Monday, January 10, 2011
Friday, May 7, 2010
Moving Blogs.....
Please change your bookmarks and rss feeds!
Ashi and Rami have moved blogging homes to make room for their new baby sister.
The new blog is called "Two Boychiks and a Meidele"
and can be found at http://2boychiksand1meidele.blogspot.com.
Hope you'll keep watching them grow in their new home!
Posted by Leigh Ann at 4:05 PM People Who Made My Day (2)
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Back in August, when we first found out that we were expecting a third baby, I went to one of those very very early checkups. The ultrasound in those early weeks shows a little white dot (the baby) and a little flash (the heartbeat.)
Every time I had had one of those early ultrasounds in the past, it was so exciting - the confirmation that nothing had changed except this millimeters-long bundle of cells that suddenly, miraculously, had a life of its own, both independent of me and completely dependent on me.
And that that little flashing bundle meant that, before I knew it, everything would change once again.
I settled down in the chair, excited for the rush of seeing the flash-flash-flash on the screen. The ultrasound began.
I waited for the plane of view to land on the little embryo.
An empty sac. A pregnancy with no baby. Hopes risen up and then dashed. A mention of speaking with the doctor about removing the sac, the failed pregnancy, so we could start again. A follow-up appointment next week.
Over the next few days, I did what any reasonable person would do - I scoured the internet. I read story after story of families with the same situation. Most of them ended sadly - there really was no baby. But every so often it turned out that the diagnosis had been wrong, and there was indeed a growing, healthy baby that somehow doctor or ultrasound had missed.
That week, I made God a promise - if we found out there was indeed a baby there, that my case had somehow been misdiagnosed, I would give the baby a name that told the story of the wonders God can perform.
A tear-filled week later, I was back in the ultrasound room, for a final confirmation that there was no baby. I didn't want to go. I didn't want to see the same devastating blankness on the screen. I didn't want to be reminded, in real time, that I had become attached to nothing.
I settled down again. Waited for the image to show on the screen.
Saw the sac.
Prepared, again, to see nothing.
Steeled myself.
Today, thank God, we have a beautiful, healthy baby girl named Nesyah, which means "miracle of God." Her nickname, "Nesi," can be translated, "my miracle" - her very existence is my own personal reminder of the very real presence of miracles in our everyday lives.
Jewish tradition is that every person's name should have a story. Names, from the Bible through to today, not only tell the story of where we come from, but guide us towards what we will become. A name is a blessing - an articulation of the hopes and dreams that our parents have for us that give us the inspiration and strength to be better people.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 12:00 PM People Who Made My Day (1)
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Big Brother Love
Both of the boys are fascinated with their baby sister after her second full day at home.
This morning Asher laid in bed cuddling with her for about 5 minutes. (awwww...)
She started fussing and I picked her up.
He sat straight up and held out both arms to hug her.
My heart melted - I couldn't resist. I handed her over.
More like an enthusiastic bicep curl.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 12:55 AM People Who Made My Day (3)
Saturday, April 24, 2010
First Meeting
"Each friend represents a world in us,
a world possibly not born until they arrive,
and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
Posted by Leigh Ann at 9:08 PM People Who Made My Day (1)
Friday, April 23, 2010
This Girl
From the very beginning of her story,
to her arrival here yesterday,
In the 39 weeks that I carried her
and mere 36 hours since she has been born
her existence, and the story of her life (so far),
has richly grown the gratitude in my heart
intensified my sense of awe
and deepened my belief in the power of The Source of Life.
You will hear the whole story when, Gd willing, she recieves a name on April 29th.
For now, some scenes from her first hours on Earth:
After a
Meeting Ima (who only looked so calm because her face was numb from the anesthesia):
Bringing our incredible doula, Caroline, back into our lives:
Weighing in at exactly the same size as her big brother Asher at birth (minus the screaming):
Looking quite a bit like Rami:
Eskimo kissing a smitten Abba:
A rare moment sitting with Ima without yelling at her to EAT! NOW!!!
Posted by Leigh Ann at 7:10 PM People Who Made My Day (4)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
"What to Feed Your Child Every Day": A Lesson in Futility
I love Parents magazine.
Anyway.
This month they published a very helpful spread explaining what you should be feeding your little darling every day.
See how helpful this is?
Especially the examples of the gorgeous dishes you're supposed to use to serve your little ones?
I made lunch for the boys today, keeping in mind this oh-so-helpful advice. Let's take a look at which healthy, delicious, and appropriately-apportioned foods I chose for my darlings:
Now, let's see what they did with them:
Well, I suppose Parents magazine told me to feed my children these foods.
