To Baby Weinstein, From Your Dad

Super Sunday

2012-02-08T11:00:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday we gathered with Brady, Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Michelle and your Godparents to eat and watch the Super Bowl. Or the Halftime show. Or whatever.

In any case, Uncle BJ and Aunt Kari brought over their awesome camera and took some great pics and videos of you and Brady.

We love the video so much...it just captures what an evening playing is like in your life right now.

Perfectly captures the serenity of playing.

Almost makes you want to cry!

Facing Forward

2012-01-23T11:59:00.001-08:00

Man, oh, man. How time flies!

I haven't told you about your second Christmas/Hannukah or New Year's Eve and it's already late January. You've been growing and changing so quickly that it's hard to keep up! But here are the highlights:

+You liked Hannukah!
But didn't necessarily love posing for Hannukah pictures:
+ You didn't dislike Santa:

+You loved the lights on the Christmas tree and constantly requested that it be "on."

+ You loved dreidels and worked really hard to spin them yourself

+ We had Hannukahs with Mimi and Pops and Christmas with the Roomianis:

+ You finally got the hang of opening presents around the 4th night of Hannukah...

when I turned my back for a moment and you had torn open Uncle Joseph's present under the tree! A crock pot did not interest you (no video).

+You ate your first donut during Hannukah...and it was awesome!

+ Mr. POTATO HEAD is awesome!

+ Jingle Bells Snoopy is HILARIOUS!

+Preston and Toby continued to be your bestest buddies!

+ You got your first hair cut (and you already need another!)

+We went to the park tons (and tons of parks) and you got bolder and bolder in your independence. You now climb the structure and go down the slide all by yourself!

+You also took to the water fountain like a fish to...well..water!

+We played with friends and you even got some matching Buzz Light Year Pajamas from your God Parents, the Nodelands and hung out with Brady and the Shields a lot!

+ You continued to LOVE Toy Story and all things Toy Story. You even created your own signal for "To infin

+ You got and destroyed a Toy Story tent in under a month (it was faulty construction...not your fault!)

+ Your favorite song is now "You've got a friend in me" from Toy Story. We listen to Randy Newman ALL the time now.

+ You are requesting things with your expanding (and creative) vocabulary.
- "Ha ha" or "Ba" is Toy Story ("Ha Ha" is "Howdy"..we don't get "ba")
- You request your #2 favorite song, Muppet's Bohemian Rhapsody, by saying "Ma" and pointing up to the sky (very clever if you ask me...you combined "look up to the skies and see" with "mama" to let us know what you want...and yesterday we heard the song 25,431 times!)
- You request your #3 favorite song in the world by saying "Oh wee oh," which is quite accurate:
- You created your own sign for "thirsty" which is very accurate
- Last night you told us you were hungry with a brand new sign: putting your fist in your mouth!
- Yesterday in Target your Mommy was looking for me and calling me by name. You responded by quickly learning and echoing "Ahn..Ahn!" (my name is Aaron...nice to meet you!)

+You "help" us "clean"

+You can now eat at the table like a big boy! (and you do a great job of it!)

+ You are some sort of acrobat:
- we inherited Addison's old play mat and you keep trying to do somersaults on it all by yourself!

+ You are some sort of monkey:
- You're climbing like crazy. Your green chair is your ticket "up" (also, your vocabulary continues to grow! "up up up!")

- Today your Mommy turned her head for one second and you had scaled the safety gate to the stairs and were rapidly climbing upstairs!

+And...major milestone...you're now officially forward facing.

It's so hard keeping up with you nowadays, not just because you're scaling walls and growing like a weed. But you're changing and growing and maturing into a great kid every second of every day. It's hard to look backward when you keep us facing forward!

After Midnight

2011-12-30T22:14:00.001-08:00

We were watching a movie in the living room.
It was past midnight.
You woke up and saw us...and eventually started crying.
I went in first to your room and you smiled when you saw me.
You just wanted to be with us.
I thought for a split second that you could come watch the movie with us, but you need to sleep.
I held you, you held me.
You peered through the window to look for your Mama.
I asked you if you wanted to say hi to her and you smiled so big that I signaled for her to come in.
We held you tight, and you held us back.
You looked so grown up in that moment, as if you'd grown wiser and older since we put you to bed.
You just wanted to be with us.
We rocked you and sang to you.
I kissed you goodnight and left the two of you alone.
She sang a little while longer and put you down.
You fell back asleep.
Don't grow any more tonight... be this age tomorrow, if you can.
We want to be with you too.

Fall Back: Thanksgiving

2011-12-09T11:22:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving means one thing: stuffing your face full of awesome food.

Okay, Thanksgiving means two things: stuffing your face full of awesome food AND family.

We got to do both for your Second Thanksgiving.

We had three turkeys; one with your Godparents, the Nodelands, and the Shields. One with an entire branch of the Roomiani/Powell/Zaehler/Weinstein/Cantrell Family tree. And a smaller one (dinner, not turkey) with the Weinsteins and Helfords.

Food was had by all; naps were had by all; fun was had by all.

Trips to the arboretum with Aunt Rebekka, playing chase with Kaelyn, and going to the playground with Pops and more...this was the week for family fun!

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Fall Back: More Fun

2011-12-06T12:03:00.000-08:00

This fall has been so much fun with you! You're old enough to enjoy things that you slept through last year (like the Fair and the Zoo and Pops' stories). So, while the weather was nice, we went to see some ancient animals at the Heard Museum.
Here you are feeding the T-Rex the biggest stick you could find. You got upset when the stick got caught in his massive jaws.

We also went to see some living animals at the Dallas Zoo!

You got to 'feed' nearly every animal (statue) you encountered. They were very appreciative. It's so awesome watching you use your imagination...and sharing with the animals in the process.
You actually barked at the penguins later...I guess that's what happens when you have penguin-sized dogs at home!
Even though you liked the animals a lot, you also enjoyed some of the zoo's less popular attractions: like the stairs and grates exhibit...

And we also partied like animals to celebrate Brady's first birthday party!

Brady's getting older too (#common sense statement), so you and he have more in common the more mobile he gets. You've actually started playing together!

When we're moving so fast and taking in so many sights and sounds with you it sometimes becomes a little too fast-paced to immediately reflect. But, as odd as it may sound, when your Mom and I take you to a zoo, or a nature trail with animatronic dinos or a party, the animals, dinos or cupcakes aren't the main attraction: you are! And here's where I officially start sounding like a over-sentimental old man...

But it's true: experiencing things with you as you experience them for the first time is wondrous. Seeing the world through your eyes where nothing is old and everything is exciting is such an adventure, and we're so happy that we're fortunate enough to be there with you.

You find amazement in an ant climbing around on a bolt holding together the chimp exhibit, paying no attention to the monkeys themselves...

...sooner or later you'll only see the chimps, which isn't a bad thing at all, it's part of growing up.

I'm just so thankful that we get to experience these moments with you and be with you as you grow and change the world around you...and I guess we're changing too. I didn't really care about the chimps either...I was more focused on the little boy who was focusing on the ants on the bolt; and that moment alone was totally worth the cost of admission. Lucky for me, though, that there are thousands of these moments to fall back on...and thousands more we've yet to experience.

Fall Back: Halloween

2011-11-29T11:23:00.000-08:00

Your second Halloween was awesome! Such a difference one year makes...you've grown from a cute little monkey into a fine young pirate!

In fact, your whole family turned into a clan of pirates!

This was also your first year to really go trick-or-treating. Uncle BJ and Aunt Kari joined Brady (a dashing Mickey Mouse), Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Michelle for trick-or-treating in our neighborhood.

At first you were a bit iffy about the whole thing, but then we gave you your second lollipop of all time and then you were a full blown sucker for Halloween for the rest of the sticky, sticky evening.

You held up your pumpkin bucket for candy, waved thank you and bye bye to our nice neighbors and ate dutifully ate your lollipop for all 90 minutes of trick-or-treating.

Your Mom, Uncles and I managed to eat the rest of your loot over the next weeks. Perhaps next year you'll be able to eat one or two more pieces of your own candy!

Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrren't you glad you were a pirate for your second Halloween?

Fall Back: State Fair

2011-11-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

My oh my- how time flies when you're having fun!

Our Octobers and Novembers are always fun and busy, and this one has been no exception.

So: Flash back. A few weeks ago, your Aunt April, Uncle Taff, Autumn and Addison came up to Dallas for our second annual pilgrimage to the Texas State Fair.

It's amazing how much has changed in one mere year. Last year you were hardly old enough to really know you were at the State Fair, let alone have fun.

And the year before that (your semi-first State Fair), you were just there for the food.

But this year, you had a blast.

You rode one (1) ride with your Daddy!
(this was actually a bit traumatic for both of us...but at the end you still loved me and you didn't hurl, so it was a success)

Your cousins went on a few more:

You finally took a nap in the car exhibit (after we changed your diaper near a 2012 model).

You and your cousins went to the Petting Zoo and had so much fun feeding goats, lambs, and cows and looking at Kangaroos, Emus, Ostriches, Pigs and more. This was a perfect time for you to show off your animal sounds and your animal-feeding abilities.

It's almost as if we are training you to work on a farm. Which is good, since you, Addison and Autumn also got to spend some time working on a pretend farm. You were very good at watering the fake plants and planting your seeds. You milked a fake cow and threw a fake egg. You did not ride the tractor.

All in all, though, the best thing about the weekend wasn't the Fair or the food or the fried goodness (mmm...corny dogs): it was the family.

You got some good quality cuddles with your Aunt and Uncle (and Mimi and Pops too) and had a general blast playing with Autumn and Addison. Crazy family fun!

You and Autumn even actually wrestling! It was a sight to see. But don't worry, as always, you fought fair.

Nature Boy (or Mud Man)

2011-10-17T11:17:00.001-07:00

One day you and I were walking back from the playground when we heard someone yelling from a nearby back yard: "Is that our neighbor?"

