Fall in Nashville

It's certainly been quite awhile since our last post and we have no other excuse besides 'toddler-ville.' 

Hazel has warmed up quite nicely to her new daycare classroom. Hazel switched classrooms to an older one because Hazel had some 'discipline' issues (she kept chomping on one particular teacher). Either way, she's with bigger kids now and has started using the potty a little bit and her vocabulary has really expanded. She also has a buddy named Hank -- who was in her daycare class but also lives across the street from us. We hang out often because they get along great.

Hazel school picture September 2016

We also frequent our neighborhood playground quite a bit and Hazel has grown quite curious of all the 'big kid' play things like monkey bars and other climbing structures. It keeps us on our toes.

Farmers market Nashville October 2016

Hazel and I dressed up as Minions for our first halloween dressing up and attempting to Trick-or-Treat. We walked around our neighborhood with Hank and pulled the kids in a little red wagon, while the adults pulled and pushed them around different houses. The kids couldn't resist eating their candy as soon as it hit their buckets. Sean and I have since depleted Hazel's treat stash.

Hazel and Mimi November 2016

Of course, this was also our first visit to see Santa and experience some of those holiday lights. Hazel is really a fan of the Christmas lights in our neighbor's houses and we often take a couple loops around the neighborhood just to see some of the houses which are real decked out in the holiday cheer! Hazel refused to sit on Santa's lap and even refused to give him a hand-shake, so we settled on sitting on mommy's lap. 

Hazel's first Santa visit (November 2016)

Since we're so close to Huntsville, AL and Sean's parents and sister's family, we visit frequently. This past month, we went down 2 weekends in a row! We went on several beautiful trail runs and hikes through the Monte Sano land trust. It's hilly, but incredibly peaceful.

June-August 2016

Summer has been full of adventures for us in Nashville. We have spent lots of time outdoors -- although avoiding the peak heat times with naps. We use this little red wagon sometimes when we're just *too* tired to walk the rest of the way home from the playground. We also have a helpful little shopper when we go to the grocery store -- although she tends to favor items on the lower 2 shelves :)
Sometimes this means that we check out with 5 bottles of soy sauce in the cart without knowing it.

We also visited our co-workers house which had so many cool animals! We pet and fed the horses and chickens and walked the dog.

We also had so much fun in Kiawah this year. 2016 might have been the best year yet! The kids got to see baby sea turtles, alligators, and lots of other wildlife. They also played in the water and sand and made various sand creations. Thanks to Grandma Margie for the matching swimsuits. They clearly were a huge hit.

During our Kiawah week, Sean got a job offer for something he was really excited about -- so here's Sean's "first day of work" picture. 

 We also attended the Wilson County Fair which was about 30 miles East of Nashville. They had a cool petting zoo, where we pet goats, pigs, a cow, and even some friendly chickens. Hazel also had a blast on her first carousel ride! I think she's getting ready for the Bloomington Fun Frolic!

Our new home in the South!

Many things have happened since March-April in the Pfalzer household. Here are the major ones, in no particular order:
1)  Hazel attended her first Boston Marathon and was an excellent cheerleader for all the participants;

2) I finished school;
2) Hazel 'graduated' from daycare. The daycare ladies, Xiomara and Beatriz, threw a big party for Hazel with homemade baked goodies and even a commencement cap and certificate.

3) After saying goodbye to our daycare friends, Hazel and I flew to Indiana while Sean packed up the rest of the house. Our week in Indiana was filled with the outdoors and nudity. After a day of not wanting to get her toes dirty or walk without shoes, she definitely turned a corner and wandered around shoeless and clothes-less.

4) In addition to our nude endeavors, Hazel experienced her first convertible ride in YiaYia's car.

5) We watched Uncle Alex run his first FULL marathon in Louisville KY. Despite the yucky weather, Hazel was still pretty pumped to look out for Uncle Alex running by. She also did a pretty good job making the other runner's smile.

 6) We moved to Nashville, TN. We live in a cute little single family home in the middle of a neighborhood called Sylvan Park. It's an amazing spot within close proximity to Vanderbilt, Hazel's daycare and lots of local restaurants, bakery's, a butcher, a coffee shop, and of course, a local ice cream store. We visit 'Bobbi's Dairy Dip' quite often and Hazel has no problem polishing off an entire cup of ice cream.

