Baruch Hashem for Brothers

Cold today though it was, brrrr, my boys and I decided to bundle up, brave the cold, and hit the parks. Apparently we were the only ones with this brilliant idea because the parks were E-M-P-T-Y! That's fine- more toys for us. Twasn't the most social of afternoons for the mommy but the boys had a blast. Yitzchok Zevi and Aryeh Leib laughed (and I cringed) as they gave each other whiplash on the teeter-totter. Then Yitzchok Zevi looked thoughtful (or was he just dizzy from the teeter-totter?) and said,

"Ya know, Mommy, Baruch Hashem I have a brother."

(Can I get that on tape????)

"Ya know why? Because otherwise, I wouldn't have anyone to play with on a day like today. I mean, when I was the first and I was the only kinderlach in our family, the only one that I had to play with was you."

From the mouths of Babes

This week was the tziun (yhartzeit) of Rachel Imainu, Mama Rochel. Yitzchok Zevi came home with a picture of Kever Rochel and LOTS to discuss.

Yitzchok Zevi: Right Mommy, Rachel was veetair to her sister, Leah?

("Veetair" basically means 'to volunteer of onesself or one's possessions'. Apparently there is no single word in the English language for the word "veetair"- somewhat indicative of American culture, no? But I digress.......)

Me: That's right, Yitzchok Zevi. Even though Rachel was supposed to marry Yaakov, she instead arranged for her sister Leah to marry him.

YZ: So, who did Rachel marry? The Rasha, Eisav?

Me: No, in the end, Rachel got to marry Yaakov too.

YZ: Na uh, there is no such thing that an Abba can marry two Mommies (He actually said this in hebrew 'Ain kazeh davar.....")

Me: Good point, Yitzchok Zevi- Lets talk to Abba about this on Shabbos (heh heh passin the buck)

YZ: Right Mommy, now Rachel Imainu is with Hashem?

Me: Yup

YZ: And so is Leah and Yaakov and Avraham and Sorah?

Me: uh hu

YZ: Right, when Moshiach comes they will all be with us again?

Me: I believe so.

YZ: (whining- and with utmost sincerity) Mommyyyyy, when's Moshiach gunna come already?????

Lubi (stops munching on his snack) responds, "Tomorrow, Zebi."

Amen!
Good Shabbos :)

Potty Training- Update

We are making serious progress in the potty training department. It seems that AL was very aware of when he needed to go, he just opted not to do it in the right place. So........I decided to bribe him. I began chanting what has become our new family mantra- "When ya make in the potty, ya get a treat!" I've said it so many times, Aryeh Leib could repeat it in his sleep. So, when I saw that "I'm getting ready to make" look on his face I said, "Lubi, when ya make in the potty...." "Ya get a treat!" he answered, and ran to the bathroom! Since then its been pretty much smooth sailing, poo poo (no pun intended). The deal in our house is he who is in the midst of potty training gets 2 taffies for himself and the privilege of dispensing one taffy to his brother. Yitzchok Zevi is rather miffed that he doesn't get taffies for making on the potty. I pointed out that I don't either and he was somewhat mollified.

I was SO proud of Aryeh Leib. We had the following exchange:

Me: Lubi, you are getting to be such a big boy!!!!

Lubi: I'm not big

Me: But, Lubs, you are big- you make on the potty!

Lubi: No, Mommy, I'm not big.

Me: So what are you, Lubi?

Lubi: I'm little

Me: And who's big (I'm expecting to hear "mommy" or "abba")

Lubi: Zebi. Zebi is big, I'm little.

Anyone who has a message they'd like to brainwash into their kids, I have a 4 year old who I'm willing to hire out.

Yummy Boychikels

What can I say, I'm just obsessed with this baby. He's the best behaved in the WHOLE family. He doesn't fight with his brothers nor does he talk back to me. I enjoy the big boys too but they are too busy to let me give them endless kisses. I had to bribe my big guys to pose for a picture while Yisroel Meir is always willing to indulge his camera happy mommy.

