Dear Maya honey,
My sweet beautiful girl. We celebrated Ethan's 6th birthday today. You are away at sleep away camp. It is your first time. It is Canp Hess Kramer in Malibu. You are there for 2 weeks with Hannah.
You've wanted to go to sleep away camp since last summer. I am so proud of you. You are so confident, outgoing, and friendly. They post pictures to the camp website everyday and when I see you my heart soars because you look so happy, glowing, and beautiful. You look so happy and fulfilled, and as your mama, that is my ultimate goal for you.
Honey, I love you and I miss you, but my heart soars with happiness for you. I can't wait to see you a week from tomorrow, but until then live it up, love it up, explore, enjoy, and just be. You are my sweet angel honey, and I truly have nothing but love for you.
Hugs and kisses,
Mommy
Saturday, July 9, 2016
Ethan, 6 years old
Dear Ethan,
Happy happy birthday my love! It has been a few years since I wrote in this blog. Life gets busy, one thing after another, and willingly or unwillingly, we forget intentions that we once set. Talia reminded me of this blog a few months ago, and I thought, on Ethan's 6 birthday, I will write him a letter! And so here we are.
We had your birthday party today. It was great fun. It was a boys only party, as per your request, at Ultrazone Laser Tag in Sherman Oaks. All your best buds came, which was great. It was a lot of fun. Turning 6 is a big deal. It is the first birthday party I really remember, and it sets the stage for being a real big boy. Next year comes first grade, and a whole lot of wonderful growing experiences.
I love you so much sweetheart. You are such a special boy, with a sweet heart of gold. You are a true little lover, with sweet blue eyes that pierce everyone with their beauty, and a smile to soften even the toughest of faces. You have grown so much this past year. Started at Lanai, learned so much at Huntington, been reading and writing so beautifully, made so many new friends, learned how to ride a bike, how to swim well, and how to skateboard. You've had some great role models (Coach PJ) and an incredible teacher who loved you so much (Mrs Mayberry). Your closest friends are still Devon, which is so sweet and special, and Jackson, Jayule, Troy, and Logan. You love electronics - iPad and Xbox, but also building and creating with Legos. Your favorite books is the "Ready Freddy" series.
This summer has been great. You are in camp at Camp Funtime, and while Maya is at sleep away camp at Hess Cramer, you have been going to camp with Devon at Sierra Canyon. You take the bus so beautifully, like a real independent big boy, and I am so, so proud of you.
Keep shining my beautiful boy, you are wonderful, and I am so, so proud to be your mama.
Love always,
Eama
Happy happy birthday my love! It has been a few years since I wrote in this blog. Life gets busy, one thing after another, and willingly or unwillingly, we forget intentions that we once set. Talia reminded me of this blog a few months ago, and I thought, on Ethan's 6 birthday, I will write him a letter! And so here we are.
We had your birthday party today. It was great fun. It was a boys only party, as per your request, at Ultrazone Laser Tag in Sherman Oaks. All your best buds came, which was great. It was a lot of fun. Turning 6 is a big deal. It is the first birthday party I really remember, and it sets the stage for being a real big boy. Next year comes first grade, and a whole lot of wonderful growing experiences.
I love you so much sweetheart. You are such a special boy, with a sweet heart of gold. You are a true little lover, with sweet blue eyes that pierce everyone with their beauty, and a smile to soften even the toughest of faces. You have grown so much this past year. Started at Lanai, learned so much at Huntington, been reading and writing so beautifully, made so many new friends, learned how to ride a bike, how to swim well, and how to skateboard. You've had some great role models (Coach PJ) and an incredible teacher who loved you so much (Mrs Mayberry). Your closest friends are still Devon, which is so sweet and special, and Jackson, Jayule, Troy, and Logan. You love electronics - iPad and Xbox, but also building and creating with Legos. Your favorite books is the "Ready Freddy" series.
This summer has been great. You are in camp at Camp Funtime, and while Maya is at sleep away camp at Hess Cramer, you have been going to camp with Devon at Sierra Canyon. You take the bus so beautifully, like a real independent big boy, and I am so, so proud of you.
Keep shining my beautiful boy, you are wonderful, and I am so, so proud to be your mama.
Love always,
Eama
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Pride as a parent
Dear Maya,
Today we got a lovely letter from Hebrew School. It was a summary of how you have done so far in your first half-year. This is what what written:
It was so lovely that it took my breath away and actually choked me up! I sent it on to daddy, sapta, saba, grandma and grandpa. You are really exceptional and I am so incredibly proud of you. You are a real achiever, and such a dynamite kid.
You've really shined this year -- moving up from TK to K, getting "purple" a whole week through (purple meaning you are performing above the top level...) what can I say kiddo? Keep it up - you rock! I am so incredibly proud of you and honored to be your mama...
Today we got a lovely letter from Hebrew School. It was a summary of how you have done so far in your first half-year. This is what what written:
Maya is a self-motivated learner who enjoys learning Hebrew and Judaic studies. She takes great pride in learning about Jewish heritage. Maya enjoys listening to Torah and holiday stories and shows good understanding of holiday customs. With little encouragement she participates in classroom discussions, prayers, and singing. She is a diligent worker; she enjoys hands-on activities, and her project about the story of Creation reflected her keen interest both in the process and completion of her work. We commend Maya for her sense of cooperation. She is a very respectful student who listens attentively to directions and follows them carefully. We are looking forward to her continued progress throughout the year.
It was so lovely that it took my breath away and actually choked me up! I sent it on to daddy, sapta, saba, grandma and grandpa. You are really exceptional and I am so incredibly proud of you. You are a real achiever, and such a dynamite kid.
You've really shined this year -- moving up from TK to K, getting "purple" a whole week through (purple meaning you are performing above the top level...) what can I say kiddo? Keep it up - you rock! I am so incredibly proud of you and honored to be your mama...
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Happy 5th Birthday, My Beautiful Daughter
My sweet Mayale,
Happy, happy birthday my love! 5 years old! I cannot believe it. 5 years is a milestone - a whole "hand" - a whole "chapter." I feel like we've known each other much longer than that, and I feel like there is much more than just "5" in you. You have a whole lot of stuff in your 5 year old "you" and it's all wonderful and precious.
If I think of how far you've come in the last year, it is overwhelming. I picked Ethan up from school yesterday and I was talking to his teacher, Abby. Abby was your teacher when you started at VBS too. Abby said how different you and Ethan were -- that when you were in her class you were so quiet, and observant, and did not take the lead much. I remember when you were like that. So sweet, and so attached to mama... you would cry every time I left you. Now things are so different! The other day your TK teacher Mrs. Bell said that you are outstanding, outgoing, and confident. She says you are a super girl! Well, not a surprise to me because I know it. Not only do I know it, I feel it in my bones! Mrs. Bell is awarding you the Principal's award - the first award for your class. Going to you. I am so, so proud of you. You are a wonderful, special girl. You love to help and be involved and you are friendly to everyone. You are excellent and mama loves you so, so much.
You love to do your homework and love to tell me all the new stuff you are learning in school. Other moms tell me how advanced you are in class. It's so, so good. I pray you will always be strong academically and interested in learning and achieving.
You care about your brother and your family -- well, you always have. You love to play and you LOVE to do art. That is your favorite thing right now. You love lalaloopsy and you like hearing pop radio... the song you always recognize is "Royals." You are playing softball right now and you love it too. That is what is so special about you. You never complain, you just go and you do. You are up for anything. It's a wonderful quality - a lot like your sapta!
For your 5th year I wish you continued happiness, innocence, energy, and joy. As you learn what friendship is all about in school, I hope you learn to be with friends who are nice and care about you, and learn to stay away from those who might not. I hope you find and nurture your passions, whatever they may be. I hope you continue to love as strongly as you do, and I hope you never lose your precious energy for life.
