Learning to Vaccinate

At two months, Julia had her first vaccines today and now sports a hot pink band-aid:

We celebrated by going to Swingers, a diner near the pediatrician's office.  Here, Julia is meeting our waitress and placing her order (a milkshake, of course):

We left with a note from our waitress and a little t-shirt from the diner:

                                                                                                                           

Learning to Think

It's fun to read Julia's mind since her vocabulary is so limited right now!

"I think you have a slightly amusing point there."

~ ~ ~ ~ 

"I think your facts are not accurate."

~ ~ ~ ~ 

"I think that's an interesting point, but I'm not convinced."

Learning to Imagine

Julia daydreams and imagines what the future will be like for her.  Here she is in her tribute onesie to the band who sang a song with her name in it:

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me

So I sing a song of love, Julia

Julia, seashell eyes, windy smile, calls me

So I sing of song of love, Julia

                                   

Learning to Grow

In this video, you'll see how Julia is growing (smiles and sneezes included):

Learning to Hug

Okay, well maybe it starts out as a burping position, but there is no doubt that when Julia falls asleep on your shoulder, it sure feels like a loving hug.  

Learning to Look

Mother's Day-- to see and be seen.  In this late night photo, I love how connected Julia is to what she is seeing. May we all continue to have these moments of connection with our mothers and those we love.

Learning to Work

Take Your Daughter to Work Day was sometime last week, but it's really every day since Seth works from home.  Here Julia gets a closer look at the writing and publishing business.

Seth asks three things of Julia:

1.  Be a good person.

2.  Be good to your mother.

3.  Keep my books in print.

Learning to Sleep

I don't know if it was the pajamas from Helene & Ezra

or Seth's magical touch with the midnight feeding, 

but Julia slept for 5 hours straight for the first time!  YAY! 

She woke up happy...

...until she was annoyed I was taking so many pictures!

Learning to Calm

When it seems like there's nothing we can do to alleviate Julia's discomfort and we are exhausted from trying "the 5 Ss" (swaddle, side, shush, swing, suck), I do the sixth S...singing!  This song from my teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh, helps me to calm down and brings me to this wonderful moment.  My ease in the world then helps Julia.

Here are the simple words:

In, Out
Deep, Slow
Calm, Ease
Smile, Release
Present Moment
Wonderful Moment

Here's the effect:

I also look forward to teaching Julia other songs from the sangha and mindfulness community, like this one:

I am a cloud, I am the blue sky
I am a bird spreading out its wings
I am a flower, I am the sunshine
I am the earth receiving a seed

chorus
and I am free when my heart is open
Yes I am free when my mind is clear
oh dear brother, oh dear sister
let's walk together, mindfully

You can hear the melody for this song, by clicking here:
http://www.plumvillage.org/songs-for-the-practice/82-i-am-free.html

Learning to Bless

Julia's first Shabbat experience also coincided with the first night of Passover and a seder.  What a joy it was to have my mother, Keith, and Lois there to share in this sacred moment with Seth, Julia, and me.  For her second Shabbat the following week, we were joined by Valerie and Jackie, and Seth's parents were with us for Julia's fifth Shabbat.  It has been special to have family around for these first few Shabbat dinners.


It was particularly meaningful for me to reach the moment where parents bless their children, after lighting candles and before drinking the wine.

I remember seeing this custom for the first time during college in the home of my professor, Marc.  It was so beautiful to me as he held his hands over each child's head and recited the blessing, whispered into their ear, and followed it with a kiss.  Seth and I got to do this for Julia a few times now, and we look forward to many more Shabbat nights of blessing.

Here is the traditional blessing in English, to which I add my desire that Julia not only emulate the positive qualities of her ancestors but also that she be blessed to be as she is, her own person in her own right, with the abilities to continue the goodness of the past and make changes to improve the world.

May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

May the Eternal Source bless you and watch over you.

May God shine light upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Infinite One lift God's face towards you and grant you peace.

                                      

Learning to Celebrate

Celebrating ONE DAY with Seth telling us "born yesterday" jokes:

Celebrating ONE WEEK with Carvel ice cream cake:

Celebrating ONE MONTH with a much more enjoyable stroll around the block:

Sporting blanket handmade by Aunt LoLo