Chanuka, oh Chanuka

Eliana: On Friday was my school's Chanuka party. First I showed Mommy how we use glitter.



Then I decorated a cookie,



ate it,



and made sure the leftover sprinkles didn't go to waste.



After that my class got up and sang a Chanuka song. Mommy forgot to put the camera on video mode, but it doesn't really matter because I didn't sing. I spent the whole length of the song trying to climb into Mommy's arms or at least hide behind her.



(At least I wore my candle crown.)



There was also candle lighting and dancing, but I preferred to sit on Mommy's lap and watch.



On Sunday night, the first night of Chanuka, I tried to light the candles by myself. Par for the course. I did the same thing last year! (Click here to see.) This year we lit in front of the Webcam (twice) so both sets of grandparents could watch.

The next night I helped Mommy make latkes. I had one bite



and then just ate the "yummy sauce" (applesauce).



I have learned so much about Chanuka in school. On Sunday I came home so excited to show off all the "poddy-ets" (projects) I made, including a 3D paper dreidle and a felt chanukiya (Chanuka menorah) with candles that can be velcroed on each night.

After school today Mommy and I sang some Chanuka songs.



Ami: I am learning new things too. On erev Chanuka I discovered my fist and have been sucking it happily ever since.

Excuses, excuses

Daddy bought me two new books when he went to London. One was a book of fairy tales. I love The Three Little Pigs and insist on hearing it almost every night.

Today at nap time I chose the new Chanuka book instead. When I saw the candles I covered my eyes. (And when I see the Havdala candles I ask for Challah. It's so confusing.) When we got to the part about the Macabees I happily repeated "Maca-bee. Micky-bee. Macky-bee."

In a birthday goody bag today I got a plastic dreidle with chocolate coins inside. But I don't know they're chocolate. I think they're "dakka" and asked Mommy if I could put them in the "box!" She says I'm a mitzva girl.

In addition to "ceamup" (clean up) I now also say "seemup" (stand up). Today I told Mommy to sit and then added "Ami cry, seemup" - if Ami cries you can stand up! Then we played a game where I told Mommy to pretend she was sleeping and then told her to "seemup." She said it's not "seemup," it's "wake up," so then I told her to "weebup."

I call Mommy to come back into my room a million times after she puts me to bed. It used to be just to cover me or to bring me my blankie or a drink of water but now I have lots of other excuses. I need her to sing "Wock" (Rock-a-bye Baby, which unfortunately sounds like "walk" so sometimes she has trouble understanding me), "Ticku-Sah" (Twinkle Star) and "Boat" (Row Your Boat). I need her to sing "eyes" (Sh'ma) again.

Today I called "Mommy, help!" so Mommy came and asked me what I needed help with. I was looking at my fairy tale book and said "Page. Fwind it. Woof (wolf) ffffffff (blow) pigs." So Mommy found me the page. She keeps saying "This is the last time, I'm not coming in again." Yeah, right.

Party Time

When I woke up from my nap today Mommy told me we were going to the birthday party of a friend from school. Later she asked me to tell Daddy where we were going and I said "Pahlo." She was confused because she knows I can say the words "birthday" and "party." Then she realized I was trying to say "Betzalel." That's the name of the birthday boy.

At the party I had a bite of a bagel and then made my way over to the ice cream cake. They wanted to serve me, but before I would tell them which kind of cake I wanted I first had to choose my bowl. Each one was shaped like an animal and I sat on the floor looking through the whole stack for one shaped like a dog. I didn't find one, so I just used the very last bowl in the pile - a lobster.

Mommy's sorry that her camera is broken because it would have made a very cute picture when the two of us were sitting on the floor eating our ice cream cake, while Ami sat on Mommy's lap and watched.

After the cake I took one cookie for me and one for Mommy. But then I saw a girl eating grapes and asked Mommy to get me some. I went and put my half-eaten cookie back in the serving bowl, in exchange for a cup full of grapes. One of the mommies was very impressed and said she would be shepping nachas if her kid chose fruit over cookies.

