The secret life of beas (Brad, Ethan, Ami and Shaina)

Ami Gabriel

The past week has been beautiful, stressful, hectic, soothing...which pretty much sums up parenthood. Our family help has been phenomenal (thank you Aunt mei mei, nana, Zaide, Bubbe, etc) and we are very lucky to have the support of our community in such an important time of our lives. 

The bris was today (pictures can be found here) and was great. If any of you happen to live near us and want to eat for a month, let us know. Food abounds. Ethan had a little trouble sharing the spotlight ("Abba, hold me! Don't hold the baby!") but eventually was his cute self. Even after the baby was officially named, when asked what his brother's name was, he retorted: "I can't tell you. It's a secret."

Without getting too sappy, we have named him Ami (, pronounced "Ah-mee", or"my nation" in hebrew) as a symbol of both my and Shaina's commitment to the Jewish community and to the Jewish people. His middle name, Gabriel, is a tribute to Shaina's late grandmother, Goldie/Gail Katzoff. 

We are beginning to remember what it is like not to sleep. I'm actually dumbfounded that I'm sitting here writing this when I should be catching another 20 minutes. 

Ami is a stunning little boy. He is very well behaved, and is a huge eater and pooper. Yup, he's a Sugar. 

Here are some pictures from the past few days. 

Welcome to the world

At 1:54 PM on May 5th, 2009, Shaina and I welcomed our second beautiful and healthy son to this world. Baby Boy Sugar #2 shares the distinction of a May birthday with numerous other family members in the Sugar/Katzoff clan, including the same birthday as his uncle Bryan. 

At 7 pounds, 11 ounces, he has a full head of blonde hair and blue eyes just like his older brother did. 

We went to the hospital on Monday evening, as Shaina complained of pain - despite us planning to be induced the very next morning at 8 AM. While the first dozen or so hours of labor were pretty boring, things sped up quickly, and we have G-d to thank for yet another handsome little addition to the Sugar clan. Lutheran staff, nurses, physicians were all phenomenal. Shaina got the epidural right away this time and it made all the difference in the world. Shaina and I laughed so much during this birth that the laughter itself nearly pushed the baby out! Mom and baby are doing just great, and will come home Thursday. 

Shalom Zachor will be at our home on Friday evening, 9:15 PM.

Bris will be May 12th, Tuesday - Lag B'Omer. at Skokie Valley Synagogue, 7:15 AM. 

Quote of the day goes to Big Brother Ethan, upon meeting his new sibling: "He looks like a tomato! He's all red!" Ethan is doing great, and is having a blast with all the presents and attention he's been getting!

"See you soon, baby!"

Killing some time at labor and delivery

About ready to go

Baruch HaBa

Waaaaaaaaa

Welcome to the fam

Kodak moment

swaddled goodness

Proud abba

bakin' in the rays

I lied. Here's another video. =)

Toddler Paleontology

Sorry we've been lax. Here's perhaps the last post before Ethan becomes a big brother!

Catching up

Elephant, want a number 8? Okay!

Ethan Sugar; musical enigma

Paaaaaanda!

Plus....take a look at Ethan's future baby brother:

Uh oh...looks like he has his abba's (old) nose....

Thanksgiving

Hontie (horsie) Rides

Apple Picking

If you can't see the video above, click on:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=991299875687620521&hl=en

Abba's little helper

video of apple picking still to come...

"Eighty Pibe or Tow."

That's my new favorite number. I love to watch Uncle Mosihy videos, and one of the songs asks: "How many animals do you know? EIGHTY FIVE OR SO!" So, that's my new numerical answer to everything. "Hey, Ethan - how many apples did you eat?" "What's the stock market down today?" "How many times did you go to the bathroom today?" All eighty-five or so. 

Here are some pictures to catch up on the past few weeks. Pre-school, building the sukkah, etc - stay tuned for some great pics and videos of me going apple picking with aunt meira and uncle josh.

 Sportin' my awesome "Ethan" backpack for preschool

Mommy and Abba taped a quarter to my back for tzedaka

Chilling outside and helping abba build our sukkah with Bob the Builder tools.