Day 365: Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  And happy day 365! 

As a twist on a tradition, we headed up Baltimore-way to Uncle Roy and Aunt Kylie's house, where we rang in the new year with board games and friends - Tom and Betsy joined us as well.  Michal, newly mobile in many new ways, explored the house, climbing up and down stairs, even trying to break into the liquor cabinet.

I bought the top hat and tiara (to be seen momentarily) as props for what I hoped would be some perfect photos for our last day of this daily blog.  I figured that having two different hats would mean that one would work - if the top hat was too big (check), then the tiara would work, right?  What I failed to account for was a Goose who had little interest in millinery.  As usual, not even the bow was allowed to remain on her head.

Love this look - I DARE you to take this bow away! 

She's fascinated by something Uncle Roy or Daddy are doing.  

Hmm... wait a minute - maybe if she's munching on her bow... 

Tada!  Allow her to eat the bow, she won't immediately pull off the tiara!  Victory! 

Yeah, that didn't last long.  This strategy also did not work for keeping the top hat on, regardless of how we attempted to tip it so that it would stay mostly on her head.  Oh well. 

Being cute and mischievous is hard work!

New trick - she doesn't actually open the door, but wow, she can reach!  

See you guys on the flip side!

And with that, dear reader, we have reached the end of this journey.  I have to admit, there were times when I doubted I would have the perseverance to make it 365 days.  Every day.  There were days when I had themes and ideas in mind, which made taking photos and writing about them easier.  And then there were days when it got to be 6:00 or so, dinner time, and I knew I had to get either a messy eating baby photo or a bath baby picture or something in between.  In the end, I hope you enjoyed my attempt to thread the narrative of Michal's days and nights through these photos and pages.  Thank you for joining me and reading - you were a bolstering presence.

I plan on continuing to blog and photograph the Goose - most likely in the form of a 52 week blog (a tad bit easier than 365 days!) over at my OTHER (neglected as of late) blog. Feel free to join me there.  I hope everyone out there has a wonderful new year filled with love and happiness - may 2012 be a good year.

Day 364: Penultimate Post

 Considering we've had a busy few days, Michal and I attempted a laid back day.  Although it didn't really stay that way - we met Josh for lunch (we both missed him a lot!) and then ran a few errands.  Once we got home, though, it was major hang out time.  We just hung out in the living room so Michal could play with her toys she hadn't seen in nearly a week.  One thing was certain - the afternoon revolved around the wagon.


Almost immediately she wanted to climb in.  Lotso made for the perfect travel companion.

About thirty seconds in, out she wanted to go.  Headed over to play with her blocks.  She's nesting them here, but she actually also stacked them - a rarity.  Although it's much easier to knock them down quickly if you stack them yourself. 

Back in we go!  My arms got a workout today! 

Apparently Simba was NOT an ideal travel companion.  He got the boot. 

In and out.  In and out.  Just as Michal played for a bit, she wanted back in the wagon.  And then she'd sit for a moment, then want out.  If I didn't act quickly enough, she'd try to climb out on her own.  Her legs just aren't long enough, so I got lots of this when she could get all the way over on her own. 

And then Josh got home.  Lots of hugs for daddy!

Day 363: Heading Home

After a wonderful time away in California visiting friends and family, it is time to board the torture chamber airplane and head home to Maryland.  Can't wait to get home!

Day 362: California Palace of the Legion of Honor

For our last day in California, we headed into San Francisco for one of my absolute favorite places - the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.  Built in 1924 to commemorate Californian soldiers who died in World War I, the Legion of Honor stands in Lincoln Park in the northwest portion of San Francisco, overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.  It is a beautiful building in a beautiful setting - perfect for some blog photos!


If you look carefully in the photo above, you can see one of the towers of the Golden Gate Bridge right to the left of Michal.

Checking out the stone posts - interesting textures! 

Hi, Goose! 

Having fun with Grandma 

 Another view of the bridge

A rather well-known sculpture ("The Thinker") from one of my favorite sculptors - Auguste Rodin.  The museum has a fair collection of his work.

The central area in front of the museum's entrance is flanked by these columns - the perfect place to explore! 

 Checking it out

I see you! 