Then I took another cookie for me and another one for Mommy and offered another one to a little girl. I took a bite or two of my cookie and put that one back in the serving bowl too.

All the kids were playing downstairs but I found a balloon and ran around the kitchen throwing it in the air and kicking it around. I also enjoyed looking in the full-size mirrors all over the house. When I found Betzalel's room I wanted to read ALL of his books.

I did not want to leave the party but Betzalel looked tired and Mommy said if we don't go home we can't come back to play another day. On the way home we listed all the junk I ate at the party - cookies, ice cream cake, a chocolate bar from my goody bag, and juice. I like saying "junk, junk, junk." Usually when we brush my teeth Mommy pretends she is finding different animals that are hiding in my mouth. Tonight she just brushed away all the different kinds of junk that were hiding in there!

In the car on the way home from the party I said "shoes off." Mommy said "Please don't take your shoes off, we're almost home." I took them off and then said "socks off." Mommy said "If you take your socks off you'll be very cold." After taking my socks off I said "Feet off!" You gotta hand it to me, I sure do have a sense of humor.

Time Out

Eliana: Mommy has been wondering exactly how and when to introduce "time outs" to me when I misbehave. Well, she doesn't have to worry anymore because I have started putting myself in time out.

Yesterday when she was trying to dress me I kicked her. Then I said "Time out. Nana. Andrea. Kick." Morah Andrea put me in time out because I kicked. We were in a rush to get out the door so Mommy just agreed that I should get a time out when I kick, but didn't implement it.

The next day I threw my food on the floor. I said "time out" and Mommy wondered aloud where my time out spot should be. I chose the ledge by the kitchen window (which used to be my favorite place to sit." I sat down there but after 30 seconds or so got up and said "ah weady" (I'm ready.) Since then I have gotten a couple more time outs (who knew hitting your baby brother could make your Mommy so mad?) and am slowly learning to sit there quietly until Mommy tells me time out is over.

Old habits die hard

Ami: I am two months old and I still like to sleep with one eye open to keep an eye on the world. I have been doing this since I was born. (Not every time I'm asleep, but once in awhile.)



When I'm in the bath I always hold onto Mommy's shirt for dear life. If I go down, she's going down with me!



Eliana: I still throw things (usually food) when I'm upset (usually because it's not exactly how I wanted it or because I wanted to serve myself). Then I say "want it!" and Mommy asks me if I'm really going to eat it and I say yes, and she asks if I'm going to throw it again and I say yes so she doesn't give it back to me. But now, when I have calmed down, I say "sowwy" and she knows she can give it back to me and I won't throw it again. That's progress!

Playmates

Ami: My Doda Rella (Mommy's friend Ariela) had a baby girl yesterday. Mommy and I went to the hospital to visit them. Everyone was very impressed with how alert I am. Mommy says I suddenly look like a big boy and seem very interested in the world and people around me. (I especially like to look at her while I'm nursing.) I am only 2 pounds heavier than Baby Cornfeld but lengthwise I barely fit into the hospital bassinet!

Here I am with my new girlfriend.





Eliana: I am showing more of an interest in Ami lately. I like to show him things (especially things he can't have) and rock him in his chair.



When I make on the potty I show my treat to Ami and when I get new clothes I like to show him, too. Tonight Mommy polished my nails. I went with her to get the nail polish and said "take - red - ho-kay! one, two, free." (We have three bottles.) Mommy got the first bottle and I said "and.." and she got the second one and I said "and..." Then I showed all three to Ami. (He didn't seem too interested. I think he even rolled his eyes.)



Then I showed him my nails after they were done. (Again, he wasn't too impressed.)



I ask to hold Ami ("lap") a little less frequently than I used to (probably because Mommy says "not now" so often). But I am also willing to let Mommy hold both of us at the same time ("gether") more often. When I wake up, though, I say "No Ami! Ami Daddy." I want Mommy to myself when I first wake up!

Too cute

Eliana: A very cute video of me getting ready for bed last night:




When it was time for my nap this afternoon I headed toward my room and said "cashewm." Mommy claimed it was the bedroom but I insisted it was the classroom.

