One small step for man....

Jack took three steps Monday! Mind you it was in about 1 foot of water... where my timid little Virgo can fall safely without getting hurt- but they were still steps! However, that was all of the unsupported walking he has done this week...

(completely unrelated picture, but they both are so cute!)

Will he be walking by his first birthday? You can contact Ryan with any bets.

Molé

Having a baby makes it easy to neglect the fury members of the family. Our poor Molé never saw it coming when we picked her up at the Agoura Hills animal shelter 3 years ago. We had stopped in "just to look" - something I'm sure that shelter hears a lot- and fell in love with a little runt of cat. She's been with us through all of our life changes, definitely not by choice.

"This place ain't big enough for the two of us"

Originally named Daisy, we decided this little kitty needed a name with attitude. It took us a week to decide on a name but it came to us driving home from a day at Olvera Street in Los Angeles. It sounded like a good name at the time but after moving to Minnesota, I think I may resort to calling her kitty- molé isn't exactly popular out here (google it or ask me to make it for you!) When we take her to the vet, they call out a few different words... mole, mole? molly? mule?  ummmm Ashley Young?

"Mole"

After going through a flight across country (on my lap, with one hand in the carrier, 8 months pregnant), a new baby brother and a Minnesota winter- dear Molé, your patience has been rewarded. You now have a new house with a big yard and a gentlemen caller across the way (whom we call Big Orange). I hope you are as happy as we are watching you enjoy your new territory.

FML OMG it's HFMD

Something has come over Jack and it ain't pretty. From cute cuddly little baby hitchin' a ride with Kermit...

To this, overnight, nonstop.

Jack has what's known as Hand Foot Mouth Disease, a very common enterovirus that- according to our pediatrician is spreading like wildfire this summer. The main diagnostic symptom are red bumps on- you guessed it- hands, feet and mouth area, here they are on Jack little drumsticks... It reminds me a lot of chicken pox.

(best I could do with a crappy camera and wiggly baby)

Accompanied by a slight fever, sore throat, and exhausted parents covered in drool and snot, HFMD is not for the faint of heart. This is Jack's first real illness, we've been through colds and coughs but nothing like this. It takes 3-5 days for the virus to run its course and we're only on day one. Our pediatrician instructed us to alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen and make sure he gets plenty of fluids. I'm sure there's some sort of holistic alternative out there but we are DESPERATE- so Walgreen's it is, and it really really helps, and I mean really really.

All I can say is thank God Ryan is home this week or else I might have be mistaken as a psych patient by the end of the weekend. If your little one contracts this, God bless you. Get ready to do A LOT of laundry, make a lot of coffee, and spend even more time holding your munchkin than you thought possible.

For more information on HFMD click here