Wylen Wonderland

January 2011

2011-02-06T23:27:00.005-05:00

Highlights of this month include Ella's first solid food experience, learning to sit up by herself, and Ema and Abba's 5th wedding anniversary. Ella loves her peas and carrots (literally), as well as her bananas, avocados, pears, apples, sweet potatoes, squash, rice cereal and oatmeal. She also tolerates prunes and green beans. More foods to come! In the meantime, Avi is enjoying life as a preschooler, learning new songs, catchphrases like "listening ears," and having great success with the potty, at long last.

Hannukah: December 2010

2010-12-19T00:45:00.009-05:00

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

2010-12-19T00:33:00.008-05:00

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

2010-12-19T00:21:00.007-05:00

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

2010-12-19T00:10:00.009-05:00

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

2010-09-15T23:34:00.007-04:00

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

2010-08-17T00:53:00.006-04:00

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

2010-08-17T00:22:00.009-04:00

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!

2010-07-14T17:02:00.008-04:00

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

2010-06-25T00:04:00.008-04:00

Maternity Photos by Meryl Schenker, June 6, 2010

Aunt Goldie visits the Rainy City

2010-06-22T01:02:00.006-04:00

When Aunt Daya left for her big adventure in Europe, we made sure Avi wouldn't be too sad by bringing Aunt Goldie here for 2 weeks, starting later the same day! Although we had generally terrible weather, cold and rainy most days, we had a great time hanging out with our most recent college grad in the family, going to the zoo, downtown, Chinatown, swimming and music lessons, playgrounds, and running lots of day-to-day errands that were much easier for Ema with an aunt to help out! Somehow we'll have to make it through the last 4 weeks of this pregnancy without any live-in family members!

Memorial Day Weekend 2010

2010-06-09T00:24:00.008-04:00

We had a busy Memorial Day weekend in Lake Chelan with Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Terri and Puka the Dog. While it rained all weekend in Seattle, we enjoyed bright sun and long days at the lake, by the pool (though it was still too cold to swim in the pool, Avi, Abba and Aunt Daya enjoyed the hot tub), golfing, riding go carts, and doing a little naked gardening and outdoor pishing on the potty with Puka.

Mother's Day 2010

2010-05-10T17:18:00.008-04:00

This weekend Ema and Abba took their first trip away together since Avi was born, leaving him home with his Aunt Daya for two whole nights. Although both Avi and Ema were a bit traumatized by the "leaving" part (they had never spent a night away from each other in 26 months!), we all had a great time. Daya kept Avi very busy, going to the beach, friends' homes, shopping, and the playground, and Ema and Abba enjoyed a relaxing trip to Poulsbo and Silverdale, just an hour's ferry ride from Seattle. We came back in time to enjoy a Mother's Day BBQ with Chuck, Connie, Simon and Mimi Broches, and a good time was had by all!

Passover Trip to the East Coast: March-April 2010

2010-04-20T22:56:00.012-04:00

We just got back to Seattle after a long and eventful visit to New Jersey, Philadelphia and Steelton. We got to meet our new baby cousin, Noah, and do belly introductions between our baby-girl-to-be and Debra and Jason's baby-boy-to-be, and watch Avi and his cousin Daniel really play and interact together, which was a blast. Avi enjoyed digging for worms with Doda Shosh (video coming soon), getting balloon animals from Aunt Goldie, golfing with Saba, going for walks with Savta, watching the street sweeper with Pop-Pop, and playing in the sand with Nana. He also got to play in NYC with his friends Matan and Caleb, checking out the new playground in Union Square park, and to go to the "dinosaur museum" (a.k.a. Museum of Natural History) and ride on the "awesome" subway. Of course the highlight of the trip was the annual family Passover seder with an impressive 27 guests. Avi was too excited by all the guests arriving during the day to nap, so he ended up going to sleep just before the actual seder, and slept through his chance to sing the first of the four questions in front of the whole gang, but he did do it the next morning at Fried Matza Brunch time. He loved matza and cream cheese and ate it almost every day for breakfast, as well as the k-for-p Cheerios and Savta's matza ball soup. All in all, it was a wonderful time, despite the challenging airplane rides (Avi does not want to sleep on airplanes--ever!), and we're excited to see the grandparents and aunts again this summer when Baby Sister arrives.

It's a Girl!

2010-03-04T01:24:00.004-05:00

Today we found out that our new baby, due in July, is going to be a girl! Avi is excited to be a big brother and is looking forward to his little sister, who he says is "going to be pink"!

Avi's Second Birthday

2010-03-04T01:14:00.005-05:00

Avi is 2! His big birthday fell on erev Purim this year, so we decided to have a costume party after megillah reading last week, at our new favorite play place, Cafe O Play. Avi was Superman, Ema was the Cat in the Hat, and Abba was a puppy dog. We had so much fun playing, eating hamentashen and birthday cupcakes, and opening the amazing presents he got from friends and family. Thanks to everyone who helped make our weekend so special. And happy birthday to our little boy, who is no longer a baby!

Avi's Perfect Day

2010-02-22T01:02:00.006-05:00

Today was a totally perfect day for Avi. We drove downtown this morning and left the car in WestLake, then took the new lightrail train. Avi was fascinated by the train ride itself, by the big construction site we passed along the way (complete with diggers, bulldozers, cherry pickers, cranes, and dump trucks, all of which he poined out), by the police men at the station who gave him a "junior sherrif" sticker he proudly displayed on his jacket, and by the voice of the "Mr. Conductor" at every stop. Then we got off, crossed the tracks, and went back in the opposite direction, when we decided to make a last minute stop in Chinatown. Our first stop in Chinatown was an aquarium/fish store, where Avi loved all the tropical fish, and then we heard fireworks, and raced down the block to catch the tail end of a Chinese New Year parade, complete with dancing dragons and explosives. Next we went out for lunch, where Avi got both "challah" (scallion rolls) and noodles (which he managed to eat with a single chop stick), then got back on the train one last time. Later in the afternoon, once he had a great 2 hour nap, Aunt Daya took him for a bus ride down to University Village, where he met up with Ema, who was grocery shopping there, and got to drive his green race car shopping cart before heading home for dinner and bed. We couldn't have asked for a better day!

