Dalya Joy's World

After a cold winter in South Florida it was finally time to jump into the pool and enjoy the sun and fun. But of course with my crazy daddy it is not that easy.   Daddy spent weeks of neurotic researching before finally settling on an appropriate sunscreen ( Baby Blanket ) for my precious little skin. Then came the pool itself… Daddy had to make sure that it was just perfect for his little lady.  He must have gone back and forth to the pool store to get the water tested about a dozen times. After daddy was satisfied that everything was Ok mommy headed to the store to get me the cutest swim suits.

With Aunt Melissa chilling on the hammock and Nana watching Daddy and Mommy lathered me up with tons of sunscreen.  They made sure every inch of me was covered…even my little toes.  You could smell the suntan lotion a mile a way.

Mommy brought me in while daddy took some pictures.  It was like I had been swimming for years.  I loved the water.  As daddy and mommy were a little shocked by how cold it was even thought it was hot out side I didn’t seem to mind.  I was splashing in the water and enjoying every minute.  I was not scared one bit. Just mommy and daddy went in with me.  Yogi stayed on the side and acted as the lifeguard on duty.  I can’t wait to have lots of people over to go swimming.  Maybe I can even get Nanna and Grandma in.    It is going to be a very fun filled wet summer!!!!

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Yogi keeps guard for any sharks!!!

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Drying off with Aunt Melissa

Who needs a fancy play pen or baby gates when you have a box?

Today I spent the day with daddy while he was editing pictures from a ton of shoots. Roaming free in his office is a bit dangerous so Daddy’s quick thinking led to me having lots of fun right beside daddy.  It also made for a cute photo!  I hope the toys I get are bigger so daddy has more boxes for me to play in.

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Lately I have started to make my way around the house.  I have been working out the arms pretty hard.   I mainly do this by scooting myself backwards.  This works pretty good.  However,  occasionally I would get my self a little stuck.  The favorite place to get stuck seems to be the bookcase.  But that is ok, cause I love taking down the books and flipping through the pages.

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Can anyone guess the name of the book????

After a long few days daddy and mommy finished getting the house clear of any chametz ( Leavened products derived from wheat, barley, oat, spelt or rye).  They even had to check my diaper.  and low and behold there were a few errant crumbs!

And as my first Passover was set to arrive, Nanna came over and I helped her cook her famous Russian Cabbage Soup.  Now this is no ordinary soup.  This soup requires at least 24 hours of cooking and about $60 worth of Boiled Flanken.  As for the rest of the recipe… well, it is top secret and you will have to be born into the family or marry into it to get it!

Mommy, Daddy, and I made the first night.  We had Uncle Seth, Aunt Addie, Cousin Sammy, Cousin Hannah, Cousin Jason, and even Mister ( Yogi’s doggy cousin).

I sat through my first Haggadah reading.  I also ate my first Matzah.  It was pretty good. But not as good as the great organic Kosher chicken mommy made me.  I sat eating little pieces of chicken while the whole story of Passover was recited. I was a real big girl sitting at the table with everyone else.  Everything was great except that Hannah and sammy had a unfair advantage at finding the Afikoman due to the fact that they can you know….walk.

The next night we went to Aunt Addie and Uncle Seth’s house and got to see Daddy’s Aunt Helene there.  We ate outside at their new house.   Now if only mommy would let me have some of that chocolate covered Matzah.  Maybe next year ( in Jerusalem).

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Hmm.. Taste like the Matzah

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Mommy lights the candles with the girls.

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Lets us in we smell Chicken!!!

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Today was my 9 month check up with the doctor.  I did well.  Not only did I weigh in at a whopping 17lbs 5oz and a height of 28 1/4 inches.  I did my whole check up like a big girl sitting up!!!!   now my height puts me in the 60th percentile for a FULL TERM BABY!  That is probably off the charts for a preemie. And to boot.  I got my last Hep B shot and like cried for 2 seconds.

