Ariel&Yonatan take on the world...

It's been a while

2010-08-18T22:19:00.000+03:00

A really long while. Ima is sorry. She's been busy with us and work and her new business (importing baby carriers), and writing on another blog called babythingsiwant.com, so she's kind of forgotten to post here. And Abba has also been busy with his business, personalbest.co.il.

Ariel update: Ariel finished a year of pre-pre-K, and is going to start pre-K in two weeks. He will be in Morah Yael's class at Gan Discovery. He's very excited about going back to gan after summer vacation. So is Ima. Ariel can dress himself, wash his own hair, put on (and "put off") his shoes, write his name in English (on paper and on the walls), and color really nicely. He can also do a lovely somersault, and he plays a mean air guitar to "We will rock you."

Yonatan update: Yonatan eats just about everything his babysitter puts in front of him (which, of course Ima prepares). For Ima, however, he will eat milk (NOT from a bottle), cheerios, crackers, and chicken. Oh, and cookies. And chocolate ice cream -- from a cone only. And banana bread. You get the idea. He also stands on his own for a few seconds -- walking is not far away, we think. And he can hold his own weight on the pull up bar. Really. And he wants to do it all the time.

It's Adar!!!

2010-02-17T09:16:00.000+02:00

We are very excited that Purim is coming. Ariel decided that we should all be superman (and superkid, and superbaby, and superwoman) for Purim -- so stay tuned for pictures!

Yonatan has started eating solids (and let the mess begin!), and while he's not crazy about banana and he likes applesauce, he LOVES prunes. Today we'll try carrots... Yonatan loves making laundry for Ima.

Long awaited update

2010-01-07T10:38:00.006+02:00

Well.... it's been a busy few months, and people keep reminding Ima that my blog has not been updated. Well....

I got a baby brother right before Rosh Hashanah. His name is Yonatan Chaim, and he's really cute. "He's almost getting bigger" I keep telling Ima and Abba, "so soon he will play with me."

My Ima has been flying back and forth to America this year. First my Nana went to Shamayim in June, then my Poppy went to Shamayim in October. That made my Ima sad.

My Ima just updated this blog for me and Yonatan together, since it's not fair for "oling me" (only me -- one of my funny mispronunciations) to have one, and not my brother. So check out our new accomplishments to the right.

Been a while....

2009-06-22T23:00:00.002+03:00

Ima has been busy. She keeps forgetting to post here for me. So...

I'm going to be a big brother (yeah, you probably knew that already) around the time we hear the shofar. I keep taking the shofar out and trying to get the baby to come sooner, but it doesn't work ("NO WORK!")

My Ima went away for a few weeks and left me with Abba. She told me she was going to America to help Nana and Poppy.

While Ima was gone, Mani (Emmanuelle, my babysitter) came over to play with me, and Uncle Tony came to play with me, and I was a pretty good boy ("Ayyeh good boy. Big boy now"). Ima came back and she was sad. I don't really understand, but I know I can't talk to Nana anymore on the telephone or see her anymore on the computer. There were a lot of people who came to our house every day, and some of them also played with me or read me stories.

It's good to have Ima back, even though she's a little sad and says that the baby keeps kicking her all the time and she can't get comfortable. She says that I'll be a big brother in around 3 months.

Still growing...

2008-11-19T13:03:00.004+02:00

This is a picture of me with my cousins Estee and Batya. Estee is five and a half and Batya is four. I went to their house in Modiin for Shabbat with Ima while Abba was away in 'Merca. My cousin Yosef, who is six months older than me, was there too, but he was sleeping. Here we are all dressed up for Shabbat. In a very pre-schooler sort of way, that is -- and eating fish sticks...

Well, I'm now really getting this "two" thing. I can throw a temper tantrum like you wouldn't believe, I can put on my own sandals (not on the right feet, but I can get them on nonetheless), and I can take my socks off. I'm not interested in the potty yet (except in putting toilet paper into the potty and flushing it every time I walk by... and using it as a stool to reach the sink so I can wash my hands).

