Sadie is 2 and a half!!

Ok so we're a little late with this update... but here goes.  In the last six months Sadie's had some pretty major changes.  She's welcomed a new baby brother into her life (yay), gotten ear tubes (sigh), and had a complete and total language explosion! She now expresses complex thoughts and remembers conversations from day to day.  She also often brings up things that we read in books as she's clearly trying to make sense of the world.  She's still a total sweetheart around Lev.  She has a sense of humor, she jumps, occasionally uses Russian words, walks up and down the stairs using alternating feet, loves to pretend, and has started (very slowly) adding some new foods back into her repertoire.

Without further ado, here are the growth chart photos!

For comparison, below is the photo from 6 months ago and this time last year.

 And now for some bonus photos of Mom and the kiddos!

Does Lev look like Sadie?

All the teachers at day care marvel at how much Lev looks like Saie (we kind of see it but kind of don't).  We've overheard them talking about it, even when they didn't know we were there so we were already pretty sure they meant it.  Well, if you read the latest sign about Lev carefully, you'll be extra sure they mean it too... (hint: pronouns)

For comparison, here is Sadie in the same outfit at approximately the same age.

Chanukah toys in action!

Today is a rainy day at home so we pulled out some of the Chaunukah toys that went directly into the closet after opening (we like to rotate toys to keep things interesting for the kids).

Sadie had a blast playing with her doctor set that Babulya and Deda got her for Chanukah (thank you!).

Sadie looked in Dad's ears and took his temperature (she said it was 64, she didn't say on what scale).

She then took Dad's blood pressure (good skill to have around these parts).

 And finally she decided that Dad needed some medicine in his arm.

Later we moved to the living room, where Sadie constructed a whole village with her magna-tiles, complete with characters who visited each other in cars and trains.

 Lev mostly napped and then hung out in Mom's lap the whole time.  Though later he did keep Mom company in the kitchen.

Party pictures

These are more than a week old but better late than never right?  Here are some photos of the kiddos enjoying Elliot's 1st birthday party! Thank you Alice and Max - everyone had a great time.

Sadie was a bit hard to capture - too many toys! people! so much to do!

But Lev was happy to hang out with Mom while she socialized

End of Chanukah round up!

Hi everyone... The kids have been having loads of fun with their Chanukah presents!

Sadie has really been enjoying the tea set Aunt Renee got her (though she mostly uses it to "make coffee" for mom and dad... if only it were real)

Lev has been digging his new stroller toy (thank you Aunt Ava and Uncle Steve).

And of course, thank you to Grandma and Grandpa for the blocks for Sadie and ball for Lev

And also thank you for the adorable foot attachments for Lev.  He just started grabbing at his feet this past week and really enjoyed it when I put them on this afternoon.

Finally Sadie (and we think Lev) really liked all the candle lighting and singing every night!

Hope everyone else had a great holiday too!

Second night of Chanukah... at home with candles and presents!

Last night we lit candles and opened some presents for a quieter and more traditional holiday evening.

After the candle lighting Sadie got her present from Uncle Steve and Aunt Ava (some more pieces for her beloved magnatiles)!

And Lev got to open his very first present (with some help from Dad)

 

 It was a  green line onsie from Grandma and Grandpa!

Thank you everyone, more pictures of boxes being opened to come....

Lev's 1st Chanukah!

As our faithful readers surely know, last night was the first night of Chanukah, and as it happens, Lev's 1st!  To celebrate we went to the party hosted by our synagogue.   It was loud and fun and a great way to start the holiday off.  When we arrived, Sadie immediately bee lined for the quiet corner with the books.

Then, when it was time to light the candles, we were all the way in the back of the crowd so Mom put Sadie on her shoulders while Dad and Lev just hung out.

We brought our menorah from home so we got to light it too...

Afterwards, there were snacks and Sadie even ate half a latke!!!

It was a lovely evening but looking forward to some quieter ones (with presents)!

Lev is 4 Months Old!

It seems hard to believe that just a year ago I found out I was pregnant and now I have a very real huge baby.  He is a smiley happy baby who is calmed by the voices of the people he loves.  He can now roll onto his side, supported sit very well, and is also starting to tripod.  We're working on sleeping.

Here are the pictures!

  

And the comparisons

And now here are some bonus photos.  Today Mom and Lev both wore their new winter coats as the weather was pretty miserable.  Here is a super fast selfie that Mom snagged on the way out the door.

Also Sadie's been building ever more creative structures with the Magnatiles that have become her constant obsession.

 And finally, we've also broken out our "excersaucer" and Lev has been having a really good time chomping down on all the toys.

Thanksgiving 2015 Part 4

No Thanksgiving vacation is complete without a trip to the grocery store, of course.  The grocery store we went to had mini carts for mini shoppers and Sadie did a fantastic job.  I think she's ready to move out of the house :-)

Then it was time for some last time feeding of Lev, and dolls, and sillies before we left.

The flight home was blissfully uneventful and both children behaved marvelously.  During nap, once we already home, Sadie said she was sad because she missed Grandma, Grandpa, and Aunt Renee.  I'm sure they miss us too, but we'll see everyone again soon, both in video chat and in person come February!