Lesson #24 Holiday Preparations are Best Made Together

 

Ryan and I are really excited for Liam's first Christmas, and so we've been prepping for it since Thanksgiving.  Actually I got his first present back in August, but that's unusual for me.  After a wonderful trip to San Francisco for Turkey Day, we returned with a ton of holiday spirit (I use "we", but frankly, I'm not sure if the guys are as into it as Lola and I are).  The first item on the holiday prepping agenda was a trip to Reindeer Lane with the Flurry side.  This is a tradition that I have been a part of for the past couple of years and I really look forward to it.  But before we went to get the trees, we stopped at Jodi and Jeff's for some yummy chili and family photos- a Christmas gift for Grandma.  The matching sweaters were purchased and donned, the mantle was lovely, the boys had been promised suckers for a photo-worth-framing, and Cate, our photographer, arrived.  It was a crazy 20 minutes, but I was really proud of the little ones.

After lunch, we were off to pick out our trees.  I remember 3 years ago, Ryan and I had just gotten married and we went to pick out our Christmas tree with the 3 nephews, Grandma Flurry, Michael and Shannon and Jodi and Jeff as well as Lola by our side.  I had never witnessed the chopping down of a Christmas tree and so I really got into it.  I might have been obnoxious.

Last year, we went again and my belly was pretty huge by then.  I remember thinking how exciting "next" year would be when we would have our own wee one to enjoy it as well.  And boy did he!  It was a really nice day, a little windy, but not too cold and the sun eventually came out.  Ryan strapped little Liam to his back and away we went.  It seemed to take longer than usual because the selection was not great- lots of twisted or slanted trunks.  But all four families found the right one for them eventually and it was great to see the excitement in the little ones' faces. 

On Monday night we decorated the tree.  We only got the lights and a handful of ornaments on before Rip Van Flurry decided it was bedtime.  But Ryan, Lola and I finished it, curious to see how interested in it Liam would be the next day.  According to Mimi, he was very interested at first, crawling around to see the different ornaments but it has since ceased to hold his attention for long.  A student of mine even suggested that we put a train around it because that's what his parents did and it really helped distract him before he got to the tree itself.  Just as I had found one at Big Lots, Liam seemed to lose interest in the tree.  He has not, however, lost interest in cords, outlets, lamps, or the pretty lighted flowers in our living room.

Since then, it's been a whirlwind of pre-holiday activity for all of us.  All of my classes exchanged Secret Santas, Becky and I were able to see an inspiring Christmas choral concert at Church of the Ressurection, hosted by Marilyn Brewer.  I have hosted holiday book club at our house, I was able to celebrate with Stacy and Vivienne over champagne and appetizers, cookie exchanges have been attended, Ryan and I have had our Christmas dinner with Matt and Jess at JJ's, and just two days ago, Shannon had the brilliant idea to have a wrapping party, complete with wine and cheese.  (I had read that at Liam's age, it's best to wrap presents in tissue paper or in gift bags, so my wrapping was much simpler than Shannon's). It was a blast and something we hope to make a tradition.

But the best part of it so far for me, was taking Liam to see Santa for the first time.  Ryan and I decided that we would take him to the Mercedes of Santas next year at Crown Center when he could really enjoy it all.  So this year, we settled for the Honda of Santas at Ward Parkway Mall.  Suggested by my friend Stacey because there are no lines and it's far more mellow, this Santa was wonderful.  Real beard.  Real nice.  And Liam made us proud by not crying- not smiling a lot- but just kind of chillin' on Santa's lap as if they were two buddies getting ready to watch some sports on tv over a couple beers.  The funniest part was watching Ryan trying to make him laugh by scrunching down in front of the camera and shaking his head vigorously from left to right, left to right, back and forth, until Liam smiled or Ryan passed out from dizziness.  It was priceless.

I have always loved the holidays.  In fact, I am one of those obnoxious people that enjoys Christmas music all year round.  But now I get to enjoy the holiday through my son's eyes.  Holiday preparations are best made together.  Lesson well learned.

Lesson #23 Non Verbal Communication Still Works

Someday when Liam is older and reads this, he might be embarassed that I posted so many pictures when he is flipping us the bird.  Or maybe he will think it's cool.  Who knows?  I personally think it's hysterical, so here you go.

Hope it brings a giggle to your day as well ;)  Non verbal communication STILL works.  Lesson well learned.  Thanks buddy.

Lesson #22 "Family Moments and Turkey Legs"

Traveling to San Francisco with a 9 month old is different than traveling with a 3 month old. 

The Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving, Ryan and I boarded the plane with a footie-pajamaed Liam and began the nearly 4 hour flight to San Fran.  Thankfully, we also had Mimi and Papa with us.  We couldn't wait to get to Aunt Amy and Uncle Michael's house to be with them, knowing that their house was the perfect place to be to celebrate a holiday based around food (more on their culinary genius later).  But first, we had to survive the plane ride.  We were well prepared, thanks to lots of advice from friends and a last minute Google search from Grandma Becky on "traveling with a 9 month old."  Everyone pretty much said/wrote the same thing... bring lots of things to distract!  Several toys, lots of plastic "links" (that made a lovely necklace for Mimi), and so much food to snack on that no one was going hungry, and we were off!