I am speaking in clear three and four word sentences these days -- and in Hebrew too. I say things like לא רוצה and אמא עושה לי and די מסוכן and מי זה and מה זה

In English, I make jokes and think about my day even after Ima puts me to sleep. The other night I spent ten minutes shouting "Ego (Diego), Dora, Boots" before I fell asleep. Ima thinks I was replaying the episode in my head. I also point out when things are "funny." They make me laugh!

I am really enjoying my gan too -- we have a lot of fun and special activities each week. On Mondays there is a rhythmica teacher who comes to teach us songs and movement and dances, and on Wednesdays we get to hear stories about animals and meet a new one each week. Last week we met gerbils!

Finally, I wanted to let you all know that I can count to fourteen. It goes like this:
free, four, five, six, veven, nine, ten, eveven, ten, fourteen.

Two!

2008-10-18T22:29:00.004+02:00

It's been hard to do any updating around here. Every time I turn around it's "no, we don't watch t.v. today, because it's Chag/Shabbat/Chag/Shabbat." So I did what any two year old would do: I said "movie?" as if that were any different! So no, I haven't watched a lot of Dora, Thomas, or Elmo over the last two weeks, but I did have another major accomplishment. I turned TWO!

My secular birthday was October 8, but it wasn't much fun this year because it was on Erev Yom Kippur. So I went to shul and tried really really hard to listen quietly, but then Ima took me outside because I was "fussy." I was doing pretty well for a two year old, thank you! It WAS my birthday (one of them, anyway) after all! I think Ima was fussy, so I ran outside and she listened to the davening from there. Then Abba came outside too and we listened together, and then we went home and Ima and Abba and I all went to sleep at my bedtime.

On my Hebrew birthday, 17 Tishrei, I had a party. Uncle Erik was there, and my friends Avi and Aviv and Lia and Eliana and Gilad (and his brother Eyal) came over and we colored, played with playdough that Ima made, and ate train (and airplane, motorcycle, and car) shaped pasta, and then went to the sukkah for a yummy cake that Ima made. It was shaped like a CHOO CHOO TRAIN! And boy was I excited! I also liked my presents!!!

The next day we went on a trip up north. It wasn't much fun, but I got to see my cousins Yosef and Batya and Estee, and to ride on a bus. Oh, and Abba let me eat some gee-gums (gummies). They were yummy!

Fan, outside!

2008-10-05T00:57:00.005+03:00

I find it funny when things aren't in their places. So yesterday, I noticed that one of our fans was on the balcony (it is kinda cool out now).

So I pointed it out:

Fan, outside! HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Fan, outside! HAHAHAHAHAHA!

This went on for about 20 minutes, and I got Ima and Abba to laugh too.

I made a joke.

Hooray for pee-pee!

2008-10-03T17:15:00.003+03:00

After a few weeks of experimenting with sitting on his special potty, but not actually using it, Ariel had his first "I can do it myself" pee today.

We're all very excited -- especially Ariel, who got a sticker for his efforts.

Shocking, revealing photos of Ariel on his potty will follow shortly...

Happy New Year!

2008-10-03T17:08:00.003+03:00

Run

2008-09-19T16:41:00.003+03:00

I walked home from ma'on (daycare) today.

I just didn't want to be in the stroller -- "AYYEH" wanted to do it himself.

Actually, to be exact, I ran home.

Since I like to give play by play of what I'm "doin', I said "run" and then ran about 5 yards/meters. Then I stopped and waited for Ima's permission to run again, pumping my arms the whole way. I had to hold Ima's hand to cross the street, which I did not like ONE bit). I had fun running, and then fell promptly asleep for a 3+ hour nap!

I also like to walk. And to take my puppy for a walk. I command it to "WALK" and then sometimes get frustrated when his leash gets tangled around his neck or ear or foot.