I laughed today as I observed their different stages of development. I took out a toy for Yisroel Meir. He stared and batted at it. Aryeh Leib had a good time turning it on and off. Yitzchok Zevi tried to figure out how to take it apart. And thats when I decided to put the toy away :)

Yitzchok Zevi had such a funny line on shabbos. I realize that most of the humor will be lost on those who don't reside in Beitar. (Come to think of it, how many Beitar residents are reading this blog anyway?) So, I'll start with some background........

Beitar is basically one big construction zone. Every time you blink there is another builder blasting out his little stretch of mountain. They say that Beitar is the fastest growing yishuv in Gush Etzion. The sounds of Beitar are the click-clack of the cranes and the rumble-crash of rocks and dirt tumbling from the digger to the dump truck.

On Shabbos, Yitzchok Zevi pointed to a picture of the Chofetz Chaim and said, "Right, Abba, this is the Chaim Zaken?" (Chaim Zaken, of course, is one of the builders in Beitar)

I guess you just had to be there...........

And..........my baby just woke up. Did I mention that I'm obsessed with him? Thats during the day, Yisroel Meir. Ah, a Mommy's job never ends..............a good night to all!

I'd give you a hand but mine are full.........

I plopped myself down onto the couch ready to shmooze with a good friend. As she sat, she plunked her 7 month old onto his tummy - and he did the unimaginable (to me anyway)- he proceeded to entertain himself whilst on his stomach. Yisroel Meir, on the other hand, remained in his favorite spot- in my arms. He's a perfectly happy baby and quite social (alert, remember?) as long as he's being held. But G-d help you if you put him down! The chutzpa!

My friend suggested that I train him to be comfortable playing on his stomach. It occurred to me that in 3.5 months Yisroel Meir has had no more than 3 'tummy time' sessions. Pangs of good 'ol Jewish guilt corsed though me- how could I rob my child of that which is necessary- no, crucial- no, essential for his development? (Forgetting of course that the concept of 'tummy time' only became popular in the early 90's and - hey- I turned out ok........I think.)

So, I awoke this morning determined to give Yisroel Meir more tummy time. No one will accuse me of being a neglectful mommy! What I saw left me absolutely floored. (Incidentally, I was already on the floor right next to YM.) I placed him on his tummy at which point he promptly pushed himself up (supporting himself with his elbows) and rolled over! He then threw his body to the side and rolled back over onto his tummy!!! He only did the back to tummy thing once but its a start! After about five minutes, YM made it abundantly clear that he'd had enough and so ended our session. I guess you could call this a milestone :).

I'm definitely encouraged despite the fact that he howled the rest of the day every time my actions even suggested that I was putting him down.

Even so, this is a ray of hope. Some day (soon?) my roly poly will crawl too and at that point- maybe- my arms will be free again to do something like fold a load of laundry.

Goodness, by the end of the day my arms feel like dead weights. G-d bless Baby Bjorn!

snip snip

We have committed a mortal sin..............We sit all day with the shades drawn expecting that knock. We count down the minutes until They come. We are waiting- just waiting- to be ousted, expelled, banished, evicted from our city of Torah in the Judean hills...............

What was our heinous crime, our horrifying offence, our outrageous transgression?

We cut off Yitzchok Zevi's payos.......... (dum da dum dum)

Have no fear, dear readers, we are NOT shedding our beliefs nor are we casting off the yoke of our religion. (And, for those of you who think we live in a wacked out charedi ghetto, we aren't concerned about being thrown out of Beitar.)

My ever curious and adventuresome 4 year old wanted to see what would happen if he put fun tac in his hair......(Thats the blue sticky stuff that is used for hanging things on walls. Its supposed to be reusable).

Well, here's what happened.

Before:

and after:

Yep, that was one of those instances where a lesson was most definitely learned and Mommy didn't even have to do any punishing (evil grin)..........I had to hold myself back from offering him a bobby pin to help keep the payos behind his ears.

It can't have been too traumatizing for, as you can see, he's still smiling (and still just as cute :) ).

Flying Solo

A happy Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan to all. With great apprehension (on my part) and excitement (that would be Jason) we began today the first day of the zman (Yeshiva winter session). Though I am genuinely happy and proud that the husband will now throw himself full force into Torah study, we kinda enjoyed hanging out with him.



