Nicole Tasker Woods

Aidan is obsessed with the Disney movie ‘Cars’ and all of the toy cars that go along with that movie. We finally found ‘Cars 2’ on Direct TV and recorded it and this past weekend, we’ve watched it about 37 times. I’m so sick of seeing that damn movie! But the Big A? He LOVES it and shows no sign of being bored by the story that he has no problem watching over and over and over again.

We finally found the original, ‘Cars’ movie on TV and have recorded that as well so now my sanity can be restored at some level.

This weekend, we wanted to show him a Disney DVD and decided on ‘The Lion King’ but the story was lost on him. I did not realize how mature that movie was. There was a lot of scary stuff for a 2 year old to process. He did enjoy the opening scene with all the animals and the song ‘I Can’t Wait To Be King’ but that was it. Then he looked at me and said, ‘mote? Cars?’ Clearly he wanted me to take the remote and turn on his beloved ‘Cars.’

Ryan & I both can quote lines from the ‘Cars movie and even when it isn’t on, we can hear Larry the Cable Guy’s voice as Mater echoing in our heads.

The clouds roll in so heavy these past few mornings that I’m starting to worry about Aidan’s birthday bash on June 15. It’s so dreary out these days that it even sprinkles a little. June-gloom better roll on out of here by the 13th with some hot hot sun to follow. How will everyone stay warm pool-side?

I will not let this bring me down. My mom and my older brother will be coming to Southern California to help us celebrate the A-man’s big day–and who doesn’t love free help–I mean–family!?

No matter what temperature it is outside (rain is the only exception), I still plan on wearing my new blue & white polka dot bathing suit & teal cover-up with flip flops. I will get a pedicure and I will look super cute. It’s my party–I mean–Aidan’s party!

And if the weather is REALLY bad, I’ll just drown my sorrows in a margarita. Tequila makes everything sunny and bright.

Dear Aidan,

There are things in life that I have looked at differently because of you. Things that I would have normally glazed over while driving in the car or strolling down the street. The other day, I caught myself looking up to find a plane in the sky that I heard buzzing up above.

Because of you, I will always look up in the sky to find a bird or stare at the clouds – and I will always look down to find my shadow following me, just one step behind. It’s amazing how simple things that have been in my life for 31 years are now brand new to me and you are only turning 2! Imagine the things we will discover together in the years to come.

When I was pregnant and found out it was a boy, a friend asked me what I was most excited about. My answer? To show you things. The look on your face makes the most mundane things magical.

Love.

XOXOX

Mom

It’s about one year ago today that I was frantically planning for Aidan’s 1st birthday party. The weekends surrounding Aidan’s big day were other people’s big days (2 weddings) and since he was born on Father’s Day, that means he’s cursed with this semi-holiday always on or right around his actual birthday. Last year, only a handful of people showed up for his birthday due to the fact is was on a Sunday, which was also Father’s day. I got up early in the morning to bake cup cakes, frost them in a frenzy and then pick up balloons. This year, it’s the event of the season. It’s also our first (of what I hope to be many) big party of the summer.

Clark and Carolyn are working on getting their pool heater fixed so that Ryan & I won’t freeze when we take A in the pool. He’ll swim no matter what the temp is, but I have higher/hotter standards than he does. Aidan will swim with chattering teeth – that’s how much he LOVES the water.

Against my wishes, I bought a bathing suit to wear to the party, as well as a cover-up, which looks a lot like a sun dress so it will serve two purposes. I really do hate wearing a bathing suit in front of other people, especially friends and co-workers, both of which have RSVP’d to Aidan’s 2nd birthday party in a few weeks.

Not only do we have a taco truck coming, we will have margaritas prepped, as well as a bouncy house. Carolyn, being the expert event planner that she is, will be taking the reins on the decorations & favors. I ordered his cake 2 weeks ago and will be dropping of cars the week of for the pastry chef to put on the top of the cake. I will also be picking up balloons to make sure it looks festive.

Between the bouncy house and the pool, margaritas and tacos, balloons and cake – everyone is bound to have a ball.  I’m certain Aidan will!

Aidan got up at 1:00 am this morning. This is the first time he’s done this in a very long time. I was so not used to those twilight hours that I was totally out of it and did not know what I was doing. I somehow managed to get his milk, change his diaper and rock him in the chair (with eyes half open) then put him back to bed. He gave me a ‘mooch’ and then said ‘bye’ while waving his hand as his head turned to the side and he was undoubtedly fast asleep before I closed his door.

Then, to make it an even odder morning, he was wide awake, playing in his room at 6:45 am.  He usually sleeps until 8:30 am, but not today. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed in his high chair as he ate his breakfast. He had a huge appetite and was clearly anxious to start his day. He did hit the wall, however, around noon time. But then as if he was too tired to sleep, he played in his room from 2-4:30pm before finally going down for his nap. What an off day!

