Happy New Year! And for our First Resolution...

Raia Resolved: To drink more coffee

Mommy and Lucas Resolved: Eat more cake (and for mommy,
pick up running again due to said cake) 

I Resolved: Continue to look cool for various photo shoots

I, as a baby, resolve this year to retain many of my useful baby qualities and to raise up my younger brother and sister in the same way. Despite the fact that we are all growing up and outgrowing some baby stages at various paces, I believe many of the things I've learned as a baby will serve me well throughout my life. And I wouldn't want to forgo the Royal Treatment we as youngsters receive. Not yet.

Abba meanwhile, has a different resolution. After three consecutive years of mommy running the Jerusalem marathon she has passed the torch: Abba is going to represent the family this year and take on the 10K on behalf of Shalva!

This year, since she was supposed to have a baby in January (not November, Raia), mommy assumed she would not be ready for a race by March 21. And accordingly, abba picked up the slack.

I hear that 10-kilometer races are challenging, but remember, even before I was walking I crossed the finish line of a full marathon! (Remember this?!) That would be 42.2 kilometers, abba. I suppose this year abba figured that running a 10K would be much easier than herding three kids to the finish line!

He is probably right.

Nevertheless, abba needs your financial support. (Mommy needs your moral support.) If you choose to donate to abba's cause, you are helping Shalva, the Association for Mentally and Physically Challenged Children in Israel, help others. Just this once I will allow abba to put this in his own words in my blog:

Hi There,

I am going to be running the 10K race in the Jerusalem marathon for an organization called " Shalva". Shalva is an organization that helps special needs children in Israel and provides, free of charge, therapies designed to develop the skills to be able to function in today's society.

My son, Daniel, has Down Syndrome and has been receiving the care he needs from this wonderful organization since he was born over three years ago.

Today I give you the opportunity to pour into the lives of these children and their families by sponsoring me in the Jerusalem marathon.

To visit the Shalva site please click on this link: http://www.shalva.org/

To sponsor me please click on this link: http://www.run4shalva.org/view_profile.php?id=1065

 Thank you and may 2014 be a blessed year for you and  your family!

Sincerely yours,
Tony

Christmas day!

Abba running means that mommy drew the short straw. She somehow has to hustle three babies to the finish line, which is a good 3 miles from home. But we absolutely must be there to welcome abba, so she is going to have to figure out a way.

And that should probably entail some marathon training of its own. Good luck to both parents!

And Happy New Year to everyone!

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Pre-Race Intimidation of Opponents

Tough guy (dressed for Purim)

Tonight, Lucas and I engaged in a type of intimidation and pre-race hype that is derived from ancient Maori culture in New Zealand. The All Blacks, the NZ rugby team, go all tough and native in order to frighten their opponents. According to a New Zealand website, "The haka is a type of ancient Maori war dance traditionally used on the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace... Actions include violent foot-stamping, tongue protrusions and rhythmic body slapping to accompany a loud chant."

Lucas and I did our own version of this, of course, on behalf of mommy who can now safely run the half marathon with no opponents since surely we scared them all away.

Here is what we did:

Here is where we learned it:

Which do you think was tougher and more intimidating version? No contest, in my humble opinion.

Tough family, actually. Don't mess!

Tough hombre (also dressed for Purim)

East Coast!

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My Hectic Training Schedule

Hey, look at me!

With all my physical therapy you would think I am training for a marathon or something. But no. That is allegedly mommy who runs once a week in an effort to not die when she does the Jerusalem 10K on behalf of Shalva.

I, however, have made peace with physical therapy. Once upon a time I considered it work. Unnecessary, uncomfortable, demanding work that usually unravelled into a resplendent finale of dramatic resistance and frantic tears.

But now it is all fun and games. Literally. I get to expend all of my toddler energy in a 45-minute burst centered around toys, colorful objects and, most importantly, mirrors! And that is encouraged by my personal trainer and head cheerleader, Elysa.

