Rascadoodle

City Louse, Country Louse

2011-01-05T18:43:00.000-08:00

My kids have been in school since they were 2-1/2 yrs old. Most of that time, they spent with their hair down, Minka's often hanging in her face. I never once worried about lice because I just didn't think about it. That is, until this past July, when lice decided to summer in the heads of some of the kids at Delilah's camp. At that point, I wondered how the hell we got through 5 years without ever hearing of a single lice incidence.

Delilah made it through the summer without any little parasitic friends setting up camp in her hair (which spent the bulk of the summer twisted into french braids). One thing you can count on Delilah for is a fastidious commitment to her own health and fear of "catching" anything inconvenient. (That's my long way of saying that Delilah's desire NOT to get lice superseded her preference for wearing her hair down.) It was at this time that I also discovered that the shampoo I use on the girls' hair is supposed to help prevent lice. Score.

School began (finally) almost at the end of September, and, shortly after that, two kids in her class were sent home with lice. They were checked a couple of other times, and each time, Delilah and her braids stayed lice-free. Minka's class never reported any incidences of lice, and my unprofessional lice-checks of her head turned up no critters.

I continued to braid Delilah's hair or put it up until after the winter break. Just yesterday, I let her wear it down because I was under the impression that, though lice could make a home of our heads at any time of year, that there was a high season for them. I thought with the blizzard we could consider ourselves pretty safe until the spring. Then, a Facebook friend posted about her kids having lice (and, incidentally, being made to feel like pariahs for it--not ok). That alone is no off-season outbreak, however, it was followed by Minka's friend's siblings coming home from their school with lice. Apparently, those little buggers are running rampant in their NYC private school (and, for that fb friend whose kids were mistreated because they had lice, if you are reading this, take note: EVERYONE is susceptible, and those who think otherwise are ignorant idiots). And, Delilah came home today to tell me that their heads were checked at school, again. It occurred to me to ask if the school nurse checked her head. She replied, "No. Some ladies."

And, all that to bring me to my point, which is: Are city lice different than country lice? Perhaps they are more sophisticated and well-read? Perhaps they spend their days infesting the heads of museum dwellers rather than monster truck rally-ers? Somehow, I doubt it. But, they certainly are treated differently. When I was growing up, my memories of lice were that we were checked regularly at school by the school nurse. She came to the class, we took out our pencils and she made a very cursory search through our hair and scalps with the eraser side of the pencil. If we had lice, we were sent home and had our hair washed with Nit: a foul-smelling, probably industrial strength, probably toxic shampoo. Then, we parked our butts in the backyard, and our mothers yanked through our hair with the fine-toothed combs that accompanied the Nit shampoo. I'm sure they washed our clothes and probably took the opportunity to sneakily throw out those accumulated, unused stuffed animals, but that part escaped my child self. I just don't remember it being a huge to-do.

Maybe my world doesn't venture far beyond that of (mostly lower) Manhattan. Maybe everyone, everywhere, treats lice like bedbugs now. Or, maybe this city has just gone mad. If you have lice here, you call in the big guns. You pay a service $100/hr (and, it takes at least 8 hours), to come in and rid you of your pestilence. You read it right: $100/hr. They will clean everything in your house, including the infested heads of your family and pets and comb out every viable and nonviable nit, bag up your stuffed animals (which must stay that way for 2 weeks), and tell you the sob story of how they only see $15/hr of that $100 (which really does suck). And, for those of us who have been effectively (and probably erroneously) convinced to freak out about the possibility of lice entering our homes, but don't want to spend the big bucks, we can call in Hasidic women or Jehovah's Witnesses, who will do it for less. If you don't believe how insane people are, let me share an awesome example from an "advice" string on urbanbaby.com:

Need a new lice lady-- Abigail Rosenfeld just had a (her 15th!!!) baby and is out of commish-- daughter too booked. Any suggestions??

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translation, svp?
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Pick the nits yourself, for god's sake. Just don't eat them the way chimps do. Abigail Rosenfeld has to be the funniest waspy jew name I've ever heard. 15 kids for real? Ultra orthodox waspy jew?
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- what is a waspy jew? a closet jew who attends a baptist church?
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  - I heard that Obama is a closet jew in addition to being a crypto-Muslim.
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- Do you all not know about the Hasidic lice ladies???
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  - no! please tell!
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    - http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/01/28/020128ta_talk_martin
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Cut your kid's stringy long hair and be done with the problem. Can't believe the number of times a year my dd's ss school sends home lice notices.
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- np: guess what -- lice like clean hair! My dc have never got them and I think it's because I don't wash it enough.
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  - Lice like LONG hair. I wash my dd's chin length hair daily and she's never had them, either.
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    - actually, the more you wash, the better the chances she'll get lice. lice like squeaky clean hair. use product or wash less frequently if there's a lice outbreak at your school.
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    - np. Unless you shave your dc's head, lice don't care how long the hair is. And the fact that your dd has never had them is irrelevant. My dd's hair is down to her butt and she's never had lice either. These are ANECDOTES, which prove nothing.
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      - Not true. And schools tell parents their kids' hair has to be worn pulled back to minimize chances of getting/spreading lice.
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        Yes, but that's just because it is harder for the kids to get their hair close together. Lice don't care about the length of the hair. As you know you can get them at other parts of your body, too.
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- np ITTTTTTA. My dd has a bob and has never had lice. All these girls come to school with braids for a few days after a lice notice is sent out, then it's back to stringy, long hair.
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  - my dd has long long curly hair and has never had lice
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  - Blech - never cutting my dds beautiful hair to avoid the myth that long hair gets lice.
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is it really her 15th???? we last went to her when she was about to have her 13th. ANd I swear it was just a couple of years ago, and she was then 39.
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- I'm hoping there's good money to be made in nit-picking. Otherwise, who supports this brood?
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  - Oh my gosh...that's where the saying 'nit-picking' comes from?! Hysterical.
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    - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitpicking_%28pastime%29
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- so gross
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  - yea...totally gross! she and her DH support their family and pay for them to attend parochial schools (all 15 of them!!) but yea. gross that she has children. may not be your style...but your "one" child then I guess makes you what...totally selfish.... why cant u just live an dlet live?
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you can do it yourself or just pony up for lice enders or hair fairies.
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we had a great experience with Classique House of Beauty....Jehovahs, not Hasids. I'll grab their number if you post back that you want it.
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- There is The Lice Lady of Westchester. She is amazing and very reasonably priced. Her work is excellent. Her name is Anna and can be reached at 914-497-5465.
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np: wow, I never knew that there was a lice lady. Growing up, parents just took care of it themselves
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dalia harel of licebusters
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There is another wonderful lice specialist that is local and makes house calls 24/7. She comes highly recommended. Michelle Burwell 347-461-2274, mbrwll@aol.com. She is wonderful and the kids love her. Give her a call.
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Put tea tree oil in the shampoo every wash.
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- Yeah, if you want your little boy to grow boobs
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  - Ok, I admit I must be ignorant on this one. Tea Tree oil will grow boobs on a boy ? HUH ??
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Abigail Rosenfeld DOES NOT HAVE A 15TH BABY and she is very much able and willing to help. Her business is running just as it's been for over two decades. She's the best, her children are her blessing, no reason for criticism just because her way of life is different from yours. I can only assume the post about her business being shut down (as well as the fictitious #15) was authored by A NASTY COMPETITOR trying to steal her business. Abigail wouldn't dream of doing such a thing. Shame on you.
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Anyone who posts on urbanbaby is missing a chip. I will freely and happily judge everyone who posts on there. But, I'm not judging people for calling in one of these services, I just don't understand it. And, I cannot imagine that I could have found people anywhere else I've ever lived, who could quite comfortably support a family of 17 on the money earned from nitpicking. We must be out of our whole minds, here in Manhattan. Somehow, we convince ourselves that we need everything and cannot do anything ourselves. I'm not really so self-centered to believe that it's just the parents with whom I come in contact that would pay someone to nitpick. I am sure it is yet one more indication that the world is just increasingly headed toward one of convenience (for those that can afford it). I'm not even really opposed to it. For example, I love reading on my Kindle, and, though I do lament what may amount to lost arts, I don't for one minute miss the smell or feel of a book. I like the immediacy of electronic communication. I enjoy writing texts instead of calling people (it's faster and I can be funnier). But, one thing I don't like is to feel helpless. And, I wonder: Is always looking for someone else to solve our problems--whether that person be a nitpicker or otherwise--going to make us unable to solve even the tiniest of our problems on our own? If we cannot even rid our childrens' heads of lice, eventually, will we not be able to rid our noses of boogers? I can't resist it, people....TODAY A NITPICKER, TOMORROW, A NOSEPICKER....sorry. bad way to end, but it needed to be purged from me.

