Ringing in the New Year with a ridiculous photo

Some friends of ours returned an old bouncy seat that I lent them. Both of my kids had used it when they were really, really tiny. I had totally forgotten about it!

Brought it home, and guess what? I found both of my girls enamored with it. The perfect little lounge seat for a toddler/ preschooler's little frame. V. likes to clasp herself into the seat and pretend to be a baby, complete with "cooing" sounds. S. just thinks it's most comfy thing ever.

So I was quite tickled when I discovered the cat curled up as soon as the seat was vacant. Now I have three creatures "fighting" over this seat... and Baby #3 (the one who it's actually FOR) is not even here yet! I'd better put it away until baby's arrival in May... then again, I sort of don't mind my 3 year old voluntarily restraining herself and contently bouncing just for fun. I can think of worse, noisier, messier activities...

The bouncy seat is kind of "old" and outdated. So I thought of upgrading to a newer model... I'm pretty sure that nowadays the new bouncy seats spin and hover above the ground and project holographic images of Elmo. But since half the household finds it quite fascinating and perfectly useful, I think I'll keep it around.


That said.

We had a really nice Christmas! I mean, you sort of spend a month working yourself into a frenzy... and then you spend two days making sure you're everywhere at once, trying new traditions, reviving old ones (or fragments thereof)... and then it's done, and you have only wonderful, glowing photographs left as evidence and you realize "Okay. Yes. I don't remember anything about the actual day, but I think we had a great time."

Or was that just me?

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are always fairly busy. I don't always have time to stop and reflect and think in that 48 hour time period. BUT... that's okay. Because fortunately, we're able to celebrate the feast of the Nativity for 12 days! I don't feel like I "missed" anything, because the celebration of Christ's birth is still in effect. So, with that, Christ is Born! Glorify Him! Merry Christmas :)

One of the best "gifts" I received was something Job said at breakfast Christmas morning. I started setting the table and everyone was getting situated and excited for the special meal. Job said, "I think this is becoming one of my favorite parts about Christmas." For some reason, that really meant a lot to me. I'm so glad that, nearly 5 years into marriage and nearly 4 years into motherhood, that help make the morning so memorable and special.

Having fasted from eggs, meat and dairy for 40 days prior made the breakfast all the more festive for Job. I made sure there were plenty of scrambled eggs and bacon on the table... and I added a last-minute "treat" of gingerbread waffles (a splendid recipe from Rachael Ray's 'Cooking 'Round the Clock in 30 minutes'). It was a recipe I'd doggeared a long, long time ago, then forgot about once I started to focus on a more traditional, healthy diet. Well... after becoming recently reacquainted with the cookbook, I just knew I HAD to try it, at least on Christmas morning. And boy, were they good! The girls patiently waiting (with mugs of milk) for mom to be done cooking!

Hmm... there is a lot more I could write... 2009 reflections... 2010 resolutions... Vasi's feast day/ St. Basil's Day celebration... the fact that I'm having a boy...

However, it's getting late, and I should really get to bed. You'll likely hear more from me another day. I hope you had a great Christmas, a wonderful New Years, and may the Feast of Theophany (the feast of our Lord Jesus Christ's Baptism) be blessed!

Dear friends, family, lurkers-- have a wonderful 2010!