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..