Aaron's 2nd trip and 2nd Birthday at Mackinac Island (Part 1)

Mary has done a good job keeping everyone updated on our Mackinac vacation here, so I am just going to fill in the gaps from Aaron's prospective. This time we decided to start our vacation a little earlier than everyone else and left for the trip on Saturday.
Day 1

The best way for us to get to Mackinac from MD was to fly to Detroit and then take a rental car and drive to Mackinaw City where we would spend two nights exploring the town and just enjoying each other. As usual Aaron did very well traveling. He even took a 2 hour nap in the car.


Once we settled into our hotel room we went downtown Mackinaw City. Aaron enjoyed the pony rides and watched a big elephant Peanut.

Day 2

In the morning we headed to the petting zoo. It was a wonderful trip. Aaron loved to watch, touch and even feed the animals and so did we.


As we came back and after Aaron's nap we headed to the beach where Aaron had fun throwing rocks into the lake. Then we headed to Darrow's, a local restaurant, that we really liked, though the wait for about an hour but it was just the limit for Aaron's patience:)

Day 3

We take the 10 am ferry to the Island. Aaron liked the ride. It was very foggy and we could not see the Island until we were right there. The bridge looked very beautiful.

Day 4

We take Aaron to the Butterfly House on the Island. He was very good about not touching just looking at them. One of the butterlies sat on his shoulder to say hi.

Day 5

It's a big day. Aaron turns 2 today. We have so much to be thankful for. Grandmommy ordered Aaron a birthday cake and after a picnic we all gathered on the porch at Iroquois Hotel for the cake and presents. One thing we learned: if giving presents right before the nap time you might as well not even try to put him down:) While we tried to put him down he was singing Happy Birthday Aaron, talking and asking about his presents. I think he knew it was his special day. This was also the first time we let him pick his own present at the local toy store. He grabbed a big car puzzle right away and headed straight to the cashier. Good choice, he still likes it and plays with it. I will post a video from Aaron's birthday some time soon.
To be continued...

Related links:

Our Photos/Aaron turns 2
Mary's Photos
Cathy's Photos
Mary's Mackinac Blog

Not for Uncle Carter!

Last night we came home from our Mackinac vacation after an over 12 hour traveling, and today we had a big day-our 20-week ultrasound. The baby looks good but did not cooperate for the tech to do the full exam, so I am going back in 4 weeks for another ultrasound. We also found out who we're having. So...our family will be welcoming a little girl!
Also, somewhere in the process of traveling back we lost Aaron's Truck book. We realized it only this afternoon as we were putting him down for his nap and he kept demanding that and only that book, no substitutes accepted. So, I'd better get going and hope they sell it at Barnes and Noble, or else we'll have a fun night!:)

Oldies but goodies

I came across these videos in our archives, and I thought they were so cute and wanted to share them here.
Aaron is 20 months old here.


Adrian, and this one is for you. Aaron was in the middle on his lunch when a mailman brought these books:)

Just a couple of Pictures

Before bed. This dog's name is Pluto now (a present of Aunt Susie)


No, he is not in pain. That's his version of "Smile for Mama"


This one is blurry but funny. He looks so bossy walking around the house with his hands in his pockets. Just one fireboot on because he could not find the other one, but that did not bother him much:) And he's chewing something. Oh, funny, funny little boy!

And that's me at 17 weeks. Getting bigger and rounder:)


Two more days till Mackinac! Looking forward to the vacation, celebrating our 2 year-old sweet little boy and our equator ultrasound of the baby #2.

More Father's Day videos

Happy Father's Day!

This blog is also celebrating it's one year anniversary. I could have just copied and pasted my year-old post wishing all dads Happy Father's Day!
I added some new pictures from Aaron's summer fun in the sun and the pool as well as a few pictures from today when Aaron helped papa open his Father's Day present.
Below is the video of Aaron telling me all about the construction site in the book he received from his cousin Adrian. The video is in Russian:

Precious Moments

We all have a favorite time of the day when Cliff and I tuck away Aaron in bed. Cliff gives him a bath, then I put a night time diaper on Aaron, and then we let him goof around. He climbs on Cliff, gives us kisses, hides under the blankets, makes up stuff (like, "Papa is a bulldozer", "Mama is a dog, Papa is a dog, I am a puppy...") But what he started doing recently just melts our hearts: he lies down between two of us, hugs our necks, brings us together to him and says: "We're a family. We're all together." Without being prompted...And I just don't want to leave his bedroom, I don't want him to go to bed, I want the moment to stop...Then I remember that I always want to stop the moment and yet it always gets better and better, so let the time flow and we will look forward to the new amazing moments with this little guy.
Some of you might still remember how much attached to me Aaron was about a year ago. I forgot to mention that his separation anxiety got way better as he developed his trust that allows him to let me go knowing that I will come back. And then he's always happy to see me. If only I had known a year ago all I know about him now:) I would have saved a lot of worries for myself.
As far as the baby Junior, he/she started kicking about a week ago, and the kicks get stronger and stronger each day. I actually can feel the baby move around there. The baby started kicking a week earlier than Aaron did. I still get tired and sick at times but not too bad.