7) Hazel's first week at Primrose Daycare. Its a great place for Hazel and she has already met many new friends and likes her teachers. She has two teachers, both named Miss Jasmine.  We are getting used to riding in the car more than we did in Boston -- and we even have our canine co-pilot on many trips.

Ready for daycare

February and March 2016

February and March so far has been pretty tame as far as the weather goes, only a couple inches at a time and way less than a foot total (knock on wood).  But, you  can tell Hazel isn't a fan of the snow and it takes us twice as long to go anywhere because we have to put on so many layers. And I don't blame her, I'm sick of the cold too -- especially 6 months of cold weather. Here's Hazel walking to the playground where she lasted about 5 minutes before crying to go home.

So, when it's cold outside, we have to entertain ourselves and we get a little punchy after awhile.  Hazel is getting pretty good at mimicking people. She especially likes making faces.

Right in between two days that are 30 degrees we will have a day that is in the mid-50's so we go to the playground without coats. Hazel found some sunglasses laying on the ground and decided they were her's. She likes to wear them in the morning and while she's in the bathtub.

Hazel is also a huge fan of the children's TV show Curious George. I'm not sure what's so special about this show, but if you try to put on Sesame Street or some other kids' show, she'll make a fuss AND make monkey sounds so it's clear what show she wants to watch.

pig tails

 Also, in February, Hazel had her 18-month check-up with our pediatrician Dr. Ahn. Hazel was just shy of 30 pounds and in the 70th percentile for height. So, she's growing well. It was also likely to be our last visit with Dr. Ahn since we will be leaving Boston soon, so I made sure to get a picture of them both. What a great first pediatrician, we will miss him very much.

Dr. Paul Ahn and Hazel

 Hazel rides the train!

 Hazel eats adult-sized portions of oatmeal pretty much every morning. She feeds herself and uses a big-girl spoon. She's also grown quite fond of my hat, so she insists on wearing it for breakfast and sometimes dinner.

Hazel has also made a new friend at daycare, Elia. She is a little bit older than Hazel, but incredibly tolerant of her and comes over to our house for play dates often.  Here is Hazel and Elia eating a special ice cream treat after eating a good dinner. As you can see, Hazel keeps a close eye on any potential left-overs that she can snag.

2016 update

2016 has started off really well, thus far, for the Pfalzer family! But before the new year, Hazel transitioned to a 'big girl' booster seat at the dining room table and eats dinner like a big girl with Mommy and Daddy.  Hazel also has these new cool little place mats that have a bowl or dinner plate built in. She likes to eat from these placemats and I like it because she can't tip over her cereal bowl or plate as easily. 

 Also, Hazel met Santa right on her front door step. As you can tell, she's not one bit afraid of this total stranger who walked right up to her and picked her right up! She loved his beard and kept trying to steal his glasses.

 We spent Christmas in Indiana and man, was the weather unbelievably warm! It was in the 60s most days so there was definitely no ice-skating on the lake or building snowmen, but it was great to spend time running around outside. Hazel even got to walk around IU campus while we were downtown running errands. Below she's checking out the new picnic basket she got (along with cousin Lidia) from Mimi and Papaw. They provided lots of entertainment for the kiddos and gave the parents a chance to take a breather.

Mom made Sean a delicious cream-cheese chocolate cake with butterfinger bits on top (that was my contribution) for his birthday. He even got a random collection of candles which we found laying around the house.

And lastly, Hazel is slowing learning that she needs to share her toys, clothes, and food. Here's Hazel not only helping herself to Lidia's lunch, but at least helping her eat some of her food as well.

Now that we're back from vacation and getting back into the swing of things, we dress more like this... all bundled up with only a smidge of skin exposed. It ain't 60 degrees anymore, it's more like 20.... on a good day. This is how we dress for the 5 minute walk to daycare. Thankfully, in the morning, we have some new toys to entertain us. We have several new baby dolls thanks to our babysitter and Grandma, which Hazel is obsessed with taking care of. She puts them in their high-chair and shares her food. She puts them in the little stroller and takes them for rides around the apartment. It's really sweet and cute to watch. 

all bundled up!

feeding baby doll

January 2016