Smiling Faces, Beautiful Places

Sophie and I just got back from a trip to Charleston, SC! We had a WONDERFUL time and did not want to come home! Nana went with us and we stayed with Aunt Sharon. Sophie got to play with her cousin Ava every day and night and got to meet all of my grandparents for the first time. It was truly an experience to drive her around the town where I grew up and to play with her in the park where I played as a young child. It was a very meaningful trip and one that I hope we can plan again very soon! Here are some pictures of Sophie with the relatives:

8 Crazy Nights!

I know I'm a little late, but I still wanted to share pictures from Chanukah. We had a great time- we had lots of latkes, fun with friends and family, even some snow, and a Chanukah bush!We had something going on almost every night. On the first night we had a quiet family dinner and gave Sophie a stuffed menorah to which she added a new candle each night. On the second night it was snowing! We had a nice dinner by the fire and gave Sophie a musical turtle toy. On the third night Sophie and I went to the aquarium with Bubby, Aunt Devorah, Yaakov, Leah, and the rest of Baltimore. Sophie loved seeing all of the fish! For the fourth and fifth nights we were at Nana and Poppa's house for shabbat. Barbara and Gary came for dinner and we had lots of fun! They even brought Sophie an adorable Disney Princess t-shirt. After shabbat we had a Chanukah party. Shimmy and I got a dvd camcorder from my parents. It is super cool and fits in my purse! We got a comfy blanket and a six pack of Sam Adams from Avery (woohoo!). Sophie got: A bookcase, lots of books, a cabbage patch doll, and a car/walker from Nana and Poppa; and a learning puppy from Aunt Ave. On Sunday we had a Chanukah brunch at Bubby and Zeidie's and Sophie got books and a singing bear from Bubby and Zeidie, a stuffed doggy from Aunt Libby, a turtle from Aunt Deena and Uncle Raffy, and a stuffed lamb from Uncle Rachi and Aunt Devorah. On the sixth night we were partied out from brunch so we had a quiet family dinner and gave Sophie three cd's. On the seventh night we had a Messing/Ziffer dinner. We gave Sophie some more books for her new book case. On the eighth night the Diamonds came for dinner! The girls had a fun time opening presents and playing! Lisa and Andy gave Sophie a book, a set of stacking/nesting cups, and a glow worm! We gave Sophie a safari activity center. And JJ (who works for Shimmy) gave us a picture frame and Sophie a stuffed bear. We had such a nice Chanukah!!!

Turkey for me and turkey for you, let's eat turkey in a big brown shoe

Sophie had a great first Thanksgiving! We had our Turkey Day usuals- Nana & Poppa, Aunt Avery, "Uncle" Giddy, and the Tusks (with Yigal as this year's newest edition!). Sophie ate turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, pumpkin bread, sweet potatoes, and shared 2 pieces of pumpkin pie with Nana for dessert! We can't wait for Chanukah- stay tuned for an update!

Hello, My Name Is _______

Like many people, I have two names- one English (Lauren), one Hebrew (Batsheva). Unlike your Rebecca/Rivkas or your Judith/Yehudits, my names are nothing alike. I was known to all except my Jewish Studies teachers in elementary school as Lauren from birth to age 13 when I went to the very religious Camp Sternberg.

Wanting to fit in with Naomi, Blumi, Faygie, Rena, Adina, and everyone else, I decided to go by Batsheva. And I liked it so much that it stuck. I enjoyed the feeling of inclusiveness that it gave me. Even more so, I liked the sense of Jewish pride and identity that it gave me. When my family moved from Charleston, SC to Silver Spring, MD and I began high school at the also very religious Yeshiva of Greater Washington there was no question as to what I told people my name was. I was just Batsheva. Except at home. Occasionally a friend would call after school and this would happen:
Mom: "Hello?"
Friend: "Hi. Is Batsheva there, please?"
Mom: "Hold on. Lauren! Phone!"
How I would pray my friend had not heard her. Sometimes friends did hear and I would have to explain that I had two names, and while I preferred to be called Batsheva, my parents sometimes called me Lauren. The jig was up when we all got our driver’s licenses. And when we took the SAT. And any other time that I had to use my legal name. When I went to college I had to register for classes with my legal name, so I became Lauren to my peers once again. At least in the classroom. At Hillel I was Batsheva. Which was all pretty confusing to people who knew me at Hillel and had classes with me. My good friend and roommate called me Batsheva, and would refer to Lauren as my “alias.” For example, if we had a class together and roll was called, she would say, “the professor is calling you by your alias” and we would giggle. She will never know how much that comic relief lessened this tension for me back then, and continues to do so now. The trend continued on through college, grad school, and my professional life. I have always been Batsheva to my close friends, and Lauren at work, the doctor’s office, and to the repairman (unless he is a Jewish guy from the community- then I am Batsheva, although my checks say Lauren… See how confusing this is?).

