Mia Ruby Stein-Blumberg arrives!

Mia is 14 months

2007-09-10T21:15:00.000-04:00

Where o where did the time go? Mia is now a walking baby-talking toddler with the sweetest nature and a great appetite for all things editable and bangable.

WHIMZ Live Animal Programs for a Jonah-man party

2007-02-21T20:23:00.000-05:00

Jonah turned 5 and treated his friends to a face to face touchy feely meeting with some very cool live animals. There was a python, chinchilla, rabbit, field mouse and more. Here is Jonah beside his mom wearing the python.

The kids love WHIMZ, they have programs in their own space on St Clair, camp and school programs and they do house calls for parties.

Dinner with Lily Scarlet, A, H, Er and peanut butter man

2007-02-21T20:16:00.000-05:00

Anita and Jay brought Lily Scarlet in from Montreal to meet family and it was great to hang with Er and H and see the two little ones together. Lily is a delight, easy going like mom and dad and all are enjoying this first treasure. Anita is a beautiful mom and Jason is having great success with his blogging, all of which is way way too adult for a link [look up "drinking for two" in Google] except for this pearl for the kid in all of us: "sometimes the smell of peanut butter can be so over whelming but that won't stop me from wearing it."

Sasha and Mia charms

2007-02-21T20:10:00.000-05:00

For Valentines Day Dad bought Mom a mother of pearl butterfly but the silver chain was too small and so the gift was swopped in for an S for Sasha, M for Mia and ziconian ruby heart charm necklace. Mia just loved it, she went bugged eyes, then leaned forward in rapid succession to grab it!

Ethan is 5 years old!

2007-02-21T19:47:00.000-05:00

The Singer-Sheps and Blumberg families gathered for Ethan's big boy dinner at home (we were not invited bowling with the 33 friend, smart move). Great food and conversation. Ethan walked all over his cousin's back and walked with cousin Katie on his shoulders. Ethan is quite the host, happy birthday big E.

Happy Eight month Mia!

2007-02-21T19:28:00.000-05:00

This has been a very busy month with Mia cutting 3 teeth over the last two weeks, wanting to pull herself up to standing before she crawls, leaning forward to give kisses and just being a delicious and happy little girl. Here are some of the happy events this month starting with a play date with Siena Parekh.

Jennifer Gould returned home with Braidan and Caitlyn for a visit and Mom and Dad held an open house for all the family and friends. Here are shots of Mia grabbing Jonathan's face, Jennifer and her two cuties and me and the gals.

COOKERYDOO - Betsy is two plus two!

2007-02-03T15:46:00.000-05:00

Betsy had a fun 4th birthday at the Cookerydoo, a cooking and crafts spot on Roncesvales. It is a lovely space that uses the front and back areas really well to prepare, bake, offer up the next craft and keep things nicely moving along. There is lots of space for parents or other aged kids to hang out in whatever area is not the centre of attention for the party. Betsy's Mom was very happy, her words later. Here's how the bash rolled out. Betsy started with rolling and squishing sugar cookie dough in the kitchen.

We then hung out at the work tables in the front and decorated cake boxes (that the sugar cookies were put into to take home) while the work area was cleaned.

Meanwhile the kitchen was preparing toasted cheese sandwiches and fries and its a good thing Mom had her funky shoes on because things really start to move.

We were lead back into the work area with a little game of tippy toe quiet to build up excitement for the snacks and then there was a little free for all toasted cheese and chips. When the kiddies had left their food, the big moment, a very pretty purple cake appeared wrapped in a pink boa with star candles and feather sticks for Betsy. After the candles were smoking, the cake icing sugar was all rolled off to avoid the sugar and the cake refrosted to serve. And it was deliciously moist. Bonus!

