Around Here

I believe we have a case of the post-Christmas cabin fever. We have been mainly at home for the past few days, as the boys are playing with their new toys and the weather has been uninviting to say the least. Although I long for the great outdoors, I have enjoyed watching and playing with the boys. Unfortunately, I have also enjoyed far too much sugar from that cake I made and the stocking stuffer candy (both grandmothers seem quite fond of this approach). I think we will even polish off the Egg Nog tonight.


Evan's birthday is quickly approaching. This is the first time we are experiencing the immediate post-holiday birthday since Evan wasn't even born yet last year. I must say that I do not feel ready to buy birthday gifts and plan a party so soon after Christmas. I am excited about Evan's birthday, and feeling particularly nostalgic about this time last year right before he was born. I fondly recall the excitement leading up to that moment when my water broke, shortly after we went to bed on January 3rd, 2010. I remember a quiet New Year's Eve in 2009, one that was full of anticipation about the joy awaiting us.


As I'm sure many babies do, Evan is ramping up his repertoire of skills as he approaches his birthday. He is standing by himself for longer periods, walks freely while his hand is held, throws a ball, giggle snorts, and says several words. Just the past few days, as I frequently found myself in the kitchen, Evan has said "cook" on more than one occasion. It is likely no coincidence that he has also improved his eating skills and has pretty much mastered the art of eating with two teeth. By the way, where are those other teeth?! Most of all there's that noticeable change of a child who is just more aware of human interaction and the world around him. I love the way he looks over at me whenever he tries or experiences something new.


Benjamin has also developed some new skills. The coolest is his newfound understanding of humor. The latest joke around here is the one where you ask someone, "hey, you know what?", they then say, "what?", and you say, "nothing". We do this back and forth for a while, and Benjamin also enjoys saying, "you got me", or "I got you" afterward. He is also a very sweet boy. Today he accidentally knocked Evan over and made him cry. He then apologized to Evan and, when Evan didn't stop crying, Benjamin spontaneously sang "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" to him to ease the pain. It was precious, and it worked.


We have had some good times over the past week, and we are looking forward to another year of fun with these awesome boys.

Christmas!

I realize that Hawaii has come and gone and there is no post. Rest assured that Hawaii will be covered, but I had to post on Christmas first. For the first time in my life, I understand the idea that Christmastime can be quite tiring and stressful. Maybe it is having two kids, having just gotten back from Hawaii one week before, or a combination of the two. We have gone non-stop since we got back and I am just now feeling like I can take a breath. We always have such expectations of all that can be accomplished during this holiday, and it is hard to live up to them. When I saw the cover of Bon Apetite, I just HAD to make the cake. I knew, but did not know, that it would usurp the small amount of free time that I had. Somehow, the sense of accomplishment and the incredible taste made it worth the extra energy and stress.


This was the first Christmas that Benjamin really began to grasp the idea of Santa and the specialness of this day. He couldn't stop asking questions about Santa. "Why does he come down the Chimney?", "How does he get out of the chimney", "Why does he use a sleigh?". It was also our first Christmas to uphold the myth of Santa with real consistency. I was not ready for this.


This was Evan's first Christmas! It has been about as long as anyone has ever had to wait for one. Although he does not understand the magnitude yet, he has been game for it. Christmas is right up his alley. Evan loves food, loves being together, loves toys, and loves sharing laughter. I found out tonight that he loves prime rib and has an affinity for the kitchen. I was holding him for a bit as I was cooking and he spontaneously said, "cook". I couldn't believe it. I do believe this child has eating/cooking in his bones. He has a good life in store!


Most important of all, I have been ever aware of the true reason behind this holiday. Despite the stress, Christ has been at the forefront of my mind. He is the end all, the be all, the ONE who makes life meaningful and gives up hope for eternity. I pray for all of my friends and loved ones, that they can experience this most awesome gift.