A few of years ago when I started an internship my name had been posted outside my cubicle- Lauren Liberman-Messing. The woman a few cubes down asked me, “Are you related to the Messings from Baltimore?” I said, “Yes, those are my in-laws.” She looked puzzled. I said, “I’m married to Shimmy.” She said, “I thought his wife’s name was Batsheva.” I sighed, “That’s me.”

My dual-name syndrome is something that I have had to deal with almost all of my life. How I have longed that my middle name, Rachel, was in fact my first name so that I could use the English or Hebrew pronunciation whenever/however I wanted. But I have accepted that to some people I will be Lauren, and to others Batsheva, and that is just the way it is.

Except to one special person- my little daughter. To her, none of this matters. To her, my name is Mommy.

10 months old!

On November 15 Sophie turned 10 months old! She is 29 1/4 in long (75%) and 19 lb 4 oz (50%). She loves to dance and clap her hands to music and waves "hi" and "bye" all day long to everyone, including inanimate objects! She is getting soooo close to crawling, but still prefers to to be carried everywhere (my poor back!).

We have been having lots of Fall fun: seeing the ducks at the park and playing in the leaves in the back yard.

Thanksgiving was a blast, but I'll save that for another post!

Something is better than nothing

Since becoming a mom "something is better than nothing" has become my mantra. And like a mantra it has an oddly soothing effect on me.

Now, I am what you call a type-A gal. I've been known to be obsessive, high strung, even... anal. I am a creature of habit. I like my routine, I like to do certain things by the book, and I like my house and my stuff to be "just so." Well guess what? People like myself do not fair well once a baby enters the picture. I was obsessed with doing everything the way I thought it should be done to the point of driving myself insane. I used to be a list-maker. You know the type. I would add already completed tasks to a list just so I could cross them off. After I had Sophie I stopped making lists because seeing only 1 or 2 things crossed off a long list at the end of the day would just depress me.

And then I found my mantra. I began to tell myself several times a day that something is better than nothing. For example, if Sophie wakes up from her nap early, causing me to only be able to go on the treadmill for 20 minutes instead of 35, that's okay. Because some time on the treadmill is better than none. And (warning- not for the squeamish or awkward) if I am only able to pump 2 ounces one night instead of 5 because I was stressed and hadn't remembered to drink all 8 cups of water that day, that is just fine. Because pumping some milk is better than pumping none. If I was away for a three day yom tov and got on the weight watchers scale and only lost .4 pounds instead of the previous week's 2 pounds, that was nothing to get upset about. Because losing some weight is always better than losing none (or gaining some back!). You get the idea.

So, now I have decided to share my mantra with all of you. I really think my mantra could be used in almost any situation, for anyone. It has really helped me to let go of my irrational belief that I have to be a super woman and get it all done the right way always. And if I help just one person by sharing this thought, then that is just awesome. Because helping one person is better than helping none!

Fall is here!

Even though it is still 80 degrees out, somehow the leaves know to change colors and fall from the trees. Somehow my nose knows to be stuffed up. And somehow we have still managed to have lots of Fall fun!

Last Sunday was our shul's BBQ and Sophie had a blast picnicing and swinging!

Sophie enjoyed eating and playing in the sukkah.

We went to Weber's Pumpkin Farm with the Diamonds a couple of weeks ago and had a great time!

Happy Fall, Everyone!!!

Inside, Outside, Upside Down

And of course in a box, in some socks, with a fox, eating lox, etc. etc. Statistics, chemistry, and even some Jewish history went out the window a long time ago, but Dr. Seuss will stick with me forever.

Sophie is now 9 months old, which means she has been outside of me as long as she was inside. She is SOOO BIG. You would never believe she used to be 6 pounds and have toothpick legs. She is finally moving, although her method of transportation is scooting backwards. On her tummy, not on her knees. And whenever she feels like it, which is once or twice a day. But hey, you gotta start somewhere. She has 3 teeth (2 front bottoms and 1 front top) and many more are on their way. She loves playing with other kids and has had several recent play dates (pictures and more details in upcoming posts).

