Left Coast Mama » Birthdays http://leftcoastmama.net Making Things Write on the Wrong Coast Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:01:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Happy Birthday to Me http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/04/07/happy-birthday-to-me/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/04/07/happy-birthday-to-me/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 04:08:52 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/?p=2490 . . . → Read More: Happy Birthday to Me]]> Today is my 38th birthday. I am 38 years old. I am much closer to 40 than 30.  I think that I want to post a list of things I want to do in my 39th year.

1: Become a better photographer. I think this is a reasonable goal. I am practicing, I am looking at things like a photographer.

2: Take some time for me. This should be easy, right?

3: Establish a monthly date night. This is something both Anthony and I need.

4: Write more.

5: Get a few freelance writing jobs.

6: Get to Blissdom Canada. At least I already have the ticket.  Now for airfare and hotel. (I want to bookend the trip with days with my brother.)

7: Read More. I need to take time to read. I miss going to sleep with a book, well with a book not on my ipod.

8: Lose a few inches everywhere. I don’t care about losing weight, I just want to be tighter and feel better in my clothes.

9: Have a fun summer with my boys. We had such a shitty summer last year that we need some time for fun in the sun. Beach time, road trip, swimming, biking, geocaching, lots of fun.

10: Take some time to figure out what and how I want to do things in the future. Quinlan is in preschool next year and I need to have a plan for what I want to do once he starts school. It might be nice to start making some money again.

11: Take a look at my list of things to do before I am 40. I really should do this and update it. I can’t even remember what is on the list.

***

  1. Write at least 5 posts a week between the two blogs consistently.
  2. Teach Aidan to read.
  3. Start my Kindermusik business. (Not something I really want to do anymore.)
  4. Teach Aidan to swim.
  5. Have another baby.
  6. Buy a dwelling. (Not going to happen without the lottery win.)
  7. Get a full time teaching position. (Not sure I want this anymore.)
  8. Join another choir.
  9. Go to Disney whatever (either coast is fine.)
  10. Visit the Grand Canyon. (This summer.)
  11. See Penn and Teller. (This summer.)
  12. Visit Ireland and meet family. (Next summer I hope.)
  13. Get Irish Passport. (This year, I promise.)
  14. Lose 40 lbs. (Yeah, with another baby I gained and lost that much.)
  15. Get into better shape.
  16. Learn to snowboard. Skiing instead.
  17. Go to some Winter Olympic events.
  18. Read and review a hundred books in a year.
  19. Narrate a novel.
  20. Start a podcast.
  21. Find a good topic or premise for said podcast.
  22. Write a couple of children’s books.
  23. Start the scrapbook of Aidan’s life and actually finish a few pages.
  24. Go to Paris.
  25. Spend a couple of nights away from Aidan with Anthony.
  26. Get Organized. (At least 1 aspect of my life.)
  27. Have a huge yard sale.
  28. Get rid of stuff.
  29. Organize my books. Needs it again.
  30. ride my bike again
  31. Go camping with Aidan and Quinlan. This summer on the road trip!
  32. Learn to Ballroom dance
  33. Learn to write better, Still working on this.
  34. Make an amazing train track formation
  35. Drive across Canada
  36. Go outside more often, even in the rain
  37. See U2 in concert again.
  38. Spend more time with Family, can alway do more.
  39. Go swimming more often
  40. Take more photographs
  41. Do something with the video we have
  42. Shoot more video for the grandparents
  43. Take another jewelry making course
  44. Vacuum 1 a week. You know not a priority in my life.
  45. Clean Master bedroom 1 a month, getting better at this.
  46. Go to Italy
  47. Visit somewhere warm for a vacation
  48. Take a girl’s trip to somewhere fun and relaxing
  49. Spend more time with Anthony alone, I could always use more time with Anthony.
  50. Take more time to relax

 


© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: Birthdays, Gwen.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/04/07/happy-birthday-to-me/feed/ 1 Happy Birthday My Beautiful Boy http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/03/25/happy-birthday-my-beautiful-boy/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/03/25/happy-birthday-my-beautiful-boy/#comments Fri, 25 Mar 2011 08:01:34 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/?p=2436 . . . → Read More: Happy Birthday My Beautiful Boy]]> Six years ago I remember getting a game for Anthony and some chocolate for the both of us to make the most of our last free weekend. When my water broke that evening I knew that perhaps my plans for a quiet Easter weekend were not going to happen.  That 24th March evening was a little uncomfortable, and while he had decided to come early, Aidan wasn’t really in a total hurry.