By the way, if you're keeping track, I started walking about 11 months ago. On October 24th 2007 (ring a bell? I did it for Ima and Abba's wedding anniversary!), I took my first steps without the help of the coffee table or someone's legs or hands.

Now I run, jump (on both feet), climb all the way up the steps to our apartment without holding on, walk down stairs (holding the railing or the wall -- though I can do the bottom two steps without holding on!), climb ladders in the playground, and I haven't met a jungle gym I didn't like!

Moon bubbles

2008-09-17T21:12:00.003+03:00

This morning when I woke up, I ran to the balcony. (I provided the script, too, saying "run" as I was doing it.)

When I got there, I looked up. And I reported what I saw to Ima.

"Moon bubble. Up. Yook."

In other words, I could see the moon, and it looked like a bubble. And it was, in fact, up. And I wanted Ima to look at it. Ima says it's because it was just a full moon, but all I know is that it looked like a bubble.

Yesterday, I reported from the balcony too.

"Copper. Up. Yook. 'pin. More."

Helicopter. Up -- look! It's spinning. Can I see more?

I really do mean for my words to be strung together in what Ima calls sentences, but I still put a full stop between each word. It's hard to learn a language or two.

My playdate with Avi

2008-09-10T22:09:00.005+03:00

My friend Avi came over today after gan to play. He hadn't been to my house before -- but I've been to his house twice for Shabbat. It was more fun today because we could also watch Elmo!
Avi is about two months older than me, and he's even taller than I am! But Ima says that we were destined to be friends because Avi came to visit me in the hospital when I was born, and his mommy had been in the same hospital room (and bed) when Avi was born! So we have a lot in common!!! We also both like raisins, veggie puffs, and macaroni and cheese. Not to mention Elmo, trains, and making messes.

We had a lot of fun! Before Avi left, we hugged and said bye bye, and then I waved bye bye to Avi from the balcony for about 15 minutes. Ima says Avi was probably home by the time I came inside and stopped shouting "AVI, BYE BYE!!!"

Come back soon, Avi!

Up up up aypaym

2008-08-28T21:08:00.006+03:00

I am home. I had such a good time with Nana, Poppy, and David, but it was so nice to give my Abba a big hug when he met us at the airport. It was a long flight, but I was lucky and had an empty seat all to myself. I shared it with Elmo. I watched Dora, Diego, Clifford, and Curious George on the videos, and slept for over seven hours. Ima was impressed. I think that mean she had a booboo where I pressed on her for seven hours. Not sure.

Here I am in the Newark airport waiting for our flight to Tel Aviv. It was delayed an hour. I met another boy my age named Adiel, and we played with our toys and had races back and forth. We had fun and our Imas and Abba's got to chat too.

Eleven hours later, here is our aypaym. Ima took the picture after we walked off the plane and while we were waiting for my stroller and car seat. Our plane is the one attached to the building.

And here I am with my stroller and car seat, after my long nap! Abba, here I come!!!!

Next time we go to Merca, Ima and Abba said that I will have to get my own seat for real..... because I'll be a big boy then.

Last days in Merca

2008-08-27T21:23:00.002+03:00

I went with Ima and Nana to Downtown Miami (where the signs all say DWNTWN -- hey, I'm trying to learn to read here!).We went on a train (the People Mover) and then went to the Historical Museum of South Florida. Here I am with an old cannon, playing in a real trolley from a long time ago, and playing my favorite game of "in" and "out." I put all the toy foods into the washbasin, got in, and then threw the toy foods out! FUN!!! Ok, I put two toy oranges in the cradle with the teddy bear, but the other foods in the washbasin.