Elysa encourages my frolicking and frivolity during my physio sessions at Shalva. And with the requisite positive reinforcement that she provides, I am nearly climbing the walls with glee. But for now, I am climbing stairs. Walls will come, later, I assure you.

Elysa and I play exciting games in PT

These are the fake stairs with the toy bait at the top
but Elysa coached me on some real ones too

For awhile I was showing off to Elysa all my moves, which she faithfully reported to my parents since I refused to perform at home. But lately, since I feel we know each other well enough now, I have decided to pull the age-old baby trick on her by refusing to show Elysa some of the moves that I have already mastered and of which she has only heard. I only play this coy game with those I love.

For example, I am now famous for appearing on all two's at various sites in school and at home. But not during PT, naturally. The one time I did stand up for her, Elysa excitedly went to write in the spy book to alert my parents about that. However, she saw that I had already done that at home as my parents had written to her. Now, I tease her with tales of cruising and standing at home while patently "forgetting" those moves during physio. But that is mostly because I am having too much fun with all the other action.

In other PT sessions at Shalva, I work with Alan, my coach, who once referred to me as his wingman. Although now that I've conquered the hearts of every female at Shalva, Alan is my wingman. He just doesn't necessarily see it that way yet.

I had to block Alan's face so that his agent
 wouldn't charge us for using his photo

He's trying to peek

I got distracted by Talia calling to me
as I walked the plank

Ultimately my cuteness prevails.
As always.

UPDATE ON TEAM SHALVA

There is still time to donate to Shalva in honor of our big race! Of course, now Elysa and Alan have to work extra hard to make sure that I actually WALK through the finish line. If you like what you read here, you should consider supporting Shalva, which in turn supports Elysa and Alan, who in turn support me in my endeavors! Click here to go to the Team Shalva page. For more information on what crazy things we are doing, see this post: One Year.

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One Year

Remember this?? Mar. 25, 2011 when I
"won" the Jerusalem Marathon

It's time to celebrate! My blog has turned ONE! From our small beginnings on Feb. 17, 2011, we have grown up and matured into a blogging machine! Well, not quite. But still, we have traversed many, many milestones together, some good, some scary. But we have had so much fun.

My blogging days began with an announcement that mommy was going to run in the Jerusalem Marathon! She did so because a. she is a little nutty, b. to raise support for Shalva, where I go to school, and c. to inspire me that I too can do difficult things if I work hard. And if there is a lot of prayer involved especially when embarking on something as harebrained as running 26.2 miles!

Here I am surrounded by older kids!

It was Elan's 6th birthday on Thursday

So on this auspicious occasion of my first full year of blogging, mommy decided to sign up to run again! Only this time, (just three months post-Lucas' birth on race day, March 16) no records will be set as she is only in for the 10k. Not that any records were set last time. However, this year perhaps I will best my own record. Last year, at 7 months old, I was probably the youngest human ever to cross the marathon finish line.

This year mommy has bigger plans: She is not going to carry me through - she is going to hold my hand as I walk through! That's the hope anyway. 

Pasta night! I'm already carbing up for my big 10-k finish!

If you are interested in supporting our goals and Shalva, where I go to school everyday, you can sponsor mommy in this run. Last year, everyone was so generous. And that benefitted me directly, which really paid off since I have made so much progress. The proof is in the pudding, pun intended! Here is the link to mommy's information if you want to contribute. If you want to learn more about Shalva, besides what you see on my blog, you can click here and read about all the wonderful things that the organization provides.

At Shalva I learned to eat with a spoon
without throwing it. Sometimes. 

And I learned to eat with my hands. Some (mommy)
might not be as thrilled with this particular skill.

In the last year I have stoically maintained the Baby Code, keeping all baby secrets from adults. I stealthily kept from you, my dear readers, all sorts of mysteries and insights into the minds of babies. But I have invited you to take a peek into my life with all my antics, progress, messes, fun and shenanigans.

And now, in honor of our one-year anniversary, let's take a stroll down memory lane, shall we? Click on the headlines to go to the link (Aunt Beanie!):

In the Beginning

The Jerusalem Marathon!

