Nicole Tasker Woods

…is like that wad of bubble gum that you step on 61st & Madison and you’re still trying to get it off your shoe 18 blocks later.

Not only does my little man snore when he’s fast asleep in his big boy bed, but he also knows how to fake-snore. Last night, we were playing with him between tubby-time  & bedtime. He was getting thrown in the air, climbing up on Daddy’s shoulders to get ‘tall’ and then being tossed on the pillows. He shouted “pelows” and burrowed himself in the pillows then starts to snort in and sing out like a cartoon snore. A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E!!!

It’s amazing how he picks up on something we show him and then repeats it.

When he’s done chatting away in his bed and is finally asleep, I can put my ear up close to his door and hear him snoring with tiny baby breaths.

I love knowing he is getting restful sleep. I hate when we have to wake him up from a nap, but he is super sweet in those soft moment immediately following his slumber. He’s clingy and wants to be held. Love it!

I was excited to go back to work after the long holiday weekend last week, but now I’m ready for the weekend. I feel like I’ve paid my dues and now it’s time for some me – or shall I say – Aidan time.

I have to get my oil changed Saturday morning and then while Aidan is napping, I will NOT be napping as well (unfortunately). Instead, I’ll be doing my next favorite thing – getting my hair done! I’ve got a short cut rockin with some bleach blonde locks that I have to maintain every 4 weeks. And it’s actually been 5 weeks this past time because the July 4th holiday screwed up my schedule. But now my head will be fuzz free and super white, just in time for our white water rafting trip next weekend. Yay!

Aidan had a phase where he wanted a hug every second of every day. He seems to have grown out of that phase about 2 weeks ago and now everything scares him.

“Scared!”

“Of what?”

“Shark!”

“It’s OK, Shark’s are only in the ocean.”

“Get! Get!”

The little guy is really afraid of a shark getting him. It’s hilarious, don’t get me wrong, but I feel for him. I’m scared of sharks too. I’m smart enough to know that they won’t get me when I’m on the slide at the park or playing in the sand or walking the dog. But clearly, the Big A thinks that a shark is out to get him everywhere he goes.

I guess I should stop pretending my hand is a shark and saying “dun dun – dun dun – dun – dun dun dun dun dun dun – do – deee!!” as I grab his neck. Oops.

Spending a long 4.5 day weekend with Aidan over the July 4th holiday was exhausting! I do not know how my mother did it all those years with 3 kids. I can’t fathom having another one! The amount of energy the A-man has is unreal. He just keeps going and going and going. I don’t even get a break when I rock him to sleep before bed. He never falls asleep in my arms – not anymore! He wants to sit and talk. He doesn’t really like to hear me sing or lazily hum a broken lullaby because I’m just that tired. He insists on talking about what he will do tomorrow.

“Sheesh, park, swing, slide…”

When he went down for a nap each day of the holiday weekend, I would climb into bed and crash for the same 3 hours that he was down. And then when it was time for all of us to hit the hay at bedtime, I had no trouble falling asleep. I thought I’d stay up late each night and sleep in each morning during the holiday. Nope! I was in bed early and out of bed early.

Needless to say, I was excited to go back to work in my controlled office environment. I like my personal office with a door that I can close whenever I want. I do not have to stop what I’m doing to attend to someone else’s needs (unless the big boss lady comes a’callin). And I can do whatever I want on my lunch break–which usually involves a trip to the gym.

But I have to admit, by 5:30pm on Monday, the first day after the holiday weekend, I was missing my Aidan. I couldn’t wait to get home to hug him and kiss him.

Aidan has realized very recently that he likes to have his bare back tickled. And I tell ya what, I have some magic fingers and he LOVES it! He will stand with his back towards me so that I can gently caress and tickle his bare back. When I stop, I will wait and he will wait – goosebumps rising on his arms and belly. He turns his head to the side and says “like, again.” So I will give him some magic fingers again, and then stop, and the cycle continues.

I love to feel the little goosebumps spread across his soft baby skin. He’s so innocent and so sweet. I just love him.

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!