June 9, 2008

• Jam-Packed Weekend

  I was going to make the title of this post "A Weekend of Celebrations," but then I realized that would be better suited to this coming weekend, what with Johnny's graduation and Father's Day.  Nevertheless, this past weekend was also full of celebration!

  First came Johnny's 28th birthday on Friday (thanks for all of your birthday wishes for him!). I worked at home, and Johnny hung out with Jack all day. There were many cute father-son moments, but the one I loved best was when Johnny and Jack were both rockin' out. Every morning and evening, Johnny holds Jack in his arms and blasts music from his iPod (which he has hooked up to speakers on our living room bookshelves). Jack loves this, and he starts waving excitedly when Johnny approaches the iPod. Then he'll start clapping to the beat and wriggling around in Johnny's arms. He even starts kind of singing along (just saying "aaaaah" when the music is playing, and even going up and down in pitch). Sometimes the three of us will "dance" around together. Check out this photo I took from the jam session Friday morning:

  Jack is really into his singing!

  

  Oh, it was hilarious. All the singing tired Jack out, because he took a really long afternoon nap (like three hours!). When he woke up, I had finished work, so the three of us headed out to the park. After the outing, dinner (for Jack) and bedtime (also for Jack), our babysitter arrived, and Johnny and I headed out for our date night to celebrate his birthday. I got all dressed up in my very risque brown shirt with the keyhole cut-out and wide "belt" underneath the bust. We went to dinner at the Lobster in Santa Monica. The guy who led us to our table asked if we were married (the reservation was under our last name). We said yes, and he was like, "Really?! Wow, you guys look so young to be married! That's why I asked." Johnny told him we even have a baby, and that he was actually 28 today, and I was 27. The guy said, "WHAT?!" I'm going to believe that the guy meant what he was saying, since he wasn't anticipating a tip from us. Of course, that made, oh, my whole year.

  Anyway, they gave us the best table we've ever had there ... right next to the window, where we could see the ocean and the pier right at sunset.

  

  We went all out and ordered a lobster cocktail and an artichoke for an appetizer, and I got a pan-roasted lobster over lobster mashed potatoes for my entree. Johnny got a surf and turf plate. For dessert, we had the scrumptious chocolate bread pudding.

  Here is my lobster dish! And you can kind of see the belt part of my shirt behind the lobster

  

  Afterward, we met up with Amy and Han at Bodega wine bar in Santa Monica. It was a bit noisier there than I'd remembered, but we still had fun chatting with Amy and Han and looking at videos of the wonderful apartments they'd viewed earlier that day. I can't wait for them to move here!

  Amy and I at Bodega

  

  Saturday, I went to Bar class with my friend Tomomi in the morning. After a grueling workout and a coffee break, I came home to prepare for our friends Gesina and Matt to come over. I made salsa, garlic lemon chicken wings with sea salt, and we also set out hummus and vegetables, as well as watermelon slices. I mixed up a pitcher of delicious berry vodka spritzers (with fresh berries and lime juice), and we also had plenty of chilled Corona and fresh-cut limes on hand. Once Gesina and Matt arrived, we carted everything downstairs to the pool area and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon and evening of relaxing and eating poolside. Jack also joined in the fun -- he sat in his stroller and enjoyed his snacks, and even chatted with us adults sometimes (in his own baby babble, of course). The most hilarious thing is when he starts laughing when the rest of us are laughing, as if to say, "Haha, I'm in on the joke, too!" When we went swimming, Jack also had fun taking a dip. For dinner, Johnny grilled up some burgers (thanks for your grilling tips, Chris!) and some marinated Korean bbq short ribs (they sell them pre-marinated at Trader Joe's, and they are delish!). We ate down by the pool, then I put Jack to bed, and after he was asleep, we enjoyed dessert in the apartment (cream cheese brownies and vanilla ice cream). It really was a great summer day!

  Yesterday was more low-key. I spent lots of time with Jack, and I also went with a friend from work to see our other friend/coworker who had a baby last Saturday. We brought over flowers, gossip magazines and a dinner for the new parents. The baby girl is so cute and tiny! I couldn't believe how small newborn diapers are. I mean, yes, Jack did wear them when he was a newborn, but they look so small next to his size 4 diapers now. I don't think the newborn diapers could even cover one of Jack's butt cheeks! I held the baby for a long time as she slept. SO CUTE! (On the other hand, SO MUCH WORK!)

  This week will be busy at work and at home. My lovely in-laws are coming in on Wednesday night for Johnny's graduation on Friday. It promises to be a weekend of good eating, celebrating and shopping!

  I'll leave you all with this video of Jack laughing at Atari's squeaky toy.

  • 1:09 pm
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