Father's Day

We had fun celebrating Joel's first Father's Day with him. We got him some cute cards, a box of petit fours that he's been eyeing at Lindt, the book "Why Sons Need Fathers" and an HD video camera.....he really wanted the video camera but in the end we wound up returning it b/c we decided to wait until the more advanced one either goes on sale, comes down in price (which will inevitably happen before Christmas) or maybe we'll get lucky and happen across an open box (we spend a lot of time in Best Buy so if one comes in we will probably see it LOL). After presents, we had breakfast and went to the Knights Game (vs. the Mets). Joel went w/ a friend of his on Fri night and we had tickets to go on Sat night but Joel has also been really sick since the end of last week and he did not really seem like he wanted to go Sat night (though he said it was because Ben, Bridgie and I didn't get home until 6:30 - we could've still went....I got home when I did so that we could go, but anyway, I'm glad we didn't push it b/c Joel was feeling miserable anyway).

Sat afternoon on Sat, Bridgie, Ben and I had to go to another DSW to hunt down the shoes for Danielle's wedding (I'm not really a fan....they are really narrow and just in about 5 mins of wearing them were starting to give me blisters....and have really slim heels that I will have to balance on very carefully :-) ) We then drove down to the Broad River and had some fun hanging in the river. We should've rented rafts but we only spent about an hr there so we had fun just climbing over the rapids and chilling in the water. Bridge has been a big help...as I said to my mom, money is a good motivator. I have brought her to get a checking account and am giving her money each week to help watch Ben and then there are other tasks that have been up for bid....she vacuumed and cleaned the interior of the car for $15 and mowed the front and back lawn for $20....gives her something to do and some money in her pocket and gives me affordable home services. She is also a big help around the house, making cookies and cleaning up the kitchen. We finally got pool tags so I hope that next week she will get to spend some time at the pool. Next week we head to NY for Danielle's wedding, so it will be great to have Bridgie w/ us in the car as well as at the wedding (especially since I am in the wedding....).

First Father's Day

Today was Joel's first Father's Day. I got him a Daddy-to-be card (isn't the greeting card industry amazing.....I haven't been to Hallmark in a while, but I can only imagine the occasions that they have cards for) and a nameplate for his office desk. Graham also got him an adorable card. I found Joel's card at Target and when I read it, I was all choked up. Here's what it says:

Cover: "To My Husband with Love. You're going to be a Wonderful Daddy."
Inside (Side 1): "I love picturing you patiently cleaning messy little fingers and kissing away sleepy teardrops. I imagine the tenderness in your voice as you tell a favorite story or explain the mysteries o the world. I can't wait to see you laughing and playing and giving piggyback rides, and holding our sleeping child on your shoulder."
Inside (Side 2): "You're going to be a wonderful daddy, and I'm going to love being a mommy with you. Happy Father's Day, Daddy-to-Be!"

So, are you choked up now too? I hope the card made Joel feel a little better. He's very nervous about becoming a daddy, but I know he will be great!! I'm really not nervous - I suppose that is just my nature - a combination of confidence and laissez-faire.

Graham's card was more on the silly side:

Cover: "I'd like to wish a happy Father's Day to the man whose touch drives me wild with pleasure!"
Inside: (Picture of dog on her back getting her belly rubbed) "Oh, yes....Don't stop...Yes...Yes...Yes!! Happy Father's Day from Your Dog!"

Didn't that make you laugh? I couldn't resist. I had a lot of fun buying those cards (and I needed the funny card after standing in Target all weepy...) Joel kinda figured out that I got him the nameplate (we had a transportation snafu), but I did get him to wait until Sun to actually open it!

Today was a really nice day. We drove up to Winston-Salem to see Joel's Dad and had lunch with him and Linda and visited for awhile and then stopped by to see Chrissy and Kevin and the kids (they are absolutely adorable). We have been planning a Williamsburg trip w/ Chrissy and the family, but I realized while we were there that we were scheduled to come back on the First Day of School....oops! We're going to try and make some adjustments so we can still fit that trip in before school starts. On the way up to Winston-Salem, I called my dad and told him about the baby - he was excited and told Paulie (who was VERY excited) and Pat (who was VERY VERY excited). They are going to try and exchange their week in Shawnee at the end of July for a place in NC - it'd be great for them to come down and be able to see Danielle (who moved out to the coast) and come see us. I will have to touch base with them this week to see if they were able to do the exchange (I'll keep my fingers crossed until then).