When we got home, I said my first three word sentence that didn't have the same word repeated three times (like up up up aypaym!). I said "Mima, Ayyeh in." Which means Ima, Ariel wants to come into the room with you. Of course, Ima was in the bathroom, so Ayyeh didn't get in. No no no. I also say "Ayyeh" when I want to do something myself now. And I can repeat pretty much anything -- except balloon -- so my list of words is a bit outdated. I do say lots of new words and phrases on purpose though: wait, okay, in, on, out, off, hug, again, "baby cry," and eyyo (hello) are a few of my new favorites. I can also say "Diego" for "Go, Diego, Go."

Dayday, as you all should know by now if you've been reading my blog, is one of my favoritest people in the whole wide world. He lets me play outside with the hose! Here we are taking a break from spraying the hose on me, and then there's a picture of me IN the laundry basket taking water OUT of a big bowl. My favorite game meets water!

And here I am with Nana, Poppy, and Dayday just before leaving for the airport. Thank you for exhausting yourselves chasing me around. I had a blast! Come visit me soon!!!! I'll share my cookies.

"Bye bye. Hug. Mo hug. Ayyeh aypaym. Mima. Up up up. Home. Abba."

Bath?

2008-08-26T03:44:00.010+03:00

My new favorite game is "IN." I like to go in things. Of course, sometimes I want to go "in" to the backyard, which is really "out," but everyone understands what I mean. I also like to go "in" the sink for a bath! I just fit (Nana's sink is Ariel-sized), and I can play with bubbles and spoons and measuring cups, and fling bubbles at the clean dishes (that's Nana's favorite part). Then I get all clean and no one's back hurts! It's a good thing.

After my bath I curl up on the couch in my pajamas. Sometimes I get to watch Sesame Street or Diego or Elmo's World. I think a toddler (or a toddler's frustrated parents?) might have invented "Cable On Demand." Because I say "ELMO" and there it is -- on demand!

Good night!

Sammy lets Ariel get closer!

2008-08-26T03:44:00.007+03:00

My Nana says that Sammy isn't the brightest cat in the world. That's ok -- he LOVES me! And that makes him very very very smart. Ima even held Sammy on my lap so I could "hold" him! It was such fun!

This spoon is called a fork

2008-08-26T03:44:00.003+03:00

When I want to eat ice cream or Cheerios, I ask for my "poom." But that's not what I really want. I want the one with the spikes. The one my Ima says is called a fork. That's ok, I'll still call it a spoon. And as long as I can get the ice cream (ok, the Tofutti) into my mouth, does it really matter if I use a fork?

Oh, and my tummy doesn't hurt anymore. I've stopped screaming incessantly. Ima and Nana figured out that I'm lactose intolerant. I drink special milk and take vanilla flavored "crackers" and then I can eat whatever I want. Yum.

Playtime!

2008-08-22T03:44:00.000+03:00

Nana and Ima braved the Aventura Mall just to take me to this fun play area. Ok, they braved it at 1 p.m. when all the kids were in school and people were supposed to be at work, so it was sort of empty. I only had to share with a few kids, but they thought I spoke Spanish. I didn't, so I ignored them and went down the slides and played mostly by myself and with Nana and Ima. After about a half hour, Ima said I was "cooked" and so we left.

Then we went to the supermarket (again) and I got to ride in the supermarket car (again) and drive the cart (again). We go the supermarket a lot. I don't mind -- they give me balloons at the checkout, I get to look at balloons through the whole store (yes, the WHOLE store!). I scream "llyaum" "llyaum" (I sound Welsh) every time I see one. Ima asked me to say "ba" and I said "BA" and then she asked me to say "loon" and I said "yoon." She asked me over and over, and I said "ba" "yoon" "ba" "yoon." But then she said "Ariel, say balloon."

I said:

"llyaum"

In Florida!

2008-08-20T18:14:00.010+03:00

I'm really enjoying my trip to Florida. Florida is in Merca. In Florida there are stores, tropical storms, toy cars, bristle blocks, cats who actually let me pet them, and my favorite person in the whole world: DAYDAY! Dayday is Uncle David. But I can't say David. I can only say Dayday. And I shout it -- all the time -- looking for "Dayday." Here I am with Dayday playing with my new BUS! I love my bus. It has three "men" - one driver, one boy, and one girl. But I call them all "men" and also use them to drive boats and cars made out of bristle blocks. Ima showed me how to do that. It's fun.

