Maybe we need a pet?

When my brother lived in Kenya, he liked the challenge of bringing back large wooden animals to the States to sell on Ebay or give as gifts. When he came to the U.S. after leaving Kenya for the last time, I convinced him to bring us a pair of mommy and baby giraffes for Asher's safari-themed nursery. He took the challenge and created a makeshift box which he "carried on" through Kenya, Ethiopia, Europe, New York, and Chicago! What a brother!


So we have been really happy with the giraffes and they actually are in our living room where we can see them more often than we would if they were in Asher's room. But lately, the baby giraffe has become one of Asher's favorite friends. We don't know when or how this relationship began, but many times after we eat, Asher asks for "help" in opening the cabinet to get out the syrup. Then he immediately goes to get his friend and shares the syrup with baby giraffe. Their relationship is not just limited to syrup feeding although that is definitely an important piece of it. Tonight, after baby giraffe's syrup meal, Asher gave giraffe lots of kisses and then showed off his craft project that he did at "school" today.
If Asher were like ten years older, I might think it was time to start thinking about getting him a real live pet!