Introducing My Baby: Daria Amalie

Tonight at 7:15 p.m., daddy and I took mommy to Mount Sinai because her water broke (I didn't know it was so fragile). At 11:05 p.m., while I was fast asleep at Mema and Grandpa's, my little sister, Daria Amalie, arrived. She weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 19 3/4 inches long. I'm told she arrived every bit as enthusiastically as I did two years ago. Isn't she cute???


While she isn't talking much yet, if Daria is anything like me, she'll need a way to tell you our family comings and goings from her little sister perspective. In an effort to ensure she doesn't steal my thunder, we've agreed to co-author a new blog entitled Sibling Scribbling. Please visit us there! Much love, Liana

A Heartbeat Away From Becoming A Big Sister

Mommy and daddy keep going to the doctor to see how the baby in mommy's tummy is growing. Since I never get to go with them, I took matters into my own hands and listened to my baby brother or sister's heartbeat....with my stethoscope.


I was lucky I did it when I did, because (little did I know) that baby did not plan to stay inside much longer...

A Not-so-Pushy Sunday (Belated Post)

On Sunday I rode my tricycle without a push.


As proud as he was of me, daddy wanted his own turn and refused to wear a helmet, which really upset me. It's just not safe!


I also love the big girl swing because I don't need a push. Do you sense a trend?


We visited "Aunt" Lynne, "Uncle" Bill, and Rachel in their new apartment for dinner. First I helped Rachel "bake" daddy a belated birthday cake (no, it wasn't just day-old).


Then I helped daddy blow out the candle. Happy Birthday Weekend, Daddy!!

Job Well Done, Daddy

While one of my favorite songs is "Seven Days of the Week (I Never Go To Work)" by They Might Be Giants, today daddy not only went to work, he started a new job. I am so excited for him, especially since it means that my school is now on the way to his office so he can drive me without a detour.

Happy Birthda(dd)y

Today we celebrated daddy's birthday. I gave him a serenade in the potty.


It's good that daddy wanted to go to the park to celebrate. That's just what I wanted to do - again and again and again!


It's no secret that I am daddy's little girl and that there's no other guy I'd rather celebrate, today and every day - 1, 2, 3 whee...


I love you, daddy!!!

Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star of the Day

Even though I'm always the center of attention at home, today I was "Star of the Day" at school.


Mommy and daddy came to circle time and I got to choose the songs and the books...


...but the grand finale was introducing my class to my family through the special project poster mommy and I had made.

Birthday Bonanza Weekend

This weekend we celebrated my cousin Brielle's first birthday. She looks almost as cute in a tutu as I do-do.


Her party included a fun parachute. It was great to sit on top of...


...and even more fun to be underneath....as long as there wasn't an airplane and 10,000 feet of freefall also.


BoMa and I enjoyed a great view.


I invited a few friends for cupcakes to the park (in the chilly rain) to celebrate mommy and daddy's birthdays.


Despite all the fun, I wasn't too "tire-d" to join mommy for a swing.


Keep the celebrations coming!

Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

We had a lot of fun in the park this weekend. Nothing is more fun than making bubbles:



Sitting with daddy on Sally the camel is a close second!

Happy Mother's Days

I like to celebrate my mommy every day, but this is a special week. My mommy likes to stretch out her birthday, so we got a head-start on Thursday with Mema and Grandpa. Check out the cool crayon candles!


On mommy's actual birthday I called in sick to school (someone said something about pink eye, but--jeepers, creepers--my peepers looked ok to me). After a fun day of stickers and the park, we went out to dinner. Day 2 and cake 2. Notice a trend?


For Mother's Day, we went to Mahopac to play with the brothers from some other mothers (and some sisters too, but it doesn't rhyme as well). Don't worry: they didn't forget the cake.


There was also plenty of time for bubbles...


...and hugs. (I promise I'm in the middle of the pile.)


Happy birthday week, mommy! More celebration still to come...

As Ralph's World Turns

Since we all know this is Liana's world, the irony of a band named "Ralph's World" is not lost on me. However, I love many of their songs, including the one that taught me how to spell coffee and the one that counts to XVIII in Roman Numerals, so I was willing to see them live. Not only did we get to sing and dance, I also met Ralph. I was definitely more excited than I let on in the photo.

