Happy Anniversary, Mommy & Daddy!

It seems like life gets busier and busier every week! This week, Mommy and Daddy traded off having late nights, but were also able to hang out together a bit, too.

On Monday, Daddy came home from work early to hang out with Aidan so Mommy could take a conference call with a Michigan University Press editor and then go to a networking event: a Women in International Security happy hour downtown. The call went great (it looks like she is going to get a book contract fo co-author a teaching book on using Lord of the Rings to teach International Relations!) and Mommy met lots of interesting women in her field at the happy hour. Aidan did great with Daddy, stayed at the parks late, drank lots of formula, and was asleep in bed by the time Mommy got home at 9:30!

On Tuesday and Wednesday, Daddy stayed at work late. On Tuesday, Mommy and Aidan had fun going to the Collegiate Church playgroup in the morning (we haven't gone for a while). Aidan loved the guitar and songs by Troy and got to play with many of his friends (Jack, Nate & Dylan, Yuxin, Dakota). Next week we are going to have to splash around in their baby pools! Having playgroup outside in the summer is wonderful.

Thursday was Mommy and Daddy's fourth wedding anniversary! We had a lot to celebrate - this year has been the most amazing one yet! Daddy came home from work early and we all played together at the playground. We ate our favorite take-out Thai food for dinner. And after Aidan went to sleep, Mommy and Daddy had fun hanging out together with a bottle of Rioja wine (2001 Señorio de Cuzcurrita: “hints of dark and red fruits with a never-ending finish”), a plate of cheeses (brie, fresh mozzarella & parmesan), a baguette, and fruit (cherries & blueberries). (We have a lot of fun together when we have a chance to actually hang out!)

Friday Daddy had to go to Washington D.C. for work, and Aidan refused to stay inside the house. He stood at the door and hit it with a flat hand and yelled at the top of his voice until Mommy took him outside! Fortunately, Christa and Johnny had the day off, so Aidan played with John and Mommy talked to Christa for most of the day. We went on walks, played at John's house, and visited the Dolphin Park, where the kids loved the sprinklers and sand. Daddy's plane shuttle home was delayed, but fortunately he got home with enough time for Mommy to be able to be part of a "ladies' night out" with her friends Christa, Jeanie & Sara. Aidan stayed asleep for Daddy while Mommy was out, so we all were happy with how that turned out.

Saturday was Aidan's friend Jack's first birthday party! We brought our "ball-pit" (baby-pool with balls), and the babies had fun playing in that, and in another pool of sand at the party. Jack's daddy is a chef and made delicious food for the party (crab cakes, skewered chicken and steak, potato salad with Granny Smith apples, salad, and more - Jeanie made the devil's food / vanilla / carrot-cake cupcakes with butter frosting - yum!). We had a lot of fun! Daddy came to the party with Mommy and Aidan, despite his upcoming work deadline, and then went to work afterward. So, it was wonderful that we could all be there together.

Sunday, Daddy stayed home with Aidan in the morning so that Mommy could go to their college friend Erin's bridal-shower in Connecticut. Aidan had fun playing at the parks with Daddy, and Mommy was happy to celebrate with Erin at a delicious brunch. Once Mommy got back home, Daddy went back to work.

Daddy's work deadline is today, which is why he has had to stay late so often, and we are all looking forward to it being over! Aidan definitely misses Daddy, and is very dissatisfied when he works late. When Daddy would work late this week, Aidan would be fine until about 5PM, when he would toddle over to the front door, stare expectantly at it, and ask loudly for "Da-da-da-da-da-da!!!" When Mommy tried to explain to Aidan that he wouldn't see Daddy that night because he was coming home after his 7:30-8PM bedtime, Aidan would shout in frustration, do knee bends and shake his little fists, and generally let Mommy know that this was not an acceptable state of things. (!) Daddy was happy that Aidan missed him but wished that he didn't have to stay late either.