Contact Daniel

Monday, August 25, 2014

A Milestone for the Baby Book

In order to survive in this family, one must be heard
- and sometimes being seen with a hard core
pout is tantamount to being heard

This pout is classic theatrics. Good job, Raia!
Raia's 8th month was a turning point in her life. She just started ticking off the milestones like they were simple bullet points:
  • Sitting up unsupported: check
  • Transferring from all fours to sitting: check
  • Eating properly from a spoon: check
  • Grabbing spoon and feeding self (in the eye): check
  • Crawling(-ish): check
  • Pouting: check
  • Holding own bottle: check
  • Discovering and then eating own feet: check
But the most important milestone occurred on Raia's last day of 8 months, which was Aug. 17. This milestone is unique to a third child and is one you won't find in standard baby books. But it is vital nonetheless:

MILESTONE ALERT: In a swift and deft move, Raia swiped a piece of bread from an unsuspecting Lucas and instantly shoved it into her mouth, proceeding to nosh the entire chunk.

Lucas dropped to the floor in a heap of tears. And Raia chomped, unaware of his theatrics but fully confident of one critical fact: She will survive as the third sibling. 

When Raia was born 9 weeks early, we were told to lower our expectations by 2 months, so that Raia's developmental age would be adjusted for her early birth. But that was a deceptive and covert bit of information that lulled us - her brothers - into complacency.

Raia can now hold her own. In fact, at her last weigh in, the nurse declared that she was completely normal for her chronological age. And with thighs like those, she would certainly give pause to any sumo wrestler.

Now we, her brothers, must also begin to learn to give respect where it is due. And we will guard the food in our hands with fervor!  
I am the glue that holds these sibs together.
And they both get their drama from me. 


Monday, August 18, 2014

Aria of the Parents of Teething Babies

Who is the real victim here...
The teether or all those who surround her?
Ask any baby and they will tell you
the correct answer: It's the baby.

Lately mommy has been insisting that those swollen pink bulges on Raia's top gums will manifest in teeth in a matter of seconds. Mommy actually holds Raia's lips up so she can watch as those fresh ivories finally poke through. (Which they have not.)

In fact, she's been insisting for days now that the tooth would definitely emerge "tomorrow." And the "matter of seconds" that she so readily threw around has become innumerable. And yet with full faith - or hope - she continues to say that the tooth will pop out tomorrow. And then, she hopes, that she and abba will begin to see some semblance of sleep.

In the meantime, Raia shrieks in pain. And mommy just sings.

Mommy's Song

The tooth will come out tomorrow
Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow
there'll be a tooth.
Just thinkin' about tomorrow
Clears away the cobwebs of exhaustion till' there's only some

When I'm stuck in a day that's frazzled and whiney
I just stick up my chin and grin and PRAY oh...

(...Please God!!)

...The tooth'll come out tomorrow
So you got to hang on
till' tomorrow, come what may!
Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya, tomorrow
You're only a tooth away!

When I'm stuck in a day that's weepy and cranky
I just smear on the ora-gel and grit (my teeth) and PRAY oh...

(Repeat Chorus)

Raia doesn't just seem innocent. She is!





Thursday, August 14, 2014

Three, Three and Three!

Even at 4, th world continues to revolve around me!

I must interrupt my lack of blogging to allow mommy one last chance to brag about something she can only claim for the next hour: She and abba have three kids, 3 years and under. Three in diapers. And this "feat" lasted for almost 9 months.

In just minutes, I will be 4. And to celebrate I am making my parents' claim of hardship much less glamorous. Saying they have three children 4 years old and under is not nearly as impressive nor does it evoke as much sympathy.

As part of my second 4th birthday party - the first was on another continent a week prior - my classmates at Shalva took turns coming up to me to congratulate and hug me.


Esther

Ephraim

Even Mommy came to celebrate the festivities

And give hugs

As did my Nechama

We played under the tent

And I danced

My forever dance partner/teacher: Nechama!

Esther and I came back for seconds :)

And 20ths. 100ths. Etc. 
And that was just party #2. The first party I had was bestowed upon me in New York surrounded by friends and family of a different kind.

Lucas made a good friend - Jonathan.
At this party, Lucas and his new friend Jonathan policed the proceedings. After all, what are the three staples of a birthday party? 1. Balloons 2. Cake and 3. Presents. Until those three were enacted, Lucas and Jonathan made their presence known in no uncertain terms.

The sugar rush before the sugar

I posed and was posed for many photos


Raia was swept up by Gracie who made sure
the girls were taken care of 

Enjoy this view. Only in America.

The cake at birthday parties 2 and 3 will not look like this.

A near life-size Thomas balloon. And a blur of children.

Almost all of us are looking at the camera!

The rush of sugar swept me into my fifth year