Ami: I have a little scratch on my head (from my fingernails, probably - I try not to let Mommy cut them). When Eliana sees me she says "booboo" and gives it a kiss.

Thoughtful and caring. And just plain talkative.

Eliana: Mommy has noticed over the last few days that I am using more two-word sentences and less word. stop. then. another. word.

For example, yesterday when we want out I told her I wanted "big stroller" (my big-girl seat in the new double stroller) and when we got to the pool I pointed and said "pool there."

I have also started using some expressions I must have learned from my teachers, such as "oh boy," "oh my" and "geejob" (good job), which I learned from Mommy and said when Coby ate the cereal I spilled on the floor this morning. I also spilled some juice on myself and said "ceam." Mommy didn't understand because "ceam" is usually "cream" so I clarified by telling her "ceamup" - "clean up."

When I want something I say "want it!" And there is one three-word phrase that I like to use. "No want it!"

When we were leaving for my swimming lesson yesterday Mommy told me I couldn't bring my beh-beh (blankie, which I now sometimes call "bankie"). She gave me some choices - I could put it in my crib, on the couch or on a chair. I decided to give it to Ami so he would have something to snuggle while I was gone. Mommy said I'm a thoughtful and caring sister.

After my lesson I took a shower with Mommy. When I was all clean and she was ready to get out, I told her to "go!" I was enjoying the hot shower so much I wanted her to leave me there. That's becoming a trend, actually. Mommy sometimes tells me it's time to go and she's going to leave if I don't come with her. I call her bluff; I smile, wave, and say "bye bye."

There are a few new expressions I like to use. If Mommy or Daddy ask me to do something and I don't feel like it, I tell them I'm "busy." Hey, if it's a good enough excuse when they can't do what I ask them to do, then it's good enough to use on them too!

When I want something and I'm told I can have it "later" or "soon" I demand that I get it "NOW!"

I have also started saying "mine" and "gimme." Obviously things I learned at preschool. I no longer like to share my food with Mommy and Daddy. I tell them it's mine. Although I don't mind if they finish what's left after I'm done.

Here I am eating a burger and fries for dinner, which I told Mommy was "mine" and refused to share. (When I was done she ended up eating most of it, though.)



Today Mommy and I were at the fabric store and I was showing her fabrics and buttons that I liked. I chose one fabric and told her "love it." Then I tried to take it down off the shelf and said "buy it." I told her I "love" several other things too, including the t-shirt I was wearing.

Here we are at the fabric store in our new stroller.

Cheese!

Ami: On Friday I rolled over four times. Three times from back to tummy and once from tummy to back - in my sleep! Mommy only caught half of one roll on video:



Last night I smiled for the first time. Mommy had been wondering all day when I was going to smile, since I'm almost two months old already. Here are pictures AND a video. Lucky you!








On a related note, when I spit up Eliana says "CHEESE!" because that's what Zayde calls it when I spit up - cheesing. He sometimes calls me a cheese factory. When Zayde left Israel Grandma said I was producing cheese in an effort to keep Zayde from going on his business trip to Wisconsin.

Eliana: During the holidays Mommy set her breast pump on a timer so she could pump milk for Ami. Whenever it turned on I would say "PUMP!" and when it turned off I would say "SOP" (stop). I like to pump milk too, and Mommy finally caught me doing it on camera:



I can be very silly sometimes. The other night I ate my supper with both a spoon and a fork.



For the life of her Mommy couldn't figure out how I got sauce on my back. Until she saw me doing this:



And yes, I know it's almost December, but that will not stop me from being naked whenever I can.

Miss Know-It-All

My teacher told Mommy that I'm a funny girl. She said I do too many funny things for her to remember them all, but that today I was walking around with one sock on and one sock off and eventually they found the second one outside on the playground.

When I wake up in the morning or after a nap I scream if Daddy comes to me and not Mommy. But if Mommy comes to pick me up from school I hit her and tell her I want Daddy.

