Reunion

I was SO happy to see my Daddy at the airport. We skipped to the car together and I didn't want to get in my carseat because I wanted to be with him. He showed me around the house and we played with my toys (I had forgotten all about them) and he reintroduced me to Coby. I stopped saying "dog" during my trip (because there were no dogs around) so when I see him I point and say "Hi! Hi!" Then I hug him and say "awwww" (which is what I say when I hug any person or doll). Yesterday I noticed that he has hair all over his body. I told Mommy by tugging on his fur, then tugging on my hair, then pointing to Mommy's hair.

Last night when I should have been sleeping (I'm a little jet-lagged, but not as bad as on the last trip), I learned some new things. Mommy taught me how to put the shapes in the shape sorter. She also taught me how to sign "help." I caught on after she showed me once! When I am truggling with something she asks me if I need help and then instead of screming I smile and sign "help."

I shake my head "no" when anyone asks me a question (it's not my fault people are always telling me "no" and never taught me "yes"). This morning Mommy asked me if I wanted to get dressed. No. Did I want to stay in my pajamas? No. Did I want to go to shul naked? No. Mommy says she's got to stop asking me what I want to do and start telling me.

Today we went to kiddush at Chovevei to see all our friends from Kiddush Club. They remarked at how big I got (a little girl, not a baby). I was shy and clingy at first (I have been clingy since we got home because I'm afraid I'm going to have to go on another trip) and didn't want to show off my words or signs. But by the end I was playing with Josh and Yoseph's keys, pointing to everybody's noses (even baby Naava's) and I even let Gila hold me.

This afternoon I picked up my purse (full of bath toys from Auntie Maya) and my keys, looked around for my hat, put it on, and went to the door. I was ready to go out. Mommy took me downstairs to visit with some neighbors. Then we waited for Daddy to come home from his speech and make Havdallah.

Mommy thought she heard me say a few phrases over the last few days. Tonight she definitely heard me say "ah duh" as I signed "all done."

New Tricks in New Jersey

I have been learning so many new tricks lately and doing so many cute things. I hope you have set aside a large block of time for all these videos. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.


As I mentioned a few days ago, I recently discovered crayons. There are a few things I like to do with them.



Monkey see, monkey do...



I love to play ball



but if there is no ball around, I make do.



Of course, I always clean up after myself.



But sometimes I bite off more than I can chew:



I was going to beat up my cousins but I decided to be nice instead. Here I am giving kisses and making nice:



I like to walk in on Cousin Eli when she's in her room with her boyfriend. Even though she's annoyed, she can't help but smile because I'm so cute.



I learned a new sign today, and Mommy caught it on tape!



I've known how to put on my bib for months now, but Mommy figured that since she was videoing everything else I did tonight, she might as well get that too.

I Got Skills (Daddy would say SGils)

I have learned so many new things this week. At Grandma's I learned to say "hi" whenever someone walks into the room or I pick up a phone.

I have been shaking my head "no" for a month or so, but now I do it when ANYONE asks me ANY question.

This morning I started drinking from a big-girl cup without spilling!

The other day I signed "please" for the first time. (I REALLY wanted a cookie.) I have also begun to express an interest in coloring on paper, instead of just putting crayons in my mouth. (Of course, some pen/crayon/marker inevitably gets on the desk, floor, wall, or wherever I happen to be. And all over my hands and clothes, too.)

Here are pictures of some drawings I did while sitting on Grandma's lap in her office.

Here is a video of me doing all the other things I mentioned (while eating Bubbie's meatloaf):

Decortaing Tips from the Pros

I spent a long time decorating Mommy's room today.





Then I helped clean up.

Winter Wonderland

When I woke up this morning the world was white. There was snow everywhere, which was beautiful but also sad because it meant Auntie Maya's flight was cancelled and she couldn't come visit.

Mommy and Grandma kept telling me how much fun I was going to have playing in the snow. First they bundled me up in a million layers so I couldn't move or see. Then they took me outside in the bitter wind and tried to get me to play but every time my hands poked out of my sleeves they put them back in! How was I supposed to play if I couldn't use my hands? I cried the whole time we were out there. Luckily they snapped a few pictures and brought me back inside to warm up. I even got to try my very first mug of hot cocoa!

These pictures were taken on Grandma's front lawn.

Mazal Tov!

Today was my cousin Mindy's wedding. That's why we flew all the way to America. I wore a fancy dress, tights and new shoes that Grandma bought me just for the wedding. It was the second wedding in which Mommy carried me down the aisle. I'm big enough to walk but Mommy didn't trust me to go where I was supposed to. She said it was bad enough that the other flower girl went the wrong way!

We had to take lots of pictures and I got passed around to lots of people. I especially liked cousin Bonnie. Maybe it was her sparkly outfit. I insisted she hold me for the family picture, even though she didn't know how to hold a baby. By the end of the evening she was an expert.

I spent lots of time with Uncle Izzy, who is my all-time favorite uncle. I also took a nice refreshing nap during dinner. I fell asleep on Mommy during the dancing, slept in the stroller during the meal, and woke up just in time for dessert. Yum!

Bright Night

We had a Chanuka party at my cousins' house tonight. Here we are lighting the candles. I wanted to help!

Big Girl

This morning Daddy woke up to shouts of "Wake up! Wake up! Eliana pooped on the potty!" He jumped out of bed and ran to get me a treat.
Mommy cheated a little, though. She could tell I was about to poop and ran me to the potty. I sat for about five minutes and played happily with whatever was on the shelf - a comb, a brush, a hair clip, some tampons. When I got up Mommy showed me the pee and poop and we danced and clapped and cheered. Then Mommy showed me how to dump it in the toilet and flush. I am 15 months old, the same age Mommy was when she started potty-training. (But she was spending the summer with her older cousins and wanted to be like them.)

Mommy and I went to get our flu shots tonight. Mommy got hers first to show me that it wouldn't hurt too much. I was very brave and only cried for a minute. Then I got a sticker, which I tried to throw on the floor - but couldn't because it kept sticking to my fingers. I played nicely with the other children in the waiting room but then didn't want to put on my jacket when it was time to go. Mommy knew I must be tired because usually I get very excited when I see my jacket and know we are going out. Sometimes when Mommy puts on her jacket I grab mine too and start waving bye-bye to Daddy (even if Mommy thinks she's leaving me with him).

When we got home there was a dog outside and I said "Dog - fffff." Mommy thinks I was trying to say "woof." I also say "Boooo" (mooo) when I see a toy cow or picture of a cow (or horse for that matter).