Here I am with Dayday at the Fishing Hall of Fame: And here we are pretending to catch fish in the children's room. It was also fun to steer the boat!
I've done other things in Florida too. Nana lets me play with playdough, and paint, and things. I like to paint pictures of "aypayms" -- both of my pictures here are of airplanes, if you can't tell (I made Ima write my name on one airplane picture in gold paint, because it was shiny). I like to point out the A in my name. I also like to mix paints to see what happens, which Nana says is ok because I'm learning things about the world and because the paints only cost a dollar. I don't know what a dollar is, but it must not be a lot! I have a lot of fun making messes -- and then Nana cleans me up in the kitchen sink, because I'm just too messy to go up the stairs to the bath!

I think I'm pretty good at painting, don't you? Maybe I'll be an artist one day!

Bubbie and Zayde Ser come to visit

2008-08-20T03:44:00.000+03:00

My Abba isn't with us, but Bubbie and Zayde still came to visit! Here's Bubbie playing Bristle Blocks with me while I drink from my new Tigger cup.

And here we are making a block tower while Dayday watches!
And here I am spouting my wisdom -- showing Bubbie how I can make water come out of my cup by turning it upside down. I'm learning about gravity.
And here's Zayde on the phone with my Abba. I also like to talk on the phone to Abba. I say "eyyo" "eyyo" "ABBA!!!!!!!!!" and the mostly say "yeah" and "no" when Abba asks me things. Zayde said more than that!
Bubbie is really good at building Lincoln Log trains. She makes them and I throw them off the tracks. We're a good team!

Florida cats are different

2008-08-19T18:14:00.011+03:00

I like cats. But cats usually don't like me so much. Except for Sammy Cat. Sammy Cat is Nana and Poppy's cat, and Sammy Cat LOVES me. He lets me pet him, make nice, play with his toes, give him hugs, and even lick his ears. Yeah, well, I wanted to know why he did it all the time! They felt funny on my mouth! He lets me kiss him on the nose and almost let me ride him a few times. I try to feed him crackers, apples, cheerios, my pacifier, and my milk. He only likes the milk.

Gizmo is the other cat. He pretty much keeps to himself... Nana says he's smart. I don't know what she's talking about!

I can fly a plane!

2008-08-18T18:14:00.001+03:00

Nana was so happy to see me when I got off the aypaym with Ima. Ima was also happy to see her too, and to hand me over to someone else for a while! I don't know why -- I really only fussed a little on the plane, and I enjoyed my own seat on each flight. I even slept some. Abba was right though -- Ima packed way too much stuff in the carry on bags! Here we are in Nana's office downtown. We also went to the Main Library to get a bunch of books for me to read while we are here. I really like Airport and Goodnight Gorilla.
Just after we arrived, we went to Walmart to get a toy bus for me (and some other things, like socks, but they are kinda boring compared to a bus!). I decided to try to ride even though this toy was still in its box. I was a bit distraught when pulled off the toy, but then we found my bus, and I didn't mind so much!

In the house, I like to sit in funny places. I like the cat's bed, because it's soft and fuzzy. And besides, the cat usually isn't in it! I also like to sit on the stairs with my Nana. THe stairs are also soft and fuzzy because they have carpet. I like carpet. I ALSO like to sit in my Nana's special chair, with a blankie. This is my favorite place to drink milk and to watch cartoons.

You'd think I didn't have enough toys -- but I do. I also like to play with cans of cat food. Don't ask me to explain why!

In the supermarket, I can drive the cart. Why don't they have these in Israel? It was so much fun!

