BEST BUDS

James has known Gabriel longer than any other kid at daycare (since he was 4-months-old and Gabriel was 2.5-months-old), and they have become the best of friends. They stick together. They share toys, drive trucks around together in circles outside, sit next to each other at the lunch table, sit side-by-side while watching movies in the afternoon, sometimes gang up on other kids together, and are even potty training together now. They show genuine concern for and interest in each other.

When James started potty training a week before Gabriel, he would tell James "James go potty! Yay James!" and clap his hands and give him hugs when he had success. When James was out for 2 weeks with Kawasaki Disease, Gabriel was beside himself, asking his mama about James all day long each day, saying things like "Where's James? James sick! Oh no!" The easiest way for us to get James into his daycare class on mornings when he doesn't want to go to school (Monday mornings, usually), is to tell him to go find Gabriel. He'll often go running in yelling "Gabe-wel, are you?" And when Gabriel was having a meltdown yesterday afternoon, James came running to me asking "He OK? He OK?" And when I told him that Gabriel was OK, just mad and needed a hug, James ran right over, grabbed him around the back (it was one of those face-to-the-ground tantrums), squeezed him tight, and said "It's OK. Gabe-wel, it's OK!" They usually hug each other goodbye in the afternoons, or at least give each other high-fives. I just love that they have each other and really hope they stay in the same class for a long time to come. Everybody needs a best friend.

These are just a few of my favorite photos (sent to me over the past few months by their teacher, Gabriel's mom):