Drama Baby Strikes Again!

Brief, albeit dramatic, I staged another daring visit to the ER

Me playing the part of the stoic yet depleted parent;
Abba playing the part of the carefree and happy baby

My performance was a little lackluster compared to last year. But still, no one had planned a random visit to the clinic, followed by a shoe-in entry from ER to hospital admittance on a random Sunday in January. And all this just 24 hours before Mimi was flying in to see me and Lucas.

At some point, I supposed my hospital drama routine was getting old, so I pulled the plug and got us released after just over 12 hours (including one awful night) in the ER. Seems I had a nasty lung infection which was creating problems for me but is now waning.

The doctors were more lenient this time with my oxygen grades and figured they would send me home to convalesce. That could have something to do with my blood-curdling screams between 1:45 and 4 a.m. that woke up EVERY SINGLE BABY in the ER, triggering a chain reaction of wailing infants, and grated on the nerves of exhausted and frazzled parents. But mostly I think they were just frightened by my Samson like threats to break down the pillars of my crib if someone didn't let me run rampant around the hospital.

And while I took mommy and abba on a tour of the finer clinics and ERs of Jerusalem, Lucas was treated to a one-on-one evening with Kathryn. He didn't fare too badly as you can see by his winning smile.

He learned his cute pose from me

Smooched!

Everyone is home now and Mimi has arrived safely into my open arms. All is well yet again.

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Dueling Dancers

Caught in the act of dancing!

We babies know when the camera is rolling. All film-worthy activities cease instantly once a camera is trained on us. It is one of several sixth senses that we babies possess.

Therefore, despite the fact that Lucas and I  both dance incessantly when there is music playing, the extremes of our moves have yet to be captured on film. We can sense from afar the ignition of the battery or the rolling of digital film. Of course we stop.

The following videos are an attempt by my parents at capturing on video Lucas and I grooving to our new favorite song:

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Throwing Caution to the Wind - and iPhones in the Bathtub!

Me guilty??

Kerplunk!

That was the sound of Gavriella's iPhone taking a dive into my bathtub.

Here is how it all transpired. It was during one of Gavriella's esteemed visits to our home a few weeks ago. Gavi, because she trusts me more than my parents do, allowed me to play with her fun iPhone. This was even more fun that playing with their non-smart phones! I touched all sorts of colorful icons, I chewed on its sleek veneer, I recorded videos, I placed it down on the floor and picked it up again - and all this without throwing, which was very miraculous.

In fact, mommy was beginning to wonder whether I had turned a corner in this behavioral detriment of mine regarding throwing. Nevertheless she dutifully cautioned Gavi that I may randomly just throw the phone at some point. But Gavi is my friend and she seems to believe I could do no wrong. Not even the unthinkable!

So good was I that I continued wandering the apartment with the phone while mommy and Gavi carried on and even momentarily forgot that I had something valuable in my hand. So while checking on Lucas who was cutely drifting off to sleep they remained oblivious  - until that infamous "kerplunk" dragged mommy back to reality.

See, mommy's mind has a new skill - translating sounds from afar and instantly assessing their danger level. For instance, the sounds of a TV remote clattering to the tile. Bottles being launched from cribs vs. pacifiers being launched from cribs. Babies tumbling from illegal surfaces. Wooden puzzle pieces falling to the ground. Computers slipping to the tile. Things like that. All different threat levels, all requiring a different speed of response.

So in that split second after the kerplunk, mommy processed this: Sound of something being thrown; the dulcet aquatic acoustics indicated a water landing; object sinking to bottom of bathtub; memory that nobody drained the tub post-bath; further memory that the last time anyone saw me I still was holding Gavi's iPhone having ever so conveniently not yet thrown it. Until I found its perfect target.

"*$&#*(^$*#&^&*$Q^*Q&#*," was mommy's response along with a quick dash and a death-defying dive into the bathtub to rescue Gavi's poor iPhone.

Mortified parents. Gracious Gavi. Lucky Daniel. The iPhone acted funny for some time after its bath, but by the end of the visit it was behaving properly. Whew.

Now many things in our apartment has moved up a few levels from the floor. But you can never keep up with a baby. One day we can't reach into the knife drawer and the next day we are using the wooden surfaces as target practice. This is how we roll. And it leaves the adults in our lives having to roll faster, or try to anyway.

Why did I have to throw it, you ask? Because it was in my hand, of course!

The portrait of innocence

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Snowed-in and Pent-up for Four Days = VERY Rambunctious Babies

Redefining "Tupperware Party"
(Thanks Rob and Alisha for allowing us
to destroy your apartment too!)

