Everybody's doin' it!

Aid-o watching the tigers

It is such a beautiful day.  It is getting warmer and it seemed like such a wonderful day to go to the zoo.

Everyone in the Northern Utah region felt the same way.  It was PACKED!!!  I joked to Chris that it must have been "Bring Your Polynesian Gangsta to the Zoo" day.  But we don't "do" the zoo like most people.  I stop for long stretches at a time and talk to Aiden about what is going on.  We people watch.  He eats tasty rice puffs (okay, Mom sneaks a couple too).  We sit at the bench at watch the carousel go round, and round, and round... about 15 times today.  

Time #7 watching the carousel.  He thinks it is hilarious.

We hang around the tigers until they wake up.  We don't usually see all the animals at one time.  We are there about every 2 weeks, so we will see the Discovery Center one week, the big cats another week, the ugly rare wild pig things (that the sign says are closer to bears than pigs, but whatever) and monkeys one week... but we always see the giraffes.  Aiden loves the giraffes - especially the baby giraffe.

It was a wonderful day and Aiden is getting more and more excited about things that he recognizes (giraffes, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse songs, "A Parrots Life for Me" story...) and the zoo is no different.  When we pass the fountain at the front, Aiden will laugh and squeal.

Check out those cutest teeth!!!  He loved the zoo!!

Sidebar:  Aiden has a few choice sounds that he makes.  We call them the "slipped timing belt" sound, the "worn brakes" sound, the "needs power steering fluid" sound, and the "tiger growl".  All VERY loud.  All cute.

I also made fresh salsa with my new produce box ingredients.  It was so tasty.  I have eaten almost half already.

Finally Gave In

I finally gave in tonight and admitted that my son is getting bigger.  I shed a tear and gave a bit of a sob.  Aiden is finally to be dressed in 9 month clothing.  He is no longer a little baby, he is a big baby and almost (GASP) a toddler.

These are premie clothes that we too big when we brought Aiden home.  

And look at those socks!!!

Awwww.....

A few people have said that with their first child, they want their child to crawl early, walk early, talk early.... Aiden will be 9 months old on Monday and is still not crawling.  His pediatrician has said over and over not to worry unless he is over a year old and is still not rolling over (which he has been doing for many, many months).  I guess I am not a typical first-time parent.  I LOVE that Aiden is not mobile yet.  When I plop him down to play, he stays there, albeit not happily at times, but he stays put.  Soon, I will have to baby-proof the house.

The other, more practical, reason I am happy he is not mobile is because he is having his major surgery in two weeks and mobility makes it harder for him to heal.  They suggested that we cast his legs if he was walking.  They estimate more than 100 stitches in his little "special boy area" and they don't want them to tear.  God knows what he is doing in delaying things.  And I could not be happier.

Geese and bubbles

Aiden and I spent most of the afternoon outside in the sunshine.  We went into the backyard and blew bubbles.  He REFUSES to crawl after them.  He refuses to crawl.  He has the skills, he probably could do it, no problem. He just doesn't want to and no amount of cajoling will make that happen.  But the air was crisp and the sun was marvelous.

He loves outside.

I love the constant drool!

Oh, those baby blues!  Soooo gorgeous.

Charlee would be proud of this shot... a bubble that just would NOT pop!

After bubbles, we headed to the Hobbs Creek Trail again with Uncle Chris.  Chris runs the 4 mile trail, we walk.  Slowly.  But, hey, we get in 2 1/4 miles almost every day.  There was a point when the air was still and the trail was empty except for Aiden and me.  We sat down on a bench and it was so... quiet.  Geese would occasionally fly overhead and the breeze would blow the cattails at times, but very quiet.  I realized how very little of this absolute quiet I get in life.  In the mornings at work and on the walk.  And we watched the sun go down.

Sunset on the trail.

Then we enjoyed tacos.  I gave up fast food tacos for Lent.  No, I didn't make it until Easter.  

Good thing I am not Catholic.

