My boy is now a man.

What I mean is that he has now achieved a rite of passage. Up until today, he was a baby. With a baby's stomach. every so often it would go through its own system crash, and he would burp/spit a little of his latest meal. We'd clean it up, and then he'd be on his way, continuing to play as if nothing had happened.

No longer. Because starting this morning, Avi has graduated to vomiting. Making that sickening, gagging sound and actually throwing up rather than spitting up. And you can tell that he's not happy about it either.

Yes, Avi is sick. Poor guy. He'd been suffering through his ear infection, and he finished his antibiotics on Saturday. But today he has a fever and he hasn't been keeping much of anything down. I went to the store to get Pedialite (well, Giant brand at least) since apple juice and milk have been advised as taboo by the doctor. And tomorrow I'll be staying home with him, as we won't be able to bring him into day care. If he still has a fever tomorrow morning, we'll go see the doctor.

I know I talk about my kid as if he's a golden god or something; I think many parents do that due to their biased natures. But our kid is really laid back and cool about stuff. Really. He is. Even when he's not feeling up to par, he's stil all smiley and looking to play with you. So on a day like today where he seemed really miserable, we knew that something's wrong.

So far he's been sleeping since we've put him to bed -- with one crying fit and me rocking him to sleep at about 8pm EDT (3 1/2 hours ago). So I think the night's sleep will do him well.

It's a pity we missed our friend Calleigh's Easter party on Capitol Hill, however... t'would have been our very first Easter party ever.

Other recent happenings: We had a cool Shabbat dinner this past Friday night which was almost completely matzah free. K outdid herself yet again and cooked salmon, this spinach casserole stuff which was yummy, and kosher for passover low-fat brownie cheesecake for dessert. Absolutely amazing. We had over three guests: Evan, Ethan and Calleigh (No, not any of their real names...) I've talked about Evan before -- he's the one who lives in NYC who is down in the DC area on a project, staying at the Ritz-Carlton. Former student of mine. Ethan heads up a student GLBT student action / awareness organization, yet is a senior in college. And Calleigh works on the hill for the legislature for a congressman in the midwest.

Yet, for some strange reason, I was surprised when they all started talking politics. How stupid is that?

But it was a fun grouping of people. Hopefully we'll do it again soon.

Oh - it's the seventh night of Passover now. And I'm completely sick of the food. Or lack thereof. I'm having Pavlovian-style salivating fits when I see an ad for Subway or Quiznos on TV now. Don't get me wrong -- I can stand matzah for some time. And this year they've come out with some pretty impressive kosher for Passover pastas. But my tolerance is wearing fast, and I'm hoping Tuesday night gets here as fast as humanly possible.

Usually I'd be quite neutral to what I'm reading Bush and his family had for Easter Dinner: "gingersnap and apricot-crusted ham; fresh mozzarella, tomato, and avocado chopped salad; green chili cheese grits souffle; asparagus; homemade yeast rolls; and lemon meringue pie."

Yet all I can think is -- Mmmmmmmm.... pie.

Night everyone...