New England Weekend

One of the joys of living in New England is that there are so many different experiences within range of a daytrip. Depending on the direction you drive, you can within an hour be in mountains, along the ocean, in farm country, in the city, within history, or next to quiet nothingness.

We did a little bit of everything this weekend. Friday night found us at Castle Island, right in South Boston. For readers outside of this area, Castle Island is a little spot of land that juts off the Southie beach. It holds Fort Independence, a pre-Revolutionary War military fort. For more modern tastes, it also holds Sullivan's, a burger-and-seafood joint whose prices are miraculously stuck in pre-Revolutionary War times. A burger for $1.80, seriously? Basically, Castle Island is a great place to hang out with your family. Charlie seemed to enjoy the walk by the water, the swinging on the playground, and the aircraft blasting past us as they took off from the nearby airport. Great start to the weekend.





Saturday was closer to home. We attended our friends' baby's birthday party in Chelsea. There's such satisfaction in walking through a party with a baby who is showered with positive comments and attention. Charlie forever draws immense praise, and whether it's truthful or not, it feels great to hear.

Sunday we took a roadtrip to Newport, Rhode Island. I like to think that it's important for Charlie to see as many places and take in as many things as the world offers even now. It's not for him to remember, obviously, but I believe that the more he is exposed to, the more agreeable he will be later to new experiences, the more he will crave what he doesn't know because there is something within him, planted at this tender age, that makes him seek out places familiar and wonderful. We'll find out as we watch the story of Charlie unfold.

Happy birthday, kid

Dear Charlie,

Hi kiddo, it's Dad. One year ago today, around 10:45 a.m., you made your grand appearance into the world. Despite coming three weeks early and giving Mom quite a few health challenges, you emerged healthy as can be. I remember those first moments in the delivery room so well. Once we got back to the room, I remember everyone taking turns holding your tiny body, and feeling something completely new within me. A couple of days later we headed home, and I tell you, the following 363 days have gone by intensely fast. I'd like to think I remember everything, but watching an infant become a toddler, especially one as active and gregorious as you, makes time go into hyperspeed.

So here we are, with one year of experiences and stories under our belt. I look at you now, such a happy child, full of mischief and playfulness and a joy in being with other people, and I find myself so pleased to be a part of this. I'm sure your Mom, siblings, grandparents, uncles and aunts, and everyone else that makes up our big family shares this.

As we enter your second year of living, I hope to write much more in these pages, to document not necessarily the big events that all children go through, but the small things that make you who you are.

I love you, Charlie,
Dad

Charliepics: First Birthday Party

We held Charlie's first birthday party the weekend before the actual day. 85 well wishers joined the fun. Some evidence is here:

Charliepics: Twelve Months Old

Charliepics: Eleven Months Old

Charliepics: Ten Months Old