Goodbye to Grandy

I can't believe that this is the second time within a month that I find myself writing a "goodbye blog" but I guess that's just what happens sometimes...

This weekend, we lost Grandy and he will be missed by many.  It is bittersweet, however, as we just visited a few weeks ago and had a great time with him.  He was feeling well, in good spirits, talkative and happy to see us and the boys.  With Chris out of the country for work and me heading out in a few days, it just wasn't feasible to get down for the funeral.  That being said, I am content with our last visit and am very lucky that we got to have that last positive interaction with Grandy.

Not only have the boys had the chance to visit many times over the past 4 years, but so many of my childhood memories are with the family in Birmingham.  He was such a strong individual and I have learned so much from him.  I will make it my goal to pass along his memories and lessons, and hope to increase my thirst for knowledge in his honor.

Sharing is caring

If you're contagious and you know it clap your hands (and foot and mouth)!  

Turns out, there has been a case of Hand, Foot and Mouth disease going around the JCC - a viral infection that can be passed from kid to kid. And lucky us, Asher is pretty good at sharing.  Sharing food, sharing toys and sharing germs.  Pretty much, all a kid has to do to share this is cough on his friend, and poof - another case is born!

Asher will be staying home from school this week in an attempt to keep the infection from spreading.  For now, he has some blisters on his feet, a rash on his legs and a few spots in his mouth and on his tongue.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be a mild case, especially one that moves along quickly and doesn't cause him much discomfort.  For now, he is still eating pretty well, smiling a lot, taking naps and listening for airplanes flying overhead!

1st Day in the Toddler Room

This morning was Asher's first official day in the Toddler Room!  All last week, they were transitioning him by having him spend a few hours in the morning in his new room.  The skills that you have to master before being able to move up are the following - you have to be able to sit at the table rather than in a high chair, drink out of a sippy cup instead of a bottle, keep up with the other kids who are walking and take a nap on a cot and not in a crib.  I am happy to announce that Asher is now a pro at each of these tasks!

He knows most of the kids in his new room as they were his friends in the Infant Room before each moving up individually.  He did a great job this morning going into the new room without any tears.  All he wanted to do, actually, was show me all of the cool new toys that he would get to play with now that he is a big boy!  When I picked him up, they said that he had a great day and wasn't really sad at all throughout the day - score!!!

Asher knew it was going to be a busy first day so he was banking all the sleep that he could before it was time to kick it into gear and get ready for a Monday.  Riley, on the other hand, was ready and raring to go and was just waiting patiently for Asher to wake up and start the day with him!  Sitting next to the crib and waiting for his brother to wake up is one of Riley's favorite activities.  I am just glad that he does it to Asher instead of to me!