What are you doing New Year's Eve?

This is not a holiday for which I have a grand fondness.

I'm not like one of those annoying Anti-Valentine's Day people, calling New Year's a "Johnny Walker" holiday and throwing ironic parties with only tea and cookies for refreshments. But I've just never warmed to the concept. Plus, my birthday is in TWO DAYS and that is much more important (to me, not so much to anybody else, who are all out prepping for their hangovers, those lushes).

So the last couple of years have been rather bland. Either I'm working or at my Mom's. Or Kevin is working. Or one of us is working tomorrow. Or I stay home pregnant/with Patrick/pregnant again while Kevin joins some friends at party central in Auburn. I'm not awake at midnight, and Kevin and I share our kiss around 9pm if we happen to be in the same city.

This year there was potential. Both of us are home tomorrow. Kevin got off work at 6pm. Get a sitter? Go to one of the many (ok, two) parties we were invited to?

Or put the kids to bed, put on our jammies, and putter around the kitchen while we poke on the internet?

It's 8:43pm as I type. Kevin is talking to me about Star Wars mythology. "...and then the Sith destroy the academy on Ossus." Once again, I will be asleep before midnight. But with my husband beside me, which makes 2011 a very good year.

How many days are left?

After a slow start, our family is getting into the holiday mood. I like to get decorations up right away, but having my floors (and house) a disaster zone made it impossible. But Kevin was able to knock the rest of the floors out thanks to some sunny weather. He did amazing and it looks amazing. The ground floor looks bigger with all the same flooring. It's opened up really nicely, and we can see the potential in our sweet house! After we get through the holidays, we are going to tackle painting. One wall at a time...

And now that chocolates are done, Lisa can come boss me around and tell me what to do with colors. (Thanks Lisa!)

We got the tree up one night after the kids had gone to sleep. I got most of the ornaments up, leaving a handful of kid-safe ones to put up with Patrick the next day. Kevin hung two ornaments and then wandered off to tackle other tasks.

"You don't like decorating the tree, do you?" I asked.
"Sure I do."
I gave Kevin the "wife look." "Every year you hang maybe three ornaments. At least this year you did other chores instead of just watching me do it."
"I do that?"
"Every year."
"Oh."

So while I got Christmas decorations up, Kevin organized my utility shelves and dealt with the detritus of our home improvement project. Everybody wins!

10 months

Dear Fiona: You are 10 months old

All of your skills have really kicked in. You are feeding yourself almost exclusively. When we try to help you just grab the spoon or fork and do it yourself. You are like your brother at this age, you'll eat everything! I'm sure that, also like your brother, you'll eventually give that up and live on five food items for the next 2 years.


We are watching you pick up on new games all the time. Recently you learned how to blow kisses! And you are giving kisses all the time, big open mouth ones! With drool! This will not be as cute when you are 18, so you might want to rethink this certain style before dating.


And also like your brother, you are a busy, physical kid. I turn around and you have crawled up the stairs, or down the stairs (you've learned to go down backwards), or onto the chair, or on top of the bathroom stool, or somewhere else equally unsuitable. You want me to put you down so you can get into it, whatever it it. I'm at the point where I'm ready for you to walk because then at least I can give in to your demands. I thought you'd be walking by now, but crawling is so fast you hesitate to give it up.


You are a sociable kid, but still really into Mom. As long as I'm around I'm your girl. I try to remember these days are short. Someday I'll embarrass you and you'll exasperate me. In the meantime, keep those big sloppy kisses coming.

I love you sweet girl!
Love
Mommy