Christmas, part 2

Granted, these pics don't tell the whole story, since I tend to make it a policy not to photograph a screaming infant.  In addition to the difficulty of traveling (any place that isn't home may as well be Mars to a 4-month-old), Christmas day was one of the first when Asa's teeth decided to make their presence known.  Only to him, I might add - he just had a roaring case of sore gums.  We figured it out in the end, but it was a looooong day.

Other than that, Asa had a great time playing...

And getting lots of love from Poppy and Cousin Eva...

Poppy and Nonni...

Uncle Mike...

Uncle Chris...

and Auntie Tara, who could hold him as long as someone was entertaining Cousin Eva.

Merry Christmas to all!

Christmas, part 1

Sorry about the long silence - this is a busy time of year!

To tell the story in order, we need to back up a little - to trimming the tree:

And trimming Mommy.

The decorations crew, with the finished tree:

And then we had to ensure a White Christmas - the first in many years.  Nature was very obliging to our little boy's first Christmas.

Fortunately, the weather cleared up for church on Christmas Eve, and for our trip to Nonni and Poppy's.  More on that after I organize all of the pictures!

Reading together

Sorry it's sideways... thought I'd be able to turn it.  Still cute.

Time with Friends

Just a bunch of cute pictures from the past week:

Snuggling with Beth in a warm, fuzzy snowsuit:

Meeting Carissa...

...and blowing raspberries:

Doing Christmas baking with Uncle Jacob, slightly in drag.

All these people playing with me all week long... I'm pooped!

You Can Lead a Boy to Tummy-Time...

But you can't make him like it.

Or actually do anything, for that matter.

Really, there are moments when tummy time is more "Mummy wants a cool reflection shot" than anything else.  Yeah, yeah, it's good for him and all that.  It's good for blog pics, and sometimes (my dear demanding blog-followers) that's a better reason than avoiding a flat head.

So close...

(The tale of a Pacifier.)

As many times before, Asa pulled the paci out of his mouth; difference is that this time he hung on.  The train of thought seemed to go as follows:

"I LOST MY PACI!!! ... Oh!... here it is.  Look, Mummy!"

"Now, to get it back in my mouth...  I know it's here somewhere..."

"I know I'm close, it's just... huh!  Hello, what's this?"

"FINGERS!! YAY!! MY FAVORITE!!! hmm?  Paci?  What paci?"

All of this, as you probably noticed, took place on a moving swing.  Ah, the things I do for you blog-followers.

On the Nice List

At yesterday's church bazaar...

...with his circle of admirers.

Such Music in Heaven...

As Liam joins Tommy and Paddy Clancy and Tommy Makem.  God has an Arran sweater now, I just know it.





And someday, I'll tell you the story of the time Liam Clancy and Tommy Makem sang to me and kissed me.  But of this I am sure: although his wandering is done, there shall be no weeping for the songs that he did not sing.

After Thanksgiving 2009

The cousins met, and the grown-ups got to snuggle babies other than their own.  What's not to love?

Playing with Aunt E.'s camera bag.

Mommy can hold the baby as long as she holds me, too...

We were having more fun than it might appear, really we were.

"Baby paci?"

Nonni and her angels.

Thanksgiving 2009

Wednesday: prep.

Thursday - last-minute cooking and lots of snuggle time.

GREAT food...

Followed by tryptophan-induced floor naps...

...and some silliness.  (No, the baby is not in there.)

Our little gobbler!

Happy Thanksgiving!

All Through the Night

Sleep my child and peace attend thee,
All through the night;

Guardian angels God will send thee,

All through the night;

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

I my loved ones' watch am keeping,

All through the night.

Angels watching, e'er around thee,

All through the night;

Midnight slumber close surround thee,

All through the night;

Soft the drowsy hours are creeping,

Hill and vale in slumber sleeping,

I my loved ones' watch am keeping,

All through the night.

While the moon her watch is keeping,

All through the night;

While the weary world is sleeping,

All through the night,

O'er thy spirit gently stealing,

Visions of delight revealing,

Breathes a pure and holy feeling,

All through the night.

I know it's a combination of luck, timing, growth and metabolism, but I have to think that having all these people cuddling and loving our little boy help to effect the miracle that has been two nights in a row of 8+ solid hours of sleep. 

Anything is possible...

...with the right shoes.

Bean booties for our little Bean!