The teachers at Hadarya's daycare center, the SDSU Children's Center, are responsible for putting dozens of kids down for their naps every day, so they have to have a system. The nap room is darkened, there's calming music, and it's often necessary to help the kids relax by repeating a mantra, bringing them down from their high-energy activity level to where they can fall asleep. The teachers often simply repeat "rest your body" over and over again as they pat the kids' backs or just sit next to their cots. I'm not the kind of person who can repeat a phrase like that without getting creative, so the other night, when I was putting Hadarya to bed, I came up with the following:
The Rest Your Body Song
(to the tune of Oh My Darling, Clementine)
Rest your body, rest your body, rest your body and your head,
Rest your body, rest your body, rest your body in your bed.
Rest your arms and rest your legs and rest your feet and rest your toes,
Rest your hands and rest your fingers, rest your knees and your elbows.
Rest your body, rest your body, rest your body all the way,
Rest your body, rest your body, and tomorrow we will play.
(repeat as necessary)
Apr 8, 2008
18 months old today
A full fledged toddler is who resides in our household now. A walking, breathing, talking, whining, smiling, toddler who knows what she wants, has a ton to say, and loves to play with us.
We are constantly amazed at her language development and skills that seem to emerge daily.
Here is a long list of the word she currently says...most of which are extremely clear. NOT in any particular order!
1. aba (daddy in hebrew)
2. more (and she signs this)
3. mama
4. stop
5. snack
6. ow
7. belly
8. pupik (belly button in yiddish)
9. eye
10. nose
11. hand
12. bye
13. duck
14. book
15. please
16. ama (for ima, hebrew for mom)
17. hi
18. up
19. nana
20. baba (saba, hebrew for grandpa)
21. hat
22. apple
23. jacket
24. doggy
25. g'pa (grandpa)
26. ball
27. baby
28. hot
29. flower
30. pee pee
31. car
32. no
33. tata (safta, grandma in hebrew)
34. ssh...with the finger to her lips
35. Hada (for Hadarya)
36. Tay (school friend)
37. Nino (school friend)
38. Babee (Gabby...school friend)
39. imba (auntie Kimber)
40. cracker
41. stuck
42. uh-oh
43. Elmo
44. cookie
45. onah (Jonah, her cousin)
46. neck
Hadarya signs please, milk, more, thank you, wash hand, blows kisses, and waves good bye in the utmost of princess fashion.
She LOVES music and insists on the radio the minute we get into the car by pointing and whining...I sure hope she learns to say radio soon! She dances and shakes to the beat. She moves her head and slaps her hands on her knees.
She does the motions to songs like Wheels on the Bus, Slippery Fish, Bim Bam, and knows the names of every one of her classmates (she can point to anyone if you ask where is______?)
She knows her body parts...eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet, ears, neck, and we are working on tongue! She can follow one-step directions and loves helping put things away. She has become very good at tossing her diapers and turning the diaper champ. She also loves sitting on her potty and has gone several hours with dry diapers. Potty training is definitely close at hand!!
We delight in our miracle every day and every night (even when it's a sleepless one and she wakes up every few hours!). Her sunny, funny personality is a joy to be around and her social love of people makes it fun to take her out.
It's just so hard to believe that we are closer to 2 years old then we are to the infant we waited so long for. big sigh...
We are constantly amazed at her language development and skills that seem to emerge daily.
Here is a long list of the word she currently says...most of which are extremely clear. NOT in any particular order!
1. aba (daddy in hebrew)
2. more (and she signs this)
3. mama
4. stop
5. snack
6. ow
7. belly
8. pupik (belly button in yiddish)
9. eye
10. nose
11. hand
12. bye
13. duck
14. book
15. please
16. ama (for ima, hebrew for mom)
17. hi
18. up
19. nana
20. baba (saba, hebrew for grandpa)
21. hat
22. apple
23. jacket
24. doggy
25. g'pa (grandpa)
26. ball
27. baby
28. hot
29. flower
30. pee pee
31. car
32. no
33. tata (safta, grandma in hebrew)
34. ssh...with the finger to her lips
35. Hada (for Hadarya)
36. Tay (school friend)
37. Nino (school friend)
38. Babee (Gabby...school friend)
39. imba (auntie Kimber)
40. cracker
41. stuck
42. uh-oh
43. Elmo
44. cookie
45. onah (Jonah, her cousin)
46. neck
Hadarya signs please, milk, more, thank you, wash hand, blows kisses, and waves good bye in the utmost of princess fashion.
She LOVES music and insists on the radio the minute we get into the car by pointing and whining...I sure hope she learns to say radio soon! She dances and shakes to the beat. She moves her head and slaps her hands on her knees.
She does the motions to songs like Wheels on the Bus, Slippery Fish, Bim Bam, and knows the names of every one of her classmates (she can point to anyone if you ask where is______?)
She knows her body parts...eyes, nose, mouth, hands, feet, ears, neck, and we are working on tongue! She can follow one-step directions and loves helping put things away. She has become very good at tossing her diapers and turning the diaper champ. She also loves sitting on her potty and has gone several hours with dry diapers. Potty training is definitely close at hand!!
We delight in our miracle every day and every night (even when it's a sleepless one and she wakes up every few hours!). Her sunny, funny personality is a joy to be around and her social love of people makes it fun to take her out.
It's just so hard to believe that we are closer to 2 years old then we are to the infant we waited so long for. big sigh...
Mar 27, 2008
Just Like I Wanted
Our very dear friends have 3 children ages 2, 4, and 6. They have lived in San Diego for 5 1/2 years and we've been close since their son was born 4 years ago. Every time we would go to their house, their Grandma's house, or they came to our house, it was the same thing over and over and over again. Will you read me a book, please? EVERY TIME. Again and again and again. To this day they still gobble books and want the same story read over and over, while the adults talk, during dinner, as soon as you walk in the door.