God blessed me when he brought you to me honey. I truly feel that. I love you, my beautiful 5 year old, to the moon and back.
Love,
Mommy
Happy, happy birthday my love! 5 years old! I cannot believe it. 5 years is a milestone - a whole "hand" - a whole "chapter." I feel like we've known each other much longer than that, and I feel like there is much more than just "5" in you. You have a whole lot of stuff in your 5 year old "you" and it's all wonderful and precious.
If I think of how far you've come in the last year, it is overwhelming. I picked Ethan up from school yesterday and I was talking to his teacher, Abby. Abby was your teacher when you started at VBS too. Abby said how different you and Ethan were -- that when you were in her class you were so quiet, and observant, and did not take the lead much. I remember when you were like that. So sweet, and so attached to mama... you would cry every time I left you. Now things are so different! The other day your TK teacher Mrs. Bell said that you are outstanding, outgoing, and confident. She says you are a super girl! Well, not a surprise to me because I know it. Not only do I know it, I feel it in my bones! Mrs. Bell is awarding you the Principal's award - the first award for your class. Going to you. I am so, so proud of you. You are a wonderful, special girl. You love to help and be involved and you are friendly to everyone. You are excellent and mama loves you so, so much.
You love to do your homework and love to tell me all the new stuff you are learning in school. Other moms tell me how advanced you are in class. It's so, so good. I pray you will always be strong academically and interested in learning and achieving.
You care about your brother and your family -- well, you always have. You love to play and you LOVE to do art. That is your favorite thing right now. You love lalaloopsy and you like hearing pop radio... the song you always recognize is "Royals." You are playing softball right now and you love it too. That is what is so special about you. You never complain, you just go and you do. You are up for anything. It's a wonderful quality - a lot like your sapta!
For your 5th year I wish you continued happiness, innocence, energy, and joy. As you learn what friendship is all about in school, I hope you learn to be with friends who are nice and care about you, and learn to stay away from those who might not. I hope you find and nurture your passions, whatever they may be. I hope you continue to love as strongly as you do, and I hope you never lose your precious energy for life.
God blessed me when he brought you to me honey. I truly feel that. I love you, my beautiful 5 year old, to the moon and back.
Love,
Mommy
Monday, July 8, 2013
Happy 3rd Birthday to my Beautiful Ethan
My sweet, sweet boy. Happy birthday to you! I just went through and read the history of this blog... Your other birthdays, the moments when you were so young and things were so crazy... Man, it's amazing how some things change so much and some things really stay the same.
You know what has stayed the same? The beautiful loving spirit that is you. Ever since you we're orn you loved "love", and you were loving and affectionate... And you still are. Today when I got home from work I gave you a big kiss and then Sapta gave you a big kiss and you held both of our faces, one on each cheek, and smiled and laughed.
Turning 3 is exciting! Tonight as I put you to bed we talked about it being your birthday tomorrow and you were jumping around, so excited. You said you were going to be bigger, and taller, and you would "touch the sky!" -- go for it baby!
You are a funny, sweet kid. You like school, but right now you'd much rather stay home and hang out or go to the park. You are TV and iPad obsessed - and this is something we are constantly battling! At school this past year all your teaxhers loved you andall the other teachers at school said they hope they will have you in theyears to come. You learned so many Jewish songs and prayers, and you are so mature and well-spoken. You love your friend Jake and play so nicely with him. You love to play with Maya in your little make-believe world. You still love cars, but you also love transformers, and sports! We just started you in a sports class at Balboa park and you are super into it.
You are a good, sweet boy Ethan, and I love and cherish you everyday. You fill me with joy, peace, and contentment, and I thank you for that. I am so grateful for you. Happy, happy birthday my love.
You know what has stayed the same? The beautiful loving spirit that is you. Ever since you we're orn you loved "love", and you were loving and affectionate... And you still are. Today when I got home from work I gave you a big kiss and then Sapta gave you a big kiss and you held both of our faces, one on each cheek, and smiled and laughed.
Turning 3 is exciting! Tonight as I put you to bed we talked about it being your birthday tomorrow and you were jumping around, so excited. You said you were going to be bigger, and taller, and you would "touch the sky!" -- go for it baby!
You are a funny, sweet kid. You like school, but right now you'd much rather stay home and hang out or go to the park. You are TV and iPad obsessed - and this is something we are constantly battling! At school this past year all your teaxhers loved you andall the other teachers at school said they hope they will have you in theyears to come. You learned so many Jewish songs and prayers, and you are so mature and well-spoken. You love your friend Jake and play so nicely with him. You love to play with Maya in your little make-believe world. You still love cars, but you also love transformers, and sports! We just started you in a sports class at Balboa park and you are super into it.
You are a good, sweet boy Ethan, and I love and cherish you everyday. You fill me with joy, peace, and contentment, and I thank you for that. I am so grateful for you. Happy, happy birthday my love.
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Beautiful birthday wishes for my four year old!!
My dear Maya,
We are now a few days past your birthday, but life has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to write your letter. We had your birthday party on a Sunday, then I flew to Chicago that Monday, came home, celebrated your actual birthday that Thursday, then flew out to Boston the next Monday. Busy, but wonderful. Wonderful because now I'm home, and I'm with you and Ethan, and as your mom there is really no other place I'd rather be.
It's amazing to think that you are 4 years old. Not because it has gone by fast, because it has, but I also feel like I remember you at each age so well, so I don't feel like I missed out on anything. To me the beautiful thing about you growing up is really watching you grow. I look at how you see the world, how you think hard, and how you try to figure it out. It impresses me every day. I give you so much credit - I think you are going to do wonderful things - whether for the world, for a company, for your family, or for yourself. Or maybe for all.
If I think back to how you were when you turned 3 to how you are now... wow. You can now write your name so well, and are starting to figure this reading thing out. It's wonderful and exciting! You love to color/paint, and have a real passion for it. I see you figuring numbers out -- how much more is grandma's age to sapta's age (a conversation we just had in your room as I was putting you to bed tonight!). Math skills, reading skills -- it's so fun to see your brain click and learn and want to understand. Yay for that!
You have a wonderful heart and you love your brother so much. I see the way you look out for him. Sometimes you are also quite tough on him too! But that is the tricky part of having a sibling. You bit his cheek the other day - oy vey - broke skin and everything! Daddy and I were not the least bit happy with you and you cried for a solid hour, long after Ethan had said that he was fine and it didn't hurt anymore. I know it scared you -- realizing that when you act out in frustration sometimes you do things that you regret... wishing you could make it go away... but seeing that you can't. I hope that while these lessons are painful, you learn from them. Much easier to learn from biting your brother's cheek than god knows how many other more serious things...
I always feel it is really special how you are always looking out for Ethan - making sure he gets a toy that he likes, or a candy that he likes. If he really wants one of your toys 9 times out of 10 you give it to him - even if you really want it. I don't take that for granted at all. It shows that you have a kind, generous, loving heart.
You are a fun, active, quick on your feet girl. You aren't boring in the least. I see how the kids at school like you and want to hang with you and I love that! Go and shine and I am here in your corner cheering you on.
Happy birthday my beautiful Maya-le. You are my heart's sunshine and I love you so very much, every single day.
Lots of love,
Mommy
We are now a few days past your birthday, but life has been so busy that I haven't had a chance to write your letter. We had your birthday party on a Sunday, then I flew to Chicago that Monday, came home, celebrated your actual birthday that Thursday, then flew out to Boston the next Monday. Busy, but wonderful. Wonderful because now I'm home, and I'm with you and Ethan, and as your mom there is really no other place I'd rather be.
It's amazing to think that you are 4 years old. Not because it has gone by fast, because it has, but I also feel like I remember you at each age so well, so I don't feel like I missed out on anything. To me the beautiful thing about you growing up is really watching you grow. I look at how you see the world, how you think hard, and how you try to figure it out. It impresses me every day. I give you so much credit - I think you are going to do wonderful things - whether for the world, for a company, for your family, or for yourself. Or maybe for all.
