Overheard: The Shabbat Edition

The funniest things are said over Shabbat. I don't always remember all of them, but I made a point of remembering a couple choice selections from last night and today.

Shira: I have idea! Let's slide down the stairs on our butts! (Sounds of kids sliding down stairs.) I win! I win!

Chaya: I wanted to win!

Batya: I want to win!

Shira: Lets do it again. (Sounds of kids sliding down stairs.)

All: We all win!!! YAY!!!

~~~~~

Chaya (on the way to the bathroom): I don't need the ring. I know how to hold on and I won't fall into the toilet. I don't like to fall in the toilet so I hold on to the seat and don't fall in.

We get to the bathroom and there is no ring on the toilet. Chaya falls in. I laugh.

Chaya: That's not funny.

~~~~~

Overheard

Aba has taken up the habit of bring "biscuits" home from the synagogue in the morning. The girls wake up before he returns and wait very impatiently for the sound of the door. Today he gave one to each, but Batya wasn't eating hers.

Aba: Don't you want it?

Batya: No. Hands it back.

Aba: Acting like he is going to break it. Well, why don't you give some to...

Shira: I don't have a biscuit.

Batya: You can have it.

Aba: Shira, share it with Chaya.

Shira: Breaking off the smallest piece she can get away with. Here, Chaya. You can have some of my biscuit.

Wordless Wednesday: Batya Sheli

Overheard

Batya: Shira! I have to be the winner!

Shira (holding up a necklace): Presenting the winner Batya!

Batya (stomping her foot): I didn't win! I didn't run yet!

Hachnoset Sefer Torah

Yesterday we attended a Hachnoset Sefer Torah (a dedication of a Torah scroll). This was the fourth one that our wedding chuppah (canopy) was in. It makes it worth keeping the poles in the garage for seven years.

Overhead

Batya: Mmmmm...This kombucha is making me thirsty.

While decanting the kombucha, Batya was watching the newly-filled bottles to make sure they were safe.

Overheard

Batya: Ima, I have a blueberry in my butt.

She has her diaper half off and is holdering her behind.

Me: I don't see any blueberry.

Yes, I looked.

"For Grandpa"

Mini Israel, Vomit in My Hand and Monsters in the House

Today we attempted to get the girls a bit back on schedule by visiting Mini Israel. It is about a 45 minute drive so we left at 10:00 AM as the girls were heading into meltdown. Shira and Chaya napped in the car but Batya stayed awake. Aba, Batya and I snacked on some crackers while we let the other two sleep a bit more. (The plan was an hour nap there and to take a little driving tour on the way back so that they could get 60-90 minutes more and then they would be ready to sleep in the evening.)

We wandered around the exhibit a bit and it was fun. It was a bit warmer than we expected (The car's thermestat said 30 degrees celsius!) and soon Batya was asking for the carrier. I popped her onto my back and continued on our journey.

Soon, Shira starts crying that she needs a diaper. Being in the middle of an amusement park, warm and not wanting to hike to the bathroom and back again I did what any self-respecting ima would do: I lifted her dress and stripped off her diaper. I was just finishing attaching the second tab when the sound came from Batya.

My back was covered with warm, sticky and sour liquid and Batya was screeching. We got her clamed down and staning in the stroller after another bought of vomit. Aba took Shira and Chaya and I grabbed the stroller and we headed to the exit. On the way out, Aba purchased shirts for Batya and I and some cold beverages. I got her cleaned up and changed my shirt. I gave her some water and about 10 minutes later that came up, too. It was mostly water since she had gotten the crackers and cheese out in the park. We decided to risk it and headed to the car.

I put her in the seat behind me so that, if need be, I could jut open the doors and get to her. I could also easily uninstall the seat. And yes, I did need to. Once I got her out and the road and she had a bit more cheese to get rid of. That emptied her tummy as the other two times it was pretty much dry heaves and some drool into my hand. (Does allowing your daughter to puke into your hand make you an official mommy?)

Aba was so worried he kept looking back and missed two turns that would have gotten us home quickly. So we took a little detour through Mea Shearim.

We got home and Batya and I took a shower and got into pjs. I tossed the clothing into the washer and also got the carseat cover washed. We ended up napping for about five hours. I had planned on getting her asleep and then taking the other two for a walk, but Chaya joined us in bed and Shira and Aba napped on the sofa. She had a couple more dry heaves between 3:00 PM and 8:00 PM. She woke around 8:45 asking for chalav. We gave her a bit of water and that stayed down so she had some milk. The she wanted a banana and that has stayed down, too.

It is now 4:00 AM and she is asleep again with no repeats. She has a very mild fever but she is teething (last two molars!). I suspect it was a combination of the flight, food changes, sleep changes, the sudden warm weather at Mini Israel, the preassure on her tummy from when I knelt down and the excess drool she swallows when she teethes.

