Congratulations are in order!

Best wishes Amy & Sully and Nick & Carolyn! Both girls are gorgeous!

Looks liek we've got a lot of new babies around this year!

Happy New Year!

How can you "Bah Humbug" this?

On the Spot

Women are more likely to make New Year's Resolutions, but men are more likely to keep them.
Dad, you said January 1 you were starting Pilates again...

My Meghan's Figgy Pudding

a.k.a Chorizo w/Spanish fig sauce

• chorizo sausage (pork or chicken)
• figs (fresh or dried; fresh is better) cut into pieces
• 1 onion
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/2 cup red wine (something really tasty)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• cinnamon

1. cut up the sausage & brown over medium heat
2. turn heat down to low and put everything else in. simmer for about half an hour until the sauce thickens. I usually add more of the tasty wine as it cooks.
3. check the flavor - depending on how spicy the sausage is and how hot you like it, you may want to add a little crushed red pepper. When you taste test, try a few bites because sometimes it doesn't taste that spicy at first but then it's really hot after a few bites.
4. serve the figgy pudding w/rice or bread to mop up the sauce with.
   

My Hope You Have A Happy Holiday, Too!

Meg- in case I forget to tell you, your card made me laugh out loud!
See you tomorrow. :-)

A Few of His Favorite Things

• Looking for snowmen (the inflatable variety)
• "Mommy you check me." It is little more than my going in to say "Are you asleep yet," after Harry gets in bed, touching his forehead, and saying I will be back in 5 minutes.
  
• The Park
• Fruit snacks
• "Backyardigan's Book of Snow"
• Mimo
• His "guys" (Sam, Snoedel, Blanket and Baby)
• His friends
• Rules
• Sitting at the big table for dinner
  

Why people with pets, particularly dogs, are healthier than people who do not have pets

Reason 1: They* don't worry that they are crazy because they walk around talking to themselves all day. If there is a dog around, they talk to the dog.
Reason 2: They don't stay up late on guard dog duty listening to every little noise and determining its relevance.
Reason 3: They don't eat all of their son's leftovers. They scoop them on the floor and wait for the dog to get them, thereby saving calories.
Reason 4: They exercise more, either by taking the dog for walks or at the very least getting up to let the dog in and out.
Reason 5: They have warmer toes.
Reason 6: Warm fuzzies from happy little smiling eyes.
Reason 7: They have help doing the dishes and cleaning the floors.

That is it for now, but I am sure I will have more to add later. And I am sure when Bailey returns home from her holiday break, I will be able to do an update on why people with pets don't live as long...as for right now, my miss my dog.
Oh and a big shout out to Inky. We know the overdose was not a suicide attempt and are sure your kidney will be good as new in no time! You'll be home for Christmas!



*The word they may, in fact, only refer to me. But I doubt it.

Giselle

We drove to Philly on Sunday to visit friends and family. Harry got to hang out with PopPop and Aunt Toni and his best friends Dominic and Belle while Kevin and I lunched with my high school chums. Usually just Shelly and Melissa, we actually had a party of 9 this year.
It is always nice to catch up with everyone, and hopefully we will make it to Baltimore for a mid-year gathering in late Spring. I may be getting together for other events prior, including a trip to see Giselle, probably at the Academy of Music. As the case may be, I tend to see the same productions over and over. I am beginning to think it is not just by choice. It is the forces at work. The last ballet I saw was Giselle at the Kennedy Center. I mentioned to D'Lynn that this was years ago. It was, in fact, nearly 15 years ago with Leanne. And I drove! I was an adult! We were in college! And that was 15 years ago. Crazy.
Saturday I turn 33. I have hardly remembered that it was my birthday, so I hope Paul is not offended that I forgot his as well (I was reminded in time but still no gift to speak of). I think I will take us rock climbing at Sport Rock. I usually buy a gift for myself as well, or do a little something, so I think that is what it will be this year.
I started celebrating for myself when I was 16. I think my mom took her gifts back that year, so rather than be upset, I ordered myself a dozen yellow balloons. I made myself happy, and it's been a tradition ever since. Back then I would get upset if things didn't go my way. They always had when I was little, so it was hard to accept as I grew older. I eventually learned to just not expect things. I do my best. My overall goal is just to not be disappointed. It works for me. And actually, these days, mostly all I hope for is time to relax! I have so much more time to hang out with Kevin and Harry now. For the most part, I am doing what I want to be doing and I have the things that I want to have. But a trip to the movies or a day of rock climbing would be awesome...at least until I can teach Harry to climb (I so cannot wait!).