If I think back to how you were when you turned 3 to how you are now... wow. You can now write your name so well, and are starting to figure this reading thing out. It's wonderful and exciting! You love to color/paint, and have a real passion for it. I see you figuring numbers out -- how much more is grandma's age to sapta's age (a conversation we just had in your room as I was putting you to bed tonight!). Math skills, reading skills -- it's so fun to see your brain click and learn and want to understand. Yay for that!
You have a wonderful heart and you love your brother so much. I see the way you look out for him. Sometimes you are also quite tough on him too! But that is the tricky part of having a sibling. You bit his cheek the other day - oy vey - broke skin and everything! Daddy and I were not the least bit happy with you and you cried for a solid hour, long after Ethan had said that he was fine and it didn't hurt anymore. I know it scared you -- realizing that when you act out in frustration sometimes you do things that you regret... wishing you could make it go away... but seeing that you can't. I hope that while these lessons are painful, you learn from them. Much easier to learn from biting your brother's cheek than god knows how many other more serious things...
I always feel it is really special how you are always looking out for Ethan - making sure he gets a toy that he likes, or a candy that he likes. If he really wants one of your toys 9 times out of 10 you give it to him - even if you really want it. I don't take that for granted at all. It shows that you have a kind, generous, loving heart.
You are a fun, active, quick on your feet girl. You aren't boring in the least. I see how the kids at school like you and want to hang with you and I love that! Go and shine and I am here in your corner cheering you on.
Happy birthday my beautiful Maya-le. You are my heart's sunshine and I love you so very much, every single day.
Lots of love,
Mommy
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Dear Ethan
My sweet boy. Here we are, on the day before your 2nd birthday. It's so amazing that two years has gone by. Two years since your beautiful spirit entered the world. Since your gorgeous blue eyes, dimple chin, and heart of gold became a luxury I could enjoy and appreciate every day. I am so lucky to have you.
You really are an incredible kid. You are the sweetest, most loving little guy I know. This is your personality and your biggest blessing. How lucky you are that you were born this way. As your mama I think about these things all the time -- what it will take for you to have success and happiness in your life. So many things contribute to that, but what might be the most important is a good personality. And at 2 years old, you have this category checked off. What a beautiful blessing!
You are wonderfully friendly. You say "hi" with a wave and a big smile. But it's really to people who you know and like, so it's not to just anybody. When people leave, you say bye with emotion and depth. I love this about you! It's special and such a nice quality to have.
You love to laugh. You are a happy boy. It's easy to make you happy and you exude happiness so it feels good from every perspective. You find joy in almost everything we do.
You have such a good heart. For the most part, you always say sorry if you hurt someone. You say please and thank you, many times unprompted. It's pretty amazing for such a little guy!
And how could I forget. You LOVE Cars. I mean love. It's so funny to think that as an infant and toddler you had Maya's toys to play with... strollers, dolls. And you were the best stroller-pusher ever! But then one day you learned about cars, and that was it. Cars-obsessed! I don't think anyone even tried to teach you about cars, you just got into them on your own. The difference between boys and girls I guess.
Love you sweet boy. Love you to the moon and back and I absolutely adore you. Happy birthday!
You really are an incredible kid. You are the sweetest, most loving little guy I know. This is your personality and your biggest blessing. How lucky you are that you were born this way. As your mama I think about these things all the time -- what it will take for you to have success and happiness in your life. So many things contribute to that, but what might be the most important is a good personality. And at 2 years old, you have this category checked off. What a beautiful blessing!
You are wonderfully friendly. You say "hi" with a wave and a big smile. But it's really to people who you know and like, so it's not to just anybody. When people leave, you say bye with emotion and depth. I love this about you! It's special and such a nice quality to have.
You love to laugh. You are a happy boy. It's easy to make you happy and you exude happiness so it feels good from every perspective. You find joy in almost everything we do.
You have such a good heart. For the most part, you always say sorry if you hurt someone. You say please and thank you, many times unprompted. It's pretty amazing for such a little guy!
And how could I forget. You LOVE Cars. I mean love. It's so funny to think that as an infant and toddler you had Maya's toys to play with... strollers, dolls. And you were the best stroller-pusher ever! But then one day you learned about cars, and that was it. Cars-obsessed! I don't think anyone even tried to teach you about cars, you just got into them on your own. The difference between boys and girls I guess.
Love you sweet boy. Love you to the moon and back and I absolutely adore you. Happy birthday!
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| Ojai Valley Inn and Spa |
Friday, June 8, 2012
Raising Children
I've spent the past week "at home." This has been a week at home for me between jobs. I start anew on Monday. It's been an amazing time for self-growth and self-reflection. Awesome and I feel lucky and privileged to have been given the opportunity.
I've spent the mornings with my kids. Making them breakfast. Sitting with them. Things I don't get a chance to do most days. And with the busyness of work, I don't get a chance to appreciate it when I do get the chance, because I'm frankly just tired. I hope my new opportunity will allow me to change that. Fingers crossed.
I adore my children. Truly truly truly. They are great kids. I try hard to raise them well each day. To make them loving, but strong. To make them smart, but still sensitive. To give them good vision, and a good perspective on what the world is like. To let them have fun like crazy, but also know that life isn't just fun and games. I am doing the best I know how, and I feel in my bones that I'm doing it right. I hope I'm right.
Today is Friday, which is shabbat. The kids had great swimming lessons (I'm so proud!), then they got bathed and I threw some dinner together. Right before dessert we remembered that it was Friday, Shabbat! How could we forget?? Maya and I looked at eachother, exasperated. Cute. We grabbed two candles, and Maya said the prayers, she is awesome, and we talked. About what we are grateful for. About what an incredible family we have. How lucky we are to have all that we have. How we always have to think about who we are and where we come from. Just like the Jewish people that escaped Egypt from King Pharaoh. Maya talked about how he didn't treat the Jewish people very nice and he got the bad plagues. She totally knows and connects with the story. Then she mentioned each person in our family... how special they all are. We all said "Shabbat Shalom" and "Amen" -- little Ethan too. He is such a natural at things in life.
Maya and Ethan. They are my biggest sources of joy and pride and I love them, literally, to the moon and back.
I've spent the mornings with my kids. Making them breakfast. Sitting with them. Things I don't get a chance to do most days. And with the busyness of work, I don't get a chance to appreciate it when I do get the chance, because I'm frankly just tired. I hope my new opportunity will allow me to change that. Fingers crossed.
I adore my children. Truly truly truly. They are great kids. I try hard to raise them well each day. To make them loving, but strong. To make them smart, but still sensitive. To give them good vision, and a good perspective on what the world is like. To let them have fun like crazy, but also know that life isn't just fun and games. I am doing the best I know how, and I feel in my bones that I'm doing it right. I hope I'm right.
Today is Friday, which is shabbat. The kids had great swimming lessons (I'm so proud!), then they got bathed and I threw some dinner together. Right before dessert we remembered that it was Friday, Shabbat! How could we forget?? Maya and I looked at eachother, exasperated. Cute. We grabbed two candles, and Maya said the prayers, she is awesome, and we talked. About what we are grateful for. About what an incredible family we have. How lucky we are to have all that we have. How we always have to think about who we are and where we come from. Just like the Jewish people that escaped Egypt from King Pharaoh. Maya talked about how he didn't treat the Jewish people very nice and he got the bad plagues. She totally knows and connects with the story. Then she mentioned each person in our family... how special they all are. We all said "Shabbat Shalom" and "Amen" -- little Ethan too. He is such a natural at things in life.
Maya and Ethan. They are my biggest sources of joy and pride and I love them, literally, to the moon and back.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Birthday Girl!
