I just want to tell you about our day yesterday. Gila ate two bowls of oatmeal and drank half a cup of milk in the morning. Then went around the apartment singing (I'm serious). She sounded just like Ela singing to herself. What I didn't realize was that she also was opening everything she could and removing contents very efficiently. She also emptied my purse with incredible speed, loving every moment. then she took a three-hour nap and awoke to eat a good size sandwich and drink more milk. She took a two hour nap in the afternoon. Since you asked about the approximate number of words I think she says, I listened carefully. This is what I'm pretty sure I heard: "Mama," "Abba," "Ela," "molk,", "yeh," or "yah," (never a "no," rather a sharp shrug of her left shoulder when she doesn't want something), "challah - well more like "awah," "Gamma," "cow," "kak (quack), and a few more that escape me at the moment.
Ela was great. She told me to make the challah because she was busy. I think her imaginary friend accompanied her through part of the day. She and Saba went out in the snow for about two hours and made monster tracks and angels. She came in for hot chocolate and then we played one of her word games. Her concentration was amazing. She did almost all of the puzzle pieces. Then we read and had lunch. She took a rest, I'm not sure if she actually slept - oh and yes, she did have a good dood ( is that how you spell it?), and we made chocolate pudding and played the picture/letter game i think Saba and I gave her for Chanukkah. Again, she amazed me with the number of letters she could identify. We talked about how letters can look different (caps and small letters) and how confusing it is with "m's" and "w's", "d's" and "b's" because they look the same but are different depending on whether they are "right side up" or "upside down." Then it was time to make the pasta and she got right in to help with the
first run through the pasta maker. Both girls helped shape the challahs. It was a merry scene in the kitchen; a messy scene as well, but well worth it.
Ela and I talked about this Christian development. She explained that Abby's mom came into her class like her Abba did and told them to put out cookies for Santa so that when he comes with the presents he can eat the cookies. Interestingly, she didn't mention the Christmas trees. We talked about loving Chanukah and Shabbat (Oh she was a gorgeous Shabbat bride last night) and Purim and that was great about being Jewish. She agreed, but explained that now she was Christian. She seems so okay with the fact that the rest of the family is Jewish. I find that rather charming. I tried to think back about you kids and only could remember the child at Steele School (kindergarten) who told you she wouldn't play with you or was it be your friend? anymore because you were Jewish and your response: Well, i was Jewish yesterday and you played with me. I loved your spunk. Kids seem to confront stuff or at least vocabulary so early today.