Beantown Fun

I spent the weekend visiting family and friends in Boston. Of course, I got to spend lots of time with BoMa and BoPa, but we also had breakfast with the ducks (who had to make way for me)...


...and paid a visit to the Franklin Park Zoo, where we spent a lot of time with the gorillas and the "li-lins."


The real reason for our visit was daddy's reunion. I didn't bring the proper attire, so mommy and daddy went to the dinner dance without me.


We also visited several Boston playgrounds. BoMa and BoPa went on the slide with me and pushed me on the swings...



...and then it was my turn to push baby.


It was a busy weekend, but I still found time to stop and pick the, um, dandelions.


I love that dirty water. Boston, you're my home away from home.

Shakes, Rattle, and Road Trip

On our way to Boston, we stopped at Friendly's for a Fribble. First mommy snapped a shot of daddy and me sharing...


...and then it was MY turn. I'm following in my Aunt Julie's footsteps and becoming a pretty good photographer!


All that fun sure wore me out, so I changed into jammies, helped daddy drive a bit and then fell asleep (unfortunately while still at the wheel - oops!).

Little Miss Manners?

As a NYC kid, when the doorbell rings in the evening, I've come to know it's "dinner time." Tonight "the man" brought Japanese food, so I tried my hand with my new chopstick holder on some broccoli...


When it came to the rice, though, I knew I couldn't shovel it in at the proper pace without a spoon.


どうぞめしあがれ ("douzo meshiagare!")

Extending My Birthday Celebration

People who know my mommy know that she believes that birthdays should be celebrated for a full week. In keeping with this practice, she waited until Passover ended to bring cupcakes to school (she also didn't want my classmates to think she was just a really bad baker). I wore my tiara and held court for my six boyfriends, waiting patiently, in anticipation of cupcakes...


Then everyone sang "Happy Birthday" and I got to blow out three candles.

The Wonderful (Not Terrible) Twos!

My second birthday began with a tricycle ride to Central Park where Boma and Bopa pushed me on the swings while mommy and daddy watched.


Then we met Mema and Grandpa and Nana for a special Passover lunch out. Am I next for the buffet?


But the icing on the birthday cake celebration was a visit to the community garden where we ate "cupcakes" (it's still Passover, so I don't want you to think I can't tell the difference between matzo meal and the real deal, no matter how much frosting mommy does to them). Mommy says I'm as non-pareil as the decorations on the pastries.


On our walk home, I couldn't resist a stop at my favorite bike rack outside our living room window.


Mema and Grandpa's gifts included this fantastic clarinet. Right now I'm a bit of a one-note wonder, but I'm learning...and I get applause every time!


And finally, my birthday post would not be complete without a 10:08pm photo. For my loyalists, these date back to when mommy and daddy counted my age in weeks not years.

Two-morrow, Two-morrow, I Love Ya, Two-morrow

...you're always a day a-way!!! In anticipation of my second birthday, I spent today continuing my celebration. Boma, Bopa, and Nana came to visit from Boston. Boma and Bopa gave me a fabulous tricycle:

And Aunt Abi provided some accessories to ensure I ride in style.

Mommy and daddy took me to the Met. Just like Olivia, we saw some Jackson Pollack. Unlike Olivia, we ran into Rachel and some men on horseback.


Then, for the sweetest treat of all: a chocolate pre-birthday extravaganza.

Next Year in Our Dining Room!!

Last spring, when we thought we would be moving into our new home, mommy offered to host the second seder so Mema didn't have to do ALL the work. I didn't understand why Hillel was making the sandwiches or why Elijah was going to be late and didn't drink his wine, but I figured the food was going to be good and my cousins were going to be there, so I played along.


Some of us (especially Marilyn, Arthur and Mema) thought it was a costume party and wore their plague masks...


...while others took the entire evening VERY seriously.


Overall, I think wondering about dessert for 40 minutes sure beats wandering in the desert for 40 years! Now where can I find two zuzim around here?