I remember thinking it was so awesome as I read Jack and the Beanstalk for the 7th time while trying to hold a conversation with an adult or how cool it was that each kid got their own adult to read to them while parents were cooking dinner. We even have a fantastic photo of Shayna sitting on my shoulders looking at the book I am reading to them while Nadiv sits on my lap. It's extremely precious.
I remember wanting my children to want to read so much that TV wasn't the focus and we had to read at dinner and whenever they would need it. My friends weren't specific on what exactly they did to make their kids devout readers. But they have a household full of books and read all the time.
Well, I got exactly what I wanted without knowing exactly how I got here. Hadarya LOVES to read. We were panicked when she was younger because we thought we didn't read enough to her. The other night at dinner she was not having anything to do with her food and kept signing please please please. I picked up the book at the table and she devoured it as she devoured her dinner. It was the tribute book for Rabbi Rosenthal's 20th anniversary! Then yesterday she woke up at 7:00 AM and as soon as she was lifted out of the crib, she got off my lap and picked up a book and insisted I read.
I got what I wanted... a daughter who loves books, turns pages, laughs at funny parts, and soaks it all up. I can't wait for more!
I remember thinking it was so awesome as I read Jack and the Beanstalk for the 7th time while trying to hold a conversation with an adult or how cool it was that each kid got their own adult to read to them while parents were cooking dinner. We even have a fantastic photo of Shayna sitting on my shoulders looking at the book I am reading to them while Nadiv sits on my lap. It's extremely precious.
I remember wanting my children to want to read so much that TV wasn't the focus and we had to read at dinner and whenever they would need it. My friends weren't specific on what exactly they did to make their kids devout readers. But they have a household full of books and read all the time.
Well, I got exactly what I wanted without knowing exactly how I got here. Hadarya LOVES to read. We were panicked when she was younger because we thought we didn't read enough to her. The other night at dinner she was not having anything to do with her food and kept signing please please please. I picked up the book at the table and she devoured it as she devoured her dinner. It was the tribute book for Rabbi Rosenthal's 20th anniversary! Then yesterday she woke up at 7:00 AM and as soon as she was lifted out of the crib, she got off my lap and picked up a book and insisted I read.
I got what I wanted... a daughter who loves books, turns pages, laughs at funny parts, and soaks it all up. I can't wait for more!
Mar 20, 2008
Fairy Dust for Purim
Tonight was Purim. It is the fun holiday where everyone dresses up in costume, boos at the bad guy in the story, and eats triangular shaped cookies filled with jelly that are supposed to represent the hat the bad guy wore. It is the telling of the story of Esther...the queen who along with her cousin Mordechai saved the Jews from persecution.
Last year Hadarya was 7 months old and as cute as a bug (literally a ladybug for this holiday) and we had a lot of fun with Nana and Savta at Ohr Shalom.
This year we "accidentally" purchased a costume when we were in Arizona two months ago. We were hanging out at the mall with Cousin Janis and went into Ima's favorite store: the Disney Store. Of course one cannot shop without seeking out the sale rack and there was this adorable Tinker Bell costume at 50% off. Who could resist adorable green with purple and gold flecked trip, see through cap sleeves, a skirt of layers with tulle, and wings attached? It was too good to pass up for 12.99. She will have it to play with later on. So I was convinced that Hadarya would be Tinker Bell for 12.99 and we'd have fun at Purim. It was even sweeter when I went to the register and the total was $4.29 including tax!!! Woo Hoo did we ever score.
Fast forward to the big night: TONIGHT. We decided to go to Tifereth Israel this year as they do a huge Purim Spiel and this year it was the Megillah according to the Beatles. We figured it was close to home, earlier, good music that H would like, and we could always cut out and be home quickly if she needed to go to bed.
We dressed up our angel as a fairy and she sprinkled fairy dust on everyone she met. Complete with a gold want (thanks Meltzers) and new sparkly green/purple/gold hair ties. She charmed the pants off everyone who dared cross her path. Then she sat in the front row in our laps for 1 hour enjoying the show. 45 minutes past her bedtime and way over stimulated with cheering, music, dancing, and shaking her grogger, she hit her wall and we left as the closing act finished.
It took awhile to get her to bed. Lots of water, a cup of milk, yogurt (midnight snack on her body time!) and our bed. But look at these photos and dare say it was not worth keeping her up past her bedtime. Go ahead I dare you!
Mar 16, 2008
BFS and AFS
After our whirlwind weekend of simchas, Hadarya woke up at 3:00 AM on Tuesday with a 102.9 fever. We gave her burning, screaming body some tylenol, held her close in our bed, and scrambled our brains with figuring out what to do for Tuesday about work and daycare. She woke up at her usual time 7 AM and was in a great mood with no fever. So, we did the irresponsible thing and sent her to daycare as we couldn't figure out who should stay home and what to do since she seemed fine.
Well, as I posted...it was the irresponsible thing to do as she promptly took a nap after breakfast and woke up at 11 with a 100.7 fever. Yiftach picked her up, brought her home and then brought her to me at 1:30 when my students went home. She was drinking a lot and not so interested in eating, but her fever was somewhat low and so we gave her tylenol and put her to bed at her normal time.
I do not like the nighttime when my daughter is sick. They stink. Hadarya burned up all night long and cried and whined and could not sleep. She wanted out of her crib. Not to be held. Not in our bed. At one point we put our screaming child on the floor in the family room because we were so exhausted from being up every hour and she refused to be held or anything! She cried and screamed for about a minute and then settled into my lap on our couch and fell asleep. I sat on the couch with her for 2 hours and then was able to move into our bed for another 1 1/2. She woke up feverish and sick and we knew we were in for the long haul.