Because there just wasn't enough tupperware
outside the cabinet

Be ready for the MOTHER of all BABY blogs. We are coming to the end of a harrowing few days. Snowed-in and cold-in since Wednesday night and cooped up in one small apartment has served to pit babies vs. parents in epic battles of the wills. And nerves. And all this means lots of fodder for a blog.

We all survived by the skin of our teeth. Tempers flared. Tensions ran high. Drama was the name of the game. Though we are cute and cuddly babies, Lucas and I pushed the limits of our congeniality during these days with some fun games: Throwing our toys - and breaking them; climbing onto the sofa and then precariously standing on it (whilst parents either reasoned with or yelled at me for some reason) and then tumbling to the floor from the sofa (apparently predicted by the parents); rearranging the furniture in a noisy and destructive manner; learning more effective ways to whine (Lucas slides to his knees and then arches his back until his head hits the floor - thus giving him a better reason to whine); throwing our food (old news, ho hum); ferreting out cords, phones, remotes and other objects that were not so successfully concealed; waking up like a gold-medalist relay team at excruciating intervals during the night.

That is why, when invited over for dinner on Friday night, mommy and abba scrambled out of the house with us in tow so that we could spend some time wreaking havoc in someone else's apartment. Thanks Aunt Alisha and Uncle Rob!

It was great. First we terrorized their gentle dog, Shira. Then after she started playing statue on the sofa, thereby boring us, we moved on. I dallied around the table trying to reach the hot pot of chili, utensils and wine glasses while Lucas worked on the bookshelves.

During dinner, where we were invited to sit around the table like big boys, we kept parents on their toes making sure that glass and/or hot objects were out of reach. What wasn't out of reach from Lucas was tortilla chips. But since munching on one finally kept him quiet, mommy allowed him to continue munching.

Until he promptly projectile vomited onto the dining room table whilst everyone else tried to eat their dinner.

Nicely played, little brother! Way to disrupt a nearly peaceful meal! Sure enough that spiced things up even more so than the chili.

Oh, how was Lucas? He was fine. In fact, he tried to finish off the remaining tortilla chip shard in his hand while still crying from the shock of the puking incident.

Then, to my delight, after dinner Alisha kindly offered for us to play in the kitchen cabinets. We promptly removed every last bit of plastic tupperware - and even found the glass components well hidden in the back.

Then on Saturday, mommy and abba's quest for sanity continued and they bravely trotted us out in public yet again. This time, we all braved a restaurant with cousin Silvana. That was a bit more delicate than the comforts of Rob and Alisha's house. I downed a bowl of gnocchi in a creamy chestnut sauce while Lucas pretended to eat fries that were later found stockpiled in his belly button area. He's part squirrel.

My appetizer

Here's me entertaining everyone before their meal

We lasted for awhile. Longer than perhaps most babies do at a restaurant. But after an hour, Lucas hit the breaking point. So mommy and abba took us outside to let us "get it out of our systems" while Silvana filmed. But danger lurks always for tired and pent up babies. Here are some videos of our wild escapades including my flirting with young girls at a nearby table and Lucas' Italian-soccer-player-type drama as he dropped to the concrete while running around outside. You just are not supposed to get in between a baby and what he wants. And Lucas makes sure to let you know that!

(actually videos on facebook page but can't be uploaded for some sad reason :( - will work on that)

Try these:
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151151081951916

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151151013856916

In the end, we all made peace.

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All I Got for Christmas ...

Though you can't tell from any photographic evidence, Lucas' bottom
pair of teeth was joined by a top pair on Christmas day!

But he kept tight-lipped about the whole situation

Well, it wasn't all he got but Lucas' two front (top) teeth made their ironic and well-timed appearance on Christmas day! No wonder he was being such a Grinch!

Ha, no I'm just kidding, like a good big brother should. He was actually in a pretty good mood for a person experiencing sharp enamel piercing through his tender skin. How could he not be in a good mood? It was Christmas after all! And despite the last-minute rush to get a meal on the table and the gift-giving of pink eye (mommy was the recipient of my present), we had a fantastic time. Dede and Nene (Grandpa and Grandma) came over for a nice dinner and a fun time was had by all.

And, hark! We also graced mommy and abba with a Christmas gift that rivaled the original miracle of the day: We slept through the night from Christmas Eve till Christmas morning! Then after a 6:30 a.m. break in the sleep marathon for a bottle, we returned to sleep for more than three hours!

The second miracle of the day involved what mommy and abba were able to accomplish while we took a two-hour nap: They cooked up an amazing meal involving all sorts of historic family recipes such as caponata (from Nanni's archives) and patate ripiene (from Grandma Schiavi's archives). And I ate an entire slice of steak to boot!