Ah, the separation anxiety stage

Yes, we have entered the separation anxiety stage of Aiden's life.  He is apparently emotionally unable to have me outside of 3 inches of his space and not playing with him every second.

I see why moms never get anything done.

I love little man with all my heart, so I have been taking this opportunity to play with him every second he will allow.  Sometimes he doesn't want me involved in the playing, but he can't have me leave his side.  I kinda like it in a very sadistic sort of way.  When he is 17, he won't want anything to do with me.

I will miss this.  

Freedom

This morning, I was in my usual Monday morning mood.  Tired.  Wanting the weekend back, grouchy that my son slept as I carried him to the car and didn't have his usual "Good Morning, Mom" grin on his cute little mug.  As I drove my 45 minutes to work, I had my usual time to think.  Yes, the radio was on, but I wasn't really listening.  I never do.  I just think on my way to work and gear up for the week/day ahead.

It hit me this morning that something and someone who has been in the back of my mind as an annoyance and a heartache for many, many years - a decade or two-  is no longer there.  When I think of this person, my heart doesn't immediately sink to the pit of my stomach and the rage and unjustice doesn't rain around me.  My heart hurts for those in this person's life who continue to be poisoned or manipulated, but it doesn't effect me any more.  Not even a little bit.

I had heard once that forgiveness isn't admitting the other person is right - it is releasing you from their pain.  I found it to be the happiest sense of freedom I have ever felt.  I felt like I was on a runner's high (okay, okay, you cynics... I am a fat gal who can't even walk far, so I really don't know what it feels like, really, but the analogy is what's important.  :) ).

I love this freedom.  I will try to have it with all the emotional leeches in my life.  Luckily, the people who surround me at this point of my life are generally really supportive and wonderful.

Except Sam.  Who bailed on sushi last week.  

May the magic Saki fairy make your next sushi roll less than fresh.

A day with the dino

Mr. A and I went to Thanksgiving Point today.  I have never been there before except to the little barn a year ago to see a fashion show.  It was very cold.  It was beautiful and sunny, but started to snow - in the sunshine.  It was really beautiful.  Really, really cool.  Aiden and I ate at the nice restaurant.  I told the hostess that I was having lunch with my hot date.  She said, "So, two and a highchair?"  I said, "No, just one and a highchair."   The hostess said back, "That is sooooo cute!!"

Then we went to see the dinosaurs.  I had no idea it was that cool.  I loved it.  So did Aiden. He kept saying, "hooo.  Hooo..." and blowing out.  That is him saying, "Wow."  I always whisper it to him.

He loved the big brontosaurus and the dinosaurs that were above him.  He was so fun.

Scary, eh?  Well, the couple before me were posing with the dad throwing the kid into the shark's mouth.  So I feel a little better as a parent.

It was very cool to see the actual size of these things.  It makes me wonder how God figured out all the different cool things about all the different creatures on the earth.  

We even picked up a couple of books.

And Mister loved every minute of it.  

Smile

Melancholy hits all of us at one time or the other.  Nostalgia, depression, whatever you experience, everyone is down for a time.  I am no exception this last few days.  It is not depression or sadness, just an introspection that makes me a little down.  There is an old song written by Charlie Chaplin that has been remade hundreds of times.  It is called "Smile".  The song is currently on my playlist here on the webpage.  Not the best version, but it will do.  Here are the lyrics:

Smile though your heart is aching 

Smile even though it's breaking. 

When there are clouds in the sky 

you'll get by. 

If you smile through your pain and sorrow 

Smile and maybe tomorrow 

You'll see the sun shining through 

For you. 

Light up your face with gladness, 

Hide every trace of sadness. 

Although a tear may be ever so near 

That's the time you must keep on trying 

Smile, what's the use of crying. 

You'll find that life is still worthwhile- 

If you just smile.

As I said, nothing serious.  The things that I am experiencing will work themselves out - or they won't, but it doesn't matter.  I am not depressed, but the song was just what I needed.  Especially coming from Mr. Charlie.  And my son makes me smile when nothing else can.  And vice versa.