I picked up my toy Torah today and started singing "Torah Lanu" (Torah Tziva Lanu Moshe.) Yet another Jewish song for my repertoire!

After we spoke to Grandma on Skype tonight I said "Zayde in Mishin (Michigan). Gamma in Mishin. Sad." Mommy asked me if I was sad. I said "No, Gamma." Grandma left two weeks ago, but in the days before she left she told me she was going home to Michigan and she would be sad to leave me.

Mommy took some videos of me today. Here I am reading a story before nap time.



Here's a conversation I had with Mommy while eating my after-school snack (yogurt with two spoons).



Today Mommy wore Ami in the Baby Bjorn for the first time. It brought back memories of when I used to ride in it on walks with Daddy and Coby. I used to get so hysterically excited when I saw it that I wouldn't even let him put it on, so Mommy had to distract me so Daddy could put it on in another room!

School Days

When Daddy picked me up from school today, Morah Andrea told him that I ALWAYS put my hat on before we go outside to play, and I sometimes get my sunscreen too. I also always remember my hat when it's time to go home.

When I got home I sat down to eat with Mommy and she asked me about my day. I told her that I read books and played Yogos (Legos) with Mimi, played cars with Ezra, and sat next to Morah Hannah at lunch and ate carrots. And Morah Hannah is also the one that changes my diaper. Then I told her that when we got home Daddy and I saw our neighbors Lily and Osnat. Mommy was SO happy to hear all about my day! By the look in my eyes she could tell I was really concentrating and trying to remember things.

Here are some pictures of me on the way to school last week. Sometimes I agree to walk a little when Mommy is wearing Ami. But usually I insist on being carried, or at least riding in the stroller.

Circus Fun

Eliana: Today Grandma took us to the circus. I loved it! I sat, spellbound, and watched the whole thing. My favorite part was the cown (clown).

I tried to share my cucumber with Ami but he wasn't interested.



After I ate my lunch, Grandma bought me an ice cream. I took off my shirt so it wouldn't get dirty. Good thing, too, because by the time I was done my belly button was full of sprinkles!



Towards the end I really got into it and danced along with the performers.









One of the ushers was so impressed with my topless dance that she gave me a bottle of bubbles.

Mitzvah Menschen Missing Zayde

Tonight my Zayde had to go back home to Michigan on a hair-pane. Gamma started preparing me a few days ago. Yesterday afternoon when she put me down for my nap I started yelling "Dat! Dat! Datty!" and pointing to something under my crib. Gamma put me down so I could find what I was looking for. It was a picture of Zayde that had fallen out of my photo album. (For the last few days I have been sleeping with my photo album in my crib. I put it in a particular spot near my pillow.) I would not let Gamma put the picture of Zayde back in the photo album and insisted on sleeping with it in my hand.

After Shabbat ended Zayde wanted to go say goodbye to the Kotel so we all went too. It was Ami's first trip to the Kotel. Gamma held me while we davened. I took a note out of the kotel and put it in my pocket. Then I took it out and ripped it in half and put the pieces back in the Kotel.





Today we were counting all the mitzvot Ami has done since he was born. He had a brit mila, heard the Shofar blown, shlugged kapparot, did Tashlich, and ate in a Sukkah.

Zayde calls Ami his "Little Buddy" (like the Skipper called Gilligan, apparently) and totes him around everywhere. He even ate his lunch with Ami on his lap today (and got chulent all over him). Gamma says Ami has worry lines on his head because Zayde left. When Zayde was going I was sad and didn't want to hug him or say goodbye, but finally I did let him hold me and I gave him a kiss and went downstairs with him to meet his taxi. I'm going to miss him - but not as much as I'm going to miss Gamma!

A girl's best friend

Eliana: Today we ate lunch at a restaurant Sukka. On the way home I got to hold Coby's leash.












Ami: I missed the whole thing but I'm not complaining because I was with my Zayde. He carried me to and from the restaurant and held me throughout the entire meal!

Yom Kippur

Yesterday my diaper was wet so I took it off. Gamma decided if I could take off my diaper it was time to try panties (which I can say now - no more "pit-teen)! I was so excited to wear my new panties that she brought me from America - some Elmo, some Disney, and some solid colored Hanes just like Mommy's.