Here is Momma and Mia hanging out in the front during the lunch snack. Seems like Cookerydoo is doing something special turning quality family moments into fun creative adventures in the kitchen with an easy going and well organized team. Cindy, the birthday girl's mom, gave Cookerydoo the big thumbs up: It was awewsome, they were fun, professional and very easy to work with. One of the teachers has experience with kids with special needs and they were sensitive to Betsy's hearing sensitivity and kept the music low until Betsy wanted it louder. And Cookerydoo is SavvyMom approved.

Happy 7 month birthday Mia!

2007-01-21T20:22:00.000-05:00

Here I am a week before my 7th birthday at a big pool and I am really not sure about all that water and those noisy splashing kiddies. For my birthday we went over to Rachel and Doron and Zoe and Meeka for brunch and met lots of new people who wanted to meet the little girl down the street and then we hung out at home because it was so cold, brrrr. I'm eating fruit and vegetables and drinking a little less milk and I love my sleeps. Everyone is surprised my hair is still blond and my eyes are blue. Now I am on the top level for the exersaucer and I love to rock as I sit and reach far for things. I get really excited when I wake up and when its bath time and when I get my mushy food in the colored bowls. I am happy in my crib though sometimes I have bad dreams. When I wake I sing until the funny big people come by to play.

Here Auntie Raina gets a giggle with a jiggle on New Years day.

Thinking of others: two stories of brave women

2007-01-06T11:01:00.000-05:00

Dear Mia, you grow strong and give us lots of big smiles and laughs. We are so happy you are happy and I hope you will grow up like your mom to speak your mind and go where your heart takes you. So I wanted to share with you two remarkable stories from the paper today of brave women who made a difference. Love Daddy.

"Life in New Orleans turns tragic for Canadians" tells the story of Helen Hill, 36-year-old animator and filmmaker, who set up the Halifax chapter of Food Not Bombs with husband Dr. Paul Gailiunas while they lived in Dalhousie and who moved to New Oleans in 2001 to make a difference. They inspired their neighbors with their love and generosity. Paul worked with a medical clinic for the poor run by the Daughters of Charity religious order and Helen was part of the community of artists, poets and anarchists. Paul was a musician in his spare time and left Canada to practise medicine in a Third World environment (in the US!). On Thursday Helen was killed by a bullet through her throat and Paul was shot 4 times protecting their two year old son Francis. “They came back to New Orleans because they wanted to be part of the reconstruction and they wanted to come to help,” said Helen's brother. “They are wonderful people, two bright spots in New Orleans,” said Sheri Branch, who was taking care of Francis while Dr. Gailiunas was being treated in hospital. “They gave us hope that people could live together.”

"Amid the intifada, a courageous friendship" tells the story of Tali Fahima who journeyed to Jenin to meet with Zakaria Zubeidi, the local head of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade after he survived an assassination attempt. “I went to meet with the enemy. I broke the walls that the state built. And I'm not a lefty; I come from the Israeli mainstream. It's something that really scared them.” Tali was freed Wednesday after 28 months in prison and she intends to work from Jaffa to support the children's theatre in Jenin that Zakaria was part of as a kid.

Dancing in the new year

2007-01-03T01:39:00.000-05:00

Mia rang in the new year with her first cold but it isnt slowing her down too much. Happy new year!

We went to La Palette to ring in the new year with a very tasty meal and then had a tasty brunch with the one and only Yvette.

Mia and I met with Shlomit and hung out with baby Zohar for the first time at the local coffee joint.

A lovely dinner with Jill and Jeremy featuring Cumbrae Farm ribeye and buffalo, Pam's famous brussel sprouts and steamed tilapia and whole fish in salt crust for the fishertarians.

Mia is 6 months

2006-12-21T23:29:00.000-05:00

It was the festival of lights and good food and Mia got her appetite in gear.

