humor, and curious about everything, and very much a little boy and not a baby anymore, and we are working hard to keep up. Whew! Save