Christmas recap

I totally meant to post this adorable picture on Christmas Eve to wish everyone happy holidays in a timely manner, but somehow it slipped my mind. I was my usual ridiculous procrastinating self (who was also very busy with work) and left too many preparations to the last minute, and so, on Christmas Eve, I was shopping, wrapping, and baking into the wee hours. I was decorating cookies when Andrew threw up in his crib at 2:00 a.m. I drove my cousin home at 3:00 a.m. and crawled into bed at 3:30. Whew! Needless to say, I was exhausted the next day.

Fortunately, Andrew was in good spirits despite being sick. The first gift he opened on Christmas morning was a truck, and he was so excited by it that we had a hard time getting him interested in opening the next one. He did eventually really get into the gift-opening spirit, though, to the extent that he thought every wrapped box was his and threw mini tantrums when told he couldn't have one.

After breakfast, the three of us drove two hours down the highway to my hometown to spend a few days with my family. My mom totally spoiled us, as usual. We spent lots of time with my grandparents and the extended family, and we had two very nice visits with my dad and his family. Andrew had his moments — what toddler doesn't, right? — but overall he was fun and funny and adorable. My mom was thrilled that he started calling her "Grandma" during this visit.

The one shadow over this Christmas was that we didn't see DH's family at all. They are not speaking to us right now for reasons too ridiculous to get into here. I hope that this rift can be mended soon, but sadly that's not likely.

Anyway, I hope you and yours had a lovely Christmas, if that's your thing. And whatever you're doing to celebrate the arrival of 2011, I hope you have fun with that too. Best wishes to all for a happy, healthy, and prosperous year!

Here are a few pics.

s

Read more...

Real kisses!

I never thought I'd be so delighted to have large quantities of drool smeared across my cheek.

Read more...

Holiday spirit

I've been feeling like such a Scrooge. I was so annoyed when my favourite radio station switched to its all-Christmas format on November 22 that I spent the following week scanning through the dial looking for a new station I could tolerate. Seriously, people? Five weeks of "Jingle Bells" and "Silent Night"? And I hate that stupid sappy "Christmas Shoes" song! Why is Christmas a season, anyway?

I attempted my first major gift-shopping trip last weekend and came away empty-handed. Between us, my husband and I have 24 people to buy for, and you know what? I have no interest in shopping for anyone but my son. Christmas shopping is so stressful. I want to get nice, thoughtful gifts, but usually, after much indecision and many wasted hours at the mall, I end up buying just something at the last minute that I'm not really happy with. Multiply that by 24. No wonder I'm a Scrooge.

But yesterday, for the first time in several years, we put up our small, dilapidated Christmas tree, and even as I was lamenting its lameness and wishing a new one was in the budget (how about a 6.5-ft pre-lit, self-shaping pine?), Andrew ran up to it and said, "Oh, wow!" He doesn't know that it's lame. He just loves the flashing coloured lights and the shiny ornaments. I've never been much into decorating for the holidays — we're never home on the big day anyway — but I decided right then that we need more decorations.

It got me thinking about how much fun we're going to have with Andrew this year, now that he's old enough to be excited by everything that's going on. And now I'm a little bit excited too. With (only?) 19 days left till Christmas, I'm starting to find my holiday spirit.

Read more...