Christmas 2008: Everything but the snow

We spent a week in Missouri, from the day after Christmas until the day after New Year's. It's always a blessing to get to spend the holidays with family. The three of us celebrated on Christmas morning and then enjoyed an afternoon with Ian's mom and stepdad in Waco. The following day, on the exact anniversary of my moving to Austin, we made our way to Missouri. For the next week, we made food, watched movies and hung out with old friends. Julian and YaYa baked cookies, sang "Jingle Bells" and played in parks. Julian, Aunt Chelsea and Uncle Kenny wrestled for the first time. GaGa taught Julian how to do the "This Little Piggie" toe game. PaPa brought Julian along on emergency trips to the grocery store. No snow, but plenty of good family lovin'.

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Holiday cheer and a happy boy

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November and December have been a whirlwind. From planning and executing more than a dozen holiday-related stories, columns, live chats, blogs and events at work to moving from our old apartment a mere 85 steps to a duplex, which now seems like world away from our old home.

Julian has been helping more in the kitchen, peeling onions and putting things in the pot. He's developed quite the sweet tooth; he usually wakes up in the morning and goes to the freezer, asking politely for ice cream. After the move, Julian got a table and chairs, an easel, a rocker and his very own rug. He got to play with markers and the easel for awhile, until ripping out the ink-saturated tips was more fun than coloring with them. We also put the bars on his crib back on after a week of trying out the toddler bed, and we're all sleeping much better because of it.

We're going to Missouri the day after Christmas, but until then, I have a few last minute things to wrap up at work, including a column about what I'm looking forward to in 2009, which inevitably means I'll have to reflect on 2008. I thought that deluge of holiday food coverage would make me weary this far into the season, but it's quite the opposite. So far, this has been one of the best Decembers I can remember. Lots of good times and fun people. A happy family. Oh yes, and good food.

Some firsts we could do without

Quickly, before the child awakes...

Today is Julian's first Halloween. If he were dressing up and going out, he'd be a lifeguard. But after the few days we've had, with everyone in the house except Ian yaking at least once (Shiva included), we're going to be lying low tonight. Julian has his first temperature yesterday (discovered after his first rectal temperature exam — at least done by me anyway). I was sick most of the day, probably left overs from Julian's throwing up sick day on Sunday (another first!). Triste all around, indeed. We're all feeling better today, but we don't want to push it just in the name of Halloween.

Julian had a Halloween playdate last week, of which I've posted pictures here. I also posted this month's photo album here. I realized I was lying about buying pictures via flickr (booo, hisss, flickr!). I can buy photos of my stuff but the general population cannot. If you would like some pictures (for the upcoming gift season, perhaps?), let me know which ones and I can probably order them for you.

Happy Halloween!