And as for my every three months theory: The most notable strides since 6 months have been the scooting and the nicety and convenience of the fact that she eats real food (i.e., a nice serving of cholent, a piece of challah, and 1.5 pieces of sweet potato pie at a recent shabbat lunch out). These aren't as big accomplishments as the ones that accompanied 3 and 6 months (see previous entries for details), but the point is that Sophie is growing and changing way too fast!

On an administrative note, I feel like I am bursting with things to blog about. Every day I make a mental note to put to pen (keyboard) things I observe and ponder. But the day just isn't long enough. And Shimmy steals the lap top when he comes home from work. However, I have decided to write as many entries as I can, each with its own separate topic ASAP. Over the next couple of days, be prepared for a blog overload!

Sophie says...

Shana Tova!

(a little late)

Sophie is now 8 months old! She is verrrrrrry close to crawling, talks all day long (hi, mamamama, dadadada, bababababa mostly), and is just so happy and cute! She had a doctor's appointment last week and was 27 3/4 inches long (75%) and 17 lbs., 6 oz. (48%) Grow, baby, grow! These are her most recent professional photographs, taken a few weeks ago.

Nursing Twister

This is what we play a few times a day:

Right foot, left armpit

Left foot, mouth

Right hand, eye

Left hand, nose

Tushy, all over the place

My Turn

When I started this blog I kind of thought it would be more about me and being a mom. Kind of a venting place for the stress of having my life turned completely upside down by a little six pound rascal. Somehow it turned into Sophie's blog instead. Maybe because she's cuter. In any case, I'd like a turn to update you all on me. So here's what's changed with me over the last 7.5 months:
- I now change my shirt about three times a day- gotta love pea scented spit up.
- I can do almost anything with one hand, including wash my hands (one at a time).
- I have awesome biceps (I don't even lift for those- just work out the triceps! Thanks, baby girl!)
- I can turn any song into a lullaby. Tonight, in fact, I softly sang, "Baby, don't hurt me, don't hurt me, no more." Complete with the Night at the Roxbury head bop. You know you're doing it too right now.
- I have had several infections, spent close to three months somewhat depressed, and now I endure biting on a regular basis, but I am still nursing and going strong (and loving it).
-Most notably, I have lost every pound of my pregnancy weight (thanks to Weight Watchers and Sophie napping so I can work out almost every day) and I am now working on the stuff I wasn't happy with before I got pregnant. Note the timeline of fat:


Eight (yes, only eight) months pregnant at Chanukah last year. You don't notice the fat face, arms, butt, etc., when there is a huge belly diverting the attention away from the rest of the body.
At my six-week post-partem doctor's appointment. I cried when I saw this picture for the first time.
And last week on vacation. I now finally fit into all of my old clothes! A couple of weeks ago I put on a skirt I had bought post baby, zipped it up, and it fell off! I then put on an old skirt out of curiosity which fit perfectly. It was a size *6*. A SIX!!! Yahooooooo! I'm back, baby!
So that's me, in a nutshell. I'm sure I have left out a million things that I wanted to include in this post, but now that I have acquired "mommy brain" that is to be expected.

Sophie's First Trip to the Beach!

This past week we went to Rehoboth Beach, DE for some much needed fun in the sun! Sophie had a blast standing in the ocean, eating the sand, and napping in her baby cabana. We went shopping, played putt-putt, hung out on the board walk, and of course spent lots of time on the beach! Here are a few pics:

7 months already!

If anyone has any ideas as to how to make time stand still please tell me immediately. I have tried begging and pleading with Sophie, but she insists on growing. And I think she's growing even faster just to spite me. On August 15 she turned 7 months old! As if it knew how much I value punctuality, her first little tooth (bottom right) poked through that same day!
So what has Sophie been up to? Teething, learning how to sit unassisted (getting very good at it!), learning how to crawl (not happening anytime soon, which is fine by me), playing with friends, eating different types of foods, and playing with her cute little feet whenever she gets the chance.
Next week Sophie is going to the beach for the first time! I'm sure she eat lots of sand and have a great time.
And now, for the reason you "read" this blog: PICTURES




Don't you think I look like Mommy?














Eating mango in her mesh feeder.









It is I, Sophie the Great. Now fetch me some clothes.

Best Friends!

Sophie and Kira- BFF :)