Big Moments #1 - Visiting the Gates

Aaron's first really big moment, aside from all the other "big moments" that are abundant during the first year of life for most children, was our trip to the Seattle area. My younger sister, Jeni, and her family live near Seattle and they had not been able to come to Utah after Aaron was born. We decided that Aaron and I should go to them instead.

The entire flight there was one adventure after another. He spent most of the flight flirting with any woman within a 3 aisle radius who would look at him...which was a lot. When we got to the luggage carousel, Jeni and her kids were waiting anxiously. I started to run toward them as soon as I saw them. Aaron didn't know exactly what was happening, as he was in his stroller and unable to see them at first. Once he did see them, he also got very excited. After I hugged Jeni, I took him out of his stroller and let him meet his cousins and his Aunt Jeni.

He leaned into Jeni when I handed him to her and he gave her a very big, very wet kiss. He doesn't react that way to people, particularly someone he just met. This moment was a very exciting thing for both Aunt and Mom.


Nearly every moment from then on was a new, exciting adventure. We went straight to a park where he got to love on his Aunt Jeni and cousins some more. Uncle Josh met us there with lunch, but Aaron preferred to admire him from a distance at that time.

The rest of the week consisted of car rides (with a cousin on either side of him), the zoo with lots of sea creatures and animals (and LOTS of water!), bubbles, a carousel ride, a birthday party, his very first hair cut (okay, hair trim), and lots and lots of love.


He even met a girl! (Poor little thing didn't know quite what happened when Aaron pulled her in for probably the most "passionate" kiss she will ever experience.)





We also had our photos taken by an incredibly talented photographer, Sarah Alston. These were Aaron's "unofficial" 6-month-old pictures. We had a studio photo set done within a couple of days from when he actually turned 6 months old and we were in Seattle when he was closer to 7 months than to 6...thus the "unofficial".

On Easter Sunday, I had to leave for Boston on business for a week. This was the first time I had been away from Aaron for longer than a work day or longer than about 3 hours outside of work. Here I was going to the opposite side of the country...literally! Because I was in "work mode" I didn't allow myself to cry....much. I sobbed like a baby whenever I was alone in my hotel room, especially when I had just spoken to Jeni and Aaron on the phone. Most of my time there was so busy between work and visiting with my sister-in-law, Crisi, and her daughters, Kyla and Arwen, that I didn't have much time to feel sorry for myself.

I really enjoyed visiting with Crisi and the girls. They had grown up so much in the little more than a year since I had seen them last. Massachusetts is a really beautiful state, too. I love the houses and the history that is all around there.

While I was in Boston, Aaron got to continue his "adventuring". He went to an Elementary School, where he also got to meet the mascot. He helped with laundry. There are all sorts of very exciting things to do in Washington.


He also got to do his very first art project of painted hand prints for Mommy. He was extremely sad when the project came to an end. (Doesn't he have a really good "sad" face?)

One page with handprints became a "Welcome back!" gift with pictures of us talking on the phone. The rest became part of a scrapbook that Jeni gave me for Mother's Day the next month. I LOVE them both!

After I returned to Washington, we went to the Sumner Daffodil Parade...where Aaron became enthralled with his cousin Ceithlinn's shadow. He also watched some floats, bands, clowns and other parade-type things, but he was more interested in the shadows.

It was all so much fun, but after nearly two weeks of so many new and exciting experiences, he was also very tired. Toward the end he gave up and passed out in my arms.

The trip was so much fun and we both loved spending so much time with Jeni and her incredible family. We were both very sad to see it come to an end. I am really looking forward to future trips.