DRINK THE KOOL-AID

2009-01-24T20:09:00.000-08:00

You can become a follower of this blog by clicking on the follower "widget" on the lefthand side of this page. It allows you to receive notification when the blog is updated. I do not understand whether it lets you know when you log onto blogger.com, or if the update goes to your email. I wish I could be more specific. But just join! It'll make ya feel good....

The Littlest Crack up

2009-01-24T19:29:00.000-08:00

Minka is hilarious, now. She always has been funny, and pretty aware of her humor, but now that she is talking more, she makes us laugh even more. And, she keeps saying and doing the cutest things!

A few months ago, she got a cold and, as a result, found her nose. She didn't so much find her nose as she found the holes in her nose. So, she has taken to digging in every so often to see what treasures it may yield. When she is told to stop picking, she says, "AH-KAY" presses her nose and shamelessly says, "BEEP!" Even writing this, I know a nosepicker is not cute to those who aren't her mommy, but it really is funny.

Her best new line is, "I made." This began in reference to things she actually created. However, she also uses it to take credit for others' work. She is particularly fond of pointing to Delilah's artwork and taking credit. When asked if she actually made it, she will emphatically shake her head and say, "Yeh," or "Yup." In addition, she will now use the line in lieu of saying, "I did it!" For example, she may put on her hat and show us saying, "I made!"

Minka started singing...sort of...recently. She likes to sing the universal "Clean up Song", and will chime in when others sing a song. Her chiming in is usually an echo of one word immediately following said word's proper place in the song. Today, Delilah was singing "Jingle Bells" on the way to a playdate. She had the words slightly wrong, as it was, and was singing it in a loop, like a broken record. Minka echoed "Hey!" with each skipping revolution:

DELILAH: Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.
Oh what fun it is to ride in a big open sleigh!
Hey!
MINKA: HEY!

And so on and so forth. It was like a lunatic musical round in an asylum.

Other cuteness: Minka still steamrolls Delilah every morning with hugs, kisses and I love yous... She grabs your hand now and pulls, when she wants to bring you somewhere or show you something and says, "Come." ...She enjoys wearing copious amounts of jewelry all at once, and has started to choose her own clothes everyday... She has officially begun the toddler rite of passage: Nudism. She answers the door bottomless and is happy to escape out of the front door of our apartment to streak down the hallway...

Absolver of Guilt

2009-01-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today, while walking Delilah to school, I bumped up a curb with the stroller. (Delilah stands on a board just behind the handlebars of the stroller, Minka sits snug as a bug in the seat. I push this 900 lb monstrosity--a true pleasure in the snow, as I'm sure you can imagine.) It was snowing hard and, while Minka relaxed in her blanket-filled, plastic-covered, wind-free stroller-womb, unaware of how good she's got it, Delilah and I braved the horizontally blowing snow and bitter cold for our half hour walk to school, through unshoveled, unsalted sidewalks that often are not handicap (therefore, not stroller)-accessible from the street. Not that I'm complaining! I love where we live and am thrilled, just like your friendly mailman, to weather any storm to deliver my little bundle to her mailslot/petri-dish of a school so that her life may be enriched by snack, paint, puzzles and germs.

Anyway, I bumped up the curb because there's no ramp up to the sidewalk, and since it was snowy and windy, Delilah had her head bent down to keep the snow out of her eyes. The force of the stroller going up the curb caused Delilah's head to jerk forward slightly and hit the padded handlebar, albeit gently. I quickly apologized to Delilah who sweetly told me it wasn't my fault, it was the stroller's fault. I said I was still sorry because I was the one pushing the stroller, but she was insistent, "You don't have to be sorry, Mommy. It was not your fault."

Though it was really cold out, this kind of thing just melted my heart. I hear her say this, and things like this, often, now. It is a mix of little girl and big girl all in one. It is childish innocence and mature reasoning, and sometimes it blows my mind. Whenever she does this, I want to grab her and hug her so tight (and so I do), partly because I am so proud of her and how carefully she thinks things out, and partially because it is a sign that she is growing up, that bittersweet thing that kids inevitably do. I want to bottle up her innocence and kiddie charm so that when she gets bigger (and dare I say, becomes a more complicated and obstinant teenager) I can open up the bottle and breathe in more innocent times. Actually, to be honest, there are days now, I could stand to open up that bottle, but that's another post for another time.

Bear With Me...

2008-10-25T19:12:00.000-07:00

...if you come here lookin for some new posts, i promise they will come soon. i have been spending my free evening time making a halloween costume, among other things that need to get done. however, i plan to update this blog any day now....will let you all know about d going back to school, m starting classes and rocking our world, and, of course halloween, plus any other little thing that comes to mind...

xo, rach

Oh, By The Way...

2008-08-18T18:43:00.000-07:00

...Minka is walking all by herself. In fact, she is running. Running faster than her body actually moves, so she falls a lot still, but she has been walking unaided since June 22, 2008. She let go of my hand at the playground, in the sand. Just let go and took off one day, and has been walking ever since. Lately, she also enjoys walking backwards, spinning in circles and running all over. True to form, she took each stage of walking in her own time, focusing on mastering each facet of the skill.

...Delilah is 3...going on 13. Some of her favorite things to say: "How many times I hafta tell you?" "I'm not talking to you, now." But also, "I love you, Daddy/Mommy/Minka." "I'm glorious!" "I'm actually really mature for my age." She is, as always, super-expressive and reflective. She melts your heart, even as she makes you want to bang your head against a wall.

...Delilah now showers. Baths are for babies and dilettantes.

...Greg bought the girls a pet fish. It is a red, orange, purple and pink Betta fish. "Her" name is Princess Nishy. Nishy the Fishy. She resides in the girls' room.

...When Greg is in the room, Minka only has eyes for Daddy. Even when he's not in the room, just on the phone, she grabs the phone and stares at it, as if he may appear if she looks hard enough. And, she kisses the phone when she hears his voice. It's achingly cute!

...Delilah and Minka hug each other unsolicited all the time.

...Minka can jump and ribbit like a frog on command. However, she also points at birds and says, "Ribbit." Delilah finds this hilarious and so, encourages it. If I say, "Look Minka, a birdie! Tweet tweet!" Delilah says, "No, Minky, ribbit ribbit!"

