And we have walking. 10-20 steps at a time. Stella lifts her feet high and marches/waddles proudly to and from siblings. She does best when holding something - even if it is not attached to anything at all.

It's like she waited for Ian.

Today Daron was staring at her across the Shabbos table and said, in all seriousness, "are you sure she's a girl? She looks like a boy?"  Dorothy was confused enough to ask if we knew? how we knew and Daron realized certain body parts dictate as Dorothy asked when we knew she was a girl. He gently explained.

Today, there was battle in the playroom, redone by me a few months ago with IKEA.  Daron and Dorothy wanted to race cars but each had a vision of the race track that conflicted with the other.

With an audience, Daron did his best to compromise offering several solutions, simplifying to one on the yellow carpet, the other on the boarder. That was no good for Dorothy who held her ground, complaining. When i asked what it was she wanted - she emphatically responded "both" " i want to race on the yellow carpet and the blue" - Daron continued to offer land for peace until finally she agreed to the yellow carpet - a far larger space than the boarder- and yellow was where Daron had begun.  Do i fault her for not being a wall flower? Or applaud?

Intensely rewarding to have Ian back. Little mini snippets of camp activity discussed- but mostly it is enjoyable to make food that is good - i have cooked more in the past week than the entire month since Daron and Dorothy don't eat much. Same time, she asked for spinach leaves today, he is no longer taking Miralax and both are in a fight to 10 stickers for trying new things.

Still nursing Stella morning and night, tried to ditch morning today but was really uncomfortable most of the day. Tough to cut back emotionally and physically.

7.22

Stella started to stand a while ago but life is so full it is hard to write!

She says " woo woo" "uh oh" "meow" has six teeth.

We want to visit Ian at visiting day and it was just incredible to see him. First order of busienss was he took us deep into the woods to find salamanders. we had to leave the stroller by he bunk.  Daron and Dorothy followed with incredible enthusiasm as Mike held Stella and I held a smile as we followed him to the tune of "mumble mumble poison ivy" and "mumble mumble salamandar" but even as we spoke to him on Sue's cell phone as we were minutes away from camp he asked if Avery Lijah and Grey were with us becuase he wante to show us salamandar way.

Turns out he has never seen a salamander there and we are still not sure why he had opportunity to venture so far back behind camp, but overall (aside from wheezing and coughing and seeming exhausted) he was OK. And it was wide open arms and smiles and "Smelly stelly" for Stella. By the end of the day  all fo the kids were crawling with Stella across the lawn at Moshava. It was hard to leave him there. I cleaned out the plastic bin under his bed, all the while flabergasted that I was the mom.  I seem incapable of accepting that I am the mom - when I think a mom should clean out his bin, it seems impossible that I am that mom, yet I find myself inexplicable drawn to the bin, cleaning out pretzel bits.

Dorothy went to her first Mets game today. She loved the ice cream, the guy that gets dunked in the water and had a good time. She is a swim obssesed Daron still hates to swim. Happy for him Ian comes home tomorrow.

Dog Tags before Summer Camp and an Ipod

A few weeks ago, Ian surprised me by asking about Mikey's dog tags. Later he asked where one gets them. I offered one to him and he nodded in humble request. I was slightly offput by the real purpose of a dog tag - but admit to thinking there was a plus side to him having that on when going away to camp. Regardless, what really got me was the request that was appearance related- a cool factor request. He is so damn good looking it is almost breathtaking - and here he is in wife beaters with his fit body and dog tags. He is still my little boy but glimpses of the teen he will be come through often these days. The request was another reminder. He makes so few requests - I was happy to comply. If only it hadnt taken weeks to arrive. Speaking of which - he has mastered the art of delayed gratification - having saved nearly $200 for an ipod touch! I am so proud of him and really happy for him that he bought one for himself. Most of his friends have had them for a long time. I know he will take care of and take pride in his ipod. And I know he will be able to be in touch with Mommy this way too. Camp. It is around the corner. I am happy for him - trying to be. But he will be missed during those four weeks. We started a word of the week a few weeks ago after a friday night conversation that somehow turned from football to vocabulary. From Flatulants to circumvent and other words I can't spell- they are learning vocabulary worthy of the SATs which may be extinct by the time they get there. Spencer and Jeremy came over today for a playdate. Jeremy is walking rather quickly if jerkily and speaking slowy but speaking! It is amazing. Too bad Spencer was hard to manage and the two of them fought about what to watch. Between Debbie and Stella and the twins and Dorothy and the boys asking me homework- and Mike's parents over- I missed the end of work and two calls and was a stress ball- but glad to see Jeremy is on the mend. Dorohty had her recital- she was great! Pink eye aside, she looked beautiful and had a smile and confidence and remembered all of her moves. Stella is standing by herself when not paying attention Debbie takes her to the park. Still talks on the phone too much. Still cleans really well. Daron ate spinach - twice. THat is big news.

Tired post

Got Stella new high chair and stroller - britax - treated us to it and am happy. How is it she is almost 10 months old. New playroom set up - really nice. Dorothy does a "show" for stella in her room. I love when I wake up and ike has already put Stella next to me in bed. Ian and Daron baseball. Stella stays "meow" waves, says "mamma" she cruises, stands Daron leaves jackets places. The other night Mike went on a scavendar hunt to Bromberg and the Yavneh secretary's house for jackets.

Strides

4/10 Stella had her 9 momth appointment - chol hamoed :

17 lbs and i forget how tall but she is doing great, 60th for height i think and not sure for weight - i am so tired.

Since two weeks before Pesach she started Crawling like 4 “steps” – just as Mike was away in St. Louis.

During that time Stella started shakeing her head no- to music but the kids thnk it is hilarious – esp she does it when they sing “stella bella bo- we love you

She is pulling up and starting to cruise.

Took them for ice cream today last day of school before vacation
Mike in st lous

Stella started standing and crying in crib at night
Mike going away
Pesach now

Swim

When Stella crawls - looks like she is swimming on the wood floor.
She says "uh huh" and "oooh" and something that sunds like "wow" and "mmmmama" when she is crying (which is almost never)

Best part of parent teacher conferences

was learning how much Daron loves his baby sister when we heard about it from his teacher- Mrs. - totally forgot her name right now.

Both boys had stellar reports, and Ian's shining moment was an E- in self control - he and Uri G apparently cut it up a bit during class, which made his teacher proud.

Both had reports of being very bright, great students, well behaved and good with their peers. WHat could be better.

This shabbos, Ian had Yoni Zirman over. Big boy, 5"2 0 really nice - great house guest, sweet, smart, kind, funny. Yoni Ginsberg (who still can't say "r" and Isaac Zaken came over in the afternoon. Dorothy was confused when GInsberg asked for "wataw"

Stella is fantastic- Stell Bells is a new version - and Ian calls her "Smella" - they are all so funny with her and she adores each one. SHe is still army crawling but also up on all fours and taking crawl steps. Had to lower her crib mattress. She is still sweet, super sweet - loves eating enjoys watching her brothers play sports (both hockey and basketball championships) and still nursing.

Dorothy is a panic. I dont use that word but she just is - she is amazing, interesting, full of energy and adorable at the same time.