But I made peepee in them twice last night and a bunch of times today (and a couple of poops too). I said I'd tell her when I had to make but there is too much going on and I don't remember until it's too late. Grandma says it's lucky the floor is tiled. Mommy said I have to sit on the potty every 10 minutes if I want to wear panties. I didn't like that idea so I had to wear a diaper for the rest of the day. But before bed I did ask to sit on the potty twice - and made a peepee and a poop! One of these days I'll get there. I'm just not quite ready yet.

Today is called Yom Kippur but we lit candles last night just like we do for Shabbat, so that's what I called it. I said "Shabbat!" and that reminded me of a song we sing at school, so I asked Gamma to sing "Bim-Bam." Mommy likes it that I am learning the same songs she learned growing up.

Gamma took me to shul today and I played with my cousins Oded, Anat, Tal and Alon. When I came home I told Mommy about "Ded." I also told her about some friends from school - Eewa (Meira), Keddy (Shakked) and Shomo (Shlomo).

In the evening I held out my arms for Baby Ami and Mommy let me give him a big hug. Then I climbed up on the couch and asked her to put him in my "yap" (lap). I loved holding him - it made me feel so big!

Mommy is happy because she thinks Ami is nursing a little bit better today.

Chickens and Turtles and Fish, Oh My!

Today Grandma, Mommy, Daddy, Ami and I piled into the car (there was no room for Zayde!) to go see some chickens. We had to stop along the way to run some errands and I kept wanting to get out and see the chickens, so Grandma placated me with a "pop" (lollipop). When we got to the shuk (open-air market) all the chickens were gone and there were only feathers left. We wandered around and I kept asking for "chickens, chickens." Mommy was sorry she'd told me there would be chickens and thought we might have to go to the petting zoo behind the park if we couldn't find any kapparot to shlug. Daddy did some research and then we drove around awhile and Grandma spotted some chickens in boxes on the side of the road so we pulled over.

The grown-ups swung the chickens over their heads and said a prayer transferring all of the year's sins to the chicken, which would later be slaughtered and donated to poor families to eat. I was getting cranky by that point, but eventually warmed up to the chicken and grabbed its foot, which looked quite interesting. (Grandma said they used to eat chicken feet in the olden days! I'd like to try that.)




People walking by saw Ami doing Kapparot and asked what he could have possibly done wrong this year. Daddy said "this year? He's only two weeks old!" When we were done, the chicken man noticed that Ami was smiling. Grandma said that's because he's a Tzaddik (righteous person). Mommy has been training her to say he is a Tzaddik or a mensch or a good sport instead of saying he's cute. When I was a baby and people called me cute Mommy told them my middot (virtuous characteristics) are what's important. The chicken man turned on his megaphone and announced for all to hear "Tzaddik Gadol" (Big Tzaddik).



After that we dropped Grandma off at home so Zayde could come with us to Tashlich. We drove to the Botanical Gardens and walked down to the water. Mommy told me there would be duckies but there was only one big black swan. There were lots and lots of big, giant fish, and also some turtles with big red eyes. I enjoyed throwing bits of bread (symbolizing our sins) in the water and watching the animals eat them.





We came home with no more sins left. A clean slate for the new year.

Go Dog, Go!

I know this book cold.

Meat!

Today I helped my babysitter, Joanna, make hamburgers for supper. I like to cook meat!

More things I know

Today Mommy sang "The Shofar in the shul goes..." and I put my hands up to my mouth as if I was holding a shofar and said "toot, toot, toot!"



Mommy and Daddy refer to my sandals as my shoes or my purple shoes, but someone (probably at school) told me they're called Crocs, so that's what I call them now - "Cocs."

I picked up Mommy's phone today to call Yaya and I said "Hello Yaya - Cago (Chicago)." Nobody knows where I got that from!

