Dad and Janelle

We are praying that you both feel better quickly and are full of energy, strength and vitality. I have a vision of you guys jogging down the beach together with Rocky music playing in the background. So, may this vision turn into reality. We are thinking of you guys and miss you. Much love and prayers.             

Esther and her makeup..

Yes, its starts young, a lot younger than I ever imagined. Esther likes to put on makeup. She even puckers her lips when applying lip gloss!

Thank you MOM!!

Esther also received some special presents from Nani, some adorable wood food to go with her wooden kitchen from Grandpa. She just loves cutting her fruit and vegetable in her very own kitchen. This really does keep her busy, especially while mommy cooking. The last few days she has been taking food from my refrigerator and putting into hers. If I am missing something in the house, I now know where to look!

Thank you mom! We love you!!

Thank you DAD!!

Esther has been one lucky girl lately. She has been showered with gifts from her Grandpa and Nani. Grandpa sent Esther an adorable pot set  to go with her wooden kitchen that came in the mail the first day of Chanukah. I set up it up for her (it only took me 2 hours lol!) and surprised her right after we lit our Chanukah candles. She was so happy, she ran up to me and gave me a kiss.  So, were are sending Grandpa a great big hug & kiss :) Thank you Dad, you've made Esther one very happy girl!

Thank you DAD for all our gifts. Happy Holidays to you and Janelle, we love you guys!

The best kept secret

I have never been so close to another human being as I am to my daughter. I have such a deep soul love for her, it is literally indescribable. I feel like sometimes I am holding on to this incredible secret. I never could have imagined how amazing it would be to be a mother and to be entrusted with this pure soul. I thank Hashem for Esther Frayda every single day. I actually get to witness with my own eyes what a perfect soul looks like. She is the most loving, gentle, and kind person I have ever laid eyes on. 

She is not even 2 years old yet and she has already taught me so much. Thank you Esther Frayda for choosing me to be your mommy. 

Mommy loves you more than all the stars in the sky!

Fast Track Shopper!

Esther Frayda was shopping in a hurry, she's a busy girl!

The other day I took Esther to the book store, in the children's section. There were a lot of kids there and there was one boy in particular that she took a liking to. He was only about a year old.. She went up to him and held his face with her two hands and KISSED him gently on the LIPS! It was the cutest thing ever! I just never imagined her first kiss would be so young!

My baby is a toddler!

My lil baby is turning into a little girl :) ... and she is one independent one at that. Well, except when she is sleepy and she just wants to nurse and cuddle with mommy. She has an opinion and is not afraid to use it! She already has a sense of style and is very vocal sometimes in what she wants to wear. We were going on the subway the other day and she insisted on wearing this fur and only this fur outside as if she was going to a ball. She also loves pearls and purses. She's already a fashionista!! ...and keep in mind this is not something I taught her, she really came up with all these ideas on her own.

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Bedtime sweetness: This last week, before we go to bed I'll tell her to go lay down and I get the "Goodnight Moon" book. When she sees me coming to bed with the book, she gets soo excited, she jumps on me and starts laughing then she'll get under the covers and snuggle up to me. Then we read the book and say Shema Yisrael. Every time I say it, she covers her eyes until I am done, it is really just amazing!

The most loving girl..

Well, I am pretty behind in my blog posts. I have so many stories and SOOO many pictures to post. I know its so hard for my family to be so far away. Mom and Dad, we need to start skyping so Esther can see you guys! 

Esther Frayda was in a playgroup for about a month. On the second day of picking her up, one of the girls came up to me and said Esther was the most generous child she has seen. She said Esther would go up to everyone and try and share her toys. On one particular day she spend the whole time hugging the other children! Well really, it was just her and Moishe that was hugging back & forth. They said the other kids didn't catch on to the whole "hugging game" that Esther had created. She really is such a sweet and gentle soul. 

Recently she started nursing her little kitty cat! She also tries to take care of me. She started to whip my nose, whether I want her to or  not. She'll run over and grab a tissue then hold it to my nose before squeezing... and then she'll walk it over to the garbage can. 

Oye, I love that girl!!