February 2010

2010-02-21T01:06:00.006-05:00

It's been a fun month for us in Seattle. We've been enjoying near-spring weather, lots of sunny days in the high 50s-low 60s, and fun outings to playgrounds in the neighborhood. Baby #2 is growing like crazy, and Ema already has a big belly. Luckily, she has only gained 7 pounds total in 18 weeks, but she looks like she's gained at least 14! She also just started feeling the baby kick this week, which makes it all feel very very real (as if the belly weren't enough). Meanwhile, Avi is nearing his 2nd birthday, and is excited for his cake and party. He's been very into the toilet, and has had some notable success with "pishy on the potty", though none of us are ready for full-on potty training yet. Avi's also been experimenting with throwing tremendous tantrums and deciding that he doesn't want to do anything but watch tv (though he is usually fine once we manage to leave the house). It's definitely been challenging, but we are hoping it's yet anoter phase that will pass quickly. Next up on the blog: Purim and Avi's second birthday party!

Sunday at Funtasia

2010-01-24T18:21:00.004-05:00

Last week we went to Funtasia with some of Avi's friends and their parents. The Dads had as much fun as the kids, rolling around in the ball pit and then taking the boys go cart racing on an outdoor track. Although some of the boys (and most of the moms) found this a little scary, Avi only cried when the ride was over and he wanted another turn. He loved to "go so fast" with his Abba.

Avi Eats a Popsicle

2010-01-21T00:21:00.005-05:00

When we bought too many tangerines, and they started to go soft, I pureed them and froze them in an ice cube tray. Enter "Popsicles." Here's a cute video of Avi enjoying one for desert tonight, then having a funny little conversation with his Abba. Ah, life with a toddler...

New Baby Wylen Coming in July!

2010-01-11T23:36:00.004-05:00

Avi is very happy to announce that he is going to be a big brother in July! We are 13 weeks into this pregnancy, and luckily Ema is feeling really great, with the exception of having no extra energy at all to deal with her increasingly active toddler. That said, the lack of morning sickness or major aches and pains is a real treat, and it's sometimes very easy to forget that there is actually a baby in there kicking around (especially since I can't feel him or her yet). Our ultrasounds reveal a very energetic little person, who likes to use both hands at once, waving them overhead and wiggling with all its might. New Baby Wylen is due on July 21, 2010, and we're very excited to welcome him or her into our family this summer.

Chanukah Video

2009-12-20T01:17:00.001-05:00

Chanukah 2009

2009-12-20T00:51:00.006-05:00

It's been a while since we've updated the blog. Unfortunately, it's been a rough few months for us. In November, our beloved cat Bernard passed away after a sudden bout with kidney failure. His loss was very difficult for all of us, especially Ema, who had lived with Beno for seven happy years in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New Jersey and Seattle. A week later, we had to start packing for our latest move. Soon after moving, we all got colds. Then we had to buy a new car. Finally, we are settling into our new home in Wedgwood, getting used to our new surroundings and enjoying being in a more Jewish neighborhood, within walking distance to shul. And this week Avi LOVED chanukah. He learned songs, got incredibly excited about lighting candles every night, and certainly appreciated getting lots of presents, including several big trucks, a xylophone, a moose from Sweden (thanks Aunt Ruth!), lots of Thomas trains and an amazing wooden Chanukah play set (thanks Savta and Saba). Most of all, Avi loved his visit with Doda Elisheva, who came to stay with us for a week, and Great Aunt Sheila, who came from Vancouver to see us, as well as having shabbat chanukah dinner with cousins Chuck, Connie, Simon and Mimi. Avi also loved eating Saba's latkes, made by Ema and Doda. All in all, it was a great holiday for us, and we can't wait for next year!

October 2009: East Coast Trip

2009-11-09T16:18:00.012-05:00

Avi spent the last half of October "back east" visiting his family. He enjoyed going to Hershey's Chocolate World with Nana and PopPop, going to "school" (i.e. day care) one morning, swimming and playing at the JCC while we were in Harrisburg. He then got to party till 1am at cousin Debra and Jason's wedding at the Please Touch Museum, where he and Daniel had all the toys to themselves. While Daniel managed to fall (and stay) asleep after the wedding, Avi was up the whole night, loving the music and all the attention he got (he kept saying "SO much fun! So many peoples!"). Finally, we had a great visit with Saba and Savta in Wayne. Saba took Avi to see the dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, and Savta had fun taking Avi to work with her, too. As always, our trip went way too fast. Here are some of the better pictures:

Avi rides the carousel for the first time after Debra's wedding ceremony.

Wylen family photo on the Septa Bus

Doda Ellie and Debra hang out with the boys on the dance floor

Avi enjoys an egg roll with Saba Raba during cocktail hour

Savta puts Avi to work answering phones at the Y

Avi loves the BIG dinosaurs

Taking a bath in Ema and Aunt Daya's old tub

Cooking with Aunt Goldie in Nana's kitchen

Hershey's Chocolate world with Nana and PopPop

"Help My Pile!"

2009-10-27T11:43:00.004-04:00

Avi explores the fall leaves in New Jersey.

Avi Tries to Drink Beer

2009-10-27T11:35:00.003-04:00

...from an empty bottle, at the playground in Saba and Savta's complex

Avi Loves Japanese Food

2009-10-06T17:58:00.002-04:00

Avi is still a picky eater at 19 months, but he is getting better. He's growing into "kid" foods like Macaroni and Cheese, Hambugers, and Hot Dogs (ugh), but he also has a special place in his heart for Yakisoba Noodles with veggies and tofu. Hey, they may be greasy, but I figure any way I can get a vegetable into that kid is a good way! Enjoy this cute video from dinner last night.

ABCs Crack Me Up

2009-09-24T17:04:00.002-04:00

Weekend at Lake Chelan, August 2009

2009-09-03T17:22:00.006-04:00

Last weekend we drove to Lake Chelan to visit Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Terri. Along the way, we stopped in Levenworth, the Bavarian Village. Avi had lots of fun playing with Puka the dog, swimming (and splashing) in the pool, and eating countless nectarines and peaches fresh from the orchards below the house.