Guess it's up to me to figure out how to get the boys to actually eat them.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 3:19 PM People Who Made My Day (3)
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Bedtime Shema
Our custom had been for me to sit by Ashi's bedside and rub his back while I sing.
He always touches one of his tiny fingertips to mine,
Posted by Leigh Ann at 8:37 PM People Who Made My Day (3)
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Last-Minute Errand
Asher: "Oh! Ima? Excuse me."
Ima: "Yes, Asher?"
Asher: "I forgot."
Ima: "What did you forget?"
Asher: "I want to go get a chocolate donut. At the donut store!"
Ima: "Okay, Asher. Let's go."*
Asher: "Oh, okay. Thanks, Ima."
Ima: "You're welcome, baby."
*Sometimes, when your little boy asks to go to "the donut store," it's good to just say, "Okay," load everyone in the car, and go. Not always, but sometimes.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 10:55 AM People Who Made My Day (3)
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Welcome Letter
Dear Abba and Ima,
with concepts like "time-out" and "being polite"
That is, compared to what I'm about to dish out.
If all goes according to plan, by 2012 or so, I will have redeemed myself with some carefully-timed episodes of pure sweetness.
And remember -
every time you keep your cool,
Kisses,
Ram Ram
Posted by Leigh Ann at 9:27 PM People Who Made My Day (1)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Rami's Favorite Passover Breakfast Recipe
Ingredients:
1 pc plain matzah
2 tbsp cream cheese
2 tbsp jelly
Fruity Pebbles to taste
Strawberries*
Have your Abba and Ima spread the matzah first with cream cheese, then with jelly.
Then (and this is important!)
lick the jelly off the matzah,
making as big of a mess as possible.
Then apply the Fruity Pebbles to the cream cheese to taste.
(Don't forget to save a handful of cereal for side noshing.)
*We'll be ignoring the fresh strawberries completely, but it makes your Ima feel better if you have the option of eating them. Also, while she's concentrating on cutting them up, you can probably get a pretty good jelly smear across your face, your shirt, or even in your hair.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 9:16 PM People Who Made My Day (2)
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Who, Me?
Posted by Leigh Ann at 7:26 PM People Who Made My Day (3)
Friday, February 5, 2010
It Might Not Look Like He's Playing Hide-and-Seek...
Rami's never quite gotten "hide-and-seek."
When you say, "Where's Rami?"
he puts his hands, or his spoons, or his blankie, on the side of his head.
Or the top.
He pulls the hidey-things away from his face with such delighted flair,
the seeker is so charmed,
and Rami gives such a nice hearty laugh,
that it doesn't really matter if he knows exactly how to play the game.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 4:57 PM People Who Made My Day (1)
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Injustice
The injustice was so horrific
that even when David got Rami a new fork,
and returned Asher's to him,
the outcry continued.
As for me? I just kept snapping pictures.
After all, such incomprehensible injustice really must be documented.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 10:28 AM People Who Made My Day (1)
Monday, February 1, 2010
30/365 - "Love-and-Kiss Fest"
Posted by Leigh Ann at 10:30 AM People Who Made My Day (0)
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Flour + Water + Yeast + Butter + Sugar = Shabbat Morning Love
Posted by Leigh Ann at 6:30 PM People Who Made My Day (2)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
28/365 - Who Needs Toys?
Ashi and Rami have invented a little game:
Ashi grabs a blankie, scarf, or in this case, Abba's belt.
Rami grabs on to the end.
Ashi runs.
Rami gets pulled along till he falls down.
Rami gives a big belly laugh, picks himself up, and the game starts again.
Given that it involves running ripshot with otherwise grown-up objects,
plus the obligatory roughhousing,
and adds in, of course, belly laughs,
it is an awesome, awesome game.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 8:46 PM People Who Made My Day (4)
Sunday, January 24, 2010
24/365 - Tackle!
24/365 - Tackle!
Originally uploaded by Leigh Ann Kopans
The boys are starting to play together more and more.
I think it was David who taught the boys to tackle one another.
Rami, (I assume due to his smaller size and slower speed,)
has developed a pretty good strategy for tackling his big brother -
grab onto his clothes,
hold on for dear life,
and hope he falls down before you do.
The spikes running down the back of Asher's dinosaur costume made perfect little handles.
Asher didn't stand a chance.
Normally, the tackle-ee has a look of horror and despair on his face (like in this shot,)
while the tackle-er wears an expression of total glee.
Today, they both seemed delighted to be playing the game.
Posted by Leigh Ann at 6:12 PM People Who Made My Day (1)