On Wednesday morning Yiftach took her to the doctor because we knew our nephew had been diagnosed with strep throat on Monday (his birthday party was in LA on Sunday) so off they went. Her throat was pink but the doctor said she was too young to get strep. He still did a throat culture that would not be back for 48 - 72 hours.
She had a fever every night for 5 nights of no less than 102.4 and as high as 103.1. There were no other symptoms and no other things that would explain this issue. She drank and drank and drank tons of water and sometimes milk. She began to eat less but still liked applesauce and yogurt.
We were at our wits end by the high fever on Friday night. 5 nights after a days that were ok was just not right. We had our answer on Saturday morning when we called in to get the lab report and it said that the test was positive for strep. After we got over being angry that it took a week of our daughter suffering to get a diagnosis, we had to wait about another 3 hours for the prescription.
The good news is that after 2 doses, our BABY is back!!! She woke up once last night at 3 AM to a very cold house and therefore did end up in our bed. She slept until 7:30...delicious for us! She is funny again. She is eating again. She is sleeping again.
So we divide our week into Before Sick and After Sick.
What a week for us... the best news is that I am on Spring Break and Hadarya is going to daycare to play with her friends. Ahhhh.
Well, as I posted...it was the irresponsible thing to do as she promptly took a nap after breakfast and woke up at 11 with a 100.7 fever. Yiftach picked her up, brought her home and then brought her to me at 1:30 when my students went home. She was drinking a lot and not so interested in eating, but her fever was somewhat low and so we gave her tylenol and put her to bed at her normal time.
I do not like the nighttime when my daughter is sick. They stink. Hadarya burned up all night long and cried and whined and could not sleep. She wanted out of her crib. Not to be held. Not in our bed. At one point we put our screaming child on the floor in the family room because we were so exhausted from being up every hour and she refused to be held or anything! She cried and screamed for about a minute and then settled into my lap on our couch and fell asleep. I sat on the couch with her for 2 hours and then was able to move into our bed for another 1 1/2. She woke up feverish and sick and we knew we were in for the long haul.
On Wednesday morning Yiftach took her to the doctor because we knew our nephew had been diagnosed with strep throat on Monday (his birthday party was in LA on Sunday) so off they went. Her throat was pink but the doctor said she was too young to get strep. He still did a throat culture that would not be back for 48 - 72 hours.
She had a fever every night for 5 nights of no less than 102.4 and as high as 103.1. There were no other symptoms and no other things that would explain this issue. She drank and drank and drank tons of water and sometimes milk. She began to eat less but still liked applesauce and yogurt.
We were at our wits end by the high fever on Friday night. 5 nights after a days that were ok was just not right. We had our answer on Saturday morning when we called in to get the lab report and it said that the test was positive for strep. After we got over being angry that it took a week of our daughter suffering to get a diagnosis, we had to wait about another 3 hours for the prescription.
The good news is that after 2 doses, our BABY is back!!! She woke up once last night at 3 AM to a very cold house and therefore did end up in our bed. She slept until 7:30...delicious for us! She is funny again. She is eating again. She is sleeping again.
So we divide our week into Before Sick and After Sick.
What a week for us... the best news is that I am on Spring Break and Hadarya is going to daycare to play with her friends. Ahhhh.
Mar 13, 2008
Is it only the middle of March?
What a week we've had. A screaming child at 3:30 AM on Tuesday broke any semblance of normalcy in our household. Burning up at 102.9, we realized we had a sick child. Tylenol and our bed seemed to do the trick because she woke up happy as usual at 7 AM.
SO, being slightly irresponsible parents, we sent her to daycare and we went to school. We haven't been faced with making last minute arrangements for a sick child and this is my last week before a two-week break and open house was also this week.
Needless to say, Miss Alyssa called at 11 AM to say that Hadarya had eaten breakfast, taken a nap for two hours, and had a 100.7 fever. So began our three day saga into the world of a sick toddler.
Tuesday night was the worst after Auntie Kimber put her to bed and she slept well for her. Then we got home from our teaching and board meeting and she woke every hour, became inconsolable at around 3 AM. She cried at her bed, cried at our bed, cried being held, cried being rocked, we finally laid her on the family room floor and let her scream a little. It was terrible and heart wrenching and helpless. She wanted only Ima and only wanted to sit in my lap on the couch. Within 20 minutes she had nodded off that way and slept with blankets around us for 2 hours before moving into our bed.
Wednesday found us at the doctor's office where she was pronounced ok...slightly pink throat and ears but clear lungs and probably something viral. We took a 3 hour nap from 2-5 PM and boy did that feel good.
Today Savta and Grandma took shifts taking care of her so we could go to work. Boy is it good to have family in town! She slept on Yiftach from 8:30 - 9:30 and then 11 - 12:45 in her crib. She laughed all afternoon and played independently and did not ask for her video. She went to bed at 7:30 and is sleeping soundly...Oh, did i just right that???? I should have learned that could mean I jinxed myself. I hope not. She is going to school tomorrow.
: ) Whew, I am so glad spring break begins at 2:30 PM.
SO, being slightly irresponsible parents, we sent her to daycare and we went to school. We haven't been faced with making last minute arrangements for a sick child and this is my last week before a two-week break and open house was also this week.
Needless to say, Miss Alyssa called at 11 AM to say that Hadarya had eaten breakfast, taken a nap for two hours, and had a 100.7 fever. So began our three day saga into the world of a sick toddler.
Tuesday night was the worst after Auntie Kimber put her to bed and she slept well for her. Then we got home from our teaching and board meeting and she woke every hour, became inconsolable at around 3 AM. She cried at her bed, cried at our bed, cried being held, cried being rocked, we finally laid her on the family room floor and let her scream a little. It was terrible and heart wrenching and helpless. She wanted only Ima and only wanted to sit in my lap on the couch. Within 20 minutes she had nodded off that way and slept with blankets around us for 2 hours before moving into our bed.