It was two of our little neighbor boys in their backyard, looking through the fence, saying hi to you...buck naked.

I thought "well, the weather's nice enough...we should let Aidan play naked in the backyard and see what happens."

So, that night, I stripped you down and let you wander around the backyard. You loved it!

I told Mommy of how much fun you had and then she decided we had to do it again...and again...

Since then you've had 2 or 3 fun, fully nude, muddy, wet, sunny play times outside. And you've totally bonded with nature each time.

You don't care if you get rocks on your tush or sticks on your tush. You've got scraped up legs and a splinter in your finger, but you still LOVE being naked outside. Fun in the sprinkler, fun in the sun, even fun swinging and spinning in and out of the water.

And then, of course, it's bath time!

Your Mommy says that you are just like she was: a mud-pie making, outdoors-loving, muddy, dirty kid.

You're really becoming quite the Nature Boy...and we love it!

Good clean fun for all!

The end!

Missing You and Catching Up

2011-10-06T11:41:00.000-07:00

In late September I had to go on my annual business trip, this one was from Friday morning before you woke up to Monday night after you went to bed. So I went four whole days without seeing you. It sucked. But, at least we got to video chat and talk on the phone a little bit. But this wasn't exactly soothing...you missed me too! And when you saw me or heard me on the phone you got a little upset and pointed at the front door (because that's where I come from, apparently!)

While I was gone, you and your Mommy did lots of fun things and hung out with Bibi and Baba a lot. The four of you even went to the Arboretum.

You guys probably had to get wet in the fountain to hide your missing-Daddy tears.

But, when I came back home I didn't waste any time catching up with you. You woke up crying on Monday night and I beat your Mom to your crib (and honestly, I most of the times don't try to beat her to your crib on those late-night calls). It was dark and we couldn't see each other, but you knew it was me (because it clearly wasn't Mommy). I held you tight and you fell asleep again in my arms. It was pretty much the awesomest part of leaving.

I guess that's the best part of leaving: coming home.

And while I was home, we did some serious good hanging out. Since I've been away from the blog for a while, and I know how much it sucks to miss you, here's some catching up on what we've been up to:

You did some naked running around inside and outside:

Your Mommy, you and I went to the Arboretum too...and also played in the fountain!

We celebrated Rosh Hashana With Mimi and Pops (and you discovered your love for piano playing)

You stomped your feet and played inside and out:

And loved on your "brothers"...

You've learned a bit of sign language too! Your Bibi taught your "please" in one afternoon. Where you hit your chest...or tummy..with one hand or two... You did "please" for like a week solid, but now you've kind of stopped doing it and just use a big emphatic "YES" (a GIANT head nod) instead. We're working on please still.

You can climb in your Aidan-sized chair and are oh-so proud of yourself.

You turned over the Dogs' water bowl twice in one day (and the floor got very clean).

You can finally reach the on/off button on the washer (on your tippy toes).

Everything is a phone. Even a phone. You hold all sorts of things up to your ear and pretend you're on the phone; this is pretty amazing, because you've never actually been on the phone.

Speaking of pretending, once last week I let you feed the dogs their treats. You immediately went back to the container to give them more, but I had closed it. So you invented a game: you pretend to get the food, hold it tightly in a closed-fist and give it to the dogs. You think this is hilarious good fun...the dogs, not so much.

You can climb up to the top of the playground at the park all by yourself. And you love going down the slides.

Your favorite food is apricots and the yellow crayon is your favorite one to hold. Your favorite toy of today is the Toy Story Woody that Uncle BJ and Aunt Kari got you.

You turned 19 months old!

We surprised your Mommy with a surprise birthday party (she's 30!) and with the big "SURPRISE!!!!" you cried...but you got over it! Plus you enjoyed the cake!

It mostly stinks to have to leave, but it's always good to catch up.

You are growing and changing every day, and every day has its ups and downs. But, I'd so much rather be holding you as you have a mini-melt down than be miles and miles away.

Your Mom and I just marvel at how much fun the 5 of us (and Grandmas and Aunts and Uncles and Grandpas) are having raising you and being a family. You are such a good boy and if we ever get out of synch again, don't worry, I'll miss you and you'll miss me. And when I get back, we'll catch up again.

Growing up...not so fast.

2011-09-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Aidan, you grow and change and amaze your Mom and me every day. It's hard to keep up with sometimes, let alone write about it.

I remember being floored last week: you brought me a book to read, Dr. Seuss' "I can read with my eyes closed." You flipped it directly open to the only page in the book that you like, and you already had your fingers on your nose to act out the page: "And what to do about Owls on noses."

Then you got up, went to the book shelf and grabbed "In my tree," the only other book we have that's all about owls.

The fact that you just made that connection blew my mind. But that was already a week ago and since then you've blown my mind a few more times, made me laugh, made me frustrated, made me happy, and made me feel loved a million times each!

What a crazy journey we're on together. I'm definitely along for the ride, even though you're the one captaining it.

Here are some of the amazing/fun/awesome (or maybe even regular, day-in-day-out) awesomeness of late:

You love to drink from the faucet (and fill up your water bottle and cup there too). You figured this out all on your own, and cracked us up!

You're really (kinda) getting the hang of (kinda) feeding yourself with a spoon!

And, when not trying to eat the food for yourself, you love to feed others too!

It's gotten cooler outside, so you've been able to explore the playground for the first time since you learned to walk.

You love swinging:

And putting mulch on things:

And sliding:

And bumping into friends in the park...

and elsewhere...

And you even got to go on your very first bike ride:

So, as you can see, you've been a baby on the move. I'm not even trying to catch up any more; I'm just enjoying the heck out of the ride!

Houston-bound

2011-09-13T11:04:00.000-07:00

Over Labor Day Weekend, we decided to go visit Uncle Dana, all your cousins and Aunt Mendi. It was a great weekend, and you had a blast playing with your cousins, especially Kat, Haley and Grayson.

You loved climbing up Uncle Dana's staircase (no video of this, as all adult hands are needed on deck when stairs are being climbed by an 18 month old),

chasing the girls around the house (or being dragged in a laundry basket),

reading with the girls,

playing in the tent room,

swimming, and watching Holden and Griffin do what ever "big boys."

And, if you can believe it, the heat in Texas broke- the consecutive days of 100 degrees were over! (temporarily)

So we did a lot of stuff outdoors: we went for a walk, went to the park, and played outside.

Between the stairs, the fun toys, the family love and the swimming, you had a really good time!

Oh, and on the drive in you even watched your first feature-length movie from start to finish: Toy Story 3. You laughed a lot and were pretty interested.

Daddy's very sensitive ever since he became a Daddy; Toy Story 3 made him cry three times. Damn Pixar.

But there were no tears (okay, so there were a few, but nothing major) at Uncle Dana's house! A fun time was had by all; and you really do love seeing your cousins!

The Dog, the Dad and the Wardrobe

2011-08-29T11:37:00.000-07:00

The other day you followed me into the master bedroom closet as I was changing afterwork. You decided it would be a fun time to play: play with Toby, chill in the dog bed, play with the camera, make funny faces and play with shoes. I couldn't agree more!

Not to air our dirty laundry, which is literally on display in all of these video clips, but who knew so much fun could be had in the wardrobe? I had to video you playing and share it...it's just too good.

Normally when you follow us into our closet, you want to hear the music box that your Mom and I got in Paris. It plays "La vie en rose," and now you love that song! But on this day, all you wanted to do was play! You even tried to give Toby one of Mommy's shoes.

It's so wonderful to be able to imaginative play with you like this.

So, we may not have any skeletons in the closet, but we certainly did have lots of dirty laundry. But, more important than that, we had a lot of good clean fun!

Little Fish: Last Swim Class of the Summer

2011-08-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

I was fortunate enough to use my lunch break last Tuesday to drive to Emler Swimming Academy for Human Children (or whatever it's called) and join you and your Mom for your last swim class.

Of course, I was wearing a button-down and khakis, so I couldn't join you in the pool. I wish I was wearing a swim suit though, it was hot in there and the water looked so refreshing...except for the abundance of children who probably peed in their swim diapers.

But, pee wasn't the most exciting thing in the water. You were! Of course I've seen what you can do in our inflatable pool and in Gulf and in friends' pools over the summer, but I've never witnessed the barage of swimmin' challnges and learning they throw at you (or throw you in to) in a swim class.

You were great! Obstacles that used to bother you and make you cry only made you happy! A child screaming bloody murder didn't make you lose your swimming cool at all. You went down the slide (with glee) and did humpty dumpty (with slight resistance) and held your breath for 8 seconds (a class record!!!).

You still did not seem to like floating on your back. In fact, you hated it. I did not take video of that.

But, all in all, swim class was a success, and a fun experience for you and your Mommy. I'm so glad I got to be a tiny part of it and be the creepy guy in khakis and a button-down filming a swimming pool full of children with his phone!

La La Land

2011-08-19T12:18:00.001-07:00

Your first trip out of the state of Texas was to a place far far away where palm trees grow right out of the ground, where city, beach, sand, tar rest gently upon a fault in the Earth's tectonic plates and where your Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross live: Los Angeles, California.

It was an amazing trip, full of long walks on the beach, great food, and good laughs (sounds kind of like a cheesy intro to an online dating profile). But it's completely true!

You got to meet your Great Aunt Anita and Great Uncle David (Pops' big brother!) They really liked you and even brought you some cool toy cars to play with, which you demanded that we open immediately so that you could let gravity put them gently on the floor.

You also got to meet (and re-meet) a few of Mommy's and Daddy's college friends: Big Mike and Evelyn (and their significant others: Lauren and Joe, respectively). While we were at dinner with them, we witnessed a shoot for a movie (or, more likely, a cell phone commercial). We could even be unwitting extras in this movie, since the shoot was taking place right outside the restaurant where we ate!
But, most of the time in LA was devoted to being spent with Daddy's sister, you're Aunt Rebekka, and Uncle Ross.