***

Aidan coming home from the hospital 6 years ago.

Aidan you are still like that, you do things in your own time. You are an incredibly curious boy, and I love the questions that you come up with. Your father and I are always challenged to find ways to answer your questions so that you understand, because you ask such complex questions.  I love your use of language and vocabulary. You constantly amaze me with the things you say.

The Week Before Aidan Turned 5

Aidan I love that you have found your niche in theatre this year. Your acting skills have improved so much over the last year and your comedic timing is beautiful. You make your Dad and I laugh out loud. I think you are made for entertainment and I hope you continue to enjoy acting.

Aidan, I love that you are so willing to try new things and work to improve your skills. This year you have conquered your fear of putting your head in the water and you are well on your way to becoming a fish. You also wanted to try skiing and had a great time learning. I can’t wait to try again with you soon. You also are getting much better at skating. I love that you are so willing to learn to fall and you are getting much better. By this time next year you will be skating circles around me.

Aidan now.

This year you have gone from reading only books with pictures to reading small novels and now Harry Potter and some really cool books on whatever you want to learn. This has fueled you imagination and I love to watch you play wizards, or whatever comes to your mind.

Aidan, I love that you have so many inventions and plans for the future. The Aidan Company will be a great success. I love hearing about everything you think that the Aidan Company will do in the future. I love that you want to take care of your parents when you grow up.

Aidan I love how much you care about other people. You are mostly very sweet to your brother and there are times when you are the best brother in the whole world. I love that you think about things that make other people uncomfortable and want to figure out how to fix things for them. I love that are not afraid to ask about death and how babies are made even though I find it hard to know what to tell you.

Aidan, I am so glad that you are mine, or should I say, Aidan I am so glad that I am yours. I love you baby boy, Happy Birthday! I can not believe you are 6!


© 2011 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 2 comments
Related: Aidan, Birthdays, milestones.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2011/03/25/happy-birthday-my-beautiful-boy/feed/ 2 A Letter to Quinlan on His 2nd Birthday http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/10/25/a-letter-to-quinlan-on-his-2nd-birthday/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/10/25/a-letter-to-quinlan-on-his-2nd-birthday/#comments Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:00:04 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/?p=1628 . . . → Read More: A Letter to Quinlan on His 2nd Birthday]]> I got lucky with both of my sons, they are beautiful and lovely and full of vim and vigor.  Today my youngest son, Quinlan, turns two.

Quinlan James Floyd

Quinlan James Floyd

Quinlan, you are your own person.  You have the best smile in the world and you know how to use it.  You make my heart melt when you look at me with your beautiful blue eyes and say “Pease Mommy.”  You make me proud when you say “tak you” to other people and they are shocked at my polite little guy.  Not that you are always polite when you go after what you want.  I still have to worry about when you decide you want to nurse and pull my shirt up no matter who may be around.

Your Daddy and I are always surprised at how different you are from your brother, especially when it comes to jumping.  You can jump so well I think that you may be a ukrainian dancer in disguise.  You try so hard to keep up with everything that Aidan does and you get frustrated when you can’t, not that it stops you for long.  You run and jump and climb anything and sometimes it scares Mommy how much you try to do.  Please don’t try the fire pole just yet, I am not sure Mommy’s heart can take it.  You are also not afraid to be far away from Mommy and Daddy and you are a very fast runner. This is not a good combination, as neither Mommy or Daddy are the fastest of runners, though we are getting faster.

You are already so interested in drawing and your Daddy and I are interested to know whether you will eventually choose your right or your left hand.  You use both with ease and you drawings, at least those on paper and not the furniture, are beautiful to me.  They are so colourful and cheery.  I think I may need to get you some finger paint soon.  You also love to dance and you have the greatest little hand movements that go with the bouncing hip wiggle. I think it is the cutest thing ever, especially when you try to copy the dances on the Backyardigans or So You Think You Can Dance.  You also get great pleasure out of playing with our piano.  You love music and have the best smile on your face when you play with any musical instrument. I think I have another arts baby on my hands.

There are still a few things we would like you to grow out of, like your tendency to want to be up before the birds.  Though in your defence, at least you are not getting up several times a night anymore and BOTH of your parents are eternally grateful. The screaming for attention has got to stop however.  You still have a scream that is doing permanent damage to my eardrums. I know that this to shall pass, but sooner than later would be good.

Right from the get go Quinlan, you have been a force to be reckoned with. You do things how and when you want to, and stubborn is a word that describes you well.  You are a beautiful boy and you melt many a heart with your smile.  Your Daddy and I love you to bits and your brother does too.  Today we dance because today is the day we got to add you to our family.