Maya's birthday yesterday was wonderful! She woke up all cheerful, I held her close and sang her happy birthday. I gave her a little hello kitty dressed up as a devil as a little birthday morning treat, and also because she had slept so well the night before (5 stickers on her reward chart!). She loved the warmth and attention. She got to have a special breakfast - whatever she wanted. She chose a waffle. Or as she said, "vaffle." Love my eastern-european kid.
I only stayed at work for a few hours, but left to go bring little mini-muffins to Maya's school. She didn't know I was coming. It was such a treat to walk into her class and see her with her birthday crown on!
She was so excited. She helped me pass out muffins to all of her friends. Then we put a candle in hers and everyone sang "Happy Birthday" and "Yom Huledet Sameach." Ahhh, love Valley Beth Shalom.
Afterwards I read one of Maya's favorite stories to the whole class. We read "Teddy is Polite", and when the kids saw that the characters were teddy bears, they couldn't stop talking about their own Teddy Bears. Such discussion! Such excitement!
It was really a sweet, sweet day. In the evening we all (Maya, Ethan, Daddy and I) had dinner out on our new porch swing, and Maya got another fruit tart with a candle. We sang and had the best little time. Later on Uncle Brad, Aunt Shelley, and Alana and Jeremy came over to wish her a happy birthday and brought her some new clothes. She was so happy! This girl loves clothes.
She got so many phone calls, messages, hugs and love. Seriously, what a lucky 3 year old! Next weekend she has the most amazing birthday party planned. I hope she is loving this as much as I am.
At night before she went to bed, she said, "You are the best mommy ever." Totally unprompted! Tears started to well up in my eyes. She then went on to say "Mommy, you are my best friend." I mean, come on! Who put her up to saying that??
I love my girl. She is the bees knees. I feel like the luckiest mama in the world that she's mine.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Maya, 3 years old
I feel so full of emotion the night before your 3rd birthday. 3 years - wow! I think of you when you were just a little thing and I think to who you are now, and it is an incredible testament to this thing called life what a beautiful little soul you are and how much you have brought, and how much you have to bring, to this world.
This is an incredible age, because you really start to understand the world around you. You understand that some things work in your favor, and sometimes things don't. You start to learn that everything has consequences, both positive and negative. This is an amazing thing to experience as your mommy! There is so much I want to show you and teach you.
Lately you are asking about everything. You want a watch. You want earrings. You sing songs all the time. You are learning words in Hebrew at school - echad, shtaim, shalosh... yeladim. You love shabbat and making challah at school. You love lighting the candles on shabbat, and sometimes you even ask us to light the candles on the other nights. You love to laugh and be silly, and you have a lot of emotion.
You absolutely love school and your friends. You talk about them all the time! You love seeing friends at My Gym and at dance class. You've become such an incredible swimmer. Full on swimming before your 3rd birthday! I never would have thought.
You love Ethan, even if you sometimes feel confused by your feelings. You make sure he understands what is yours is yours and you don't like it when he takes your things, but you also rush to give him something else to play with. If we're out and about and he's not with us, you express how much you miss him.
Being your mommy is the most incredible experience of my life. It's full of so many emotions - joy, excitement, passion, concern, but the strongest emotion of all, the one that I feel vibrating in my bones, is love. You are my baby and I absolutely adore you. From here today, until forever.
Love,
Mommy
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Savoring and capturing each moment
Things have been so fun and enjoyable with the kids. Our lives have been so full and fun. Last weekend Mark was out of town for work. I had all these "grand plans" for Thursday -- take Ethan to his audition at the agency, work-out, do some work, and then on Friday I was going to focus on me. Do some shopping (I am in desperate need of a few new threads), check out sunglasses, bras, etc. Well I woke up on Thursday morning - Mark had already left - and when I saw Amelia I knew immediately something was wrong. She said she was sick.
Fuckshitahhhshit. By brain started to race and I knew what this meant. "Go home" I told her. Poor thing, she was sick. You can't care for children when you're sick. So I got Maya and Ethan ready and drove to Maya's school. We came home and I put Ethan down for a nap. He slept for a grand total of 30 minutes and then we got ready and went to Osbrink - the agency that Dana coordinated. Ethan did great! They all held him and he smiled for everyone. Such a charmer. Of course the moment we got in the car he whined the whole ride home. But they want to sign him! Too funny. I have to go get him a work permit and take some shots. Too fun.
On Friday we took Maya to school, and then Ethan and I went to visit Jen in Santa Monica. It was a beautiful day! Then we came home, just hung out, opened the doors and windows, and then Ethan took a beautiful long nap. I ended up having to wake him up in order to go get Maya. She had her first dance class on Friday and I really wanted to check it out. We didn't make it. Oh well. This Friday!
On Saturday Kristy arrived and it was so good to have her. Seriously, phew. Spending 48 hours alone with my kids was so wonderful. I never am alone with them. And it was so nice also getting some alone time with Ethan. I had so much of that with Maya when she was a baby, but I never got that with Ethan. He is such a sweet adorable thing. Maya is also growing so beautifully. She is so sweet and lovable. She is speaking so much now, and so well. I had a "parent-teacher conference" with Miss Liz and Miss Arosha at her school and they spoke so highly of her. They said how nice and mellow she is, that she's a bit shy but is expressing herself more and more, and that she's so "girly" -- really likes to play with the dolls. As if we don't already know that! But it was nice to hear how well behaved she is.
On Saturday Maya and I went to a playdate at Stephanie and Vaughn's house. They live in a beautiful neighborhood in Woodland Hills off Topanga Canyon Blvd. Really nice! Their house was also beautiful. I loved that they had a separate playroom (a former den) for Vaughn. It made me even more aware of what a toy-mess our living room had become. So we got back from that playdate and I was motivated to rearrange! Thank goodness for Kristy; she totally put it together and it looks so great!
It was just oh, so nice. I love the time that I have with my kids. It feels so right, so healthy, to be with them. I love that I have my work during the week and then I have my kids on the weekend. These are just good, happy days.
Fuckshitahhhshit. By brain started to race and I knew what this meant. "Go home" I told her. Poor thing, she was sick. You can't care for children when you're sick. So I got Maya and Ethan ready and drove to Maya's school. We came home and I put Ethan down for a nap. He slept for a grand total of 30 minutes and then we got ready and went to Osbrink - the agency that Dana coordinated. Ethan did great! They all held him and he smiled for everyone. Such a charmer. Of course the moment we got in the car he whined the whole ride home. But they want to sign him! Too funny. I have to go get him a work permit and take some shots. Too fun.
On Friday we took Maya to school, and then Ethan and I went to visit Jen in Santa Monica. It was a beautiful day! Then we came home, just hung out, opened the doors and windows, and then Ethan took a beautiful long nap. I ended up having to wake him up in order to go get Maya. She had her first dance class on Friday and I really wanted to check it out. We didn't make it. Oh well. This Friday!
On Saturday Kristy arrived and it was so good to have her. Seriously, phew. Spending 48 hours alone with my kids was so wonderful. I never am alone with them. And it was so nice also getting some alone time with Ethan. I had so much of that with Maya when she was a baby, but I never got that with Ethan. He is such a sweet adorable thing. Maya is also growing so beautifully. She is so sweet and lovable. She is speaking so much now, and so well. I had a "parent-teacher conference" with Miss Liz and Miss Arosha at her school and they spoke so highly of her. They said how nice and mellow she is, that she's a bit shy but is expressing herself more and more, and that she's so "girly" -- really likes to play with the dolls. As if we don't already know that! But it was nice to hear how well behaved she is.
