play date & dog

Rachel,
For the last month you have been asking every day to invite your best friend "Jake" from the daycare.
We got together last Sunday morning. Jake came with his brother who is one year younger than Natalie and you had fun.
The funny thing is that Jake did not find your toys at his taste, I guess he was looking more for a fire truck or policemen legos but his brother Taylor had a great time with Natalie's baby stroller.
The winner was our German dog, Heidi. She got plenty of attention and you enjoyed telling her to sit and wait while you were picking up her toy. She did not seem tired of running after the "flying" toy you kept throwing away.
You are a wonderful dog Heidi.

watching them

Rachel and Natalie love to play together. They now team up and tell each other secrets. Meme has so much fun looking at them and being with us.
One of us is always the target of their attention.

A few evenings ago, at dinner time Rachel said:
" I am in a bad mood, I did not sleep well last night".
we looked at each other and just smiled. They do listen and register everything.

1 month short of being 2.5 years old

hello pucette
I know you are not "pucette or boulette or cherie or chouchou", you are "NATALIE".
You have grown these past few months and your language has improved a lot. Two months ago, you spoke a few French words and now after my return from Belgium where I spent 1 month, you make whole sentences in English. You had a great time with papa but now your attention is back on maman 100%.
When your sister cries, you quickly stop what you are doing and run to her and keep asking "What happened Rachel?, till she tells you what did happen".

You are both complices and tell each other secrets, i.e. "maman is a baby" and it makes both of you laugh hysterically.
You copy your sister in every way, you want to do "sante/cheers" at the table, want to distribute the napkins to papa, maman and meme.
You want to dress yourself "me doing myself".
Your potty training has somewhat regressed while I was away but we are now on track again and we have boycotted the pull-ups during the day and reminded the daycare ladies that you are now clean during the day at home; except for naptime.

You have a great appetite and you enjoy your food.
You love taking a bath with Rachel and it is always too early to get you out of the bath tub. You like to cuddle with me as soon as you get off the bath and I like that too.
When it is time to run to the bathroom, you don't want to use the stool and the small toilet seat but want to do it yourself --of course. I am always afraid you will fall into the toilet and it did happen once... but I was just there. You always proudly announce that you will do 5 "caca" (sorry for the details) and ask me to stay with you and read you a story.

You sing all the time and are for most of the time in a great mood. You dont want to be called "bebe", you are a big girl. You like to play "maman" and I am then the baby and Rachel your big girl and you then change the tone of your voice and we are all going grocery shopping.

falling asleep with grandma(s)

I have been back for 2 1/2 weeks already and Meme Frieda (Yossi's mom) has been with us for 2 weeks already. The girls are happy to have Meme around and give her much love.
She keeps saying that she doesn't help me much but having her here around is already a big help. The girls are thrilled to see her when they come back from the daycare.

Last Saturday I said goodbye to Rachel and Natalie and joined Yossi downstairs for a chat. Everything was quiet.
Rachel got out of bed and joined Meme in the living room. She grabbed her hand and asked Meme to join them in the bedroom. (remember, Meme does speak Russian, Yiddish, Hebrew and some German with me but no English, or just a few words). Rachel pulled the stool near her bed and Meme sat there and held her held while Rachel felt asleep.
The last week we were in Belgium, my mom would lie down with Rachel and would wait till she falls asleep.
Thank God for grandmothers!

Meme Frieda has arrived

at 85 years old, nothing can stop my mother in law from flying from Tel Aviv to see her granddaughters. She landed at Newark (direct flight) at 5.50am this past Sunday. Yossi was there and they went back to sleep at the hotel and boarded the train later in the afternoon. As hoon as the taxi pulled in in front of the house, the girls put their shoes on and we all rushed outside to greet her. That evening, Rachel felt asleep on her laps. She has received many kisses and hugs since her arrival and Meme Frieda is still beaming.
Thank you for making this long trip Meme Frieda.

au revoir papa

Je suis partie en Belgique avec Rachel pour aller voir mon papa qui se mourrait de la lucemie. Il ne nous a pas reconnues le 1er jour (jeudi), il avait une forte fievre. Le lendemain (vendredi) , la fievre etait tombee et il nous a reconnues, souri et parle un peu et meme blague avec Rachel. Ce fut le seul jour ou nous avons pu communiquer. J'ai passe le we chez ma soeur et maman est allee le we et ils ont bu du champagne rose et papa a bien apprecie, il etait un peu "pompette". Ce fut le dernier jour ou il a pu communiquer et apprecier ses moments avec nous. Il nous a quitte le mardi 6 avril sombrant vers midi dans un leger comas (sous morphine et oxygene), nous etions a son chevet. Il est decede le soir meme vers 22h.
C'est tellement dur de devoir dire au revoir a son papa. J'aurais tellement voulu le garder en bonne sante encore quelques annees. je t'aime papa.

family reunited

I just came back from Belgium where I was supposed to be for 2 weeks. I stayed there for almost a month. I left behind my little girl who spoke some French/English words to find a big girl making long English sentences.
Hi mom! was my greeting vs the usual "bonjour maman"