Our little girl is 24 lbs at 6 months and started gobbling cereals two weeks ago and is now starting on pureed fruit and veg. Amazingly Dr. Peer is betting she will only be about 25 lbs at one year. Ummm. We'll see. She just discovered her ears; we thought she might have an ear ache. Mia is content but loud when hungry or tired or in the mood to sing. She has a lovely laugh and a big wide smile. When she gets excited she gets really big wild eyes, just like her sister. She enjoyed the exersaucer for a while and then when we finally got her into the jolly jumper she was heavy enough to drag it down to her knees. So no jumping. But she started sitting up in the last two weeks and does pretty well supported by a breast feeding pillow. We went awhile not knowing who she looked like but Dad now sees his head and Moms eyes while Mom sees her Dad's head and Dad's eyes. At least we know whose hands she got - those yams are made for bowling. And watch out if you get your face too close to her, she loves to grab your cheeks and really hold on. Yeoow. Mia you are such a delight! Ohh, and after not taking a bottle for the longest time she now sucks back milk from a cheap storage bottle. A foodie after my own heart; can't wait until she is eating with us. Watch out. And that means, oh yes, mom and dad can go out once in awhile without elaborate plans. Almost forgot, she is really drooling, maybe time for some teeth to pop out.

Happy birthday Matthew!

2006-11-27T01:09:00.000-05:00

The birthday boy really got into dancing to the guitar which was the warmup for the parachute game whitch he rolled it into a magic shawl. Then we kicked back with pizza and drinks. Matthew really knows how to throw a party! Thanks for the great party!

Five months

2006-11-26T13:25:00.001-05:00

Looking a little Scandinavian.

Mia has had about 3 weeks in the exer-saucer and is now wiggly and wants to be held standing. She is almost too large for her swing rocker which is a bit scary as she sleeps so well in it. Her loud voice comes out only with Mom or Dad although she laughs her head off if you bounce her a bit on your knees.

Four months!

2006-10-22T23:12:00.000-04:00

Mia is three months old today, hooray

2006-09-21T23:00:00.000-04:00

Mia has been so sweet and only cries when hungry or tired. Sounds like she is getting her voice!

Happy birthday baby girl, you are so so sweet and wonderful. We love your little smiles and first gurgles of delight.

Mia's baby naming

2006-09-17T18:38:00.000-04:00

Mia's baby naming was a lovely event, in a house filled with people and the sounds of children playing in the backyard. Here is Jessica bringing Mia in to the room and handing her to Henry. She subsequently feel asleep! Shulamidt looked at me with wide open eyes, mouthing, "Is that her? She is so big!"

Here are the notes of my words about her name.

"Thank you for coming today to celebrate and honour Mia Ruby.

Mia’s first name means "Mine" and we remember Marcia's gentle and devoted father Mayer who fixed every broken toy and household appliance, doted on each of us and who came ahead to Canada with Doreen to help bring us to a new life in Toronto.

Mia's second name Ruby remembers Ruth, Pamela's grandmother who passed away last year. Ruth was a strong, determined woman who was on top of family going ons, politics and first run movies to the ripe old age of 95.

Mia's Hebrew name is Mira Ruth.

In Hebrew, Mira means Gods Compassion. She is a vigorous, content, happy feeder with a sweet smile who only cries when she is hungry or tired. She gave us reason for joy even as we grieved for Sasha. r Sasha's death was a blessing to two grieving parents.

Ruth means gentle companion. The Book of Ruth is a very important one, demonstrating the loyalty of a moabite woman to her jewish mother in law, the acceptance of a non jew by jews due to her good deeds, the laws and practises guiding us to care for the poor and hungry in our midst and a happy ending for a strong woman.

We also remember Ruth Koretzky who embodied compassion, gentlessness, perception and great courage.

The birth of Mira was a remarkable act of compassion for Pamela, myself and our whole family.

She was also a gentle companion doing somersaults in Pamela's womb as we lived at Sick Kids Hospital.