I love you Q!

Love always,

Mommy


© 2010 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 3 comments
Related: Birthdays, Quinlan.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/10/25/a-letter-to-quinlan-on-his-2nd-birthday/feed/ 3 A New Year http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/04/07/a-new-year/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/04/07/a-new-year/#comments Thu, 08 Apr 2010 06:20:38 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/?p=1201 . . . → Read More: A New Year]]> Today I turned 37 and I begin my 38th year of life.  In many ways for me my birthday is much more significant as a start to a new year than January 1st.  In fact my birthday is second only to the start of a new school year for the feelings of newness.

Today I was woken by my five year old and was entertained with his reading of the birthday card he picked out for me.  It is a card that keeps unfolding until it has a huge heart saying “I Love You.”  Aidan read this to me in the best voice, that sounded a lot like an Ethel Mermen (sp?) imitation, not that either of us have actually heard her real voice.  He then asked me how old I was.  When I told Aidan that I was 37 he asked in all seriousness, “Is 37 more than 100?”  I tell you we had a quick lesson in counting and less than greater than with regards to 37 and 100.  I am happy to report that Aidan now knows definitively that 37 is MUCH less than 100.

It is now really late and the post I was planning with a recap of things I accomplished as a 36 year old and a list of goals for my year as a 37 year old will have to wait until tomorrow. Until then Happy Birthday to me and a big thank you to my mom for having me.


© 2010 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 2 comments
Related: Birthdays, goals, Gwen.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2010/04/07/a-new-year/feed/ 2 One Year and a Birth Story http://leftcoastmama.net/2009/10/24/one-year-and-a-birth-story/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2009/10/24/one-year-and-a-birth-story/#comments Sun, 25 Oct 2009 05:50:16 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/?p=797 . . . → Read More: One Year and a Birth Story]]> Last year this time I was a bit of an uncomfortable mess.  I was ready to not be pregnant, but Anthony and I were a little worried that my mom wouldn’t make it here in time.  I really wanted my doctor to be the one to deliver Quinlan and she was on call the Friday but not the Saturday and I had a feeling that I would be delivering sometime that week.  I cancelled an appointment with my hairdresser because I wasn’t sure if I would make it or not, and it was a good thing I did.  I won a ticket to a green family conference for the Saturday and I thought that I would try to go.  Aidan and Anthony had Preschool Curiosity Club also on the Saturday morning and my mom was due to arrive from Halifax at 1 pm.

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I didn’t think that Quinlan would take me so literally that I wanted him to be born on the 25th.  I know I kept telling him that he couldn’t come until the 25th in the evening because then Nana would be there to take care of Aidan.  We did have some back ups, but the few days before Tammy was away at a conference in Colorado, and we felt a little uneasy about calling Tomer and Carla in the middle of the night if we needed too.  Anthony wasn’t sleeping very well that week either because he was so afraid I would have the baby and we wouldn’t have anyone to look after Aidan.

We thought we were in the clear.  Saturday morning we all woke up, we knew my mom was in the air on the way here, I was feeling good and all of us had breakfast.  The boys were going to drop me off at the Wall centre for the conference and all would be good.  Then just after breakfast my water broke.  It was 8:30 am and I should have called Dr. I then.  I found out later that the switch over time was 9 am and she would have stayed for the birth with me if I had called then.  I was still planning to go to the conference since there was no pain, but luckily Anthony decided that it would be a good idea to stay home and put Tomer and Carla on standby.

My contractions started at 9:30 ish and they kept getting closer together.  The on call doctor told me to call him when they were 5 minutes apart.  By 11 am they had gone from 8 to 7 to 5 to 4, and by the time we got through to him they were just coming with almost no time in between.  Anthony called Carla, and when she said she was going to wait for Tomer to get back.  She must have heard the very tense voice Anthony had and decided not to walk leisurely, but made it in just over 5 minutes running.  Thanks god for that because things went really quickly from there.

Anthony and I got to the hospital at about noon and with the paperwork we were in pretty quickly.  After being assessed they were getting me ready to go up to the nice delivery/staying rooms but decided that with the way my contractions were going and the dip in Quinlan’s heartbeat that they should get me into a delivery room right away.  We got into the delivery room at a little before 1 pm and I had to push.  There was no stopping it and no time for the epidural that I so desperately wanted.  I am pretty sure that the nurse pulled a resident into the room because the on call doctor (I cannot for the life of me remember his name) was somewhere getting his scrubs on.  Anthony had no time to re-park the car or find something else for me to hold other than his hand.  Like the independent little cuss he is, Quinlan had decided that enough was enough and he was coming out right NOW!  Crushing Anthony’s hand I gave another push and Quinlan came into the world at 1:10 pm.

