Aidan's First Birthday

Aidan turned one-year-old very early this morning at 1:12 am. We took an emotional trip to commemorate; we went to the Rex Special Care Nursery to visit the nurses and staff that took care of our little Aidan George for so long. The very familiar parking garage, the smell of the sanitizing soap, and especially the multi-tonal dinging alarms brought us right back to those days in the NICUs. This very blog was started to communicate those very day-by-day happenings to family and friends. Here's the first-ever blogged picture from 10/3/08:

...and therefore it seems fitting that the very first video posted to our blog is on Aidan's first birthday. Here is the birthday boy in three 30-second video clips enjoying his very first refined sugar in the form of chocolate pudding:

He'll have to wait for Saturday's party for the cake. We are certain his first birthday wish is for the Gamecocks to upset #4 Ole Miss tonight. Go Cocks!

In other headlines, Aidan said his first word yesterday: Mommy!" Well, actually, after I prompted "Mommy" he said, "Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Mammm," . . . but I count it! ;)

Gamecock win against Florida Atlantic (38-16).

We'd like to have thought the Gamecock defense (the #2 in passing defense countrywide last year) wouldn't have allowed 16 points from this less-than-formidable opponent this past weekend... 

 

...but, we have to say a win's a win.

 Top-5 Ranked Ole Miss Visits Columbia on Thursday.

The Magical Magnum

There are some stories parents love to tell because they paint a picture of their child's heart - his or her inner nature. I absolutely love this story for that reason. 

We've gone to Fuddruckers a couple times for lunch. (Nathaniel's very favorite food in the whole wide world is a cheeseburger.) Anyway, while there he enjoys "playing" the old-fashioned arcade games. He's a cheap date - he just wants to 'drive' the racing game, sans quarters. It's fine with him if he's not "really playing". He has a blast:

But here's the best part. You can see in the pictures above that right next to the racing game is one of those shooting games with a blue gun attached. (No, that's not the best part, wait for it...) During the times when the road is no longer showing - you know, when the high scores flash or the logo and theme music play - he decides it's time to fuel up. He climbs down and...well, just look:

 

Front Yard Frolick (9.12)

We visited Cheryl Duren, an old family friend, and my boys played with her grandkids and a neighbor's son. As you can see, the whole yard was set up for a tireless celebration of childhood:

Aidan wasn't so sure about the dogs, though:

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Ah, the adoration of Nana:

Nathaniel was so very distraught when it was time to leave that he required an adult-assisted departure.* 

* This is a polite way of saying he had a kicking, screaming, hysterical banshee-like tantrum with force that indicated he was aware that hurricane season had started. If you've parented a three-year-old, you probably know what an "adult-assisted departure" is...and if you haven't, no description here will do its frustrating and humiliating reality any justice.

A very tough loss for our Gamecocks. =(

A tough loss in the last seconds against Univ. of Georgia Bulldogs...the final score: 41-37. However, there was promise in our young QB Garcia. Still, seven of the last nine USC/UGA match-ups have a Gamecock loss by seven points or less. Oh, the heartbreak:

 

Aidan George vs. a spoon (8/18/09)

Here are images of Aidan George's first attempt at the art of using a spoon.

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First, assess your opponent:

 

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Then, get your game face on:

  

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After you've mustered your resolve, try to find your mouth:

 

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Concentrate really hard to get the food out:

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Make sure you try using both ends of the spoon:

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It takes a lot of work:

 

 

 

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Don't be afraid to stare the spoon down:

 

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Or use the Jedi mind trick:

 

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"Hey there, shweet hawt":

Click on "Read More>" if you wish to see the exciting conclusion.

Pictures from mid-August 2009

Hi daddy. I's weally tired. 

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Outside on August 17th: