Tank U, Velcome

Asher was born to the flashing light of my camera.

He knows what the clicking sounds of the camera means and can pose on point.

His favorite is "Piture" or "cheese mommy"

Recently he expressed an interest in my camera from the photographer perspective.

He would ask to see photos or try to battle me for the camera.

With very little assistance he figured out how to take a picture and where he needed to look to take one. Amazing.

Tonight he asked to partake in the photo taking so I obliged and off he went.

Asher turned into a Paparazzi Rockstar.

The best part is after he takes the last picture. Out of now where right after took a photo he would say "Tank U, Velcome"... aka Thank You, Your Welcome!

Hilarious.....it was almost like he was a foreign tourist who was taking our photo for us.

I cant wait to share the photos he took.

I was actually impressed we made it in the frame of a few of them!

Europe Day 1 & 2 - Travel

Philip narrates the first 24 hours of our much awaited Spain & Italy Anniversary/30th Birthday Vacation...

The story continues....

On side note....we got booted from business class after the first delayed flight. I pretty much threw a temper tantrum and told the woman that she better move us back to business class and she did. I was delirious and you wouldn't have wanted to mess with me at that point.

The sign read embarcando the entire time even though we never embarked.

Way to run an airport Madrid!

See you in Barcelona!

Bedtime Prayers

I mentioned a few weeks back that Asher started "singing" his bedtime songs with us, particularly the Sh'ma. This has now become a nightly routine so we wanted to share Asher's rendition of Lullabye and Goodnight and the Sh'ma.

(he loves his bed so much he wanted to lay down vs me hold him)

Music to our ears!!!!!

Oh Susanna!

Lil Fish

This video is from several weeks ago and of course he now climbs the ladder, jumps in and swims back to the ladder completely on his own...

But I couldnt resist the cuteness of our little pool water bug!

Home Again - Jiggity Jig!

We are back from a whirlwind 11 days of travel.

San Diego, CA

Atlanta, GA

Montgomery, AL

Panama City, FL

and home, all together, under one roof!

So much to catch up on. Here goes a lack luster attempt...

The external hard drive arrived while I was in San Diego.

Im freaked out of my mind to empty the trash can on this computer...even though all the files are all secure on the external drive. FREAKED OUT I tell you.

But I MUST do it if I ever want to blog with edited photos and videos again.

Asher has had an explosion of words in the past week. He also got to experience time out for the first time on Sunday and he received it very well. Faced corner and stayed there.

He spent 6 days with all of his cousins and taught them all kinds of new things like "Oh yeah!"

one of his favorite things to say. I am sure he also learned plenty as well. I noticed that he is very outgoing and doesnt realize that other kids have boundaries. If they say No, he inches closer. Ha. I pray this is only temporary as I would much prefer not to have a bully for a child. I think he gets a kick out of this as he keeps going back for more. He isnt phased by much... kids taking his toys or being hit etc..

He went swimming, played, went to bed way past his bed time, took 4 hour naps regularly and hugged, kissed and talked to anyone that would give him attention.

Who wouldnt with this face!?

We learned he does not like sand. Or at least sinking his feet into soft sand. hard packed sand he is OK with, but doesnt love it. Lovely since we are beach people.

We are going to need to work on that one. I think he might have minor sensory issues when it comes to his feet...Headed back to the beach over labor day so hoping we can break him in. Maybe a sandbox will help??

Unfortunately it rained almost the entire time we were at the beach...as you can see here the raindrops on our reunion t-shirts...but we still took a family dinner boat cruise, which he loved!

It is incredible how much they look alike (minus the eyes). We looked at Philip's baby photos and Asher looks nothing like Philip did when he was a baby, but he does look a lot like he looks now. Isnt that weird?

For everything we put him through he did amazing. Adjusted so well. Such a big boy!

He is getting geared up and ready for school.

We are getting geared up.

It will definitely change our daily routine so I am bracing myself.

His lil L.L.Bean back pack is so cute.

I just ordered tags from kiddotags.com for all of his stuff.

Now I am rambling because I am tired and dont know where to begin.

I really missed my big boy on this trip apart...

xoxo

Nay

Bittersweet

Today was bittersweet.

After hours of discussion and anxiety on my part...

Today we told Amanda that we will be sending Asher to Charlotte Jewish Preschool full time starting in August. This was extremely hard for me and when her eyes welled up with tears I cried with her.

We are seizing this wonderful opportunity by taking the leap and giving Asher what he is craving for... Kids that he can interact with all day long... Jewish Learning.

He is a social butterfly.

When he is around others he flourishes and grows.

He quickly picks up on his surroundings and embraces them.

Philip and I both attended Jewish Day School at a very young age and we could not be more thrilled that Asher will have the opportunity to do the same.

He already loves Challah, Shabbat and to top it off, just tonight as we were putting him to bed...

for the very first time began to repeat the words of the Sh'ma with us after us singing them to him the past two years every night before bed.

How ironic that they day we took the big leap and told Amanda he will be going to CJP he began repeating the words of the Sh'ma to us?!?

(Observant Jews consider the Shema to be the most important part of the prayer service in Judaism, and its twice-daily recitation as a mitzvah (religious commandment). It is traditional for Jews to say the Shema as their last words, and for parents to teach their children to say it before they go to sleep at night.)

We will miss Amanda terribly come August.

She has been a huge part of our family for the past year and a half and a wonderful caregiver to our sweet boy Asher, loving him like she would love her own.

There is no doubt that she has loved him with every bone in her body. We will savor the next month with her and praise her for all of the love she has shared with our family.

We hope that she will continue to babysit for Asher so that they can always rekindle their bond throughout the years.