What's in a Name?

Elie's naming ceremony will forever be a very special memory for us. It was another great time in our lives where we had so many of our friends and family together at once. We were able to formally introduce Eliora into our community and into Judaism. We were so fortunate to have Rabbi Marshall officiate the ceremony for us, and to have our dear friends Isaac and Rayna help us organize the service and kiddush lunch. It was a great day, and for those of you who weren't there (and for those who were) here is what Adam and I shared about Eliora's name.

We chose the name Eliora to honor my Dad whose name was Lester and hebrew name was Levy by accentuating the 'lamed' sound in her name. My Dad was a light in my life and his memory lives on within me. Eliora's name means G-d is my light, and it is our hope that just as my Dad was a source of light for me, she finds companionship and meaning through her relationships with G-d, family, and Judaism. Eliora has already brought much enjoyment and love into our lives, and it is such a joy to remember my father, Eliora's Grandpa, in her name.

The book of Ruth describes a woman who is faithful to her family and loved ones. With all her heart she loves them and supports them. She says, "do not urge me to leave you, nor to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your G-d my G-d. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried." As with the light in her first name, we hope that our daughter is a source of love and devotion to her community and all who come to know her. May she find those who love her as wholeheartedly and live with them for all her days.

It was a great day and thank you again to all who came and to all who continue to support Adam and I on our life journey. And, here are some pictures :-)

Elie in her dress

(sadly, this is the best picture we got - it was a busy day)

And, Elie has found her thumb...

Family Visit

We had a fun family weekend this past weekend for Elie's Simchat Bat (naming) ceremony. (More on the naming in the next post) Nan, Pére, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Martha, Uncle Joe, Cousin Mira, Uncle Mark, Aunt Aja, Aunt Gale and Uncle Peter were all here to celebrate this happy occasion with us. It was really great to see everyone again and have everyone here with us, although we did miss the family members that could not be with us. Here are some pictures of Elie with some of the family:

Uncle Mark and Elie

Aunt Rachel playing with Elie's toys

Elie with Aunt Aja and Uncle Mark

Elie with Pére

Elie with Grandpa

Catching up

We have had a very busy past few weeks. So, to catch up this blog... Adam and I had a great Valentine's Day date. Aunt Gale and Uncle Peter came over to babysit while Adam and I went out to lunch at The Spotted Dog - YUM! We drank beer, talked, and had a yummy dessert all without Elie nearby to distract us. It was so much fun! We gave each other little gifts - I made one for Adam as I attempt to discover the artist that I once was. Adam gave me a card and got some yummy cookies from Weaver Street.

The following day, Adam spent time outside raking the leaves before our final leaf pickup. Elie and I joined him for a bit and here are some pictures:

Gangsta baby and Daddy

Introducing Elie to dirt and sticks!

One More Cute Hair Picture

I just love being able to play with Elie's hair!  I can't wait until she's a bit older and I can braid it.  Until then, I will have to enjoy these cute little ponytails.

Enjoying Warmer Weather

We sure are glad the weather is warmer these days.  We are eating lunches outside and enjoying walks with the baby.  She likes us to hold her so she can look around and see more than her limited view from the stroller.  It's so nice to be able to go out without blankets and layers for both the baby and me.  Today I went grocery shopping while our neighbor stayed with the baby which was a real treat!  Now we are really looking forward to this weekend when Aunt Gale is coming over and we get to go out for Valentine's Day lunch.  Here are some pictures of Eliora:

And baby's first pony tail!  Elie's Nan (Helene's Mom) thinks she looks like a little Indian girl with a feather sticking up.  So cute!

Our Conversationalist

Elie has been smiling, talking, and playing so much more these days.  It's so much fun to sit around and have a conversation with her, although we have no idea what she is saying -- We can pretend though.  She's still sleeping well at night in her crib.  She naps during the day a few times too, which is a nice break for me to get some cleaning done, relax, or work on my new scrapbook for Elie.   

We worked out all the details with the Rabbi for Elie's naming ceremony that will be later this month.  We are all really excited to once again have so many of our friends and family together with us to celebrate.

Adam starts his new job next week and we are all excited for him to move on in his career and hopefully enjoy where he spends his time during the day.  I know he is really excited to be working on something new and more meaningful.  I'm sure he will be sharing his experiences with many of you. 

Hope you enjoy this video of Elie's talking - please feel free to share what you think she might be saying. :-)