Wednesday found us at the doctor's office where she was pronounced ok...slightly pink throat and ears but clear lungs and probably something viral. We took a 3 hour nap from 2-5 PM and boy did that feel good.
Today Savta and Grandma took shifts taking care of her so we could go to work. Boy is it good to have family in town! She slept on Yiftach from 8:30 - 9:30 and then 11 - 12:45 in her crib. She laughed all afternoon and played independently and did not ask for her video. She went to bed at 7:30 and is sleeping soundly...Oh, did i just right that???? I should have learned that could mean I jinxed myself. I hope not. She is going to school tomorrow.
: ) Whew, I am so glad spring break begins at 2:30 PM.
Mar 10, 2008
March Madness Has Begun
We kicked off March with a crazy filled weekend in two cities and several parties.
We began with a fun filled dinner at Corvette's Diner to celebrate Maital's 2nd birthday. Then we hustled to services for the Simcha Shabbat at Tifereth where Hadarya had a ball playing with all the kids, singing, and dancing, and running around.
Shabbat we spend at Ella's bat mitzvah at Ohr Shalom. She was wonderful, the shul was packed, and Hadarya took an early AM nap in her fancy party dress. When she woke up she enjoyed Shuli Shabbat (a special tot shabbat program) and made a beautiful torah breastplate. After a buffet lunch with festive colors and balloons, we were off to Los Angeles so Hadarya could nap in the car (she did for over 2 hours!) and we spent a delightful evening with our cousins Marsha and Wayne. They spoiled Hadarya something fierce and delighted in her giggles and joy. She fell asleep in my arms at 7:30 and went right down in her pack and play for the night. : ) Happy Kid and Happy Parents.
Sunday morning found us at our nephew's 4th birthday party at an indoor play area. Hadarya has never been before and was she in heaven. She didn't know what to do first! Many of the toys were too big for her, but she loved running around and trying things.
The party ended at noon and we were back in the car for her nap and trip to San Diego to make it to Maital's birthday party. That was a fun music themed party and Hadarya painted, did spin art (became a grogger for Purim) and danced with the tamborine. It was a wonderful weekend and we were glad to be home in the extra daylight hours.
We began with a fun filled dinner at Corvette's Diner to celebrate Maital's 2nd birthday. Then we hustled to services for the Simcha Shabbat at Tifereth where Hadarya had a ball playing with all the kids, singing, and dancing, and running around.
Shabbat we spend at Ella's bat mitzvah at Ohr Shalom. She was wonderful, the shul was packed, and Hadarya took an early AM nap in her fancy party dress. When she woke up she enjoyed Shuli Shabbat (a special tot shabbat program) and made a beautiful torah breastplate. After a buffet lunch with festive colors and balloons, we were off to Los Angeles so Hadarya could nap in the car (she did for over 2 hours!) and we spent a delightful evening with our cousins Marsha and Wayne. They spoiled Hadarya something fierce and delighted in her giggles and joy. She fell asleep in my arms at 7:30 and went right down in her pack and play for the night. : ) Happy Kid and Happy Parents.
Sunday morning found us at our nephew's 4th birthday party at an indoor play area. Hadarya has never been before and was she in heaven. She didn't know what to do first! Many of the toys were too big for her, but she loved running around and trying things.
The party ended at noon and we were back in the car for her nap and trip to San Diego to make it to Maital's birthday party. That was a fun music themed party and Hadarya painted, did spin art (became a grogger for Purim) and danced with the tamborine. It was a wonderful weekend and we were glad to be home in the extra daylight hours.
Feb 23, 2008
Shabbat Breakfast
There is nothing as good as homemade chocolate chip pancakes. They are our favorite and usually a Sunday morning treat with Grandma and Grandpa, fresh fruit, and tea. But we made an exception today. I don't think she cared a wink!
We've Got A Hairstyle!
Hadarya's hair has grown and grown and grown. While it would be totally adorable with bangs and cute bob look, we have decided to grow her hair and just see what happens. Once we do the bangs, we're done for sooo...we have tried the clips (which she usually pulls out) and headbands (pulled out totally!) and now we have this. We love it and it's totally cute! AND she leaves it in!
Feb 15, 2008
103 degrees HOT
My baby's got a fever. A HIGH one that came out of nowhere. She had a great day at daycare. Ate a lot...even more than usual and her teacher commented on the fact that she must be growing. Well, that may be true but a 103 fever after a great day is kind of scary! We tylenoled and put her to bed.
We ended up spending Shabbat hanging out at home, which was nice. We don't like to do household things on Shabbat and try to make the day different from the rest of the week. BUT we decided to make good use of our down time with a sick sleeping baby.
She hung onto a 100 fever until mid-afternoon. And then it just went away and she was her usual self. I think she was sending us a signal to slow down and be at home together. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon and she shows no signs of being worse for the wear with the high fever...and definitely no teeth to show for it! Man, I wish those fangs would get here already!
We ended up spending Shabbat hanging out at home, which was nice. We don't like to do household things on Shabbat and try to make the day different from the rest of the week. BUT we decided to make good use of our down time with a sick sleeping baby.
She hung onto a 100 fever until mid-afternoon. And then it just went away and she was her usual self. I think she was sending us a signal to slow down and be at home together. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon and she shows no signs of being worse for the wear with the high fever...and definitely no teeth to show for it! Man, I wish those fangs would get here already!
Feb 14, 2008
Cute as a Bug
Hadarya is soooo cute I sometimes can't stand it. We traveled to LA on Monday for the bris of our new nephew on Tuesday. We were staying in a hotel and spend a lot of time in and out of the car. Baby doll was amazing and adorable and cuter than cute throughout it all.