Another new thing is Shira's fear of monsters. She has mentioned it a couple times and I was trying to come up with an answer. I finally did and it seems to have worked. I had tried the "Monster Spray" idea but she just wanted to spray and spray and spray and wasn't satisfied. Fail.

Instead I taught her to say "sh'ma" when she even thinks she sees a monster. I told her that monsters don't like to hear the Sh'ma so they will run away if they think she is going to say it. She practicied a few times and didn't mention monsters again so I hope it worked. I'll have to tell Aba about that one so that he knows what to do.

Shira the Stylist

Well, Batya may have liked longer hair, but Shira decided she would look better with a bob and cut her hair. So I had to even it out. The shorter length brought out a little flip we didn't know about. The part that Shira cut the shortest falls under the natural part Batya has so it works and will grow.

All scissors are packed away. Very high and far away.

Overheard, Take 1

The girls and I sent Shabbat at home today since we are all either sick or recovering. I brushed out everyone's hair and they were instructing me on clip locations when C hugged B and said, "Batya's my baby sister!"

Then we went on the rounds of who was the baby sister of whom. B was a bit upset that she didn't have a baby sister so we have adopted "baby" as B's baby sister.

Score!!!

After nearly THREE hours of sitting on the potty, eating salty snacks, drinking a lot of water and juice, watching Sesame Street, a wee bit of Mary Poppins and then part of Caillou, we have a success!

Batya used the potty!

She went a wee bit and then stood up all excited about it. She wouldn't sit down again and after two years of diapers I knew there was no way that was all she had. But she managed to go downstairs, dump the potty, flush, wash up and trek back upstairs without an accident. Then she sat back down. Rinse and repeat. She spent the rest of Caillou telling me what she shouldn't pee on. Our list includes:

• Her foot
• The sofa
• The pillow
• Shira
• Zeus' cage
• the floor
• her necklace
• my hat
  
• Baby
• Rosa
• Ima
• the TV
• her cup

I kept trying to get her to say only peepee in the potty or a diaper, but that was a no-go.

She got her big doggie stickers for her new sticker board. Then she had an accident on the stairs. So she cleaned it up. She refused a diaper at naptime so she is napping in a Little Beetle Learners with a Luxe cover over it. There are three potties upstairs and I'm ready to run up there when the first peeps start so that we can catch it in time.




I caught myself getting a little frustrated with Shira (three hours and no pee in the potty then she went outside and peed on the patio) but I reminded myself that she isn't really ready other than wanting to be part of what Batya is doing. Nevertheless, she also refused a diaper and is napping in Imse Vimse trainers and a Luxe cover. On a fleece blanket.

Overheard

This morning the girls are having yogurt with breakfast. Three little bowls of it. Batya comes to me crying about her yogurt. At first I thought she had finished hers and wanted more. Then I noticed Shira's bowl had twice as much as she started with.

Me: Shira, is that Batya's yogurt?
S: No. Shira yogurt.
Me: Really?
S: Shira yogurt.
Me: So, the yogurt from Batya's bowl just happened to get into your bowl.
S: Yes. This Shira's yogurt.

Overheard

Aba was holding Batya when Shira comes up and grabs her foot.

S: My foot.
B: No! Batya's foot!
Shira grabs her hand!
S: My hand.
B: No! Batya's hand!
Shira grabs Aba.
S: My Aba!

You Want Me to Potty Where?

My dad joked when the girls were little about how we would need three potties lined up when it came time to potty learn. He was right. Sort of.

We do have three potties. Actually we have seven and a potty seat (I am nothing if not prepared) but only three in the main living area. The logical place to put them was lined up next to the changing room. They were used to going to the room to get changed, it was out of the way but not hidden and it was close to all the supplies I would need for clean-up. So I put a large bath mat down and lined up the potties and introduced the girls to them.

Keep in mind that Batya is the only one actually potty learning right now. The others are simply in the "me too" camp. But Batya wasn't using her potty. She would come to me and tell me "peepee", go to her potty, sit for a moment and then get up. And pee somewhere. At first I asked more often. Stayed nearby and encouraged her. Praised her for sitting on the potty. She would still get up and pee elsewhere. Occasionally she would take the inside out of the potty and put it somewhere else. I figured this was playing with it and discouraged it.

Tonight I learned different. She did her normal routine and I was ready. Hoping for a potty first. She took the insert for her potty to the book nook. I told her it was for going peepee and not a toy and put it back. Then Chaya and Shira got into it with each other and I went to calm them. By the time I came back, Batya had peed in the book nook.

As I cleaned it up I thought about all the other potty moving/peeing on the floor incidents. Moved to under the table, peed next to the dining chair. Moved outside, peed next to barbeque. Moved to sofa, peed on sofa. Anyone else see the connection here?

So now I have two potties lined up and a third in the ex-book nook. I still need to figure out a new reading center. Perhaps it is time to move some toys outside for the summer?