...Delilah thinks we also have a home in the Bahamas. In addition to telling Greg as much, and constantly discussing our vacation there, today, she told a little boy that we moved there. The little boy is moving to Pennsylvania, and was telling me that he will miss NYC, but is also excited to move. Delilah said, "Oh, that's like when I moved to the Bahamas! I missed NYC while I was there, too! Right, Mommy?"

A Dignified Party to Her Own Glorious Humiliation

2008-08-18T17:41:00.000-07:00

Minka has reached the point where I can let her roam the apartment while I shower in the morning. This isn't to say that she has reached a level of maturity where I trust her to do as I wish (i.e., sit quietly and play until I get out of the shower), nor is it to say that she won't climb the walls and bring the ceiling down upon us all, it just means that she can't and won't be locked in the bathroom with me while I shower. If I try to contain that little ball of energy within the confines of our small bathroom, she will either cry, climb on the toilet and risk falling (as her sister did yesterday), open the bathroom cabinet and empty the contents all over the floor (possibly also hurling some contents into the tub or toilet), or rip the toilet paper to shreds all over the floor (then wadding it up and throwing it into the tub, where I am showering, making an already unpleasant time even moreso...).

In any case, she is now free to roam. What this means for me is that I shower quickly, with the door open, and listen for signs of problems. I really will only hear if one of the girls is upset with the other--Minka is taking something from Delilah, or Delilah is hugging (aka strangling) Minka around the neck--or if I am too late--Minka has already brought the ceiling toppling down upon herself. This is why I have also empowered Delilah with the job of informant. She is supposed to let me know if anything is amiss before it becomes a problem. The problem with this setup is the same as it is with many informants...informants are corrupt. Informants (as I have been exposed to them via such respectable forums as Law & Order) may provide reliable information, but the reason they can get said information is they are just deviant enough to blend in with the deviants on whom they will rat. So, Delilah will tell me if Minka is emptying the bottom of the stroller all over the floor, or ripping one of her favorite books, or spilling food on the couch, but she won't tell me when she is involved in, or entertained by, said deviance.

Case in point: Today, while I showered, I could hear Delilah and Minka in their room, and Delilah was hysterically laughing. I can crane my neck from the shower to get a slightly obscured view of their room, and could see that they had emptied sticker sheets all over the floor. Okay, not so bad. That's non-injury-inducing fun, albeit a bit messy...More laughter...Hmmm...I call out to Delilah, "What are you doing?" Response: "I put stickers in Minka's hair!" I tell her not to do that because it could hurt Minka to pull the stickers out. But, again, not so bad. I go back to showering. More laughter. Uncontrollable laughter. I call out again, "What are you doing?" I see Minka turn around and see two stickers blink at me. Delilah stuck a sticker on each of Minka's eyelids, and Delilah is belly laughing!

Okay, I know this isn't the worst thing that could happen. But there was just something so wrong about it. Like Minka, who is fiercely independent, and typically, really won't be roped into doing something she doesn't want to--by Delilah or anyone--had somehow been duped by her own sister. Here they were, seemingly having a great time, playing together, big sis and little, maybe even being a little mischievous together, while Mommy showers and Daddy sleeps, ne'er the wiser. Two little partners in crime...only they weren't equal partners. (Bear with me...) It just seemed that the stickers on the eyelids were not dignified. Minka had become a party to her own humiliation. It was like a petowner dressing their pitbull in a bonnet. A pitbull is a fierce beast! Fierce beasts are not precious playthings who wear bonnets! And, Minka is a sophisticated lady! Sophisticated ladies are not buffoons who wear stickers on their eyes for the amusement of others!

Or...perhaps I have blown this out of proportion. Perhaps, Minka was having fun, basking in the glow of her big sister's attention. Her undivided, innocent attention. And, perhaps, even, Minka was displaying her own already cultivated sense of humor, and was just allowing herself to be silly to make her sister laugh. Perhaps, just perhaps, this is the beginning of the Brainin Sisters who will do anything for one another to ensure the other's happiness...in this case, giving each other exactly what the other needs--Delilah playing with Minka on the floor rather than telling her, "No, baby, you can't play with that, baby," and Minka, playing the fool to make Delilah laugh and laugh and laugh. Watch out, world, here they come...

One Small, Itty Bitty, Teeny Weeny Step...

2008-06-19T17:59:00.000-07:00

So, Minka is walking. She has been walking for a couple of months, now, but will not typically do so without holding my--or someone else's (sometime even Delilah's!)--hand. She started with sort of humoring us: Sure, I'll take your hand, take a step, then plop down on my knees and crawl or sit. That lasted a few weeks. Then, she would take longer walks. And, now, she will actually stop mid-crawl, sit up high on her knees, reach up with her hand and whine-grunt to indicate that she wants us to walk with her. She's pretty fast, doesn't really use our hand for support, but still insists on having the hand there for more of a moral support. And, occasionally, we can get her to take one or two steps sans hands.

She is happiest at the playground when she walks around pushing a walker that someone left there. She thinks this belongs to her. There are other walkers there, but she only wants to play with this particular walker and she cries if someone else uses it. If someone comes over to play with it, she pushes them off. This territorial behavior goes beyond the walker. She now hides things behind her back when she doesn't want to give them back. I can't help it, I find it endearing and will sometimes sit back a bit to enjoy the moment before doing something about it. I like seeing her hiding pieces of sidewalk chalk behind her back...pieces that belong to a 4 year old boy who is actually ready to cry because my 14 month old is keeping them from him. It's funny.

Some Funny Things Delilah Said...

2008-04-16T19:01:00.000-07:00

Arrrrrrr, Matey!

Delilah, Minka and I were in the elevator of our building with a man and his son. A scruffy, unshaven man with long, scraggly hair and a bandanna walked in and sort of knocked into Delilah's scooter. He gave it back to her and apologized. He got off the elevator at the earliest floor. When he left, Delilah said, "Mommy? That man...um...he," (here I expected her to ask why he bumped into her scooter) "he was a pirate." It was so matter-of-fact. The other man and his son started laughing. She stated that it was his bandanna that gave him away.

No Time to Say Hello Goodbye, I'm....on Time

We have been running very close to late for art class for the past couple of sessions. In an unusual turn of events, Monday, we were running ahead of time. I told Delilah that we were not only NOT going to be late, but we would actually be early for class! She said, "No! I don't want to be early! I don't like early!" I said, "Well, would you rather be early or late?" She said, "I'd RATHER be on time!"

Fabaliss!

Delilah got a scooter for her birthday. She has quickly become amazing on the scooter and may even have some impressive moves. I told her as much, saying she was "super duper". She said, "I am NOT super duper." I explained that it just meant that she was really great. She still insisted she was not super duper. I asked what she was, then. Her response? "I'm FABALISS!"

Don't Even Read Another Line if You Can't Handle Tales of Menstruation

2008-04-08T10:05:00.000-07:00

Okay. Sorry. I don't really know how to tell this story, but Greg and I agree it is a story that we will want to remember, because Delilah's reaction was pretty funny. But, also, I think that it is important to log it for Delilah who may need to bring it to the attention of her future shrink...I plan to keep details of the "visitor" to a bare, bare minimum, as it is no more fun for me to share than it is for you to read...

So, I got my period for the first time since before I was pregnant with Minka, and I only had it twice between the time I stopped breastfeeding Delilah to the time I got pregnant with Minka. Needless to say, in spite of the fact that Delilah has no regard for my privacy in the bathroom or elsewhere, this is her first encounter with my "visitor".