On Saturday Maya and I went to a playdate at Stephanie and Vaughn's house. They live in a beautiful neighborhood in Woodland Hills off Topanga Canyon Blvd. Really nice! Their house was also beautiful. I loved that they had a separate playroom (a former den) for Vaughn. It made me even more aware of what a toy-mess our living room had become. So we got back from that playdate and I was motivated to rearrange! Thank goodness for Kristy; she totally put it together and it looks so great!
It was just oh, so nice. I love the time that I have with my kids. It feels so right, so healthy, to be with them. I love that I have my work during the week and then I have my kids on the weekend. These are just good, happy days.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Growing, growing...
It's such an amazing thing to watch my kids grow. Every time I witness major change it makes my jaw drop to the floor and I feel like the luckiest person in the world. It is definitely one of those "my cup runneth over" moments.
Today I got home from work before Amelia got back with the kiddos. I was in the kitchen when I heard the door open, and Maya's feet come pitter-pattering inside. She talked about a sweater she wanted from school (Maya's thing of late is stealing other kids jackets! sigh) and then she immediately wanted a snack. I know she gets a snack after nap at school so I am not really sure she is hungry, but when she keeps repeating, "snack, snacktime", I figure I should offer her something. I don't want it to be junk though. If she's hungry, she should eat something nutritious.
I offered her a banana or a rice cracker. She began to whine almost immediately. She wanted "crackers" -- just some wheat-thin type of cracker. Maya gets in routines with her snack. If I start giving her a snack that I call "special snack" that is what she'll request for a few weeks. Well I gave her these wheat-thin type crackers last week and now that's all she wants. I didn't want her having those.
So she LOST it. I think this was the first full-on temper tantrum I've seen her have. She fell to the floor, flailing around like a maniac, crying. I didn't react -- in fact I thought it was kind of funny -- she was being SO dramatic over some stupid crackers. I gave her a few minutes to have her show, and then I picked her up and took her outside for some fresh air. We talked about the moon (that wasn't "up" yet), the helicopters in the sky, the water in the lawn, etc. She relaxed.
We came back in and she took her banana. I put some raisins in the banana to give it a face and she thought it was the most hysterical thing ever.
Fast forward to dinner. She was sitting and eating and all of a sudden said "Santa Claus." Hmmm? I figured they were talking about Santa Claus at school. I have no problem with this but all of a sudden felt all protective about being Jewish - were they talking about Hannukah? I asked her if they were talking about Santa at school - and she didn't respond. Then she said "Poor Santa Claus." I asked why Santa Claus was poor. She responded with "Santa Claus cry. Maya cry." And that was the end of that conversation.
Maya went to take a bath with Amelia and I hung with little Ethan. He is just so precious. He seems so small to me. I know he isn't, but maybe after carrying Maya he is just this little being. I could just eat him up he is so sweet.
A little bit later I put Ethan to bed and then Maya and I were hanging out. All of a sudden she pulled down her pants and pulled off her diaper. I asked her if the diaper was wet. She responded with a quasi-"yes", so I told her we would go and put a new one on. I pulled her pajama pants back up and she was marveling at how it felt to have pants on without a big diaper in the way!
On our way into her room we passed by her bathroom. She went in. I was trying to yank her out before she peed in her pants, but she straight out went and sat on her potty! This was amazing, as she's never really too interested in sitting on it when we suggest it. She only sat on it for a moment and then she got up and went over to the big potty. Wow! I helped her up, and within a moment -- trickle trickle trickle! She peed in the potty!
I got so excited and that made her so excited. We got up and I gave her some toilet paper to wipe herself, then we threw it in the toilet, flushed it, and said, "bye bye pee pee." She loved it so much that she said she had more pee pee, so I helped her on the potty again and we got a few more trickles. Repeat about 3 more times. I am so damn proud and excited. She totally did this on her own, and did GREAT! Go Maya!
So she is growing so much, talking so much, and is so much of her own person. I love love love it! I am so blessed to be a mama to these two.
Today I got home from work before Amelia got back with the kiddos. I was in the kitchen when I heard the door open, and Maya's feet come pitter-pattering inside. She talked about a sweater she wanted from school (Maya's thing of late is stealing other kids jackets! sigh) and then she immediately wanted a snack. I know she gets a snack after nap at school so I am not really sure she is hungry, but when she keeps repeating, "snack, snacktime", I figure I should offer her something. I don't want it to be junk though. If she's hungry, she should eat something nutritious.
I offered her a banana or a rice cracker. She began to whine almost immediately. She wanted "crackers" -- just some wheat-thin type of cracker. Maya gets in routines with her snack. If I start giving her a snack that I call "special snack" that is what she'll request for a few weeks. Well I gave her these wheat-thin type crackers last week and now that's all she wants. I didn't want her having those.
So she LOST it. I think this was the first full-on temper tantrum I've seen her have. She fell to the floor, flailing around like a maniac, crying. I didn't react -- in fact I thought it was kind of funny -- she was being SO dramatic over some stupid crackers. I gave her a few minutes to have her show, and then I picked her up and took her outside for some fresh air. We talked about the moon (that wasn't "up" yet), the helicopters in the sky, the water in the lawn, etc. She relaxed.
We came back in and she took her banana. I put some raisins in the banana to give it a face and she thought it was the most hysterical thing ever.
Fast forward to dinner. She was sitting and eating and all of a sudden said "Santa Claus." Hmmm? I figured they were talking about Santa Claus at school. I have no problem with this but all of a sudden felt all protective about being Jewish - were they talking about Hannukah? I asked her if they were talking about Santa at school - and she didn't respond. Then she said "Poor Santa Claus." I asked why Santa Claus was poor. She responded with "Santa Claus cry. Maya cry." And that was the end of that conversation.
Maya went to take a bath with Amelia and I hung with little Ethan. He is just so precious. He seems so small to me. I know he isn't, but maybe after carrying Maya he is just this little being. I could just eat him up he is so sweet.
A little bit later I put Ethan to bed and then Maya and I were hanging out. All of a sudden she pulled down her pants and pulled off her diaper. I asked her if the diaper was wet. She responded with a quasi-"yes", so I told her we would go and put a new one on. I pulled her pajama pants back up and she was marveling at how it felt to have pants on without a big diaper in the way!
On our way into her room we passed by her bathroom. She went in. I was trying to yank her out before she peed in her pants, but she straight out went and sat on her potty! This was amazing, as she's never really too interested in sitting on it when we suggest it. She only sat on it for a moment and then she got up and went over to the big potty. Wow! I helped her up, and within a moment -- trickle trickle trickle! She peed in the potty!
I got so excited and that made her so excited. We got up and I gave her some toilet paper to wipe herself, then we threw it in the toilet, flushed it, and said, "bye bye pee pee." She loved it so much that she said she had more pee pee, so I helped her on the potty again and we got a few more trickles. Repeat about 3 more times. I am so damn proud and excited. She totally did this on her own, and did GREAT! Go Maya!
So she is growing so much, talking so much, and is so much of her own person. I love love love it! I am so blessed to be a mama to these two.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Funny Stories
My dear little Maya...
Yesterday I got home from work and Maya was already back from school. She looked so cute!! In pink pants and the most adorable Pink jacket. I told her how cute she looked and gave her a big hug. She said, "Mama buy this" -- pointing to her jacket. I certainly didn't buy it for her and didn't really recognize it, but assumed it was something my mom may have bought her.
A few minutes later our nanny Amelia asked me if that was our jacket. I said that I really didn't know that jacket, and she said that when she went to pick Maya up from school, Maya pointed to that jacket and said, "Mommy buy this jacket" -- so she assumed it was ours and took it home.
Nope! My kid straight out made up a story about that jacket because she liked it! OMG.
I talked to DH and told him that Maya took home someone else's jacket. He said, "Is it pink with embroidery on it?" I told him it was, and he said, "She's been eyeballing that since yesterday!" Mark takes Maya to school each morning.
