The Last One Riding

Simi had "Bike Day" at school a couple of weeks ago. The kids in Children's House parade out to their bikes at the track and then ride around the track for a while while parents and teachers watch and take pictures. We missed his first Bike Day because of Asher's endoscopy but they told us he was the last one riding that time, and sure enough this time he was again.

This picture doesn't capture the sound of his classmates and the parents and teachers cheering as he came down the homestretch. Not bad for a kid with a hole in his heart :-)

Asher's Birthday Week-end

Sometimes, all the planning you do pays off; Asher had a wonderful birthday week-end.

True to form for a two-year old, Asher wasn't sure what a birthday is or why we were making such a fuss over it. He had a great time regardless and enjoyed the festivities.

The festivities began Friday afternoon with a small party at his daycare. The kids had a special afternoon snack of cupcakes and milk and sang some party songs like "Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Saturday we had swim class in the morning, but that's part of our normal routine. Thankfully, Asher fell asleep in the car on the way home from swim, so he got in a bit of a nap before his party.

Saturday afternoon was party time at the Little Gym. The Little Gym staff did a better job than we ever imagined. About 13 little ones joined in the fun and had a great time. Again, Asher wasn't sure what all the fuss was about or why he was the center of attention, but he enjoyed it just the same.

Sunday, his actual birthday. For the most part, it was a low-key day. After nap-time, we celebrated his birthday again with an allergen-free cake and pressies. Simi and Asher gave each other mini-cooper cars (we have an obsession with mini-cooper cars in this household) and Asher got a pressie from us, his parents. Then, since Raj's parents couldn't come to us, we went to them so they could say "Happy Birthday" to the birthday boy in person. By this time, Asher was really getting the hang of this birthday thing and just loved it when we sang to him.

From a mom's perspective, I got to reminisce about the day Asher was born. His birthday takes me right back to that sweet day that he came into the world.

Now on to the next birthday: Simi's.

Preparing for Asher's Birthday

Asher's birthday is Sunday (September 25th). We've been preparing his birthday bash(es) and now they're finally upon us.

Tonight we're baking the allergen-free cupcakes for the party at Asher's day care. That party will take place tomorrow afternoon at school (in place of afternoon snack). It'll be low-key: cupcakes and party songs, like "Wheels on the Bus" and "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and, of course, "Happy Birthday".

Saturday afternoon is the party with friends at the Little Gym. About 13 two-year olds are going to be there. Then Sunday is the party at home with family.

Next week we celebrate "phase 1" (pre-surgery phase) of Simi's birthday. Stay tuned for a list of those events....

Awaiting Christmas

Lately we've been doing a lot of talking about time - particularly on when certain things are going to happen. For example, when is Asher's birthday party, when is Simi's first birthday party, when are we returning to Boston to close the hole in Simi's heart, when is Simi's birthday (and second party) and when is Christmas. Simi continually asks when "baby sister" will be born. "When Christmas has come and gone", is the usual reply.

Now Simi says that he wants Christmas to "come and go" so that "baby sister" will be here.

Does that mean we get to skip the toys?

Tattoo Baby

One method we use during potty training is rewarding the behavior. You make a pee-pee on the potty, you get a sticker. You make a poopy on the potty, you get a tattoo. Kids seem to absolutely love the temporary tattoos and they've been a great reward.

Asher is no exception. He just loves stickers and tattoos. And he loves using the potty. Better said, he loves being just like his big brother.

So when Simi says he has to go potty and runs to the bathroom, Asher says he needs to go too. And he does. How can this kid manage to poop on command, I'll never know, but he somehow manages to do it.

Both arms are completely full of tattoos - and he's so proud to show them off to everyone he sees.

Now we're going to have to put them on his legs.

This kid is essentially potty trained and he's not yet two.

Post from my Treo

I wonder if I can blog from my Treo... If you can read this then I can!

Do you know what this means? It means that we'll be able to post updates into the blog while we're in Boston for Simi's surgery.

Simi's Bad Day

Today's Monday. Normally, that means that Liz picks Simi up from school at 4 PM (ish) to go to soccer practice. Because of the upcoming surgery and since he would only be able to attend 2 of the 7 weeks in the session, we chose not to enroll Simi in the next session of soccer. Unfortunately, we didn't tell Simi and even more unfortunately, we didn't tell his pre-school teachers. Since it was Monday, they got him all ready for soccer...and Liz didn't show up.

To make matters worse, he lost the sunglasses Liz gave him just yesterday. He was sooo proud to have sunglasses just like the ones Daddy has, that he happily and proudly wore them into school.

Now THAT's a bad day.

The Best Part of a Fun Week-end

Our week-end was jam-packed with activities. Normally, we like to plan a bit of fun along with a bit of rest and some routine chores (i.e.: food-shopping). This week-end was an exception - there was just too much fun stuff to do.

Friday night began with a "cruise" at the swimming pool at SAS. Both boys ate a hardy meal at Wendy's before the event. Now, if you know Simi, you know that "Simi" and "eating well" are not words you normally say in the same sentence. Needless to say, it was thrilling to watch him eat so well.

Lots of fun at the pool --- and both boys fell asleep as soon as they lay down on their beds.

Saturday was equally fun-filled with swim lessons in the morning and a birthday party in the afternoon...

On Sunday, Liz and the boys went to the supermarket, while Raj did yard work, then it was off to the swimming pool after nap time.

According to the boys, want to know the MOST FUN activity this week-end? It was playing hide-and-seek with the sheets after they came out of the dryer and before we folded them.

A SpiderMan Birthday Card

We've been doing a lot of talking about birthdays lately. Asher's birthday is at the end of this month and we're having Simi's birthday party early (October 1st) before he's off to surgery. Since Asher is an incredible fiend for The Incredibles, that's what his birthday theme will be. Simi has chosen a Spiderman theme for his party.

Raj's birthday was yesterday. Upon seeing the cake and learning that it was his daddy's birthday, Simi said, earnestly and excitedly, "Daddy, you need a Spiderman birthday card! Mommy, go get him one!"

Simi got lots of hugs.

Conversations with Asher

This morning, while Asher was playing outside with his daycare class, he tells the head teacher, "I'm thirsty". Bridget says, "OK, let's go inside and get you some water." To which Asher replies, "I want orange juice." Bridget replies, "Asher, we don't have orange juice." "Apple juice?", Asher asks. "No juice, Asher, we only have water right now", replies Bridget. "OK, then. Water's good." says Asher.

Quite a conversation coming from a kid who's not yet two.

How Can We Explain It To Our Children?

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, I find myself trying to answer one basic question: How do we explain what happened in New Orleans to our children?

I've been hiding the news of the storm's aftermath from both Simi and Asher. Asher is not yet two, so he's still rather oblivious to things not in his immediate world. But Simi is nearly four and is starting to understand and ask questions.

Simi hears things. He hears the news on television or on the car radio. He hears the two of us talking about the news. He hears his teachers talking. He's my son, and because of that, I want to shield him from the tragedy in New Orleans.

But what do I say if he asks?

Mommy, why did the rivers flood the city? Mommy, why did all those people and their pets die in New Orleans? Why were people forced to stay in that building - with no food or drinking water, no place to bath or poop, in the squalid, stifling air with no electricity? Why didn't anyone help them, Mommy?

How do I begin to answer his questions?