Party Time

On Saturday we were glad to have the opportunity to celebrate Aiden's second birthday with our parents, grandparents, and siblings. Things can get a little cozy at our house when we have big gatherings, but everyone had fun time and (as usual) Aiden enjoyed being the center of attention.

Although we tried to keep things a little more low-key then his birthday party last year, Jen did make the house look festive for the occasion. True to from, Aiden especially enjoyed the numerous balloons.

When it came to gifts everyone exercised some (much appreciated) restraint. Aiden still has Christmas presents that have hardly seen the light of day, so it was a relief not to be inundated with a new wave toys and gifts. He did, of course, enjoy opening the gifts that he did get, and he put on quite a show of tearing into each new gift wrapping with reckless abandon.

Birthday cake (in this case cupcakes) of course made an appearance at the party. Decorated by Jen, they fit right in to the loose "letters" theme of the party.

Aiden kept his cool during the singing of Happy Birthday (a change from last year's party if you recall) and managed to blow out his candles. When it came to eating his cupcake he seemed to relish the chance to plunge his face into the copious amounts of sugary frosting, and he took to the rare opportunity with great gusto.

While all the cupcakes were safely digesting Aiden spent some time playing with his new toys, and having fun with his aunts and uncles.

Thanks to everyone who braved the cold to come and enjoy Aiden's birthday with us. We had a great time, and we know that Aiden loved having everyone there to celebrate with.

Also, thanks to everyone who has wished him happy birthday on this blog during these last few days. It has been two years (and exactly 300 posts) since we started this blog, and although we created it primarily to share pictures and stories about our son it has given us the unique opportunity to connect and reconnect with some great people. We love being able to sit down at our computer and share whats going on here with loved ones in California, and Arizona, and Massachusetts, and Virginia, and Maryland and all over Pennsylvania, and even UGANDA! And on top of that we love being able to read about all of you too.

So lets keep it up!

Here's to another two years and beyond!

Aiden 2.0

At 8:30(ish) this morning Aiden turned two years old.

To say that the last two years have flown by seems a bit of an understatement. A whole lot has happened in the last two years, but looking back now it mostly seems like one lightning-fast, Aiden-themed blur. Times like these make this blog seem pretty worthwhile as it allows us to go back and "ooh" and "ahh" over every little moment from Aiden's babyhood till now. We have a weekend ahead of us to celebrate Aiden's birthday with family and friends, so I'm sure I'll have more opportunites to wax poetic about how precious our son is to us. But for now let me just take a step back and share some pictures with you from Aiden's birthday morning.

This morning we went upstairs to get him from his crib, and at first he seemed a little puzzled about having both parents (plus a camera) present for his morning wakeup. He warmed up slightly however after repeated parental declarations of "Its your birthday!!" and "You're TWO years old!!!" He seemed to pick up pretty quickly that this day was all about him as he repeatedly began exclaiming "Happy Birthday Aiden!"

When he came downstairs he found, much to his delight, a smattering of balloons on the floor for his early-morning enjoyment.

After he was done playing with balloons he enjoyed some birthday pancakes.

And finally he opened up his birthday present...

Turtle slippers!

Taking the turtle slippers for a test drive.

Balloons+ new slippers+ Elmo= one extremely happy birthday boy.

(Really) Snowed In

I know its only February, but I was kind of hoping that we were out of the woods with this whole "snow storm" thing.

Hmm...

Well that, obviously, was not the case as winter showed us during these last few days that it wants to smack us around just a little bit longer. We got at least 20 inches, which is supposed to be the biggest storm since 1990-something. So yeah, it was a doozy. Luckily we we're all able to hunker down in the house during the worst of it, and today (with the weather taking a turn for the better) we ventured out to see what fun could be had...

Phone Fun

After a recent cell-phone upgrade I have been having (maybe a little too much) fun playing with a camera function that is vastly improved over my old flip phone. It certainly doesn't replace a good quality stand alone camera, but you sure can't beat it for convenience. Having a camera phone always tucked away in your pocket can certainly make it easy to snap a picture at a moments notice, and since its a new toy to play with I've been snapping away pretty steadily over the last few weeks.

So anyway, here are some moments that have been recently captured using the new phone. I'm not sure why they are all different sizes... still figuring that part out.

Playing:

Shopping:

Serious breakfast face:

Silly breakfast face:

Looking out the window with puppy:

With Dad:

Waking up:

Another year (almost) gone

Aiden's birthday is going to roll around here in another two weeks, and with the end of his second year approaching Jen and I spent some time last night looking back at some older pictures. Almost exactly a year ago we did a post about Aiden and Bailey laying on the bed together while Aiden drank his milk. Here is the picture from back then:

And even though Bailey is nowhere to be seen in these pictures from a few days ago they show Aiden in the same spot, drinking his milk, one year older and wiser.