I felt SO bad for whomever's mom it was that Maya took the jacket from. We promptly returned it this morning, and I went online to Carter's and ordered Maya a few new pink jackets. She is in such a pink phase right now, it is all she wants to wear.
Le sigh!
In other news, Ethan is 4 months old as of yesterday! Such a sweet little guy. And he is so darn cute, I just want to eat him up!
I am blessed. I love my beautiful babies.
Yesterday I got home from work and Maya was already back from school. She looked so cute!! In pink pants and the most adorable Pink jacket. I told her how cute she looked and gave her a big hug. She said, "Mama buy this" -- pointing to her jacket. I certainly didn't buy it for her and didn't really recognize it, but assumed it was something my mom may have bought her.
A few minutes later our nanny Amelia asked me if that was our jacket. I said that I really didn't know that jacket, and she said that when she went to pick Maya up from school, Maya pointed to that jacket and said, "Mommy buy this jacket" -- so she assumed it was ours and took it home.
Nope! My kid straight out made up a story about that jacket because she liked it! OMG.
I talked to DH and told him that Maya took home someone else's jacket. He said, "Is it pink with embroidery on it?" I told him it was, and he said, "She's been eyeballing that since yesterday!" Mark takes Maya to school each morning.
I felt SO bad for whomever's mom it was that Maya took the jacket from. We promptly returned it this morning, and I went online to Carter's and ordered Maya a few new pink jackets. She is in such a pink phase right now, it is all she wants to wear.
Le sigh!
In other news, Ethan is 4 months old as of yesterday! Such a sweet little guy. And he is so darn cute, I just want to eat him up!
I am blessed. I love my beautiful babies.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Sigh. The emotions continue
I'm feeling so overly emotional today. Intensely grateful, and so over-the-top in love with my kiddos. Maybe it's the fact that Maya is turning two on Monday and that she's moving to the two-year old class at school. Maybe it's that she is growing up and I just love watching her learn new things and understand the world better. Maybe it's that I'm going back to work on Tuesday. Whatever it is, I look at my kids and my jaw just drops to the floor. I never could have anticipated having these kinds of feelings before; they're just so unique to this experience. It's kind of life falling in love or getting married. Amazing. Joyful, wonderful, over-the-top. I feel so lucky.
Since I go back to work on Tuesday, I went to go pick up Maya from school today. On Fridays she has "Gymnastics on a bus", which is to-die-for-cute.
I just park in the parking lot and hope she doesn't spot me. Last week she did, but today I hid beneath the radar.
As they walked back to their respective classrooms, each kid held onto a circle-rope, which keeps them in line. School is SO good for these kids; I am so happy Maya goes.
I picked Maya up from Miss Shannon's room, and Shannon told me that Monday is Maya's official first day in the 2-year old room. Sigh! So exciting and sad/scary at the same time. In Miss Shannon's room there were only about 5 kids max. In the 2 year old room there are WAY more. We don't get reports on what they did every day. That makes me so sad! I love Maya's reports. I can't send her with a hot lunch as everything has to be kept outside at room temp. Maya is also going to get less attention. I know this is normal and she'll be fine but I can't help but be worried for my baby girl. Miss Shannon is so sweet and I'm sad we won't be with her anymore.
On the way home Maya and I went to yogurt-land for some quality mama-baby time. Maya LOVES yogurt-land... it is too cute. "More yogurt, more yogurt" over and over.
So what can I say? I have two beautiful, amazing kiddos. Ethan is just starting out, but to imagine that in two years he will be where Maya is today is just incredible. I can't wait to watch his little soul grow too.
Since I go back to work on Tuesday, I went to go pick up Maya from school today. On Fridays she has "Gymnastics on a bus", which is to-die-for-cute.
I just park in the parking lot and hope she doesn't spot me. Last week she did, but today I hid beneath the radar.
As they walked back to their respective classrooms, each kid held onto a circle-rope, which keeps them in line. School is SO good for these kids; I am so happy Maya goes.
I picked Maya up from Miss Shannon's room, and Shannon told me that Monday is Maya's official first day in the 2-year old room. Sigh! So exciting and sad/scary at the same time. In Miss Shannon's room there were only about 5 kids max. In the 2 year old room there are WAY more. We don't get reports on what they did every day. That makes me so sad! I love Maya's reports. I can't send her with a hot lunch as everything has to be kept outside at room temp. Maya is also going to get less attention. I know this is normal and she'll be fine but I can't help but be worried for my baby girl. Miss Shannon is so sweet and I'm sad we won't be with her anymore.
On the way home Maya and I went to yogurt-land for some quality mama-baby time. Maya LOVES yogurt-land... it is too cute. "More yogurt, more yogurt" over and over.
So what can I say? I have two beautiful, amazing kiddos. Ethan is just starting out, but to imagine that in two years he will be where Maya is today is just incredible. I can't wait to watch his little soul grow too.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Beautiful Moments
With my sweet baby girl.
I had such a sweet, incredible afternoon with my sweet Maya today. The day started out challenging. She's going through a flurry of emotional and developmental changes right now. First off, turning 2. We all know about the "terrible twos", but I see it more as "growing up without having the full capacity to read your map." She starts to feel things that she doesn't know what do to with, and she wants things and doesn't have a great ability to express it. That equals frustration. It's challenging as a parent, but also beautiful to witness.
Our new nanny Amelia is really great. She works hard, and most importantly, is sweet. I LOVE that about her. It is such a relief. Every day I take a deep breath and feel such contentment and relief that Elsa is gone and Amelia is here. It would be so hard for me to face going back to work and all the stress associated with that if I didn't feel comfortable with the lady in my house. Amelia helps, and helps with a smile. So nice.
In the mornings Maya has been having a lot of separation anxiety. She only wants me to sit with her when she eats. She wants me to take her to school. I walk her all the way to the car with Amelia and then she throws a fit when she realizes I'm turning back to the house. Today my mom went to visit her at school for "Grandparents Day" and she also threw the mother of all fits when my mom had to leave. She never had separation anxiety as an infant or young toddler. So we have it now. I am sure it will be easier for Amelia in the mornings once I am at work and not around the house.
Anyways, I was in the house with Ethan when Amelia and Maya came home in the afternoon. Usually I hear the door click, and then Maya's little feet pitter patter in, and I say, "Maya! How was your day?" She always has a huge smile on her face and responds with bold enthusiasm. Today was different. She looked so upset and was on the verge of tears. I asked her what was wrong. She pointed to the door and said "outside, outside" over and over in a very weary, emotional voice. I figured she really wanted to be outside, but it was just odd the way she was expressing herself. Amelia took Ethan and I went outside with Maya. I took her and put her on my lap to see if I could understand what the real problem was. She kept whining and pointing towards the tree in our front yard. I asked her if she wanted to see the tree. No real response. The bench? No real response. Then Amelia came out and mentioned that as they were getting home they saw the nanny of our neighbors across the street. They are the sweetest of families with 3 young kids, who Maya loves. Then, it clicked. I asked her if she wanted to go see the neighbors. A huge smile spread across her face and she said, "yeah, yeah" and nodded intensely. My sweet baby just didn't know how to communicate it to me.
We went to the neighbors and she had a great time. When we left she kept wanting to go back to the "neighsay". Apparently that's how she's saying "neighbors" today, once I told her how to tell me she wanted to see them next time. But at least she has a word for it now! My little social butterfly.
At home we played in the backyard, went down the slide, and then noticed a big box in the front yard. Mark had ordered some "Little People" toys for her. She shrieked with excitement when she realized the box contained gifts for her. He had ordered a school bus, complete with driver and fun music, and a big animal farm setup, that came with an animal for each letter of the alphabet. Oh my, did we have fun! She loved realizing that when you put the fish in the water, it made splashing sounds. Or that the monkey held a "nana" in his hands. Or that the tiger really did make that "roar roar" sound. Too cute.