We did all sorts of fun things together, including a trip to a Roman Villa-remake called the Getty Villa. They even let you draw on an old Roman vase (made of dry-erase material).

(Are you sure I can draw on this?)

We went to the LACMA and saw an exhibit on Tim Burton's art! (You don't know who Tim Burton is yet, but I should steer you away from his remake of "Planet of the Apes" and more towards "Nightmare before Christmas")
And outside the museum, we played in the lamp posts!
But, what really interested you about the museum was their uncanny exhibit on how to put pebbles on a stone bench and watch them slide off. This provided almost an hour of entertainment!

We also went to the LaBrea Tar Pits, where prehistoric dummy animals got caught in tar, and then prehistoric dummy predators tried to eat that easy prey and also got caught in tar. And then thousands of years later, we can look at their bones and see what dummies look like.

Here we are recreating such an incident:
No one can save Uncle Ross now!

We finally got to go to one of Aunt Rebekka's Music Together classes. She gave us the CDs and we sing the songs and play them all the time. But we've never been to a class! Before the other kiddo showed up, you had the place to yourself and took serious advantage, exploring the big mirror and piano!

But then when class started, you thought it was awesome! You were such a good participant. And then came the bells:

You loved the bells so much that you didn't want to give them up, and proceeded to throw a fit for almost the rest of the entire class.

You kept going to the plastic bin where Aunt Rebekka had them stored, and when we wouldn't let you get the bells, you were upset. The saving grace from the bell crisis was the introduction to the plastic bin full of drums. This is a bit like trying to get rid of your rattlesnake infestation by getting a lot of coyotes.

So, once the drums were gone, you were still a bit bent out of shape, but, you know what? we still had a super fun time! And you loved Aunt Rebekka's class!

In fact, music was a big part of our trip! We played guitars...
And a trombone...
and sang (and laughed) a lot...

Daddy's guitar at home is always out, but I must admit, I didn't know how much you liked it until our trip to LA. Rebekka helped me realize that most of the songs you like are the same 3 chords, so I play a lot more at home now. A funny thing happened in LA, though: you requested a song!

I had the guitar in my lap and you came up to me and did your "twinkle twinkle" hands! So, you wanted to hear that song! Request granted (after all, it's the same 3 chords as the other songs!)

We went on a lot of walks, up and down Venice Beach...

We went shopping in stores that had dogs (not for sale)...
and stores that had Books and Cookies!

We hung and swung around...

And just hung out at home...in case anyone called.

It was a great vacation together in La La Land. It was so tough to leave, but there's always next time!

ps. There was some projectile vomiting too. Remind me to tell you about that sometime.

DFW => LAX: Your First Flight

2011-08-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

About one week ago, you took your first flight in an airplane.

There was lots of build up: would your ears hurt? would you sleep? would you scream? would you want to run around the plane? oh no! will we survive? will our seat-C neighbor hate us?
And then, a very very nice let down: you were GREAT on board!
Our flight to LA to see Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross was early in the morning. We had to wake you up from a deep slumber at 6 am to get you to the airport, but, no, you did not fall asleep on the plane! We made sure that you were chewing food (yogurt melts, your favorite (which we chose on purpose)) and water! So, your ears never hurt too badly from the air pressure.

Take off was great! Then for the rest of the flight, you watched Baby Einstein on the iPad while sitting in my lap. I even successfully changed your diaper in the lavatory half way through the flight! Then, for landing we put the iPad away, and gave you more yogurt melts, so you didn't even think to meltdown.

You also occupied yourself during the flight by occasionally tearing up cocktail napkins into small pieces and handing the ones you didn't chew on to our neighbor in seat C, who was actually really pleased to be seated next to us. He learned your name and talked to you and everything. I kept you from taking his glasses.

Our flight home was equally uneventful, except that you fell in love. The little girl (about 7-8 years old) in front of you in 28A saw you for the first time when peered over the top of their seats. You saw her and got a little shy. Then she started playing peak-a-boo with you on either side of her seat, depending on where you were sitting. You would look for her, she'd see you and POP you'd fling back in joy. This little game was a big hit with you!

She was so super nice to play with you during no-iPad times and keep you fully occupied! She even tried to play with you during iPad times, but you were mostly ignoring her to watch your stories. But, on occasion, you'd get up, peer through the seats and grab her nose or touch her hand or just play more peakaboo.

Alas, the flight ended and we, in row 29, and the little girl in 28A went our separate ways. Perhaps you'll meet again someday, on another west-bound flight.

So, yes, it was very exciting because it was your first flight on an airplane! (and your second one too). But, besides the excitement of another "first" off the list, it was a peaceful, easy, uneventful experience! We'll have to travel with you again soon...and maybe sneak another free flight out of you before you turn 2 and the airlines start charging.

But, you ask, what about our trip? What about my first trip outside the great state of Texas?

Well, don't fly off the handle like that! We have plenty of stories to tell about your first out-of-state visit to Aunt Rebekka's and Uncle Ross's!

But for now, put your tray table up and return your seat back to its upright position (and put away your Baby Einstein-playing iPad), because this flight is over.

Cleaning House: A New Hobby

2011-07-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

You like to play in our utility room. You love to push the electric broom and our floor sweeper. You even cry when we sweep in front of you and then put the brooms away. You LOVE to "help" by holding on to the broom and walking around with it. But the problem is that those cleaning tools are a bit too big for you and you could (most likely) hurt yourself playing with them.

So, you can't play with them unsupervised.

But, the other day, you discovered an Aidan-sized solution for all your cleaning needs:

Huzzah! The dust pan and brush!

You would not put the dust pan down for about an hour! The brush seemed to be the lesser of the two in your opinion, but it was still cool to hold.

The next day, you and I went to the Dollar store and I got you your very own (and very clean (and very new)) dustpan and brush. You like those a lot!

Now if only you did windows...

Beach Photo Album

2011-07-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite photos from mine, Mimi's and Pops' cameras from our trip to Galveston. Your second trip was far more fun than the first for you, I think. You loved the ocean, the food, the family, your cousins and developed quite a cute little "thing" with Autumn!

We couldn't keep you out of the surf. You loved walking down to the water and plopping down in the water. Sand, water, sun- you loved it all! You slept great, played hard and ate very well!

So, browse away. The pictures do all the talking.

FUNNIEST BOOK PAGE EVER

2011-07-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

I totally want to recap our adventure to the beach, because we had a great time and a lot of great laughs.

But, last night you made us laugh so hard that I couldn't help but write it up immediately.

First of all, I was bathing you and talking to you all about bubbles (specifically the bubbles that come out of an empty bottle when you submerge it). You love bubbles and love to say "bubbbbb uhl." But then you recalled a different way to make bubbles. You stood up in the tub and grabbed my hair and tried to push my face to the water, like you do when we're in the pool and you want me to blow bubbles. You had me cracking up!

But, the best was yet to come.

During story time before bed, your Mommy was reading to you and you requested the Jungle Pop Up Book that you love so much. I've read this book to you a million times (by making up my own words, mind you, because if we linger on the page long enough to read the printed text, all pop up jungle animals would be as decapitated as the poor eviscerated chameleon). But, your Mommy read it to you with a new, more subtle approach to story telling.

You opened the first page to reveal the snake popping out from a tree limb and your Mom screamed "Snakey snakey snakey!"

And you just lost it!

You started laughing so hard and making the snake pop out again and again. You laughed so hard that you were coughing; you laughed so hard that you wheezed; you laughed so hard that I'm sure your belly was hurting. You laughed so hard that your Mom and I cracked up too!

But you kept laughing and laughing for what seemed like ages!

You laughed long enough that I just sat and soaked it up for a long time and then when it continued, I went and grabbed a camera. But it was out of battery. So I went back to the kitchen, grabbed my phone and recorded two more full minutes of you laughing your diaper off!

Man, just watching this video makes me smile.

Laughter is infectious, for real. This laugh could have started an epidemic!

SNAKEY SNAKE SNAKE SNAKE!

Chasing Cousins and other Beach House Fun

2011-07-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a great trip to Galveston! It seems like not that long ago that you took your first trip to the beach a year ago; but boy what a difference one year has made!

But, before we get inot talking about the beach and water, the best surprise was to see you playing with your cousins.

You've interacted with other kids before, but you really haven't played with them. But with your cousins, especially Autumn, you really got into a playful mood. You chased her all over the beach house trying to get her pacifier. What a fun game!

Like I said- you are actually playing chase with her! Of course playing games with Mommy and Daddy is fun (like peekaboo), and you've tried to take Brady's pacifier a few times (and tried to take a few pacifiers at Little Gym), but to watch you just dive into this playful game for so long without being prompted to was just amazing. It made us realize how much you've grown!

When we weren't at the beach, you spent your time in the beach house playing with and laughing with (and being fed by) Addison, Autum, Grayson, Holden, Haley and Griffin.

You were definitely in your element. Even though the force is strong with you, we know that you still have a lot of learning to do before you can enjoy all sorts of fun games with your cousins. But, before we know it, you'll be playing right along with more "grown-up" games too!

Head of the Table

2011-06-29T11:48:00.001-07:00

You're definitely an old pro at feeding yourself with your hands. I remember how excited we were when you learned how to grab food, and then pinch it more delicately (although you sometimes really just feel like grabbing food anyway and mushing it to smithereens). Lately you've even been chewing food, reaching in your mouth, taking the food out, looking at it and then putting it back in your mouth again.

Well, we're working on another couple fun and potentially equally messy eating milestones.

First off, you're really interested in how cups work and how to drink (or pour) liquid out of them.
It's a fun new toy that can leave you realllllly soaking wet.