She took an incredible nap all the way up to our lunch at the Hillel house at UCLA. It was wonderful to see Rabbi Chaim (who participated in our wedding 5 years ago) and we ran into a friend of Yiftach's from his days at UCLA. It turns out that I also knew this friend from a totally different link to UCLA before I ever met Yiftach. It was wild!! AND good to run into him. We look forward to getting reaquainted with him.
After checking into our hotel in the Marina we headed to meet our new nephew. The highlight of the evening was the pure joy Hadarya got from playing with her almost 4 year old cousin Jonah and eating up a storm at the table filled with 11 people. She delighted in the crowd, the food, and being with the family.
It was a rough sleeping night even though she fell asleep quickly. She woke up very upset at her cousins house and only calmed down back in the car on the ride to the hotel. But the metal crib, double beds, and floor maksehift bed only lasted so long. We were all tired at 7 AM.
After a scrumptious breakfast at Maxwell's which offers veggie sausage we headed to pick up the 6 lb challah and to the bris. While Hadarya missed her AM nap, she delighted in being dressed up and I am positive the photographer got some delicious photos of her twirling about and being cute.
We headed to the park in the late afternoon to catch up with some friends and then back to say good-bye to the family before heading home at her bedtime. She only had a slightly less than 2 hour nap after all the excitement and was beyond ready for bed at 7 PM. She slept soundly all the way home and until the next morning in her own crib.
She was fascinated with her new cousin and loved saying hi to him while he sat in his bouncer sit. Ziv Benjamin is a cutie too and I am sure Hadarya is going to love watching him get bigger!
She took an incredible nap all the way up to our lunch at the Hillel house at UCLA. It was wonderful to see Rabbi Chaim (who participated in our wedding 5 years ago) and we ran into a friend of Yiftach's from his days at UCLA. It turns out that I also knew this friend from a totally different link to UCLA before I ever met Yiftach. It was wild!! AND good to run into him. We look forward to getting reaquainted with him.
After checking into our hotel in the Marina we headed to meet our new nephew. The highlight of the evening was the pure joy Hadarya got from playing with her almost 4 year old cousin Jonah and eating up a storm at the table filled with 11 people. She delighted in the crowd, the food, and being with the family.
It was a rough sleeping night even though she fell asleep quickly. She woke up very upset at her cousins house and only calmed down back in the car on the ride to the hotel. But the metal crib, double beds, and floor maksehift bed only lasted so long. We were all tired at 7 AM.
After a scrumptious breakfast at Maxwell's which offers veggie sausage we headed to pick up the 6 lb challah and to the bris. While Hadarya missed her AM nap, she delighted in being dressed up and I am positive the photographer got some delicious photos of her twirling about and being cute.
We headed to the park in the late afternoon to catch up with some friends and then back to say good-bye to the family before heading home at her bedtime. She only had a slightly less than 2 hour nap after all the excitement and was beyond ready for bed at 7 PM. She slept soundly all the way home and until the next morning in her own crib.
She was fascinated with her new cousin and loved saying hi to him while he sat in his bouncer sit. Ziv Benjamin is a cutie too and I am sure Hadarya is going to love watching him get bigger!
Feb 8, 2008
She's Got Language
Without any doubts Hadarya understands a multitude of things and can say, sign, and babble a ton of words. She follow simple directions: Please take this to______.(Fill in any important person in her life's name).
She understands things in Hebrew and English as well as signs.
A month later update: March 10th
Here are the words she can say:
up
bye
hi
book
quack-quack
duck
Aba
Mama
ball
more
please
g'ma
Nana
Baba (Saba and banana)
cracker
bubbles (not totally, but it means this for sure)
nose
eyes
She signs: wash hands, more, please, thank you, book, milk.
VERY exciting business in our household!
She understands things in Hebrew and English as well as signs.
A month later update: March 10th
Here are the words she can say:
up
bye
hi
book
quack-quack
duck
Aba
Mama
ball
more
please
g'ma
Nana
Baba (Saba and banana)
cracker
bubbles (not totally, but it means this for sure)
nose
eyes
She signs: wash hands, more, please, thank you, book, milk.
VERY exciting business in our household!
She Shimmies
My daughter shimmies. Mind you, not just dancing. She actually shimmies her body to any tune she hears. It is the most adorable thing you have ever seen. The other day Auntie Kimber was over and they were sitting on the ground playing, when Hadarya actually shimmied her upper body to some tune Auntie sang. It was utterly adorable.
She has a leap frog fridge farm that she LOVES to hear Farmer John's tune while shaking her booty. She jiggles more than shimmies to that one. She also has a sports center that the basketball makes real music like the beginning of a game...dunh dunh dunh, etc. That illicits major wiggles as Ima and Aba shake their booty too, so she does a sports dance. She also got a fridge phonics that we just pulled out and she dances in circles to the ABC's. My daughter has a music bug and it shows!
BUT the best is the shimmying. She has the way that moves her upper body ever so slightly in the cutest fashion. Sing to her and she shimmies. Play recorded music (especially her Pooh radio) and she shimmies. Push the button on the farm or ABC to distract her and she shimmies.
It's the movement of the week. I wonder what she'll do when she hears the Barchu in shul tomorrow?!
She has a leap frog fridge farm that she LOVES to hear Farmer John's tune while shaking her booty. She jiggles more than shimmies to that one. She also has a sports center that the basketball makes real music like the beginning of a game...dunh dunh dunh, etc. That illicits major wiggles as Ima and Aba shake their booty too, so she does a sports dance. She also got a fridge phonics that we just pulled out and she dances in circles to the ABC's. My daughter has a music bug and it shows!
