I cannot believe how lucky I am to be able to spend so much time with Ari because he's pretty fun and time spent with him is so enjoyable (for the most part.)  Today, for instance, we went to Fourth Street in Berkeley where we met a lady who had 1 drum set up outside Peet's coffee in fifteen minutes she had a whole conga drum kit and Ari was playing them- pretty great.  Then the band showed up and he was ready to relinquish the drums to the rightful musician and a great jazz band was playing for everybody.

Ari Turned 2

 How do i know Ari turned 2- we had 3 birthday parties for him!  Our first party was a shabbat party for Ari and the Lipsett side of the family- that is big enough.  Uncle Marc, Aunt Liz, Freddy, Zach, Jake & Morey, Uncle Andrew & Sandy and Grandma Judy- he loved it.  What's not to love he loves them all and he loves Shabbat.  Marc & Liz et al loaned him the hugest bin of Lego Duplos ever- it's huge- it was started buy their cousins, added to with the four of them and now Ari is the custodian.  I am thinking of cutting it down a bit so it is more manageable and not overewhlming.

The next party we had was for his friends only a couple from school, Ona our next door neighbor and Riley, his big girl block friends, Kieta, Cam & Sydney, and some of his Jewish friends Leah Skiles, Mae & Oliver it was a perfect number.  In fact I'd say we nailed the party - we called for an 11am start time, we had food out: pizza and a mac n cheese, drinks, cupcakes baked by yours truly at 11:50, then we had a musician come around noon for a concert sing along done at 12:45 and out the door at one.  The only hitch was that Ari got sick at 7am- he just puked in our bed- we thought it was something he ate but apparently not as we heard from other parents that their little ones go sick and so did they and so did we- it was a very fast, lightning virus, Ari vomited and had diarrhea, Lisa got ill & I succumbed too :(  We pretty much infected everybody who walked through the door- Happy birthday a little gift from us to you.

The last party was one at school, Bamboo Grove.  They do a Montessori ritual of walking a globe around the sun with months, years, 2 walks around for a 2 yr old, a song and I made more cupcakes ( Jaya can really scarf down cupcakes)- minis this time.  Fabulous recipe from Brown eyed Baker.  We spoke a bit about how Ari is and was.

What I can't get over is just how fabulous Ari is.  He wakes up each morning ready to go, even when sick - he actually said his back hurt but we now know it was his tummy, oops.  He wants to go downstairs and play and he tells us all this there is no mystery.  His language mastery is amazing- he has an amazing vocabulary and puts together wonderfully complex sentences and thoughts.  Lately there has been no separation anxiety (within the last week) just a cheerry goodbye at Bamboo Grove.

Ari's Turning Two

Ari turns two in 9 days, we just came off of winter break at Bamboo Grove.  Not only was he stellar during winter break- but somebody forgot to tell me that winter break is an oxymoron for the parents - there is no break in winter break over here- we were with his mostly fun little self for 10 days!  We had a party to go to every night except the night we hosted.  I didn't even make latkes this year because we were out so much and how many can you eat?  We hosted the last night where I was decidely tired of latkes and really burned out on Chanukkah- the Joy lasted for 7 nights too bad chanukkah lasts 8! except our guests were lovely.   So at some point I would like to go back and tell you about the 8 nights of chanukkah but we have to press forward on Ari's first days back after winter break.  On Tuesday (1/30) Lisa took him up and he marched right in and said, "Bye, mommy."  And off he went without a whimper, whine or tear, and then it was Lisa's turn to cry, "what happened to my baby?"  He is growing by leaps and bounds in his language, movement, understanding and his descriptions of what is occurring.  "That's a big ball, daddy," he says.  Colors not so much.  "What color is that, Ari" I ask.  He replies red or blue or green with no predictable accuracy.  What is amazing is his singing and how he bursts into song, loves an audience, and is unabashed at belting them out with an instrument or intruments all clanging away.  Particularly cute and adorable is when he has his ukelele perched on his bent knee, strumming away and singing something like Baby Beluga.   So that is partially how he is and he is so much more just developing in complexity, and just general good naturedness and yes he can be a crank too and we will get there.  That too is developing interestingly and he is probably beating the parents at getting what he wants- lollipops and candy and cookies and mum mums...mmm- the tot is winning.

Start Now...

Ari is almost 22 months old, he has changed so much since birth it's been really incredible.  He is an incredible boy, he has always been an incredible boy since the moment of his birth.  I am so priveledged to care for him and get to spend as much time with him as I do.  That being said life is challenging too.

Today we woke up around 6:30 and went downstairs, got around to making breakfast which for me everyday is coffee & a toasted sandwich of peanut btter and banana, Ari had oatmeal with yogurt, rasperries, maple syrup and cinnamon, and some toast.  For about 2 hours everything was going well, then we hit a roadblock of changing the diaper which he just refused even though I could smell a poop- lovely- and the battle began.  This is the part that can be so frustrating.  Thankfully mommy got up and changed and dressed him.  We played in our driveway with Leah (5), Ona (3), our neighbor Madhu and her cat twofer for about 30 min.  We saw Kaya(14 months), Jay and dog Shortie ( a sweetie.)  At about 10:30 we headed off to the farmers market which is a Sunday ritual of ours( Daddy & Ari).  Today there was no pressure to shop since we got one of those CSA boxes and our fridge is full.  We went to walk around and sample some fruits, Ari likes grapes, strawberries, apples and today tried and liked persimmon, which I never thought he would. There was a solo musician that was quite good and he didn't play "children's" tunes but folk and pop songs that the kids enjoy.  I have a video and if I can figure out how to get it on the blog I would love that..  Ari fell asleep on the way home - literally 5 min after we got in the car about 12 noon.  He slept for 2 hours- and this has been consistent since friday - 2 hour naps- it might have even been longer today but I woke him because it was getting late and there is not much time for outside play before it gets cold and dark (though today is a balmy 65.) Mom and Uncle Steve took Ari to the steam trains in Tilden- I can;t wait to hear the report.