9 Are the Months Until A Baby's Born

The hair looks about the same. The room didn't change much. Something doesn't quite look the same though...

Celebrating the Jewish Life of Ethan Robert

Over 3,700 years ago God told Abraham:

And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a sign of a covenant between me and you. And he who is in his eighth day shall be circumcised among you, every male, throughout your generations…

Genesis 17:11-12

Thanks to that commandment, all Jewish homes with new baby boys get completely invaded when the baby is only a week old and everyone watches this precious and perfect new baby get mutilated - AND the invasion is to last for an entire weekend. (I'm sure if you look in the Torah commentary, it's all there somewhere...) Truthfully, we were so honored and grateful to our families who traveled, took time out of their work and busy lives, and joined us for Ethan's bris and a weekend of celebration. All of Mommy's siblings and nieces and nephews came, all 4 of Ethan's grandparents were with us, as was their phenomenal 90-year-old Gigi!!!

On Thursday night (the night before Ethan's bris), the family and cousins arrived, and naturally we stayed up way past all children's (and adults') bedtimes. Cousin Jacob has a very special bond with his blue "Doggie" and could think of no better present for his new baby cousin than Ethan's very own Doggie. I was so touched by how thoughtful that gesture was! Throughout the weekend, when Ethan cried, Jacob immediately went to grab Doggie to help comfort him.

Nana with both her oldest grandchild and youngest grandchild.

Friday morning arrives, and the cousins keep on playing while the kitchen staff and baby watchers do their jobs.

I invite the blog audience to create your own captions for the following moments captured in time:

Gabi had some of her very good friends come to help us welcome Ethan as well.

Preparations are ready. The mohel (who performs the circumcision) has arrived, and the brit milah can start!

Uncle Mitch is given the honor of kvatter and brings the baby to Grandpa.

Grandpa has the honor of sandak (who holds the baby during the circumcision).

Aunt Sandi helps as the kvatterin (who both brings the baby into the room where the circumcision takes place and brings the baby away from the area of the circumcision).

I prepared a program that included some explanations and readings for the ceremony.


As stated at the start of this post, the family invasion continued long after the bris ended:

electronic babysitting OR preparing our kids for the future?

Grandpa-Gabi time!

Is she really about to eat that piece of raw brocolli?? Grandma asks.

Yup, sure is.

This is like one of those kid's games where you are supposed to find the differences between these 2 pictures.

Picture #1: "Take a picture of me and Alyssa." Sammy photobombs.

Picture #2: "I don't like that my feed were in the front of the picture. Please take it again." This time, apparently, we photobombed.

Gigi time!

Ethan looks right at his great-grandmother.

a proud Gigi, now great-grandmother to 7!

Daddy and Ethan have both had a long, rough day.

Shabbat Shalom!

Cousins dance together as we welcome Shabbat.

An amazing pajama party picture of all 6 cousins - As Nana put it, "All big cousins have a little!" Too cute. :)

More fun with cousins:

Gabi climbs on Jacob.

Proud big cousin Mira holds Ethan.

Sammy thought he was getting a diaper change... until Gabi came to play.

black beans + Sammy + pink flower bib = a pretty cute combination

Zayde babysits.

4 amazing generations: Ethan, Ethan's Mommy, Nana, and Gigi

4 generations with big sister and spouses

The next morning at brunch:

And 3 other pictures taken from the great weekend together: