Day 31: Havdalah

For all that we celebrate and commemorate shabbat on a near weekly basis, it wasn't until Michal's preschool started a weekly havdalah ceremony on Monday morning that it occurred to us to integrate the weekly ritual into our home. Last week was the first week we broke out the Havdalah set we received for our wedding and it is quickly becoming a part of our weekly routine. Michal's favorite part, I think, is the sizzle of the candle as it is extinguished in the wine/juice. 

I think Sivan likes the light. 

Day 30: Napping on the Go

We had a busy morning, so while I normally try to indulge Sivan's preference to nap at home in her crib, today she had to be a bit more flexibile. Which unfortunately meant she didn't sleep much because of all of the hustle and bustle. 

When she slept it was like this:

She doesn't look so peaceful. Fortunately we got home after picking Michal up at school and she got a decent nap in. Poor kiddo. 

Day 29: Bar Baby

A good friend of ours from college (band, more specifically) was in town from Seattle, so we headed up to Baltimore to see her and have dinner with some other college band friends. Mini-reunion of sorts. It was in a restaurant known for seafood and crab-intensive dishes, and Sivan dined quite well on squash purée, salmon, asparagus, fingerling potatoes -- basically anything I gave her.

Happy baby. 

"Give me all the food"

"Hmmm... I'm detecting a bit of ... dill, perhaps? Interesting."

"Hey, barkeep, can we get some service over here?!"

Day 28: Home Again

My conference ended this morning but continued with the board (of which I am a newly installed member) meeting through the afternoon and evening. I decided to sleep in my own bed (which simply means I have chosen to battle traffic to get back there in the morning), and came home in time to get Michal to bed. Sivan was already asleep, but it was enough to go into her room and check on her. 

So sweet. 

Of course I decided to try to get a picture of her face. I guess the flash wasn't so conducive to peaceful sleep. 

Day 27: Feet!

While I spend my afternoon at the Israeli Embassy, I received the following photo in a text from the woman who watches Sivan during the day. 

Sivan discovered her feet a while back -- and boy does she love them, especially during diaper changes when grabbing her feet is alternately helpful then not-so-helpful -- she had not yet discovered that they could reach her mouth. Looks like they don't taste as good as she expected. 

Day 26: Yay, Technology

Technology is amazing. I love that even though I'm away, I can have (literal) face time with the kids (and J). It isn't nearly the same as all of the hugs and kisses and snuggles we normally share, but it's something. 

Look at that cute cheek. I wish I'd been able to get away a little earlier so we could have "chatted," but at least I got s little time this morning and then this brief pre-bed moment. 

Day 25: Conference Time

My conference began today, and I realized this morning that this is the first time I am away from Sivan. It obviously had to happen at some point, and it'll be interesting maintaining this blog from afar (or perhaps convincing the parent in residence to pinch hit). 

J and the girls didn't laze around the house in my absence. They went to a neighboring synagogue for a performance by Rocknoceros - yes, they are as awesome as you'd think they would be.  Michal enjoys their music, and I was sent this picture of Sivan, whose head was on a swizzle trying to take it all in. 

Day 24: Peas in a Pod

I was so happy for a family day today. We did spend the morning in synagogue, which Sivan seemed to really enjoy.  The girls and I did have the chance for some cuddles. They're so sweet with each other. Most of the time. 

Day 23: Conference Baby

This Sunday begins the national conference for which I have been serving as co-chair for the past year.  It does mean that I will be "away" for he next four to five days (it's local, but commuting just didn't make sense), but working on this project has been so much fun. Friday we gathered in the conference office to take care of some last minute items, so Sivan naturally tagged along.

Always a good sport, she happily hung out as I helped assemble bags for conference. 

Speaking of bags, it's a baby in a bag!

Day 22: Hat Hater

It's winter, which around here usually means it is in the range of "cold-ish."  While we don't ever have a great sense of what Mother Nature will bring to the greater Washington DC area, I usually try to dress my children appropriately. Unfortunately Sivan thinks this is silly. She seems to dislike hats, something which has only been reinforced since buying her a new winter hat after her other one mysteriously went missing. 

Working so hard to get this thing off. Luckily it comes with ears she can grab. 

Almost got it... almost...

Unfortunate for the little miss, I prevailed and returned the nice, cozy hat to her head. She can't possibly realize how adorable she looks, can she?