August 2009: 17 Months

2009-09-03T15:57:00.006-04:00

This August we traded Saba and Savta for Doda Shoshana and Aunt Goldie, who came to visit for a half-rainy, half-gorgeous 10 days in Seattle. Avi learned to scream while playing leggos with "Shooooshi!", play the piano with "Ah Gogie", and do all kinds of cute show-offy things for their visit. A few days later, Aunt Ruth (or "Ah Rufie"), Miriam and Rachel Wasser came for a brief but very fun overnight stay in the Emerald City. Avi has loved all of the attention, and won't know what to do with himself when he only has 2 adoring parents and one Aunt to dote on him in September. Good thing we're going back east in October!

Saba and Savta visit Seattle

2009-07-20T20:02:00.004-04:00

This week Saba and Savta Wylen have been in Seattle for a visit. Saba has been very busy golfing, but we've also done lots of fun non-golf things, like going on a boat trip with Aunt Char and Uncle Kim, visiting parks and beaches, going to the Zoo, and having a family reunion with Aunt Sheila and cousins Chuck and Connie Broches. Here are few highlights from their trip.

July 2009: 16 Months

2009-07-13T01:11:00.005-04:00

At 16 Months, Avi is more of a toddler than ever. He loves to play with cars and trucks, he's very into the potty (though he has yet to do anything other than rip pieces of toilet paper, throw them in, and flush), and he sings bits and pieces of the Alphabet song and "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," as well as a line or two of his favorite Funkey Monkeys songs, including the Hebrew song "Ki Va Moed." Most exciting of all is his new red tricycle, which is the new love of his life.

15 Months: June 2009

2009-06-11T01:05:00.005-04:00

Avi had his 15 month check up today. Apparently, he is the size of an average 20 month old, and about as advanced intellectually as well! With his enormous vocabulary and ability to speak in two word sentences ("Abba, up!", "Go Car!"), remember lines from books (and to make up his own titles, too), and phrases from songs (he loves to say "H,I,J" when he hears the alphabet song), as well as his 90th percentile height (32.5 inches) and 60th percentile weight (25lb, 9oz), we've got a big boy on our hands! He is also about to cut his one year molars, which should be a fun time for all. In the meantime, Avi is a super dare devil--climbing the furniture, jumping off whatever he manages to climb onto, and giggling like a madman when he manages to run into an empty room and slam the door shut behind him!

May 2009: 14 Months

2009-05-10T19:47:00.006-04:00

Spring has finally sprung here in the great Northwest (at least on most days), and life is a lot busier now that Avi is down to one long mid-day nap. Our mornings and late afternoons are now open for adventure, and we are taking advantage of all that the Seattle area has to offer for families. We take Avi to our local playground next to the Richmond Beach Library, with unbelievable views of mountains and the Puget Sound, we are enrolled in two classes--one called the Fun Factory in Edmonds, where Avi gets to play, sing songs, and do art projects with 15 other kids his age, and also a Hebrew Immersion Playgroup at a shul in Queen Anne--we've gone to Funtasia, an indoor amusement park, and the Children's Museum in Everett, as well as the Woodland Park Zoo and the local beach, which we can walk to from our house. We plan to have lots of fun this summer going to beaches, taking ferry rides, and enjoying the gorgeous views.

As a 14 month old, Avi continues to astound us with his rapidly expanding vocabulary. We have stopped keeping track of his words, because every day he adds three or four new words or phrases, and he basically repeats everything we say. His first sentences include "Bye, Bye, see ya soon!", "Come on!" and "Get down!", which he says to the cat at every opportunity. He also loves to play with Ema's "loofa", which he totes around the house, and he thinks it's hysterical to hide under blankets and in the pillows we used to create a little "fort" for him between our sofas. It's just amazing to see him absorb the world like a little sponge. Yesterday he started filling in the blanks when I read him Goodnight moon, saying "mush" and "hush" (in a whisper, no less), at just the right time in the story. He's a genius. Here are some pictures from the last few weeks.

At the playground, with stunning views.

One day, Avi was so happy to see Abba coming home from work that he climbed inside the window to get to him. Abba let him steer the car in the driveway for about 30 seconds, till Ema snatched him away.

Floating in the pool of balls at Funtasia.

Driving the tractor at the Children's Museum

Playing "waiter", also at the Children's Museum in Everett.

April on the East Coast

2009-05-05T15:52:00.007-04:00

We spent most of April "Back East," as they say out here on the West Coast. Avi's second Pesach was a fun-filled gathering of grandparents, great grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He and cousin Daniel got to spend lots of time eating matzah crackers together and playing under the tables during seder, and Avi enjoyed all the attention from his adoring fans. Next year in Wayne (or Jerusalem, which wouldn't be a bad place to spend the holiday either!). Here are some highlights of our time in NJ and PA.

Hip Hop Avi

2009-03-27T19:15:00.003-04:00

The video speaks for itself. Enjoy!

He Walks!

2009-03-27T19:07:00.003-04:00

After many months of not-so-patiently waiting, Avi finally took his first real steps alone last night. He's done it again a few times today, too, so we think he's finally on his way to walking. Avi turned 13 months today, so it's about time. We're sure that in a few weeks, he'll be zooming around the house!

He Speaks!

2009-03-25T02:12:00.003-04:00

Avi's been saying "Hi" since he was just a few months old, seemingly on purpose, and he said "kitty" (his first "official" word) at 10 months. Now, at 12 months, Avi adds new words to his vocabulary every day. When we went for our 12 month appointment (fyi, Avi weighed 22 lb, 15 oz--50th percentile, and was 31.5 inches tall--90th percentile!), the doctor asked how many words he had, and I realized I didn't know, so I began to keep a list.

Avi's list of words: Hi, Kitty, Woof Woof, car, ball, go, teeth, nose, ear, eye, cracker, juice, bottle, spoon, bowl, no!, don't!, Bye Bye, mine, monkey (he also makes the "ooo ooo ooo" sound that goes with monkey!), Mooo (for cows), baaa (for sheep), nice, choo choo (train), book, light, bean, pea, night night, shoe, sock, belt (he loves Abba's belts), balloon, silly, challah and giggle giggle (by which we think he means "tickle tickle"). He's not as into names. He says "da-ah" for Daya, but only this week has he started to say "Abba" clearly enough that we know he means it, and he's started to say "Ma" in such a way that I HOPE it means Ema....One day I'm sure he'll say it, right?

