Lunch with Barry, Mario and Michele

I've been getting together lately with some old coworker friends at Galls.  We usually meet at Culvers in Hamburg on Wednesdays and it's been a lot of fun catching up.  Since I'm on dayshift duty I brought Ava along which worked out great since she hadn't met Mario or Michele yet.

It's funny how having a child makes you appreciate the basic freedoms you carelessly took for granted in the past and how scheduling and preparation now become the most critical thing in your life.  I swear our child has ESP because she has this uncanny ability to detect when mommy and daddy are sitting down to eat.  She also must have some sort of aquatic radar because she knows the moment my foot enters the shower.  As I was getting ready to get in the shower this morning, (baby monitor on the sink to alert me of her every squeek, sneeze, sigh, cough etc.) I'm JUST about to get in when I hear a loud "WHAH!"  Now, I have two options at this point.  Stand there naked, water running and see exactly what transpires in the next few minutes.  Or, I can gamble, hope it was just a fleeting "whah" and hop in.  Of course the risk is that she starts wailing at the top of her lungs and I'm stuck in the shower with soap in my hair trying to complete a 27 second shower.  Today luck was on my side, I hopped in and she was fast asleep for my entire 3 minute shower.

On the way to meet everyone, Keren called and said she could meet us since she was working at a bank in town this week, awesome!  Ava did really good at Culvers and sat in her car seat looking around, giving us an occasional smile when we looked her direction.  Here are a few pics we snapped with our phones:

All dressed and ready to meet Mario, Barry and Michelle!

Mario set Keren and I up when we all worked at Galls together so he is a big reason Ava is here today!  (when are you available to change some diapers Mario?)

Barry and Ava really hit it off.  I can see him with 6 or 7 rugrats someday.

Michele has two daughters of her own so she's a pro at this. 

Ava sure does love her mommy. 

Mario comparing hand sizes.

Barry desperately trying to avoid drool on his nice Polo shirt. 

I made sure Ava was really fussy before giving her to Mario.  

Still lovin' mommy.

Smiling at mommy.

It's been real but time to go mommy.

Fascinated by the blue and white Culvers cup.  Maybe a UK fan already?

Stiff armed and out like a light.  (or maybe she's playing the piano in her sleep?)