Another Reese Movie for the grandparents.

Early bird talks to the worm

My college friend and Los Angeles artist/art professor Steph happened to be in Ohio for Christmas break with her family. Using her city savvy (and possibly a pen knife and a coat hanger), she promptly stole a car from her folks and came to my house to visit this evening.

She came bearing some hilariously wonderful handmade onesies, the sort of which will most definitely be on the blog this week as soon as the wee model wakes up.

Over tea and fresh-baked oatmeal quickbread we caught up as best as we could; that is, before the authorities caught up with her over her cellphone.

After a quick snuggle with a half sleepy - half hungry - half cranky Reese (oh yeah, I suck at fractions), Steph was on the run, staying only one step ahead of the law. Here is the only photographic evidence of her brief stay at “the hideout”:

We’re on our way home from our holiday week. Traveling with an infant is definitely a little more complicated than just me and C trolling around the countryside, but it’s still pretty fun. A very successful Christmas abroad, indeed.

…or if you would rather, my first cousin, once removed.

Abby is 4 years old, cute as a button and smart as a whip. She commandeered my camera for a couple of choice shots while we were visiting her family in Philadelphia. After 15 minutes of instructing us to “smiiiiiiiiile” in her sing-song voice, the camera inevitably drifted downward, resulting in a lot of pictures of crotches and knees. Here are the best of the best (and a couple of crotch shots to boot): A picture of Reese, a picture of Chris (waving), a picture of her daddy (crotch and knee shot), and me (I bent down, determined to stay in the shot).

For the Grandparents: Check out a Reese Movie now!

(starring Reese, Jacques, Oma, and a very nasally gravelly Denise)

Reese Gets Video’d

Good gracious. Looks like I’m going to have to buy more batteries and a bigger memory card.

Next to holding babies, I’m not sure if there is anything that gives Tante Ditdit more joy than spoiling our fur child.

This dog ‘gets’ the concept of unwrapping his presents!

The Menu: Cornish Game Hen, “Barefoot Contessa” creamed spinach, mashed parsnips, baked potatoes, sweet corn, and gravy

The Conversation: Bathroom humor, naturally. We’re all class in this house.

Of course, I ate too much. Looking forward to that fancy gym membership in January.

Baby Girl made out like a bandit. I’m not sure how we’re going to get some of this stuff home…

Ya know, some people in California are riding their mountain bikes in 70 degree weather and eating Thai for dinner…

As I reflect upon the past few months of new parenthood, I sit here, at 10:49 pm on Christmas Eve, thanking the Good Lord Above for giving me a healthy baby who eats well, sleeps well, and fills her Pampers REALLY well. I am so thankful for a super understanding husband who continues to see me through even my worst craptastic days of postpartum moodiness (and lemme tell you, those days ain’t pretty and probably more frequent than I’d like to admit) — and he still loves me! I count my sister, brother, parents & inlaws, and other relatives and friends in my prayers tonight.

Reese, being half Dutch, would like to thank Sinterklaas for her early Bumbo gift.

And to all, a good night.

Sint Niklass, kapoentje
Gooi wat in mijn schoentje,
Breng wat in mijn laarsje
Dank je Sinterklaasje.

So this year I had a few challenges (health issues, car issues, time management issues, you name it) thrown my way that prevented me from getting to go see the “Mall” Santa Claus for Reese’s first Santa picture. I’m actually a little sad that I didn’t get a moment to take her, but my pal Eric had offered me a chance at redemption in the form of “Faking Santa”.

So what is “Faking Santa”? See for yourself:

Eric’s daughter Olivia with Santa in 2004

Reese with Santa in 2007

So here it is, my first foray into parental deception with my firstborn. I hope one day she’ll forgive me, and perhaps she may even have a sense of humor about it.

Today I shot 73 pictures of the squirt. Every single one of them was awesome. It’s hard to pick only four of them.

Not surprisingly, these pictures are taken whilst The Girl reclined on the magically contoured Changing Pad of Bliss. And yes, there is a very strong possibility that the “eager face” is among those shown below.

I’ll let you decide which is the “eager face”

No, really. Anyone looking for a good, reliable commuter sedan?

2000 Mazda 626 - Craigslist