Happy Birthday v. 2.1

My birthday plus one week post for Simone

If you didn't know my darling daughter (what can I say, I'm in love), I would tell you:

- She's kind/compassionate. A week or so ago we were riding the subway back home. The train was getting crowded. At one of the stops the man next to us (seat closest to the door) got off and two women got on. The younger one rushed on first saving the seat for the older one and standing in front of her. Simone was in the next seat and then me. A few stops later Simone motioned that she wanted to sit on my lap. Then she pointed to her seat and finally she pointed to the younger woman standing up. She wanted her to sit down in the seat. Also, there's this one library book we read and on one of the pages she always points out the girl who is struggling in the river (the class is crossing the river in search of a lion), tries to "pick her up" from the page, calls to, "Mommy" and tries to get the "Mommy" (teacher) to help her.

- She's social. She still loves to go out. She likes seeing people. She has a variety of reactions to people. Friendly: "Hi!" or a smile; Shy: turning her face into my shoulder or clinging onto my leg; Hostile: "No!"; One of her favorite words at the moment is "Bye-bye!" She says it really loudly and repeatedly even as the friendly stranger is ten feet out the subway door already.

- She's interactive. She really likes activities that involve some kind of back and forth - everything from chasing, to copying each other's dance moves, eating the "breakfast" she's made, etc.

- She likes to snuggle - every book and every DVD is better read and watched in Mom's lap.

- She loves to pray. We say grace before every meal. Sometimes she even asks to say grace before snacks. We usually fold our hands when we pray together, sometimes we hold hands. When Ezer was gone, she would often quip, "Dad," to make sure we prayed for him. Sometimes at bedtime we'll pray multiple times in a row. Praying with Simone makes me think about what I say and what I'm teaching her about how we pray and what we pray about. Ezer's favorite prayer with her is, "Thank you for Mommy. Thank you for Daddy. Thank you for Jesus. Amen." I try to mix it up a bit. Today I prayed for all the kids who didn't have mommies and daddies.

- She's girly. The other day she actually had a strong opinion that she didn't want to wear the pants I had out for her - she wanted to wear a skirt. Yes, it's surprising how much she can communicate with few words. Mostly I can still get her to wear what I want. Her new teacher at daycare says she likes to shop. I can attest to this in real life, too. She loves to play with her cooking equipment and play food. Of course, she will play with trucks and trains, and cooking isn't just for girls.

- She's adventurous. She climbs on the tallest playground structures with no fear. She likes riding the ferris wheel and carousel. She'll go up to strange dogs.

- The two comments I hear most often from people are that she's good at playing by herself and that she's a happy kid. The playing by herself comment comes usually when I'm meeting a friend for coffee and Simone is entertaining herself. Yes, she's used to maternal neglect. :P So she likes to have a playmate, but can play by herself, too.

I'm sure there's much more to say...her dad might add in things like stubborn, single-minded, whiny, and messy.

But I'll just end with thanking God for the gift that she is. I love you, Simone! Happy 2nd birthday!