Mom's birthday

Mom's birthday was last week and since it was Christmas day, the local family all headed to Babulya and Deda's to celebrate.

Lev got to try out his super rad new car/seat stroller that Grandma and Grandpa gave mom for her birthday.  Everyone (Lev included) was a big fan.

At Babulya and Deda's everyone had lots of food (not pictured... too busy eating) and then lots of cuddles.

 

Then it was time for Sadie and Dad to go home so Sadie could take a nap.  But not before Sadie and Michal could take turns pushing a napping Lev around in his stroller (the handle comes down making it kind of perfect for little kids to use).

Once Sadie and Dad left, and Dovid went down for his nap at the house, the moms and remaining children took a walk to the river.  Once at the river, Michal claimed complete and total ownership over the stroller (it was pretty ridiculously cute).

 It was a truly wonderful day! Thank you everyone for making it so special!

Sadie got her first haircut!

It's our first truly gross wintry day here in Boston so we thought it would be a good time for an indoor activity.  We've been talking about trimming Sadie's hair for a while now and finally decided to pull the trigger.

Sadie was shockingly cooperative the entire time.  She let the hairdresser put a cape on her and spray her hair.

And sat pretty still while the lady worked.

She even let herself be hair dried.

Meanwhile, Lev enjoyed the show from his stroller.

Afterwards Sadie got to look at the back of her had in the big mirror and got a certificate for her first haircut!

Lev rolled over!

We've only seen it once so far, but he's been trying really hard all week.  I don't have a photo/video of the big moment but here is a picture of him trying.

Our littlest guy is growing up... sob!

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!