I didn't feel the need to give Delilah an in depth explanation of menstruation, but since she is aware that blood usually equals pain, I told her that only grown women get it (she needn't know that some girls get it before age 10), it doesn't hurt, and it just looks a little messy. She was okay with it at first, but later, not so much.

During the day, we stopped by to see my sister-in-law, Ariane, at work. Delilah and she discussed a red tutu-like skirt that Delilah likes. Apparently, Delilah would like this tutu, but only in dark dark red. More on this later.

Then, we went to the playground. After awhile, I told Delilah I needed to go home to use the bathroom. She said, tentatively, and maybe slightly terrified, "For the blood?" I told her yes. She said she didn't want to see it, and I said that was fine with me, because I enjoy having privacy in the bathroom anyway...a fact that seemed to surprise her.

When we got into our building, she said, "Mommy, I don't want to see the blood. I don't even want to see anything red anymore. " Then, "I only want to see a really really dark red tutu." I'm pretty sure I have scarred her for life.

Peekaboo is so Passe, Mommy!

2008-04-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

As Minka starts to interact more and more, her favorite game of Peekaboo! is beginning to become passe. In lieu of this baby game, has come the much more mature game of making animal noises. For example, she will say "Kack Kack" for a duck and "Ooooo" for a cow. She will also identify a duck by pointing or picking up the image. She claps on cue, and is very fond of shaking her head no to any question posed to her.

She is crawling around at speeds that rival racecar drivers, and is less than even mildly interested in walking. She would much rather crawl and will often prove this by dropping to her knees anytime you try to walk her around while holding her hands.

She sometimes follows Delilah around, which used to bother Delilah. In fact, if Delilah left the room, even if Minka didn't move a muscle, Delilah would whine, "No Minka! Stay there! Don't follow me!" But now, Delilah tries to make Minka follow her everywhere...even when Minka doesn't want to. Then, if Minka does follow her, Delilah is likely to tell Minka, in some sort of baby-voiced weird language, not to play with various toys because, "sorry, but your just a baby, Minky, " even if it is one of Minka's own toys.

In a week-and-a-half, Minka will be one. I can hardly believe it. The past year has really just flown by. Even Delilah must concede that Minka is really getting to be a big girl. Her personality is completely emerging with force, now. She is pretty funny and knows it. She is also becoming a little devious, and when I tell her not to do something, she usually laughs at me. "No" is the highest form of comedy for Minka right now. Work it while you can, friends.

Gianna Revisited

2008-02-28T16:33:00.001-08:00

I am proud to announce that for some time, now, Delilah has been able to pronounce vagina. She has no memory, as far as I can tell, of calling it her Gianna. However, in the bath today, she exclaimed, "Vagina sounds like Gianna! It's similar!"

Testing Mommy Testing Mommy 1-2-3

2008-01-24T19:45:00.000-08:00

This morning, before school, I sent Delilah in her room to get something. She closed the door. I didn't think much of it, but when she came out, we had the following conversation:

D: I didn't do anything.
Me: What did you just do in your room?
D: I didn't do anything.
Me: Did you poop?
D: No. (Pause.) Mommy, I chewed on my boots.
Me: You know you are not allowed to do that, right?
D: Yes. Mommy, will you be mad?
Me: No, I'm glad you told me the truth. It's important not to lie. But, next time, I will be angry if you chew on your boots.

She has begun to test me with lies. The other day she pushed Minka and Minka fell. She said that Minka just fell, she didn't push her. But, a few seconds later, she came clean. She seems to come clean all on her own each time. I did give her time out for pushing Minka, who hit her head when she fell. I'm sure she will soon stop coming clean without prompting...once she makes the connection that her actions have undesireable consquences.

Etiquette Lessons

2008-01-22T20:37:00.001-08:00

While Delilah and I were eating lunch in the Financial Center, I took the opportunity to discuss some points of etiquette. For example, sitting in one's seat.

me: Delilah, what do big people do with their tushies while eating?

D: (thinking, flashbulb goes off...) Wipe them!

Little Sponge

2008-01-22T18:46:00.000-08:00

On December 5, Minka left behind the stealth army crawl she called transportation, for the more mature, more travel-efficient, crawl-up-on-hand-and-knees crawl. In no time, she was pulling herself up on her knees...and falling over. Constantly. Now, however, she doesn't fall over when she pulls herself up onto her knees. She falls over when she pulls herself onto her feet. But, not always. She stands all the time, now. One of her favorite places to stand is in front of the toy kitchen in Delilah's and her room. She looks so cute standing there at the sink. Like a miniature lady washing dishes.

Sometimes, I feel like Minka learns at some sort of turbo speed. She'll quietly learn to do something like pull herself up, but she falls. By day two, she no longer falls. She just figures it out. Sometimes, though, the learning is not so fast...She recently learned that she could open and close the cover to the controls for the a/c/heating unit in her bedroom. She opens it with one hand, while placing some of her little fingers underneath. Then she closes it. And pushes. And cries. And keeps pushing. She doesn't understand how to lift it off her fingers to make the pain stop. This has been going on for a few days now. Still, I feel it is only a matter of time...minutes maybe...before she is walking around, "Look Mommy! No hands!" (Though, whether this is due to the fact that she finally stuck her entire hand into the a/c/heating unit control area or because she actually takes her first steps, still remains to be seen.)

I can hardly believe she is almost one. She is still full of smiles and is still generally agreeable. She can get herself into all the corners of the house and gets so excited to see Daddy, Mommy and Delilah. She is incredibly long--her height is off the charts and she is a fantastic eater. She loves food and rarely turns down a bite, though she does always refuse a bib. We're pretty sure she says "Hi" when she waves hello, too. We cannot wait to hear her start talking all the time. She often looks like she is bursting to say something.

Minka also has an intense ability to focus. She just fixates on what is going on around her and soaks it all in. I wouldn't be at all surprised to look at her one of these days and hear a full sentence come pouring out of her mouth.

Tiny Dancer: Delilah's Suite Debut, December 16, 2007

2008-01-14T19:16:00.000-08:00

In September, Delilah began a ballet class for two year olds. We expected the usual variety of toddler class--just something fun and cute to engage our little two year old on a Saturday morning, with, perhaps, the added bonus of improving her coordination.

I can remember enjoying ballet as a little girl, but I never really discovered an affinity or developed an aptitude for dancing (a truth to which most who know me can attest). Nor have I ever cultivated a passion for watching any form of dance. However, two year olds are so adorable, and let's face it, so long as there's no real damage done, a two year old can set fires and, if done just right, it would be precious. (Oh my God, did you see that little imp, Damian? I know arson is a terrible crime, but I couldn't help but chuckle when he flicked that match!) From day one, I loved watching Delilah in ballet.

Saturday mornings quickly became a favorite for Delilah. All week she looks forward to ballet. She loves her leotards, tutus and ballet slippers, and she loves her teacher, Miss Elizabeth.

All through September, October and November, I sat in awe of Miss Elizabeth's ability to engage these little midget ballerinas. She can bring to life the story of a ballet for the girls while leading them in a graceful dance (or approximation thereof). She sings silly songs (that make Delilah laugh uncontrollably hard) to help the girls learn ballet steps. And, she never gets cross at or flustered by a student who is not following directions or is a bit shy.

Ballet class has been a complete joy for Delilah (and also for me and Greg, and Delilah's grandmother, "Nanalene", who observes class, religiously, every Saturday. Even Minka loves class, and bounces along to the music). We could not have asked for more from a class, so imagine our surprise when we learned that on December 16, 2007, Delilah's class would participate in a dance recital! And, when I say class, I also mean the mothers who bring the girls to class. The girls would perform a dance in The Nutcracker Suite, accompanied by the moms. (Did I mention I am NOT a dancer?!)

