Week 38-January 5-January 11, 2011-Hi Baby, this week you have done tons of standing and kneeling. I watched you at Grandma's house trying to look into a box she has on her kitchen floor. You actually stood, using the box as support. You really are motivated to move! On the sixth, we were in our kitchen and I watched as you made a beeline move towards Zed's water bowl. There are three things which you are endlessly fascinated with, 1-the fireplace, 2-the dirty wheels of your stroller and 3-the water bowl. So instead of stopping you this time, I just waited to see what you would do. As you came close to the bowl, you laughed and grabbed the edge, and tipped it over. Water everywhere! On the floor, on you...and you were pleased as punch! Victory!

We have a game that we play. As you head for the fireplace, you laugh and I say, Ellie, Elisheva, No, no, no!!!. You stop, turn, look at me, and then continue on to the fireplace. I run and grab you and we both laugh and smile!!! This happens throughout the day with the fireplace and the water bowl.

You are so squirmy when we change your diapers. It is very difficult changing you. You have to many places to be and things to explore. On the night of the ninth as I was changing you, you actually became very angry with me. I have never seen that look before in your eyes. It passed and then you were fine again, once I let you be.

At bedtime, you are very funny, you talk, and move about, snuggle with me, get on your hands and knees and roll around. Finally you settle down, and sleep, or I put you in the Pack n Play for some quiet time before bedtime.

This weekend, we got together with Jake and Yana for lunch and coffee. As we were sitting down to eat, we ordered Bloody Mary's, (mine was virgin), Yana was holding you and you grabbed her drink and spilled it all over you, her and the table. The spill wasn't a big deal, but I felt badly that you were wearing vodka! Later on, at the cafe, Jake was holding you. Next to him was a flower pot with little yellow flowers. He kept picking them, one at a time and handing them to you. You were so interested. You kept twirling the flower in your fingers, inspecting the petals so carefully and then you would pull the flower apart, start to complain that it was gone and he would pick another one for you. This happened over and over again. It is really sweet to watch the two of you together. I love watching you learn about the world. I can see you develop in front of me.

All of a sudden, you don't like to wear bibs. You scrunch your little face up and protest, LOUDLY, whenever one approaches you. I have know idea what brought this on. You also won't let me feed you with a spoon. I get to put the food on the spoon, hand the spoon to you, and you put it into your mouth. So independent!!!

I love you more than life. You are my heart and my soul!!! You make me part of something bigger than just myself. Thank you.

Week 37-December 29-January 4, 2011!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR BABY! Your very first New Year's Eve. You spent it partying with Grandma and Grandpa, apparently watching tons of television to my dismay. Papa and I were out until three in the morning celebrating. It was so much fun. I can't believe we were out so late. I don't remember the last time I did that. We had so much energy, we could have stayed later, but we didn't want you to wake up in the morning and not have us there beside you.

This has been a busy week. The three of us went to Mammoth together. Beautiful, but very cold. I need to get you some proper snow clothing; we couldn't sit you in the snow, nothing you have is waterproof! It was a great car ride; you were absolutely a dream to ride with. Now when we hold you in our arms, you like to jump up and down. You make so many new faces. You are very expressive! AAAANNNDDD!!! You CRAWLED for the very first time (much to Zed's dismay!). Your little knees have bruises on them, but it doesn't slow you down. You love to crawl over to the bookshelves and pull off the books and munch on them. It is time to babyproof the apartment. You made your way to the fireplace and were reaching in to touch the pilot, when I shouted, "EL, EL, EL" and ran over to grab you. You whined and jumped. I have never raised my voice to you like that and I wasn't angry, just trying to get you to stop before you were hurt. By the following morning, Papa had disconnected the pilot, so now there is no flame. We were sort of hoping you wouldn't pay it any mind, since it has always been there, but no such luck and you tend to continue going to the places we specifically ask you not to go. What can I do, you're my daughter! This is exactly how I was when younger. I had to learn for myself, not just listen to what people said.

You now will pull off your hat if it is bothering you, or covering your eyes! Usually you wave it back and forth for a while before sucking on it! When we try to put you down when you don't want to go down, you stiffen your little body. So opinionated! Your fascination with bins and boxes continues to grow. When I fold laundry and place it into the hamper or a bin, you love to get on your knees, reach in, and pull everything out. You are now kneeling, by the way. We have to be careful that you don't accidentally tip something over and have it fall on you, or you fall into it. When you have had enough of being in the pack-n-play you get on you knees and bang your tiny fists against the mesh. If this doesn't work fast enough, it is accompanied by shouts of protest. One night, you were yelling so much, you didn't realize that I came into the room. Once you did, you literally stopped mid-yell. Crazy!

My mom keeps a kid drawer in her kitchen and among other items, there are several plastic measuring cups that you love to chew on and bang while flapping your arms. The fact that you can make noise is very empowering to you. It is incredible to watch my parents, my father especially, concentrate on his work with you banging away noisily. This patience of his, did not exist when I was little, so it is really a treat to see it now, and with you.

You, my love, now have a fake cry. At first, I did not know what it was, but after several rescue attempts for a girl with no tears on her face and only smiles, I realized you are learning how to play me. I can't help it though, I still come, and you know this!

You sprouted two bottom teeth. So now there are four. The top arrived together, but the bottom two, came one at a time. If I am looking at you, the right one came in and then the left almost immediately after.

I figured out that when you nurse, if I don't pay attention to you, that is when you chomp. And when I say chomp, I mean HARD! Nothing makes me want to wean like you doing that. You haven't bitten in a few days but my nipples are sore nonetheless. I suppose the thing to do in the case of biting is to raise my voice and take away the boob. I haven't raised my voice yet, but I do gasp, explain to you that you can't do that and take boob away for a little while. You do not like this but usually we have to go through it two or three times before you either stop biting or I just take away boob. Which means that you weren't really hungry anyway!

Boob biter or not, you will always be my baby girl. I love you, my heart and soul!!!!