"I'm a Baby"

Her first sentence!! Esther wanted to go in her stroller chair that was on the floor (it acts as a rocking chair), so I started rocking her like a baby, singing "Rock a bye baby.." she kind of giggled then opened her eyes wide and patted her chest and said "I'm a Baby"! I just couldn't believe it. It was seriously the cutest thing ever! I laughed and told her she's "mommy's big baby" :)

New Shoes!

We took Esther Frayda to get her first real pair of shoes a couple of weeks ago. She had to have her feet measured and checked by the shoe guy which she was not happy about. When we first got there, the guy working there said all the children cry but I didn't think that would apply to Esther. Well, sure enough as soon as the guy came over before he even touched her foot, she started crying (pretty loudly too). I think she associated it with going to the doctors. I was trying to decide between a few pairs of shoes. One pair I loved were these shiny red patent leather shoes, they were to die for! I asked Esther to choose a pair and sure enough she choose the shiny red shoes. We ended up getting these instead because the red ones are more fall/winter shoes. So, maybe in a few months we'll go back but in the meantime she loves the ones we got. They are super cute and comfortable. She LOVES putting then on. I could tell she feels so good wearing them. 

Mommy time!

We went to the lake last week and it was covered with ducks! Esther didn't know what to make to make of it  and wanted to stay in my arms where she felt nice and safe:)

Esther Frayda's "Lovey"

I was in a used book store last month with Esther and we were strolling the aisles. She spotted this lil guy and ran up to him, she grabbed him and would not let him go. It was as if this was already hers and she was claiming it. Of course I had to get it for her. She has never had an object that she attached to like some other kids and I thought after a day or so she would forget about this guy...

The girl in the Red Dress

These were taken at the park last month. There was another girl there her age and she got sooo excited!

I love you:)

The other morning while Esther and I were still in bed and all sleepy, I was telling her how much I love her and she tried to say it! First she said "hi". I was so excited, I kept saying "hi", then she kept saying "hi". Then I was saying "i love you" and she tried to say it! It was so sweet. I can't wait until she starts talking. I can see it is frustrating for her because she clearly understands everything and wants to communicate but just cant vocalize yet. Its just a matter of time before we start hearing words and sentences.. I cant wait!

Sharing:)

Esther Frayda has such a sweet and sensitive soul, k''h. The other day we were in Staples while Esther was organizing the candy shelf for the staff at Staples (she is quiet the organizer). This little boy next to us started crying. Well, Esther grabbed one of the candy bars and walked right up to the little boy holding out the candy to give him making her little noises as she does as she holds her head down looking up at him with these sweet innocent eyes. It was just a sweet gesture. She seems to be so sensitive and in tune to others feelings even at such a young age. 

Copy cat!

My sweet lil copy cat! Over Shabbos, I unfortunately wasn't feeling well. My stomach was bothering me and I was not saying anything and holding in my pain because I didn't want to alert my lil Esther Frayda. So, I was leaning over the kitchen chair and kind of swinging my leg around. Well Esther saw I was up to something.. she came over and grabbed onto the chair just like I was doing, put her head down (also like I was doing) and started swinging her leg around in the exact same manner I was doing. It was like a MINI me! She had me laughing so hard, I actually forgot my stomach pain for a few minutes. Oh, how much I love you!! my sweet baby

Doctor's appointment

I went to the doctors today to have Esther checked because she was sick for the last 2 weeks but feeling much better now, thank G-d. The doctor went to check her breathing by checking her chest and she just starting crying and grabbing onto me. I guess the last time we went to the doctors, she was very rough with Esther and she apparently remembered it. Then she checked her ears and she was just crying and screaming desperately. Poor baby, I think the last appointment really traumatized her. Well, she finally calmed down but was holding on to me tight. Then it was my turn to get checked, I also had an appointment with the same doctor. So, she went to check my chest. That's when Esther Frayda just went hysterical, when she saw the doctor touching me! She tried to take the doctors hands off me and just looked terrified. She was really scared the doctor was hurting me and wanted to protect me. It was the sadest thing to see her so upset but the sweetest thing in the world that she was trying to protect me. After we left, I carried her home in my arms, she did not want to let go of me. My sweet baby, mommy loves you more than the WHOLE WORLD!