This recital was taken very seriously. We practiced every week in class for about a month, and had three off-site dress rehearsals with the rest of the cast. The intensity with which this recital was infused infected me and I began practicing with Delilah at home, lest we be the two hopeless participants who would be perpetually out of step during the performance.

December 16th arrived and we were ready. Mommy, Daddy, Minka, Grandmas, Grandpas and Aunts all filed into the Jewish Heritage Museum, in Battery Park City, to watch the little diva, Delilah, in her debut performance. Until the moment she saw all of these people, cameras poised, Delilah had no idea it was anything beyond extra class time with Miss Elizabeth. Now, she was filled with excitement to see all of these people were here just for her.

We became anxious, however, because, in the oddly planned lineup, Delilah's class of wiggly two year olds was not scheduled to go onstage until the second act of the second ballet! Delilah did behave quite well in the audience for the entire time, though, until...she fell asleep. She remained asleep until I brought her backstage and pumped her full of chocolate coins Greg purchased in the gift shop. High on chocolate and attention, Delilah and I joined her class and walked out, stage left. The girls, dressed in purple tutus and leotards adorned with fake flowers, followed all of their prompts, and adorably and appropriately upstaged all of the mothers dressed in black who became nothing more than props for the perfect little ballerinas. Delilah kept a smile on her face the entire time and beamed with pride as we walked off, stage left again. The moment we got backstage, Daddy was there all aglow, exclaiming, "You did it, Boo Boo! You were great!" He was so proud that she managed to master all of her moves.

Delilah, who remembers everything you can't imagine she'd remember (ie, that she left her brown hat in Nanalene's bag after the circus, LAST YEAR), is still waxing poetic about her glorious moment onstage last month as if it was yesterday. (In fact, she does say it happened yesterday, because she refers to all that happened in the past as yesterday, but that's another story...) I hope this moment lasts for all time in her mind as present as if it was yesterday. She was so adorable and so proud of herself. AND, so were we. I am sure this is just the beginning of many accomplishments to come.

Words of Wisdom

2008-01-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

Haven't written in awhile, but I've been trying to remember things that happen by writing them all over the place. Some things get lost, but today, I looked at my phone, where I keep some of my notes, and saw the following words of wisdom from Delilah:

If somebody takes everybody's heads off, we can't look.

This was told to me over dinner one night. She told it to me very seriously and thoughtfully.

Bits and Pieces

2007-12-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

Delilah is obsessed with smells, now. You'd think nature would have blessed us with a strong sense of smell from the start, but no. Or, maybe we are blessed with a strong sense of smell from day one, but we don't attribute meaning or understanding to that smell until later. In any case, Delilah must constantly tell me that she smells something.

Today, while waiting for a taxi: "Something smells bad here, Mommy." She repeated this phrase about 20 times until the man on line in front of us began to look like he wondered if it was him.

The other day, "Daddy, you need a shower." "Why do I need a shower?" "Because you're smelly." (This one may be my fault, as I often tell her I need to go take a shower in the a.m. She doesn't like me to go, so she asks why I need a shower, and I have to say it's because I'm smelly.)

Also the other day, we went into my bedroom at night when Greg was working. Delilah said, "It smells like Daddy in here." "Really? What does Daddy smell like?" "Daddy smells like Daddy."

...And, onto the stellar religious education of my children...Today, we went to my father and stepmother's for a Hannukah party. All throughout the day, Delilah kept asking me about when we go to Hannukah (ie, When we go to Hannukah, can I have a cookie? When we go to Hannukah, can I play with Chelsea?). Apparently, she believes Hannukah is a place.

...At my Dad and stepmom's tonight:

Chelsea was carrying a basket with her doll's clothes in it. She told my dad, "These are my clothes." My dad said, "If those are your clothes, what are you wearing?" Delilah answered, "I'm wearing my clothes! If I wasn't, I'd be nekkid!"
(*Note: Recent development in the story about when Delilah fell in the toilet...Alexander, her 2 year old friend, actually helped her get out.) So, at the party Delilah needed to use the bathroom. I took her, and she looked at the toilet and said, "It doesn't have a top." (meaning the child-sized seat topper.) "No, it doesn't," I responded. "But I will fall in." I assured her that I would make sure she wouldn't fall in, as I would hold onto her. "But," she asked, "What happens if I fall in?" "Well, I'll just have to go get Alexander to help you out," I answered. "Chelsea can do it," she offered. "Don't you think I could just get you out, if you fall in?" I asked. "No, Mommy, it's too hard."

The Best Daddy

2007-11-29T12:37:00.000-08:00

This morning, Delilah went into our bedroom while I was getting everything else ready to take her to school. She crawled into bed with Greg. When I came in to get her later, she was snuggled up with him, sleeping. It was such a beautiful moment. I wish I had even a minute to spare so I could have had enough calmness and presence of mind about me to run and get the camera. However, I will just have to be satisfied to savor the moment in my mind, where there in a mental picture of it saved forever.

The girls just adore their Daddy. He is so amazing with them and they love to play with him. He has some sort of incredible energy when he is with them. After working all week 12-15 hour days, he taps into this extra store of energy to not just give the girls some attention, but to run around with them like the Energizer Bunny. He makes them laugh, carries them long distances, dances with them, tells them silly stories and can even reason with Delilah when she is at her most unreasonable. Minka watches Delilah and Greg jump all over and you can just see the longing on her face. She is definitely plotting how she will join in on the fun as soon as she is able to remain upright on her own...

I love to watch the kids with Greg. Everyday, I just love them all more and more.

Did Ya Fall In?

2007-11-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, if a person takes too long in the bathroom, you might jokingly ask, "Did ya fall in?" But, how many of us can really say that they know someone who actually did? Well, all of us! Typically, Delilah will not use any bathrooms outside of the potty at home or the tiny toilets at school. If we're out for a long time, she will bend her iron will and use a public toilet or one at a friend's house. But, she always asks for help. Not anymore!

Delilah is becoming increasingly independent. She is always asking to do things herself, as kids her age often do. Yesterday, we had two separate playdates, and she used the potty in her friend's bathroom at the first one. This was a relatively unnotable success.

Later, we went to Delilah's friend, Alexander's house. The two of them were playing in Alexander's room. We could hear their voices inside and they were talking and seemingly getting along, so we didn't bother them. What we didn't know, was that the two of them had moved into Alexander's parents' room...and then bathroom. Apparently, Delilah decided to use the toilet in there. She didn't realize there was a small toilet seat topper that better fits a small behind. This would have kept her from what happened next.

The happy chatter of toddlers was broken by the sound of Delilah whining. Maiwenn and I went inside to see what happened. We found Delilah and Alexander in the master bathroom. Alexander was standing, staring at Delilah quietly, while Delilah was standing, facing the toilet, panties around her knees, trying to pull her shirt over her head. She was whining and her back and backside were a little wet. In case you were wondering, her skirt and tights were already off because she insisted upon walking around the house in just a shirt and panties. I'm working on this...Anyhoo:

me: "Delilah, what happened? Did you go pee pee in the potty? Why are you taking your shirt off?"

D: "Yes. I fell in. Wet wet! I want to take my shirt off!"

Maiwenn confirmed with Alexander that Delilah did, indeed, fall in. She must have slipped when she was sitting on the seat, and fell in tushy first!

