Week 31-November 17-23-Hi Petichka! Now when you stand, you stand on your tiptoes. This doesn't happen all of the time, just sometimes. You are growing so big. You were a little tiny girl when we brought you home from the hospital. Preemie clothing barely fit you and now when I see you next to other babies your age, you are taller than them. Up until about six months of age, you wore clothing two months smaller than your age. So at four months, you wore clothing meant for a two month old. At about six months, I could just get you into four month clothing, but anything with feet meant that the tips of your toes were pressing against the material. Now forget it, you wear clothing for six to nine months of age, which is appropriate, I am just surprised about it. You look beautiful to me. When we go to the doctor for check-ups, I do not want to know the growth percentiles. I don't like to compare and the doctor always tells me you are perfect so I don't think about it, but since we have been going to mommy and me classes, I see a few other babies and you are taller than them. I think you will most likely be taller than me when fully grown.

The three of us went to Seattle this past weekend. You have had a stuffy nose, but when we got there, it turned into a full blown cold. You have had colds before but nothing like this. Your little cheeks were flushed, your nose was running, (it still is) and you feel flushed. I finally called Dr. Schramm and she told me that you are going to be okay, this is normal. You never get fevers, thank G-d, but I didn't trust the thermomitor and so I kept taking your temp, papa's and mine to make sure that it worked. You nurse throughout the night and wake up crying because you don't feel so well. So I am pretty tired and take naps with you during the day. I am not getting much done, but I am catching up on sleep and that is pretty important.

When your nose first started running, it would just keep going, now when it touches your lips you stick out your tongue and lick it off. I wipe your nose with a hankerchief but you become upset and cry and turn your head. I remember how sore my nose would get when my mom did that to me, so I try to be gentle and use different tissues, wet, dry, warm, cold, but you don't like any of those options, so I am not really sure the best way to handle it. There has got to be a better way. Hopefully you will be fully recovered soon!

When we were in Seattle, Papa went to an interview at a gaming company, so you and I went sight seeing. We went up the space needle and looked at Seattle from all angles. It was pretty fun. The next day all three of us went to Pike's Market. It was freezing cold, literally. It started to snow later that day. We went around looking at different neighborhoods and homes to see where we could potentially live. Everybody who saw you thought you were exquisite. And you are!

On the 20th, you were so sick, poor baby, in your sleep you started to laugh and then talk. Papa and I were quietly laughing. You are very funny.

You are an excellent traveler, a perfect angel on airplanes and as long as you get out of the car seat every so often, you don't mind being in the car. You just check out the sights from your window.

Now we are back home and back in cloth dipes. I had to use disposable while we traveled. I keep the dipe pail in my shower and each time we change, you and I go into the bathroom and put the used dipe in the pail and run bath water over it. You look at the water and smile. It is just one of our little routines that we do daily that you know and enjoy.

I love you little girl. You are my heart and my soul!

Week 30-November 10-16-SEVEN MONTHS OLD! Unbelievable! You have started to pay attention to the pictures I put up around your changing table of bright colors and shapes. Each time I put a new dipe on you and stand you up to adjust it, you twist your body around to look and touch the pictures. I point them out to you and you smile! On Wednesday, we finally made it to our first mommy and me class at AISH. There were two other babies your age, Eliyahu and Yeshaya were there and about three toddlers. When Sharon Shenker, the leader started singing and talking, all of the mommies were busy talking to each other and the babies were playing. You were the only one looking and listening to Sharon! What a good little girl you are! Absolutely adorable. Sharon passed around a tzedakah box so everyone could put in some pennies and when it was your turn, you took hold of the box and tried to eat it! HAHA! I love you. Later everyone was given a stuffed torah to hold and you loved yours! At one point, a little boy, who was a little rowdy came by and grabbed your links away from you and then watched your reaction, which was, to watch him. When he wasn't looking, I took them back for you. He also took a truck away from a ten month old. If he is there tomorrow, and behaves this way toward you, I might way something to his mom. She needs to watch him, not let him bully all the kids!

You have now picked up the habit of screaming. At first you were playing with your voice, but now, if you don't like something, immediately, there emits from your lungs, the loudest, ear-splitting screech I have ever heard. I had a headache most of this week. If it continues, I think I am buying ear plugs. Seriously.