More on the Marathon including Video of my Famous Finish

Getting Ready for my Big Day

Heart Surgery :O

Post Surgery Status Update

My Big News! 

First Day of School 

A Tribute to Popi, my Great Grandfather (He passed away just 6 days after this post)

My Dalliance with Ambulances, the ER and an Extended Hospital Stay

I Have Become a Big Brother! 

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Marathon Debriefing with Daniel

So this is the day after. When I awoke this morning pining for some food, abba came to get me, which was odd since it is usually mommy. And he brought me to mommy - in bed. I'm noticing a pattern - mommy isn't walking much today. My legs feel just fine after the big marathon yesterday, so I don't understand what is ailing her. 

Me crossing the finish line with mommy and Anna!! 

That fake grass that we ran on to the finish line was deluged upon the previous night as all the rain left in the sky poured down upon Jerusalem. Mommy said it was like running on a water bed, the hardest part of the course!


Post-marathon shout outs. Oh where to begin? So many were involved in this epic life moment. Do I begin with Mimi and Fran who actually stayed up till 3 a.m. EST praying for our survival plus watching the live feed on the Jerusalem Marathon website? Or the friends in the UK who unknowingly grabbed the baton when the NYers went to sleep and the sun rose over the British Empire? Or Ohan who donned his volunteer police uniform and helped usher us along the route? (What a surprise that was to see him!!) 


Or Barry and Alisha who waited HOURS for mommy to finish the race and welcomed us at the end of the line? (Barry ran the 10K and Alisha walked the entire city beforehand to find mommy along the way and cheer her on.) Or Jason who ran an extra half marathon (which makes a full) just to find us on the course and coordinate the photo-finish ending? Or Susanna, Shiri and Bethany and all their children who inspired us at the halfway point? Or Nadia who also found us along the way and promised "shana haba b'Yerushalayim" - next year in Jerusalem!? 


Or Anna, our new BFF, who ran the entire race with mommy with an endless supply of energy and exhortation? Or abba who juggled my whole morning routine alone, traversed the entire city with me and traipsed through mud puddles to arrive at the finish line as the most supportive husband and father EVER?


Or all of you who were with us in spirit and with your encouraging comments and posts and prayers? Or those of you who continued to give to Shalva on behalf of our run even while the race was going on? That was just amazing and I'm sure it telepathically inspired mommy as she ran.


Ok, I think I just unwittingly covered most of the shout outs. I'm sure I'll think of many more as the day goes on, but seriously, we could not have run this alone and we are every so grateful for all the support.


Mommy wrote a first-person article on the marathon for work so here she is relaying the event in her own words: 

Jerusalem Marathon Brings City to Life for Thousands of Runners

As we rounded the bend around the perimeter of Hebrew University somewhere between kilometers 33 and 34, we came smack into a view that panned east over the Judean desert with clear skies that revealed a rolling landscape all the way to the mountains of Jordan.

“This is my Gu!” 

Anna and mommy coming through Zion Gate

Yelling and pointing to the stunning vista, my newly found friend and running partner, Anna Yevzelman, referred to the energy gels that had gotten us to this point in a grueling, but breathtaking marathon course.

It was scenes like this, so frequently appearing along our route, that renewed our vigor and determination as we took part in the first ever Jerusalem Marathon on March 25, 2011.

Anna, from New York, was - along with me - running her first marathon. This was her second time in Israel, her first in more than a decade. I live here and see many of these views every day (the course even went by my apartment!), but Anna’s unfettered enthusiasm helped me to see these dazzling landscapes as if for the first time. The streets were swept clear of the traffic that marks modern Israel and laid bare the ancient stones that are always there, but easy to miss in the daily bustle of the city.

The setting of Jerusalem distinguished this race from every other in the world. While Jerusalem is arguably the most difficult city marathons worldwide, it is also probably one of the most beautiful courses and definitely the most unique.

We spanned 5,000 years of history over this 42-kilometer course. From the Knesset, the seat of Israel’s modern government, to Mount Zion, the seat of Israel’s ancient government, to the United Nations headquarters, and promenades from both southern and northern vantage points, we had an unparalleled tour of the city, its mountains, valleys and the residents that came out to cheer us along. 