I decided to take the boys to the park today in an effort to take advantage of what remains of our Indian summer. As the winter clandestinely tiptoes in, I envision months of play dough, coloring, cutting, gluing, and, in short, destroying my house.......ack.......not to mention trip after trip after trip to good 'ol Dr. Cohen.

Today's outing, while a great idea in theory turned into a bit of a fiasco..........

Our first lunch without Jason had been uneventful and relaxing so I was feeling a bit overly confidant. We went to the "far park" and I let Yitzchok Zevi take his bike. (This is the point where the foreboding music starts playing)

While at the park, the baby had a HUGE poopy explosion!!! I exaggerate not. It was everywhere and- of course- I had no change of clothes for him. You'd think I'd have learned by now.............

The way to the far park is down hill. Guess which direction we had to go in order to get home? Guess who pushed Yitzchok Zevi -on his bike- all the way home while holding a baby wrapped in blankets and pushing a stroller? (Impressive, no?)



And my only consolation as I trudged up the hill (or was it a mountain)? At least now I have something to blog.

Off we go

Today we took a Bain Hazmanim trip- Just Jason, Yisroel Meir, and Myself. Our intention was to have a little time by ourselves without the boors- I mean boys. Yisroel Meir kinda tagged (or is it tug?) along by default. speaking of default, sometimes I wish I could change the default settings on Yisroel Meir. I wish there was some kind of advanced setting like "sits quietly for extended period of time- at least long enough to put in a load of laundry" or "takes a bottle willingly". I haven't yet mastered the YM operating system. I'm contemplating taking an MIS (Mommy Is Sleepy) course to really figure him out. One thing I do know- he is very proficient at downloading- specifically when I've forgotten diapers at home........
Anyway, we had a lovely outing. Jason bought me a watch as a (belated.....men, argh) anniversary gift. The truth is, I'm not sure if the watch was a gift for him or for me. He thinks that if I own a watch and I actually know what time it is, I'll be more punctual. I say forget the watch- buy me a car and I'll definitely be more punctual.

A HUGE Mazal Tov to our cousins Chanoch and Yael Shalev on the birth of their 3rd daughter! (sigh) Ah, girls...............

Here are pics of Yisroel Meir from our trip (Once he was there by default, we figured we'd pay him a little attention:). )

Nachas Alert for the bubbies: The old lady in the restaurant said that Yisroel Meir is VERY alert!
Wishing everyone a wonderful shabbos!

Potty training dilemmas

I continue to debate whether or not Aryeh Leib is ready for toilet training. Tonight he really confused me. He's been initiating potty sessions but none have ever born fruit (or anything else for that matter). He sat on the toilet tonight before his bath and, again, nothing. I plopped him into the bathtub and silently resolved to push off any 'talk of toilet' for the next couple of months. At the same time I resigned myself to many more months of diapers, diapers, diapers.

After the bath I sent Aryeh Leib, bare bottomed, to get an Aryeh Leib diaper.

An aside: Apart from the actual size, Aryeh Leib diapers and Yisroel Meir diapers are identical. Hence, when I found myself in J-m with a drenched baby - and no extra cloths- upon further investigation, I understood why........).

A few minutes later he ran back to me cackling,

-I made pishies!!!!

I blanched.

-Where did you make pishies, Aryeh Leibi?

-In my bayis!

-In the.....potty......in your bayis? (wishful thinking....)

-Nope. In my room, on the floor.

- (cringing) Do you know where you are supposed to make pishies?

-Yup, on the potty.

-So........why did you make on the floor?

-Cause I wanted to.

-oh.

Here the boys are building Aryeh Leibi's toilet seat. As you can see, the floor could easily be mistaken for this seat...... After a while they got tired of being builders and proceeded to use the parts as weapons. I'm ready for a girlie!!!!Ahhhhh!

Mashiv Haruach u'Morid Hageshem (Let the rains begin!)

At 10am this morning Yitzchok Zevi donned his helmet and said (whined) "Mommy, really, I haven't ridden my bike in years . Lets go bike riding today." (We bought him the bike 2 months ago but who's counting?) I was about to acquiesce when.....Chasdei Hashem- and he is SO good to us- it started raining. We had a beautiful sukkos blessed with pleasant weather (in Eretz Yisroel at least). It culminated with shmini atzeres, that very last day of what can still be considered the high holy days. On that day we turned to hashem and begged him to open up the skies for we live in a country that is so dependant on a rainy 'rainy season'. And........wonder of wonders! It really happened! My little Indians did a rain dance as they ran in circles singing the 'rain song', a song well known by almost all Isareli school children.