BUT the best is the shimmying. She has the way that moves her upper body ever so slightly in the cutest fashion. Sing to her and she shimmies. Play recorded music (especially her Pooh radio) and she shimmies. Push the button on the farm or ABC to distract her and she shimmies.
It's the movement of the week. I wonder what she'll do when she hears the Barchu in shul tomorrow?!
Jan 31, 2008
Monkeys Jumping on the Bed
Grandma likes to have her song with Hadarya and teach her things. While we are trying to get her to understand that we like to sing the same songs and she does not "own" the exclusivity on them, she can by all means teach her fun things and sing them a lot with her.
The first one was the Eency Weency Spider, to which Hadarya has been doing all the hand motions for about 3 months. It's very cute and she always claps at the end.
Her newest song is Monkeys Jumping on the Bed that my mom actually reads to her from a book. We've been told that there are some gifts coming that go with the song, so it's important that Hadarya learns it.
Hadarya loves this book. Each time the monkey does something different (jump, dance, sing, etc.) but the monkey always bumps his head. My mom sings, "10 little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off..." and as she says "bumps his head," Hadarya bumps her head with her hand. It's very cute. AND she does it again and again.
Well tonight she'd sung the song and done her part enough times. She was sitting on my mom's lap on the chair with Auntie Kimber on the floor across from her. Yiftach was next to Auntie Kimber and I was next to him by my mom.
Hadarya squirmed out of Grandma's arms as she was reading the "fell off AND..." we all said "bumped her head" as Hadarya went running arms outstretched to Auntie Kimber. We THOUGHT she was running for a hug, but instead she bumped Auntie Kimber on the head!! It was so hysterical. My kid so gets more language and meaning than any of us realize. She is too darn adorable!!
The first one was the Eency Weency Spider, to which Hadarya has been doing all the hand motions for about 3 months. It's very cute and she always claps at the end.
Her newest song is Monkeys Jumping on the Bed that my mom actually reads to her from a book. We've been told that there are some gifts coming that go with the song, so it's important that Hadarya learns it.
Hadarya loves this book. Each time the monkey does something different (jump, dance, sing, etc.) but the monkey always bumps his head. My mom sings, "10 little monkeys jumping on the bed, one fell off..." and as she says "bumps his head," Hadarya bumps her head with her hand. It's very cute. AND she does it again and again.
Well tonight she'd sung the song and done her part enough times. She was sitting on my mom's lap on the chair with Auntie Kimber on the floor across from her. Yiftach was next to Auntie Kimber and I was next to him by my mom.
Hadarya squirmed out of Grandma's arms as she was reading the "fell off AND..." we all said "bumped her head" as Hadarya went running arms outstretched to Auntie Kimber. We THOUGHT she was running for a hug, but instead she bumped Auntie Kimber on the head!! It was so hysterical. My kid so gets more language and meaning than any of us realize. She is too darn adorable!!
7:00 - 7::00
Those were the hours my sweet baby girl slept without waking up last night. FINALLY. Well, she actually slept until I coaxed her awake at 7:25 or so. But you get the picture.
It has been a long 10 days that started with teething (no teeth to show for it yet) and turned into a major cold/hacking cough, sleepless nights and my usually sweet baby girl gone missing.
We did tylenol/motrin for a couple of nights and that increased the sleeping stretches to almost 4 hours. Lack of appetite (at least my cooking at dinner time!) was present as well as only taking a bottle and not wanting her cups. The pacifier became a constant companion.
We can always tell when something is not right because she sleeps amazingly well, eats amazingly well, and is a happy child all the time. She whined and cried a lot. She wanted to be held, then put down, then held. She couldn't sleep comfortably, even in our bed sometimes. None of us was happy!
Tonight she laughed, played, joked and had a grand time with us and Grandma and Auntie Kimber. My sweetie pie is back!
We also discovered that the space heater keeps her room toasty and is a lot better than the central heat. That seems to have helped also. We are looking forward to another night of sleep for our household.
It has been a long 10 days that started with teething (no teeth to show for it yet) and turned into a major cold/hacking cough, sleepless nights and my usually sweet baby girl gone missing.
We did tylenol/motrin for a couple of nights and that increased the sleeping stretches to almost 4 hours. Lack of appetite (at least my cooking at dinner time!) was present as well as only taking a bottle and not wanting her cups. The pacifier became a constant companion.
We can always tell when something is not right because she sleeps amazingly well, eats amazingly well, and is a happy child all the time. She whined and cried a lot. She wanted to be held, then put down, then held. She couldn't sleep comfortably, even in our bed sometimes. None of us was happy!
Tonight she laughed, played, joked and had a grand time with us and Grandma and Auntie Kimber. My sweetie pie is back!
We also discovered that the space heater keeps her room toasty and is a lot better than the central heat. That seems to have helped also. We are looking forward to another night of sleep for our household.
Jan 25, 2008
Uh-Oh
That's the new word of the week and it's soooo frickin cute! This is totally a learned word at SDSU Children's Center but boy did she use it correctly. This morning Yiftach dropped her bottle down from the chair to her and she let go (quite possibly on purpose) and then said uh-oh. We totally repeated it for her and she imitated us again and again. She then couldn't stop when she came out to the dining room and kept dropping her things. Combined with her eye crunching wide tooth smile, it lights up the entire room. SOOO great.
I wrote that post and never finished it...two weeks later, I am not so sure it's still cute! She totally does it on purpose with anything and everything!!! It makes driving a huge challenge with her. Yesterday she was a bit cranky when I picked her up because she refused to take an afternoon nap. She whined and fussed and wanted to sleep but so couldn't in the car. She took her pacifier, then PURPOSELY threw it. Well, driving does not allow me to find it. She didn't like that. She drank her bottle then cried out and PURPOSELY threw it. Every time she'd say uh-oh. And wait for my reaction. She did not like that I told her I was not able to get it for her!!