He's also started saying "Oh Boy!" when he's really excited about something, and now that he is finally into reading, he has memorized cues for different pages of his favorite books, including animal sounds. When he wants to read Dear Zoo, he says "too tall!" because of the page where the zoo sends a giraffe, and the line reads "He was too tall. I sent him back." When we get to the end of a page of Five Silly Monkeys, he wags his finger and says "no mo mon", which means "No more monkeys jumping on the bed!" Speaking of books, Avi loves to read The Very Hungry Caterpillar in Hebrew and says "toot" (strawberry) and "parpar" (butterfly), which is pretty impressive. He loves Tootim so much, in fact, that all fruit is now called "toot."

And there you have it. It's absolutely amazing to see him develop language skills. We keep trying to catch it on video, but no such luck yet. Soon enough, we'll post a video here for you of Avi reading a book to us!

Avi's First Real Purim

2009-03-11T00:23:00.004-04:00

Last Purim, Avi was just a few weeks old, so none of us was up for dressing up and going out for Purim. This year, our little Monkey went to the Purim carnival at the JCC and the megillah reading at Kavana dressed as Curious George. He ate his first hamentaschen (apricot) and LOVED it, and had tons of fun lookng at all the other kids' costumes. Chag Purim Sameach!

Happy Birthday, Avi!

2009-03-01T13:15:00.009-05:00

Our little baby is a whole year old! On Feb 27, 2009, Avi turned one. It's hard to believe how much time has passed, and how much he has changed from the tiny (ok, not so tiny) newborn we brought home from the hospital to the energetic, opinionated, adorable little boy we now know. The next year will be just as amazing, we're sure. Here are some photos of our little guy's big day, including the banana chocolate chip cake shaped like a turtle that his Nana Cheryl made for him!

Avi Moves to Seattle

2009-03-01T12:56:00.006-05:00

Last month, we finally joined Abba Jeremy in Seattle, after 5 weeks with Saba and Savta. Sadly, we had to leave Bernard behind for now as we were too late checking in for them to accept the cat on the flight. This was very traumatic for Ema, but luckily we will be coming back to NJ in April for Pesach and we can bring him back with us then. Avi misses his kitty, too, but is having a grand old time in his new home, crawling the steps and exploring every nook and cranny of our new place. Here are some highlights from this month, including Avi's first trip to the Woodland Park Zoo, the Experience Music Project, and the new piano his Abba got him, as well as his grand new bathtub!

Avi Clapping

2009-02-09T12:34:00.001-05:00

At 11 months, Avi finally learns to clap when he is reunited with his Abba. A cute, short clip of the new skills in action.

Our New Home in Seattle

2009-02-03T19:15:00.003-05:00

Avi and Aunt Daya give us the grand tour of our new home in Shoreline, Washington, boxes, suitcases, and all. Enjoy!

Bye, Bye Montclair

2009-01-27T22:59:00.002-05:00

Last night Avi and I went out for dinner with our friend Naava Katz, website designer extraordinaire (she did my site) and talented artist and photographer in her own right. She decided to take some portraits of Avi and me at the Montclair Diner on Valley Road. This was her favorite, and I have to agree--it's a sweet shot of us!

Avi and Friends

2009-01-27T22:53:00.004-05:00

In the last few weeks, we've been making the rounds of our new and old friends in NJ to say goodbye before we move to Seattle. Below are pictures with Miles, Caleb, Liev, and Ava. We also got to see baby Noah Magnus, but since Avi was sick at the time, we didn't get a shot of the boys together. Bye, bye friends! We'll see you when we come back to visit in April.

Avi's Third Haircut

2009-01-22T23:04:00.005-05:00

Avi's first haircut was done at home by Ema and Abba. His second cut was at the mall, where Ema forgot the camera but Aunt Goldie snapped a few shots on her cell phone. The third time was a charm, when Saba took us to his barber shop in Wayne, Mario and Gerald's, and Ema remembered the camera. This Italian barber was all we could have hoped for. Avi cried a bit, then decided the car seat he was strapped into was fun enough to offset the wierdness of having someone come at your head with a big pair of scissors. And now our little guy looks like he is ready for kindergarten.

Avi and Daniel: The Sleepover

2009-01-22T22:53:00.005-05:00

Avi and I took one last trip to Philadelphia last weekend to hang out with the Goldenberg cousins before we move to Seattle, and we had the great pleasure of sleeping over at Daniel's house so we could play all day long. The boys are finally big enough to interact and even sort of play together. They mainly focused on the same toys at the same time (and the same bowl of Cheerios), and Avi proved himself yet again to be "mini Jeremy" by continually wrestling Daniel down to the floor, and then giving him hugs and kisses. Luckily, Daniel has a very forgiving nature, and didn't seem to mind being bowled over in his own home. Avi had a blast with all of Daniel's great toys, and Ema had fun hanging out with cousin Hannah and the gang.

Avi Does the Farm Show

2009-01-22T22:47:00.005-05:00

This year Avi continued a Yablon family tradition of going to the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. He enjoyed looking at the cows, horses, sheep, chickens, and rabbits, and called all of them "Kitty." A good time was had by all!

Avi Dancing, 10 Months Old

2009-01-10T22:22:00.002-05:00

A short but sweet video of Avi enjoying his newest love, the singing drum set (thank you, Erik and Morivan Wasson). Ah, to be so easily entertained!

December 08 and January 09

2009-01-10T21:54:00.007-05:00

It's been quite a while since I updated the blog. Things have been pretty hectic for the "little Wylens", as we recently moved out of our Montclair, NJ apartment, and are on our way to the great northwest. That's right, Jeremy has already moved into our new home in Seattle, and Avi and I (and Aunt Daya and Bernard the cat as well!) will be following in a few weeks.

For now, Avi, Bernard and I are living with Saba and Savta Wylen, Doda Elisheva and her dog, Chai. It's a full house--grown ups, cats, dogs, and babies. We are all getting along, and even sharing our germs so that we have all had the same cold for about a week now. Avi loves all the attention he is getting from everyone, and has started talking. Although he's been "verbal" for ages, and has probably been trying to communicate with words for months, his first real word that we are sure means what it sounds like is "Kitty," which he uttered for the first time on New Year's Day 2009. He also says "Don't", and wags his finger when he says it, and "Ball." So far, he hasn't bothered with "Ema" or "Abba." What can you do?

