Drug that kid. Please.

For those of you who used to marvel at how EASY Jacob was as a baby, I have to say that 1) all good times must end, and 2) payback is a bitch.  On our flight home from Texas yesterday, Jacob was that kid.

The flight to Dallas was packed, not a spare seat to be found.  We learned on the flight out that Jacob does better near the window, and from that vantage he can usually only kick one seat and yank one tray table.  So there we were, wrestling the whole way to Dallas.  A short flight, thank goodness.  Jordan, bless her heart, slept the entire way, and most of the next flight, too.  Jacob shrieked, clawed, kicked, threw cheerios, did that weird rear and arch your back thing that only baby boys seem able to do.  He was so bad that when we were sitting at the gate in Dallas, the woman sitting in our aisle seat turned to me and said "She was great", nodding to Jordan who was sound asleep on the woman's arm, followed by "He really gave you an awful time.  I don't know how you do it.  Next time try giving him Paregoric.  Two drops in his milk and he'll be out."  I just looked at her, like "What???"  She says, all sarcastic,  "oh, that's probably one of those things doctors would frown on in this day and age."  So I got home and Googled it.  It's freakin' Opium.

The leg to Albuquerque was empty, less that 40 people.  Some woman took the seat right in front of me and Jacob.  I leaned forward and said, "Just so you know, you have the worst seat on the plane right now.  You might want to move."  She just looked at me like I was nuts, and did not move.  But she didn't ask me to drug my kid.

Jacob Headlines

I got my first smooch from Jacob two nights ago.  It just melted my heart.  It's been a bit of a hard sell to get him to go to bed at night.  He's been pretty energetic well past his bedtime.  While I'm trying to rock him to sleep, and generally calm him down, he'll pinch my face, poke my eyes, pick my nose, and push my face back and forth.  All the while laughing.  It's pretty funny.  He's been just bumping his open mouth against my chin, and I was afraid he was getting ready to bite me.  I think if he figures out biting, he'll find that even more amusing.  But then he figured out how to give a kiss. 

Christmas: Kropka Style

Happy New Year, Everyone!  I hope everyone had a great holiday season, getting to do what you love with those you love!  We surely did, and every year it gets better.  We made a few tweaks to our Christmas festivities, for the better I think, and I want to remember the details in addition to the feeling of Christmas in our house.

First off, Christmas starts the weekend after Thanksgiving for us.  Not a MINUTE sooner... We get down the tree, decorate the house, (try to) mail the Christmas cards.  For me personally, Christmas is about spending quality time with family, hosting friends, creating a season of joy and wonder for the kids, and reflecting on our recent year and good fortune.  It's important to me to NOT be stressed out at this time of year.  For the kids, it's about extra playtime, extra movie time, extra sweets and goodies, and TOYS.  For Jamie, I'd speculate that it's about chilling out and playing with his kids.  Here's how we celebrated.  It was wonderful.

- We spent Christmas at HOME.  I'm a homebody.  We have little kids.  Christmas on the road is just too stressful right now.  I'm so thankful for the family that could come to us, yet again, this year, and for those who couldn't but were here in spirit.

- We have a new family member!  Karen's partner, Marsha, joined our family for Christmas this year, and we're thrilled to have her, and thankful she wanted to share Christmas with us.  We all adore her.  Jordan is NUTSO for her.  She calls her "My Marsha"...

- We really try to make Christmas about the kids, without going overboard.  So this year, we just did gifts for the kids and modest stocking stuffers for the adults.  It was nice, less stressful, and less "stuff" oriented.  I always say money is better spent doing stuff than having stuff.  Although the mess of toys downstairs begs otherwise.

- We went to the River of Lights.  This will be an ABQ tradition, weather permitting.  Poor little Jacob had a nasty cough for weeks and had to stay home with Nana and Pa, but Jo, Jamie and I braved the drizzle (which cleared up) and enjoyed a stroll through the lights.

- We went to Old Town on Christmas Eve eve to see the Luminarias lit up in the Plaza.  So pretty, so nice to be outside in the crisp evening air, and I great way to get ready for Santa.

-  Food Food Food!  I love to cook, and I really love to cook nice, decadent meals when I know I have a crew on hand to enjoy it and help eat it.  Christmas Eve dinner this year was Latkes and Tamales, and Xmas dinner was a standing rib roast.  We had cannoli, stroufflies, Biscochitos, my traditional Xmas cookies, and a new chocolate cake.  I hope there will always be an abundance of good food in our house for the holidays. 

- Outdoor winter fun.  It's nice to live in a place that feels like Christmas and winter, with a reasonable chance of snow sometime over the holiday.  We took Jo sledding and ice skating.  Jamie and I spent New Year's Day skiing.  It's nice to have activities planned besides eating and lounging. 

So, onto the new year.  New plans, new resolutions.  I actually stuck with one of my resolutions from last year: stop eating junk for breakfast.  This year, my goal is to stay positive with the challenges I've taken upon myself in the form of my new business, while keeping focus on my children as my number one priority.  I hope it's a year of personal and professional growth.  I know it will be as every past year has been: a fast-paced adventure.