Needless to say, we got her a new shirt and cleaned her off. Last night, I had the easiest time getting her to take a bath ever. Lately, she doesn't want to take a bath, but last night, I told her that when you fall in the toilet you really have to take a bath. She seemed to actually understand that falling in the toilet will make you dirty enough to warrant a cleaning.

Greg really wasn't amused when we told him that she fell in the toilet. He, rightly, believes the bathroom to be a very dangerous place for a child, and didn't find it funny that she was in a bathroom alone. However, in retrospect, seeing that she was not at all hurt (not even her ego), I found the whole situation hilarious. Note: I will NEVER let Delilah go to the bathroom alone, again. I realize she could have gotten hurt. I will also no longer take for granted any of a toddler's behavior. Prior to this, I didn't worry about her going into the bathroom because she rarely went to the bathroom in someone else's house, let alone by herself...This is just another reminder that toddlers are completely unpredictable, and, just because they never did something before, doesn't mean that there isn't always a first time...

In One's End, Out the Other's

2007-10-20T17:54:00.000-07:00

The happiest baby ever

Minka has been pure joy since day one. She is so smiley, happy and easygoing. Everytime someone looks at her she smiles back at them. She is a fairly good sleeper, usually wakes up and talks to herself before crying, and can entertain herself for a decent amount of time. It follows then, that she has taken to eating like a champ! She has given us no resistance on the eating front.

It is actually kind of fun to feed Minka. There has yet to be something that she refuses to eat. I didn't know feeding a baby could really be like that! And, everytime I put her in her seat and put on her bib, as soon as she sees the spoon, she opens her mouth. She loves to eat! I had to stop feeding her for a second to run after Delilah, and she started crying because she wanted more food.

In middle school, I played a game with some friends where we dared each other to eat the most disgusting possible thing we could imagine. I am all but tempted to do this to Minka just to see if she would eat it. I bet she would.

Delilah loves to cheer Minka on and gets so excited that Minka eats all her food. She asks what Minka is eating, and when I tell her, I ask if she would like to try. Minka already has a more varied diet than Delilah does. Yet, for all of Delilah's interest, when I offer her a taste, she always refuses, saying, "I don't like_________." And, when we ask Delilah what her favorite food is, she answers, "Snack." When pushed to elaborate, she says, "Chocolate."

So...what goes in....

(*Note: If you don't like to read about toddler poops, don't read on.)

Delilah is using the potty all the time now. She is potty trained all day, and just wears a diaper to sleep. She made this decision on her third week of school. One Thursday, she just decided that she wanted to wear panties to school. That's how it started. It was definitely slow, but once she had a few accidents, she started to use the potty for all of her peeing.

At first, she was okay with peeing in the potty at home. But, we also have a portable potty. Living in New York City, you need one of these potties unless you want to stay indoors all the time. When we go to the playground by our house, there is absolutely no way she would make it to the closest bathroom. So, we purchased one of them. Delilah would sit on it, but never go. One day, we were at a fabric store, when Delilah declared that she needed to use the potty. I took the portable potty into the store's bathroom for fear that she would see the toilet and refuse to go. This was fortuitous, as the toilet in that bathroom was completely disgusting. However, Delilah could not bring her very excited self to pee. We returned to the bathroom twice more because she kept saying she had to go. Eventually, we left the store, pee still in bladder. We got outside and less than a minute later, Delilah said she had to go. Considering how unsuccessful our attempts were in the store bathroom, I opted to let Delilah pee in the potty on the street. Don't judge me, okay! I put the potty behind the stroller! Anyway, this is New York City. No one batted an eye. AND, it was a success. She was so proud! She insisted on carrying the disposable potty bag to the garbage herself.

Delilah, her portable potty and her golden treasure.

Delilah gleefully playing with Minka after peeing in a small potty on the street.

So...peeing? CHECK! Pooping? Not so much. That took a little more work. Twice she pooped in her panties in the house. At first, she just didn't get how the urge to go related to actually going to the toilet. Then, she knew, but I think she was scared. She would sneak to poop in her panties; often, waiting till I was in the shower to hide and go. It was gross!

One day, we were at the playground all alone. No one else was crazy enough to go on that day because it was threatening to rain. She clearly had to poop, but she sat on the potty twice and just couldn't do it. I think she must have thought a piece of her was falling off when she pooped. She went to go play, and I told her to make sure she didn't poop in her pants. She ran off and played. I saw her lingering on the other side of the jungle gym and realized she was pooping. I screamed, "NOOOOO!", grabbed her carrying her back across to the potty, while she screamed, "Leave me alone! Leave me alone!" At this point, someone else entered the park, and I, of course, felt the need to qualify my behavior by making the lame joke that I was probably scarring Delilah for life. The poop made it into the potty in spite of her protests, and then Delilah got completely excited asking Minka if she'd like to see what she did in the potty. After this, she had one more "Leave me alone!" incident at home, and then she was good to go. Now, she gets excited to poop in the potty.

Delilah had a few peeing accidents...3 of which occurred in one day, but she's been really good since then. She had an accident in school where the pee ran right into her rain boots, so they put her in the most ridiculous "house sandals" imaginable. They were a pair that must have been left by a little girl from last year. They were 3 sizes too small and hideous. She came out of class wearing pants, socks and these sandals. Her toes hung over the edge of the shoes, and it was raining out. She was so pleased with the sandals, she didn't want to change, even though she would likely trip over her own toes or get wet in the rain. We brought her to the shoe store to buy another pair of shoes and while we were looking around, she peed again! All over her pants AND her beloved, miniscule and borrowed sandals. She got changed again, and, now in her new shoes and fresh change of clothes, spent the rest of the day (about 5 or 6 hours) saying she did not need to pee. We got home, she took off her shoes and she again told me she didn't have to pee. Then she peed all over the kitchen floor.

Reading, Writing and Monsters

2007-10-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Delilah started school with a bang. Or, rather, a scream, wail, cry, howl...you get the picture.

September 10, 2007, was Delilah's first day of phasing into school. For 5 days, the children go to school for only 1 hour, possibly 2, to ease them into their new life as "students". On her first day, Greg and I took her together (with a sleeping, unaware Minka in tow). Greg bid Delilah adieu when we got to class, and I stayed for about 15 minutes. She went right to work, but kept turning around looking for me, whimpering, "Mommy?" She wasn't particularly receptive to her teachers, and, every time she called out for me, a little boy in her class, Simon, who was having a difficult time holding it together, would frantically look around for his own Mommy, who wasn't there, and start to fight back tears.

After 15 minutes of watching Delilah's semi-panicked behavior, and the distress it was causing Simon, I decided it was time to bite the bullet and leave. She cried on and off for the rest of the day. The next day, I left right away, and she cried a little less, but still cried.

I found this all very troubling. I know kids cry when they start school, but I just didn't feel like it was going to end any time soon. She cried so hard and was so sad. Then, on day three, we went into the building, her teacher came out, and Delilah turned to me and said goodbye and walked right in without a tear. Just like that.

Until now, I spent most of Delilah's days with her. And, when she spends the days with her babysitter, Tamar, I still know what she does all day, down to every last poop and pee. So, now, it has been a bit of an adjustment for me to have very little idea of what Delilah does with three hours of her days. Since the first day, I ask her what she does in school. At first, she would just look at me, or worse, avert her eyes. She didn't want to discuss school at all. On more than one occasion, she would say, "I don't want to talk about school, Mommy." Or, if you asked her if she liked school, she would say, "No." Slowly, she would tell me some of what she did, or something someone said. Usually, she just tells me she painted. At the end of the week, we get all of her artwork, and for the better part of her short school career, her paintings have been of a monster, grass and a flower. This past week, we got a tiger, grass and a flower. The artist evolves.