Secondly, you've advanced to mostly eating whatever we're eating. This experiment has had varying degrees of success. But last night...oh man...last night you couldn't get enough of the chicken Basil Thai Fried Rice that I made. It had okra, tomatoes, eggplant and thai basil fresh from our garden (and mine had our fresh jalapenos in it, but I spared your Mommy and you that treatment). While cooking I had pretty much resigned myself to the fact that you would probably not like it (we had struck out on a rice dish pretty abysmally a few nights before).

But you LOVED it!

You've had some experience feeding yourself yogurt with a spoon, but for the past two nights you've shown some real aptitude and creativity in this department. The second night was a bit cleaner than the first, and you were very vocal about how funny and awesome you thought feeding yourself actually was.

After your yogurt course, while Mommy drew your (much needed) bath, I bribed you into saying one of your new words on camera. With Graham Crackers in hand, you munched on (and said the word ) "Cooook keeehhhhh"s!

Water Baby

2011-06-28T11:19:00.000-07:00

Since summer began, your Mom has been taking you to swim classes. Now, let's get one thing straight: you love the water, and you love the pool! You love splishing and splashing and bouncing. But, at first, you really really really hated being submerged. The swim school you attend, Emler, has a method of teaching babies how to hold their breath by literally tossing them into the deep end.

Okay, well, not literally. But they create a sensation of falling, which forces humans to automatically hold their breath. You are a human, so this applies to you too. You're doing a wonderful job at holding your breath under water, but the first couple times, when you surfaced, you were PISSED at your Mommy and the world for putting you through that.

But, slowly but surely, you've gotten used to it and are getting better and better at "swimming."

Luckily, last Friday I was able to go to Emler with you and Mommy and we practiced submersion a bunch. Throw in the Waterproof camera to that equation, and you've got pretty solid evidence of your submersion lessons. Granted, you still don't seem to love (or even like) being dunked, you seem okay with it now, which is good: water safety is very important, and learning things like holding your breath are key.

As fun as that seemed, your true love of water stems from bath time. You love splishing and all that other stuff in the tub too. But now you've figured out how to play with some of the cooler tubby toys in the bath. You also still really like to play with the one toy that is attached to you. Probably, as your Mommy puts it, because it's really the only time during the day that you have access to it.

But, I digress, bath time is, indeed, so much fun. And it's really cool to watch you discover actions and consequences in the tub (aka, figure out how your toys work).

Talkey

2011-06-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I'm just now doing this, but it's time to chronicle your first words, since now your vocabulary is rapidly becoming to large to commit to memory.

Of course, you started out by saying "Mama." Everything was "Mama," even your Mama!

Then you said "Dada" once. You haven't said it since. Although, you seem to like saying "papa," except it's more like "papapapapa."

But, your first real word that you said and associated it to one thing only was "fish." But you said "ishhhhhhh." You said it when you saw pictures of fish or fish in the pond or a tank in a restaurant. But, then you gave up on saying "fish."

Then came the big developmental portion of your vocabulary. It began with "car." Except you said it as "acah." But we know what you mean! Since you say it when you play with a car, watch cars go by our house with your Grandmas and when you point to (selected) cars in parking lots. I think "acah" was your first official word that stuck.

After that it's been getting wordy in the Weinstein house. You have a specific word for "Preston," but it can't really be written using the English alphabet. It kind of sounds like "Psdfasskjlljkb." But it's consistently used when describing Preston. you now talk all the time. When you started walking, it was like your feet could finally run, so your mouth does too. When you walk around the house you love to say "ohhhhh" "ohhhhh."

You love bubbles. We blow bubbles in the backyard all the time. You know where the bubbles and the wand are kept. So, one day not too long ago, you watched your Mom put her contacts in and you pointed to the upturned contact on her finger and said "Bubble!"

Then "fish" came back, except now it's more like "fffffff." I know this means fish because you and I stood on our back porch, and you pointed to the fish food, said "fffffff" and got really happy when I got the fish food and we fed the "fffffff"s.

And now you can say "yes!" Except it's more like "Yettttttttthhhhhhhhhhshshshs," but, It's definitely an affirmative answer. It can often be provoked by asking if you want to go upstairs, or if you want a cookie.

Speaking of cookies, Mimi and Pops asked if you wanted a cookie and instead of saying "yetttttthhhhsshshs" you said "cooook eeee." So now you can say cookie too!

And you also know can say what noise a dog makes: "arf!" or is it "woof!" The word you say could be either, but it definitely refers to a dog. So that's good.

Getting you to talk on video is actually pretty challenging, since the second the camera starts rolling, you normally want to eat the camera, or see the other side of it. But, when you're on a roll, you're on a roll. Here's "a cah" and "arf!"

It's always been great talking to you, but the conversations (which started as rather one-sided) are now on their way to being full-fledged chats. You definitely understand a lot more than you can say (you know what to do when we say "high five," "bouncey bouncey," "bath time," "hug," "be nice," "food," "water," "ear," "nose," "belly button," "cat" and tons of other words), but your mind is working all the time on figuring out how to say these things. You mouth words when we're reading; I swear you're so close to saying "boat" the other night while reading your new favorite, "The Going to Bed Book." I know soon enough you'll be saying complex sentences. But until you start talking back, we're going to cherish ever word. Even if your "Dada" has to be "Papapapa" for the time being.

Laugh it up!

2011-06-20T11:49:00.000-07:00

You love to laugh and love to make other people laugh. Typically, you get good laughs by laughing yourself, which then makes you want to laugh again.

It's gotta be one of the all-time best games ever.

Art Baby: A Day at the Museum

2011-06-15T11:17:00.001-07:00

Over the weekend, we spent a whole day at the Dallas Museum of Art. They were having a "BooksmART" event, where authors and illustrators came to talk about their craft, sign some books and lead workshops. One of your Mommy's favorite illustrators/authors (her illustratin' idol, in fact), David Wiesner, was one of the stars of the day. So we stalked him at the museum.

First we heard a lecture from him. He had a Powerpoint showing drawings from some of his great books. And you got really excited and vocal when the giant frogs (from "Tuesday") and lizards (from "Art & Max") were shown on the screen. You made it through about half the lecture before I decided to duck out with you. You weren't getting fussy, but you were maybe getting too excited and screeching and pointing, so you and I had some Daddy & Aidan fun time around the museum while Mommy finished listening to the lecture.

You had a blast looking at all the cool art and a few of the children's attractions they had there.

It was also a very flattering day for me because of the transitive property of compliments.

A lot of people stopped me to tell me how adorable you are. One woman even stopped me to say that you were a beautiful boy with gorgeous eyes.

Then a few minutes later, a Museum person observing you riding on my shoulders stopped us and said that you looked just like me.

Therefore, ipso facto, I, too, must be adorable!

But, enough about me!

After we met up with your Mommy after the lecture, we went and grabbed our picnic lunch while Mommy waited in line to get Mr. Wiesner's autograph in all 5 of his books that we own. It was hot as blue blazes, so I fed you a banana in the shade for the most part while your Mom waited.

But then we got to the front of the line and blammo! You, me and your Mom met David Wiesner!

Then we fed you your delicious lunch in the shade of the museum trees and the Dallas skyline!

But, being the s-m-r-t parents that we are, we knew that you needed to nap (it was already nearing 1:30 and you hadn't had your 11 o'clock nap yet!). So we decided to take a stroll around the museum in the hopes that you'd fall asleep.

In one empty gallery, we thought we had lulled you to sleep. But then you discovered how to make an echo and then filled the gallery with some underwater echolocation noises.

So we had to take you somewhere less entertaining. And we found it: a one-room exhibit of architecture line drawings did the trick! Good night, Aidan!

But, then we hit a problem. The area for the next event, a workshop, was a no-stroller zone! But you needed to nap...so we decided that you'd spend your nap in my arms. But, problem two: my arms would fall off if I had to hold you for over an hour. So, solution: home-made sling! Your mom tied my shirt (which had previously served as a picnic blanket) ((good thing I wore two shirts)) around you and me and made a civil-war style sling. I worked perfectly! I could hold you but spread some of the weight to my shoulders. And, not-so-secretly, I relished every moment of cradling you in my arms and having you sleep on my shoulder. You don't do that too often any more!

So, we parked the stroller and stood in line for Wiesner's workshop. You slept for an entire hour in my arms, but when you woke up, you woke up excitedly. You found yourself in an art room and started excitedly vocalizing at all the drawings and cool crafts around. Once you were done cuddling and pointing, you were ready to join in the fun. So we got you a pencil and a piece of paper, and you went to work doing your own full-body, super-excited illustration!

While your picture will certainly be hung up on the side of our fridge, it's really the whole adventure that I'd like to put in a frame and hang up on our wall-- that way, we'll never forget it. But, I guess this blog entry will do.

And, at any rate, the Museum's just around the corner. I suspect that we'll be spending many a fun day in the museum, and maybe one day, we'll be there to see yours and your Mommy's artwork hanging up on the wall!

Summer Swimming and Carpet Rides

2011-06-14T11:21:00.000-07:00

You are most definitely a water baby! Not only do you love bath time, but you love swimming too. Well, not quite "swimming" but walking around in the water and going splish splash. You are with your Mom right now at your second swimming class, which I'm sure you'll love...except for the part where they're teaching you to be submerged. But, even one scary moment can't make you get out of the water.

We've had our blow-up pool inflated just about every weekend and you will basically climb into it to go swimming. In this regard, you're just like your Daddy: I love swimming too...well, not quite swimming, but walking around in water and going splish splash.

Speaking of water, the other day I spilled some in the kitchen and grabbed a recently-used swimmin' towel to clean up the mess. Later on that day, the towel was dry and still on the floor (because that's how Daddies can clean effectively) and you saw it. Your Mommy and you invented a super fun game called "Magic Carpet Ride!"

Of course, it all looks like fun and games, but the really amazing part for us (besides how much you loved (and the dogs) loved it) was that it really dawned on us how much you truly understand us. I don't think we've ever really told you to "lay down" before when your safety depended on it, but while playing this game, we asked you to lay down and you did it!

