A Special Message and Song from Mimi

At my request, Mimi has recorded a video to share some special messages and songs with you!

And all this was AFTER you guys spent a whole day with Mimi and Pops, so she must REALLY love you!

I am so grateful that some of the most important people in my life love each other and get to be part of each other's lives!

You're Number One!

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!

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

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.

The Epic Tale of Your very First (second, third and fourth) Thanksgiving(s)!

As your 8th month came to a close, we celebrated Thanksgiving...four-ish times! So you got to have your first four Thanksgivings all in one week! And, despite being in slight pain due to cutting 6 teeth during the Thanksgiving break, you really had a great time!

Our first first Thanksgiving was friendsgiving. Your Godmother made a Turkey, so the rest of us brought sides and babies to Kari and BJ's house. Only a few pictures were taken that night...and most of them occurred when you and Brady had a simultaneous diaper change.

It was really odd to realize that just one year ago we had Friendsgiving at BJ and Kari's house too and you were in your Mama's belly, and Brady wasn't even a glimmer yet. And now, one year later, your both celebrating your first Thanksgivings together!

This was probably your worst night, though. Your teeth were bothering you and we made you sit at the table for-EVER (in baby terms...about 10 minutes in adult terms), so you were a bit fussy. In fact, you started crying and screaming so much that you made Brady cry.

At that point, Uncle Jeremy said "Your Car Alarm set off my Car Alarm."

But, despite that, fun was had by all!

After we figured out that you were cutting so many teeth, we gave you Orajel and Baby Tylenol and the rest of the week (and the rest of the Thanksgivings) went way better for you.

Then, the Wednesday before your second Thanksgiving your Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross came in town. You hadn't seen Aunt Rebekka since you were teeny tiny, and you hadn't ever met Uncle Ross. But you guys all hit it off immediately!




The next day we had Thanksgiving #2 at Mimi and Pops' house.

First you got to play in a really old bouncy toy that was mine and Aunt Rebekka's when we were kids! Pops set it all up for you!

Your Mom and I were nervous for you...
But, you seemed to like it!


And since some of Auntie M's family were in town to meet Brady, you got to play with them and Brady.

You really liked to eat Nicole's bracelets! So, she donated them to you!

Brady celebrated in style!Since you're a big boy, you don't really sleep like that anymore...so we have to sometimes 'trick' you into sitting at the table for extended periods of time. Check out these awesome parenting skills:
Plug the baby into Youtube and booze it up while Mommy eats!

To be honest, though, we only try to let you watch your Sesame Street videos on the phone when we've exhausted all other options. At any rate, you love you some videos of Sesame Streets. Your favorites include these two (and yes, you've been watching Sesame Street frequently enough to have favorites, but infrequently enough to melt your brain completely):

You really trance and smile and even move your lips when you're watching Sesame Street!
But, anyway, we wined (or watered)...
Dined...(with the good silver)
And had a little after-dinner music:
The next morning, you played with your furry friends,

Then we all went for a walk and even got to go in the swing (your second time swinging!) It was a beautiful fall day, so we couldn't resist.



Later that night we had our third-ish Thanksgiving...mmm leftovers...but first, Mimi and Aunt Rebekka just had to eat you up! (not literally; cannibalism is not supported in this family)

The next day we drove out to Sulphur Springs for our fourth and final Thanksgiving. Immediately upon arrival, your 20-month old second cousin Kaelyn found you and gave you a kiss!
Then there was some playing...
Some patting:

Some sharing:
Some not sharing (no picture of not sharing...since it wasn't pretty)

And some of this (whatever this is)

The two of you got along fabulously! It was so cool to watch you guys figure out that the other wasn't just a toy...but a real little boy and girl! You guys played and giggled and flirted and talked and wrestled. You even pulled Kaelyn's pig tails! The cuteness continued when we went outside and the two of you hung out on Great Grandma's and Grandpa's swing. At first Kaelyn wasn't too pleased that you were on HER swing...
But then she warmed up to you, which was good considering that it was getting a little chilly!




You did get to see other people like you Cousin Jenny (who also practices cannibalism)
and your great grandma...
But, for you, the star of your Fourth Thanksgiving was Kaelyn Bright:
Thanksgiving was so great, but, all great things come to an end eventually. So, we said ttfn to Sulphur Springs, and later said ttfn to your Aunt Rebekka and Uncle Ross. We say 'ttfn' because 'goodbye' is so final...and we'll see your aunts, great grandparents and cousins again really soon!




Oh yeah, I almost forgot to tell you! Over Thanksgiving break you stood up for yourself. You've been trying this move for a few weeks now, but over Thanksgiving break you finally mastered it! Now there's no stopping you!