Delilah still sometimes tells me she doesn't want to go to school, but once she gets there, she walks right in without a tear. In the month and a half that she has been in school, she has already had her ups and downs (some of her ups and downs occur in the same day), but I think this is the beginning of a bright future for her.

Let Your Freak Flag Fly

2007-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Minka

Playing with a new friend instead of eating my hot dog

Dancing on Daddy's shoulders

Oh my god! That man is putting a nail through his nose!

Flying my freak flag at the Coney Island Sideshow

Chocolate ice cream kisses

Me, my girls and a birthday cake

As a parent, there comes a time, a time I assume will last a good, long time, where you must accept that your birthday celebration is no longer about you, rather, it is about keeping your kids happy. Now, is that time for me. We had to come up with a way to celebrate my birthday that would keep Delilah (Minka's not quite at this stage yet) engaged. I, of course, still wanted to have fun, but running around doing what I want with a cranky toddler in tow, is the antithesis of fun. Besides, all week, when I said, "Whose birthday is coming up," Delilah would answer, "Mommy's!...No, it's MYYYYYYYY birthday!" So, we wracked our brains and came up with Coney Island. We had a blast!

We took the train down, and upon exiting the subway, we bee-lined it over to Nathan's for some hotdogs. This was not incredibly successful, as Delilah was not particularly interested in the hotdog once it actually hit the table. We moved on. We went to the Freakshow, where we were greeted by the emcee of the show. He pointed at Delilah and said, "We'll take her!" We went into the stage area, sat down, and enjoyed the show. The show included acts such as a man hammering a nail into his own nose, another man using his nose to blow up a rubber glove that was stretched over said man's head, a woman seductively dancing with a snake, the same woman (pretending to be her own twin) getting electrocuted, a strange woman fire-breathing, a hirsute-faced tightrope walker, and a man juggling a chainsaw. During intermission, Delilah got to go up on stage and let her freak flag fly. She danced with the emcee for a full audience of people. It was fantastic! She was a hit and had a ball.

I took her on the merry-go-round, where everytime we passed Greg on the side, Delilah faked a big smile and said, "Cheeeeeeeeeeeez!" Then resumed her stock expression for amusement park rides: what Greg calls her commuting face. She literally looks as though she is riding the train to work. Greg took Delilah on a little rollercoaster (not the Cyclone), and deemed her an adrenaline junkie. The last ride he took Delilah on was a little train ride through a cheesy haunted house called the "Ghost Hole". She actually did get scared while on the ride, though Greg convinced her that the ride was silly, not scary. Incidentally, at the entrance to this ride was an incredibly highbrow artistic installation...in a plexiglass box, there was a full-sized manequin bent over a toilet puking into the bowl and spewing diarrhea from his behind. It was delightful, and complete with sound effects. Delilah was, at first, repeatedly discussing the silly (not scary) house. I didn't even realize that she fully took in the gorgeous bodily function display at the entrance. But, everyday since, she has mentioned the silly house only to mark the location of the "big boy" outside of it. "Mommy, what was the big boy in the box doing outside of the silly house?" to which I answer, "Throwing up in the toilet and making diarrhea." To which she responds with giggles and big laughs. Yup, even the little Brainins are a class act!

The rides were followed by ice cream and playing on the beach and boardwalk.

We wrapped up our trip with a tour of the aquarium, which Delilah enjoyed. She got to see sharks, jellyfish, a sea turtle and other assorted aquatic life.

Minka was a doll throughout the entire day, smiling and having fun along with the lot of us, and both of the girls slept the entire train ride home.

Before I put Delilah into bed, I changed her into her pajamas and told her I had a great birthday with her and that I loved the card she gave me (it had a little kitty cat on it, and she picked it out and dictated to Greg what she wanted it to say). She said, leaning against the wall, in a very matter-of-fact and thoughtful tone, "I was thinking about a Mickey Mouse card." Which, Greg confirmed, was true. She first chose a Mickey Mouse card, but Greg told her Mickey Mouse was for kids. He said it was no big deal and that it was such a small thing, she just moved on and found a new card. He couldn't believe she even remembered the moment. I love that she remembered that, and I grin ear-to-ear that she told me and adore how she said it to me.

This was my 33rd birthday, not exactly a birthday milestone. In fact, ever since I hit 30, I often have to do the math to figure out my age, but I will remember this birthday always.

Getting Ready For School

2007-08-29T20:03:00.000-07:00

okay, i'm ready to start school...

what? is this door locked?

anyone in there?

can't you people leave me be? i am in pain, here!

Delilah begins school on Sept 10, 2007, so we are prepping her by talking about school, telling her how she will be dropped off and picked up, how much fun she will have, activities that she will be involved in, friends she will make, etc. etc.

Today, Ariane and I walked by the school with her. She was so excited to go look at the school, but it was closed, lights out, not a soul around. To make up for this let-down, I had to walk around the school with her and look in all the windows. Though she was disappointed not to go in, she was excited to peek in the windows and we decided to get a calendar and mark off the days until school starts. We also saw a bird that appeared to be trying to enter the school through a window. She was delighted to tell him that school was closed and he would not be able to enter any easier than she...

Ariane and I, of course, took pictures of her looking in the windows, which did not make her happy, as we were documenting her heartache...she really thought we were going to school to go inside and paint (which is what she did on her last visit to school).

First Bites for Sweetie

2007-08-23T21:29:00.000-07:00

What the hell are you feeding me?!

mmmmmmmmm...oatmeal...

Today, Minka had her 4 month appointment at the doctor. She is very healthy, and weighs almost 14 lbs and is 26". I decided to start feeding her solids today. I have had a difficult time getting Delilah to eat any significant amount of food with any semblance of regularity, and am determined to do things differently with Minka.

We (Delilah and I) fed Minka baby oatmeal today. She loved it! She kept opening her mouth for more and sucking on the spoon, even though she did push a great deal out with her tongue. Delilah kept referring to Minka as "sweetie", as in, "Sweetie, here's some food" and, "Sweetie, you're doing great!" And, when Minka had food all over her face, Delilah desperately wanted to clean it off. When I told her to wait until we were done because Minka was just going to keep getting messy, she said, "Okay Mommy. Just let me know when." She kept repeating, "Just let me know, Mom." It was so cute.

Minka smiled, kept shoving her fists into her mouth and seemed to enjoy the experience, or at the very least, took the experience in stride. Her very first bite elicited a "what the hell is this garbage" look, but each bite after was like old hat for her. She is a pro. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I think she will be a good eater!

Catching Up

2007-08-22T20:16:00.001-07:00

So, I'd like to start by posting a few stories that are bouncing around in my head. They have all happened recently enough, and they all qualify as things I really want to remember:

lDelilah is an exceptionally friendly and outgoing toddler. She is pretty uninhibited, as many toddlers are, and as such often runs around without a care in the world, even when she has no clothes on. Maybe, even moreso, with no clothes on. Anyway, a few weeks ago, I was getting Delilah ready for a bath, and undressed her in her room. She ran out into the living room naked. Her Aunt Ariane and sister were in there. Delilah rolled onto her back and laid down spread-eagle. This is no surprise: She has no natural inclination to be bashful about her nakedness, and we have taught her no shame in her game--she is only two! I found, though, that this may be a good opportunity to attempt to reign her in a little, because it is obviously not appropriate behavior in all situations...Our conversation went as follows:

Me: Delilah, you really can't go running around naked and spreading your legs open in front of other people when you have no pants on.

