Confession #3: Words, Zabars and a Doctor's Visit

Today, Arden woke up and had had a major developmental leap overnight. "They" say it happens like that. She went to bed a walking, kinda talking baby and woke up a toddler. I thought she already had a ton of lights on upstairs but something was so different this morning. Instead of using a word here and there, she was using them everywhere. "momma, momma, pee pee, bear, peach, bar bar (cereal bar), milk, wash, tissue (yeah, no joke), knock (okay but not on the bedroom door, Daddy's still sleeping), Mew (our cat), hug (run Mew), etc. Now that I think of it, what was so different was her speaking without being prompted to do so. Also,when asked any question she replied with a clear "yes!" or "yeah" with so much inflection it stopped me in my tracks.

We headed out early to the UWS where her doctors' office is located. She was scheduled for her 18 month visit. Our doctor asked how many words she had and I really didn't know but started giving him some examples of the words she often said. She only has to have 6-10 words at this stage so we were all good. I also announced that she recently began uttering two word sentences like "momma bath"(translation “Momma, get in the bath with me”). He said that was an advanced skill more normally associated with 2 year olds. Momma bear was so proud.

As he examined her, I told him how we've all been very sick and that she was just getting better. Low and behold, he found an ear infection right at the puss stage but not yet causing her pain. We really lucked out on that one. So, with a prescription for amoxicillin and no vaccination (cue sigh of temporary relief), we headed back out onto Broadway.

Only a few blocks away lies Zabars. It is heaven on earth as long as you don't mind old ladies slamming into you with their shopping carts. For those who don't already know, Zabars is a specialty food store that has the finest available treats and food for what I would consider fairly reasonable prices. I walk in and feel like my feet might literally leave the ground even with Arden strapped onto me. The first offerings are olives and cheese. Need I say more? Maybe 25 different varieties of olives and hundreds of different cheeses. Arden and I dive into some provencal marinated black olives and big green Greek ones stuffed with red peppers to take home. We grab a beautiful soft, Brie like cheese called Saint Albray (pasteurized so those who are pregnant, take note) and stroll through the prepared food and smoked fish counters. We are headed to the baked goods counter where I'll have to settle for a loaf of their still warm rosemary sourdough-like bread since I can't take the entire operation home with me. They have slices available to try and Arden finishes hers before I even see her take one bite. Finally, for the pièce de résistance, we approach the coffee area. Zabars roasts their own beans and our very favorite one for espresso is the Vienna roast. The coffee specialists package up 3lbs for us and we are on our way. Of course, after stopping at the Zabars' Cafe right next door for fresh squeezed orange juice, the best warm ham & cheese croissant I've ever had, a donut factory glazed donut and a mochacinno. Arden sits in my lap, rests back like its Passover and we demolish our "second breakfast".

The mayhem of the day occurred later that afternoon after we returned home. Kyle and I finally got up the energy to take out our Christmas tree, which had been standing ornamentless in our home for 10 days. It had been dead for so long that, irrespective of our best efforts, it dropped 5 million needles on the way out the door. Maybe you know the type of tree, you can vacuum up what you think is every last needle and then you still find more for the next 6 months. So, I stay behind to vacuum and Kyle heads out to pick up Arden’s antibiotic. He takes the dog and brings her back dirty from head to toe due to the snowy weather, so she needed a bath. Then I decide we have to get laundry done since there is another storm on the way and it will be that much more difficult to get done tomorrow. Our army duffle bag filled with laundry is even heavier than usual because I guess we were extra messy this week. In particular, I have to wash the kitchen mat that was puked on and the dog bed that was peed on… by Arden. She accomplished that in the time between being undressed for her bath and my running the water for her bath. Go figure. I schlep the bag over to the laundromat on the corner, almost tipping over because the bag is so heavy, only to find no washers available. That happens maybe once per year so this was my unlucky day. When I try again a few hours later, I am so tired that I try to take the canister vacuum with me instead of the laundry bag. Yep. The second attempt worked out in my favor as there were two available washers. As I went back to change the laundry over into the dryers, it began to snow. It always so magical to me when it snows, even in our dingy city.

Later that evening as Kyle is putting Arden to bed, she won’t stop calling my name. They emerge from the bedroom and she shouts, “I want Momma!” Wowza. It’s going to be hard to deny her anything. I feel so wanted, needed and special until I remember how I could have sworn I heard her say “I want my bear!” yesterday.

   Our spoils from Zabars.  Note: there are no olives because Arden ate every last one. Oh, and an apple crumb cake for Daddy.