Avi has also grown into a very picky eater as a 10-month-old. He HATES vegetables, eggs and chicken, and is able to pick them out of any "creative" combination I try. He will eat cheerios, fruit, rice cakes and yogurt at any time of day, and whole wheat toast is a big hit, as long as you give him the whole piece and let him take his own bites. But don't try to give him veggies unless he is totally distracted by a toy or a fun spoon, and then you can sneak in a few bites before he realizes what's happening. He's such a little character, and loves to dance, bang stuff, climb the steps and speed-crawl around the house.

Thanksgiving

2008-12-09T09:02:00.005-05:00

Avi turned nine months old on Thanksgiving Day, so he was able to celebrate his big accomplishment (he's now been on the "outside" longer than he was on the "inside") with a big turkey dinner at Nana and PopPop's house, along with Saba, Safta, Aunts Daya and Goldie, cousin Micky and the Bells--Lynda, Jill and Matt. Avi showed off all his tricks, including making funny sounds with his tongue, pointing at everything, climbing and speed crawling. A good time was had by all!

Avi Eats Cheerios: The Video

2008-11-20T19:48:00.003-05:00

Avi loves his Cheerios (and banana puffs from Gerber which, as it turns out, is all Abba was feeding him during the whole video). Check out the little man in action. Can you ever remember getting so excited about cereal?

Cheerio Mania

2008-11-16T19:50:00.003-05:00

Apparently, nothing is as exciting or as satisfying as a fist full of Cheerios. Avi gets so excited when he sees the cereal box coming that he literally shakes in anticipation (with frenetically closed fists, white knuckles and all) of the goodness he is about to experience. Who knew a bland toasted oat circle could lead to so much happiness, and such cute smiles! We are grateful that Avi seems to have outgrown his allergy to oats, since Cheerios make everything better and solve every major problem in an 8-month-old baby's life.

October 2008

2008-10-16T10:15:00.002-04:00

October has been a fun month month with Avi so far. He has a little cold, but is the trooper he always is (with the exception of getting really annoyed with me when I wipe his nose). He laughs so much, bables constantly, waves bye-bye, is ticklish all over, and likes to "hide" by putting his face in cushions and craking up. He is crawling like a maniac, and climbing whatever he finds. We spent the first day of sukkot with Saba and Savta, where Avi discovered STEPS, which we do not have in our apartment. Within two seconds of reaching the step, he figured out how to climb all the way up to the top, and then speed-crawl into the kitchen to find Savta. He loved eating in the sukkah (especially since he got to have his first "people food" when he got a mashed up sweet potato and carrot from Savta's yontif tzimmis). The general consensus is that Avi is starting to look more and more like his Abba, after many months of looking mostly like his Ema. Whoever he looks like, he is the most delicious baby we know!

New Teeth, New Tricks, New Haircut

2008-10-06T19:53:00.004-04:00

Avi is now 7 months old. He has two teeth, he crawls clear across the apartment (or anywhere we put him down), and pulls up on any solid (and not-so-solid) surface he can find. He also convinced us to cut his hair much sooner than we had intended to by constantly pulling at his long wispy baby hair and smearing cool things like sweet potatoes and green beans in it. Now he is officially a "big boy" with short blonde hair (that sometimes spontaneously forms into a mohawk similar to his newborn mohawk hairdo), and he looks like a mini man in his jeans and sporty shirts and hoodies. We can't believe Avi's first year is already more than half way over!

Nana's Birthday and Avi goes to the Dentist

2008-09-24T22:25:00.005-04:00

This weekend, Avi went to Steelton to celebrate Nana's birthday. He showed off his new skills--including pulling up on our hands and "walking" across a room--and had fun getting spoiled by Nana, Pop Pop, and Aunt Daya. The next day, he went to Philadelphia to have lunch with Saba Raba, Savta Raba Evelyn, and Great Aunt Susan (he tried to take the check, but Saba Raba insisted!), and to visit Great Uncle Ron's dental office. Although he has two tiny teeth now, it was Abba who had the real check up, while Avi and I played in the waiting room. After Abba's appointment, we went to cousin Rebecca's for a play date with Daniel and dinner with the cousins. The boys are getting closer to being able to play together, and even began their cousin-rivalry by reaching for the same toys at the same time, and racing to Aunt Susan's lap. A fun day was had by all!

Avi Goes West

2008-09-10T14:09:00.010-04:00

Avi took his first trip to the west coast this month, flying to Seattle on his 6 month birthday. He was great on the plane, although he was too excited about the new experience to sleep much. This made for a long 6 hour stretch for Ema and Abba, but was great fun for the little guy. In just 2 weeks, Avi met and got to know his Grandpa Arthur and Grandma Terri, Great Aunt Char and Great Uncle Kim, Aunts Cecily and Lyndsay, and lots and lots of Dunn/McGinnis/Gabriel cousins. There are too many good pictures to post, but here are a good selection of our favorite moments from the trip--Avi trying to drink beer, picking peaches with Ema at the Chelan orchard, getting to know new family members, and hanging out on the ferry boat to Bainbridge Island. If you'd like to see more pictures, let me know and I will send you the link to our Snapfish album!

Avi's First Photo Shoot

2008-08-25T21:21:00.004-04:00

In honor of his upcoming 6 month birthday (which we will spend flying to Seattle!), we had Avi's portraits taken. We were thrilled with the results of our little smiley guy's pictures. He was a real trooper at the shoot, especially because the photographer was running behind schedule and we ran into nap time, so Avi was really very sleepy and even a little cranky. As soon as we were done, he fell asleep in his stroller so that Abba, Ema and Savta could grab a bite to eat. Enjoy!

Avi Learns to Sit and Crawl

2008-08-17T11:45:00.002-04:00

At 5 1/2 months, Avi is now sitting on his own for good lengths of time (sometimes with one hand on the floor to support himself, sometimes with "no hands"), and crawling a few mini-steps to reach his favorite toys. The first time he actually took two crawl-steps, Jeremy was the one to see it, as I was in the other room having a meeting with a client. He was trying to get to his favorite jumbo-sized edition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. We're so proud! We even had to lower his mattress in the crib, because we found him peeking over the top of the rail and pulling himself up on the bumpers! Our little baby is becoming a big boy so quickly...

