it’s january?? you gotta be kidding!!

You know it’s bad when even the photo posts are few and far between.

Or maybe just busy.

Super-duper uber-crazy busy.

Because that’s how life can be when there are 20+ people living in one house. And celebrating Christmas. And playing games and watching movies. Oh, and throw in a wedding for good measure. And if you get a free minute, could everyone please look for the lost load of laundry? Thanks.

I’m trying to get some pictures up of our time in New York (although, to be honest, I sort of didn’t get a chance to take too many pictures and just hoped my dad would get enough good ones.)

This is what we did while we were gone:

Ryan got really sick with the flu. He also looked very handsome in his tuxedo. He went skiing with some friends and outdid himself (forgetting, temporarily, that his 36 yr old body would pay for such exertion.) He bought me presents even though we didn’t buy anything for each other this year. He played x-box. He gave me a hug when I cried about coming back home.

Jameson played. Constantly. He helped his aunts with cookie making, and did his part to consume them, too. He frequented Grandma and Grandpa’s apartment, where he knew he’d be greeted with a Twizzler. He hung ornaments on the tree. He had many “sleepovers” with Uncle Merrick. He also copied everything Uncle Merrick did. He bought William a present. He danced his heart out at Carina’s reception. He loved church. Actually, I think he loved every minute of the last month.

William grew. He arrived in New York a newborn and left a baby. He cooed lots. He was toted around by Aunt Camilla. He talked with Aunt Liana. He slept daily on Aunt Louissa’s bed. He got cuter and cuter and made me fall in love with him even more. He was greeted with great affection everywhere we went, even when crying his head off at the Tomford’s. He slept through his first Christmas.

I got a cold. I made cookies and party food and dinner for the crowds. I was in a bar with a baby, because I just had to see JMB play. I slept in my sisters’ room and felt young[er] again. I got all happy inside watching Jameson have the time of his life. I held William as much as I wanted, because other people were there to help with the house chores. I talked with my mom. I talked with Brietta. I went to the Moira Christmas dinner. I soaked in the Christas Eve candlelight. I played with Aubrey. I cried when Carina walked down the aisle. I ate too many cookies. I saw aunts and uncles and cousins. I was missing Madrid days before I even left. I loved every minute of being with all of my most special people.

Now it’s 2009. And I know that January 1st is a pretty inflexible event (and it’s already well past), but do you think it’s okay if I sort of “start” my new year in a few days? ‘Cause I need to unpack. And vacuum. And take a deep breath before I can sort out a fresh start.

Maybe February 1st can be my fresh start this time around. Whaddya think?

here

It’s a beautiful world I woke to this morning. Branches are weighed down with ice and snow. The sky is varying shades of blue and gray, with tinges of peach along the horizon. A trio of evergreen trees, the focal point of the back yard, are elegant sentinels in this ice kingdom. Breathtaking, we all say.

It’s a busy household I woke to this morning. The comings and goings begin with the appearance of the sun and will continue until the wee hours of the night. The small fry emerge with tousled hair, sleepy eyes, and a full tank of energy that will keep them playing, crying, scrapping, singing, laughing, and living until those little heads hit their pillows. My mother is matriarch, for sure, keeping her eye on the grandchildren (and the youngest uncle who fits right in) while daughters do their best to cook, clean, school, and do laundry. “I like the idea of extended families living all under one roof,” Mama says, as she helps to correct my toddler and I help cooking the day’s meals. (Will she still think that after a full day of playing correction officer to a whole passel kids?)

It’s a sweet baby face I woke to this morning. His little hands are clasped under a chubby cheek, his body nestled as close as can be to mine. I kiss his head of dark hair and marvel at how he’s grown. How beautiful I think he is. How adorable his little coos are. Another little love is already downstairs, playing with cousins. He’s quick to run to me, eating up the morning affection I give. Does he know that I enjoy his hugs as much as he enjoys mine? Maybe not. But I do.

(from yesterday)

home for the holidays!

My mom walked in the door last night (this morning!) at 1am. A whirlwind day of laundry, packing, blitzing the house, and catching up over coffee, and then we’re off. Tomorrow night we’ll land in Rochester, where I will excitedly exclaim over the East Coast’s beauty. Then a ride home through the dark night, and we’ll tuck ourselves into bed at the house with the red roof.

I’m so excited!

special

Today is a special day.

Ryan took Jameson to church and left me behind with William. (He pulled his “I’m the head” card and told me I needed rest more than I needed to go to church. My delicate emotional status corroborated with his story, so I submitted.)

As days often do when there’s a spontaneous personality involved, the two hours of church have morphed into a full-blown day with Daddy, including dining out, carousel rides, and an old locomotive.

Meanwhile, I’ve had my own special day with William. I bathed him without the pressure of wondering what the toddler was up to. I rubbed lotion into his dry baby skin (poor thing.) We took a walk. I laid next to him on the floor and we “talked”. He dozed in my arms several times before committing to a nap, which was fine with me. How often have I had hours and hours to just snuggle this newest bundle? (I haven’t since my mom left!) So I snuggled. And kissed. And touched his smooshy cheeks. And smiled at him, with the happy reward of a small baby smile in return.

My big boy is bonding with his bestest of friends (daddy.) And I’m bonding with my newest of loves (William.)

That’s a special day.