I went to the Discovery Museum with Ima and Nana. They have a special area just for tots (that's me), and also an airplane exhibit. That's me driving a car, playing with beads and flying a DC-9 (I think).

I also like to play Koo-Koo (peek a boo) with Nana and Poppy. There aren't any pictures of that though. Use your imagination. If you can't see me, it's peek a boo!

Block City

2008-08-06T21:52:00.006+03:00

Ariel has a new favorite passion: blocks. In fact, at his checkup today at the well baby clinic, he was asked to stack three blocks -- to see if he was "on par" developmentally. He stacked six. We're so proud! Ariel loves his book "Block City," a beautifully illustrated version of the Robert Louis Stevenson poem -- and he likes to act it out as well! But on the shopping list for our upcoming trip to the US is a set of wooden blocks.

"Block City"

by Robert Louis Stevenson

What are you able to build with your blocks?

Castles and palaces, temples and docks.

Rain may keep raining, and others go roam,

But I can be happy and building at home.

Let the sofa be mountains, the carpet be sea,

There I'll establish a city for me:

A kirk and a mill and a palace beside,

And a harbour as well where my vessels may ride.

Great is the palace with pillar and wall,

A sort of a tower on the top of it all,

And steps coming down in an orderly way

To where my toy vessels lie safe in the bay.

This one is sailing and that one is moored:

Hark to the song of the sailors aboard!

And see, on the steps of my palace, the kings

Coming and going with presents and things!

Now I have done with it, down let it go!

All in a moment the town is laid low.

Block upon block lying scattered and free,

What is there left of my town by the sea?

Yet as I saw it, I see it again,

The kirk and the palace, the ships and the men,

And as long as I live and where'er I may be,

I'll always remember my town by the sea.
(1913)

BOO!

2008-07-27T03:00:00.003+03:00

Abba taught Ariel a great game today. The game is called "Boo!" It goes like this: You come up very quietly next to someone and shout "BOO!" and then everybody doubles over in peals of laughter.

Abba "boo'ed" Ariel once -- at which point Ariel started laughing so hard he almost cried -- and then Ariel figured it out and spent the better part of Shabbat afternoon saying "BOO" "BOO" "BOO" over and over! He even tried it on the cat, but it didn't go anywhere (though she did!).

Then, just when it seemed Ariel had forgotten about it, and Abba had gone and lay down on the couch for a nap.... Ariel crept over and shouted "BOO!" in Abba's ear! Silly abba -- you teach me the game, you're stuck with the results! Ariel also decided that the middle of "Corduroy" was a good time to shout "Boo" once more!

We're waiting to see if he shouts "Boo!" all day tomorrow in daycare!

And if you're still reading....

Ariel's new words (and better pronounced old words) are: mouth, pees (please -- he's got the S sound now), wash, eat (with the sign), gapes (grapes), gotcheese (cottage cheese, not goat cheese), wheeeeee (slide), and boo (obviously). His favorite books to read to himself are the Dr. Seuss ABC board book and Hippos Go Berserk (because there is a BUS in it). He reads himself to sleep -- in his bed, surrounded by Elmo and Ima's bear Cocoa, his sippy cup of water, one or two pacifiers, his Mickey Mouse toy videophone (in case he needs to call for backup at 4 a.m.), and his blankie.

He is obsessed with buses (and big-buses -- the double buses), trucks (gucks), cars, airplanes (aypayms), and helicopters (hecos).

He also -- recently -- began announcing "OOGA" and then walking in a circle!. It only took Ima ten minutes of saying "Ariel, tell me what you want in English" before she figured out that Ariel was just announcing the song he was about to dance to! He just wanted Ima to sing along for him!

Ooga Ooga Ooga is a Hebrew rhyming children's song which goes like this (it's kinda like musical chairs, but no one gets out -- instead, everyone holds hands and goes in a circle):

עוגה עוגה עוגה במעגל נחוגה נסתובבה כל היום עד אשר נמצא מקום לשבת לקום לשבת לקום לשבת לקום לשבת ולקום

"Cake, cake, cake / We go around in a circle / We go around all day long / Until we find a place / To sit down / to stand up / to sit down / to stand up / to sit down / and to stand up."