However only after her birth did we discover an amazing coincidence. Mira is the first binary star discovered. The second star was first viewed by astronomers in the mid sixteen hundreds. Comprised of two stars orbiting each other, it was only with the Hubble telescope that a distinct feature of Mira was discovered: the two stars appear connected by a plume of gas. The two sisters hearts beat inches apart as Pamela held Sasha close.

When viewing Mia for the first time, three months ago, our friend Wilf remarked to two tired parents who may not believe in or see miracles: what is a miracle but ordinary events with extraordinary timing?

Mira Ruth, you bless us, we hope you enjoy great compassion and loyal companionship, just as your namesakes.

Thanks to Marcia and Heny who opened their house when also hosting events for the South African women for women conference.

I am happy Mia shared her weekend with such strong woman."

In his closing remarks, Rabbi Bielfeld remarked that Mia was also a Hebrew transliteration of "Mi Yah"?: "This is most likely an elliptical form of Mi Ca Yah - Who is like God? - a feminine correspondent of Mi-ca-El - Michael or Michaela. However you trace its derivation, its import is one of wonder, so appropriate for your daughter."

Other friends see the word as meaning Mi Adonai or 'from G-d' along the lines of gift from G-d.

I see in Swedish and Danish it is a pet form of Maria, meaning Beloved. She is all these things as well as content, strong and happy.

A short postit note: beware of only using internet baby name sites when quickly researching baby names as the information is short and sweet and limited, good to say 'something' when you must put together your words quikly but beware of spinning too much of a tale around the baby name sites. Mia is provided typically as a name of Italian origin meaning Mine, I found out after the fact that there is a Hebrew equivalent of interest. Our children are original and deserve original research in specialist forums and texts especially when we often have months heads up.

Mia's first Bjorn

2006-09-16T18:06:00.000-04:00

Mia seemed really content in the Bjorn, eyes wide open for about 20 minutes.

And here is the video.

Jessie, Mia and Erin

Mia's first trip to Montreal

2006-09-12T23:59:00.000-04:00

Bertha's death was not a happy occassion for Mia's first trip to Montreal but it felt better to be all together with the family from Toronto, Edmonton and San Francisco. I love this picture of Uncle Edward having fun with Mia, glad she brought some joy to the rememberance of a great granny.

We stayed with Lynn while in Montreal and its been almost three years since we visited her place. So much has happened in the meantime.

Mia is over 15 pounds, here is she is after an explosive poop just as we were leaving. Sleep, eat and run as Jessica changes the sheets. Nice auntie she is.

Mia's blanket

2006-08-26T07:34:00.000-04:00

Suddenly Mia is all there, staring at us, starting to smile when we rub her cheeks, looking around, getting more vocal, wriggling more strenuously, filling out her 3-6 month clothes, telling us she wants to see the world out of her stroller, raising her voice to be picked up and carried.

She was all eyes when we visited 4D, to introduce Mia to the doctors and nurses who cared so well for her big sister. They held her and enjoyed her weight and strength. They are happy for us that such a difficult time has been followed by such a joyous time. Mia is her own beautiful soul and yet she also comforts us. I love how her baby smell fills her room.

Earlier in the week we visited Bubby for chili and Auntie Raina showed us Mia's blanket and enjoyed her as Bubby looked through Heather's pictures of Sasha to pick one for her wall. Heather provided us a full collection of 5x7 black and whites images of our session. I love the colours in Bubby's house.

Mia grows and grows

2006-08-23T22:58:00.000-04:00

Mia is just starting to smile and is so content, except when hungry. And since she weighed in at 12.3 at 8 weeks, she's a drinker. So long nights for Pamela and nights where Mia sleeps 4-5 hours. Last few days feels like we may be in for the 8-10 week growth spurt. So all is good with beautiful Mia who is still a baldy. She loves her swing, to stare at faces and light and is such a wriggler. Cant believe she has rolls of fat on her legs and arms. We are introducing her to friends and family and relaxing a little. Boy are the little boos different. Mia latched right away, has only sucked a pacifier a couple times and sleeps. Its been a long time since we posted as we settle into a new life where we love Mia and remember and celebrate Sasha. We have slipped from one extreme to the other and it feels almost wierd to be toting Mia around, just carefree parents of a very robust sweet baby girl.