During the course we heard snippets of several languages - Italian, French, German, Portuguese and Polish, to name a few. A South African team ran together. Elite runners, most of them from Kenya and Ethiopia, led the pack. Long-time Jerusalem runners likened the city’s first marathon to going to their daughter’s wedding - the excitement was that high and the preparations that intense leading up to the big day. 

Many multi-marathon runners ascended to the city for this race (there were 10,000 participants total in three races: the full 42 kilometers, the half marathon and a 10-km race), and many of them were shocked at how difficult the course proved to be. 

Two Italian runners circling Hebrew University with Anna and me told us that this was by far the most difficult city marathon they had run due to Jerusalem’s hills, but the stunning views made it worth it, they said. 

Punch drunk at 30k on Jaffa Road. No they are NOT walking.

Another pair of runners, brothers from the U.S. who have run the New York City Marathon multiple times, agreed that the Jerusalem race was an emotional and spiritual experience, virtually connecting them to the land.

“Running in the Old City? You just can’t beat this,” said Marc Dwek. “This was my best marathon ever, not time wise, but the whole experience, the whole package.”

The Dwek brothers (along with Anna and I and about 70 others) were running to raise money for Shalva, an organization in Israel that helps children with special needs. Another Shalva runner, Jerusalem resident Efrat Benn, ran the 10K and expressed my sentiments exactly:

“It was an opportunity to fall in love with Jerusalem all over again, a way to see the landmarks and scenery through new eyes,” she said. “It is Jerusalem at its finest.”

Besides training, I had prepared for this course by finding some inspirational quotes to spur me along. And naturally the most apt words were from the Bible, written in this very land. 

“With my God I can scale a wall.” Psalm 18:29 - to help me deal with the infamous “wall” that plagues marathon runners usually at the 20th mile.

Then there was this gem (my paraphrase): “Who do you think you are O mighty mountain? Before (me) you shall become flat ground!” Zechariah 4:7 - my retort to the hundreds of inclines, hills and outright mountains we encountered.

Of course two from Isaiah, ever so fitting for this international event:

Isaiah 2:3 “Many peoples will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’ The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” 

Isaiah 52:7 “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’”

And lastly, Hebrews 12:1 - “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Despite a bombing in Jerusalem that killed one woman just two days before the race and right across from the city’s sports festival, the race took place as scheduled. Mayor Nir Barkat told reporters that his goal is to “put Jerusalem on the international marathon map.” 

He may have succeeded. The race was a hit among many of the runners with whom I spoke. Barkat, a multi-marathoner himself, ran the half marathon this year, but hopes to run the full  next year, already on the calendar for March 16, 2012.

Anna and I didn’t run to set any records, but we were running soul mates from the outset with the same pace and same goals: to survive, to beat five hours and to thoroughly enjoy ourselves while doing so. 

And in the end, 42 kilometers later, all goals achieved, we finished the race with huge smiles on our faces, smiles that miraculously never waned during (and despite) 42 kilometers. The city never let us down.

Now the question is, I feel good enough for my day at Shalva tomorrow, but will mommy?

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We Came, We Saw...

... We Conquered!!!

More later from a very stoked Team Daniel...

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Shout-outs and Pre-Race Jitters!

A new and unwelcome turn in the weather, just in time for race day.

Ok, so I’ve upheld my part of the bargain in this Team Daniel effort - I slept through most of every night all week long, including and especially last night. My mission in the marathon effort was to allow mommy to sleep. I think I did pretty well this week.


And let us hope that the pouring rain is getting itself out of its system today so race day can be a tad drier! It is literally deluging out there and the temps are in the 40s suddenly. Brrrr!


When I awoke this morning mommy told me that in exactly 24 hours she would be heading toward the starting line for the big race. So in light of this being the eve of the big day, it is time for some shout outs to all of you who have played such an important role in this effort.