We went to take a bath and she insisted I put a "ba-ate" on her afterward (band-aid). She got into her pajamas and I asked her if she wanted to read a book. No, she'd rather "pay" (play) and eat a "nana" like the monkey. So we went into the kitchen, got her a little piece of a banana, and played some more with the animals.
When I told her it was time to read a book, she said OK, but then immediately, "no night-night", meaning she was OK reading books but not going to sleep. I reassured her. But she said "no night-night" about 10 times to be sure I REALLY understood.
We went into her room and she gleamed with pride at her new clock -- it's her special clock that lets her know when it's time for bed and when it's time to get up. She's still in a crib right now but eventually we will transition her to a toddler bed, and I want to do everything I can to make sure she doesn't come running out of her room if she wakes up at 6 am. The clock is backlit, and it's yellow during the day, or during "awake" time, and blue during sleep time. When it turns blue to indicate sleep time, sweet music starts playing for 30 minutes, and then transitions into white noise all night. When it turns yellow at wake time, sweet music also starts playing. So far she loves it! It's very cute.
We read a story, and then the clock turned blue and music started playing. We finished the last few pages and then she went to grab another book (it's amazing how much she LOVES books). I told her the clock was blue and that meant night-night. And she didn't whine at all. She grabbed her kitty, and her baby and went over to her crib. Wow! Such maturity. I love watching her grow and learn. What a thing to witness.
So both my sweet babies are in bed right now. Sleeping soundly. I have two beautiful, incredible, healthy, happy kids. What a HUGE blessing. Seriously. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or less fortunate then others for one reason or another, I have to look at my two beautiful children and just say "thank you."
I had such a sweet, incredible afternoon with my sweet Maya today. The day started out challenging. She's going through a flurry of emotional and developmental changes right now. First off, turning 2. We all know about the "terrible twos", but I see it more as "growing up without having the full capacity to read your map." She starts to feel things that she doesn't know what do to with, and she wants things and doesn't have a great ability to express it. That equals frustration. It's challenging as a parent, but also beautiful to witness.
Our new nanny Amelia is really great. She works hard, and most importantly, is sweet. I LOVE that about her. It is such a relief. Every day I take a deep breath and feel such contentment and relief that Elsa is gone and Amelia is here. It would be so hard for me to face going back to work and all the stress associated with that if I didn't feel comfortable with the lady in my house. Amelia helps, and helps with a smile. So nice.
In the mornings Maya has been having a lot of separation anxiety. She only wants me to sit with her when she eats. She wants me to take her to school. I walk her all the way to the car with Amelia and then she throws a fit when she realizes I'm turning back to the house. Today my mom went to visit her at school for "Grandparents Day" and she also threw the mother of all fits when my mom had to leave. She never had separation anxiety as an infant or young toddler. So we have it now. I am sure it will be easier for Amelia in the mornings once I am at work and not around the house.
Anyways, I was in the house with Ethan when Amelia and Maya came home in the afternoon. Usually I hear the door click, and then Maya's little feet pitter patter in, and I say, "Maya! How was your day?" She always has a huge smile on her face and responds with bold enthusiasm. Today was different. She looked so upset and was on the verge of tears. I asked her what was wrong. She pointed to the door and said "outside, outside" over and over in a very weary, emotional voice. I figured she really wanted to be outside, but it was just odd the way she was expressing herself. Amelia took Ethan and I went outside with Maya. I took her and put her on my lap to see if I could understand what the real problem was. She kept whining and pointing towards the tree in our front yard. I asked her if she wanted to see the tree. No real response. The bench? No real response. Then Amelia came out and mentioned that as they were getting home they saw the nanny of our neighbors across the street. They are the sweetest of families with 3 young kids, who Maya loves. Then, it clicked. I asked her if she wanted to go see the neighbors. A huge smile spread across her face and she said, "yeah, yeah" and nodded intensely. My sweet baby just didn't know how to communicate it to me.
We went to the neighbors and she had a great time. When we left she kept wanting to go back to the "neighsay". Apparently that's how she's saying "neighbors" today, once I told her how to tell me she wanted to see them next time. But at least she has a word for it now! My little social butterfly.
At home we played in the backyard, went down the slide, and then noticed a big box in the front yard. Mark had ordered some "Little People" toys for her. She shrieked with excitement when she realized the box contained gifts for her. He had ordered a school bus, complete with driver and fun music, and a big animal farm setup, that came with an animal for each letter of the alphabet. Oh my, did we have fun! She loved realizing that when you put the fish in the water, it made splashing sounds. Or that the monkey held a "nana" in his hands. Or that the tiger really did make that "roar roar" sound. Too cute.
We went to take a bath and she insisted I put a "ba-ate" on her afterward (band-aid). She got into her pajamas and I asked her if she wanted to read a book. No, she'd rather "pay" (play) and eat a "nana" like the monkey. So we went into the kitchen, got her a little piece of a banana, and played some more with the animals.
When I told her it was time to read a book, she said OK, but then immediately, "no night-night", meaning she was OK reading books but not going to sleep. I reassured her. But she said "no night-night" about 10 times to be sure I REALLY understood.
We went into her room and she gleamed with pride at her new clock -- it's her special clock that lets her know when it's time for bed and when it's time to get up. She's still in a crib right now but eventually we will transition her to a toddler bed, and I want to do everything I can to make sure she doesn't come running out of her room if she wakes up at 6 am. The clock is backlit, and it's yellow during the day, or during "awake" time, and blue during sleep time. When it turns blue to indicate sleep time, sweet music starts playing for 30 minutes, and then transitions into white noise all night. When it turns yellow at wake time, sweet music also starts playing. So far she loves it! It's very cute.
We read a story, and then the clock turned blue and music started playing. We finished the last few pages and then she went to grab another book (it's amazing how much she LOVES books). I told her the clock was blue and that meant night-night. And she didn't whine at all. She grabbed her kitty, and her baby and went over to her crib. Wow! Such maturity. I love watching her grow and learn. What a thing to witness.
So both my sweet babies are in bed right now. Sleeping soundly. I have two beautiful, incredible, healthy, happy kids. What a HUGE blessing. Seriously. Whenever I feel overwhelmed, stressed, or less fortunate then others for one reason or another, I have to look at my two beautiful children and just say "thank you."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Reflecting on the eve of the new year
Tomorrow is Rosh Hashanah - the Jewish New Year. It's a time to reflect on all we have to be grateful for, and squeeze out as much hope as we can for the new year. I truly do live a blessed life. But if I'm being honest with myself, the turmoil and stress of bringing a new baby into this world didn't leave me feeling very blessed and joyful the past two months.
It was a very hectic time. New baby. Not sleeping. Still maintaining the energy for Maya. No connection with Mark. Trying unsuccessfully to get more out of Elsa, our nanny at the time. It was a hard, hard time. Mark and I were not getting along at all. We were just so at odds with each other on so many levels, and it was grating on me. I got to the point where I just wanted to fall to the ground and cry and kick and scream, like "give me a break!" I think I actually did that one night on our kitchen floor.
But amazingly, god is always listening. Just when you lose all faith, he surprises you. Two weeks ago we hired a fantastic gal to help us on the weekends. Her name is Kristi, she is Hungarian, and she is wonderful. She's a real help. It's so nice, because it gives Mark and I some freedom to run out on the weekend... take Maya with us and leave Ethan with her. Or to go out on a date. Blessing #1.
Last Monday I went to a 2nd time mom's group at the mothering store near the house. This is a 2nd time mom's group. The format was left very open and was just a question and answer type of session. I rolled my eyes at this at first thought, but in the end I left inspired to get Ethan to start sleeping on his own... in his own room.
It made for a hellish week of screaming and crying, but two amazing things came of it. One, I got my room back, which meant I got my husband back. Having a baby in a couple's room is SO dangerous. It kills all intimacy. A bedroom is a quiet, personal space. And we always need it.
