Yes, Really

Yesterday after work, I had to take both girls to the pediatrician for shots. LP needed a flu shot and AK needed a make-up shot (HIB) that they were out of last week when we went for her 4-month appointment. I was a little concerned about how I was going to be able to comfort them both at the same time, but apparently I don't give my girls enough credit.

The nurse and I agreed that LP should go first because she was more likely to run away. I sat her on her lap, pulled up her sleeve and held on tight to her little hand. She watched the nurse approach with the needle and sat calmly while being stuck. When it was done she examined her Scooby-Doo Band Aid as I set her down. She made not a peep.

AK made a tiny whimper when the initial prick was made, but other than that, nothing.

I quietly turned to the nurse and asked, "How often does that happen?" I did not dare mention WHAT had happened. "With a two year old? Almost never."

As we left the doctor's office LP made a point to stop everyone we saw and tell them that she had a boo-boo and show off her Band Aid. I put the cell phone on speaker to report in to the Hoos about his strong daughters and LP called out from the back, "I got a shot. It was cool."

I swear.

Two Cells = One Amazing Person

What a busy weekend! With the arrival of my brother-in-law and two nieces from overseas on Friday evening, our weekend was kicked into high-gear. It was chock full of family and food and fun in addition to the million other things that typically have to get done. Last night was the first night since Thursday that LP had her regular bath time regimen!

This weekend in particular really help me to see how much LP is growing and changing:

• Friday night she sat patiently (I can only assume) while piggytails were put into her hair at all sorts of angles by her older cousins.
  
• Saturday morning she impressed the stylists in our hair salon as she sat patiently on the Hoos' lap while they trimmed her bangs. I then took her to the playground and she proceeded to follow the lead of an older boy and go down the "roller" slide head first (man, I hope they have improved those things since we were kids, I remember getting my fingers pinched!).
  
• Saturday evening she sat at the Seder table for much longer than I anticipated and wowed many of my relatives by eating a hard-boiled egg with a fork. And as we left my parents' house on Long Island, she used all of her manipulation skills to try to convince my parents to let her stay over and awake, yelling out "Papa! Shopping!". As a two year old she already knows a.) that my dad is a total softie and she makes him melt every time she says "Papa!" and b.) my parents are big bargain hunters and have no problem going shopping just about anytime.
  
• Sunday afternoon she enjoyed roasting (kosher for Passover) marshmallows over the Hoos' fire bowl and helping to throw sticks into the fire. She also enjoyed showing her Hungarian cousins every nook and cranny of our house, crawling up the stairs, motioning for them to follow as she yelled out "Baby's room!".
  
• Sunday night she ate "steak" (aka brisket) at my sister-in-law's lovely Seder, one of the few items of meat protein she will actually let pass her lips.
• Monday morning I had an 8:30 doctor's appointment. LP sat so wonderfully in a chair in the corner of the examination room (unfortunately eating baby junk food, but sometimes bribery is necessary) while we listened to her sibling's heart beat. She did get riled up during the HOUR it took for me to get blood drawn, but everyone has their limits.
  
• Monday afternoon she had a nice visit with my parents and grandparents and then wowed me with all sorts of new vocabulary words and phrases like "no reach" and "watch kids" and "[LP] play too".

I am in awe that this beautiful, smart, amazing little toddler is the same chubby munchkin I gave birth to almost two years ago. It really is making me appreciate even more how amazing nature is. We created a little PERSON with her own personality out of two tiny cells! Wow....

Reflection

Today was the first day of Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. It officially started at sundown last night, but today was the first of two days that we go to synagogue to "celebrate."

Last year, LP was only a few months old when the holiday rolled around. She was immobile and relatively quiet so the the Hoos and I were able to stay in the sanctuary for the majority of the service. This year LP is an active, happy little girl; and despite the fact that she doesn't have many words, she certainly has sounds. Shortly after settling in to the way back of the sanctuary and opening our mahzor (special prayer books for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur), LP started to make her presence known. The Hoos quickly scooped her up and carried her out to the hallway. I stayed for another half hour or so before discretely making my way out as well.

Because we were not able to observe the entire service, I am determined to reflect on the holiday's meaning on my own. In all honesty, that is what I typically do anyway. Sure, I follow the service, but as with most things, it is important to connect it back to you, your life, and your experiences to make the recitations tangible.

In some respects Rosh Hashana is pretty similar to the secular New Year, a time to consider the events and your actions of the previous year and make resolutions for the future. Looking back over the past year I keep coming to a single conclusion: I am extremely fortunate. I have a wonderful husband, an awe-inspiring daughter, a comfortable house, a good job and a supportive and loving family. There is really nothing that I could possibly want for. And if there is anything I want or need, for the most part I am fortunate to have the means to take care of it. Basically, despite all of the things I find to complain about on a daily basis, I have nothing to complain about.

This makes it painfully clear that I need to be more charitable, more patient, and more positive. I am hereby committed to being more appreciative of what I have and taking responsibility for improving/enhancing/upgrading myself and whatever small part of the world I can impact. While it certainly sounds pat and cliche when looking at it in black and white, all I can do it start today and remind myself to look back often.