Big Belly Buddha

Monte ate a record-size dinner tonight...he wears it well.

Messy Monte Moments

He loves eating all sorts of new foods. Here Pho is his quarry.

total Misc picture

I found this picture that had been floating in desktop digital space. This is from Jan/2005...just after we were officially engaged.

Brunch with the Babes

Went over for some yummy vittles to Zoe's house (Chris/Lisa). The little gal had her pick of suitors for the day...she is a big cutie with those wide eyes of hers!



Oscar (Tessa/Jamie) & Daniel (Shannon/Chris) showed Monte their new crawling moves, standing & Oscar's trademark 4-wheel cruising for the CD rack. Visions of busy times ahead in our future!

White Elephant Year 4

The friend flock showed up with crappy gifts wrapped beautifully in hand. It was the fourth year we have had this party at our house. I think some of the gifts keep getting passed around year after year or hidden in the coats/bags of the guests as they were leaving.







Monte scored a vintage ceramic piggie bank after the whole swapping, stealing & hemming-hawing was over. I've decided my faith is OK with the pig, we performed a quick ritual & the pig is now converted.



We even managed to have a break in the rain & some time to hang patio-side for smore making (a big thanks Erin!). Also a big thanks to Sheri for all the pre-party help.




Of course there had been last minute preparations. Lief had a huge load of wood delivered for the winter chimenea festivities while I took over the tree decorations (cranberries & popcorn) & still have stained fingers to prove it :-)

Various Monte Videos

Our budding Soccer Stud...hmmm, takes after his dad or his mom? here Monte is playing goalie, not half bad either :-)


Untitled from liefowitz on Vimeo.

Lief is breaking him into the newspaper reading tradition quite early. Not taking after his Momma here!


Untitled from liefowitz on Vimeo.



And...his first snow fall, very exciting!


Untitled from liefowitz on Vimeo.

Thank you Cousins

Thanks for the great Hanukkah gifts...the books, *gently* (ha) used clothes from the Seattle boys & fun treats from LA. Unfortunately he got a little upset when I ran off to get the camera (ah, the wonders of separation anxiety).

our BIG 9 month old

Funny to think he used to swim around the bucket of this scale. Now he overflows it, keeps trying to escape or grabs at all the nifty scale gadgets. He is 30" long, 22 pounds/9 ounces & still has a huge head, I forget the %. The persistent ear infection is a bummer but luckily the fever went away, whew!

the Hanukkah Bear

We outfitted Monte in a new winter bear suit. Just in time for his first SNOW storm! I imagine we will have lots of opportunities to test our the Hanukkah bear suit!





We trekked out in the weather to join the Hanukkah party with our Rabbi & meet his new bundle Liat.



It was held at the Asian Cultural Center, a good group turn out with loads of latkes! I still like mine best (my first cooking attempt this year).

Happy Hanukkah!

Monte loves his new Hanukkah sweater! How lucky to have homemade sweaters from Nanu, with love in every stitch. Here he is posing as a babushka...quite canning resemblance, wouldn't you say. p.s. happy anniversary, 46 years...woo-hoo!

Bath Time

Our little fish is quite happy for our evening bath time rituals. Getting him out of the tub & into his pajamas is not as easy.

Floor Moves

Our little man keeps himself busy on the floor. Monte hasn't quite put all the pieces of crawling in order but instead entertains himself kicking his legs out while flat on his tummy. As of today he is just starting to get up on his knees, rocking back & forth. You can almost see his brain figuring the steps out slowly. He is one strong tike & makes these noises (Lief calls him a baby sheep) while working on it.


Floor Moves from liefowitz on Vimeo.

Party at Palatine

So Monte was quite the host to...Nanu & Papa, Aunt Ilana with Uncle Bear, Roxanne, Leila & Leo plus Aunt Mishy with Uncle John, Ruby, Owen, Avery & Gus. We missed Aunt Didi with Uncle Guy, Oscar & Ella this year.

Monte's Musical Sidekick

Sleep deprivation reaches new depths in our household.


Monte's Musical Sidekick from liefowitz on Vimeo.

Cass Family Moments

Here we go... the Cass clan reunited for Thanksgiving (the Cass/Ashley Berkeley group was there in spirit).




Uncle Bear holds Monte, cousin Leo & his curls smile for the camera, cousin Avery eats poo, cousin Roxanne plays with Monte.




We even managed to have a family swim at Ilana & Bear's hotel.