30: It takes a village

It takes a village to raise a child. So when Jordan left for a bachelorette weekend in Avalon, I held the fort down in the best way I knew how. Outsource.

Despite the B-team on duty, Charlotte got to live her best life for a few days with some of the best friends and family that we could ask for. She had a smile on her face from the moment she woke up until she passed out cold each night. And unless you have a beard, she’s happy to hang with you (let’s keep it that way).

So thank you Aunt Nona for spending Thirsty Thursday with your little Charlie girl when I had class at Villanova. I heard we had $2 Formula drinks and puréed peas and carrots on special.

Thank you Chesterbrook Academy for always being a fantastic source of entertainment and development for your “Baby Char-Char.” You’re almost worth every penny (and that’s a lot of pennies.)

Thank you Kyle for choosing this weekend to propose to and throw a surprise engagement party for Kelly. Congratulations, and it was great celebrating such a special moment with you guys, and it also supplied me with about 30 amazing baby sitters.

Thank you girls for being friends, baby sitters, and a future source of corruption for the bear. My arms appreciate you taking the 20 pound medicine ball off my hands, and Charlie appreciates all of the smiles and snuggles.

Thank you Luna for watching over Charlie as she goes to sleep, and being the first one to greet her in the morning. I guess cats aren’t all that bad after all.

Thank you Mom and Dad for coming back and hanging with me and your granddaughter despite the jet lag. Best neighbors a son could have!

While all of the moments from a weekend of Charlie with her friends were fun and cute, nothing was better than her reaction when her mom came walking back through the door.

So cheers to me successfully holding the fort down. Cheers to moms still being able to go out and have their own fun sometimes. And cheers to our village, a special place to raise a child.