No, I don't know why it starts out "cake, cake, cake." I guess it rhymes.

BOO!

A year of day care comes to an end

2008-07-25T17:00:00.002+03:00

As difficult as it is to believe, Ariel's day care ("ma'on") is reaching the end of the year. Check out the difference between last September, on his first day at the ma'on, and Friday, when they held a sort of end-of-year party:

The child on the left is a baby, not even a year old, unable to walk. The child on the right runs and jumps and climbs stairs. He also is now legitimately bilingual, understanding probably hundreds of words (and speaking a good number of them too) in both Hebrew and English. Quite a difference!

Anyway, the music/rhythm teacher, who visits each week, played songs about the summertime, handing out props for the kids to play with, as the parents watched with glee... and snapped a million pictures. After the songs, we all went out to the backyard play area for some cake. Ariel, as you can see, thoroughly enjoyed his slice.

For the record, he has also enjoyed his "teachers" -- especially Rada, a Muslim woman who is totally smitten with him, and Leah, who has comforted Ariel through a number of bumps and arguments over toys and has taught him to call out to turtledoves. He has gotten very attentive care and plenty of nutritious food, and he has learned a lot. We're going to miss ma'on!

Fortunately, the summer vacation for day care is a little less than a month... then Ariel gets to start a new year, which, we know, will probably fly by just like this one did!

Ariel goes to "camp"

2008-07-22T22:18:00.010+03:00

Ariel really likes his new camp t-shirt -- even though he won't be old enough to come to camp until the summer of 2011!

Ariel had an amazing day (and a good way to stay alert long enough to discourage jetlag) when he joined Ima and the Ramah Jerusalem Day Camp (with Abba in tow) at Kiftzuba!

Ariel loved the ball pit and the ride-on car area -- so much so that he tried to ride a Little Tikes cozy coupe all around the grounds!

The day wouldn't have been complete without a few rides down several "wheees" (as Ariel calls slides), ice pops & potato chips, a ride around the Kiftzuba train with Abba, and bouncy castles (which, while they originally frightened Ariel, quickly became a place for him to practice -- quite happily -- his first somersaults)! Ariel really had a blast! The campers also enjoyed plying a very willing Ariel with treats, prizes from the arcade, and more!

Below:

Ariel and Abba wave from the train!

In Ariel's words:

"Oh, cain! Oh, cain!"

"Bye bye"

Sleeping, sliding and saying Shema

2008-07-22T22:01:00.006+03:00

Ariel went to Lakewood for his Uncle Yechiel's wedding, flying into and out of Philadelphia for the occasion.

He was very good on all the flights -- from Tel Aviv to London, London to Philadelphia, and back again -- and handled an overwhelming experience with aplomb.

There was so much to do: get reacquainted with Bubbie and Zaydie, and with (Great) Uncle Zvi and (Great) Aunt Ruchama, and with Yechiel, as well as meeting Uncle Andrew and SO many other people. Fortunately, there was also plenty of noshing going on, and plenty of playing.

Throughout the week, certain activities were repeated most often -- namely, sleeping in strange positions and playing his little heart out. Here are some photos of those moments, including a shot of Ariel propped up against a chair at the wedding, somehow managing to sleep through all the noise. At the end is a photo of Ariel "davening" one morning, wearing Abba's "pippah" -- er, kippah.

Oh, yes: Ariel also went to see the Liberty Bell. He was less than impressed. After waiting in line in the heat and several hours on the road, he gave me a look that said, "Abba, it's a bell. It's broken. Yay. Can we go get lunch now?"

