Storytime

Asa really gets into his books.

Reading is a full body experience!

A Weekend Alone

Asa and Mommy went to Mommy's high school reunion last weekend.  I understand they had a great time with Nonni and Auntie Sarah.  Meanwhile, I did what parents do when faced with a free weekend:

I took down the baby gate.

I slept past 6am.

I watched the entirely inappropriate - but very funny - Eddie Izzard.

I read two entire Asey Mayo mystery novels.  (Yes, Asey.  Probably a diminutive of Asa.  Did I name my son after an early 20th century fictional character?  Umm... no... of course not.)

I built a surround for the new dishwasher.  Like ya do.

(Sorry for the blur.  It happens sometimes when the camera battery is dying.)

I'll paint it this weekend, and add a shelf over the current countertop, but even now I think it looks pretty decent.  A good weekend's work!

Pear

Asa got a hold of Mommy's pear.  And did a lot of damage with those three teeth.



After 10 minutes (note: Mommy gave up and got herself another pear):

After 20 minutes:

25 minutes:

And the bits of core that went to the compost pile:

Asa the three-toothed wonder!

Asa's Little Shadow

Oliver is probably still following her boy, but in a far less tangible form.

Almost from the day we brought Asa home, Oliver has been his "Nana" - following him, kissing him, playing with him...

...hurrying us into his room if he cried in the night, and sometimes even curling up in his crib to comfort him.

Even his increased mobility didn't deter her - she played more, but always gently.  We had to get Luna declawed, but Oliver knew not to extend her claws, even when she was getting annoyed.

And you've perhaps noted the use of the past tense.

Because our sweet little kitten - only four years old - who was afraid of other cats and who never left the yard, finally got fed up with the little stray who kept coming by, and chased him out into our very busy street.  It seems that she never knew what happened, and she didn't suffer.

We, on the other hand, are heartbroken.  It was hard enough to have to put Gracey down earlier this year, when all the indications pointed to cancer, when she'd already begun to suffer, when she'd had fifteen years of being a spoiled diva.  We thought that one was sudden.  But this was shocking.  Breathtaking.  Shattering.

A special thank you to Auntie Jen, who came over to be with M. and Asa yesterday, while I had to work - and who sweetly installed our dishwasher!  Her blog post remembering Oliver gave me the courage to write this one, when I was pretty sure that I'd never find the words.

Meanwhile, the memory that brings the greatest joy, even through our tears.


We miss you, sweet kitten.

Sock Drawer

Banana

This post is partly filler, partly explanation.

We had cream of wheat for breakfast this morning, as we often do, Asa and I.  He still wanted a little something after his cereal, so I gave him some pieces of banana - maybe half of the whole banana, figuring I'd eat the rest of it myself - and went to rinse our cereal dishes.  His reach has improved, I guess, because after he inhaled the pieces I gave him, he grabbed the rest of the banana, peeled it, and began to play.

And now I bet you understand a little better the dearth of recent posts.  He's quick - it doesn't go well with a lot of computer time!

Go Sox!

Apparently, watching sports games makes me pensive, if not nostalgic.  It's not even been a week since I panned back to last fall and the Steelers' season opener.  Just over a month since Asa's birthday, and my amazement that infancy becomes toddlerhood so very quickly.

But I'm going to do it again.

Because it's really a lot more fun to go to a Red Sox game with a big boy:

A boy who has learned to enjoy the energy of the crowd:


A boy who can get even his Yankees-fan Poppy to root for the Red Sox:

Yeah, that's all a lot more fun than the alternative, otherwise known as Last Year:

M. said the (same) seats are also a lot more comfortable this year.

Go Sox!