Week 16 – Springtime for Cruv

Hittin’ the Pavement
Be sure to see last week’s post, which includes the beginning of Week 16—The four-generation-four-mile race.

Hittin’ the Books
As our departure date from New York nears, so Yaron continues to cross-off items from his comprehensive exam reading list. To help the cause, Savta Shira snagged Cruv for an early afternoon stroll through the Central Park and the Conservatory (with Miriam along for some). Otherwise, Yaron capitalizes on Cruv’s sleeptime.

In Each and Every Generation
On Friday, Yaron’s family gathered for Shabbat (and Noam’s birthday) and by the time Shabbat ended and Passover began the house was filled with fam—Abu, Savta Shira, Abba Eddie, Ima Ruth, Aunt Talia and Uncle Aaron, Uncle Noam, Julie, Aunt Liore, Cousin Jordan, Cousin Joe, Great Uncle Etan, Great Aunt Debbie, and Cousins Jonathan, Sarah, and Hannah. Indeed, Shabbat morning included an even larger extended family—the loving members of Kol Ami—for Cruv’s baby-naming.
True to its name, Hag ha-Aviv (Spring Holiday) came right as the ramps showed their garlicky leaves. Cruv, clad in frogs both nights, stayed awake for the entire first seder (which neither his Ima nor, we hear, his Aunt Rachel can claim).

(No pictures of Passover, so here’s a cute one):

The Squeal
A new week, a new sound.

Week 15 – Asleep in the City that Doesn’t

Off and On the Island
Cruv’s visited eight states (AZ, CT, DE, MD, NJ, NY PA, UT), but his Sunday trip was an expedition for his parents—his fourth (and final, unless he run the NY Marathon) borough, Brooklyn. On this foreign land, we did not stray far from the Brooklyn Bridge: brunch with friends in Brooklyn Heights, Grimaldi’s, and Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory.

For the weekend, Jeff and Lydia (from UT) flew-in for a whirlwind tour of Manhattan. From Times Square to Grand Central, Lower East Side to West Village to Ground Zero, Upper East Side museums and Central Park, tiny eateries and Fifth-Avenue shops, Cruv cruised in the Baby Bjorn or sling, awake more than ever (though not in this picture).

Dairy King
Cruv, Yaron, and Uncle Noam met Taylor at Murray’s Cheese in preparation for Yaron’s Thursday cheese class titled “Kabbalah and Food.” Test-cheeses in hand, we headed to Noam and Julie’s, the Monday babysitters, who cared for Cruv, lacto-lover extraordinaire.

Though his milk appetite is prodigious, Miriam outpaced Cruv this week, which freed-up some supply for Yaron to make a new flavor gelato: “Miriam.”

Four-by-Four
Though officially week sixteen, we could not wait to share. On Sunday morning, Cruv, Cruv’s Abba (Yaron), Cruv’s Abu (David), and Cruv’s Abu’s Abba (Eddie) convened for a four-generation, four-mile NYRR race (with Liore and Talia along for parts). Trained at twenty-minute miles, dressed spiffily, monitored for heart rate, Abba Eddie came in first place (won!) his age category (85-89) with a 1:12 loop!

Seated, Sound, and Statistics

To be upright yet off the couch, Cruv has a Bumbo, which he digs.

On Shabbat, Cruv discovered a new sound: a super-cute squeal of excitement, the sound of which inspires further excitement and, thus, further squeals.
91st, 94th, and 98th. Cruv’s percentiles for height, weight, and head circumference (Each day, he outgrows a precious outfit). To put an image to the 98th percentile melon:

The First One-Hundred Days

Here Comes the Sun
For the most part, the family has a morning routine. When Miriam leaves early, she gently wakes Cruv, gives some boob, and Cruv returns turn to sleep (Yaron may or may not wake). When Miriam leaves less early, Cruv wakes us when he is hungry, Miriam gives some boob, and Cruv returns to sleep (Yaron definitely wakes and then returns to sleep). A couples hours later, Yaron wakes, starts his day, preps the milk, and waits for Cruv’s morning call. Yaron bounds upstairs, opens the blinds, and peers into the bassinet. At first sight, Cruv smiles wide.

Joie de Vivre

We love his smile, morning to night. Yet it is only one of his joyous gestures; his whole body—eyes brows to toes—participates. He trills and giggles when we play, change his clothes, or kiss his belly. Sometimes we laugh because he is so cute and he laughs with us (an early-developed social grace).

On Hand
While he still munches and sucks on his fist (and, at times, his thumb), now he reaches with concentration and intent after toys and stuffed-animals, and holds them tight.

A Seat with a View
Until this week, he either looked up (in the general direction of the ceiling) or down (right at the floor or couch), except when in our arms or the sling. Now he can sit on the couch and soak-it-up, take-it-in, and check-it-out.

Off and Running
On Day 99, a pristine spring afternoon, we went for a run in the park as Cruv luxuriated in his cush running stroller. The weeping willows are specked with green, trees near the obelisk in bloom, and daffodils in bright yellow. Cruv slept. We were all smiles, out as a family, running together as we love to do.