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Today I started proteins.  No Filet mignon just yet.  Just plan old extra soft Silkin Tofu.  It was good but very messy.  Good thing I do not have to clean up the mess!  I am still getting this eating thing down.  I have a hard time opening up real wide.  I much prefer playing with the food in my hands then getting it into my mouth.

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Tonight was my first Purim.  Mommy and daddy took me to temple to hear the keriat ha-megilla being read out loud.  It was lots of fun.  I got to play with all kinds of Purim gragger ( or noise makers) when the reader read out the name of evil Hamam.  I got dressed up as a Puppy dog. It was the costume that was left over from Halloween.  It lasted on me about 10 minutes before I got too hot and wanted out.

As a special treat my mommy gave me my first Hamentaschen (three pointed cookie filled with good fillings).  Ok, actually she did not so much as give it to me as I reached for it and pulled it out of her mouth and took it.  In fact, this was my first taste of any cookie or actual junk food that mommy has not made for me.  But do not worry. I only had a little bit before daddy finished it for me.  Mommy said that she would bake them with me when I get older.

Next year when I am walking I will be dressing up as queen Ester!  I can’t wait.

Ok, you took the pictures. Not get me out of this!

Look mommy and me have matching bangs.

Dalya steels mommy's food.

Hmmmm Goood.

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Dalya starts learning hebrew.

Dalya and Daddy read from the Magilla

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On a gorgeous sunny Florida Winter day decked out in my pink Yankee hat and strapped to Daddies chest I went to Gulfstream Race track for the first time with my parents and Grandparents. Grandma Penny and Grandpa Arthur came down to visit me…Although I do think that escaping the 20 something inches of snow in New York might have added to their motivation for coming.

I watched the horses in the paddock area getting ready before the races.  At first I was not sure what I was looking at.  They looked like really really big dogs.  And I thought to myself whether or not I could mount Yogi and take her for a ride. I guess I will have to try that out sooner or later.  Grandpa and Mommy taught be all about the odds and and what a trifecta is. Although I think I should have stuck around grandma for the betting as I believe she was the only one that won! I think I am the type of person that roots for the long shots.  I hinted to mommy to bet on a horse named “ThisisforELMO”.  Who cares that it was a 64 to 1 shot at placing.  Well.  It lost.  But it was fun watching.  Speaking of watching, mommy and daddy were on the look out for Jerry.  They told me they always saw him there whenever they went to the track.  But unfortunately we did not see him.  Maybe next time.

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Dalya picks her horse.

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Darn. This ticket is worthless.. Maybe I can eat it.

Even though I did not win. I am happy because of grandpa.

For weeks and weeks mommy has been nagging daddy to take some nice pictures and me and Yogi.  Every night before I went to bed I would play with Yogi on mommy and daddy’s bed.  I would laugh and giggle and feed Yogi treats.  And Mommy, Daddy , Yogi, and I were all enjoying this, mommy would say….”lets take some pictures.  You know Josh.  That is why I married you :-)”.   Finally with the threat of sleeping on the couch daddy grabbed his camera and set up a few little lights ( as Yogi is scared of the real lights daddy uses) and started to shoot.  Never mind that it was after midnight.  I was up anyways after having taken an extended nap earlier.  I was very into the shoot.  I love getting my picture taken.  Not so much with Yogi.  She was a good girl though.  But I could tell that she rather be sleeping.

"Hey Dalya. what are you doing with my treat."

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"You blinked"

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When I was born I had a bunch of hair on my head.  Then, like Daddy, it started to thin a lot when I was getting older.  But mine has come back thicker than ever. I wonder when Daddy’s will do that? Nana was here today after I got out of the bath so she brushed my hair for a while. That awesome brush you see… I got it as a present from Amy W. when I was born.  It is heart-shaped and it’s from Tiffany’s. I hear that is very special. Thank you Amy.  I love it and it makes my hair all silky smooth.

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