Operation depacification

After months of agonizing about Judah's increasingly heavy day-time pacifier use, we decided this past weekend that it had become an unhealthy addiction and it was time to help him kick the habit. After exhaustive research we concluded that the only way to do it was cold turkey. So on Friday evening I explained to him that starting tomorrow, the paci was only going to be for sleeping, but no more during the day. Doug and I then prepared ourselves for a horrible weekend of temper tantrums, whining, crying, pleading and general crankiness. "It's going to be awful," I declared (as I often do). But when he woke up on Saturday morning, to my amazement he handed me his beloved paci, we said "bye bye" to it and that was that. Occasionally throughout the day he mentioned it, not to ask for it, but seemingly just because it was on his mind. He seemed to completely understand and accept the new situation.

There was, perhaps, a slight increase in other objects going in his mouth.

But all-in-all, we are just amazed at how wonderful he's been about the whole thing. His attitude has seemed, silly though it sounds, mature! It just goes to show, you never can know what to expect with these little ones. You can merely take it as it comes, muddle through the difficulties and marvel at the milestones.

And of course, now we can more often enjoy his adorable little face.

The great outdoors

Before the weather gets too cold, we're packing in as much fun outside as possible. Here are some of Judah's favorite outdoor activities: Pointing at the street and saying "no no!" right before ignoring the prohibition and running directly into the street, barking at/with the neighborhood dogs, lifting up the loose drain cover in the sidewalk, and picking up rocks and saying "throw!" forcing us to protest loudly.

He also loves drawing with his chalk,



and pushing his baby stroller around.

Repetition

It appears that toddlers thrive on repetition. The same CD over and over again, the same book as many times in a row as you're willing to read it, and the same tasks repeated a hundred times, each with equal energy and focus. When the task involves me, like jumping out of the closet and saying "boo!" over and over again, it takes zen-like patience not to lose my mind. But when he gets into something on his own it can be very relaxing - like the day he discovered the laundry basket.

His favorite repetitive task lately is taking things out and putting them back in. He seems endlessly fascinated by this process.

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Halloween!

Judah made an appearance as a firefighter at the neighborhood Halloween festival last weekend.

Baby for Obama!!!

I can't say that Judah fully understands the importance of this election to his future, but on some level he seems to share our excitement - he very quickly learned to identify the many Obama yard signs in Silver Spring and proudly says "Bama!" every time we pass one.

Cuteness aside, there is much at stake for all of us in this election, but it's really for Judah and all the little ones out there that we have to hope beyond hope that an Obama/Biden victory is a couple weeks away. I hope I can show Judah this picture in 10 years and say, "this is when it all turned around for us."

Posted by a proud Obama Mama!

In loving memory of Grandma Heifetz

Doug's grandma Heifetz passed away this week at the age of 94. Doug is leaving tomorrow morning for Saint Louis to perform the funeral. Grandma Heifetz was an incredibly inspiring woman and I feel so fortunate to have come to think of her as my grandma as well. I'm very glad that she met Judah and held him in her arms before she died, and I look forward to hearing Doug tell Judah stories about her when he's older and is able to appreciate her strength, her wit, and her kindness. We will all miss her.

Big boy table!

Judah is really moving up in the world. On a recent trip to Ikea we got him his own table and chair for the living room so that he has a place for all his important business. We think he looks like quite a big boy (except for the fact that he can't seem to get in and out of the chair without help yet... at least he isn't growing up too fast!)