Avi Goes Down the Shore

2008-08-05T09:39:00.004-04:00

This weekend Avi made his first trip to the Atlantic Ocean, where he hung out at his Great Aunt Susan and Great Uncle Ron's beach house in Ventnor, NJ (near Atlantic City). He loved hanging out with all his cousins (Rebecca, Steve, Debra, and potential cousin Jason), Doda Elisheva, and Saba Raba and Evelyn, and he approved of the family's favorite candy and chocolate shop--Jagielkys. Luckily, he seemed to love the beach, and smiled when I dipped his feet into the water. He can't wait till he gets to see the Pacific Ocean in a few weeks!

Fun with Family

2008-07-28T22:22:00.008-04:00

This weekend Avi hung out with Nana Cheryl and Aunt Daya, and then made his second trip to Philadelphia, where he visited with cousin Daniel (and lots of other cousins, aunts and uncles), and got to take a "Four Generations of Wylen Men" photo with Saba Raba Joe, Saba Stephen, and Abba Jeremy. Avi is beginning to wonder just how many relatives he has after all--he's lost count!

Avi Hangs Out in NYC

2008-07-21T21:09:00.003-04:00

This weekend our Avi made his first trip to New York City, where we hung out with our friends Bat Ami, Jay and Caleb Moses, and Moishe and Hannah Steigmann in the Union Square area. Avi absolutely loved the hustle and bustle of the city (he takes after his Ema!), and had a great time despite the oppressive heat. Next time, when it's a little cooler, we'll head to the Central Park Zoo!

Open Wide! Avi's First Food

2008-07-02T20:52:00.002-04:00

At Avi's 4 month check up, we learned that he has gone from the 80th percentile for weight at 2 months, to the 25th percentile at 4 months. Our former chunker is now long and lean--good for later in life, but not ideal for such a young baby. Our doctor suggested we start solids a bit early, even though I was hoping to breastfeed exclusively for the first 6 months. However, Avi has definitely been showing an interest in our food, and when we gave him his first spoonful of rice cereal mixed with formula this morning, he gobbled it up like a pro, grabbing the spoon (and my hand), and pulling it into his mouth. Sure, a good bunch of it ended up on his cheeks and his bib, but he swallowed the majority of the few spoonfuls we offered him, and we can't wait to see how this little experiment continues!

Fun Times in the Summer

2008-06-24T07:53:00.003-04:00

Avi's first summer is off to a great start. He is blossoming--giggling, rolling around, eating his toes, and making our hearts melt with his gummy smile. This weekend Aunt Daya came for a long visit, and Avi had his first picnic in the "park" near the Walnut Street train station in Montclair. He's getting bigger all the time, and is wearing 6-9 month outfits, even though he is just 4 months old! Can we say football player??

15 Weeks: Tossing and Turning

2008-06-12T15:22:00.004-04:00

At 13 weeks, Avi started rolling over. At first it was just in one directions--from back to tummy, usually on the left side. Then he started doing it on both sides. Then the rolling got faster and faster. Then he learned how to flip back from his tummy onto his back. At 15 weeks, Avi has decided that playing on his mat is only fun when he is lying on his back, and when in the crib, he only wants to roll onto his tummy, and back and forth and back again, then staying on his tummy and pushing up onto his knees, scooting up and up and up until his head hits the top (and sometimes the corner) of the crib. We had rough time with this for a few days, until Avi learned how to go in reverse. Now he loves to sleep on his tummy with his tushy in the air. So cute!

Avi Goes to Philadelphia

2008-06-05T21:51:00.004-04:00

Last week Avi made his first (of many!) trips to Philadelphia to finally meet his cousin Hannah, and to hang out again with Saba Raba Joe, cousin Daniel, and the whole Goldenberg clan. We had a great day including a long walk in downtown Philly to visit cousin Debra at her office, plenty of fun play time with Daniel's toys, and good naps in Aunt Susan and Uncle Ron's bedroom! We were very happy that Avi managed to eat, sleep, and poop as if he were at home, and Ema and Abba enjoyed showing off his big smiles and cool collared shirt to the family. We know this will be the first of many family visits to come.

Mommy and Me: Home Alone

2008-05-18T20:50:00.005-04:00

This weekend, Avi and his Ema were home alone for the first time EVER, since Abba was away in D.C. on a business trip. Believe it or not, we are surviving, though Ema is very tired. We've played lots of games, sung lots of songs, and taken a bath every day (well, at least Avi has!). Avi's been very compliant with going to bed around 6:30-7pm, but he still wakes up every four hours or so and wants to eat. On Friday night, I was so zonked from a whole day home alone with baby in the rain that I fell asleep in my bathrobe after a much needed shower, and only woke up at 11pm when Avi started to cry in his room. So much for shabbat dinner! Last night Avi was up so often that I probably only slept for about 3 hours all night, and then it was time to get up and play at 6am. So when we got home from our walk this morning, and Avi kept sleeping in his carseat, Bernard and I joined him, even though there was clean laundry to put away (on the bed!), and plenty of other things to do. Wish us luck. Just 24 more hours till Jeremy comes home! Yay!

The Fourth Trimester is Almost Over

2008-05-14T21:31:00.004-04:00

Baby experts say that the first three months of a baby's life are really an extension of pregnancy, the fourth trimester. Avi is 11 weeks old today, and he is growing by leaps and bounds. At 8 weeks he weighed 13 pounds, 7 ounces, and measured 24.5 inches long. He is quite the chubby little fellow. With every week, a new challenge surfaces. First it was baby acne, then cradle cap, and now we are dealing with the results of having a little guy in the 80th percentile for weight--folds of fat that irritate his sensitive skin and create red patches under his chin, elbows and knees. Hopefully he will start holding his head up 100% soon, to help out the situation. He's getting there! He rolls from his back to his side, and picks up his head when he's on his tummy to look from side to side. He's also doing that adorable pre-laugh laugh--something like a sharp intake of air combined with a gurgle--and babbling up a storm. We are excited to see what Avi has in store for us as he turns the corner from his newborn stage to "real" baby! We also hope that when he gets to the 3 month mark, he will be closer to sleeping through the night, and that he will go back to taking long naps in the afternoon (which he no longer likes to do--instead, he prefers to be up ALL day long, with reluctant 30 minute naps twice a day, usually while we go for a walk or a drive in the car)!