I sing all the time, I told you that last week. When I do, you smile, smile, smile. Sometimes at night, it is difficult for you to calm down, and your entire body is moving, legs kicking, arms flailing and you are just restless, so I sing and the moment the first note leaves my lips, you settle down, without fail and smile. It is amazing. I don't know what it is about singing, but it works. Remember that for your own children! I know I told you that you don't need to be held anymore when you fall asleep, but suddenly, it changed again this week and you won't fall asleep unless you are in my arms. I like it. I didn't realize how much I missed it. If you miss a nap, or wake up early from one, you are cranky! So I try my best to keep our home a calm place so you can rest without interruptions. Of course, there are always interruptions and sometimes you just wake on your own. Yesterday, you took a two hour nap, which is incredibly long for you, at most, you sleep for about forty minutes, most of the time only thirty minutes at a time, and then at night, you slept for about three hours straight, no waking, nothing. You were taking about four naps a day, but it is shifting to three naps and those are getting longer. (the eleven am nap is the one disappearing, you still sleep at about 9, 1, and 3). I kept checking the time and looking at you, I couldn't believe it. Had I known how long you would sleep, I would have either tried to get a major project off my to do list, or really settled down to relax. I am not used to having so much uninterrupted time to myself.

On Saturday, we met with Jake and Yana to go house hunting in Long Beach. Later we all went to a Lebanese restaurant and it was getting a little late for you. You played in the high chair, but as time went on, you wanted to be held, so we all passed you around the table and you were getting more and more active and vocal, which is what happens when you are overtired. You didn't cry or fuss. You are really a great baby!

Whenever anybody has something in their hands, you grab it with such force and bring it to your mouth! Jake gave Yana a water bottle and you just went for it. They both laughed and gave you some water. You were delighted! If I am holding a notebook, a pen, whatever, it usually makes its way into your mouth!

Whenever anyone sneezes, including Zed, you jump like I've never seen. It is really loud for you. I try to sneeze quietly or warn you, but you still startle. When you sneeze, you smile!

You have a thing for buttons. You really like them. Whenever I wear a shirt with buttons, you touch them, pull them and eat them. It is darling!

My mom bought you a laptop a while ago, but I just gave it to you recently because you are old enough to be interested in it. It has buttons that make different sounds and songs and it is really cute. When it opens and closes it plays music. The only thing you like to do with it is close it and then you get frustrated because it doesn't do anything anymore! So I open it for you and you immediately close it again! One morning, the three of us were lounging around in bed and papa and I got on our laptops. Well, you kept mouthing his and he said, we have to get you your own. To which I replied, she has one and I got you yours, so all three of us were on our laptops. Too funny. We are such a high-tech family!

You also love to eat my cell phone. If I take it away, you cry, unfortunately, they are not waterproof, I found out. As of now, I am without my phone, which is a huge deal for me. I am sort of attached. I was contemplating not getting it fixed though, as a sort of weaning process, but we have no other phone in the house and I do need it in case of emergency, so I am expecting one to arrive in a day or two. I will have to do something about getting you one. I think it is because you see me on it all the time, that you want it too. But you're not getting this one (although it is really difficult to say no to you)!!!

Baby, I love you so much. Each week you change incredibly. You are so pure, so innocent. I am blessed to be in your presence, and to bask in the fresh energy that is you. It is rare and all to often lost. I hope you keep yours for a long time. You are my heart, my soul!

Week 29-November 3-November 9-Hi honey, so you have started to nurse while sitting up and facing me. Once you were playing and I was topless; you just dropped your toy and reached for my boob. Papa and I were quite amused!

When you are upset or overly tired, you blow raspberries over and over. Sometimes when you are nursing you will pull off and look at me for a few moments, it is the sweetest look, almost as if you are searching my soul, and then you will blow a milky raspberry my way and continue nursing.

I have begun giving you puffs to eat. They are little finger food that melt in your mouth. You like them. I had to show you how to chew, and now you can. I got them primarily to develop your manual dexterity and you are able to pick them up and bring them to your mouth. The problem is that they stick to your hand and so they don't actually make it into your mouth unless I help you. But you are doing really well and grasping and feeding yourself. Papa and I went out to dinner with some friends, Ben and Daniela, while Grandma and Grandpa watched you. You, as always, were a perfect angel and they loved having you to themselves.