Ariel reads Corduroy

2008-07-17T16:55:00.004+03:00

Ariel likes to read. In fact, Corduroy (Corroy) is his current favorite book. He will command "read it" and "more," and especially likes real stories with good pictures and an actual plot. Although most people don't think a 21 month old can stay focused for the whole story, Ariel can!

This is how Ariel reads the book:

First, we have to look at the frontispiece, where there is a hot air balloon. Ariel notes: "laloon." Next page is just a picture of green overalls. Ariel's comment: "Corroy, hehehe." The story begins:

"Corroy" (pointing to Corduroy on the shelf). Turns page.

"Ani" (me), pointing to the little boy on the rocking horse. Turns page.

"Mommy," pointing to Lisa's mommy on the page. Turns page, and Ariel starts saying "oh no" now, as Corduroy slips off the shelf to look for his button.

As soon as he climbs up onto the bed to pull off his button (and land with a crash), this is what Ariel narrates: "Oh no! pull! Oh no, brokee. Oh no! Boom! Crash. Corroy."

He giggles at Corduroy's ears poking up from under the covers and then remarks again "Mommy" and "hug" at the end of the story.

And that's really the gist of it: "Corroy, mommy. Pull. Oh no, broken, crash. Hug."

Ayyeh, Merca, aypaym, abba

2008-07-16T00:00:00.000+03:00

Ariel's now quite a jet-setter. He just landed in the US with Abba after a long flight (yes, alone with Abba -- good job, Sam!). He's going to celebrate, be"H, his uncle Yechiel's wedding this week. Ariel was very excited to go to the airport, where he saw lots of "aypayms" and then got to have french fries for breakfast with Abba. He was a good boy all the way through London and to Philly, and is now getting reacquainted with Bubbie and Zaydie -- and with the ground. Luckily for Abba, Ariel was able to sit in an empty seat on both flights. Now if only that luck continues in August when Ima takes Ariel to Merca.

Upon arrival, Ariel and Abba were greeted by Bubbie and Zaydie, and drove to Lakewood. Ariel was a good boy and slept on the ride, and before bed had a treat: chicken soup and parve "eyekeem."

Conversation with Ima on the phone at about 11 p.m. Lakewood time:

Ima: Hi Ariel
Ariel: MIMA!!!
Ima: Ima loves you very much.
Ariel: MIMA!!! eyekeem
Ima: Did abba give you ice cream?
Ariel: yeah
[in the background: Abba: Ariel, do you love ice cream?]
Ariel: Yeah. eyekeem. MIMA!!!
[in the background: Abba: Ariel loves ice cream and Ima. Ariel: yeah]
Ima: is the ice cream good?
Ariel: Yummmmmmmmmmmmmm. Eyekeem!

Not that this is exactly Shakespeare, but it gives you a sense of what it's like to carry on a conversation with an overtired 21 month old.

Ariel misses Noam

2008-07-11T00:29:00.000+03:00

After spending the year growing, playing, and moving from babyhood to full toddlerhood with Noam, Ariel is very sad (Ayyeh, sad) that Noam has gone back to America (Merca) with his Ima and Daddy on an aypaym (airplane). Ariel doesn't really understand, so he goes to the door regularly, points, says "Noam" and when told no, Noam is in America, he says "Noam, bye bye" and looks distraught. But lots of good memories and hopefully future playdates to look forward to might soften the blow a bit.

Ariel feeds the hungry

2008-07-04T16:00:00.000+03:00

Usually, Ariel is pretty busy feeding himself crackers, pasta, cookies, ice cream, fruit, veggies, and whatever else he can find. However, on July 4 he went with Abba and Kehilat Shira Hadasha to a field near Kfar Saba to pick leeks for the hungry with an organization called Shulchan l'Shulchan, or Table to Table. Ariel was very industrious and pulled off dead leaves and roots, loaded leeks into giant bins, and even tried to pull the very tough veggies out of the ground. He was a great help to Abba and the kehilah, and we hope to bring him back each year to continue to do this wonderful mitzvah.