Liam's nap schedule was a little off and so he only slept for 2, 30 minute periods.  Yes, math whizzes, that left 3 hours of time to "play."  Play, by the way, includes walking up and down the aisles, making funny faces until it feels frozen in a "peek a boo" face, and lifting Liam over our heads to wave at Papa!  Needless to say we were all a little worse for wear when we arrived, but then we met Aunt Amy at a great little Mexican food place.  Uncle Michael had to babysit the turkey.  Liam was so excited to see Amy again... they really are two peas in a pod!

After lunch we headed to Amy and Michael's apartment so that we could check in with the chef and, of course, see Liam's canine cousin Cali.  When we walked into the house, the smell of Thanksgiving was already in the air.  Michael was working on the turkey legs "con fit"- a wonderful cooking process involving tremendous amounts of duck fat!  I don't know if it was the duck fat, the turkey legs, or the combination, but it smelled heavenly! 

As we put our luggage in the guest room, we were greeted by a cute, framed note and a little San Franciscan weekend wardrobe for Liam.  It was themed as what Uncle Michael likes to wear, complete with a waffled tee, dark jeans, and a flannel hoodie.  Adorable! 

And, of course, Cali was wonderful with our little guy- she was patient as he tugged on her ear, calm as he "high fived" her nose, and she was even gracious enough to show us her neighborhood on our walk that evening.  Sometimes I think my "niece" Cali is more human than most people.

That evening, while Mimi, Papa, Amy and Michael went out to dinner, Ryan and I cuddled up with some Thai food delivery and were very contented to hear not a peep out of Liam, especially because of the 2 hour time difference.  Not a peep.  Not a peep, that is, until 2:50 am. Then we heard a few peeps followed by a wail.  And another wail.  So Ryan did something that we have NEVER done- he brought Liam back to bed with us.  It made sense- God knows the chefs in the other room didn't need to get up THAT early to cook Thanksgiving!  It was pretty funny actually because Liam had no idea what he was doing in there.  After I explained that it was actually the middle of the night and he should stop playing and go to sleep, he gave in.  For an hour or two.  Then he convinced us it was simply time to get up for the day, so we did.  We played on the floor in the living room as quietly as possible, but it felt as if I brought the loudest toys ever created- of course everything seems pretty loud at 5 in the morning!

Besides the time change, one of the other things that Ryan and I were a little worried about was Liam sleeping and napping in the pack n' play.  He was a trooper- the kid is a killer sleeper (at least for now, knock on wood). Still, naptime is served best in cuddly arms at home, but we didn't want to be stuck in the back office while all the fun was happening in the rest of the house, so we put him down for naps.  This was an excellent lesson for me because he cried for 30 minutes the first time we put him down to nap in the pack n' play.  The next time, it was 25 minutes.  The third time, it was 20 minutes.  With time, it got easier on all of us and I also learned that good music turned up to a higher volume drowns out the crying very well :) 

Thanksgiving Day began with a walk down to one of our favorite breakfast spots, The Grove on Fillmore.  Liam was wearing his turkey shirt that Mimi and Jenny got for him at the Holiday Boutique.  He was very happy representin'.

After breakfast, we did what every smart person does on Thanksgiving- we enjoyed some champagne, turned on some football, changed into festive clothing and watched others cook :)  Michael broke open the bubbly and he and Amy created a feast! 

I was so happy to see Amy and Michael's good friends, Carla and Maurice, arrive just in time to see the beautiful Thanksgiving table set, complete with lit candles, fresh flowers, and a personal guard.

Okay, I have found the new Baby Whisperer.  His name is Maurice and Liam could not get enough of him.  I think it was his husky, accented voice, or maybe his great moustache, or maybe it was his general good nature.  But Liam loved this guy.

Soon, it was time to put Liam down (30 minutes crying, but nice loud music too), sit down at the table and enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving together.  Amy and Michael were the quintessential hosts and made everyone feel relaxed and welcome (and eventually stuffed and a little tipsy!).  The meal began with a butternut squash soup that I loved.  Toasted pumpkin seeds on top.  There was a wonderful cranberry deliciousness, two types of turkey, two types of potatoes, sausage dressing, mushroom stuffing "muffin" (my favorite), and of course, wine.  And more wine.  And some more wine.  We toasted, and laughed, and had the best time. 

Liam woke up just in time to join the tail end of the meal and then we played for awhile.  Everyone sat around, tummies full and exhausted.  Eventually, it was bath time for Liam, which was fun to give him in the kitchen while everyone laughed.  Aunt Amy took about a million bath photos, and it reminded me that she was our photographer for his very first bath at home when he was four days old. 

The next day was your typical day-after-Thanksgiving but without the obnoxious Black Friday sales.  Ryan and Liam took off late morning for a hike all the way down to the beach at Chrissie Field.  Michael took a well-deserved bubble bath and snooze while the rest of us headed down to meet them.  Time for the understatement of the century... Cali loves the beach!  And I mean, LOVES, the beach!  She goes frequently with Amy and Michael or Tessa, the dog walker (who is really more like part of the family).  So let's just say, Cali is a pro at the beach.  She runs, she plays fetch, she swims!

It was so fun to just stand back and watch Amy throw her the ball again and again.  They are both (and all three when Michael goes) so happy there with their fellow dog-lovin' peeps.  And to see Liam on a beach for the first time in his life was really special too. 

And I realize that it is these tiny moments that make up a good life.  Just being out in San Francisco with Amy and Michael, doing their "every day" stuff was the best part of the whole trip.  Well, that and the turkey legs.  Lesson well learned.