I wrote that post and never finished it...two weeks later, I am not so sure it's still cute! She totally does it on purpose with anything and everything!!! It makes driving a huge challenge with her. Yesterday she was a bit cranky when I picked her up because she refused to take an afternoon nap. She whined and fussed and wanted to sleep but so couldn't in the car. She took her pacifier, then PURPOSELY threw it. Well, driving does not allow me to find it. She didn't like that. She drank her bottle then cried out and PURPOSELY threw it. Every time she'd say uh-oh. And wait for my reaction. She did not like that I told her I was not able to get it for her!!
Jan 17, 2008
Those Fingers are SOO Tiny!
We are not morning people. Not any of us and not at all. Hadarya usually sleeps until at least 6:45 and has been known to sleep as late as 7:15 on a school morning. We barely get ourselves out of our cozy warm bed with flannel sheets and a silk comforter from China by 6:30 AM. We have found that our mornings are much smoother if we are dressed and ready before the babe wakes so we can give her our undivided attention and get her ready for school.
So we were delighted with her choice to sleep late this morning and allow us running around time to get going. I was ready for her when she peeped at 6:45. She is very into her pacifiers and thinks it's hilarious to hold a few at a time. She likes to put them in our mouths, her bears mouth, and dolls. This morning was no exception. She laughs when she intently tries to get them into our mouths, which we usually oblige by pretending to gobble it up and grab it without teeth. I know... not a very sanitary nor good habit to teach her, but it sure is fun when she laughs her belly laugh at our silliness.
She poked her finger into the hole (soothie) and I gently gobbled it from her. As she lay on her changing table, she gave it to Mr. Bear (original name don't you think?) and then offered it to me. As she shoved her hand/pacifier into my mouth, I bit down and immediately realized it was not the rubbery pacifier but and her finger. Oh my gosh! I felt so bad and realized immediately what was happening and stopped but it was too late. The damage was done. Did she wail for quite a long time!! Daddy to the rescue but the wailing continued. No broken skin. No bruise. Just a startled a lot. But she let us know she was very unhappy.
Maybe she won't stick her fingers in my mouth again??
THEN, as if that wasn't enough she proceeded to shut the bathroom drawer that she always plays in with my hairbrushes, with her other hand in it. She has never done that before and always is good about opening and shutting them. Today was not her day. It was not a good start to her morning and lots and lots of tears.
Mommy feels so bad that both her hands had trauma to them today. I hope she makes it though without incident.
Now I have to really go buy the locks for the drawers!
So we were delighted with her choice to sleep late this morning and allow us running around time to get going. I was ready for her when she peeped at 6:45. She is very into her pacifiers and thinks it's hilarious to hold a few at a time. She likes to put them in our mouths, her bears mouth, and dolls. This morning was no exception. She laughs when she intently tries to get them into our mouths, which we usually oblige by pretending to gobble it up and grab it without teeth. I know... not a very sanitary nor good habit to teach her, but it sure is fun when she laughs her belly laugh at our silliness.
She poked her finger into the hole (soothie) and I gently gobbled it from her. As she lay on her changing table, she gave it to Mr. Bear (original name don't you think?) and then offered it to me. As she shoved her hand/pacifier into my mouth, I bit down and immediately realized it was not the rubbery pacifier but and her finger. Oh my gosh! I felt so bad and realized immediately what was happening and stopped but it was too late. The damage was done. Did she wail for quite a long time!! Daddy to the rescue but the wailing continued. No broken skin. No bruise. Just a startled a lot. But she let us know she was very unhappy.
Maybe she won't stick her fingers in my mouth again??
THEN, as if that wasn't enough she proceeded to shut the bathroom drawer that she always plays in with my hairbrushes, with her other hand in it. She has never done that before and always is good about opening and shutting them. Today was not her day. It was not a good start to her morning and lots and lots of tears.
Mommy feels so bad that both her hands had trauma to them today. I hope she makes it though without incident.
Now I have to really go buy the locks for the drawers!
Jan 13, 2008
Shabbat
One of our promises to ourselves for 2008 was to make sure that we were ready for Shabbat every Friday. We often host Shabbat dinners and/or go to services and really try to make those 24 hours something different than the rest of the week.
In order to do that, we put in a standing order for challah every week. We committed to making dinner for 6 every week. (That way we have enough for guests without planning week ahead and if no guests join us, we have enough left for the weekend!). We planned on doing a quick cleanup and setting the table on Thursday night.
As we approach our third Shabbat of the year, which happens to also be our 5th wedding anniversary and we are going out of town, we have been thrilled with the last two weeks.
We hosted wonderful friends we had not seen in a long time and enjoyed a leisurely dinner with great wine and conversation. This past week we were invited to my mother-in-law's who always cooks up a wonderful meal. This was no exception...complete with soup and baked apples for dessert.
Hadarya had a ball running around her house, checking out the kitchen, eating at the table, and when it was time for bed?? My angel child got into her pajamas, cuddled long enough to drink something, and then laid down on the ground on her warm blanket made by Kara, and fell fast asleep. It was so unlike other bedtimes and so delightful. She slept while we had dessert and chatted and had a great time. Then we got her home and she slept until 7 AM.
A wonderful beginning to what promises to be a great year and many lovely Shabbats.
In order to do that, we put in a standing order for challah every week. We committed to making dinner for 6 every week. (That way we have enough for guests without planning week ahead and if no guests join us, we have enough left for the weekend!). We planned on doing a quick cleanup and setting the table on Thursday night.
As we approach our third Shabbat of the year, which happens to also be our 5th wedding anniversary and we are going out of town, we have been thrilled with the last two weeks.
We hosted wonderful friends we had not seen in a long time and enjoyed a leisurely dinner with great wine and conversation. This past week we were invited to my mother-in-law's who always cooks up a wonderful meal. This was no exception...complete with soup and baked apples for dessert.
