Neko’s Daily Activities
We are now the proud parents of a toilet trained child.
We are proud.
We still have some (rare) accidents, but, in neko’s own words: thats’ ok
(shot while on the go)
Next on the ever expanding list of accomplishments: getting a job!
One year ago: Miles and more
Two years ago: Mae Swing
I did it
I hit lots of walls - not the kind made of cement block, but the kind in my head made of blisters, heat exhaustion and that little voice nagging ‘quit’. The one thing that kept me going, kept my feet moving in the intense heat and knee aches was neko and peter. The thought of them at the finish line, and the idea that I was doing this crazy thing for her, for my daughter, that one day I could tell her, that yes, you can do anything if you just try, and try hard….I got across the 26.2 mile mark with my two biggest fans standing there:
I love you Peter and Neko for allowing me to do this!
Plus I love Anna, Hiva and Kristin for pushing me this whole season and getting me through this…..let’s run more!
One year ago: family fest in Miami
Finding the theme was easy: vilde chaye (a wild beast) is the quintessential neko mode.
Then my mom came as backup troops to help with the decorations:
A few paper cuts later, we proceeded to make cake pops…. yeah, everyone needs those these days! The process was totally hilarious (those swirly wirlies) and the result a success:
Neko woke up and wowed a LOT. She couldn’t believe the amount of animals, colors, balloons and whole wheat bagels all around her:
And then they came - all of neko’s friends and loved ones (she wakes up every day asking to go to one of their homes).
Oh, how happy you made her (and us)!
Thank you for joining and giving and loving and being…
Here is to making it another year….
One year ago: the gremlin theme.
What does any normal parent do to celebrate their child’s second birthday?
Yes, feed them sugar and give them a bunch of unnecessary sneakers and gifts!
We began the morning with singing, blowing out candles (she actually did it) and eating a lot of frosting:
The sugar rush continued at Families First, where neko shared the double layer (my first layer cake ever) chocolate fiesta with everyone and got some hugs kisses and stickers:
Appropriately, we culminated the day with a walk iver to the favorite ice cream parlor, neko screaming the whole way she wanted pink gida (glida=ice cream)…please note the description of her favorite flavor:
She went to bed oblivious to the milestone she had reached that day.
But I passed out proud like any mama hen could be!
One year ago: Birthday Mush Post
* Her non-stop love of laughter - an infectious, pure, happy giggle that comes from within and makes her eyes sparkle
*How she loves to be caressed - especially her “gav” - until goosebumps forms on her skin and she closes her eyes, asking for more “tackle pease”
* Her physical strength - she navigates stairs without holding on and rearranges the furniture no matter how heavy it is. The other day she lifted her solid wood shopping cart on to the couch. Why? We have no idea
* Her cute baby-dyslexia, saying phrases and words out of order (muchis = music, mahtes=shmate, pahtes=pasta, fart abba=abba farted, noko=neko)
* Her sense of fashion … sunglasses, a have a nice day knit cap, yellow galoshes, and nothing else
* The way she smiles at us right before she’s about to do something she knows we don’t approve of … eg - climbing in the window sill and dancing, jumping on the sofa, putting plastic toys in her mouth, dumping her food on the floor, throwing anything in the garbage, and drinking her soapy, dirty bath water (yum)
* Her expressiveness and exuberance - some kids say “bye bye”, but neko yells “BYYYYYYEEEEE” with great gusto and verve
* Her good days when she wakes up running in circles shouting “Noko happy, Noko happy!”
* Her bad days when she wakes up screaming “No!” - why? we don’t know, but we all feel like that upon occasion
* Her baby fat creases in all the right places
* Her dimply thunder thighs
* Her love of hats and headgear and letting Keren “do” her hair
* The fact that she cried when she watched “Bambi” (someone must’ve been cutting onions)
* Her undying love of other kids and how she remembers all their names (plus their parents)
* How she tells us what she did each day when we come home from work
* Her random use of please and thank you (a good start)
* That she’s more known and more popular in this neighborhood than we are
* She has taught us many things about love, about patience, the capacity for change, responsibility, learning, and laughing (and let’s not forget changing a diaper on a kid who doesn’t sit still)
* She’s a vibrant, outrageous, demanding, wild, independent, often uncontrollable, mostly sweet, warm, vivacious, funny, silly, expressive, fearless, physical, clever, and unique individual who is truly one of a kind. We love her. More every day.
Two years ago she was this small:
What an amazing journey.
They say (who are these damn they anyway) that self awareness is a huge emotional developmental step in a child’s life, in essence, an understanding of themselves as separate from their mothers,a unique being with desires (tell me about it) and feelings.
Dudes!!!!
Not only does she know who is she is but introduced me to the woman sitting next to us today!
The woman politely asked neko what her name was, and before she cold shovel in any more cookies, she proudly announced ‘me noko’ and then pointed and said ‘dis ama’
She makes my heart swell…
She did it (sing it with me)
Neko said her name
It sounded more like ‘Noko’
I am so proud
I wonder if she meant something else though, like the ninky nonk train from BBC?
Or maybe it’s code for: dudes, I know my name, you say it all the time, will you just leave me alone?
I never get sick of posting…maybe that’s not necessarily a good thing, but neko’s daily doings are getting funnier, cuter and better by the minute.
For example, today she peed in the toilet - not the little red potties we have dispersed through the house for her convenience, but insisted on sitting on the travel seat cover I got (getting ahead of myself with gear, as usual).
She peed in the toilet guys! Woooohooooo! Of course, now she won’t do it again until she’s 4…..
Also, today was spent mostly without me, as I went into work (on a Sunday - insanity). Peter and neko traversed Brooklyn, avoiding those crazy runners, going from the Children’s Museum to the Prospect Park Zoo and finally ending in Carrol Park, chasing Douglas.
I met them on the way home, crazed and giddy with happiness:
This weekend was filled with a lot of first time adventures, and no, we are not referring to me jogging the loop @ Prospect Park slower than the old guy with the large walkman.
Below is a list in order of importance:
1. First haircut - just a trim but we have the paperwork to prove her parents’ bravery..ahem…we mean, neko’s. Her fine fly away curls are now semi tame-able (once conditioned).
2. Riding in a chariot - we got one of those bike trailers and peter shlepped an extra 50 pounds up hill and down for a few loops. No pics as the bike nerd association would not approve. Neko did look cute in her new green helmet, sweat dripping down her forehead as she slumped forward and slept for most of the ride. 3. Rolly polly fish eggs - neko exhibits her love for all sea creatures by demolishing a container of fish roe. Yum! Lifestyles of the rich and famous (in the blogosphere).
4. New words include: amina (animals) - fooo (food) - orse and sus (horse in hebrew) and a new found obsession with the word pipi.
Wait.
What?
Seriously?
Man, time moves so quickly now. Seems like only yesterday we were gathering around bagels and lox for Andree’s shower, and just today we gathered for some more bagels and shmear to celebrate Elodie’s first year.
Amazing.
Incredible.
Joyous and hugely momentous.
Yeah, they managed to keep you alive this far!
Here is to a lifetime of memories together, wishing you the same happiness you bring your parenst, family and friends…Happy Birthday Elodie….
