it is 3:30 in the morning.
presents are wrapped.
stockings filled.
boy still sleeping.
our boy is going to
freak
out
in the morning when he
finds the empty plate
and the stuffed stocking
and the presents.
hopefully santa will bring
us coffee in four hours when
babychop wakes up.
this is going to be good, people.
merry christmas to all.
and to all, a good night.
taken on 34th street in hampden.
from the archives of summer 2009
longer days are promised now.
slowly they'll lengthen,
bring us more light, and we'll dance.
i looked up in surprise.
did i hear him correctly?
"what did you just say?"
i love you, mama.
"you love me?"
yes, mama.
today.
he told me that he loves me.
no prompting.
out of the blue.
he loves me.
"do you see his house?"
it was ten o'clock at night.
we were driving through the inner harbor,
past the twinkling, light-lined
home-away-from-home of
santa claus.
let's go see him!
"papa and i will take you soon."
now, mama. i wanna go see him.
"we can't baby. he's sleeping."
he wants to wake up.
"no. he is tired. his belly hurts from eating too many cookies."
we'll just give him a big hug. then he'll feel better.
mama...it is a toy. see?
how about if i look super cute.
like this.
then will you let me play with it?
i don't WANT to put it on the tree!!!!
i know it's pure torture,
but ornaments are not toys, sweet boy. they are to look at.
sigh...
ornament casualties to date: 4
longwood gardens. kennet square, pennsylvania.
pizza by elizabeths. greenville, delaware.
cousin z's journal entry.
*liam and izzy. brothers-from-another-mother.
check out other december views here, here, and here.
papa and babychop take in the music onstage.
the original washington monument.
one world cafe, post monument lighting
everyone who knows me is aware that
i love to talk.
i am a chatty person.
socializing is part of what makes me tick.
so i am going to tell you now,
i am not sure i can do it.
i'm going to attempt the december views challenge.
photos only.
that's it.
a glimpse into my life
through the next month
without words.
stop laughing.
granddad brought these beauties to our thanksgiving celebration.
they were in a box full of ornaments from my husband's childhood.
starting this year,
we'll begin the tradition of
waking up in our own house
on christmas morning.
for the first time as a couple
and the first time as parents,
we are also getting a tree for the holiday.
it has been many years since i have felt the
magic of christmas.
maybe it's because our sweet boy lights up
when we speak of santa claus.
maybe it's the countless times we have sung
frosty the snowman
and rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
and jingle bells
and silent night
and dona nobis pacem
in an effort to pass down the
tradition of holiday caroling.
something about the music
and the crisp air
and twinkly lights...
it all tugs a little on my heart
and makes me a little nostalgic
for the christmases of my youth.
so, the countdown begins tomorrow.
the anticipation of santa coming,
cookies to be baked,
stories to be told,
presents to be given.
the ornaments have to be unpacked.
the lights checked.
furniture moved for proper staging.
it's gonna be good, people.
so good.
handed down from many christmases past,
three generations share the same ornaments.
sidenote: nablopomo ends today, too.
it has been a challenge posting everyday for a month.
30 posts in 30 days!
it helped me shake off the dust that had started
to gather here in this space!
it is nice to be back.
i want ha-nee! liam sobbed as we drove away.
we said goodbye in the restaurant parking lot
after a full day of jigsaw puzzles, bocci ball
and longwood gardens' christmas lights.
H looked worried as she buckled herself into her family's car.
she could hear her baby cousin crying.
he will follow her anywhere.
will listen to anything she has to say.
he worships the ground she walks on.
and the feeling is mutual.
it's been this way ever since he entered the picture.
when he was born, she couldn't wait to meet him.
whose going to drive me to baltimore to meet my cousin?
she demanded until she finally made the trip
with both parents and her sister
she would've taken a bus if given permission.
when she is around, liam is in heaven.
hopefully this will continue as they grow older.
we'll see.
christmas 2007
spring 2008
italy, may 2008
summer 2009
summer 2009
summer 2009
H and liam this past thanksgiving