The second amazing thing that came out of it was better night sleep. Ethan is still getting up at night to eat, but last night it was only once! And he eats and I put him down and he is RIGHT back to sleep. It's wonderful and I bang myself in the head for not starting this with him sooner. Babies need to sleep, and parents need them to sleep. Parents who rock their children to sleep for months and months and therefore not giving their children the necessary skill of sleeping on their own are blindly digging their own graves. It may work for some people but certainly not for me. Blessing #2.
Another crazy thing that happened last week was my nanny, Elsa, telling me she had to go back to Bolivia to be with her husband, who had become very sick. If that is what really happened, I am very sorry and I truly hope things get better. However the way in which she delivered the news was just strange and I can't shake the feeling that she crafted something for me. Whatever it was, I basically had less than a week to hire a new nanny. I went into panic mode. Posted a job ad on a few mothering boards, on craigslist, and in the spanish paper. An agency saw one of my posts and contacted me. I talked to them as well. It was an incredibly hectic week with so much chaos and stress, but by Friday, we had found our gal. Amelia. Blessing #3.
So this past weekend, we were able to decompress due to Kristi's great help. We went out to an amazing restaurant and really had a full-fledged "date", which was so nice. We slept in the same bedroom, happily. We laughed. We connected. We loved each other. It was SO nice. And on Monday, Amelia started.
You don't know what you've got till it's gone, and you don't know how much you were missing until it left. Having Elsa here had become so unhealthy... and it wasn't until she was gone that this was so apparent. It's only Amelia's second day today, but so far she is just wonderful. It is such a relief. I am very hopeful for the future of our relationship.
I'll do some more reflecting on this stuff through the week in honor of the new year
It was a very hectic time. New baby. Not sleeping. Still maintaining the energy for Maya. No connection with Mark. Trying unsuccessfully to get more out of Elsa, our nanny at the time. It was a hard, hard time. Mark and I were not getting along at all. We were just so at odds with each other on so many levels, and it was grating on me. I got to the point where I just wanted to fall to the ground and cry and kick and scream, like "give me a break!" I think I actually did that one night on our kitchen floor.
But amazingly, god is always listening. Just when you lose all faith, he surprises you. Two weeks ago we hired a fantastic gal to help us on the weekends. Her name is Kristi, she is Hungarian, and she is wonderful. She's a real help. It's so nice, because it gives Mark and I some freedom to run out on the weekend... take Maya with us and leave Ethan with her. Or to go out on a date. Blessing #1.
Last Monday I went to a 2nd time mom's group at the mothering store near the house. This is a 2nd time mom's group. The format was left very open and was just a question and answer type of session. I rolled my eyes at this at first thought, but in the end I left inspired to get Ethan to start sleeping on his own... in his own room.
It made for a hellish week of screaming and crying, but two amazing things came of it. One, I got my room back, which meant I got my husband back. Having a baby in a couple's room is SO dangerous. It kills all intimacy. A bedroom is a quiet, personal space. And we always need it.
The second amazing thing that came out of it was better night sleep. Ethan is still getting up at night to eat, but last night it was only once! And he eats and I put him down and he is RIGHT back to sleep. It's wonderful and I bang myself in the head for not starting this with him sooner. Babies need to sleep, and parents need them to sleep. Parents who rock their children to sleep for months and months and therefore not giving their children the necessary skill of sleeping on their own are blindly digging their own graves. It may work for some people but certainly not for me. Blessing #2.
Another crazy thing that happened last week was my nanny, Elsa, telling me she had to go back to Bolivia to be with her husband, who had become very sick. If that is what really happened, I am very sorry and I truly hope things get better. However the way in which she delivered the news was just strange and I can't shake the feeling that she crafted something for me. Whatever it was, I basically had less than a week to hire a new nanny. I went into panic mode. Posted a job ad on a few mothering boards, on craigslist, and in the spanish paper. An agency saw one of my posts and contacted me. I talked to them as well. It was an incredibly hectic week with so much chaos and stress, but by Friday, we had found our gal. Amelia. Blessing #3.
So this past weekend, we were able to decompress due to Kristi's great help. We went out to an amazing restaurant and really had a full-fledged "date", which was so nice. We slept in the same bedroom, happily. We laughed. We connected. We loved each other. It was SO nice. And on Monday, Amelia started.
You don't know what you've got till it's gone, and you don't know how much you were missing until it left. Having Elsa here had become so unhealthy... and it wasn't until she was gone that this was so apparent. It's only Amelia's second day today, but so far she is just wonderful. It is such a relief. I am very hopeful for the future of our relationship.
I'll do some more reflecting on this stuff through the week in honor of the new year
And so I begin
Hello, blogger world. I have done this many times before. Written blogs. Worked on them for a long time. Fell out of touch with them. Restarted. Fell off the wagon. Deleted them. And restarted them.
Why am I starting "This is my life?" Well, my life is full of SO MUCH. I'll have plenty of opportunities to share what that means, but this weekend I had such an epiphany. My "A-ha" moment. Where everything became clear. The fog rolled away, the stress that has been pounding through my veins dissipated. And I felt supremely grateful.
I have so much "amazing" in my life and I want to share it. Document it. Appreciate it. This past week I also learned that nothing lasts forever. Nothing at all. So while I am surrounded by so much "good stuff", I want to make sure to love and appreciate it.
I am 31 years old.
I am married to a wonderful guy, Mark. We just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. We've been together for 10 years now. It's a wonderful union. I am so, so lucky to share my life with him.
I have two beautiful kiddos. One incredible daughter Maya, who is almost 2, and my sweet little son Ethan, who is just about 2 months.
I work in marketing and account management for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. I like my job.
I have a sister who I am really close to. She is getting married next May - so exciting! I have two half sisters who I love incredibly. One just started college at Barnard this week, and the other one started her sophomore year in high school. Both are incredibly talented dancers and wonderful students.
My mom and I are very close. She lives 15 minutes away. I love her very much.
My dad also lives nearby.
Mark and I have all of our family within 10-15 minutes from where we live, with the exception of Mark's mom, who lives on Maui. We visit her every year, usually at Christmas time. It's really nice going there.
Those are my introductions. I have a lot I want to share, but little man is sleeping and I've got to get my things together to go pick up Maya at daycare in 30 minutes. Caio.
Why am I starting "This is my life?" Well, my life is full of SO MUCH. I'll have plenty of opportunities to share what that means, but this weekend I had such an epiphany. My "A-ha" moment. Where everything became clear. The fog rolled away, the stress that has been pounding through my veins dissipated. And I felt supremely grateful.
I have so much "amazing" in my life and I want to share it. Document it. Appreciate it. This past week I also learned that nothing lasts forever. Nothing at all. So while I am surrounded by so much "good stuff", I want to make sure to love and appreciate it.
I am 31 years old.
I am married to a wonderful guy, Mark. We just celebrated our 4th wedding anniversary. We've been together for 10 years now. It's a wonderful union. I am so, so lucky to share my life with him.
I have two beautiful kiddos. One incredible daughter Maya, who is almost 2, and my sweet little son Ethan, who is just about 2 months.
I work in marketing and account management for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company. I like my job.
I have a sister who I am really close to. She is getting married next May - so exciting! I have two half sisters who I love incredibly. One just started college at Barnard this week, and the other one started her sophomore year in high school. Both are incredibly talented dancers and wonderful students.
My mom and I are very close. She lives 15 minutes away. I love her very much.
My dad also lives nearby.
Mark and I have all of our family within 10-15 minutes from where we live, with the exception of Mark's mom, who lives on Maui. We visit her every year, usually at Christmas time. It's really nice going there.
Those are my introductions. I have a lot I want to share, but little man is sleeping and I've got to get my things together to go pick up Maya at daycare in 30 minutes. Caio.
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