Hadarya had a ball running around her house, checking out the kitchen, eating at the table, and when it was time for bed?? My angel child got into her pajamas, cuddled long enough to drink something, and then laid down on the ground on her warm blanket made by Kara, and fell fast asleep. It was so unlike other bedtimes and so delightful. She slept while we had dessert and chatted and had a great time. Then we got her home and she slept until 7 AM.
A wonderful beginning to what promises to be a great year and many lovely Shabbats.
Jan 8, 2008
Hanging with the Girl
Phones, cookies and milk, and brushing hair. A lovely afternoon hour with my daughter who is so not a baby anymore! We had a a delightful mommy and daughter hour that started with cookies and milk.
She realized how yummy they were, left the living room and walked to the kitchen where she proceeded to grunt and raise her hands at the counter spot where she remembered the tin was sitting.
I diverted her attention with dancing which gained me the deep belly laughs that I love. I am good though, so she thought I was being funny not a bad a dancer! We danced together and she was very good at kicking one leg in the air to the side. We then did upside down hugs with a flip and that created another huge smile.
Off to the bedroom where I needed to brush out the weather kinks in my hair. I forget, momentarily, how much she loved my brushes. So she got them both to play with (hey, she gets out a lot of the hair!) and we sat on my bed with her brushing my hair and the calling Grandma on the phone. It was such a girlie afternoon!
It's hard to believe that she was this tiny bundle not that long ago. She is so interactive. She knows what she wants. She knows what she likes to eat. She is funny funny funny. She loves to read books and sit in your lap and be read to...especially Knuffle Bunny (thanks Savta!). I so look forward to many more afternoons where we can just hang out together. It was beautiful.
She realized how yummy they were, left the living room and walked to the kitchen where she proceeded to grunt and raise her hands at the counter spot where she remembered the tin was sitting.
I diverted her attention with dancing which gained me the deep belly laughs that I love. I am good though, so she thought I was being funny not a bad a dancer! We danced together and she was very good at kicking one leg in the air to the side. We then did upside down hugs with a flip and that created another huge smile.
Off to the bedroom where I needed to brush out the weather kinks in my hair. I forget, momentarily, how much she loved my brushes. So she got them both to play with (hey, she gets out a lot of the hair!) and we sat on my bed with her brushing my hair and the calling Grandma on the phone. It was such a girlie afternoon!
It's hard to believe that she was this tiny bundle not that long ago. She is so interactive. She knows what she wants. She knows what she likes to eat. She is funny funny funny. She loves to read books and sit in your lap and be read to...especially Knuffle Bunny (thanks Savta!). I so look forward to many more afternoons where we can just hang out together. It was beautiful.
Jan 5, 2008
Double Blessing
In the midst of our vacation, New Year's, and just catching up with our life, I totally forgot about the miracle I witnessed right before we left!
My dear friend is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, and due in early February. She has been on bed rest since Thanksgiving and the hope was to make it to at least the first week in January and mid-January if possible. I put together a small group of friends to keep her company and talk baby talk on December 22nd. We had a fantastic time hanging out with the girls.
It was the night before our trip and we stayed up late packing. We were looking forward to a week away and seeing our friends from San Fransisco.
At 11:45 PM our phone rang and my dear friend's water had broken and they were on the way to the hospital to have their babies!! Having photographed their son's birth 3 1/2 years earlier, they were hoping I'd be willing to do it again.
So, off I went at midnight to the hospital with my camera, hoping to be included in this miracle. It turns out that the anesthesiologist, (who works only 1 night a month), was an old classmate of hers! What a small world. She asked for permission to have me in the OR since the twins were being delivered by cesarean. He got it and I was able to be in the OR with her (squeezing the blood out of my hand!) and take amazing photos.
I saw both her babies being delivered from her womb and have photos that are beautiful of their first moments. There were 13 people in the delivery room to take care of her and the babies. They were so great about moving out of the way to let me get photos of the babies and the cords being cut.
Tomorrow is the bris and simcha bat. We are so very excited to be included and celebrate these miracles of life with them. I am thrilled to have witnessed all the births of her children and be a part of their lives from the beginning.
Hadarya met them today and giggled at them, touched their tiny feet, and then walked off to play games.
Welcome to the world Micah and Eliora!
My dear friend is pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, and due in early February. She has been on bed rest since Thanksgiving and the hope was to make it to at least the first week in January and mid-January if possible. I put together a small group of friends to keep her company and talk baby talk on December 22nd. We had a fantastic time hanging out with the girls.
It was the night before our trip and we stayed up late packing. We were looking forward to a week away and seeing our friends from San Fransisco.
At 11:45 PM our phone rang and my dear friend's water had broken and they were on the way to the hospital to have their babies!! Having photographed their son's birth 3 1/2 years earlier, they were hoping I'd be willing to do it again.
So, off I went at midnight to the hospital with my camera, hoping to be included in this miracle. It turns out that the anesthesiologist, (who works only 1 night a month), was an old classmate of hers! What a small world. She asked for permission to have me in the OR since the twins were being delivered by cesarean. He got it and I was able to be in the OR with her (squeezing the blood out of my hand!) and take amazing photos.
I saw both her babies being delivered from her womb and have photos that are beautiful of their first moments. There were 13 people in the delivery room to take care of her and the babies. They were so great about moving out of the way to let me get photos of the babies and the cords being cut.
Tomorrow is the bris and simcha bat. We are so very excited to be included and celebrate these miracles of life with them. I am thrilled to have witnessed all the births of her children and be a part of their lives from the beginning.
Hadarya met them today and giggled at them, touched their tiny feet, and then walked off to play games.
Welcome to the world Micah and Eliora!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)