And with the sincerity found only in a child, Yitzchok Zevi turned to me and said, "You see, Mommy? All you have to do is daven to Hashem and ask him for what you want. He'll make it happen!"

I was in the midst of saying my own silent prayer of thanks to Hashem since I was not in the mood to take everyone out in the cold.......and then the rain stopped.

Here's are some pictures of our sukkah which we plan to take down.....um.....eventually.

Nothing. Absolutely Nothing.

I don't have anything funny, witty, precocious, or amusing to post today. Nothing. My boys were impossible today- all three of them. The baby kvetched the entire day nor did he nurse well which leads me to believe something is a brewin and that stresses me because though he is sleeping at the moment, I'll probably be seeing him again soon........
Aryeh Leib, of course, tripped and fell on his head like 30 times and on top of that was a royal nudnik and insighted Yitzchok Zevi. YZ took that as an invitation to hit, kick, pinch, push, etc. ALL DAY LONG. The only thing they did that would be blog worthy was so disgusting, I'm not interested in recording it for posterity on the www.

Whew- ok- that was therapeutic.

On a lighter note, here's a pic of Aryeh Leib bearing an uncanny resemblance to.............(Answer TBA in my next blog- any guesses are welcome)

Also, many thanks to Shelley Goldman for sending us the most unique serving piece I've EVER seen...........

Its a high heal! What's even cooler is that the heal is magnetic so it can be removed for cleaning.

Looking forward to posting lots of fun and positive things about my brood tomorrow but for now.......I'm going to bed. Let this day be over!

Good night to all and to all good night.

A little helper who thinks he's big......

I need to get some new lines. Mine are overused, apparently. Today I asked Yitzchok Zevi to clean up a toy. He then turned to Aryeh Leib and said, "Aryeh Leibi, lets see how quickly you can clean this up!"
Earlier today I had to punish Aryeh Leib. I did the unthinkable- I took away treats for the WHOLE morning. (For those who know AL, this really is a powerful punishment!) Aryeh Leib moaned, "Not do it again!!!" Yitzchok Zevi responded, "Lubi, this punishment will help you remember not to do it again next time."
Thanks for your help, YZ.
At least I know that something is penetrating......

After I took this picture, I turned around for a second to put down my camera. (Always a no no- even with the MOST responsible of 4 year olds.......or so I learned.) I turned back around to find Yitzchok Zevi supporting a STANDING Yisroel Meir!!!! Once I took my heart out of the throat I calmly explained to my big helper that 3 month olds are not meant to stand- specifically while being supported by their 4 year old brothers.....eek!

Ear Infections all around

I'm a tired Mommy. I spent much of the night awake- not just with my baby- but with my bechor as well! At about 1AM I hear a moan from the boy's room. "Mommy, I have an ear infection. I need medecine...." (I Didn't even have to pay for 4 years of Med school and the kid knows how to diagnoss........). By morning Yitzchok Zevi asserted that a Doctor's visit was most definitely in order. I asserted that a nap was most definitely in order. After I got my nap (Thanks to darling Husband), Yitzchok Zevi got his Doctor's visit. Lo and behold, he's got an ear infection. Again I get my validating and relieving (my kid's not stam a kvetch) confirmation and out we go- medecine hand. Having watched me administer drugs to Yisroel Meir for the past 2 weeks (long may those days be gone- poo poo), Yitzchok Zevi was quite excited to have medecine of his own. Thats when Aryeh Leib started flipping out. Not interested in being the odd man out, he insisted on having medecine as well. Try reasoning with a 2 year old that medecine is only for sick people - tis an exersize in futility. So, I did what I have to say may earn me the "creative mommy of the year" title. I took soy milk, added 1/8 packet of strawberry jello and viola! Aryeh Leib now has his very own pseudo-moxy-pen-placebo! All of my boys are feeling better already...........

Just a recap of our first day of Chol HaMoed........
Yisroel Meir took a nap in the afternoon. (and drooled all over my bed- ugh)

So, the rest of us played OLD MAID.





