Bliss

This morning was pure bliss.  We had not anticipated that Ben would have the day off - so it was a pleasant surprise to find out that morning conference was cancelled and he would be home.  For the non-resident folks out there . . . they guys have x-ray rounds and morning conference of some sort every morning - typically around 6:30 - so Ben is usually out of the house before I even wake up most mornings.  Today was one of the few weekdays all year that he was totally free of resident responsibilities, and since I have been feeling under the weather, he let me sleep in and took Lola-duty.  It was literally the first time in almost 10 months that I've been able to truly sleep in (since in the past, I would have to wake briefly to nurse Lola).  Did I mention bliss?  Pure. Unadulterated.  Bliss. 

Food for Thought

Interestingly, Lola refused to eat the pasta that I made her on Friday.  However when she found a remnant of the exact same pasta four days later, dry and crusty on the floor, she was all-too-eager to put it in her mouth. 

Speed Vacuuming

What the what? I took this picture of the tag attached to a small Dyson hand-held vacuum in the condo we were staying in last week. First of all, for a vacuum company that claims to be state-of-the-art . . .it certainly seems that they could figure out a way to get a little more bang for their buck when it comes to charging batteries. 3 HOURS? For 6 MINUTES?

And what in the world can you vacuum in 6 minutes? It's takes me 6 minutes just to unravel the cord on my vacuum. cleaner. Very bizarre.

Ft. Lauderdale

We just returned from a trip to Ft. Lauderdale with my parents. We all had a blast (especially Lola)!

She did some major PR work for Uncle Adam's store (get some Dave's swag of your own - http://www.davesnewyork.com/)



We enjoyed some quality family-time.



Lola did a little boating . . .


We took a beach walk.

She got lots of love (and a birds-eye-view) from her Big Poppy.

We had the most delicious brunch (with noodle-pudding - my favorite!) at Great-Grammy and Big Poppy's place.

Each day left her totally tuckered out . . . We had such a blast and are so very grateful to have the opportunity to make this trip!

9 Months!

These pictures are getting harder and harder to take. Lola no longer has any interest in sitting still with the number. The only way we could finagle the shot was to use her new favorite toy. Que sera. She had her 9-month well check this morning - she weighs just a hair over 20 lb. (74th percentile), is 28 inches long (62nd percentile) and is in the 90th percentile for head size. She was an angel at the doctors office (even though the appt. was smack in the middle of nap time).

Hannukah gift - update

She loves it!!

Thank you Great-Grammy and Big Poppy!

Girls Day Out

I took Lola to the Christmas celebration at my school today. She was enthralled with watching the students and she loved all the music. She was a big hit with the kids and it was a nice chance to get out of the house in this cold weather. My friend Lillian snapped this picture as we watched the students file into the dining hall. Lola's latest facial expressions are a bit heavy on the tongue - and this pictures seems to be capturing it in action.

When we got home, I made latkes. I know that Hannukah ended this week, but I had purchased all the ingredients and had promised Ben I would make them, so better late than never. Incredibly time intensive (and unbelievably messy) to prepare, they actually turned out pretty well. I suppose I was subconsciously trying to counterbalance our Christmas adventure from earlier the day.

Happy Hannukah, Lola!

From your Grammy and Big Poppy.

Sing ON (Season 2)

The Sing Off is back!
Last year I didn't think to blog about it until the last episode . . . so this year I'm trying to give you more notice. The judges are the same - and it appears that the whichever costume designer had the scarf-fetish from last season has been replaced.

Seriously, watch it.

Season's Greetings

Well the holiday season has official begun.
Yesterday my child had a piece of tinsel in her poop.
Puzzling.

Publix Mishegas - Part III

For my Greenville friends . . .
Mishegas - Yiddish, for craziness
Matzah - the cardboardish food that we eat in place of leavened bread during Passover
Latkes - fried potato pancakes
Shabbat - Friday night and Saturday, our sabbath
Yahrzeit candle - a memorial candle lit annually to commemorate the anniversary of a loved one's death
Oy vey - Yiddish, statement of exasperation or dismay

Publix Mishegas - Part II

An Open Letter to the Manager of Publix - Mauldin Location

Dear Manager,
First off, I want to commend the you for having a section of Jewish goods at all. Considering the fact that I believe myself, my husband, and my child to be the only three Jewish people living in the city of Mauldin, I am grateful for the cultural sensitivity that you show by dedicating even a few shelves to Manischewitz and matzah balls.

That being said, I also feel it my duty to explain a few seasonal concepts. This month, we celebrate Hannukah. Imagine Christmas, but with fewer elves and more guilt. During this holiday, you should have Hannukah candles and potato latke mix available. Go ahead and stock up now, if the stuff doesn't sell, just store it in the back until next year. Neither product goes bad. Ever.

It is not, however, necessary to have matzah available. It's not a year-round sort of product. We only need the matzah for Passover, which is typically in March/April. Think Easter, but with fewer bunnies and more minced fish. We need the matzah then, and only then. You can store any surplus boxes in the back after April, it doesn't go bad either. Ever.

Once again I am so appreciate that you devote any shelf space at all to our bizarre culinary needs.

Shalom.

Publix Mishegas - Part I

I called Publix (in advance) to ask if they carried Hannukah candles. (Since it is cold, and I had Lola in the car, and I'd rather not unload her and bundle her up only to get there and discover they don't have the only item I am looking for.)

The woman put me on hold to go check. (This is a good sign . . . she is going to verify that they are in stock.) She tells me "Yes ma'am, we have two kinds." No red flags went up for me because I figured she meant a box of blue and a box of variety colors. Who knows? Greenville is growing more progressive by the day.

When I got to Publix (and got Lola out of the carseat, and wriggled her into her jacket, and hauled her into the store) I discovered that the "two kinds" of candles were Shabbat candles and Yahrzeit candles. Both of which, may I say, I'm impressed that they carry. But neither of which were going to fit in any menorah!

Mission unaccomplished. Chunky birthday candles will have to work until mom and dad can get here from Atlanta.

SnugTub

This is one of the greatest inventions of all time.
Ok. Perhaps that's saying too much. But it's a pretty simple idea and has made my life much easier. You blow it up and it fits inside your bathtub, providing a much smaller and safer area for an older infant to play in the bath. Lola loves it!

She loves her bath toys!