Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Elianaisms

Eliana: For the most part my parents subtly correct me if I make an error (grammatical or otherwise) in my speech. But some things I say are so cute it seems they almost encourage me to keep saying them.

Allabody - everybody

Wiper towel - paper towel

Eatmeal - oatmeal

Recently Mommy started using "itioner" (conditioner) in my hair. Sometimes I call it Uncle Itioner. (In tribute to my Uncle Izzy.)

Also, I have trouble pronouncing words that start with "s" followed by another consonant. For example:

pall - small

pot - spot

keem - scream

sand - stand

pill - spill

sicky - sticky

poon - spoon

pile - smile

When I'm in a bad mood I get upset if anyone piles at me. Especially Ami. He always seems to pile at me when I'm crying.

Friday, July 31, 2009

Nanananananana

Eliana: Sometimes when Mommy doesn't want me to do something (like when she grabs the milk away from me as I'm about to pour it myself, or when I try to give Ami something he's not allowed to have) she says "n-n-n-n-n-n-no." Today she asked me a question and my answer was "n-n-n-n-n-n-no." That sounded like a song I knew, so I stood up and started singing "na na na na na na na" and doing the chicken dance. Then I suddenly broke out into "na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na BATMAN!"

Monday, July 20, 2009

The babyproofing has officially begun

Ami: I am really crawling now! (Of course I chose the day Daddy left for South Africa to start making extra trouble for Mommy.) Daddy claims I've been crawling for about a month already. Mommy has seen me drag myself army-style across the room a couple of times but for the most part if she put me down with some toys I just stay in one spot. Today she put me down and I was off like a shot! She had to chase after me and close the doors to the bathroom and bedrooms before I got myself into trouble. She's not sure if the way I crawl is more funny or more adorable. I drag one knee behind me, as if I don't want to totally give up on being in a sitting position. (I just really started sitting myself up not long ago as well.) Who cares what it looks like? It works for me!

For the most part I am playing in this video, but there are a few good shots of me crawling. Grandma was watching me on the Webcam so you can hear her talking in the background.



I pulled myself to standing for the first time almost 2 weeks ago. I used Mommy's skirt for leverage and was very proud of myself. I have stood up in my crib a couple of times (it makes going to sleep much more difficult) but mostly I like to pull myself up and stand by the couch. Sometimes I forget that my balance isn't all there yet and I let go. Good thing there's usually an adult with their hands out just in case.

Friday, June 26, 2009

Graduation Day

Ami: Mommy finally caught me army-crawling across the room yesterday. Daddy says I've been doing it for at least a week but when Mommy puts me down I just stay in one place. Maybe it's to feed her desire to keep me from growing up too quickly. Daddy also says I sign "eat" (or at least point to my mouth when I'm hungry), but Mommy's never seen that. I know she would be happy if I signed.

Eliana: Today was my preschool graduation. First there was a processional of all four classes out to the chairs set up on the playground. (I stopped and had to be brought to the "stage" personally by one of the teachers.)



Then all the classes sang songs together and then each class got up and sang one special song. Ours was "Wheels on the Bus." I love that song. I didn't actually sing in front of the crowd, though. I know the words to all the songs; I don't feel the need to prove anything to anyone. When it was time for my class to stand up, I was shy and stayed in my seat. Mommy got up and helped me.



I had my hand in my mouth most of the time, which is what I do when I'm shy or nervous. I even sucked my thumb for part of the time, something I learned from my classmate Ezzy. I didn't want to wear my bus crown either. Eventually I put it on top of my hat.


When I got home and the pressure was off, I sang all the songs. Here I am singing some of them with Mommy at bed time:



Maybe when I'm older I'll like to stand up in front of an audience like Daddy. Or maybe I'll be shy in front of a crowd like Mommy. The important thing is that they let me be myself.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Water Baby, the Sequel

Ami: Today was my first swimming lesson. People asked whether I liked it. Daddy said "he didn't hate it." Mommy said that means I liked it.

Getting my feet wet:






Meeting the class:



Trying to eat a pool noodle:



My first "dive":



Backfloat:

If You're Happy and You Know It

Ami: I can't stop clapping my hands. Everything makes me want to clap. Even when Mommy changes my diaper in the middle of the night and I'm half asleep.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Fishie in Training

Ami: Here are my underwater pictures. Grandma says than most of them I look like I'm asking "why are they doing this to me?"