P-A-R-T-Y! A good time was had by all. Moadim L'simcha!

Yontif is a commin

There's no way that I superimposed my own feelings about what the boys must have wanted for a Yontif present....................

As for my present, I got myself a great new cookbook called "Enlightened Kosher cooking". I'm quite excited about it. I thought it the most appropriate purchase as I am definitely starting my diet tomorrow. My Yontif food prep has quickly gone from easy and simple to patchka city. Any recipe that requires the use of SIX bowls and TWO pots is just plain wrong! I already bombed my first recipe- at least from a presentation perspective. As far as taste goes, I don't know if you can mess up something that has ingredients like veggies, mayo, mustand, chicken soup mix, etc. but my "Tri Color Terraine" would be more aptly dubbed "veggie mush". I think this is a kapara for the time when complemented on my cooking I responded, "What's so complicated about cooking? Its just a matter of being able to follow instructions."
Thats Hashem's way of saying, "Mu ha ha ha ha!"
I'll spare y'all the picture of my little fashla........

Tales of the tzafloigen

"Aryeh Leibi don't run!!!!.............oy (grimace)..........You ok?"

My poor Aryeh Leib is a tzafloigena.

He is named after his Abba's Saba about whom it is said that he could walk through mud and his shoes would remain clean. Though I never met Jason's Saba, from what I understand he was a very genteel and special man with a big heart. My Aryeh Leibi has a huge heart and a good and genteel sole but if he would walk in mud, not only would his shoes get dirty but so would his socks, his pants, his shirt, his hair, and me!



He's delicious...............and he is an accident waiting to happen!



Last week the boys were jumping back and forth between the couches. Jason warned them to stop since inevitably someone was going to get hurt. (Translation: Yitzchok Zevi, the Monkey, will leap into the air and land gracefully on the other couch while Aryeh Leib will likely fall on his head.) They weren't in the mood to listen (as often they aren't) so they continued their bouncing. Jason called out, "Boys, DO NOT do it again!" Aryeh Leib looked at Jason (note- and not in the direction of the couch he was jumping towards) and said, "Not do it ag-" (plonk, spin, thud) (grimace) Aryeh Leib.........you ok?

Today we were sitting together on a ledge.........Aryeh Leib ended up in the flower bed behind us.

We went out for Pizza to welcome Bain Hazmanim (who-hoo we LOVE bain hazmanim!). Jason draped his jacket over the back of Aryeh Leib's chair. We discovered at the end of the meal that Aryeh Leibi had been using Jason's jacket as a napkin..........oops.

He marches to the beat of his own drummer and that's what makes him so so yummy. The other day he walked out of his room wearing this hat. "Aryeh Leibi, you wearing that hat to gan?" I asked. "Yup," he responded. And he did! Whatever floats your boat, Lubi dubi.








He almost flipped off this couch when I was taking these pictures!

Ear Infections

I'm sorry to report that Yisroel Meir has a really bad ear infection. The truth is that I'm happy to have something to report. No one likes a baby who's stam kvetchy- especially an exhausted and harried mommy. "Really bad" are actually the words of the Doctor himself! I thought that was rather exciting and validating. "Really bad?" I asked him. "Yes, really bad," he replied. Mind you, I have no idea what a really bad ear infection means. I cant say that if shown a picture I'd be able to identify a really infected ear from a healthy one. What I DO know is that I get to give my child antibiotics instead of "waiting it out" while the poor kid (and the rest of the family for that matter) continues to suffer. That, I have to say, is downright encouraging. After 2 doses of antibiotics he's already acting like himself. There is a light at the end of this tunnel of kvetch! (We hope.....)
In the meantime, Yirsoel Meirla, we wish you a refuah shelaima and sweet (loooong) dreams.

Aryeh Leib v'Chani- Zug

As parents, all we can do is expose our children to ideals and values that are concurrent with our own. We can shelter them and protect them, we can teach them and inspire them. But at the end of the day, it is they alone who chart the course of their own lives. We chose to raise our family in Beitar - "Ir haTorah b'harei Yehuda"- The city of Torah in the Judean mountains. It is an insular community where there is almost total separation between the genders - even on the busses! (right, Ma? :) ) Controversial though this notion is, we feel that it is this type of environment where we can best foster a love for the lifestyle that we have chosen.

