Aidan's Two Story (aka, the Second Birthday Party)

We had your Second Birthday party last Saturday, and it couldn't have been a more perfect day. Actually, the day leading up to the party was quite hectic. But once the party started, it was on like Donkey Kong.

There was a ball pit (your mother's brilliant idea! that was a smashing success):





There were cupcakes (meticulously designed to look like Toy Story Aliens by your talented mother):

There were neighbors, friends and family...



and your friends Luke...

and Brady: ...and they teamed up to help you with your gifts:

Oh yeah, and there were gifts!

Your Mommy and I got you a house! (you now live in the backyard!)

and we got you a brand new car too, which you were kind enough to let Luke and Brady take for a spin around the block.


And, your family and friends were very kind and got you a lot of fabulous Toy Story Swag (which you loved, and thanked them for!) And some other excellent gifts as well!

There was also a very special song, candle and cake trifecta, which went MUCH better than last year's attempt:


It was a wonderful birthday party for a great kid (that's you). We're so happy that you're happy; and so thankful to everyone who joined us in person and in spirit to help you ring in your second year in style!

We are not just lucky to have you in our lives, but to have so many supportive grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbors and friends who are parts of your life and gathered together on a Saturday afternoon to help us celebrate...you! We couldn't have gotten the party together sanely without your Mimi, Pops, Yaya and Aunt Shamsy. (Pops gets the award for the grossest, yet sweetest, task performed: he combed the backyard picking up Preston and Toby muffins that me and the lawn mower had missed. I reflected on the situation as I put together your new house..."we never stop cleaning up poop for our sons, do we, dad?" I asked.

We wouldn't have had such a rich photographic record of the day without your Aunt Kari's, Mimi's, Pops' pictures and Scott's videography (okay, so I took a few pictures and videos too).

So, this party was for all of them too!

I almost forget the highlight moment of the party! When we showed you your new outdoor house, you really weren't all that taken with it at first, which is fine. But there were some ravenous photographers there who wanted to get your picture with the new abode. So, your Aunt Kari started calling to you: "Aidan, go to your house! Go to your house!"

You got all excited and started running.

Cameras were ready.

And then you ran right past the camera, and up to the deck stairs to go inside your actual home!

What a funny boy!

Happy Birthday, son! And as old as you get, never forget to go to your house.

Two years old...a tale in photos

So, I used to take your picture once a month, to see how big you're getting. Then, once you turned one, I slowed down a bit on these photo shoots. The last time we tried this, you had just turned 18 months.

I was feeling bold, and decided that you and I should give it a go once more. The following photos are evidence of what it's like to be two:

I first plopped you down in the usual setting and you popped right back up.
Then you cooperated perfectly...but, Daddy messed up the photo. So I needed to try again.
You seemed okay with that for a split second...But then, most definitely, not okay with it.
Then, while sort of laugh/crying, you decided you were calling the photo session quits. I was okay with that...the funny one in the corner was good enough for me!


You hid...We played...
And then, while I was in the kitchen, I heard you say "again" and spotted you climbing up in to the chair again.


Success!
I made you laugh ("sneezeguard" again proves to be hilarious!"
And...voila: The perfect 2-year picture! My set is now complete: two years of diaper-clad photos!

Two is fun already!

Birthday Party Animal- Two Years Young

Aidan, the day before you turned two, we spent a really awesome family day together celebrating, having fun and basically being major animals.

It was a gorgeous day in Dallas, so we went to the Dallas Zoo!

You had an absolute blast at the zoo.

You loved 'swimming' with the penguins:

The highlight of the day had to have been the camel. At the petting zoo, they were offering pony rides. You didn't seem the least bit interested. But when we saw the camels, I asked you if you wanted to ride them. You nodded yes excitedly. So, what the heck, we thought, it was your birthday! Your Mommy wanted to keep both feet on the ground, so you and I got to share this special moment.You and I mounted a camel named Mitchell and rode him around in a dirt circle for a few minutes. It may have only lasted a few minutes, but the moment will stick out for me as an eternally magical memory, and that's coming from a cynic! I had no idea how you'd react to riding this strange creature, but you loved every second of it.
You were pretty quiet during the ride, so I had to yell to your Mom and ask if you were having fun (I couldn't see your face!).

She yelled back "he's loving it!" ...and this photo proves it: Parting was such sweet sorrow, and you cried when we had to leave Mitchell, but there were more adventures to be had today and everyday. So, through your tears, you waved bye-bye to Mitchell. We'll always have Mitchell, Aidan. I wonder how (or if) you'll remember this magic camel ride..

Other hits at the zoo included: the water fountain!

Near the end of the day, we got to see the Giraffes. You were pretty excited by them, although you were pretty tired. But still, you decided that they were called "Talls." And, I can't blame you! We were pretty proud of you for making that connection. Plus, 'giraffe' is kind of hard to say.

You also got to play...a lot. This long bench/wall was a source of a LOT of fun after lunch. And you got to stick it to the man and his rules...and what two-year-old wouldn't love that?

After three visits to the zoo and a major 'no show' from the Bengal Tiger, we finally got to see him. I didn't get a picture, but you were pretty fascinated by the long orange and black tiger. You waved at him, you tried to climb the glass, you smushed your face into the glass and you even talked to the tiger, saying 'meow meow meow.'

You got to ride another animal, though this one wasn't as exciting as the camel:

And finally (although this was our first stop of the day), you made friends with the goats at the petting zoo.

You hugged on some goats:
You petted them:
You investiaged them:
And rejoiced at being in their presence. You chased them and tried to poke one in the eye. You 'mooed' at a black and white goat and 'baaed' and 'maaaed' at the rest. You even tried several times to ride one of the goats, but they didn't seem to thrilled about that.

The zoo wore you out so much that you napped from 12:30 until 3 pm, a near-record!

It's hard to believe you're two now, and capable of so much mischief, excitement, interest, emotion, happiness, sadness, learning, curiosity, association and triumph; especially when it seems to be just yesterday that you were nothing but a dream and a bump in your Mom's belly. But, then again, we don't remember life before you and it feels like you've been here forever. '2 years' seems like such a small number to quantify the impact you've had on our lives.

Happy Birthday, son. You're a real party animal, and we just love being in the same zoo as you.

7 weeks and 2 days- Heart Beat, Baby

We went to the Doctor today and, though we couldn't see you too well (perhaps because you're the size of a blueberry), but we did get to HEAR you!

That's right, we heard your heartbeat. 149 beats per minute, which is, as the doctor said, 'perfect.


You can even see a graphic representation of the heartbeat in the first image.
The second image shows...you! From crown to rump, you were measuring at 7 weeks, 2 days! Which puts you at an estimated due date of October 16, 2012.


You'll be joining your Mommy and Aunt Rebekka as an October baby. How cool!


It was chilling to hear your heartbeat for the first time. I had forgotten how cool that sound is.


A little from the books about you at week 7:

• He/She's generating about one hundred new brain cells each minute!


• Not only is his/her brain becoming more complex, but his/her heart is too.


• Also important: He/She's developing a permanent set of kidneys


• His/Her arm and leg joints are now forming.

No wonder your Mommy is so tired (and nauseous): look at all you and her are building together!