 Posing

Oooh, looks like she's showing us her newest trick.  Here she is, getting into position. 

Backing up carefully 

Working her way to the edge of the step until she can touch down...

... and then off she goes, once again!

She practiced this one over and over again at Aunt Deanna's house.  She even used this technique to go down a step that was maybe an inch tall.  It's a work in progress.

We did go into the museum and took a tour through the new exhibit on Pisarro - I didn't realize he was Jewish!  So interesting, and it was such a luxury to just spend some time in the presence of greatness.  Michal went through the exhibit for a bit with me, but Grandma took her for a bit so I could enjoy the rest of the exhibit on my own.  Michal and I did examine some of the work, pointing out some items and colors she knew.  I'm looking forward to continuing to expose her to more of the great things out there.

Day 361: Mini-Me Playdate

What a fun day today!  Michal and I spent the bulk of our morning and afternoon with my best friend from high school, Laura, and her daughter, Emma.  So much fun playing, chatting, and watching our mini-me's play nicely together.   

Sitting nicely as we get ready to walk to pick up some lunch.  

How adorable are these two? 

Playing together.  Emma very nicely showed Michal how to play with all of her fun toys. 

Getting the hang of putting the ball into this school bus toy. 

Pushing a stroller.   

"Riding" a bicycle.  Riding = sitting on, jumping on, and pushing the buttons. 

After a while, it was clear we were nearing naptime, so we said goodbye to our dear friends and headed back to Grandma's house.  After naptime was up, we met up with the whole family for dinner, Chanukah candles, and a new tradition - beignets!  While donuts are a traditional Chanukah food, the New Orleans twist was delicious - I highly recommend it!

Reading a book with Aunt Deanna and Kevin 

Watching along as Aunt Hannah lights eight candles.  Michal, again, waves her hands in the air, like she does for Shabbat.  Just another reminder of how much she takes in - it's amazing.

Day 360: Seven

Tonight we light seven candles, marking the beginning of the seventh night of Chanukah.  We gathered at my sister's new house (yay!) for a festive holiday meal - delicious, if I do say so myself - and family time together.  Michal, armed with toys and an unending desire to try and tackle the stairs all by herself (luckily we had an army at our disposal to hamper her descent), had a blast.  

A newly rediscovered favorite toy - the shape sorter.  It is the perfect exercise in Michal-ness.  Here she is, attempting to fit the triangle shape into the "X" shaped slot. 

Figured it out and in it goes!  Yay! (Michal claps for herself) 

After about a second and a half of trying to fit the "X" shaped piece into the triangle slot, M starts to get VERY frustrated and upset. 

The piece goes flying.  

Once in a while, she'd punish the offending piece by trying to eat it.  

All in all, the kid is good at sorting!  Sure, it takes her a few tries sometimes, and the frustration to get it right immediately makes things a little rocky (I wonder who she gets THAT from), but she manages to get every shape into the bucket.  Then she upends the bucket and starts over again. 

Playing with the See-and-Say with Grandma.  I totally remember having one as a kid, but this version is smaller and more high tech.   

Happy Chanukah from the Rothschild/Frumkin ladies!

Day 359: Sunday in the Park with Michal

While many people enjoyed holiday celebrations today, for us, it was just a regular Sunday.  Well, a Sunday when almost nothing is open!  We had a lovely day nonetheless.  We started off with a delicious breakfast and a substantial nap for Michal.  Then we headed out to lunch with my mom and sister.  After that delicious meal - Chinese, what else?? - we made a stop at a local park.

Michal had a blast!

She loved this train!  

All aboard! 

 Checking out the caboose with Grandma Michaele.

Time to check out the rest of the park!

Yep.  Went down the slide with the Goose.  

Those things are smaller than they were when I was a kid! 

Had to have some swing time - twice, even! 

Later, it was time for the Chanukah candles - tonight is the sixth night of Chanukah! 

Hanging out with Aunt Hannah, drinking her milk.  Despite eating really well yesterday, today was rather lackluster.  I think dinner consisted of milk, one piece of water chestnut, 1/16 of an apple, four blueberries, and one blackberry.  

Sleepy Goose.  When she went down for bed (after a quick Skype session with Daddy), she didn't even make one peep.  Pooped kiddo!