Ode to Gavriella

Gone - flitted away,

Taken the stars from the night 

and the sun from the day!

Gone, and a cloud in my heart.

~Alfred Tennyson...
... and Daniel

Me gazing into Gavriella's eyes. Sigh.

Year 1 is in the can - today was our last day at Shalva as we enter our summer break. And what a year it was! I graduated with flying colors and I shall advance to my second year of school in just a few weeks.

While the year was wrought with all sorts of excitement from pudding and sneezing to smooching and walking, the end of the year also comes with a very sad Shalom.

Gavriella - the dynamic teacher's assistant, photographer, advocate, videographer, spy, diaper changer, cheerleader, medicine administrator, snot wiper, problem solver and so much more - has completed her year of National Service at Shalva and will be bringing her immense skill set to another volunteer position next year where she will no doubt make her mark and a difference in the lives of other children. While I will search the depths of my heart to find some forgiveness for this act of abandonment (Gavi, I know you're reading this!), I will also be forever grateful for Gavi's presence and influence in my most formative year so far.

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in the world, she walks into mine."

Gavi happened upon Shalva for her national service and, in an even more amazing twist of fate, ended up in my class. It was destiny!

Gavi operated at 110 percent capacity all the time, bubbling over with vigor and love for all of us babies at all times. We all vied for her attention - and we all got it!

If there was anyone even more energetic than us resilient and tireless babies, it was Gavriella. Gavi's energy didn't subside for a moment. In fact, when we napped, she looked for even more things to do.
One of those things was to furtively write in the spy book that was passed between my teachers and my parents every day. In it, she divulged in great detail all of my day's activities, my moods, my sleeping patterns, everything I ate and all the acquired skills that I was futilely trying to conceal from mommy and abba - all in legibly written Hebrew which is a rare and valued commodity.

Even when she was off, Gavi didn't stop working.
Here she is visiting me at home but acting under a
moral obligation nonetheless to entertain me
during mealtime.

I called it BabyLeaks (similar to WikiLeaks, not diaper leaks!) and it was an ongoing scandal. For instance, she reported when I said "od" (more) audibly and with sign language - something I never did at home. She also told them how I started eating with my own hands, a proverbial card I continue to keep up my proverbial sleeve in public. And she informed them as well how I feed myself from a spoon without throwing it. My parents still don't believe her.

In addition to recording all these details, Gavi also passed along information electronically to mommy and abba. Thus you have much of the material for this blog in the form of photos and videos. And most importantly, she was on mommy's speed dial! Basically we were all spoiled this year on many levels by the relentless efforts of Gavi.

Sure, thanks to us little angels in the baby class, Gavi will probably have to incinerate her entire wardrobe from this year as we shared copious and diverse baby excretions with her. But I think she is going to miss us nevertheless.


Although I will at least see them around at Shalva next year, I will miss my teacher extraordinaire, Rivki, and assistants Hanna and Faigey who stood by my side the whole year. Actually I will miss everyone at Shalva - even the random teachers who snuck into my classroom simply to kiss me and then sneak out (Nechama).

But as for Gavriella, she owes me many visits during her free hours next semester so we can share some more apchee's (achoo's) and, of course, kisses!

Gavriella left me with a lasting memory of her - this shirt!
What you can't see since I'm leaning over is that she the-dyed
it as well.  Everyone in the class got one. And just like
everyone in the class, all the shirts came out a
little bit different. Unique.
Toda, Gavi!

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What Happens on the Way to the Shalva Daycare...

... stays in the Shalva daycare!

Unless, of course, it gets photographed, emailed, blogged and then goes viral.

And this little love fest occurs every morning after we alight from the school bus and are distributed into our awaiting coaches before being carried us to our respective classes. And this is where my friend and I have our little rendezvous on the aglul, which is Hebrew for "crib on wheels."

What can I say? I am a true lady's man. I have girlfriends in each context of my life. This one, Devori, is my "aglul"girlfriend and she is just as affectionate as I!

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Raising the Stakes

Lucas and I - jockeying for position

So, Lucas, you think you are cute because you can crawl? You think you simply have to learn to sit up and then get going on all fours to wrest some of the spotlight in your direction? A futile venture, young Jedi.

Because ...  I'll see your crawling, and raise you WALKING!!

I'm sorry to say there are no photos or videos of this because Babies' Law (akin to Murphy's Law) states that I will immediately stop, drop and flop once the camera is focused on said activity to be captured on film. So you are going to have to take my word for it. On Saturday I began taking independent steps - an action that I've noticed commandeers much applause and positive reinforcement, my favorites! I decided to also put on a little show at Shalva as well when we returned to school on Monday. What a way to liven up the last week of the school year!

Now, both at home and at school I can turn on the shower of attention by simply walking from Point A to Point B rather than crawling or scooting. I have taken note of this phenomenon. And, my BGF (best girlfriend) Hallel and I are on the same clock as she also started walking this weekend!

Who knows what secrets lurk in the
hearts and minds of babies?

Actually, these steps of mine, taken with such aplomb, were such a natural fluid movement that it looked like I've had this trick up my sleeve for quite some time. And maybe I have. Perhaps I have chosen to conceal this skill from the masses. After all, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that once I admit to walking that the days of being carted around like Royalty will come to a swift end.

However, Lucas forced my hand this time. He had to whip out some new skills and challenge my sphere of attention.

Okay then, let the games begin!

Hugs! (Or a battle for attention?)

Lucas, working on his innocent look

Come and get me Lucas!

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Shabbat Shalom ... Again!

Today I did the blessing at school (kiddush). Amen!

This week's school activities also included a bouncy castle!

