You would think, seeing me tonight and hearing me moan and mutter, that I had been the one carrying large pieces of furniture today. But no, the most strenuous thing I did was push some boxes from one end of the room to the other. And Aiden can do that. I’ve seen him.

I’d like to think I was a little bit of help, though, even if it was only to keep Aiden occupied and more or less content while other people did the real work. Tammy wanted to put her kitchen away, and she didn’t want any interference. I mean help, she didn’t want any help.

It was kind of a breakthrough day for me, because Aiden fell asleep in my arms for the first time. Of course, he had a bottle in his mouth, so it wasn’t all my doing. But I’ve always had a warm feeling for sleeping children. Years ago, when my nephews were small and I would take them to baseball games, I considered it an act of incredible trust that they would fall asleep in the car on the long drive home. (I think being out in the sun for three or four hours had something to do with that as well.)

Aiden spent the whole day at his new house, exploring and getting used to the idea of it. I’m sure tonight he probably got an even bigger clue as to the meaning of it all when he went to sleep in his new room. He didn’t much like the trend of the last few days, with some of his favorite things gradually disappearing from the old house. I’m sure he was relieved to see his couch with the big fluffy pillows he loves so much reappear in the new living room.

When we turned on the ceiling fan this afternoon, Aiden thought that was the funniest thing he had ever seen. He couldn’t get over it, pointing at it and laughing and then looking around to make sure everyone else was in on the joke. This went on for so long that he was even saying “fan” quite clearly by the time it was done.

When I thought I’d done all I could do, I took Tammy’s gentle hint that, well, there wasn’t much else I could do. Anyway, I’d been up since way early (for a Saturday) and on my feet more than usual, and I knew I had work waiting for me at home. So I said my goodbyes and came home and promptly fell into a deep sleep in the recliner. As I said, you’d have thought I’d actually done some work today.