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There is no way we would have made it up to the posh delivery/staying suite.  I would have had Quinlan in the elevator instead, he was that determined to come out.  At 2 pm my mom’s plane touched down in Vancouver.  It turns out that while Quinlan listened to the date I wanted him to be born, he was a little fuzzy on the time.

In looking back I can see in his delivery the type of personality that Quinlan has developed.  He is so determined to do everything.  He is curious, independent, and fast.  He loves to be close, but he is also not afraid to go and explore.  He is growing so fast and trying so hard to do all the things his brother does.

I can’t believe it has already been a year.  My infant will be an infant no longer.  My newest toddler.  My 1 year old. But always, always, my baby.

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© 2009 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 5 comments
Related: 2nd Pregnancy, Aidan, Anthony, Birthdays, family, Firsts, Gwen, milestones, My Boys, pregnancy, Quinlan.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2009/10/24/one-year-and-a-birth-story/feed/ 5 Happy Birthday http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/08/14/happy-birthday-2/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/08/14/happy-birthday-2/#comments Tue, 14 Aug 2007 12:55:05 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/08/14/happy-birthday-2/ . . . → Read More: Happy Birthday]]> Happy birthday Mary!  29 years young. :)


© 2007 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | No comments
Related: Birthdays.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/08/14/happy-birthday-2/feed/ 0 Menu Plan Monday http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/07/22/menu-plan-monday-15/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/07/22/menu-plan-monday-15/#comments Mon, 23 Jul 2007 04:46:51 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/07/22/menu-plan-monday-15/ . . . → Read More: Menu Plan Monday]]> menu_plan_monday_napa_2.jpg

This has been a pretty good week and there was only one substitution. I also actually planned the suppers for this week on saturday. That is a first for me. Things that worked really well last week were most of the breakfasts. I did eat more cereal than was on the list, but I just didn’t feel like making the eggs. The Tandoori grilled chicken was excellent and even Anthony thought it was a recipe worth keeping. Oh and I made my own vegetarian sushi for the first time. Aidan really enjoyed it.

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See, isn’t it pretty?

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On to the meals for this week. I am keeping the same battery of breakfasts and lunches and snacks because they are working for me.

Monday: Ham, Baked potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Tuesday: Hamburgers (turkey for me) and salad. (I am loving the Hellmanns salad spritzers. Yum!)

Wednesday: Chicken Kabobs with Tandoori Marinade (Now I am mixing recipes) with rice

Thursday: Multi-grain spaghetti and meat sauce

Friday: Going out for our Anniversary.

Saturday: Steak, boiled nugget potatoes, salad

Sunday: Picnic for T.’s 2nd Birthday

Monday:  Off to Nova Scotia!

Have a great week everyone.


© 2007 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | 3 comments
Related: Aidan, anniversaries, Birthdays, Menu Plan Monday, organization.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/07/22/menu-plan-monday-15/feed/ 3 Cake is the New Breakfast of Choice http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/04/25/cake-is-the-new-breakfast-of-choice/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/04/25/cake-is-the-new-breakfast-of-choice/#comments Wed, 25 Apr 2007 15:53:02 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/04/25/cake-is-the-new-breakfast-of-choice/ . . . → Read More: Cake is the New Breakfast of Choice]]> Aidan is in his high chair, eating a carrot muffin, and muttering in a very happy voice.

“Cake!”

“Birthday card!”

“Cake!”

“Milk!”

“Birthday Cake!”

“Its a Birthday!”

“Thomas!”

I think he has figured out the links between birthday cards, cake, presents and saying happy birthday. (Only Aidan says “Happy Birthday card” instead.)  Can you tell we had three weeks of birthdays in a row to help him out with the concept? :)