So the last weeks we visited Jen and Ryder for a home cooked Sunday morning breakfast and relaxed catchup with Sadie and Lucille and then spent a few days at the cottage and then had a barbecue for Paul and Lindsay and the boys from Bermuda with their savage tans, meeting Charlie for the first time. Playing in the garden with the soccer ball by the barbeque made for a lovely night. By our count Paul had no less than 12 beers and then sauntered over to the taxi and was gone. It was penalty shootouts and ball throwing in front of the house and three moms breast feeding.

During Sasha's shiva we reconnected with many people we have not seen the last two years or just generally. 24 years have passed quickly since a dozen of us innocents visited Israel during the Lebanon war in 1982. Sara dropped by with Steve and I got in touch with Jordan. Hitch Hike Mike is back in town to care for a friend who is dying. Then Sara had us over with Leora and Asher and Noah and Aubrey for a sparkling family meal and lots of looking at pictures and maybe a little too much pedriatric medicine: we asked Asher about a small amount of blood in a poop and then we shared with them some of our journey with Sasha. It was very special to have all these kids notice Mia and be around us. Sara has a delightful multi split bungalow showing her special talents in every direction. Its been a treat to be around so many happy kids as Mia grows and grows.

Mia Ruby Video

2006-07-22T17:33:00.000-04:00

Happy 1st month Mia!

2006-07-21T23:06:00.000-04:00

Mia is a very sweet, good natured little girl. Four weeks after being born 4 weeks early she is caught up on her weight and is starting to talk a little more, getting just a bit louder telling us its time for a feed. She loves her crib and mobile and sleeps well in the car seat, stroller and her floor mat. Pamela is back to spending all day with her and she is such a wonderful mother, watching Mia and her feed is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Mia has had lots of visitors, tonight it was Jonahman, Bobber and Burley for some Italian and icecream at Dutch Dreams and a walk around the block. Happy first month birthday Mia!

Everything is a first

2006-07-08T06:46:00.000-04:00

Mia sleeps and feeds during the day then feeds voraciously from about 11pm to 3am. She is a sweet sweet baby who smiles while she dreams.

We went for a first visit to Sasha's friends Jonah and Oliver on Fri night then drove out of the city Saturday to Paint Lake. Mia stayed indoors throughout with Mom and let Dad go for swims with Sam. We had a lovely night with Henry, Marcia and Sean then enjoyed the peace and quiet a few days longer. It was amazing to see Mia here, we met one of the neighbours and saw Sam get beaten back from the water by two ducks looking after their own.

This week Dad returned to work and Mom is with Mia all day. See new photos on Mia's website.

Our first long walk

2006-07-01T00:58:00.000-04:00

We had a quiet day together, starting with a visit to Dr Peer, where Mia weighed in at 6lb 8oz, 2 more than her birth weight, which shows her great appetite. Next visit is in two weeks, then a month later for a first shot. In the afternoon we walked down to Cedarvale and along the ravine to the park and then back out to Vaughan and down to St. Clair. This was a walk Pamela did with your sister Sasha every day and it was our first walk together in Cedarvale since November so it was very special. We bumped into David who was out on a run and he told us about his kite surfing, where you can leave the water and fly up 15 feet. It sounds fantastic. Mia, you give us such joy and I am so happy to hear Mom exclaiming how sweet you are and how funny you are and what a good little girl you are. You are beautiful and we especially love seeing your little smiles while you sleep and dream.