Dress UP!

I was getting ready for a photo shoot and had all my props out.. well Esther quickly got her hands on the stash. She loves putting necklaces on playing dress up. It reminds me of Grandma Frances:)

Kissing the Mezuzah

Oh my gosh, I was with Esther and we were waiting for the elevator.. I of course let her push the button (she gets very excited about this:) Then I kissed the mezuzah, then she kissed the mezuzah exactly like I did. She touched her hand to the mezuzah then kissed her hand and even made a kissing sound like I do. I could not believe it! It was the cutest thing ever! So, I did it again and she did it again. I think she was just so tickled about my reaction, so we were both doing it over and over again until the elevator came. Sometimes I just want to eat her up!!:)

The Drunken Sailor

After receiving a personal request from Nani, I recorded this video so you guys can see the lil Bee in action. I think the video speaks for itself!

Walker!

Esther Frayda (aka "honey bunny") has officially been walking for over a week now!! She walked across the apartment all by herself last Shabbos. She is doing such a great job:) I wanted to include a picture of her walker because mom was invisioning an old persons walker. I think this one is a bit cuter:) It's a wooden walker I found on Craigs list after doing a lot of research. I love it and I think Esther does also. There are these alligators on the front that bop up and down when she pushes it. The last few days she has been trying to ride it like a horsey. I guess she hasn't figured out its not going to go anywhere..

Esther is taking steps!!

This was taken last week, she was having fun:) You could really see parts of her personality shining through. She is very determined and independent (that's my baby!). We bought her a cute wooden walker, so now she's using it to walk all over the apartment. She also took her first few steps last week, they were sideways but I think that still counts!

Swinging!

Her first swing ride! The weather is finally nice enough to go to the park, so I've been taking Esther Frayda to the park almost every day now. You could see she really loves it. 

COPY CAT on the loose!

Ok, this is probably one of the cutest things I have seen. We had the cleaning lady over a few times before Pesach. At one point she was cleaning the refrigerator and I was on the computer, all of a sudden a heard her yell "QUICK, QUICK!". I ran over and Esther Frayda maneuvered her way into the fridge and was cleaning the shelf. She found a small rag (we don't know from where she got it) but she had her rag and every few minutes she would go over to the spray bottle on the chair and rub her rag on it then go back to her spot to continue cleaning the shelf. The cleaning lady could not stop laughing and could not believe what Esther was doing. She asked me if I had showed Esther how to do this- NEVER. I don't know how Esther picked this up but apparently she had been watching the cleaning lady's every move.

At one point I tried to take her away so the cleaning lady could get back to work, let me tell you I have never seen Esther protest so hard before, she absolutely refused to move from her spot. She was very serious about this.

SO, they continued to clean, side by side..

Fit for a Princess!

I saw this dress in a store window a few weeks ago and had my eye on it for a Pesach dress. When I finally went to the store in search of a dress I picked this one up and Esther immediately pointed to it and wanted to hold it so bad she was trying to jump out of her stroller (yes, it was one of the few days I had her in a stroller!). Well, with that reaction I knew I had to get it. I gave to her to hold when we got home and it kept her occupied for a good ten minutes. She was playing with the tulle and the small little beads on the front of the dress. Then we had the photo shoot in our at home "studio". I hope this makes you feel like a princess my lil love!

Watch out, toddler on the loose!!

Well, this week has been a bit of a challenge to say the least. My sweet Esther Frayda has officially entered TODDLER-HOOD. She has been exhibited the first signs of defiance. It started with her not letting me change her diaper. It may sound easy to wrestle with an 18 pound bundle but she has some amazing strength and can jump and crawl at lightning speed, which leaves me standing there with an empty diaper. I find myself getting more and more desperate trying to locate things around the house that are novel that will hold her attention for the required 3 minutes it takes to change a diaper but most things lately last a minute then are tossed over the side of the bed as if SO passe and not to be looked at again.