Delilah: (looks at me thoughtfully)

Me: Your vagina is private, just for you. It is not for everyone.

Delilah: Who is it for then, Mommy?

Flash forward a week or two, bathtime again...I decide to tell Delilah that people don't have the right to touch her body if she doesn't want them to. Keep in mind, I have engaged in no forethought about this delicate conversation with a two year old, and as it unfolds, I quickly realize that it is a far more difficult concept to get across to a toddler than I anticipated.

Delilah: (pointing between her legs): This is my vagina (which she sometimes confusedly calls her Gianna; in this case, the unfortunate name of a 5 year old in our neighborhood that Delilah adores).

Me: Yes it is. You know, that is your private part and no one can touch your body if you don't want them to. (then, realizing that she may begin to refuse diaper changes and baths because she doesn't want her body touched, I add) If Mommy or Daddy is changing your diaper or giving you a bath, that is okay, but if someone makes you feel uncomfortable, you say, "No! That's my body!" Okay? Can you say that?

Delilah: No! That's my body!

Me: Good!

Delilah: Maiwenn?

Me: Can Maiwenn what?

Delilah: Change my diaper?

Me: Yes, Maiwenn can change your diaper or give you a bath. (then some chatter about how Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts and Uncles can change diapers and give baths. then, I get nervous that the whole point is lost...so I ask her again what she says when someone touches her and she doesn't like it)

Delilah: (wagging her finger and looking very earnest) No! That's my body! ...Only Alexander!

Alexander is her two year old friend, son of Maiwenn. I am in trouble...

lJust thinking about how Minka is the happiest little baby. She smiles all the time and has had the easiest disposition since day one. And, she is so physically strong! She has excellent neck control, and has for quite awhile, she flips over on her back and on her belly, she stands on your lap, and has begun to pull her little body along, in an almost army crawl. Also, she has a sort of death grip when it comes to grabbing ahold of your hair. She often grabs Delilah's hair, which prompts Delilah to say, "No Minky, don't pull my hair!" Everything she does in front of Delilah is also met with applause and praise from Delilah who will clap and say, "Yay Minky!" or "Mommy, she turned over!" or, "Ooh! Mommy, she's smiling!" Delilah enjoys getting really close to Minka's face and speaking in a sort of squeal frequency. Minka adores this. She just stares at Delilah with a big smile whenever Delilah is around. Delilah asks for Minka first thing every morning and will always get excited when Minka wakes up from a nap. She showers her with hugs and kisses and constantly requests that I put Minka on her lap for pictures.

lThis week, Delilah has been sick with a stomach bug. It has been a bit hard on her, and she doesn't fully understand why she can't hug and kiss Minka. Today, I reminded her not to hug Minka or get close to her face. She said, "Mommy, I just really want to kiss her." It was so sweet!

I know there are so many other stories I want to put up here, but it is late, I have to sleep and I can't think of them all right now. They may be posted as I remember them. Perhaps out of order and context, but I don't want to forget a thing!

Seeds of a Blog: The Blossoming of Rascadoodle

2007-08-22T19:26:00.000-07:00

My friends, Melinda and Elena, have a blog that they have been posting for several months now, and I finally got a chance to look at it. I could not get enough of reading about their kids and lives. They both used to live in NYC, and moved a couple of years ago. It has been so great to keep up with their goings-on, and I am now compelled to keep checking up on the blog so that I can see if they posted anything new.

Reading their blog has seeded in me an overwhelming urge to start a blog of my own. I have a terrible track record as a journal-keeper. I never have a problem starting a journal, but after awhile, I always stop. I am hoping that the fact that people may actually read this blog will keep me writing. There are so many things that children say and do that you don't want to forget, and, you think you never will forget them, but you do. Delilah is busting at the seams with language and Minka is beginning to pull her body in what is sure to soon turn into an army-crawl. These are tremendous milestones in babyworld, and such a big deal at the time, but they are so easy to forget if you don't write them down. So, I am now embarking on a challenge for myself, but also hopefully enriching my family's life with something we can look back on. Something that will last long enough for us to look back at and transport us back to each and every amazing step they took. That said, it may also provide a written transcript of Delilah and Minka's lives...one that they can print out and show to their therapists one day...

Here goes...

P.S. I named this blog after Greg's nicknames for the girls...Rascal for Delilah, and Minkadoodle for Minka. Together, Rascadoodle.

Rascadoodle

City Louse, Country Louse

Need a new lice lady-- Abigail Rosenfeld just had a (her 15th!!!) baby and is out of commish-- daughter too booked. Any suggestions??

translation, svp?

Pick the nits yourself, for god's sake. Just don't eat them the way chimps do. Abigail Rosenfeld has to be the funniest waspy jew name I've ever heard. 15 kids for real? Ultra orthodox waspy jew?

what is a waspy jew? a closet jew who attends a baptist church?

I heard that Obama is a closet jew in addition to being a crypto-Muslim.

Do you all not know about the Hasidic lice ladies???

no! please tell!

http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2002/01/28/020128ta_talk_martin

Cut your kid's stringy long hair and be done with the problem. Can't believe the number of times a year my dd's ss school sends home lice notices.

np: guess what -- lice like clean hair! My dc have never got them and I think it's because I don't wash it enough.

Lice like LONG hair. I wash my dd's chin length hair daily and she's never had them, either.

actually, the more you wash, the better the chances she'll get lice. lice like squeaky clean hair. use product or wash less frequently if there's a lice outbreak at your school.

np. Unless you shave your dc's head, lice don't care how long the hair is. And the fact that your dd has never had them is irrelevant. My dd's hair is down to her butt and she's never had lice either. These are ANECDOTES, which prove nothing.

Not true. And schools tell parents their kids' hair has to be worn pulled back to minimize chances of getting/spreading lice.

Yes, but that's just because it is harder for the kids to get their hair close together. Lice don't care about the length of the hair. As you know you can get them at other parts of your body, too.

np ITTTTTTA. My dd has a bob and has never had lice. All these girls come to school with braids for a few days after a lice notice is sent out, then it's back to stringy, long hair.

my dd has long long curly hair and has never had lice

Blech - never cutting my dds beautiful hair to avoid the myth that long hair gets lice.

is it really her 15th???? we last went to her when she was about to have her 13th. ANd I swear it was just a couple of years ago, and she was then 39.

I'm hoping there's good money to be made in nit-picking. Otherwise, who supports this brood?

Oh my gosh...that's where the saying 'nit-picking' comes from?! Hysterical.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitpicking_%28pastime%29

so gross

yea...totally gross! she and her DH support their family and pay for them to attend parochial schools (all 15 of them!!) but yea. gross that she has children. may not be your style...but your "one" child then I guess makes you what...totally selfish.... why cant u just live an dlet live?

you can do it yourself or just pony up for lice enders or hair fairies.

we had a great experience with Classique House of Beauty....Jehovahs, not Hasids. I'll grab their number if you post back that you want it.

There is The Lice Lady of Westchester. She is amazing and very reasonably priced. Her work is excellent. Her name is Anna and can be reached at 914-497-5465.

np: wow, I never knew that there was a lice lady. Growing up, parents just took care of it themselves

dalia harel of licebusters

There is another wonderful lice specialist that is local and makes house calls 24/7. She comes highly recommended. Michelle Burwell 347-461-2274, mbrwll@aol.com. She is wonderful and the kids love her. Give her a call.

Put tea tree oil in the shampoo every wash.

Yeah, if you want your little boy to grow boobs

Ok, I admit I must be ignorant on this one. Tea Tree oil will grow boobs on a boy ? HUH ??