© 2007 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
Related: Aidan, Birthdays, cute, out of the mouthes of babes.]]> http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/04/25/cake-is-the-new-breakfast-of-choice/feed/ 1 Happy Birthday Little Man! http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/03/26/happy-birthday-little-man/ http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/03/26/happy-birthday-little-man/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 03:44:41 +0000 Gwen http://leftcoastmama.net/2007/03/26/happy-birthday-little-man/ . . . → Read More: Happy Birthday Little Man!]]> I was hoping to post this entry yesterday, but I tell you, whoever thought that a “Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” party theme was going to be a snap, was obviously kidding herself. I was finishing the pinata and still sewing the pirate vests at 12:30 am the night before the party and I finished them (at least the last vest) the next morning. Now those of you who know me, yes I did procrastinate, but I also had visitors for most of this week. It is also very hard to hand sew the pirate vests, and make them look halfway decent. I do know now that I can borrow Monette’s sewing machine if I undertake this lunacy again. Who am I kidding if course I will do something equally insane next year. Of course this was the day that all 4 boys needed naps and the start time was a little late because they all had to be wakened up. :) I did think for a few minutes that if everyone didn’t come I would strangle myself with the pirate vest and hats. :)

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Pirate vests

The morning started early (after Anthony and I didn’t get to sleep until very late) though I am sure that Aidan didn’t know that there was something different about yesterday. I needed to finish the last vest and then use the metallic paint pen to decorate the edges and since they looked a little bard the pirate happy face patch on the backs of all of them. And, oh, we still needed to finish making the cakes, clean up thee house, vacuum, have lunch (I skipped breakfast), get Aidan down for a nap and make the best two train table setups we could. We also wanted to get Aidan to open his presents slowly so that he could take some time with each and play with them. We had planned to open some the day before but things got in the way. Anthony also squeezed in putting Aidan’s new toy organizer from Ikea. I have no idea how we managed to do as much as we did before the guests came.

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Aidan with his new Bob the Builder Bench, and a Hammer that makes noises when you hit it. Hmm, yes this was from his Aunt Paula. He loves it, but I really need to find the speaker and tape it up to lessen the noise.

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Aidan with his new track set for his “TRAINS!”

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Anthony and Aidan with “47 Beavers” by Phil Vischer

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Aidan opening a gift from his Tati Lynn.

At 3: 30 Monette and M. were the first to arrive and we had our first couple of wrinkles. M. had just woken up and Aidan woke up when the doorbell rang. That doesn’t usually bode well but both kids seemed ok, that is until M. got upstairs and he saw the cat sleeping in the basket. I didn’t realize that M. is afraid of cats well all animals after being terrorized by a small dog a few months ago.) So the poor kitties were locked in the bedroom for the kids portion of the party. Very soon after Gen and T. came and then Hebaaq, Bret and J. were there. The other thing of interest is that it was also a virtual party for the folks back east. My mom and Grandmother went up toJohn and Kathy’s to watch the party on the big screen. They also had cake. :) It was a little hard to be interactive with the party back home but I think tney enjoyed watching the boys and their parents having a good time playing with the trains and cars. The boys looked really cute in their outfits and all was well. (At that point I realized the work was worth it.)

Aidan

Aidan and T. (back to front)

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Group shot of the boys and the parents. (What possessed me to wear stripes yesterday.?)

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Aidan in the foreground, Bret, T. and J. and Gwen (me). The vests look pretty good on, don’t they?

At about 4:30 the party really got going when I brought out the pinata. It is made to look like Pa Grape from the VeggiTales “The Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything.” The boys liked it well enough and I had it rigged so that when I removed the pipe cleaner from the bottom that the treats would come out from a trap door in the bottom. I really didn’t want 4 two-three year olds with a stick trying to break something. Yes you get the picture, encourage them to hit things indoors? I am not crazy. The parents especially seemed to like the punching balloons and blew them up right away. I wasn’t exactly expecting that but the boys had a grand time and it brought M. na dJ. out of their shell and they were the life of the party from then on.

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Captain Pa Grape

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Punching Balloon, Yeah!!!

Then it was time for cake. Anthony made cupcakes so that we could have each of the boys blow out a candle. Oddly enough all the boys except Aidan were quite happy to do exactly that. Aidan didn’t want to be anywhere near the candle. That is right, my boy is afraid of fire. :) He did like the cake though.

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Mmmm Cake! Happy Birthday Aidan.

After cake and just befoer the boys went home we lined them up on the sofa and took a few pictures in their vests and Hats. Of course Aidan didn’t want to at that point so I had to be in the picture too. Anyway I thought they were cute.

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J., Aidan, T. and M. The Pirates

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The Birthday Pirate with an Attitude.

After all that excitement and the fact that Tomer and Carla came over afterwards meant a difficult bedtime routine, but eventually the boy went to sleep and Mommy and Daddy breathed a sigh of relief.

And so ends the factual post of the Birthday of the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything. Check in tomorrow when I blubber about how my baby is now not a baby anymore. :(


© 2007 Left Coast Mama | Permalink | One comment
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