Date Night, Take II

This is what a date night should look like, Fleming-style:

6:00 pm - Sam feeds Ryan while I make bison burgers (with blue cheese for me, Colby Jack for Sam) with Parmesan veggies on the side

6:30 pm - We hang out on the floor with Ryan, stacking blocks for him to knock over and helping him climb onto and off of the sofa.

7:00 pm - I put Ryan to bed while Sam cleans up the kitchen.

7:15 pm - We watch two back-to-back episodes of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - one we've seen but can't remember how it ends, and one we haven't seen. I address Christmas cards and surf the web for potential mid-winter beach getaways.

9:00 pm - We hustle out into the 37 degree night to sit in the hot tub and watch a meteor shower.

9:30 pm - I read Islands magazine in bed while Sam sleeps.

No dressing up, no dinner reservations, no paying $20 for tickets to an "eh" movie, no worrying about Ryan going to bed on time - priceless!

[We are meeting a former co-worker of mine and her husband for dinner on Wednesday night, so we'll have a chance to work on our social skills, lest we become complete hermits].

Up Next on TLC

The cable channel TLC has a series of shows for every stage of a young family's life - A Wedding Story, A Birth Story, An Adoption Story. I'd like to propose a new show highlighting the reality of life with baby. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you:

A Poop Story

Scene: a pleasant suburban home, early afternoon. An attractive 30-something married couple are cleaning up the remnants of their son's first birthday party.

Cue: fussing baby noises from the nursery

Mother: Well hello darling! You didn't take a very long nap... [picks child up out of crib] Oh, heavens, you're butt naked! [carries pantless child into the living room where Father is picking up toys] Honey, did you forget to put his pants back on after you changed his diaper?

Father: Of course I put his pants back on! Where are they?

[Mother and Father return to nursery, where the turn on the overhead light]

Mother: Oh, for the love... Here are his pants, and his diaper... and his POOP.

Father: Oh no - what?

Mother: Yep, he managed to pull off his pants and his diaper and there is poop everywhere!

[Mother instinctively holds baby at arm's length and carries him into the bathroom for a bath, leaving Father to strip off the crib sheet, the blankets, the stuffed toys and wash them in very hot water, then scrub the slats of the crib with vinegar and water]

I don't know, I think I smell an Emmy (or maybe that's just residual poop). From what I've heard, there are plenty of poop stories out there - the producers would probably not have any problem filming a few seasons. Let's just hope this was Ryan's only star turn!

Pictures at a Birthday Extravaganza - 12/5/09

Nanny Amanda found a card that plays "Macho Man"

Setting up the bar for adults and kids

Julie and Kyla, Heidi and Will, Suzy and Amanda sampling the chili and other snackies

In the ball pit with Auntie Sarah

Luke, Alex and Sophia in the ball pit

David enjoying lunch

Nanny Amanda, Ryan, and Kyla

Kristine and Eli

Pineapple-carrot cars and trucks, banana mini-muffins, pumpkin-apple cupcakes and chocolate zucchini squares

Lots of helpers to unwrap gifts - Evan, Luke and Sophia

A John Deere tractor playset from Gramma Janet and Granpa Gary

"Mahalo for removing your slippahs, but no take mo bettah ones when you go!"

Balloons! Red balloons!

Happy First Birthday, Ryan

Dear Ryan -

We'll have a house full of people over to celebrate your big day with us in just a few hours, so I don't have much time to write. I can't believe that exactly one year ago I woke up in an unfamiliar place to the sound of a newborn baby crying. "Where am I and who left a baby in my room?" was the first thing that went through my head - and then I remembered. Your arrival at 12:52 a.m. after a relatively easy labor and delivery was very exciting - and then all Daddy and I wanted to do was go to sleep before all the friends and family came to visit you.

Where has the time gone? My snuggly little Stinkbug has turned into a wildly active toddler, curious about everything he can get his hands on (sorry about that, Peter cat). You are holding "conversations" with us (we think we get the gist of what you're saying, but who really knows?) and are capable of entertaining yourself with nothing more than a few pieces of Tupperware and baby food jar lids (though that doesn't prevent me from buying ever more books and toys).

At 8 lbs. 13 oz you were certainly one of the bigger newborns in our New Moms group, and you've maintained that advantage with a consistently healthy appetite. I am constantly springing new food flavors and textures on you, and you've accepted them all (though maybe the 10 pack of avocadoes from Costco was not the best idea - one can only eat the same food at every meal for so long). Cheerios and goldfish are a sure winner, and it's so fun to watch you pick up rotini pasta with your long fingers.

You've recently returned to sleeping through the night after a few weeks of ear infections and teething pain, and Daddy and I are extremely grateful. As I type, I'm watching you puzzle out how to retrieve a toy from the bottom of the toy bin (you're about to go in head first, but then you realize you can tip the bin on its side and crawl in). I can't wait to see what the next year holds for all of us!

Here's a video recap of the previous twelve months:

Love you forever,

Mama

Risky Business

Ryan did his best Tom Cruise impersonation on Thanksgiving, when his pants got a little damp and I took them off to airdry. All he needed was a candlestick for a mic and a fireplace dustpan for a guitar...

Fully dressed, reading a book with Nanny Amanda's stepdaughter Alex

Ryan LOVES playing with sproingy doorstops

Beautiful Kyla, the little hippie child