A Happy New Year

It was a happy New Year celebration around our house.  Grandma and grandpa were kind enough to keep the two boys New Year's Eve, allowing Katie and I a chance to go on a rare date.  We saw a movie, "Yes Man", and went out to dinner at our new favorite barbecue joint.  Nothing fancy, no tuxedos, just quiet and simple, which these days qualify as their own flavor of extravagance.  I don't know if it's a sign of age or a sign of parenthood or both, but I celebrate a good night's sleep with greater enthusiasm than ringing in a new year or wishing an old one good bye.  And I had one awesome year and couldn't look more forward to the next one.  I just prefer to do so with my eyes open.  So thank you to bumma and bumpa for a wonderful start to 2009.

The year 2008, like 2006, will go down as a year we'll never forget.  When you bring a child into the world - years, days and even minutes are etched into your life's mental calendar and they will never be erased.  As other days and milestones get scrambled somewhere in time past, two moments have secured a home in my mind, a mind destined for capacity issues as the daily happenings of two growing boys accumulate and seek their own shot at perpetuity.

Those daily happenings are as wide ranging as Elliott's growing imagination.  He lives with us, but he has found a home in a pretend world that is foreign to me.  He carried on a conversation with the stuffed snowman at grandma's house this week.  Grandpa wasn't at home at the time,  he was hunting, and Elliott decided to go look for him.  He walked up to the snowman who stands as tall as Elliott, looked him in the eye and told him "I'll be right back snowman, I'm going out in the garden and look for bumpa."  He can't wait until Ian is old enough to tag along on some of his journeys.

It won't be long until Ian will be up for traveling.  His head has lost enough of its wobble that he no longer passes as a bobble head doll.  When you hold him, he gives it all he has to stand up.  I used to enjoy sitting on the couch and with one hand, providing just enough support for Elliott to stand and balance himself on the arm of the couch.  I'm afraid Ian has physically surpassed any opportunity to be handled with one hand.  He may have surpassed any opportunity to stand on furniture without triggering a collapse.  

In 2009, I will once again resolve to lose weight and set a good example for Ian.  The resolution didn't work well in 08; I did however manage to keep my weight steady, which was a step in the right direction.  I like the hope that comes with a New Year, the opportunity to try again.  I am also committed to reading and writing more, developing a consistent exercise routine and volunteering more in the community.  I'll keep you posted on my progress.  I hope that all of you have a wonderful 2009 and that all of your resolutions turn to achievements.