Two stars

2006-06-29T16:36:00.000-04:00

Mia's Hebrew name is Mira and we discovered this lovely coincidence today: "Mira (ο Cet / ο Ceti / Omicron Ceti) is a red giant star approximetaly 418 light-years away in the constellation Cetus. Mira is a binary star, Mira A being the giant, along with Mira B, a white dwarf. Mira A is also an oscillating variable star and was the first non-supernova variable star discovered, with the possible exception of Algol... The companion star was resolved by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1995, when it was 70 astronomical units from the primary; results were announced in 1997.

The HST ultraviolet images and later X-ray images by the Chandra space telescope show a spiral of gas rising off Mira in the direction of Mira B."

More from Wikipedia on Mira

Two sets of letters

2006-06-29T15:58:00.000-04:00

Auntie Jess came to put up the letters of your name on the wall of your room. My camera didnt quite get the true colours, Sasha's letters are pink, Mia's are pink polka dots on white.

This is the final day of the shiva for your sister and the heavens let loose in a waterfall of rain and a symphony of thunder and lightning. Meanwhile back in our little house, your name is now beside your sisters and that is a great way to end the shiva week. Tomorrow we go to the synagogue for morning prayers and you get to see Temple Emanu-El where your dad and uncles had a lot of fun as teenagers and learned about our ancestors and their turning to one god from worshipping many gods. Auntie Lynn, with her work among the Cree, can help you appreciate other spiritualities.

Such a comfort

2006-06-29T01:49:00.000-04:00

Beautiful Mia comforts us with her presence, excites us with her energy and surprises us with her voracious appetite for mom's milk. Pamela's hours of breast feeding every day warms my heart. How special it is to see a mother who loves to care and nourish her child. My sleep gets deeper, though I quickly realise in the morning that Pamela was up three, four or five times feeding as Mia's appetite increases. We took a short walk today, as we slept in, hopefully tomorrow we can get our earlier and go to Cedarvale where we had such special walks with Sasha. Enjoy the new pictures of Mia at her website.

Such a joy

2006-06-27T00:24:00.000-04:00

Mia you give us such happiness and it was a wonderful moment to have Dr Peer lay his hands on you for the first time, measure your length and head, note you have put on 2oz and lie you on your tummy to see you raise your head. The normal jaundice we expect to pass in a few weeks. Burly invited us to PEI in August to visit them on holiday so we have a wonderful time to look forward to.

So much has been said of Mia's connection to Sasha and it has been very comforting. We will treasure Mia in her own right, outside of Sasha's brave struggle. She is gurgling now after a feed. Mia moves from breast to bottle voraciously, she sleeps and lets us sleep, she lets us know when she is hungry without any distress. Hopefully these patterns continue as she gains strength and awareness.

Sasha's day

2006-06-26T03:58:00.000-04:00

Today was Sasha's day but I wanted to share pictures of you sleeping peacefully. You had such a lovely rest you kept Momma up with feeds from 10.30pm to 2am! You were so comforting to us as we laid your sister to rest and as we sang the shiva service to Sasha.

Mia is a delight

2006-06-23T22:56:00.000-04:00

Our first full day home together was wonderful with lots of feeds, sleep, an early evening walk and then some good socializing. Anita and Erika dropped by, as did my mom and dad and brothers Kevin and Sean and they all got to see Mia hanging out comfortably, eyes open, little hands and feet swinging. She is relaxed except when she turns into the intense little drinker and is hitting nipple and bottle indescriminately. She is an absolute delight.

The walk was lovely, just around the corner to the Barns, bumping into Virginia and Penny, Doug and Oscar along the way and then meeting a 7 month and 2 month old puppies who decided to play between Pamela's legs. Virginia walked out her garden to hug Pam and with her fingers nail full of soil from her great garden her enthusiasm about the Cycle of life continuing was very felt. I love the wall of Cosmo that line her pavement mid summer. And it is always a hoot to catch up with Penny and Doug and see Oscar or Beck, Doug ran in to fetch a celebratory beer. After 9 months Pam loves just a mouthful of beer. Hatch was the first, bringing a single beer to the hospital, which if you know Hatch epitomises his funny spark.