Hannukah: December 2010

Ella's first day of chanukah also marked Avi's first day of preschool at Sweet Pea Cottage Preschool of the Arts, where he is charming his way through two mornings a week away from home. The kids both loved the candles, and Avi, of course, enjoyed opening gifts every night. He also loved to celebrate the holiday with his buddies Jacob and Sophie, and with Aunt Daya.

November 2010

November's highlight was the amazing SNOW we got just before Thanksgiving. Avi had a blast getting all bundled up and playing "in the winter-time" and it was hard to convince him to come back inside to warm up! Ella had her first Thanksgiving with Chuck, Simon, and Mimi Broches (Connie was on vacation!), and started to use her jumparoo for the first time!

Shoshana and Reuven's Wedding: October 13, 2010

Shoshana and Reuven tied the knot on October 13, 2010, in Zichron Yaakov. Avi had a blast at the party, and even managed to stand with us under the chuppah for a good 40 minutes, insisting that it was shabbat because of the candles and the kiddush cup. Ella got all dressed up in her blue dress and gold shoes, and then slept straight through the ceremony and most of the party in her car seat while we used her stroller as a cup holder. We were so happy to be able to share this special day with Doda Shosh and Dod Reuven and the whole family.

October 2010

Some pictures from our time in Israel this October--the kids suffered from terrible jetlag, and we all managed to get sick, but we enjoyed our time in Jerusalem, Zichron Yaakiv, Karmiel, Tzfat, and Tel Aviv with the family and our friends. Here are some of the highlights!

Happy New Year 5771

Shana Tova U'Metukah to everyone! We have been very busy in the last few weeks. Doda Elisheva and Dod Danny were here for a great visit before they went off to another adventure at the Burning Man Festival. Danny taught Avi all about "Hakuna Matata" and how to "be optimistic," and Ellie got a new name, "Ella-sheva." Next, Aunt Daya came back, and she will be with us for a few more months as she is going back to work at the Gates Foundation here in Seattle! Ella is growing into her personality, and she loves to smile and show off her dimples. She also loves to go througha record number of diapers every day, and sleep for very short periods of time at unpredictable intervals. In the meantime, Avi is becoming a little man, and has decided that his new friend Sophie is in fact his "girlfriend." We are thrilled that he is starting off with a nice Jewish girl!

Ella flirts with the camera.
Avi flies a helicopter at the Museum of Flight with Aunt Daya
Ella Flirts with her Uncle Danny
Doda Elisheva helps Avi cool off on a hot summer day
Avi and his new girlfriend Sophie

August 2010

The last few weeks have been exhausting and exciting. Nana left last week, and Abba and Ema have been very busy and TIRED during Seattle's annual heat wave. Ella is starting to show us her personality: stubborn but sweet, strong and serious. She doesn't stand for "tummy time" and has flips over from her tummy to her back as soon as we put her face down on her play mat. Avi is a great big brother and he loves to kiss his baby sister whenever he sees her and bring her toys and tell her stories. Unfortunately, he also wants to be babied himself these days, and asks us to swaddle him and cuddle in the middle of night, after over a year of sleeping through the night without a problem. C'est la vie!


Avi shows Pop-Pop Richmond Beach

One month old!

Avi and his Baby Sister

5 weeks old

Doing Pushups on Abba's chest, 6 weeks old

July 2010

Life with two kids is a little crazier than I could have envisioned, and I have neglected the blog. Here are some key photos from Ella's first month, including visits from Nana, Pop-Pop, Savta, Saba, and Aunt Daya. Enjoy!!


Family photo opp at the Simchat Bat for Ella Eve

Saba gives Ella her name at the Simchat Bat

With Nana and Pop-Pop

Savta's Birthday in Seattle

3 weeks old, with Saba and Savta

2 Weeks old, snuggling with Ema

One week old, with Aunt Daya

Welcome Home Ella Eve Wylen!

Our big news is that on July 3, 2010, our baby girl, Ella Eve Wylen was born! She made a bit of a surprise entry into the world, as she wasn't due for 3 more weeks, but at Ema's 37 week appointment we found out that my amniotic fluid level was dangerously low, and I was admitted to the hospital immediately. After a sleepless night of monitoring the baby and being pumped with fluids, nothing much had changed, and so Ella was born a few hours later, at 11:40 a.m. She weighed 6 lb, 3 oz and was 19 inches long at birth, and had a full head of light brown hair and dark blue eyes. She looks like a teeny tiny version of Avi as a newborn, but Ema thinks she looks more like Abba. So far Ella is doing well at home, and we are grateful that Nana Cheryl was able to come out to Seattle right away to help take care of all of us, and that Aunt Daya was able to come for a visit as well. Saba and Savta will be here in just a few days, too!

Baby Wylen at 33 Weeks

Maternity Photos by Meryl Schenker, June 6, 2010