Ema's 32nd Birthday

2008-04-24T21:41:00.003-04:00

Alys' birthday was a busy day--erev shabbat and the day before Passover--so we didn't have much of a party. But Avi did get to hang out with the birthday girl (for a change!) and her parents, Nana Cheryl and Pop Pop Leonard.

Passover 2008

2008-04-24T17:29:00.005-04:00

Avi's first Passover was lots of fun. He got to hang out with his cousin Daniel and wear matching PJs, go to his first Wylen family seder and meet all of his great-aunts, uncles and cousins, and he wore his first sweater vest ensemble and silk kippah. Good times. Below are some memorable moments from the holiday: hanging out with Saba Raba Joe, walking in Montclair with Daniel, smiling for Safta, looking like a little man in a sweater vest.

Crazy-Haired Baby

2008-04-06T11:16:00.002-04:00

For a kid with a bald Abba, Avi has a full head of

crazy hair. Right after we wash it (as was the case

in this picture), his hair is sandy blonde and BIG--it goes in every possible direction with no clear style. Then, once it's dry, his hair is sleek and straight and darker brown (but still a little crazy, sticking up all over the place). They say that newborns lose the hair they are born with, but Avi hasn't lost a strand, and he's already 5 1/2 weeks old. In fact, his hair seems to be getting longer and longer! At this rate, he'll need a haircut in a few months!

Eat, Sleep, Scream

2008-03-31T14:28:00.002-04:00

Avi is over a month old now, and we're starting to get to know him a bit better. We know he likes to eat--a lot, and often. He has amazing lungs and when he's hungry, the whole house knows it. He doesn't just cry--he screams full force. The screams are then followed by what Doda Shosh calls the goat sound, a little bleating complete with the pushed-out lower lip, which means "Nothing's actually wrong with me, I just want food NOW." Here is a photo of Avi in a 12-month onesie. Not surprisingly, it doesn't look quite as big on him as I'd imagined it would. The idea is to take a photo of him in this onesie every month, to document how he's growing. Anyone want to bet how many months it will take for him to fit into 12-month clothing? Hint: He is already starting to grow out of the 3-month outfits!

Avi Broches Wylen

2008-03-26T17:33:00.005-04:00

The last 4 weeks have been a whirlwind of diapers, nursing, healing from the c-section, and getting to know our little Avi Ben-Zion. Avi's bris was a beautiful event, filled with the love of family and friends, grandparents and even great-grandparents, and couins galore. We were thrilled with our mohel, Cantor Menachem Toren (if anyone wants a referral, let us know--we searched high and low for him and were extremely happy with his services). Ema Alys was probably more traumatized by the event than Avi was. Since then, we've been blessed with lots of help from Nana Cheryl and Aunts Daya and Shosh, who have selflessly given up full nights of sleep to help us out. Avi is now a month old, and has already gained 3 pounds since he was born, and is now up to 11 pounds, 4 ounces. He is alert and happy most of the time, and his big blue eyes and gummy smile melt our hearts every day. We hope to find more time to update the blog in the weeks to come, now that I am feeling better and starting to adjust to my up-every-two- hours schedule!

Baby Wylen is Here!

2008-03-04T05:48:00.003-05:00

Finally, Baby Wylen appeared on the scene! He was born at 10:17 am on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, weighing in at an impressive 8 pounds, 12 ounces, and measuring 21 1/2 inches long. The whole story will be posted on this blog when Ema and Aba Wylen emerge from their daze. In the meantime, enjoy a few cute pictures of our little angel, who will be named at his brit milah ceremony on Wednesday, March 5. Stay posted!

The Tenth Month

2008-02-24T15:18:00.003-05:00

No one likes to tell you that pregnancy can last longer than 9 months, but here we are, two days past our baby's due date, all three of us growing rapidly every day. We have another doctor's appointment tomorrow where we'll get an estimate of how big the baby is (my doctor thinks it's over 8 pounds already!!), and then we'll have to make some decisions about whether or not to induce labor or keep waiting for this baby to decide when its ready to come out on its own. It all depends on the projected size. If it looks like the baby could possibly top 9 pounds (something I have a hard time imagining), we'll try to get it out sooner rather than later....Hopefully, the next post here will be the post-baby-post!!

Down to the Wire (we hope!)

2008-02-13T17:08:00.002-05:00

It's now just 9 days till Baby Wylen's official due date, and we are wallowing in dreary cold, wet, snowy, rainy New Jersey. It took me an hour and a half to get home from work last night in the snow (the 12 mile trip usually takes no longer than 30 minutes at rush hour), and let me tell you, it was no fun at all to drive 10 miles an hour on slippery roads when you are 9 months pregnant and need to use the toilet every fifteen minutes. Combine that with the fact that I've had a terrible head cold (which I can't take any medicine for!) for days, and you get one grumpy mommy-to-be. Tomorrow is officially my last day at work, but I doubt I will make it out of bed unless this cold magically disappears, my voice returns to normal, and my nose stops leaking! So I guess I can be grateful for at least having the next number of undetermined days before the birth to stay home and "nest" and rest as much as possible. With any luck, we'll be posting good news here very shortly! Wish us luck!

Mamas and Babies

2008-01-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was a real treat. Becca and Avraham
came in from Israel, along with Ashira (3 years)
and Hillel (5 months), and Bethany came in all
the way from NYC with little Caleb (3 months).
Our baby, of course, is still on the inside (just 3-4 weeks to go!), but our little reunion still made for a cute picture we can all look back on years from now when our kids are all hanging out in Israel together one day!

The Ninth Month!

2008-01-27T09:24:00.000-05:00

Well, here we are with less than a full month to go till the big due date. We're half-way through our lamaze classes, we're interviewing pediatricians, we're starting to gather the essential baby stuff we'll need for the first few weeks. And we're barely sleeping. Or at least, the baby and I are barely sleeping. I can't seem to get comfortable no matter how many pillows I use, and as soon as I do drift off, my bladder wakes me up, ready to be emptied yet again...Alas, the woes of the last month of pregnancy. We are in week 36. This picture, which we took late last night, surprised even me. Somehow, that belly looks much larger in photos than it does when I just look down. Probably because I can't even see the whole thing from my perspective!