First and foremost, thank you so much to all of you who so generously gave to Shalva. I am a personal beneficiary of the services of Shalva, so I take it personally that you contributed and I personally thank you. I also loved all the advice and encouragement you gave to me and mommy ranging from the personal messages of hope to practical advice such as wrapping her knees and wearing sunblock!


The final count is 10,560 shekels. I begin with shekels because it sounds very impressive. In dollars, we are talking almost $3,000. Also good. And amazing to me was the range of donors from various continents. It makes me feel loved from around the world - from all the way to Down Under and Kiwi Land, to England and all across the fruited plain of the USA. Of course, also many Israeli friends as well, even a cosmetician who heard about our run while mommy was getting waxed.


(If you gave and didn’t get a thank-you email from me or mommy it is is because we don’t know or weren’t informed that you gave and it wasn’t credited to my account, so let us know please!)


Another huge shout out goes to Uncle Matt and Aunt Majda who were the leaders of “Operation Get Mommy New Sneakers and Bring them to Israel in Time for Race Day.” As timing would have it, thank God, Aunt M was coming to Israel at about the time mommy realized her old sneakers were racking up way too many miles  and that they wouldn’t do for race day. So Uncle and Aunt M&M went shopping for mommy and then Aunt Majda ferried them over the Atlantic. A godsend.


Also Mimi, GongGong and Zia Emilia deserve a shout out for all the support they have been to me and co. over the months, not just weeks of marathon training.


Then of course, there are the fun-filled packages sent by Aunt Beanie, Uncle Richie and Cugina Cristina, one of which we received today. (Thanks!)


Plus the shout out from cousin, Miss Cris’s class, P.S. 254 - Rosa Parks Schools in Richmond Hill, NY, ...

... and Donald Duck, Winnie and many others (not all pictured here). I hope to visit you guys some day in Orlando!

Thanks also to Cheryl and Bob from PA who sent me such nice gifts (including to Shalva) and made possible this series of irresistible pictures of moi:

Jerusalem is all dressed up for the event. We are all amazed at the level of professionalism that has suddenly rocked the Holy City (if you’ve lived here you understand our cynicism). The signs are slick and informative. The finish line is all ready and dolled up as is the entire park where the race ends. And the sports expo at the convention center is very impressive.

Here I am at the expo. Tres exciting!

Thank you all for participating in the poll! The iPod was the clear winner, but the flip made a good run at the end. The votes for phone were admirable, but I think that will be the first to go. Mommy is wavering between carrying nothing or her flip video. Here’s the deal, she told me, she is ever the reporter and writes and records in her mind all the time. Sometimes her loud thoughts even drown out music (bye bye, iPod). So she might feel regret if she doesn’t get to record this historic moment.


Oh and she lost her sunglasses yesterday! Well, if this weather keeps up, she won't need them anyway. 


We'll update you in a few hours. Start praying now!

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The Writing on the Street

“You have been weighed in the balance and have been found wanting.”
Daniel 5:27


“Gulp.”
Mommy


Less than 48 hours until the marathon.

Mene mene tekel parsin. This was the writing on the wall that appeared in the Persian palace at the time of Belshazzar. Daniel is the one who interpreted the meaning of the writing. I am named after this ancient sage and well, great minds think alike. I’ve been quoting this to mommy in the last few days as the writing on the street has ominously appeared in various locations around Jerusalem. Will mommy be found “wanting” during this run? Let’s not dwell on that. 


(P.S. Check out my new poll! Voting must be done before the race if your opinion is to count :))


The writing to which I refer is the kilometer markers for the marathon. We’ve been seeing the markers for the past two weeks, eerily laying out mommy’s fate for March 25. She will be near our own apartment at 14 kilometers and then leaving the area at 21 kilometers, exactly halfway through her run. Gulp.


I know my training is going to kick in with aplomb, however. My long-run training has involved leaving the apartment, being placed in my stroller and navigating the way as abba strolls me to meet mommy. I’m a pro. Although the weather may present a challenge. Abba and I haven’t trained in the cold and rain and that is forecasted as 40 percent likely. 


