Elevensies

Maddy reigned in her 11-month birthday by cutting her two front teeth! We noticed the first hint of tooth this past weekend while visiting with Saba and Savta Schatz in New York. Happily, the teeth don't seem to be bothering her too much. It will be interesting to see how their appearance changes her look; no doubt they will make her look much more "person" and much less "baby." Our trip to Long Beach was filled with fun visits with friends, Maddy's first trip to the Atlantic Ocean (she is definitely a hydrophile), and, of course, a trip to Gino's. Come Monday, I went back to Rashi and Ethan and The Boo started "Maddy-Daddy" week. I have really missed them a lot; they've kept themselves busy with errands, playdates, and trips to the park, and I have spent the majority of each day sitting through workshops and meetings. Nevertheless, I am feeling energized and am actually ready to greet my new class this coming Tuesday.






Over the course of the past ten days, Maddy has started to stand independently with some semblance of both balance and confidence. She cruises around by holding onto furniture, but has yet to take her first steps on her own. I am sure that's coming shortly; she is a girl on the move! It's truly a wonder to be in her presence these days. She adores music and dancing. We've enjoyed watching her bounce up and down and shake her head (another newish talent) to the musical stylings of Raffi. She is also proving to be quite fearless; she doesn't hesitate a lick when confronted with novelty. Instead, she takes a moment to orient herself, assesses the situation, and plows forward with determination and energy. This thrills me, not just because I'm a teacher and appreciate the importance of dogged effort and perseverance, but because I look forward to a time in the future when she is faced with a challenge and wants to give up and we can remind her (with total assurance) that she came into this world filled with moxie and ready to take on the universe with verve and panache. I want to design a onesie for this girl that says, "Bring It!" That's her credo, and it will serve her well, even if it means she keeps US on our toes!