6 months

People always say to cherish every moment when children are small because they grow up fast. It's true! Years of longing stretch forever. Then finally I'm holding my very own baby and suddenly she is six months old!

Today* is her half birthday and se is developing so much, it's hard to keep up. Miriam Simcha has a delightful smile and the most infectious laugh that I'm never tired of.. she loves to eat (got my genes so no surprise there) and she adores when Tatti sings to her, he can calm her cries in an instant. She's a ham for the camera like her grandpa and she loves to stick out her tongue exclusively for grandma..

Miriam Simcha recently got her first two teeth, she rolls from back to front and swims on the floor. She's continuing full speed ahead try to get on all fours, and trying to sit up.


*this was written in April when Miriam Simcha turned 6 months and posted later

And you should teach them to your children...

Today Miriam Simcha saw a garbage truck for the first time. We were enjoying the beautiful weather in our front yard, when the truck made its rounds down our street. The friendly driver smiled at Miriam Simcha (who wouldn't, she's so cute?) and beeped his horn many times for her. Miriam Simcha observed intently but kept a straight face as she usually does when encountering new people and new situations. She allowed me to take her hand and we waved to the driver and said thank you and I imitated the sound of the horn.

 Watching her, the thought struck me, that garbage trucks are just one of the many things that we take for granted. We know what they are, we always see them and they are so much part of our life that we don't think too much about them (unless we are stuck behind one.) But the knowledge has to start somewhere.. as little kids we most likely learned what it was just by seeing the garbage truck pass down our block over and over again.

 Today was a reminder that little children are like sponges, that Miriam Simcha is watching and learning from everything around her. Its a reminder that I cannot just be passive and let things seep into her mind. Instead I must take an active role in her life and use every experience as a teaching moment so that she will grown up to be kind, gracious, thoughtful and appreciative.