Last night, Aidan was the very best version of himself. Don’t get me wrong, he’s a pretty good kid 99.9% of the time (we lucked out in that regard!), but he was just so much fun we didn’t want to put him to bed. We played all night and laughed so hard, none of us wanted the night to end. He ate extremely well at dinner and sat quietly during the entire meal in his chair visiting with us while we ate. After dinner, he rolled on the kitchen floor, playing with pots and pans while I fed him some of his chocolate chip cookie and cleaned up the dinner dishes.

In the living room, he bounced on my tummy for about 20 minutes, with his head back and he smiled and giggled towards the ceiling.  He kept saying “hug” and laying his head on my chest as I laid on the floor.

He was just bursting with affection, Ryan & I were sad to say goodnight!

Before bed each night, Aidan & I sit together on the rocking chair in the blue room with his blanket and his sippy cup of milk. When he’s had enough of the milk, he hands me the cup and says “done.” He collects his “banket” and walks into his room. He says “Bisc” as he searches for his stuffed dog named Biscuit. When he finds him in his bed, he hugs him close to his neck and says “seep.” He lies on his back and stretches his legs out straight and asks for “coves” so I pull the covers up to his chest. He looks up at me and says “mooch” and then we kiss each other goodnight. I tell him I love him and he leans towards me and says “love” so we hug. He waves “bye” and goes to “seep.”

Aidan would not go down for his nap, instead he explored in his closet & toy chests searching for the perfect thing to fill the nap-time hours…

He ended up with 11 books, 8 stuffed animals and 2 matchbox cars.

A & I found ourselves wandering the aisles of the CVS Sunday morning after we finished grocery shopping at the Ralph’s next door.

I shouldn’t have been surprised when Aidan got side tracked and pulled down the toy aisle like it had a tractor-beam lock on his tiny baby body. He found four trucks that he was immediately in love with. He held up the excavator and the fire engine to me and said, “Buy?” He truly is his mother’s son.

I told him that he could only get one. So he looked at all four trucks – the two on the floor and the two in his hands. He placed the two in his hands on the floor as well so he could examine them all. One by one he put them back on the shelf until he finally landed on the fire engine – that’s the one he just had to have.

He carried it with pride to the check out where I told him to put the truck on the counter so the woman could scan it and we could pay for it. He did it so well, holding it up high while on his tippy toes. After she scanned it, he kept pointing at the truck on the counter saying, “Off! Off!” After paying, I handed him the truck and he followed me out of the store. Then he held up the truck again and said “Off! Off!” I looked at the truck and realized it still had the price tag on it, and he wanted it off damnit.  So I pulled it off and my boy was happy.

Then we went to Bed, Bath & Beyond and yet again, I decided to forgo the shopping cart. He proceeded to test out every single patio set on display (with his new fire engine in hand). Every time he sat down, he would point to one of the other chairs and say, “Sit! Sit!” Being a good mommy, I played along for about 10 minutes. Then when I thought I couldn’t do it for one second longer, I told him we had to shop.

“Shop?” he said, questioning it’s meaning.

“Shopping is what you do when you want to look for something to buy.” I said.

Aidan seemed pleased with that idea and went running down a random aisle. I was happy to chase him away from the patio display. After I found what I wanted, we made our way to the check out and Aidan dutifully set his truck on the counter so it could be scanned. Being a good sport about the whole thing, the guy at the check out stand did scan it, which prompted Aidan to snatch the truck back in his possession, pleased with himself for “buying” the truck a second time.

I bought a bench for my front porch a few weeks ago and now I plan my days around when I can sit on it and listen to my wind chimes, which hang a few yards away on my kitchen’s balcony.

It gets just the right amount of sun in the morning when it is still cool. And it gets just the right amount of shade in the late afternoon when it is warm.

Aidan enjoys sitting on it as well.

This morning, he laid his head on my lap while we sat on the bench. He drank his milk and I drank my coffee. Both of us looked up at the sky, watching the birds, planes and helicopters.

I’m beginning the close of what I know was the perfect weekend.

Every night, Aidan was a joy, full of smiles and laughter. We enjoyed every second he was awake. The days were filled with sunshine, long walks and a lot of restaurant meals with a very well-behaved young boy.

It’s one of those nice weekends at the end of April that makes you believe that the coming summer months are going to be fantastic.

The highlight, of course, will be Aidan’s 2nd birthday party in mid-June. Then a rafting weekend in July and hopefully some beach days in between. We are also planning our triumphant return to Boston in late August after my mom picks up Aidan and enjoys her grandson with the Northwood folk for an entire week.

Personally, I can’t wait for her to pick him up! I love him to pieces, but I am in dire need of strengthening my social scene with my friends. I hope to go out at least three times with three of my closest friends. I also want a couple of date nights. If all 7 nights are spent out on the town or next to my hubby in the darkness of a movie theatre, I will be in heaven!