October 2000

Sophie is almost 16 months old.  She loves to explore and is big enough to open our top desk drawer so we are doing a new round of baby-proofing.  We feel like we are constantly taking pens and other objects away from her.  She can reach doorknobs but hasn't yet opened one or locked herself in the bathroom. She is still nursing and sleeping with us most of the time.  When she was sick for a few days she stopped eating grownup food and reverted to a diet of breast milk.  Her teeth are coming in with a vengeance - she has fourteen and has been teething nonstop.

She now counts along with us to 10, sings the notes of the scale in "Doe a deer", and tries to say the alphabet along with us!  She enjoys singing along with some of her children's song tapes in the car, and will request that we put on one of "her" tapes when she's bored or tired.  She makes vroom noises while pushing a toy truck.  Plays nicely with her dolls, likes to undress them and hold and hug.  Rides on her toy school bus; likes to stack blocks.  She tries to use a fork and spoon by herself - likes to poke at the food.   Her favorite foods are cookies, pretzels, bread, and mushroom soup.  She shares her food and likes to feed us morsels.  LOVES to read.  Getting really good at opening boxes, containers, drawers, pens, etc.  She has her own, big-girl bed (mattress on the floor) now, used mostly just for naps

She weighs 24 pounds and is 31 inches tall.  Still very musical and loves to dance and "conduct" to music.  One of her endearing traits is to hug, pat and kiss when she is in a loving mood.  She is getting much better at talking on the phone, now often will say hi and bye appropriately.

Words she can say reliably: all do(ne), baby, babies, cookie, cracker, boo(k), cup (also used for bottle, bowl, and I'm thirsty), apple, daddy, mommy (which means mommy or daddy, depending), car, boobie, nana (nursing), nana (banana), hot, bread, umm, nummy (tastes good), dadoo (thank you, said for herself or for others), dipit (likes to dip bread in liquids), ni(ce) (while patting something - "make nice"), goo(d) girl, elbow, eye, down, no (frequently means yes), hi, bye-bye, diaper.

Understands: lie down, lay keppie, poopy, peepee, step back, sit back, sit down, shoes, socks, feet, toes, tickle-tickle, kiss-kiss, belly-button, and many others!

She just completed a sign language course (BabyFingers) in NYC - the last day she showed off her skills by signing along with the song "Skinamarink a dink a dink..."  We're still taking a course locally at the Garrison library and hopefully will be able to keep up our skills in this great new hobby.  We occasionally attend a "local" ASL playgroup in Suffern. She uses several signs daily: milk, more, book, please, butterfly.

Noel is getting ready to dance in a performance in NYC mixing modern and Balkan folk dancing.  There will be four shows, Nov 9-12, in St. Marks church in Greenwich Village.  He is also singing in a Jewish liturgical suite scheduled for Nov 10.  Datacap recently won contracts with Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield and Capital Blue Cross.  Noel's software baby Paper Keyboard 2000 was FINALLY fully released this month.

Judy has learned to bake delicious bread recently.  She has been enjoying learning a new language (ASL).  Taking care of Sophie is her full time job - Sophie still goes wherever Judy does, with few exceptions.  Judy is still co-organizing Hungarian dance practice several times per month.

Just had to show off her dimpled tush.
dimple_butt_crop.jpg (72783 bytes)

Judy and Diana hiking near North Redoubt on Judy's birthday;
The three of us with Allen and Rita at Boscobel - what a view!
judy_diana_nice.jpg (322322 bytes) boscobel1.jpg (173381 bytes)

Pete Seeger and grandson Tao Rodriguez at the Pumpkin Festival at Beacon.  Pete is still active at 80-something. 
pate_tao_close_crop.jpg (204386 bytes)
pete_tao4_crop.jpg (163680 bytes)

Our Tabasco girl loves spicy food.
tabasco_girl1.jpg (170444 bytes)
tabasco_girl2.jpg (170143 bytes)

We all attended a La Leche League Conference at a Catskills resort just before Halloween.  Sophie was a leopard, Judy a cat, and Noel was festive.  Sophie had a ball... played piano, played with other kids.  We met up with an unexpected number of friends and acquaintances, and the Walker family (parents plus 6 kids) all played for the square dance (all except their youngest daughter Rachel who was just walking).
njs_costume_cutecrop.jpg (84976 bytes)

Sophie outside enjoying the fall colors (it got very cold at the end of the month)
sophswingsmileclose2_crop.jpg (197573 bytes) sophslide2best_crop.jpg (146843 bytes)

"Sign Time" class in Garrison: Sophie and new friend Kyra learn the sign for "candle" at a "birthday party" for the "deaf" teddy bear.
Mich_Kyra_Sophie1crop.jpg (106186 bytes)


Back Home Up Next