Learning Curve

On Wednesday Daddy told me that someone special was coming to see us on a hai-pane. I insisted it would be Denny, even though Daddy kept telling me it was Grandma. When Grandma arrived I was so excited that I followed her around the house like a little puppy dog. I only want Grandma to read to me, feed me, dress me, everything. When I wake up in the morning I call "Gamma! Gamma!"

Mommy complains that my class is too slow for me and I need to skip a grade because we are learning things like the number one and the color red, both of which I have known for months already. I know almost all the numbers through ten, and the following colors: wed, oggie, yeyyow, geen, boo, popo, pink (which I knew for awhile, then insisted was red for a couple of weeks, and re-learned this week), back, white, gay, bown and goadie (gold).

But over the weekend Mommy, Daddy and Grandma got to see all the great things I learned in school this week. When Grandma let me take home the change from the grocery store on Thursday, she said we would put it in tzeddaka. I was so excited and said "dakka!" and put it right in the tzeddaka box.

On Friday night Mommy and Grandma lit their Shabbat candles. When I saw them I said "Shabbos! Mein (Amen)!" Last week I was the Ima at our school Shabbat party - I got to wear a tichel and a special necklace name tag that said "Shabbat Ima." Grandma asked me who the Abba was and I told her Shlomo, which was more information than Mommy was able to get out of me all week.

Grandma brought me a book about Rosh Hashana and I said "shana!" This morning Mommy and I were eating an apple and she sang the "Dip the apple in the honey" song that we learned at school. All morning I sang "Dip - honey! Dip - honey!"

Practice Makes Perfect

Here I am taking care of my baby doll. I am practicing for when my new baby comes.

The Cute List

Just a list of a few cute things I've said and done over the last few days:

I tried on Mommy's "pit-teen" (panties). I was annoyed that they didn't fit. Mommy said she'd buy me my own panties when I make in the potty every time. She said she'd get me Elmo panties but I want panties just like hers.

I was going through the clean laundry and asked Mommy if I could wear a particular pretty dress. She said "you can wear that dress on Shabbos." I said "shul!"

When the phone rings I say "Phone" (or "phone-y"). "Wingin" (ringing). "Talk."

I had a tummy ache and Mommy asked me if my tummy hurt. I said no because I didn't know what that meant. But then I figured it out and later I was playing with my dolly and said "Tummy. Hurt" and gave her a kiss on the tummy.

I was trying to take a clip out of my hair and pulled too hard. I said "Ouch. Sowwy." That was my first time saying sorry to anyone!

There were some beaded pins on the table. When I saw them I shouted "YAYA!" I made Mommy give a pin like that to Yaya in the summer because I know Yaya is more into jewelry than Mommy is. Then I took two pins and put one in each ear, for earrings.

I took all the diapers (nappies) out of the package, looking for the ones with pictures of dogs on them. (If I can help it I only wear the ones with dogs on them, but there are 5 or 6 other animals in the pack.) Every time I found a dog diaper I made nice to the picture of the dog. Then I said "Mommy. Turn. Nice" (Mommy's turn to make nice) and handed it to her.

I cut my dolly's fingernails (while sitting on the potty).



I have started calling Daddy "Abba." I learned it when Saba was here (because that's what Daddy calls Saba, and that's how Saba refers to Daddy) but now I also hear it from the kids at school. Daddy doesn't mind but I don't think Mommy likes it so much. Then again, I've been calling her "Meemee" for a few months now.

My best friend at school is called Shaked. If Mommy asks me "did you play with so-and-so today? Did you play with so-and-so?" I always say "No, no, no. Kedd-y!"

And one not so cute thing: I have very specific opinions about what I want (especially what I want to eat and what dishes/utensils I want to eat with) but I don't necessarily have the vocabulary to express exactly what I want. So I've been screaming a lot and yelling "That! THAT! That-y!" (Everything ends with "y" these days.) Mommy and Daddy are trying to explain that I need to tell them or show them what I want because it's not nice to hear me scream. But I'm not quite there yet.

Today I even tried something new: laying on the floor and kicking my feet. But Mommy doesn't fall for it because I'm watching her too closely for a reaction. She just acts fed-up and tells me she's going to leave the room until I stop screaming.

