I thought I would remind all of you how much has changed in just a year . . .
Can you believe that is us?
For starters, I have looked at this picture a million times, and all of a sudden, I realized that I look just like my mom. I don't know why I can see that all of a sudden. This was me, 4 months into the new world of motherhood. One year and about 4 inches of hair later (thank God it's growing back!), I am still alive.
And what about Alex? Can you believe him? I would be hard pressed to decide when he was cuter -- then or now. How fun is it to dress a little baby up in cute little Christmas outfits? Little boots and bibs and velvet overalls . . . I wonder how long he will let me do THAT.
I look at these old pictures, and am reminded of how fortunate I am to have such a wonderful family. How blessed I am to have a truly perfect child. Gorgeous, smart, learning new things every day, and funny to boot. He is amazing. The best Christmas present ever.
Some interesting things he can do now . . . first, his dancing has improved a great deal. He used to just stick his butt out and sway around. Now, he stomps his feet (looks like he is trying to do "the running man" circa 1990), and he can spin in a circle on command. He continues to be able to follow directions. Last night, we needed an activity for Alex. Erik was in the living room and I was in the kitchen. We kept sending him on errands -- "Go give this to mommy" and "Go give this to daddy." Did we need these things? No. But it kept him busy.
This morning, I picked up to call my friend Liz (hey Liz!) and Alex picked up a tablespoon and put it up to his ear like he was going to make his own call. SO funny. He can also put his own dishes into the dishwasher. (And take them out, and put them back in, and take them back out). He now also says the word "off". I realized I have been saying that word a lot, like when we turn off lights and other things. So today, I was making cookies. I turned off the mixer, and he looked at it and said "off". He has said it a few more times too. I am impressed.
So that's about it. We are excited for this Christmas, as he will certainly enjoy the presents as well as time with his family. We are looking forward to him playing with his cousin Reese in New York in a few days. I'm sure I'll have lots more too write about then.
Merry Christmas from Boomerang Drive!
-- Holly
It is boring around here during the day. Exhibit A:
I try to come up with SOMETHING for Alex and I to do every day. A playdate. A trip to WalMart. Lunch and trains at Barnes and Noble. SOMETHING. So today, when my playdate canceled, we were left with nothing to do. I didn't need anything at the store, already had books and videos from the library, Christmas shopping done. And sometimes, it feels ridiculous to get in the car and drive 20 minutes to Lancaster and spend money on something you don't need, just for something to do. So today we decided to stay home.
Still, I can't sit in this house playing with toys on the floor from 10:15-2:00 (the time in between naps). It's just LONG. So we decided to go for a walk. It was cold, so of course we needed Alex's hat, coat, mittens, blanket, my hat and gloves. Plus of course my ipod, the dogs, and bags to clean up after them. Lots of gear required for a trek through the neighborhood. We left at 10:30 and were home at 11:15, chilled but invigorated. And then still, filling up almost 3 hours can be long, especially when Alex is in one of his moods (as he was today), when he will only play with a toy when it is sitting directly on my lap. That leaves me with very little options other than to sit and pretend to be fascinated by farm animals. It's fun for a few minutes, but can get to a person after a while. I even resorted to cleaning out the refrigerator today, just because I knew Alex would find it fascinating (which he did).
Which is probably why we ended up getting more for Alex for Christmas than we intended to. Because in reality, the presents are for US. Sanity savers. To give my day a little variety. It's bad enough that I have to listen to the same CD's and listen to the same books over and over again. But the same toys being pulled out day after day after day . . .
So next year, maybe we'll stick to a better system, so that Alex doesn't grow up expecting the entire inventory of Toys R Us to be handed to him each Christmas. But this year? A train table, trains, a drum, puzzles, and books should help shake things up a little around here for a while. Or at least until January.
And that's what's happening on Boomerang Drive this week!
-- Holly
I have always adored my two dogs, Otis and Lucy. That is, until I started spending ALL DAY EVERY DAY with them. Now, there are some days they drive me nuts! Now, I'm sure it has something to do with the fact that the weather has not been nice, and they've been stuck inside for a few days. Believe me, it hasn't helped my mood, either. But still. . . They. Need. To. Stop.
Stop what, you might ask? Well, today it is Otis. It all starts at about 6 a.m. I take the dogs outside. Lucy is a good girl and goes to the bathroom. Otis pees on a couple of things, but really doesn't do what he needs to do. We come back inside. Otis starts whining. I let him out. He pees a few more times and stands by the door to come in. Alex and I go about our business, playing Duplos and whatnot, and Otis goes back to the door and whines again. This goes on ALL DAY. I know he would prefer a walk, but it's freezing and windy outside. And besides, if he REALLY needs to go to the bathroom, shouldn't he just GO? So now he is tied out in the back yard. Do you think he is using this opportunity to use nature's facilities? NO! He is just standing there barking at who knows what. Leaves, squirrels, the wind . . . he just stands there and barks. And barks. And barks.
So today Lucy is my favorite dog. But don't let her fool you. Many days I find myself telling her, "Lucy, you are going back to the pound." She eats food off Alex's tray, and has to be told over and over again to get down and leave him alone. She constantly licks him. When I am babysitting Jocelyn she will not leave her alone. She sees things outside and barks and barks and barks, and will not stop unless I physically pick her up and move her away from the window. When I take her out back, she darts after the first thing she sees, and I have to chase her across the neighbor's yard. Today she dragged a tube of toothpaste out of the trash. She eats your chapstick if you leave it lying around. And she chews holes in all of our throw blankets. ALL of them.
So today it's Otis, tomorrow it will be Lucy. You know you've had it when you find yourself lecturing a terrier.
And that's what's happening on Boomerang Drive this week!
-- Holly