"F-U-M-B-L-E it!"

Little dude goes down his slide (slowly) head first, spins around at the bottom and falls about a half inch onto his butt.
"Fumble" he states casually. And he climbs back up.

I like to ride my tricycle I like to ride my trike!

Again and again and again!
Harry pedalled his bike over and over in the basement!
Yaaay! We are so psyched for us all!

Tuesday Night. The Rules.

Mommy: Okay, I have to go upstairs now. You aren't going to sleep with me here.
Harry: You have to stay here with me in my room. That's the rules.
Mommy: Oh, really?!
Harry: (big dimples and grin)
Mommy: Good night, Harrison. See you in the morning!
Harry: (More dimples and a big yawn)

Wednesday Night. Same Thing.

Don't get me wrong. I love to cuddle with Harry, but he doesn't need me to get to sleep, and I don't want to create an obstacle that doesn't exist. Plus, I was sick and didn't want to breathe on him more than I had to. I escaped by saying I would come back to check on him at regular intervals. During one such occasion, Harry wanted me to sing a song. I tried his Top 5 favorites but he didn't like any and cut me off with "My no like that song" each time I got 3 words out. Actually, more like 2 1/2 words. So, I decided to tell a story orally. The grand tradition of oral story-telling. Well, I figured Good Night, Moon would get shot down. The only other option I had was, gasp, "Twas the Night Before Christmas." This appealed to the tike and at the end of each line, with big eyes, he asked "Then whah happened?" or "whah happened next?"

Yes, Virginia, I guess there is going to have to be a Santa Claus. My entire family has accepted that we were not going to bring Santa into Harry's life (or they at least play along, and Santa still goes to PopPop's house) but I was blind-sided by our well-meaning neighbor asking a million and one questions TO Harry regarding whether he'd sent letters to Santa, or emails, or when he was expecting he would show up, or whether we'd made a visit....Ugh! I quickly and hopefully subtly added that "Santa goes to PopPop's house" since, well, "We are never home on Christmas anyway." You know what? I think I give up. Maybe it is the Christmas songs that have been playing in my car for teh past two weeks. Or the cute little tree that I just saw, that is just slightly taller than Harry. That's not to hard to set up. And I just recently learned that all trees die. I did not know this. I KNOW MANY THINGS BUT THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM!!!!! Jews get trees. I think we might too. Just be happy about it, okay! But no one is sitting on Santa's lap. And just to add a little variety we may refer to him as the "Jolly Old Elf." (Don't worry, I am sure that won't last long either.)

So, Harry didn't have any answers about Santa, but he did tell Trey that he was going to Uncle Kris's for Christmas. He said he would see Casey. He also said he would see the babies. He also told Trey that PopPop was coming to his house and bringing his swingset and his blue car. Then, before running off, he told Trey to be careful with his outside lights because they were hot.

The Name Game

Just to keep you "in the know" when conversing with the little man, here are some translations to remember:

PopPop Goo: This would be Magoo. Gotta be careful when selecting what you want to be called. Harry created this on his own. And Dad (ED) don't worry, you are still "PopPop." Think Jaws, Jaws II, etc...In Harry's World all men over 40 get a PopPop title.

Speaking of sharing titles, we now have "My Menike." Sorry Meg.

As for me, I am "Mommy Hair-son Dermott".

Oh, and the wonder-twins (Wagner Twins), his new "cousins", the names you have all been waiting for: Dora and Haiku (Diego). I think it is loosely based on the fact that Dora and Diego are cousins.

And that's your tip for the day.