Passover at Bubbe's House

This year we went to Pennsylvania to spend Passover with Caleb's Bubbe.  Beside learning how to dance, and climbing up and down... and up and down Bubbe's stairs, Caleb enjoyed singing (endlessly) about "Lotsa, Lotsa Matzah" and eating quite a lot of matzah too! In addition to the fun-filled Seders, we visited Gettysburg, spent Shabbat at Bubbe's shul, and played at the Pennsylvania State Museum children's area.  Caleb also watched his first play!  He sat and paid excited attention to the entire 30 minute performance of "The Aristocats" at the Harrisburg JCC.  Here are some great photos and a video from out trip:

Pizza - Caleb's last meal before Passover

Modeling the shirtless overalls look

Maracas!

At Gettysburg with Bubbe

Taking it all in with Daddy

Caleb loved Bubbe's student who played Thomas O'Malley.  He even clapped when he sang!

Demonstrating strong man skills at the JCC playground

Riding on Bubbe's knee horsey

Visiting Bubbe's Shul

Yum!  Chili (I think...)

Driving a Pennsylvania Farm Truck

So much fun at the Pennsylvania State Museum

Planting and harvesting carrots

Picking apples

The littlest birds sing the prettiest songs!

Riding a snail

Caleb's favorite Passover foods: matzah, brisket, turkey, dried fruit,

Here is a great video of Caleb picking apples at the Pennsylvania State Museum:

If you cannot see this video, go to this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6IkLydjghc

Thank you to Bubbe and Chloe for hosting us for such a fun week!

Caleb's First Dance

We arrived this afternoon in Harrisburg, PA to spend Passover with my mother, Caleb's Bubbe.  Caleb did not do so well on the first leg of the flight... he slept for about 30 minutes out of 2.5 hours - 20 minutes during takeoff and 10 during landing.  The second flight wend much better, however, after I let him eat a rather disturbing amount of bagel and cheese and then run up and down the airport terminal (supervised of course) for about 30 minutes.  He slept most of that flight.

When we got back to Bubbe's house she began showing Caleb all the fun toys she had found for him at a garage sale.  This included a backyardigans boom box that Caleb absolutely loves!  We were watching him play with the boom box when all of the sudden (for the first time I have witnessed) he spontaneously stood up and started dancing.  He has done plenty of arm flapping and clapping over the past few months, but this was the first full-on dancing.  I describe his technique as "drunken zombie"but only because I know he learned from watching me.

I didn't get the first time on video, but he was happy to show us again!
Here is the video.  If you don't see a video below, then click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qh_zMgbumlw.

Rock on! and Chag Sameach,
Love,
Rachel

13.5 Month Portraits!

So I have been rather remiss in getting portraits taken of Caleb... but I have something like 2500+ photos documenting the first year of his life, so I don't feel like I am slighting  him too much.  And now we have a fancy new printer (that was free with my new Macbook Pro) that actually prints good quality photos (wirelessly no less), so hopefully I will print a few more pictures too!  Now all we have to do is actually hang the photo frames on the walls...

Suzanne took Ella for some portraits a few weeks ago and they turned out really nicely, so I thought I would give JC Penney a try too.  I think the experience was much more stressful and less professional that Portrait Innovations (where we had the pictures taken last time), but that could be because Caleb didn't know how to move when we had the 5 month portraits taken and now I spent most of my time chasing him back into the portrait studio.  Or it could be that this time I was flying solo and last time Suzanne was there for us to take turns with the kids.

Enough of my babbling.  Here is what you have all been waiting for - the link to view Caleb's portraits.  I know that JC Penney gives you options to purchase from this link, but please don't bother.  I completely over-bought, I am sure, so there will be plenty of pictures for anyone that wants.  The pictures will be available for me to pick up April 1st.

Here is the link:
Click Here

Please note - you won't be able to view this from your iPhone or iPad (if you have one) because it requires flash.

Let me know if there are any pictures that you absolutely want.  I ordered a variety of sizes of many of them.

Rachel

Happy Purim!

We celebrated Purim in two ways this year.  For erev Purim we went to the park for a picnic, and then over to Suzanne and Oren's for some swimming and barbecue.  Caleb had a great time in the not-so-hot-tub.  He didn't really want to let Mommy hold him - he wanted to "swim" around on his own.  He doesn't actually know how to swim though, so that was a little challenging.  Thankfully, the hot tub benches and seats were at just the right height for him to walk around the edge and have a little independence.  Here are some pictures from the park and the hot tub:

Yummy Celery

Picnic with Daddy!

Modeling a swim diaper

"swimming"

I don't have any pictures of the post-swimming bath-time cuteness with Ella, but rest assured, they are out there somewhere on Suzanne's camera.

This morning we dressed up and headed over to Beth Torah for the Purim celebration and Megillah reading.  Caleb dressed up as the Shabbat Dinosaur for Purim this year (in the same costume he wore for Halloween).  It fit him just right this time around... even though it was size 6-9 months!  Caleb is only barely fitting into Carter's 9-12 month clothes now, and most of the 6-9 months things still fit just fine (as long as they cover his belly).  But since the dinosaur costume is all about the belly - it just fit that much better!  If you are unfamiliar with the Shabbat Dinosaur - it is from a fun song we sing at Tot Shabbat. Here is a taste:

There's a dinosaur knocking at my door,

Knocking one, two, three.

There's a dinosaur knocking at my door, 

And he wants to spend Shabbat with me!

And here are some pictures:

Caleb enjoyed the Megillah reading, though I think he might have been a little overwhelmed.  While he may not have understood the meaning of the story, he enjoyed using his noise makers!

We hope this has been a Purim filled with sweetness and celebration for all those who celebrate!

Love, 

Isaac, Rachel and Caleb

Our Little Virtuoso

Caleb hasn't been feeling very good lately, but that didn't stop him from rocking out on the Keyboard.

This is a video. If you can't see it, go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPELPslxDFE

~ Caleb's Mommy

Meeting the Cousins

In mid-February we drove down to Houston for the memorial for Isaac's Uncle Sidney.  While the occasion was a sad one, it was also the first time Caleb got to meet most of his Grammy's family, including his cousin Alex.  Caleb loved playing with Alex, and they had such a great time that Alex even stopped to visit on his way home!  Here are a few photos from the weekend.

Taking a stretch break with Daddy

Thanks for your straw Cousin Alex and Aunt Debbie

What is it about people patting me on the head?

Cousin Jenny let me stand on the table!

Talking to Grammy

Even though Caleb had a lot of fun in Houston, his Mommy and Daddy will miss Uncle Sidney.  Here is a picture of Caleb and his Uncle from Memorial Day weekend, 2010:

Caleb's First Birthday - Part 2

On the Sunday of Caleb's birthday weekend, we had a great party at Gymboree.  Caleb invited all of his friends to come play and eat yummy cupcakes, and play and eat they did!  Caleb loved climbing and sliding and running around the play area, and he enjoyed the music and games that all the kids played together.  He didn't care too much for the cupcake and preferred applesauce instead.  Mommy's not going to argue with that preference.  Here are some pictures from the party:

Tunnel!!!

Climbing is Fun

Totally Tubular!

Playing with Friends!

Cuddling with Daddy and Ella

Slam Dunk

Bubbles!

A great time was had by all, and hopefully the exercise made up for all the sugar!