On Wednesday, the 3rd, I put you in bed to go to sleep and you were playing around, so I got up to go to the kitchen as I have done every other time you do this. Well this time, I heard you talking and playing and then....THUMP and loud crying. I ran so fast into the room, that I slid and fell. The room was dark so I couldn't see you. I flipped on the switch and there you were on the floor in front of my night stand. Oh my! I cannot believe you fell off the bed. I cannot believe you have had two big spills in a matter of a few weeks. I picked you up and kissed you and you nursed. For what its worth, you didn't cry as much as last time and thank G-D, no bruises either. I was actually on the phone with Papa when it happened. So we have been looking for a crib for you. It is only a matter of time before you start rolling over and over in your sleep. Now when you play, I put you in the pack and play until you are ready to sleep, but I want a crib. I think it will be more comfortable for you. I called the doctor and she told me what symptoms to watch out for, but none of them happened. You are a tough kid!

Now when you are sitting and you begin to topple, you can catch yourself with your arms and hands and regain balance. Such a big girl!

The other day, you were on the bed with Zed and I started to play with him. He was running back and forth across the bed, and jumping on me and you began to laugh. I picked you up and had Zed jump up on me. And you began to laugh harder. Without really thinking about it, I took you into the other room, I think to change your diaper and was singing, Aye, Aye, Buskie, Aye, Aye, Buske, over and over again. (I sing a lot, ever since you were born!). You were laughing, laughing, laughing. I figured it out; it was every time I said Buskie. Up until now, your laughs are usually one or two breaths. But this time, it was a full on laughfest. And you have continued doing it each day always with Zed. You are fascinated with him. You will roll over to watch him. We have to be careful though, because the other day, you took his toy away from him and he crept up to your face and snapped right in front of your eyes. I smacked him and have kept him a safe distance from you since. You didn't budge, until I yelled at him and then you started to cry, but I distracted you and all was right again.

It is interesting to see how you will be socialized. A dog snapping at someone would ordinarily make them cringe, be frightened or elicit some sort of response, but since you have had no experience with it, you don't know yet to be afraid or to defend yourself. You are just observing at this point, trying to make sense of it all. How I respond will one hundred percent influence how you do, so I have to watch myself to make sure I am the best role model for you. Moment of truth. I love you baby. I will do everything I can to make sure I do right by you, but in case I mess up, and I will, please know that I did everything I could at the time to the best of my capabilities. You are and will always be my heart and my soul.

Week 28-October 27-November 2-You are really sitting up independently now. No more wobbling and toppling over. You are also reaching for items that peak your intrigue. If I am holding something that you want, you cry until I give it to you. You also have begun inspecting your hands and fingers, usually right before you go to sleep. You will touch your fingertips on opposite hands together gently.

When you nurse, you have begun, grabbing hold of my other nipple and squeezing it. I am not sure how you find it without looking, but you do. It's like you have radar.

We went to the pediatrician for your six month set of vaccines and you now weigh 15 pounds and are 26 3/4 inches long. A perfectly happy, healthy little girl. While the doctor and I were speaking, you were having a ball playing with the mirror. Dr. Schramm and I were both laughing. You are too cute!

Calanit and Joshua had their baby on the 23rd of October. His name is Eliyahu, but I suppose you know that. At his bris on October 30th, my mom was holding you, front and center, to my dismay. Apparently, you were busy blowing raspberries at everybody. So much so, that you sprayed the little girl standing in front of you. AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Afterwards, at Kiddush, a woman came up to me and told me how funny you were. You are really a little comedian.

When we were in Seattle, Papa and I got you a little grand piano with four keys on it. You like it but it is still a little difficult for you to hit the keys. We also got you some stacking rings. You LOVE this toy. You play with it every morning while we are still in bed. You take the rings off and suck on the post, you suck on the rings. It is perfect for you.

Baby I love you so much. I don't really remember my life before you came along. It is like my heart didn't really beat until it met you. I am so glad for you. You help me become better.