And here, in the heart of Beitar, Aryeh Leib has found himself a girlfriend! What can I do? I suppose its my own fault. I do send him to a co-ed gan. And, since I am good friends with her Mommy, they do spend a lot of time together. (and they are so cute when they give each other kisses!)
They really love each other. Aryeh Leib makes sure that Chani Huvi has the best toys and always runs to get her water bottle as he is getting his own. (What can I say, I train my boys well.)

Despite all of this, we could have continued to live in denial just believing that they were "good friends". Then Lubi's ganenet sent home a note. She's a very devout chassidishe Lady (who just moved to Beitar from Nachala u'Menucha, for those who understand what that means!) who wrote, "Aryeh Leib v'Chani- Zug". Aryeh Leib and Chani are a couple!

Yup, there's NO denying it anymore! A couple they most certainly are.

The truth is, I won't mind if they do get married one day . She comes from a good family and I already know that her mother has great taste in friends!

My gang

My 3 boys hanging out together..........sort of.
The boys decided that YM's head looks too much like a bowling ball. Poor little guy is having a rough time growing that hair! I reminded my big boys that they too spent time looking like Mr. Clean. Yitzchok Zevi suggested that Yisroel Meir wear a bandana to protect his exposed scalp. The boys decided to show solidarity with those who are folicly challenged and they too donned bandanas. (where's Zaidy in this pic?) Then they started yanking the bandanas off each others heads- and that was the end of that!

A picture tribute to YM

I feel like Yisroel Meir is getting a raw deal. His cousin, 3 weeks his junior is the star of his own blog. Then you have poor YM who, lets face it, is kind of a dud compared to his wild and crazy brothers, receives but a mention once in a while. The "Pluto" of the Svei boys, if you will.
So, I've decided to devote a post to Yisroel Meir. I don't have much to say about him since all he knows how to do is smile, giggle, spit up, poop, and cry (alot), but I can do a tribute in pictures. This way, at least you'll know who he is if you bump into his stroller in the street.
Here's to you, Yisroel Meir! Don't let all this publicity go to your head.

By the way, don't Yisroel Meir and Yitzchok Zevi look so much alike as babies?

Getting big

We've reached a milestone in the life of Yisroel Meir Svei. YM has started to giggle. Weighing in at 14.3 lbs, when he smiles, he kind of reminds me of Michelin Man. His big brothers derive imense pleasure in making him laugh. They get so insulted when all of a sudden he bursts into tears. "How would you feel," I ask them, "if you had 2 people who are twice your size yelling in your face........at once?"Every once in a while Yisroel Meir will comply and give one of the boys a meak smile. C'mon YM, you are not making this "integration into the family" thingy easy! If your big brothers don't like you, thats NOT a good thing! For the most part, the big boys have been good sports. Yitzchok Zevi likes to call him "Baybala" and, as I mentioned below, AL's name of choice is "solamaya". In addition, we just got YM a personal entertainment system (otherwise known as a Graco swing). ALL parties concerned are VERY satisfied :).

A funny YZ and AL exchange..........
We have a park right outside of our apartment. They boys often stand at the window trying to identify park goers. On shabbos Aryeh Leibi thought he saw his ganenet and called, "Mowa giti!" Yitchok Zevi stopped him and said, "No, Lubi, she doesn't understand anglit. You have to say it in Hebrew! Like this, (perfect sabra accent) "Morah Giti.....""

And who says that i'm stunting my boys english by sending them to a Hebrew speaking gan? This morning I was having difficulty putting on AL's shorts. Frustrated, I said, "Aryeh Leibi, why does this have to be so complicated?" And he responded.......
"Yeah, Its impossible!"

Today Aryeh Leibi had a really sore tushey so I decided to let him go without a diaper for a bit. You know, to air out. He ate his ENTIRE dinner without having an accident. I started getting a little proud already planning the kind of underwear I'd buy him. With a whistful look I envisioned two boys making on the potty, wearing tzitzis.......when did they get so big?..........." Suddenly my reverie was interupted with a call from Yitzchok Zevi, "Mommy, Lubi pished on the carpet." Oh well.