So, to reward our good boy, we dragged him around the kitchen floor on a dirty towel all while being licked by dogs. Good parenting!

Book it!

2011-06-10T11:28:00.001-07:00

The other day we took you to a book store and you walked around looking at the cool books. We tried to keep you from playing your favorite home game ("take all the books off their shelves") pretty successfully.

We sat on the floor reading to you and an elderly lady came up to us. She asked us how old you were. "15 months" we said. Then she got all teary eyed.

"It's so great to see a child that age so excited by books." She smiled and walked off.

That was weird. But nice.

I wonder what she would have thought of your taste in books (like when you literally eat them), or when you tell us you're done reading a certain book by shutting it and pushing it off our laps and onto the floor, or how we now have to sing "The WHEEL on the bus goes round and round, "the WIPER on the bus KINDA goes swish, swish, swish," or "the one-armed baby cries wah, wah, wah" (I don't blame him!)

All that said, though, you really do love books and love to be read to. You love flipping through the books on your own too. Someday soon, you'll be able to read all on your own, but until you do, we're gonna cherish every word we can read to you.

Books and literacy are really important to this world, and we're glad that you're excitement about books made an old lady cry.

Also, did you know that bookstores have tons of cool toys and stuffed animals to play with!

Bookstores have tons of "walking-bait" that can be used to show off your new walking skills. So, eat that, books.

Getting By With a Little Help from Our Friends

2011-06-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, we had Brady over, and the two of you found creative ways to solve both of your problems.

Brady couldn't quite get around in the walker.

And the walker's a bit too light for you to push it around without it slipping away from you.

Voila: teamwork and fun!

May I Walk

2011-06-06T11:16:00.001-07:00

The month of may was monumental for mobility! You went from a superb crawler (which you still are) to a great co-walker to a (mostly) solo-walker!

Check it out!

Shameless Bribery at the End of April, but only jelly legs follow:

Controlled falling between mommy and daddy on the first of May:

Then some hard work trying to walk in early May:

Followed by Baby Steps!

And from those baby steps you've only gotten better and better!

Of course, your co-walking is stupendous:

But your solo career has really taken off!

And by the end of May, my shameless bribery in exchange for walking finally paid off!

But, you don't even need bribery to walk on your own two feet anymore.

May is over, and in one short month, you have become a walker!

Guess we'd better get you some shoes...

Little Gym Rat

2011-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

As part of your 1st birthday present, your Mom and I signed you up for a semester of classes at the little gym. You've been going every week ever since and you love it!

I had the pleasure of taking you to your first couple classes and, last week, I got to go with you and Mommy (and Brady) to your last class for now. (We're taking the summer off for swim classes!)
It was amazing for me to see the transformation in you from your first class to your last. You were so much braver in trying new things, really understood some of the games a lot better (like getting the bells) and more sociable with the other children. And, of course, you're almost working, so that's a big deal right there!
But, going to these classes has been great for us, I think. You're kind of fearless, definitely friendly and not afraid of things like giant parachutes or flipping upside down.

I just heard word from your Mom that your first swim class was a success! And true to form though we're a bit behind in the fact that you've never been submerged in water and, therefore, aren't a pro at holding your breath, but your boldness and braveness paid off. You were the only kid who went down the water slide today without crying...and you had a big smile on your face too!

So from Gym class to swim class...here we go!

New 'Do

2011-05-25T12:15:00.001-07:00

You've been such a good eater since day one. But, now that you're mostly feeding yourself, a lot of the food winds up in other places besides your mouth. Like mostly on the floor, the dogs' mouths, your lap and, your new favorite food location, your head! (don't worry, you always make sure that enough food ends up in your mouth; you never leave hungry)

I think it might be a custom from your peoples: if someone gives you a food you like, such as peaches, strawberries, raisins, or blackberries, then to show your appreciation you must wear the food on your head.

One particular evening, you really liked the chicken meat, tuna fish and peaches I fed you for dinner (aka a good representation of all of these foods wound up smushed in your hair).

So, what's a good Dad supposed to do?

After dinner, we retired to the washroom where I tried to clean your hair, but noticed instead that the buffet on your head gave your hair some new tenacity.

So, I styled it!

Rock on, baby!

Share and share alike

2011-05-18T11:48:00.000-07:00

Look at you, baby! You're so selfless. Sharing definitely is caring.

Not only do you often try to share you own pre-chewed food with your Mommy and Me, you even are willing to share your pacifier with Toby. Even if it means shoving it in his mouth.

Now, if you'd only let other babies, like Brady, keep their pacifiers IN their mouths.

All Better! The (short) road to recovery!

2011-05-16T11:24:00.000-07:00

Sorry to keep you in suspense! But, you're all better from your surgery. But, you probably shouldn't have been nervous. You're reading this now, so clearly, you know that you survived the surgery with flying colors.

In fact, by that afternoon you were acting as if nothing had happened.

They said you wouldn't remember this surgery at all, but I didn't know that they meant that you'd be forgiving and forgetting within hours!

Today your Mommy took you in for a follow up and they even took your bandage off.

The surgery couldn't have gone any better. Before you went back to the operation, you were all smiles and giggles, flirting with the nurses and playing (or trying, anyway) to play with all the neat toys in the hospital.

The doctor even let you play with the marker they used to write "YES" on the side of your head where they were going to operate.

Then they took you back and less than an hour later they called us back to see you as you were waking up from anesthesia. You were, understandably, a bit cranky and sleepy- but no major terror or crying.
Once we could hold you, you got very cuddly and lovey. All you wanted at that moment was your Mommy; not even your new Elmo did anything for you.
But, then you napped in the hospital, napped in the car and napped in your crib for about 3 hours. When you woke up from that nap, you were all better- you loved Elmo, you loved Mommy and Daddy and you wanted all bandaids off your body.

Once those were gone, all you wanted to do was eat and play again!

So, we spent the afternoon eating and playing with our happy, healthy little boy.

We are so proud of you Aidan- your strength and resilience is amazing. You made having your head cut open seem easy as pie! You're a little fighter; A little fire...and that's why we love you.

We were so glad when the surgery was over and felt silly for ever worrying to begin with. But, all in all, it was a great day that we all go to spend together. From our 5 am wake up call, all the way through to our very early bed times.

Big Steps

2011-05-04T11:32:00.001-07:00

You're 14 months old and you're definitely mobile. You certainly know your way around our house.

As you can see, you're durable, you're brave, you love to laugh and play, you can stand, you can sit, you can crawl, you can even squat (but you can't do the fancy-walkin' that Toby was doing)!

But, there may be a new mode of transportation soon.

We think you're getting the hang of walking...and actually getting frustrated that you can't do it yet.

So, say hello to bruised knees and the inevitable floor-meets-Aidan; you're feeling walk-ish!

Watching these videos and seeing how strong, determined and fearless you are gives me strength. Tomorrow is your surgery. You have a dermoid cyst growing on your skull near your right temple. It's a small day surgery; but it's spooky and scary none-the-less. But, every day you amaze me, Aidan, and I know you're going to just kick this surgery's butt.

Not that it's been holding you back in any way, but once we get this big step of your surgery out of the way, I know you're going to be right back at taking big steps on your own.

Your Second EasterOver or Passter

2011-05-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

Your Second Easter and Passover were way more fun for you than your first, I believe. You got to play with chickens, eggs, flowers, matzah and kids. You tried new foods, and hugged your cousins. You tried each color of plastic egg. There were bubbles and uncles and aunts and love, love, love.

Here, in no specific order, is some of the magic of these great family gatherings (and one video!)

Bird Feeder

2011-04-20T11:40:00.000-07:00

As part of our celebration of Mimi's #@*#th birthday, we went down to White Rock Lake to visit and feed the ducks, geese and other various fowl.

I showed you a couple of times how to do it: You take the rolled up piece of old bread and throw it to the birds. Then they eat it.

Clearly, I am a horrible teacher.

I gave you a rolled up piece of bread. You held it, looked at the birds and promptly placed the bread ball in your mouth, chewed and swallowed.

So, after a chuckle, I gave you another piece of bread, and you ate that one too!

After all that time we spend telling you not to throw your food down to the floor for the dogs to eat, we thought you'd be a natural at throwing someone else's food on the ground for a bird to eat.

And then you proved us right! I whipped out the camera to get a video of the hilarity that was you eating the birds' bread and...

You fed them!!!

This is really a perfect example of great parenting: work for hours on getting you to break a bad habit at home, be surprised when you do what we've been preaching elsewhere and then continue until you re-embrace that behavior we were trying to get you to correct...

Ah, who cares...100% consistent parenting is for the birds, anyway!

As a side note...you have gotten way better about not launching your food on the floor for the dogs. Maybe this whole unintentional reverse psychology thingy isn't more than quackery!

Peak-a-Dog

2011-04-18T10:53:00.000-07:00

You created a new game all by yourself.

You were playing in the living room. You spotted Toby sleeping on the couch. You sneakily cralwed up to the couch and POPPED up to surprise the sleeping doggy.

He licked you.

You laugh.

Repeat!

(again and again and again)!

Except now he knows you're coming for him!

It's so incredible to watch you make these connections on your own. No one taught you that it's funny to sneak up on a sleeping somebody, but yet you still knew how hilarious it could be!

I guess it's all part of growing up!

Just know, though, that I'm going to be sleeping with one eye open! It's only funny to wake a sleeping pupster, not a sleeping Daddy!

ROAD TRIP!

2011-04-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

You probably won't remember it, but we just took a major road trip down to McAllen Texas for our friends' wedding. We not only got to see the bride and groom, Selina and Andres, but a couple of other old freinds from college...and you made some new friends too. So: we drove for 5 hours. You slept for some, ate for some and watched some Baby Einstein on a jerry rigged ipad. Our first stop for the night was San Antonio, Texas where we met up with Maya and Peyman and their sweet daughter, Sara, who's about a year older than you. She liked you a lot and called you "boy" (I was "boy daddy" and your Mom was "boy mommy," of course). We had dinner with them on the Riverwalk in San Antonio, and then a nice walk along the river. The next morning before heading on our way, we HAD to show you the Alamo! Again, probably won't be rembmerin' the old Alamo...but we had a nice brief visit at the landmark.