So now we'll see what the Greek and Armenian Christmases hold in store, although mommy and abba aren't planning a repeat performance - unless perhaps we repeat our sleep performance!

Who needed a meal? We had tons of
wrapping paper to feast on.

And we had toys to (not) share!

And really (not) share

And share we did

Me as the Little Drummer Boy

Trying to get one decent family shot

Trying again... 

Me teaching Dede about Veggie Tales

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Dreaming of a Pink Christmas (?)

Gearing up for Christmas, baby style!

In keeping with true baby tradition, it matters not that Christmas is tomorrow. In Babyland, the only tradition is not annual, but is the same 24-hour cycle that occurs every day: Wake (early); insist on eating (immediately), run in circles around the apartment for about three hours; destroy or attempt to destroy ornaments on Christmas tree; nap; repeat cycle until bedtime.

Despite having a new family to indoctrinate into the Christmas tradition the truth is, our parents have come to terms with the fact that we are babies and babies have a schedule to keep, Christmas notwithstanding. Mommy and abba are under no illusions that Christmas morning is going to be special at this point in our young lives. It is going to be pretty much the same as every other morning of the year except for the part where they will try to cajole us into taking the festive paper off of certain boxes. Try as they might to conjure up Christmas spirit, Lucas and I will still dictate the events of the day. Sure, mommy baked some cookies and yes, we over compensated for the entire country by decorating the house for Christmas.

In addition to the normality of our day, I am nursing an eye infection that is causing me to have a pink Christmas. It wouldn't be white anyway, with 60 degree Fahrenheit temperatures here in Jerusalem anyway, but pink is not typically associated with Christmas. Mommy has insisted that I not give this little gift to anyone else int he family despite the spirit of giving and all. Some things are best not shared. Like pink eye. And my favorite holiday musical book.

Nevertheless, we will pour ourselves into the holiday spirit as we realize that our days with trying to strip the tree of ornaments are numbered. The tree has heretofore been barricaded by empty boxes that once held the ornaments. While I would rather those be boxes full of presents, they serve a purpose to keep us away from the tempting ornaments. Up till now, a few ornaments have fallen victim to Lucas' prying hands, and the bottom third of the tree is barren. But beyond that the tree is still standing.

Now that Lucas' birthday is over (it was on Christmas Eve Eve), I am pleased that we can focus on the holiday where I too get a few presents.

So on that note, Merry Christmas everyone! And to all a good night - albeit perhaps not a silent one.

Grandma came over to help us Deck the Halls

All the babies got in on the Christmas action!

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Happy Birthday Lucas!

Lucas scaled new heights in his first year!

In keeping with the way Lucas has lived his life so far, we may as well preempt his actual birthday and start the celebrations early. Thanks to having me as an older brother, Lucas learned a lot this year and took some major strides, both literally and figuratively.

While I am proud of teaching him how to walk and the sign language for important things like "food" and "more" (food), I am particularly pleased at how he has become the amazing quarterback that he is today. At dawn, our room magically transforms into a minefield with all of our tossed items strewn across the carpet. It looks like a regular battlefield strafed with cheechungs (pacifiers), bottles and stuffed animals that were thrown overboard from our respective cribs.

Mommy always says that you don't know a baby's true personality until after they turn one. We carefully shield our true selves while we keep our parents guessing and jumping. If we had to guess based on my first 12 months, some might say I was going to be a shy child.

Remember this face?

Silent night?? There haven't been many since.

So we are still awaiting the fullness of Lucas' personality to unfold. Most people still know him by his smile and easy-going facade. Those who know him better see his crafty side a bit more - the side that indicates Lucas may pursue a career in engineering or science where he can dismantle or experiment all he wants and get paid to do it! Nevertheless, his naughtiness is always laced with cuteness and Lucas' own winning smile.

In his first year, Lucas has also developed some interests: drawers that can close dangerously on his fingers, wires, cords, iPads, cell phones, remote controls, tissues, Christmas tree ornaments, etc. While this is hardly unique to Lucas as a baby, what is unique is his choice of response when he is prevented from touching or doing any of the above items. This is where Lucas has developed his own form of drama to rival my Hollywood leanings: Lucas is on his way to becoming an Italian soccer player with all the makings of his good Armani looks and his flair for the dramatic.

Sure enough, prevented from doing something he really really wants to do, Lucas will let loose a blood curdling scream, throw himself to the ground in mock agony and flail his limbs. Mommy and abba have taken to rating his tantrums as either a yellow or red card.

To me, I know Lucas as my shadow and my practice punching bag. We are partners in crime and in cuteness.

Here is a series of videos of Lucas' tricks that he learned a few months ago (taken in November 2012):

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