Annnnnnd We're Having....

We don't know!

It will be a surprise!

So few in life, why not enjoy this one?!

18 Months of Nursing Milestone!

I am so excited to write that we have made it to the 18 month milestone of nursing.

I am so proud knowing that I have given Dalia the very best for so long. Breastfeeding was a goal of mine, and then making it to 6 months, and then 1 year. My main support has been my own tenacity and empowerment through knowledge and research. Being educated is a girl's best weapon! I also don't care what other people think about it, and that always helps!

Dalia only really nurses in the mornings now, but she loves starting her day with a snuggle in mommy's bed. And some people might think this is odd, but in fact my mom's group has several mothers (pregnant and not) who are currently nursing--it isn't a "weird" momma group either. We were brought together by zip code through an organization called Moms Club. Oh, and everyone in my group has a 18 month old. Oh, and there are former lawyers, yoga instructors, health professionls... you get my drift, right?

18 months have gone by so incredibly fast. And though she may look and act like a big girl, she is still a little one in my eyes!

And You Just Can't Hide This

So what do you do when you aren't telling people you are pregnant (hmmm did we wait until like 23 weeks to announce on facebook the first time LOL) but your belly begs the question:

"oh my, when are you due?!"

You realize that your belly does the announcing for you!

Walking Videos!

With apologies for not having the videos uploaded directly to the blog, click HERE to see the very first steps of a little girl named Dalia! It only took 16.5 months! But, our Dalia is not a risk taker. She waits until she has it mastered!

My favorite part is the point at which she starts screaming, "walk walk walk walk," and a close second is the part where she says, "dada dada."

Enjoy!!

Stay Tuned...

Blogging will resume shortly.

Annnnnnnnd, you will get to see a little video of Dalia walking for the first time!

Up Down and Potty Party!

Some people might think potty training a 1 year old is totally nuts, but in many parts of the world, early potty training, or a similar concept, elimination communication, is pretty much standard practice (though ERers don't like the word "train"). And while we aren't die hard ECers who started at birth, we are introducing Dalia to the potty and letting her use it when we think she needs to. She is an active participant in this process, saying "pee" when she successfully went in the little potty today (for the third time this week). This is not rocket science, people. Sure it takes a long time, but, what else do I have to do? It is like learning how to breast feed, learning how to eat, crawl and walk.

TMI?

I guess some may think so, but this is a place where we shares the trials and tribulations of being new-ish parents. So if you aren't interested fast forward! But I have to warn ya, the first photo is a good one, if you can recognize the main event.

Now, of course we took privacy into account. I bet Dalia is going to LOVE this one day:

We are also going to invest in the snap on toilet. Anyone know of an elmo one? Oh and we spared most viewers the actual potty photo, but some chosen

unlucky family members were not spared.

So for those of you who are interested in trying this or just plain confused/shocked/perplexed here are some helpful websites, interesting stuff

Some EC links:

EC community

Nappy Free video

Helpful tidbits

EC clothing/potty pants

In action #1

In action #2

If my mom didn't already think I was an insane hippy-leaning weirdo, she certainly does now :) We will obviously still be using our amazing stash of cloth diapers for some time, but we are still moving toward a diaper free Dalia.

I thought I would also share a couple of cute Dalia playing photos:

Kuddos to Grandma for picking out this sweet riding toy. Dalia loves it!

Dalia is a ball of fun these days and she loves to play. She LOVES to play "up down" at all hours, including dinner time (and at three am).

Check out this video of Dalia playing "up down" with daddy:

Oh and that frame on the wall that still has the original packaging?

Yep, that is major class right there.

Ciao!

Welcome

Hey there! Welcome to the new design. I was seriously sick of looking at the old one,

weren't you? Don't worry, I won't be sad if you say yes.

Sometimes it is just, well, time. You know?

And with Dalia's recent haircut (yes, first haircut happened yesteryday) I am seriously remembering her in her earliest days (hence the nostalgic photo above, which I totally love for her quirky look--even then her personality shined through).

Here are some other (read: MANY) delicious baby photos (beware: unbelievably tired, super annoying mommy posting a zillion photos... yes I realize no one wants a full review of her life thus far, especially out of order, but humor me and look at them) and a few goin' on 4 years old wedding photos, just cuz':

mohawk gerber baby

a long time fav

bliss for both parties
fun times with Eilee
an obvious choice
could these pigglywigglies (dalia's new phrase for feet) be any sweeter?

first sushi

Happy Birthday, Dalia Liat
she's intellectual, and super stylish with her amber
first shabbat
3 days post partum, looking decent, i'd say

Chunky monkey

Fun

She's polish, a polish Jew, and for the record, she LOVES pierogi

quite possibly my favorite baby shirt. ever.

and look at those jellies!

still her favorite place to cuddle

look how small!

eating snow for the first time

she loves a ball

when she used to wear hair accessories

the dress looks like a picnic table, but c'mon

you know it's still cute

when she was our Del Ray duck
first vacay to florida-flew at 10 weeks
don't copy this or you will get in trouble cuz' it is copyrighted

hire this dc area photographer
i think this was her first daddy smile

that's our girl... what a smile, deux par deux and an old shoe

standing with aba

(aka daddy, breadwinner, lawyer, smarty pants...)

finally, seasonally appropriate

wishing those misha lulu pants still fit, thanks Juanita and Sandy!

another oldie but goodie

look at the light shine in on her

and ALL TIME favorite... she was in LOVE with the animals

she inherited silly face syndrome from mommy

classic

the days of the bjorn were short lived

:)

This is from one of my favorite blog posts

(don't remember? new? click on the link above)

um, not ready to sit, obviously

weird face syndrome #2

deliciously chunky #2

and there were oh so many pumpkins

for the record, i don't love the side position, do you?
it started with one blabla and ended with wink and

boogaloos and a backpack, an addiction?
this one makes me happy (it's cute) and sad (ugh, DC)
finale

spit happens

random wedding photos:

Have you recovered from the chaos?

Fast forward to today... my toolbar says that Dalia has been nursing for 1 year 1 month 2 weeks and 2 days. Woohoo!

Anyhoo, enjoy the new look and stay tuned for hair cut photos. Dalia's hair is no longer a wild untamed beast. We have taken control of her hair. Oh, and hair is one of her new favorite words/things. We say hair and she touches her hair (and the same with nose, mouth, eyes, and, well, pretty much most things these days).

Ciao!