35 Weeks and Counting...

2008-01-18T12:05:00.000-05:00

It seems like the last few weeks have been going by very slowly. Although we are aware that we only have 5 short weeks till our due date, and really the baby could come anytime now, it still seems like it will be forever till we meet our little one. The last few weeks have been very busy though. Jeremy and I celebrated his 35th birthday and our second wedding anniversary, two big milestones in life. We've started our lamaze class (hopefully we'll make it through all four sessions before we have the baby!), and we've both been really swamped with work. Trying to tie up all the loose ends and cross all the items off our ever-growing to-do list is a bit overwhelming, but slowly everything is getting accomplished. Since there are so many pictures of me on this blog, here are some photos of the men in the family--Jeremy and Bernard.

Why We're Not Having a Baby Shower

2008-01-02T20:11:00.000-05:00

Lots of people have been asking me whether or not Baby Wylen will be having a shower. The answer is no. It's not a Jewish custom to have a baby shower, mainly for superstitious reasons (it's not wise to collect lots of presents for little people until they have safely arrived in the world). Although, to quote Michael Scott from the great show The Office, "I'm not superstitious, I'm just a little titious," we've decided to go with this Jewish tradition. However, as a compromise with modernity, we've set up a registry for Baby Wylen, and can direct well-wishers there for future gift-giving ideas. Just go to the Babies R Us website (http://www.toysrus.com/registry/index.jsp), put in my name and NJ, and you'll see the various things we've put on our baby wish list.

32 Weeks = 8 Months!

2007-12-29T18:38:00.000-05:00

This week marks the start of the eight month of pregnancy. All my baby books say that an infant born after the 32nd week has an excellent chance of being perfectly healthy (albeit a little small), so I can breathe a sign of relief now that I've hit that milestone. That is, when I'm able to breathe! My expanding belly and growing baby literally take my breath away these days. Amazingly, the baby is still moving a lot. I can't imagine how it has so much energy, when I feel so sluggish and ungainly. Also, how is there any more room in there? Although I don't get full sommersaults anymore, I sure do feel plenty of kicks, streches and yogic poses. We're either having a prezel-bending yogi, or a soccer player!

Week 31: Kvetch and Groan

2007-12-24T23:30:00.000-05:00

It's week 31 of this pregnancy. Baby W is moving as much as ever, but Ema (that would be me) is slowing down big time. I am so full of awe and gratefulness for the health of this baby and pregnancy, but am more than a little tired, sore, and grumpy. Everything hurts. I've gained 25 pounds, and am supposed to keep gaining about a pound a week from now till the baby is born (and by the way, why do they say pregnancy lasts 9 months, when 40 weeks=TEN months??), and I can't imagine lugging around any more extra baggage. The only clothes that feel comfortable are sweats, and the only position I want to be in is in bed with my many pillows. Kvetch, kvetch, kvetch. Though I would never want to go backwards (I'd love for this baby to be just a little early!), I definitely miss the second trimester. We all do!

Baby W in Steelton

2007-12-23T17:42:00.000-05:00

Baby W, future Aunt Daya and I! went to Steelton for a visit during week 31. We enjoyed having future Grandma Yablon (or Nana, or MomMom, or whatever she decides to be called) cook for us and pamper us, and everyone had fun watching the baby roll around and try to punch its way out of my belly when I sat down on the couch to watch TV.

Hannukah 2007

2007-12-08T18:32:00.000-05:00

Our Hannukah has been very eventful so far. The first night was spent at future Saba and Safta Wylen's house, for Saba Stephen's famous latkes and a visit with Uncle Eli and Max. The second night was spent in snowy Philadelphia, where we celebrated little Daniel's bris, and got to meet the little fellow for the first time. In this picture, Daniel waves hello to his little cousin to be (notice Alys' burgeoning stomach--at 28 weeks). Seeing a baby "on the outside" certainly makes the imminent arrival of our little one seem even more real than ever. Oy! Hannukah miracles are everywhere.

Daniel Matthew Venit arrives!

2007-12-01T23:29:00.000-05:00

Just days after Thanksgiving, on Nov 28, Baby W's first second cousin was born! We are all so thrilled to welcome Daniel Matthew, son of Hannah and Kyle. In just a few months, Daniel will have a littler cousin to play with (or at least look at), and by next Thanksgiving, they'll both be eating solid food! How fun! We're looking forward to meeting little Daniel at his bris on Dec 5, and sharing in this big simcha with the extended family. Mazal tov!

Thanksgiving Butterballs

2007-11-25T11:50:00.001-05:00

This Thanksgiving, we went to Jeremy's family in Philadelphia. His first cousin, Hannah, is 11 weeks ahead of me in her pregnancy, which means that she is due in just 2 weeks (in this picture you can see the difference a whole trimester makes--I am at week 27, Hannah is at 38)! We are all very excited to be producing mini cousins who we hope will be great friends as well as family as they grow up, since they will be nearly the same age (and let's face it, once you get past the first year of a baby's life, 11 weeks' difference in birth dates is pretty irrelevant!). Hannah and I have been comparing notes for last bunch of months, and it's been fun to see each other through this whole process. I know that once she gives birth, our impending big day will seem closer than ever, and the whole thing will take on an added reality for us. Once I make it through this week, I'll officially be in the third trimester--so I'm 2/3 of the way there!

26 Weeks: Alien Movements

2007-11-15T19:43:00.000-05:00

We're nearing the corner of the third trimester, and for the last few days not only has the baby been moving so much that it can be felt by others, but it can be SEEN by others. That's right--the baby has become so active, that sometimes I look down at my belly and watch it twitching and moving around like there was a serious alien in there. Nighttime is especially amusing. Last night I got a preview of what motherhood might be like. Exhausted, I was unable to sleep for at least an hour, because the little one growing inside me decided it was time to do some aerobics, or jumping jacks, or something... Oy!

22 Weeks and Finally a Blog

2007-10-22T21:29:00.000-04:00

Since this is the age of immediate access to information, we knew that creating a blog for our growing family was inevitable. Now, just 22 short weeks into our pregnancy, we've finally started one. The idea is to give the family access to our milestones, photos of ultrasounds (and eventually, of course, of the baby!) and Alys' growing belly, and other fun stuff. . . . Here is the latest "picture" of our little wonder. Taken at 20 weeks of gestation, on October 8, 2007, this showed our little soon-to-be waving and stretching, and generally enjoying this time in the Wylen womb.