Bush diver

Despite his ongoing battle with (probable) swine flu, the Kid still finds time to jump into bushes like like drunken freshman. That's the spirit, little ninja!
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Toddling still ain't easy

So as you know, the Kid went a few rounds with coxsackie virus two weekends ago. Last weekend he came down with a bad cough and more fever. We are secretly suspecting Swine Flu. Poor little dude. He can't catch a break. To add injury to insult, the Kid has been especially responsive to the effects of gravity. Look at that proud shiner! As brutal as grade school and high school can be, I am sure nothing compares to the wall to wall misery that is toddlerhood.
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Coxsackie virus: pros and cons

Today the Kid and I played hookie from work and school. Unfortunately, Gabester could not attend daycare because he has the worst case of Hand, Foot & Mouth disease that I have ever seen. The disease, for those who need to know, is caused by a virus in the herpes virus family, called Coxsackie virus. Infection causes herpes like blisters (painful ones) to erupt on the hands, the feet, and...wait for it...the mouth. Anus too. Poor Kid has tongue and mouth so full of painful blisters that he won't talk, won't eat, won't swallow, and can't take a sip of water without bursting into tears. He just walks around with a mouthful of spit, occssionally discharging it whenever he needs to open his mouth, and uses hand signals to communicate. Oh well, at least the two of us had an excellent excuse to buddy up and head to the Wissahickon for some goofing off. Gabriel fed some geese (thanks to a kind stranger's donated rye bread), threw acorns, shuffled through fallen leaves, and drew long draughts of crisp fall air. I think he enjoyed it. In the picture above, Gabriel is fascinated by a huge chattering flock of migrating birds in the tree above. The pain and suffering returned, but at least we got a few smiles (and drool puddles) in.
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Halloween in Rhode Island

The Kid got to see Grandma and Grandpa Klusaritz along with his Uncle Mike this weekend. We have a boatload of pics of the little man in his dragon costume, but not on the picture phone. Sorry. We will post them up just as soon as we can (bwaa ha ha ha!). Here is the little man lending a helping hand during yard clean up. With helpers like this...
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Kid with a papple

See those nice folks in the background? They sell Asian pears at our local farmer's market on Thursdays. The Kid likes Asian pears...why? Because they taste freaking amazing. Here he is weighing my request for a bite. In the end he refused me.
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Dental hygeine: start 'em young

So although we are petrified at prospect of having to potty train the Kid, we have met the challenge of teaching dental hygeine head-on. Yay for us.
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How can you tell when your toddler is ready to leave the tot lot?

I'm sure the parents of toddlers who see this will recognize the Kid's pose. When toddlers get sleepy, they are happy to interrupt whatever they are doing to put their heads down and relax. We adults can learn from this practical and unselfconscious solution to a common problem. I certainly got the message loud and clear on this day.
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