Then we jumped in the car and drove for another 5 hours or so. But, part of the fun of road trips is the journey, not the destination. You seemed to have fun letting the wind run through your hair on the highway! You even clapped some more!

Then we arrived in McAllen and the real fun began. You hung out with Sara some more, got to go swimming in a real pool (and actually enjoyed it), you got to get all dressed up...and then dressed down. You got to play with a super cool big boy, Andres' nephew, Gael, who said your name was "poo poo", which made you laugh really hard! You got to dance with Mommy and Daddy and Sara and her Mommy, Maya, and Daddy, Peyman. You and Mommy observed a butterfly! You got to pose for pictures with the Groom and Best Man and, all in all, have a great time!

It was sad to leave our old and new friends after such a fun time, but we had to hit the road back to Dallas.

But first, we stopped in Austin for the night and got to celebrate your Cousin Kaelyn's second birthday with her. She was happy to see you, as were her parents, and she spent a good part of the night popping out of a tent to tickle/tackle you!

You seemed to have a great time too!

And then the next morning, we hit the road one last time, and landed in Dallas in enough time for you to have another great day of crawling around and playing.

The road trip was fantastic, and you saw lots of new things and good friends and family. But, as they say, it was good to be on solid ground again.

So, like I said, you might not remember your trip to the Alamo and waaaaaaay beyond, but your Mom and I will.

p.s. no one in the family has been in a car for more than 45 minutes at a time since then. That's the sign of a good road trip.

I'll Huff and I'll Puff and I'll Clap and I'll Knock your Dog Down: noises, words and dog piles

2011-04-05T11:29:00.000-07:00

You have been full of surprises recently!

You're saying more words without prompting...like you saw the fish at Mommy's work and you said "Ishhhhhhhhh" without us prompting you.

Just the other day you saw a picture of a duck and we swear you said "Uck!" (which could mean somethinge else, I suppose).

And there are distinct possibilities you've said "nana" to mean "banana" and "keyyyyy" to mean "kitty" and "ghee" to mean "doggy".

You also say "Mama" all the time...still. As of today, there have been two amazing utterances of "Dada." I'm glad I'm below duck, fish, banana and kitty. Those all have more personality than me anyway.

But, actually, I'm not worried about it anyway. I know you love me! Take, as proof, another one of your surprises. A few weeks ago we were playing on the floor in your room. You were playing with your little sports set...after making a few baskets with the little basketball, you decided to chew on the ball as usual. This is where things got surprising. Daddy was tired so he yawned and when his mouth was wide open- surprise! - he got a little orange basketball stuck in his mouth!

Then, a few moments later, while Daddy was still laughing about the surprise basketball, you hit me over the head a few times (gently of course) with your little orange baseball bat (plastic...thank goodness!)

See! Full of surprises! But, even though I've come to expect surprising things from you, I'm still surprised when the surprises come! Imagine my surprise when we sat down to eat a few weeks ago and you started Huffing and Puffing!

And then, imagine our surprise again when, out of the blue and after only one previous singular clap a few months ago, you decided you were ready to start clapping!

Incredible!

But, despite the constant surprises, we've know some things that you'll do for certain: like you still LOVE your puppies. And now that you're big enough, you can play with them...and they play back!

We just have to make sure that you aren't playing with the basketball or baseball bat while you're playing with your "ghees"...then they might receive an unwelcome surprise!

But, you can definitely keep surprising your Mommy and Me! We love your surprises...even when they leave orange plastic in our mouths.

Aidan Smash

2011-04-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

More updates? Okay!

You've discovered a new favorite game recently. It's called the "tower topple." You LOVE to knock down the towers your mom and I build!

And as you can see, you will leave no block untoppled!

No matter what you're doing, when you see a tower, you light up...and get a little destructive!

Catching Up!

2011-04-04T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well...so what's been going on with you since your birthday? Don't feel like reading about it? That's fine! How about some videos to fill in the gaps? You really were interested in the gifts people got you for your birthday. Some of them had to be played with before they were officially opened!

And then at the hotel with your Cousins Ruthy and Steve, you got to see your first swans up close and personal. You were so impressed with these birds that later that day we took you to White Rock Lake to show you the ducks, pelicans and cranes! You really are turning out to be quite enthralled by animals!

You're Number One!

2011-03-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

You're one!Actually, you've been one for over three weeks, but we've been having so much fun playing with your one-year-old self that I've hardly had time to sit down and write in your blog. And what fun it's been! About a month ago you hit the big o-n-e! We spent the day quietly with just your Mother, Me and you! It was a lovely day with lots of playing inside,

outside, fun pictures to be taken and good cuddles...

and eat a delicious avocado all over mommy and daddy.

We sang to you and bought you a balloon and just - all in all- had a wonderful day.

A week later we revisited the birthday theme with a lot of family and friends. That's right...it was your first birthday party!

A bunch of great folks came out to help you celebrate your 365th day on earth!

Everyone had so much fun!

Except for you. For just a little bit of it.

That's right: you had a major meltdown, and so I took you outside, where you and I watched the festivities from the window.

But your doldrums got a little better when we sang to you and gave you your first "cake!"

But, alas, you didn't really like the cake too much. But you did like plain old bananas a lot!

And, then you started to have fun again! Playing with and hugging/climbing on your loved ones!

Despite the minor meltdown, I'd say you had a great time at your first birthday party. you got to be with a lot of very cool people who love you very much. It'd be easy to say that the end of your first year gives a sense of closure... I mean, you're not a baby anymore, you're a toddler. You're not "Zero" any more-- You're "One." You're growing up so fast...too fast...right before our eyes!

But, this isn't an ending, it's a new beginning, and this year -and all the years to follow- will be full of new adventures, new fun, new milestones and new experiences for Mommy, Daddy and Aidan as we continue to learn and grow as a family (and Toby and Preston too).

We love you, birthday boy. And although we'll never forget our time with you as a baby, we are so thrilled to be with you everyday as you grow into a little boy.

I guess technically, I shouldn't call this journal "To Baby Weinstein, From your Dad" anymore--you're no longer a baby. But, you know what, I understand know when my Mom (your Mimi) would tell me that no matter how old or tall I got, I would always be her baby.

I feel the same way, Aidan: you will always be our baby, whether you're 1, 10 or 100. Happy Birthday, Baby-- we love you!

Laughing all the Way...

2011-02-24T15:15:00.000-08:00

You LOVE to laugh (Ha ha ha ha!)

Loud and Long and Clear!

You love to laugh (Ha ha ha ha!)

You're getting better at it this year!

I'm pretty sure that song's from Mary Poppins. Or Bed Knobs and Broomsticks. Something from Dick Van Dyke's vast repertoire.

And if the name "Dick van Dyke" doesn't make you laugh, then we know a few things that have a pretty good track record:

First, of course, hearing animal sounds, especially a seal, will make you laugh!

Secondly, obviously, some of the more serious works of Lennon/McCartney make you giggle!

And, everyone's favorite, the Piano-playing Moose is sure to let those laughs fly loose (ly)

We love your laugh, and we love to make you laugh. It's hard to imagine that just under a year ago, when you were first born, you couldn't laugh or even really smile. And now? Now you're such a big boy, laughing, and smiling, and spreading the love.

Dick van Dyke.

Taking Bites and Sharing!

2011-02-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

February Birthday Fever & Playing with Pops

2011-02-22T19:43:00.000-08:00

Your Pops' birthday was one whole week ago! And, man, the way February birthdays are spreading, you'd think they were a virus! In the month of your birth, your Uncle Jeremy has a birthday, your cousins Kobi, Kathryn and Haley have birthdays and, of course, Herbie- your Pops- has a birthday. So, that means we celebrate as many birthdays as we can!

On an Aidan-marathon day last weekend, we celebrated with Pops. We had it all planned out: you would take your normal nap at 11 and we'd go over to Mimi and Pops' for the afternoon. But, come 11 o'clock, and you were still wide awake. Then by noon, you were still showing no signs of sleepiness. So, we figured we'd drive over to Mimi and Pops and you'd fall asleep in the car, as usual. But, nope! You didn't even bat a pretty little eyelash in the car. So, we figured you'd play with Mimi and Pops and eat lunch and THAT would tire you out. By 2 o'clock, you showed signs of sleepiness. So your Mommy put you down for a nap. We figured it would be a doozy, what with all the nap-missing.

But, nope, you were done in twenty minutes and bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready for more playing. So, everyone headed outside and played with you in the sun and leaves on a crisp February day.
You found some sticks that you really liked, and, looking back on the photographs, I'm pretty sure you were doing some fancy wizarding spells.

You were even kind enough to make everyone laugh with your awesome stick skills.And you just had a blast with your Mimi and Pops on that crisp February day.

Eventually we had to go home and, eventually, we figured you'd have to go to sleep. But, nope, still no napping! By your regular bedtime, though, you seemed like you might enjoy a nice sleep. So we put you down and, low and behold, you finally slept. And most likely dreamed of the wonderful day and of your upcoming birthday...

Okay, you probably didn't dream of that, since you've never had one before. But we've been thinking about it a lot.

You will be turning one in FIVE days! 365 days of being our son. 365 days of us being your parents. Some days have been harder than others, and some have been more magical than others. We have loved every single day that we've been lucky enough to be with you and watch in amazement as you've grown up before our eyes.

It wasn't too long ago that you were nothing more than two blue lines on a pee stick. And now you are old enough to hold, wield and enjoy playing with (non-pee) sticks in a leafy, grassy back yard on a sun-kissed afternoon. It's hard to believe sometimes. But we cherish every day with you, and as we count down to the end of year-one, we are already looking forward to year two, and all the magical days, nights, mornings and afternoons that we're lucky enough to share with you.