I enjoyed myself immensely

And I also met a quail

All in all, a most interesting week at Shalva! Have a good weekend everyone!

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Lucas Masters the Trinity of Baby Moves

I teach Lucas the intricacies of the exersaucer

Because I am such a Drama Baby, Lucas has had to find his own way to curry attention. To wit, he has exploited rapid-fire development in his favor.

Accordingly, last week, he accomplished the Trifecta of Baby Development: sitting unsupported, getting into a sitting position and crawling - all in one day. 

Spurred on by my need for 110 percent parental attention from the time I arrive home from school until I am snug in bed, Lucas bullied himself into the circle to wrest a bit of his own attention. He was in intense negotiations with these moves for a few weeks before he perfected them. Actually he spent the weekend perfecting them throughout the night, sitting up in bed rather than sleeping. 

Now there is no rest for the weary (parents). Nary a moment passes where either one of us is not placing ourselves in grave physical danger. So we must be closely guarded as we mobilize in our swath of apartment. 


I savor my new skills, sometimes for months on end. Apparently, Lucas gets bored fast and needs a new skill in his arsenal oh say every week. And if that is how he will steer attention in his direction, that is fine. I understand. 


We do not yet know how Lucas' personality is going to unfold, whether he will be content with shining in the background or if he will voraciously compete with me for the spotlight. But for now he is holding his own.

While I love Lucas, as you will see in this video, I also must, as the elder brother, continually remind him who is the boss:

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Meet 'Daniel No'

I dare you to get angry at this face!

The main bit of evidence that signals my ongoing transition from baby to toddler is the addition of my new last name - No.

I'm not sure if it is a legal name change, but in all practicality it is what I've heard several times a day for a good few months now. And the more I learn to do in life, the more my new name is reinforced, for some reason.

"Daniel, no closing doors!"
"Daniel, no opening the drawers."
"Daniel, no throwing your bottle!"
"Daniel, no throwing your chuchung!"
"Daniel, no throwing!"
"Daniel, no strangling your brother!"
"Daniel, no disconnecting Shimi's oxygen machine from the electricity!"

Yes, whether at school or at home, I have become Daniel of No. Or Lo, which is no in Hebrew. Good thing they sound alike.

My parents had tried positive child rearing, which discourages use of the word 'no' for a positive spin on things. For example, "Daniel, do nice to Lucas" rather than "Daniel, no smacking your brother in the face!" But after trying that - to no avail - several times, the quicker and sharper 'no!' increasingly crept in there to replace the positive spin. And with good reason. A loud no can get my attention while a whole sentence can be lost in the background.

But it is that loud and personal no that has caught my attention for other reasons.

See, all of this is apparently some part of an elusive learning process where I am to gather that every cause has an effect. And despite my parents, grandparents and teachers all thinking that this lesson is lost on me, I argue the contrary. I have learned the effect of my cause: When they say 'no' I get more attention! Accordingly, I have learned which behaviors are worthy of my attention and continue to hone them to perfection.

Like at school, when Gavriella is busy writing in my spy book or doing anything else but paying attention to me, I scoot over to the corner in the classroom where Shimi is sleeping. I have one hand hovering near the oxygen tank plug and one eye focused laser-sharp on Gavriella. By now Gavi has also learned cause and effect too and she knows that "Daniel, lo!" will not be enough. She must dart across the room to whisk me up and ensure Shimi's continued breathing. Then I get to be her sole center of attention for awhile and she loses valuable time describing my days' activities at Shalva in the spy book. A win-win!

At home, we have another cause and effect in action. I know that excitedly showering little brother Lucas with all my love and affection, which usually involves grabbing his shirt by the collar and shaking him with joy while loudly shrieking with delight, is a sure-fire attention getter. "Daniel! No strangling your brother!" is usually accompanied by parental intervention. Each of us then gets swept up into somebody's arms. Lucas also appreciates this and plays his part of distress rather well.


As you can see, I have made such good use of this lesson that I now in fact am teaching it to others, babies and adults alike!

I'm merely experimenting with cause and effect.
What happens when I stick my finger in Lucas' mouth?

The birichino (rascal) look as coined
by my Italian great-grandmother!

Poised for launch - on cue with the word, No!

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Shabbat Shalom!

That is not a cowboy hat on my head

“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy." Exodus 20:8


As it is Saturday, may I wish a Shabbat shalom to all. In school, on Fridays, we learn all about Shabbat, the Sabbath. I am blessed that, despite being the sole Gentile in my class at Shalva, I have risen above "Shabbat goy" status (you know, the one asked by the observant Jews to turn on and off the lights and other things that would be, for them, a violation of the Sabbath). Yes, even I was elevated to Abba Shel Shabbat for a day. The literal translation of that is "Father of the Sabbath," but what that actually means, I'm not so sure.

However, I took this distinction very seriously and I blessed the Sabbath with a certain miracle of rest: I extended my late afternoon nap from 4:15 p.m. on Friday and I slept ... and slept ... and slept all the way to 6 the next morning - with nary a theatrical cry to pierce the night! It was a truly a wonder.

Mommy and abba told me that I won't have to wear this hat on Shabbat even if some of the other kids in my class do. We will keep the day holy in our own ways. And while some of those ways may be spiritual we may also take the occasional trip to Tel Aviv to enjoy other aspects of God's creation such as parks, beaches and delicious food at restaurants. You will see just how we did that in the following photos.

And I say a hearty Amen to that!

Lucas was trying to help Alisha eat.
She had to hold his hand.

Still holding hand

I liked this restaurant because there was a kid-friendly play area

And it attracted cute girls with whom I could play

Peek-a-boo

My brother, Alisha's sister 

Erica and Lucas

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