Day 21: Group Selfie Fail

It's been a bit of a trying day, and we finally got past some of the four year old behavior drama. In celebration we decided to take a group photo - as you can see, this doesn't always work so well. Please enjoy. 

Day 20: School Visitor

Sivan helps me drop off her big sister at preschool a few days a week, but normally she stays in the stroller. Today, however, there was something amiss with the badges that allow us to move through various doors in the facility, which meant we were unable to access  the elevator that takes us downstairs to the lower level where one can find the Yonim (doves) classroom. We left the stroller upstairs and made our way below, where Sivan got a little taste of freedom and got to hang out in the classroom a bit. 

Michal loves hanging out in the classroom "office," so Sivan joined her in doing work (ie grabbing everything within reach of her startlingly-longer-than-expected arms). 

Which cracked Michal up. 

The baby wouldn't stop grabbing. It didn't seem to matter how we turned the tray in the center of the room, she wanted it and whatever else she could grab. 

And Michal cracked up. 

Day 19: Day of Service

We have endeavored to create traditions in our family, one of which is to take part in the Day of Service that has been integrated into the landscape of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. We took part in the (very) large county program with a hotel ballroom filled with round tables representing a host of various organizations with projects for kids of all ages. 

Quick ballroom selfie. 

Making cards of hope for the homeless. 

Building and decorating houses as part of an advocacy project from our local Habitat for Humanity chapter, who are utilizing these houses in their campaign for affordable housing. 

Sivan manages Michal in a project making crowns and masks for children at the Children's Inn at NIH. 

Starting them young, happy to help others. 

Day 18: Space Shuttle Sunday

With a rare Sunday together (holiday weekend = no school for me), we joined one of Michal's friends and headed out to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center out in Virginia. It had been a few years since we have been out to the museum, which is essentially a huge hangar filled with all sorts of airplanes, gliders, helicopters, and a space shuttle. Two years ago I took a photo of two-year-old Michal under the back end of the Space Shuttle Discovery, so I obviously had to replicate that today.

It's kind of amazing how big a space shuttle is, but more importantly, how adorable are they?!?

 

Day 17: Mango Baby

New food today - mango. 

This child has yet to find a food she doesn't love. 

Day 16: Peeka

Boo!

Day 15: Sick Day 2: Electric Boogaloo

Sivan woke up this morning with a fever and quite the nasal congestion situation (it was something out of a horror movie - don't worry, there are no pictures of that). So I kept her home and didn't go in to work, simply trying to get stuff done in between trying to get her to eat (she had no appetite) and keeping her awake between naps. But she did nap. 

And she was unhappy. 

Luckily by the end of the day she was in a better mood, even if she still ran a fever and lacked an appetite. 

Here's hoping tomorrow she is feeling better. 

Day 14: Sickie

I picked up Sivan early from day care today after getting a text saying that she had a temp of 99.8. I don't normally worry much over a temp of that nature, but after hearing she had done little other than eat and sleep today, I figured she might not be well. Got her home, took her temp (101.3), and back to bed for her for her fourth nap of the day. She usually takes two, MAYBE three naps. Certainly not four. 

We woke her up for dinner and this is the face I got. Hopefully she's feeling better soon. 

Day 13: Eight months old (and a day)!

Sivan reached eight months yesterday. Please insert the normal phrases about timing moving too quickly. 

She has such a personality. 

And of course, this one. I was the meanest mom ever, because I cleaned her nose. Boy, does she hate that. 

Day 12: Stage Five Clinger

Someone has had a rough day. I'm going to chalk it up to pesky teeth since this is so beyond our "normal," but Sivan has pretty much been a Stage Five Clinger.  Only happy when attached to me, and even then "happy" becomes a relative term.

I had to put her down so I could get dressed. Clearly this was unacceptable.  

So sad. She does have the absolute best sad face, which you can partially see her. She was VERY uninterested in looking at me. I have a few profile shots as she looked every which way but at me. Also - you can see how splotchy she gets when upset. 

Poor baby. Only the top to her bottle is acceptable. 

At some point I needed to brush my teeth and she was very vocal in expressing her displeasure if I moved more than three inches away. So she got to help me brush my teeth (paused mid brush for requisite selfie, obviously). 

Should have seen that one coming.

Day 11: Sisters

Sisterly love.