Christmas 2009

For what may very well be the last time, we spent Christmas up in the Bay Area with my parents. We went back and forth about whether to make the trip. I really wasn't looking forward to driving seven hours while nearly six months pregnant, but in the days leading up to Christmas, Jack said that he wanted to see his grandparents. I am so glad we decided to go.

Jack had a blast with his Ammah and Appah. Maybe it was the novelty of it, but hearing Jack say the words, "Mommy and Daddy, I don't want you. Go upstairs," so that he could have his Ammah all to himself was truly liberating. Seeing him bond with his grandparents renewed my wish for them to move closer to us when my mom retires (hint! hint!).

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. Jack still doesn't quite get the concept of presents, though. In a well-intentioned but ultimately ill-conceived plan, we had him open his gifts first. There were two Winnie the Pooh books in the first package, and that was basically it for Jack. All he wanted to do was have me read them to him. He didn't really care about the other gifts, although I was so happy to see that most of them were much needed clothes for him.

Jack with his Pooh books

(Speaking of clothes, if the sweater in that picture looks familiar, it's because, yes, it is the only Christmas outfit he owns. He fit into it last year, but I knew he wouldn't fit into it next year, so I made sure to get as much use out of it as I could.)

The rest of the time up there was spent bonding with friends and family, which is really what I find important about the holidays. That and the food. :) We celebrated both my sister's and my dad's birthdays (on Christmas Day and two days after, respectively), so Jack has had more than his fill of cake, not to mention cookies and nuts. We've been on one continuous sugar high for the entire month of December.

This is really the first year in a long time that I've actually gotten into the Christmas spirit. It's amazing how having a child makes holidays and time with family more special and precious. And Jack is at an age where it's still so new and wondrous to him, and it's truly magical seeing him take it all in.

So thank you to all our family and friends for making this such a wonderful Christmas season. And a special thanks to my parents for putting us up and putting up with us. Jack loved every minute he spent with you, and he misses you already.