Videos and Valentine's

2011-02-14T11:28:00.000-08:00

Ever since your Mommy and I got our new phones, it's easier than ever to just take cute little videos of you doing cute little things and share them with the world instantly. But, since I don't know how much youtube you're allowed to see with those Draconian parent-locks all over the internet, I wanted to share these videos with you directly.

Most of them take place in the high chair because, well, you are so fast that it's hard to get a decent video of you when you're not immobilized in some way.

First of all: BLUEBERRIES!

You love this little fruit so much, and you've really gotten quite good at feeding yourself thanks to blueberries.

Just a few short weeks ago, you had to use your whole hand to mush finger food into your mouth hole. This lead to some hilarity when blueberry skins would get precariously perched on your cute face.

But now you've advanced into 'pincer' stage, which means you're grasping food between your thumb and pointer finger. A lot of food still winds up not in your mouth (and subsequently winds up in your hair, on the floor, stuck in the crevices of the high chair and between your eyes), but, you're getting so much better!

And, that pointer finger is getting such a work out. Not too long ago you switched from reaching with all fingers extended toward things you liked, things you were looking at, things you wanted to go-to-there. But you've evolved yet again. Now you're really on point!

Check out this video of you pointing to an old toy Aunt Sham gave you that we recently unearthed and...much to our amazement...you love it! Every time you see it you ask us to play it, or if you're close enough, you play it yourself!

The bright light city really lights up your life! (And is exceptionally helpful when you are pissed at us for changing your diapers!) I know how you feel though (not about the diaper thing, about the being lit up thing), because you really light up our lives!

You make us so happy...even the little things like how you kick your feet when your happily eating...

To your infectious laugh when something tickles you just right...

Or growing up before our very eyes and perferring Mommy's bread to your own (albeit still eating with whole-hand)...

This Valentine's Day I really understand why the mascot is a naked baby. It has nothign to do with Cupid at all. It's because your Mommy and I are so truly, madly, deeply in love with you! Of course, we are super-de-duper in love with eachother too...even when we get yelled at for leaving our socks out. So, on this holiday dedicated to the power of the heart and the crazy little thing called love, your Mom and I are doubly blessed, not only to have found eachother, but to have you in our lives as well.

We love you, and although you will not be eating chocolate or heart-shaped candies, this is a Valentine's day for three (plus two doglets): we love you, and can't get enough of your love (which explains the abundance of videos).

Oh, PS, remember that really embarrassing photo of you from your 6-month photo shoot? Yeah, even though you're almost twice as old and twice as cute, I couldn't resist turning it in to a Valentine. A modest list of your friends and family received this gem in their inboxes today.

All you need is Love (and the occasional white fuzzy blanket)!

We love you, son! Thank you for lighting up our lives everyday!

Snow and Ice are Really Nice! (2011 Edition)

2011-02-11T11:34:00.000-08:00

You probably don't remember, but last February, when you were about to be born, Dallas got hit with a major snow storm. Your Mom was super pregnant, I made snowmen and a snow baby too. But this year, I didn't have to make a snow baby at all...because we had you!

Following two days of ice storms, Dallas got hit with a major snow, closing schools, art studios and offices, so that meant that Mommy and Daddy got to be at home with you all day for most of the week!

Once the nice blanket of snow came down we finally bundled you up and braved the weather. You LOVED snow...until you got cold.

Maybe you did remember last year's snow after all!

Snowfall brings out a sense of wonderment in all people, I think. Except maybe eskimos. But, it was exceptionally magical watching you experience snow for the first time. It brought you pure joy. Until it sunk in that we'd forgotten shoes and your feet got wet, so we went back inside. But, while it lasted, it was pure flaky, serene joy.

Cake and Cousins!

2011-02-07T11:21:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we travelled to Houston again for your Cousin Autumn's second birthday party. You got to hang out with some of your Cousins and some of your Aunts and Uncles! You had a major fun time playing with Mimi, Pops, Ruthy, Steve, Taff, Dana and April, joking around with Autumn and Addison and Kathryn, feeling the love from Griffin, Grayson, Haley and Holden. There were even balloons! Pops' and my pix show a pretty poignant depiction of the fun!

Plus you got to meet some new cousins too: William, Kaylee and Gloria!

And you got to see how much fun a little cake can be...but don't worry: your birthday is coming up soon enough (can you believe you've been here for almost a year already!?) and you will soon taste that sweet, sweet substance called sugar. Maybe. We'll see.

Cake or not, you're the sweetest boy we know and we love seeing you play with other kids, especially when those kids are your cousins! You light up when you see them even when you are just saying good night to their pictures every night before you go to bed. So seeing them in person is a major treat for you...and you ate it up like a piece of cake!

Amazing Aidan and the pre-toddler triumphs!

2011-01-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

You are a constant source of amazement, my beautiful boy!

Yesterday evening for me, you had pulled yourself to standing on the book shelf in your room and proceeded to toss all of the books and DVDs over your shoulder like usual. But then, something amazing happened...you held on to one of the DVDs with both hands...which means you weren't holding on to anything. You stood there for what seemed like a really long time, although it was probably under a second. But, you've done as much in your crib...in fact you love to play the "let go fall down" game every night. But, last night, standing at your bookshelf, you started to lose your balance and play the "fall down" part of the game. But you corrected your balance. You shifted your torso weight forward, and balanced out, giving you like at least a half a second (or was it a mili-second) more of standing-up-all-by-yourself time.

This little amazing feat, albeit brief, was the longest you've stood up on your own two feet! And that little balancing move was even more incredible.

I had to call your mother immediately!

Then today, your Mom called me with an equally amazing tale of your pre-toddler triumphs!

One of your favorite books that you love to read, or have read to you, or play with is this funy pop-up activity book based on the old tune "The Wheels on the Bus"...you know..."round and round, up and down, swish swish swish." Well, you seem to know where that book is always placed in your shelves. You go and climb up to standing and grab the book at least once a day for your Mom to read to you.

Today, though, you were playing with a soft toy truck. You were playing with the wheels. And your Mommy said "wheels! Those are Wheels, like the wheels on the bus!" And she started singing the tune.

Then, guess what you did? You dropped the soft toy truck, did an about-face and high tailed it over to the book shelf where you immediately pulled up to standing and grabbed your "Wheels on the Bus" book!

I know you can kind of understand some things we say, and I know you understand things we do (like laugh or smile), but I didn't know that you could understand us THAT well and make major connections like that! Or maybe it was just a coincidence...who knows?

But, I know that you, sir, will continue amazing us all around town!

And speaking of amazing....remind me to tell you the story of how you amazingly pretty much saved your own life the other day!

What a Playful Boy!

2011-01-25T12:23:00.000-08:00

From the moment you started to develop a personality, you've been a fun baby to be around. As you've gotten older, you've become even more of a fun and playful little boy!

You mimick us with clicking sounds, blow raspberries for 25 minute periods (leaving Baba's arm chair soaking wet) and you even laugh at the dogs when they're getting bathed. (I tell them you're lauging with them!)

You have really developed a great sense of humor! Even back in early December you were a funny kiddo, blowing bubbles for fun...

...and loving (and laughing while) playing with balloons:

And, as you get older, you've only become more fun! You love to play games...even when you're in your crib!

Of course I'm not biased, but playing this type of game with your Daddy shows that you are a really hyper-clever and super cool baby dude!

As you grow with each day (this video is already 20 days old), you become more clever and fun and funny. You had me cracking up last night: as I was trying to sing you to sleep, you crawled to standing, scootched next to me and attempted to eat my nose!

Heck, you're so funny and advanced now that you've grasped the most basic nuance of being smart and funny: sticking your tongue out.

Here's a brief sighting of your new favorite "toy":

You love laughing and playing and screaming (fun screaming...I guess it's called screeching)...even in public places! While we were in our favorite Book store, I had you on my shoulders and you were screeching and giggling and making passerbys laugh. Not only do you bring joy to our lives, but you bring joy into the lives of (most) customers at Half Price Books!

Here's the tail end of that fun game...just before you decided you were done playing.

And back at home, you certainly know how to entertain yourself too. Some of your favorite toys have to travel with you wherever you go...which also makes us laugh. When you carry your bat with you wherever you go, you sound like a peg legged pirate stomping around: click SLAP click SLAP click SLAP.

But, of course, life isn't all about laughing, playing, screeching and more playing. You still do cry and pout and protest and scream get snot nose and urinate all over yourself when Daddy's too slow with the diaper and not sleep through the night. But, like I said before, even one smile, one knowing look, one cuddle...ever...would make being a parent 100% worth the hard times.

We're just super lucky, and super happy, that we have such a super happy baby boy...who loves laughing and screeching with delight whenever he gets the chance.

Old News, but Good news: Your First Christmas and New Years!

2011-01-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

We wondered how long it would take you to notice, but a few days before Christmas you finally got curious about those packages under that indoor tree. You even unwrapped a very heavy present!We spent Christmas eve with your Aunt Sham, Uncle Joe and Grandma and Baba and you got to watch in amazement as people opened their gifts...

And rejoice with amazement with each cool gift that your family were kind and generous enough to give you! You love your chew-toy giraffe... And your new Porcupine!

Christmas morning was a blast! And although it was a modest haul, Santa visted you and left some really cool gifts... which you and your Giraffe didn't seem to notice at first.

"That blue monster is for ME?"

"Oh, I LOVE Christmas!" And, I gotta say, your Mom and I love Christmas like a million times more now that we get to celebrate it with you! You may have had more interest in eating wrapping paper than most of the presents, and you certainly had no interest in leaving milk or cookies out for Santa, but your exuberance and smile lit up Christmas time for everyone more than a Christmas tree ever could have!