Art for Aba (and other things)

I know, I know, I said I would post some art and crafty stuff from the past couple of weeks. Well, it has been busy so I haven't gotten around to scanning the scrapbooking stuff or photographing the knitting. But I did manage to take some pictures of some of the girls' art.

First, some Father's Day painting.
The pictures:




The girls:



Our flower display for Shavuot:


Kiddush cups:

The Ten Commandments for Shavuot:

Letters to my Girls

Dearest Chaya,
I love you more that you can ever know and I am so happy that you love me and want to be with me more than anyone else. I get great joy carrying you, wearing you, snuggling with you and kissing you.

But please stop whining. My ears are going to bleed one of these days.


And go to bed. Just sleep. Just once. One night is all I ask. When I say it is bedtime, curl in my lad and drink your milk and go to sleep. Don't act like you are going to and then fight and screech until Aba takes you. And don't wail, "Mah-ee!" the whole time he is getting you settled. You had your chance to sleep with me. I can't have you running around at midnight.


My Darling Shira,

You are so full of life it is amazing. I love watching you explore and realize the fun time you can have doing things. I love it when you get so excited about something you can hardly breathe because you are too busy shouting, "Mommy! Mommy!" I even love your little bossy streak.

But "share" doesn't mean "This belongs to Shira now." You can't decide that Batya should "share" her doll or that Chaya should "share" her crayons and then pull hair and bite when they resist. Yes, honey, I know you are a biter.

And if you hit me with that bubble wand one more time I am going to throw all of them in the trash. Bubble wands are for fun, not bruising my knee and then smiling like an angel.


My dear baby Batya,
You are the light of my life. I am so blessed to be your ima. I am so very proud of you and thankful for all your help around the house. You truly are the little mommy of the bunch. And I am overjoyed that you want to potty learn and will do everything I can to help you achieve that goal.

However, telling me you have to poop, running to the potty, taking your diaper off and sitting on the potty for a moment does not constitute "going potty." I know you don't like your diapers any more and prefer to be naked, but you need to start using the potty if you are going to be running around bottom-less.

And I think it goes without saying (but I will say it just in case) that getting off the potty, moving a couple feet and pooping on my floor does not constitute "going potty" either.

All signed, with the deepest love,
Your very tired and frustrated Ima.

A girl, a door and a keyhole that wasn't.

So, yesterday evening I was in the kitchen cleaning up cottage cheese from the floor (Don't ask.) when Shira comes into the kitchen.

S: Chaya downstairs.
Me: Yes, Chaya's downstairs.
S: Chaya shower.
Me: *puzzled* Chaya's in the shower? Okay...
S: Chaya bathroom.
Me: *sigh* What is she doing?

I go downstairs. Its dark. The bathroom door is closed. I say a quick prayer that the door is unlocked. Nope. Its locked. Two voices are inside.

Me: Chaya? Open the door.
*giggle*
Me: Turn the door knob.
*rattle*
Me: That's it! Turn the door knob.
*rattle, rattle, jiggle*
Me: Batya, honey, turn the door knob.
*rattle, juggle, rattle*
Me: You can do it! Just turn the knob.
*clank, rattle*

So I feel around at the lock. (No lights are on and its Shabbat so no turning on lights unless its an emergency and I didn't feel like we were at that point.) I can feel an indentation in the knob so I get a few things to try as keys but nothing works. Then an idea strikes and I open the door to the garage and enough light comes in that I can see that it isn't an actual key hole but an indentation. So I use the side of the house key to turn the indentation and pop the lock open.

Inside, there is a pile of toilet paper in the middle of the floor but otherwise the room looks fine. I say a quick prayer that the toilet isn't full of paper and check. No paper. Good.

Chaya: Hi Mommy!
Me: Hi honey. Go upstairs.

Now, who wants to hear about the celery, goggles and knitted gnome on the upstairs landing?

Overheard

This morning as we were getting ready to go to the Bet Knesset. I had the stroller and a mei tai and was getting ready to put it on.

Shira is sitting in the stroller drinking her water.
Chaya is sanding in the other seat of the stroller holding her water and a toy.
Batya is standing in the same seat of the stroller as Chaya holding a doll.

Batya: Carrier. Batya carrier. Chaya stroller. Carrier. Chaya stroller. Batya carrier.

Yes, Batya got to be in the carrier.

Overheard

Last night:

Aba: Safta loves you. And Saba loves you. And Grandma loves you. And Big Batya Loves you.
Batya: Grandpa!
Chaya: Grandpa!
Aba: Yes, Grandpa! He loves you. They all love you. They love...
Chaya: Jackie love!
Aba: What?
Chaya: Jackie!
Batya: Jackie! Jackie!
Me (to Aba): Aunt Jackie.
Aba (to girls): Yes, Aunt Jackie loves you, too!