Morning with her wild animals

One of Dalia's newest words is "DVD" (sounds like deedeedee) which she says while carrying the remote around. Many of you know that Dalia is in-love with this video we got from my mom's neighbor. It's a Baby Genius video of the San Diego Wild Animal Park and Zoo, set to classical music. I've decided it is her way of self-soothing and have embraced the DVD watching. Here she is in an uncommon supine position the morning after Turkey.

This first picture she seems to be saying, "uh, I'm clearly trying to watch my video, you wanna get that thing out of my face?" Interestingly, she has been posing with these very serious looks lately, but she couldn't be more smoochy, lovey, snuggly these days. The other morning we woke up and she pat her daddy and did the sign for love. She pats me all the time with hugs. It's the best gift.

Turkey day

Thanksgiving! What a great day. Mark had so much fun cooking and Dalia had so much fun running around in her decidedly Easterish dress. While she was totally uninterested in eating any of her thanksgiving dinner (except the roll) and most of it ended up on the floor, we all had a wonderful time. Thanks to Pops, Grammy, Thom and Steph for making our Thanksgiving the best yet, because of our little lady. Dalia even got a special treat to end the night, some pumpkin pie and bedtime stories with Pops.

Oh, and this morning, Dalia woke up and said very clearly, "I pooped!"

outside

We've been lucky to have a pretty dry and mild November, which has been great for our new little walker. She loves to walk around outside. I told Mark it's like herding a turtle. Here are a couple from a crisp day last week when Mommy got to rake the leaves and Daddy and Dalia went walking around the neighborhood.

DJ Dalia

So most of you know about Dalia's keyboard and many of you have commented on the booty dance. Well, Dalia has evolved. Her DJ skills are improving. Last night we had some fun playing music. Mark was on the guitar and I was pathetically trying to play a harmonica, but it was Dalia who stole the show.

New face

First of all, sorry it's been so long since the last post. Our computer is coming dangerously close to being full and downloading photos is not working very well. Since every moment counts these days, sitting around waiting for the computer is not high on the priority list. Alas, we finally found some time and space.

Dalia has discovered her eyebrows. We went to a wedding this weekend and she wore her new girly dress. It looks as though she will be more a jeans and t-shirt kinda girl. I don't know that she really minded wearing the dress, but it's pretty funny. And don't even think about taking her snack trap away from her.

Also, my brother's oldest and best friend Sandy came to town for the wedding and we got the treat of hangin' out with him all weekend. He knew me when I was Dalia's age. Pretty cool. (Dalia thought the lint roller was a brush and kept trying to brush our hair with it).

Salinger already?

Many of you know that Dalia's favorite "toy" is BOOKS. There are books in every room. She carries them everywhere. She reads all day long. This morning she growled like a bear and Mark said, "brown bear, brown bear, what do you see" and she went in to her room and brought him the Eric Carle book by the same name. Amazed, yes we were. But nothing spelled a photo opp. like this one the other night. I think she is looking for pictures in our grown-up books. She flips through them as if speed reading, with a furrowed brow and intense concentration.

You'll note the very cute pj's we just got for her at old navy.

P.S. We are still brimming with such incredibly happy and hopeful energy from last night's election. I've been crying all morning and am so proud to be an american finally. It all seems like proof that most of us don't want to be cynical and scared, angry and hopeless. Dalia worked on saying Obama all day yesterday with lots of coaxing from Mom. She managed ba ma at one point and during his speech was talking to the television and pointing to his eyes, saying "eye" (her new word).Anyone else notice how little he blinks compared to Bush/McCain? Can children see honesty and goodness even through a television set? Okay I'm off my political ramblings. But I'm so fully and truly happy and hopeful about the future. What will life be like when Dalia can actually understand Catcher in the Rye?

Election Night!

Here's to the future of our children.

Halloween treat

Dalia didn't dress up this year for Halloween, but she loved the trick-or-treaters that came to the door. She was a pro at handing out candy so it was really fun. Our first trick-or-treater came with a treat himself for Dalia - POPS! He brought her this bear, which she proceeded to hug and squeeze and kiss for about an hour.

During the visit Dalia remembered that Pops gets really excited and claps for her when she plays with her IKEA toy (what are these called). She brought it out from her room, because she loves carrying extremely heavy items that can ultimately hurt her feet, face, eye, fingers if she drops them, and proceeded to play with it so she could clap for herself.