Pictures and Dinosaurs

Okay, every mom says their child is the cutest.  Mine is, mine is, neener neener.

Our plan for the day was this - Up by 7.  Out of the house by 8.  Aiden to nap in the car until 9.  At nine, pictures.  Lunch with Uncle Chris at the Ogden Union Station.  Mom & Aiden to see the train exhibit.

Well, it turned out differently, but still great.  Mom's evil plan to have a well-rested baby for pictures turned out PERFECTLY!!  Mwa-ha-ha-ha (evil sinister laugh).  He was happy and very fun for pictures. I love his driver cap and "overhauls" look.  The wagon was a present from "Nana Charlee".  The Smedley girls and Aunt Kari were on hand to make him laugh.  Mom was there to pay.  :)

Not really sure what he is doing here... Calisthenics?

After the pictures, we headed to the Union Grill for lunch with Uncle Chris.  NUTS!  It was crazy.  5000000 people and no where to park for miles.  Ok, Rainbow Gardens it is!  We drove up the canyon and I enjoyed Thomas Divan - my favorite - and Aiden had clam chowder.  We were sitting in the parking lot and... the Dinosaur Park was right across the street.  So... we went to the Dinosaur Park.  It was larger than I thought it would be and it was surprisingly wonderful.  A great walk, fun sounds, big dinosaurs outside and cool skeletons and fossils inside.  Bravo, Ogden.  Bravo.

Aiden loved the sounds and roaaaared with them!!

First Tooth

I knew why Aiden has been cranky for the last three weeks.  He has been teething.  Not bad.  Even teething, he is a happy kiddo.  He has been giving this smile that is all gums.

But this first brings lots of conflicting emotions with it.  The click of the tooth on his spoon still surprises me even after 2 meals today.  The click makes my heart hurt as I realize that he is getting bigger and learning and surprising me every day.

But then I know he is entering the stage when he is interactive and so much fun.  He grabs my face to give the full slobbery dripping kisses.  He grabs my necklaces and works so hard to get them to his mouth.  He giggles and mimics.  He stays still for books and loves to splash in the bath.  He loves to touch the cold condensation of the front door at Aunt Kari's house.  He loves to throw things from his high chair.  He is such a joy.

And the tooth, while still very small, is such a big deal!!

Slightly disturbing

Short post.  Just funny.

I am listening to my Showtunes playlist on Pandora which I have set to rotate Soundheim, Disney, Rogers and Hammerstein, and Gershwin.

Here are the events as they unfolded.  Two of my favorite musicals played back to back.  Sweeney Todd and Sound of Music.  Very different -  as evidenced by the end of one song and the other...

From Sweeney Todd:


Now we all deserve to die
Even you Mrs. Lovett...even I
Because the lives of the wicked should be made brief
For the rest of us death will be a relief
We all deserve to die.
And I will get him back even as he gloats
In the meantime I'll practice on dishonorable throats.


Followed by Sound of Music: 


Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things


I laughed out loud in my office.  One is a serial killer planning a rash of killings and one is a helpful nanny from a convent helping children who are frightened.  Oh, the irony. 

And so...

I learned today that I am woefully out of touch with the world around me.  In preparing for an Oscar night party (to include only myself, my 8-month old son, a dog, and Uncle Chris), I realized that I had not seen any of the movies that were nominated for Best Picture.  Then I realized that I had no desire to see any of the aforementioned movies.

Furthermore, I realized that the only category I had any opinion on was Best Soundtrack - hoping that Sherlock Holmes wins.  But that is because I thought the music was cool and that Hans Zimmer is a stud muffin with a piano.  The man is so full of talent.

Then I realized that the movie buff in me has traded those fun times to watch such riveting adventures as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Thomas the Tank Engine and Scamper the Penguin.  And I know the theme songs.  And I sing along with them.  And I have them running through my head all day.  And I don't mind because they bring joy to my son.

Hans Zimmer would be ashamed.  If he knew who I was.

First Haircut

Aiden got his very first hair cut.  About the only way to fix it is by doing a "faux hawk".  But it was getting unruly.

So we trimmed it!

And lucky with the ladies!

So last night was haircuts, Harry, and habits.

Aiden had his first haircut.

We watched Harry Potter #6 as a family (including the dog)

And one of my dearest, closest friends asked me to help in breaking habits that aren't healthy for this person.  Very big habits.  Thank you, my friend, for trusting me to help you.  I am honored and will do my best!

Showtunes - my Guilty pleasure

I know that I posted a short 10 hours ago, but here I am.  At work.

Monday mornings are for the birds.  I miss my son.  I miss my bed.

So, since no one is at the office yet, I turned on my "Showtune" playlist on Pandora that includes the soundtracks from musicals, Disney shows, and Glee.

And who can't be happier with lyrics from a show that starts like this:

And I know things now, 

Many valuable things, 

That I hadn't known before: 

Do not put your faith 

In a cape and a hood, 

They will not protect you 

The way that they should. 

And take extra care with strangers, 

Even flowers have their dangers. 

And though scary is exciting, 

Nice is different than good. 

Ah.  I will sit back.  Drink my Diet Pepsi and enjoy my secret guilty pleasure.

By the way, if you can name this musical, you get 10 points in my book.  Leave me a comment.  Let's see who guesses first!!

8 short months

Aiden is 8 months old today.  To celebrate, we went to the zoo again yesterday and had green bean fries at TGI Fridays.  Okay, he had pureed green beans, but it was fun.  I bought an annual membership to the zoo, so we can go whenever and we don't have to feel bad when Aiden falls asleep after just seeing one or two animals.  It gives me a good walk up and down the hills and he gets to see fun animals.  It was much warmer than the last time we were there and the big cats were leaning against the warm glass, so we were able to see them VERY close and personal.

He doesn't do much, but I can tell that he is really thinking. He is such a thinker.  On the drive home, he would make this chesty guttural LOUD noise.  We figured out it was Aiden's version of "what does a tiger say?"  He was doing his ROAR.  Darling.   He also does an impression of a horse when he spits.  He is getting so big.  One thing he still does, though, is cuddle up to Mom at bedtime.  I love my little furnace sleeper.

I love my boy.