If you think this is a challenge, it was a stroll in the park compared to what came next. Now, I've read about this and heard people talk about it but nothing can prepare you for the first time your sweet ball of love CHOMPS down on you, while you are lovingly nursing her! There are no words for the throbbing pain that follows... then after the shock wears off, you lovingly but firmly tell her "NO" and continue nursing thinking that it won't happen again.. (wishful thinking!) again the feel of 4 sharp teeth chomping down followed by a sweet giggle. You can see where this is going.. I do everything the books tell me to. I say "NO" then pull her off (again the laughing). OK, next I bring her in closer to me so that her nose is covered for a second, the purpose being that if she can't breath she will disengage (now the laughing is even stronger). This has become a game of "lets wait for mommy to YELP" followed by "what will mommy do" and she is all the while having a grand ole ball.

Well, where does this all leave us? 

With one hurt mamma and one obliviously happy toddler leaving trails of pea around for mommy to find!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA!!!

Melissa turns the big 19 today! WOW, how time flys.. and I remember when she was just a little itty bitty baby, the size of Esther Frayda;) Well Melissa, you are officially an ADULT. I want to really wish you a year full of growth, confidence and true happiness. May you find your calling and pursue it will a lot of strength and vigor! May you always know how unique and wonderfully talented you are, always remember what a strong and beautiful woman you are. You deserve the best in every area of your life, don't you ever forget it!

Janelle, get well soon!

Thank g-d, dad called me with the good news today that everything went well with Janelle's surgery. It sounds like its a long recovery, so we just want to let Janelle know that we are all thinking of her. Janelle, you are in our thoughts and prayers. May you have a speedy and quick recovery. We are sending you lots of love and a BIG HUG from New York!

My Bubala

Thank you Esther for bringing so much joy and love into my life. I feel so blessed.

Brenna Time!

Every few days or so I want to make a small tribute to each person in the family. TODAY, its BRENNA TIME! Brenna's not sure what she wants Ester to call her but we'll start with auntie Bren Bren. We're looking forward to coming, g-d willing this month and everyone could have more bonding time :)

Dogs & Cats

OK, here is another video. You guys asked for it:) This is one of her favorite books, each pages has a different animal. This is the closest she is gonna get to animals, at least in the present time. If we do go to California, which its looking good, Esther will be able to bond with Brenna's dog. Grandpa's dogs, I think are too big, I think probably 3 times the size of little pea Esther..

Challah time!

-Flashback-

Esther makes her first Challah! This was taken a few months ago when Melissa was here. Melissa made Challah for us and showed Esther how to do it. Esther was a little taken aback by the ball of dough but soon dug in there..

Stuck to couch..

Esther has been standing a lot and trying to keep her balance. She's just figuring out how to get down and up. Its so cute, you could see her thought process, which works faster than her lil body..

Commando Crawling!

Watch Esther Frayda crawl! I figured I should capture this on video before she starts walking. She learned this back in her army training days, commando crawling!

Avocado in the hair!

Esther had a lot of fun playing with the avocado and occasionally putting some in her mouth. I could already see her little personality developing. She is for sure going to be very independent and strong willed. She really likes to do everything herself.

I'm trying to feed her as much as possible now, so she gains weight. She is so active, which I think is one reason why she is not gaining as much this past month. Her favorite foods are avocado and carrots. She's allergic to peas for some strange reason. Every time I fed her peas she would get a rash and her little cheeks would turn red.

Pretty in Pink!

I knit the head band for her. I was so excited I figured out how to do it. I hear my sister knits pretty well but this is a step up for me:) 

 

Oh, special note to family: so far only mom has become a follower and I don't see any comments. Come on people, I know you're out there! I want to see followers and comments, so we know you're out there:) Oh and Dad's having some problems cracking the system and making comments maybe someone could help him out. Lov u guys!

First shoes!

These are her first shoes, well the first ones that stay on her lil feet:)

 

 

Here she's looking at a book she wants but doesn't know how to get it without loosing her "standing" spot.

Esther has this one place on the couch where she always goes to stand. She's so excited that she could do this new thing. Wherever I set her down in the house she will make her way over to this one spot, pull herself up and stay there. She holds on to the couch for dear life and not move.

I caught her under the table with a bag full of cups. She knows she's holding something she's not supposed to;)