Ami: Here are my underwater pictures. Grandma says that in most of them I look like I'm asking "why are they doing this to me?"

The bubbles are impressive. My teacher is trying to teach everyone in my class to blow bubbles underwater and I just seem to do it naturally.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Hostess with the Mostest

Eliana: Mommy was making dinner tonight and I cleared a spot at the table for Rebecca (my babysitter). I gathered up all of Mommy's papers that were on the table and tried to throw them in the trash but Mommy insisted on saving them. Rebecca was busy washing dishes and I kept telling her to sit down and eat with us.

Mommy was pouring the last of the salsa onto her rice and I shouted "No!! Save some for Rebecca!" Mommy assured me that there was another jar of salsa in the fridge. So I opened the fridge, got out the salsa, and put it on the counter.

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Hat trick

Ami: When we were out visiting friends today, I figured out how to take off my hat. Here is the conversation that ensued.

Mommy: Ami took off his hat!
Eliana: Why?
Mommy: Because babies like to take off their hats. When you were a baby you liked to take off your hat.
Eliana: I a baby now. [takes off her hat]

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Two years later....

and Coby's ears still don't come off. I'm not quite as persistent as my sister was, though.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Sleep training, take 2

Ami: Mommy says it's time I learned to STTN (sleep through the night). See Eliana's post on the same subject.

Mommy is trying to Ferberize me. I don't like the sound of that. For now she's just trying to teach me to get to sleep on my own, without being "potched" (patted on the tush). If I cave in to that it can only get worse, so I'd better not fall for any of her tricks.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Separation Anxiety

Ami: Every time I see my Mommy I burst into tears. Is this normal?

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Position Filled: Baby Translator

Ami: I am so lucky my sister speaks Baby. She translates for me all the time. When I was crying today, Mommy asked if I wanted a paci or milk. Eliana said milk. Sure enough, that's exactly why I was crying.

When we're in the car she often tells the driver "Ami no like bumps." She must be a mind reader - I don't even cry or anything!

Eliana: I also know when he's cold - even when he's wearing three layers. I make sure to cover him or tell someone to cover him. "Ami needs banket."

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Eliana: Months ago Daddy bought me a book of fairy tales in London. Mommy and Daddy have been indoctrinating me, reading me the story of Go'locks and the Three Bears whenever I'm willing to listen. It worked. They got me all excited about my costume for Purim. Of course, when Mommy was making bear hats for Daddy, Ami and herself I wanted to know where mine was. (Uncle Izzy predicted that would happen.) I was thrilled to wear my costume to school on Sunday. But every day it got a little less fun until I had to be bribed to get into my costume for th Purim meal at Aunt Rachel's house today. And I refused to wear pigtails anymore. But that was ok because it was so hot today that Mommy didn't have the heart to make Ami wear his sweatsuit and fleece hat either.


Here I am with my teacher, Mo' Innea (Morah Andrea):


Here I am giving Ami a pretend bottle:


Playing Goldilocks with Yuval:

Friday, January 23, 2009

Mommy's Best Helper

Eliana: Mommy had to leave the room for a minute today so she put Ami down in his chair. He started crying so I went over to him and said "Ami, Mommy coming." Then I gave him a toy and said "Ami, thisa you" (this is for you" and rocked him in his chair. He stopped crying and when Mommy came back he was smiling at me!

I like to do lots of things with Ami, like sing to him, clap his hands, share Mommy's lap with him, read him books, and pretend to feed him things that I've cooked in my play kitchen. (Today it was soup and carrots.)

Later Mommy was cooking some zucchini and I wanted to help. I said "I wanna sand dayer" (I wanna stand there) so Mommy pulled the step stool up to the counter and showed me how to dip each slice of zucchini in egg and then in bread crumbs and put it in the pan.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Eliana: I had fun playing at my friends Sara and Rafaela's house today. Their mommy teaches a music class so we got to play with all the instruments and props.






I don't know the song about the glasses but that didn't stop me from trying them on!



We got pretty creative with the instruments. Who says they have to be used for making music?