School Rules!

Yesterday was my birthday. I'm TWO! (And I know it!)

Mommy apologizes for her long blogging hiatus. She says she's been busy growing a baby in her tummy. (I'll believe it when I see it.) But this week is a big milestone in my life and she wants to record everything about it. No, not the beginning of the "Terrible Twos" (she says they began months ago) - my first week of preschool!

Last Friday was orientation. I was a little shy. In fact, my hands were in my mouth most of the time. You wouldn't know it because I'm never shy, but that's what I do when I'm shy.


Mommy and Daddy told my teacher, Morah Andrea, some things about me. Like that I call myself "Nana." (No more Lolly. That's just a nickname. Over the summer I decided to go by my full name. Which is just as well because there's another Lolly in my class.) And that I insist diapers be called nappies because that's what my best friend Sara, who's British, calls them. I say most words clearly but one funny thing I say (at least Mommy and Daddy think it's funny) is "Hodu." They say that means turkey, but how am I supposed to know that? I don't speak Hebrew. When I say "hodu" I mean "hold you" (which means, of course, "hold me.")

Monday was my first day. I had a special breakfast with Grandma and Zayde over the webcam.



There was an exciting atmosphere in the house and I couldn't get wait to get out the door.


Mommy and Daddy stayed with me for about 15 minutes, until I discovered the crayons. Then I didn't need them anymore.



At the end of the day Morah Andrea told Mommy and Daddy that I was the only kid in my class who didn't cry.

Every day of school was great, although I won't tell Mommy and Daddy what I do there. Even when Mommy asks me about things she knows I did ("Did you play outside today?" "Did you color in school?" "Did you read a book?") I say "No, no, no."

I never want to leave school. I don't understand why I have to go home and take a nap at 1:00 when other kids get to take a nap at school and then stay and play until 4:00. When Daddy walks me home I insist on rolling my backpack by myself and walking a few feet away from him to show that I'm a big girl and don't need anybody's help.


My class had a birthday party for me yesterday. We had a cake that Mommy made me, but I didn't really understand what it was for.


We had our first Shabbat party too. In the afternoon I wanted to color a picture but before I started I told Mommy that she needed to write my name on my paper first! Then I proceeded to write the letter "e" in the corner of the page before I started. Mommy claims it was a fluke but Daddy was impressed.


Today was Shabbat so there was no school. Mommy and I played a card game where we matched the colors. It was fun and Mommy said it was a big girl game! Later she reminded me that we have to clean up the toys when we're done with them, just like we do at school with Morah Andrea. I said "Anga! See! Fwends!" I can't wait to go to school tomorrow!

I like to "ten" (pretend). When Mommy tells me not to put something in my mouth I say "ten" and pretend to put it in my mouth. Speaking of ten, I know a few numbers now. I know one, two, free, fo', eight and nine. Pretty good, huh? Daddy has been practicing with me.

I'm also slowly working on my sentence structure. Today I was making "ten" food (when I cook I usually make "cone" (corn) and meat) and I was looking for a fork. I went to check in Coby's bed since I like to serve him there. I came back to Mommy and said "Fok! Coby. Have." Not a bad sentence, eh?

Mommy's favorite sentence of mine was a month or two ago, when my cousin Denny was visiting. I asked where Denny was and Mommy said she went to the potty. I said "Pie (potty). Denny. Peepee. Yay!" and clapped my hands.

I took a break from making on the potty for awhile, but now I'm back into it. On the first day of school when I woke up in the morning I asked to go potty and immediately made a poop! Now I like to sit on the potty a few times a day and I usually make once or twice. But sometimes I just ask to sit on the potty because I'm allowed to watch "Teebee" while I'm sitting. And my new trick is to ask for the potty when I'm supposed to be napping. It worked the first time but Mommy caught on pretty quickly. When I do make, though, the first thing I says is "teat!" (Treat.) Sometimes I say it when I make in my diaper too, but that's just because I am working on making the association and asking to go to the potty in time.