This brings up a new concept I am learning in my young life: relativism. Apparently the idea of a perfect day has different definitions according to each person and time. While abba and I are looking for the return or our faux summer days, mommy is okay with the cold and rain.


Another relativism - Mommy runs in miles, because there are fewer than kilometers, but the race is measured in the metric system. The question I have is whether I will be a metric person or a typical American. My mother is American so metric baffles her, but Abba and the rest of the country (and world for that matter) relate in metric and Celsius. Maybe I’ll be fluent in both. For now I’m just confused.


Anyhow, it will give mommy something to do while running - converting kilometers to miles and then figuring out  minutes per mile. If you run for upwards of four hours, even math can be exciting I guess. 

Unsuspecting but cognizant that something was about to go wrong.

Here is another relativism: This is supposed to be good for me. A shot to inoculate me against RSV. I don’t know if the means justifies the end in this case. Ouch!

Not nice.

Completely uncalled for.

We made our last visit (ever I hope) to the clinic where I get my RSV. On the brighter side, we were accompanied by the gracious and courageous U.S. Sgt. Jason Everett who is in Jerusalem simply to run the half marathon. He took his leave from tour of duty near Kabul to coincide with this race. Almost as odd as mommy who is running her first marathon. Nevertheless, he is very cool, and I’ll probably be spending a lot of time getting to know him waiting at the finish line for mommy. Ho hum.


Yet another relativism: We are carbo-loading this week - mommy’s dream come true and abba’s worst nightmare. Mommy = Italian and loves pasta and bread. Abba = meat eater and does not consider a meal complete if there wasn’t meat nearby. So the line-up this week is: Sunday - pasta; Monday - Thai noodles; Tuesday: pasta (and steak, courtesy of Tony’s cravings); Wednesday - risotto con funghi; Thursday - pasta. No Atkins in this apartment this week although abba did manage to sneak in some steak!

Risotto con funghi, made by abba under
supervision of mommy as I ate my dinner

This diet is taking its toll on all of us about now. After a couple of days of withholding, I took an apocalyptic dump today rivaling world events.


Speaking of apocalyptic events, in case you were wondering, the news coming from Jerusalem today will not affect the race. The show will go on.

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Daniel's Busy and Adventurous Week

If it wasn't my schedule it was mommy's. Or it was Mimi's daily Skype marathon from New York, starring me. Or the internet at home just didn't work as was the case several evenings this week. Basically, I was just plain busy this week, too busy to blog. Did you miss me?


Well I'm back! And I'd like to take you on a tour of my very interesting week.


On Saturday I met some friends from England for the first time. They bought me a cute outfit they sent over when I was first born. It was the only outfit that fit me those first few early weeks.

Thanks Michael and Anthea! Nice to meet you!

Then I had "spa day" at Shalva. Here's me in the pool!

It all started well enough.

Then I started getting skeptical.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one!

On Monday, more spa-like activities. This was "play time with Ayala," one of my many fine physical therapists.

Me on a bouncing ball.

Afterwards, a culinary adventure! Mommy took me to my first hummus place, fittingly, with Aunt Majda, who was indoctrinating me on the intricacies of why Hummus Lina is the best. While abba agrees with her, mommy likes Gamal the best. But I'll be the judge when they take me there.

At first I opted for my burp rag. Yum!

Soon though, I dove in like the good Middle Easterner that I am. More yum!

Then on Tuesday, mommy had her own schedule so I met up with Grandma for a short date. Here's me arriving in the Old City on my carriage.

In between all this mommy managed to squeeze in a few runs and is now in the best phase of marathon training: tapering! This means she runs a lot less. 


During one of those short runs on Tuesday, abba took me out for a stroll and we picked up some sushi. He didn't let me taste it for some reason, but mommy gave some to Lucie - not fair! But this is apparently what happens also during marathon training - my parents eat a lot of take out.


Today, well, we went to a cafe to write this. Look, I've almost graduated to real lattes!

Photo courtesy of today's Skype-a-thon with Mimi!

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