The days since that first picture was taken have flown by, and Aiden has changed so much from then 'till now. As much as sometimes it would feel nice to slow down time and keep Aiden just the way he is, it is exciting to see what the next year will bring, and the next, and the next...

Guess we'll have to just keep on going.

Rob's Top 5 Albums of the Year: 2009

So remember how last year I did a top 5 albums of the year for 2008 post?

No...?

Get out. Now.

Ok, if you're still here then I'll tell you that I am back at it with a new Top 5 albums post for good 'ol 2009. I'll remind you that I harbor no delusions of grandeur as to my muscial knowledge. So I won't even go as far as to say that these are close to being the best albums of the year. No, these are just my personal favorites from the last 365 days, music that I listened to and enjoyed enough to pass along. I did my best to include a variety of video and audio clips for each artist, so if you do want to dig a little deeper there is plenty to enjoy. And with that I give you:

#5- 'Zee Avi' by Zee Avi

Zee Avi is certainly a musical discovery story for the modern era. Originally from Malaysia, she was relatively unknown in the United States until videos from one of her performances in Kuala Lumpor were posted on You Tube and found by someone associated with Brushfire Records, an american record company. Brushfire signed Zee Avi and brought her brand of minimal ukulele and guitar infused folk/pop to the states. Thank goodness they did, as this album and this artist are absolutely too good to miss.

Best songs: Honey Bee, Bitter Heart, Kantoi

Also, watch this great 3 song "tiny desk concert" which includes Honey Bee, First of the Gang (Morissey cover) and Just You and Me.

#4- "Away We Go Soundtrack" by Alexi Murdoch

Ok, so my number four got onto this list on a bit of a technicality. Although this album did in fact come out in 2009, ninety percent of the songs are from Alexi Murdoch's 2006 album "Time Without Consequence." Oh well though, these songs were all new to me and they are so good (as was the movie) that I really couldn't leave them off my list of best songs of the year. In fact if these were songs that were all genuinely new this year, this album could easily have been my number one.

Best Songs: All of my Days, Orange Sky, Breathe

#3-"Troubador" by K'naan

K'naan was born in Mogadishu, Somalia and the experiences of his life there amidst a bloody civil war are the driving force behind his art and his music. Part hip-hop, part reggae, K'naan moves effortlessly between styles as all of his songs seem infused with a passion and earnestness not often seen in the commercial music world. Regardless of whether this is a type of music you usually enjoy I think that this album has a unviersal appeal that transcends the typical genres. In fact his song "Waving Flag" was chosen as the offical anthem for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Best Songs: Waving Flag, Dreamer, Fatima

Also, this is a live version of the World Cup version of Waving Flag. And this "Tiny Desk Concert" has the songs "Take a Minute", "Fatima" and "Waving Flag".

#2- "Dark was the Night" by various artists

The album Dark was the Night is notable for a few reasons, first being that it is a compilation from a variety of musicians, and second being that I actually stumbled upon this album based on a suggestion in the comments of last years top 5 albums post. (Good work Nicole!) The deal with this record it is that it was organized and compiled by the members of the band The National in order to raise funds for Red Hot Organization – an international charity dedicated to raising money and awareness for HIV and AIDS through popular culture.

So anyway, obviously there is not one unifying "sound" throughout this album as so many different musicians are involved but believe me these 31 all original songs are not to be missed. If you enjoy Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Jose Gonzalez, Iron and Wine, The National, Grizzly Bear... and on and on, you'll find them all here plus lots of other great bands. Really... truly... do not miss out on this record, it is a stunner.

Click on the arrows to hear full versions of some of the best songs:

#1-"Up from Below" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

I'll tell you one thing folks, you won't find an album, a band (or a band name) like this one anywhere else. They are unique, dynamic, entertaining, unpredictable and, at times, quite odd. It's a pretty impressive combination and when you put all the pieces together you get the music that is, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. This group is my number one not just because their sound is unique, but because it is completely irresistable. I defy you to listen to their song 'Home' and not be whistling and toe-tapping along. This album is the perfect blend of very different and very good, and that is why it is number one.

Best Songs: Home, Up From Below, 40 Day Dream

Also, watch this "Tiny Desk Concert" including songs Janglin', Home, and 40 Day Dream.

Favorite Song of the Year

Honestly this was no real contest. Sure I loved Knaan's Waving Flag, Tightrope by Yeasayer and the Sufjan Stevens and Buck 65 collaboration We Are the Blood: Part 2, but in the end nothing really came close to Edward Sharpe's Home. It has become our family's unoffical theme song during this last year complete with impromptu dance parties by young and old alike. And in this day and age I have given this song what is possibly the greatest of all endorsements: it is currently my ringtone.