The lights are all down now, and the tree and ornaments are all packed away, but you continue to light up our lives every day! And that's the best Christmas present a Dad could ever ask for!

p.s. Your first New Year's Eve was pretty fun too! You had two friends over, Caitlin, who really liked playing in your jeep, and Brady, who slept a lot.

You didn't quite make it to midnight...or 9 pm, for that matter. But that's good. You were in good company, and even had your first kinda-sleep over. Caitlin took the pack-n-play in our bedroom, while you and Brady shacked up in your room. Uncle Jeremy and Aunt Michelle finally got Brady to fall asleep...on your floor! This is very reminiscent of when Uncle Jeremy would spend the night with me when we were kids. Me in a bed...him on (a mattress on) the floor.

Old News, but Good news: Visitors!

2011-01-12T11:39:00.000-08:00

On New Years Day in the wee hours of the morning, we got some visitors from the West Coast! You've met Jen before, but this time you got to meet and play with Buck AND Jen! Your Mommy and I went to college with Buck (kind of), and we met Jen through him in Dallas. No matter how you slice it, they are "old friends" and it was great of them to come visit us from Seattle!

They were really enamored with you and had a great time playing with you! And you enjoyed it too!

It's fun to make new friends, even if they really are just old friends!

Catching up- Eating, Playing and the ER

2011-01-05T11:20:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I'm terribly behind on this journal. But, I have a good reason: you have been growing up so fast recently.

And the time has long since passed when one can just sit back and watch you grow. It is now 100% necessary to chase you, follow you, wrestle with you, teach you, sing to you, play with you and just try to keep up as you grow.

As we blasted past Christmas, your 10 month birthday and New Year's you've been growing up so quickly. It seems like ever since Thanksgiving, you keep meeting new milestones and blowing on past them to the next one.

It seems just like yesterday we were marveling that you had begun to crawl. And pulling to standing was a Thanksgiving miracle. But now you are 10 months old!

You can feed yourself and chew!

(well, you're working on it...but you're also getting good at feeding Preston and Toby)

You can lead a game of Peak A Boo all by yourself!

And you an play the spoons... (these spoons have been some of your favorite toys for a long time now, actually...but that day you played DOUBLE spoons!)

And you crawl super fast, pull yourself to standing like a pro, mimic us, converse, blow bubbles, laugh, cry, make your opinions known, stick your tongue out and all that good stuff. We are catching our breath just to keep up with you. And every minute of it is a pure joy.

Your Mother and I don't know what we would do without you.

You even gave us a little scare to that effect.

A few days ago, one day before my birthday, you managed to pull a samovar down onto your face and give yourself a little black eye. That was very scary indeed.

Don't worry, the samovar is now banished to a place where no human can reach it and all shelves previous thought to be out of your quick little reach have now been cleared.

So, you had a nice little shiner and two worried parents. You didn't seem to mind at all, after the initial shock wore off. But, being as we're first timers, we were a lot phased by this incident, so we were on edge a little.

So, later that night when you woke up with a fever of 101.7, we were a little more concerned indeed. You have run fevers that high before...and even a little bit higher. Those temperatures aren't bad, and aren't a cause for concern unless they last for a few days. So we were both there treating your fever, trying to cool and calm you down ... and take your temperature (with a thermometer sticking out of your armpit) and all of a sudden, you shook...a single large shake as if you were scared out of your mind or a current ran through your body. You started screaming and crying like crazy.

We held you close, sang to you and calmed you back down. We thought maybe I pinched your armpit with the thermometer. Our hearts were racing, we were both scared, but we tried to stay calm.

We calmed you down, got you back to being a happy camper. And then you shook again. And screamed again. We feared the worst: some kind of neurological damage was caused by getting clunked in the head with a silver teapot. It was 11:45 pm and we needed answers immediately.

So your Mom and I got dressed, loaded up and drove to the Children's Emergency Room at Medical City. This was a totally well-reasoned, calmly-made decision...we weren't panicking. But you've never seen me get dressed so fast. Don't worry, I still drove within the speed limit..mostly.

By the time we checked in at the emergency room, you were still running a fever, but seemed to be feeling much better. You were flirting with the check-in nurse and playing with Mommy and Daddy.

Things took a turn for the worse for you when they checked your temperature through the back door. You didn't seem to like that one bit.

But a few hours, one triage nurse, one PA, one radiologist and one ER doc later we knew you were okay. They explained that the fever was a beneficial one (which we knew) and that the shakes were an acceptable way for baby's bodies to deal with a high temperature. Even small seizures are okay. Or, they said, you could have been hallucinating (a result of a high temperature) and actually been as scared of something as you appeared to be. Near the end of our ER visit you finally fell asleep on your mother's shoulder.

By this point it was 2:30, and my 29th birthday. Your mom wished me a 'happy birthday.' And it really was...we knew you were safe and healthy (except for a little bit of tonsillitis that caused the temperature in the first place), we were together and we were ready to go home. There was no place else I'd rather have been.

I was reminded of the last time your mom and I rushed to the hospital late at night. That emergency visit wound up being your birthday. The morning of this most recent ER trip was the anniversary of my birth, but I relived the feelings of the day of yours: fear and adrenaline eventually overcome by happiness and joy. You were safe, you were happy and you were healthy.

The next morning I was able to go to work late, and since you and your mother had a rough night (we got home at 3, you slept til 4, then woke up at 6 and then 8), I took you at 8 and you slept on my chest until 10:45. You slept so hard that your ear left an imprint on my shoulder...it's almost as symbolic as you leaving an imprint on my heart, but a little sillier (and very silly looking).

It was a scary evening/morning, but it turned out great. By the end of the morning you were no longer running a fever, you shook no more and you were back to being your happy go lucky self (albeit a little tired). Scary indeed, we both thought the worst and didn't like what we saw.

So we are still holding you a little tighter and kissing you a little longer after that ER visit. But we can't stop you from growing, and can't shield you from all danger...so, we're not gonna try: you're going to continue growing in leaps and bounds, and keep amazing us with the new milestones you reach every day. And we'll just try to catch up. And catch you when you fall. And remove all Samovars from the house.

Oh Hanukkah Oh Hanukkah!

2010-12-11T08:26:00.001-08:00

What involves a lot of spinning, jelly donuts, a substantial fire hazard and some really neat presents and lasts for 8 nights?

No, not Memorial Day.

It's Hanukkah! And you just wrapped up your first one ever!

This year your Mom and I decided that each night would have a theme for gifts, this made it really extra special. Themes ranged from 'homemade' to 'something for the whole family' to 'something read', 'something entertaining' and something surprising!'

Well, to be honest, the whole thing was pretty surprising for you, since you probably had no clue why we were lighting candles and singing...especially since you've probably never even seen fire before!

We celebrated some nights with just the three of us, some nights with Mimi and Pops, some with Uncle Jeremy, Aunt Michelle and Brady,
... some with Uncle BJ and Aunt Kari (and your Godmother Aunt Kari took some amazing pictures!),

...one with Aunt Sham and Scott and even one pre-night with Rebekka and Ross before they left town.

Rebekka even made our family new Chrismukkah stockings! They are awesome!
Guess which one is yours!
For a lot of your first Hanukah, I'm not quite sure you knew what was going on, but we were at least there to document your utter confusion. And..sometimes we got confused too.

Hey! It's hard to remember the Hebrew lyrics when the camera is rolling! I swear, we nail it every night...but when the camera's rolling, goodbye memory.

Here's your first night ever, gathered around our menorah and our Hanukkah bush!!

The first night of Hanukkah also marked the first time that you unwrapped a present. As it turns out, even that takes some getting used to.

And, if you're wondering, "pants" is NOT a lame present! You needed pants! But, whether or not you liked the pants, you seemed to like the wrapping paper!

As Hanukkah rolled on you got books, toys, clothes, and some other cool things too.

You really like books now! You can sit and stare and pound on a good book for a long time, just squawking and talking. You'll even go to great lengths to get a good book now! Check out you pulling to standing...and we didn't even have to bait you with a remote control!

This was really one of the best Hanukkahs I've ever celebrated. I think I finally got why it's 8 days long, and it has nothing to do with magic oil lasting for 8 nights: its about 8 nights of togetherness with family and friends; that's a way better message than "presents" too (although, who can turn down a good present?)

And being with you and your Mother, Preston and Toby, your real and adopted Aunts and Uncles, and Mimi and Pops over the course of this Hanukkah was really something to celebrate!

And by the end of your first Hanukkah, your Mom's and Dad's camera-induced-flubbing-of-Hebrew got no better, but you seemed to have learned a tune or two about Hanukkah! You even started singing along!

9 Months Old!

2010-12-03T11:23:00.000-08:00

Another big part of our Thanksgiving break was that you turned 9 months old, young man!

And you are growing up in front of our eyes! Gone are the days when you were just a baby; now you're a little person, with little person likes and dislikes and a big person personality stuck inside a little person!
Speaking of "little," you're not so little any more at all. According to the doctor- whom you visited on Thursday- you are now about 28 inches tall, which puts you in the 50th to 70th percentiles of kids your age.

But, on the other side, despite our best efforts to fatten you up, you now weigh 18 pounds, 2 ounces...which puts you smack dab in the 15th-20th percentiles for weight.

Which means you are still tall and skinny for your age.

But the doctor wasn't worried about you being too skinny, despite those numbers.

Your mom asked if we should try to get you to pack on more pounds and she said "No! He looks fat enough to me!"

So, there you have it! You're a growing, tall, skinny, happy 9 month old boy! And you have two very happy 9-months-on-the-job parents and tons of other family to show for it.

You also have 6 sprouting teeth to show for it too...but you seem less happy about that!

It's so odd that you've now officially been here on earth for as long as you were there in your Mom's tummy.

The time we were expecting you seems so distant, so far away. And you've seemingly been here forever. But, the calendar doesn't lie. You were in for 9 months hard time, and you've been out and growing for the same. From here on out, it's all gravy!