Well, gosh, maybe next year?

I had some high(er) hopes for Christmas this year regarding Kevin and his gift receiving reaction as compared to last year's "nada" reaction. Granted, it was a smidge better in that he'd take a gift that I had to unwrap for him and run off to play with it quietly on the couch, but he still didn't get involved in the whole unwrapping thing himself. *Sigh* When I pulled off the "Santa Sack" from his "Bounce and Spin Zebra", he ran away whining.

WTF?

He did wind up playing with it, cautiously, a little later, but still hasn't gotten on it and really let loose, yet.

He did much, much better this year at the family gathering at my brother's. No withering or whining...just running around and pretty much at ease for the most part.

I did a lousy job at getting any pictures, ya know, with all the freakin' unwrapping I had to do. I got a pic of him in his little suit and a few pics of him off on the couch with his favorite toy still in its box...

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

"What is it?"

Can you stand another video?

We got a freakin' nice little snow storm today. I stuffed bundled Kevin into last year's snowsuit which is a little like putting sausage into its casing snug and took him outside to experience it.

His reaction, "What is it?". He says it twice...as usual, turn up your volume.

It's the best I could do and DAMN I wish I would've made my bed before I took this video!

The proof....sorry it's so choppy and dark in places. I couldn't let him see the recorder or I wouldn't have gotten even this much. Turn your volume up and listen to the grunts and groans while he's trying to carry Mickey up the steps.

It can't possibly last...

It started last week out of the blue. I refer to Kevin's compliance willingness eagerness to take a nap. I thought the first time was a fluke, but it has continued.

He was starting to fuss, as he is wont to do, around his nap time one day last week and I said to him, "It's time for a nap" and turned to get his bottle ready (yes, I still give him a bottle at nap and bedtime...I'm a chicken, OK?...OKAY?! Are ya happy now?).

Eh-hem.

Sorry. Back to it.

He started to run back to the living room while I was pouring the milk and I figured I'd be chasing him in a minute. Much to my surprise, when I turned around he was holding his Mickey that he sleeps with (that's my boy!) with a big smile on his face. I cautiously walked toward him, not daring to hope, and he turned and walked over to the baby gate at the bottom of the steps. I opened it and he started climbing the stairs while holding Mickey. I followed him up in utter amazement. He hustled through my room and into his, walked over and turned on his sound machine, and turned to me with his arms up to put him in his crib. I. could. not. believe. it.

He's been doing this ever since. I don't expect it to last, but it is so adorable. I want to try to videotape it, but I'm afraid he'll just stare at the camera and then, of course, not do it...

Totally humoring me

While shopping today, I came across some Santa hats so I plopped one on Kevin's head. He immediately pulled it off with a disgusted look. I said, "let mommy take a picture first" and put it back on his head.

Behold the look I got:

Flashback

Have you ever had a memory from your younger days that came at you from out of the blue? It happened to me today as I was driving home from getting groceries. I believe it was a defining moment in my life.

It happened about 30 years ago when I was 15 or 16 and my friend was 13 or 14. I walked to her house to get her so we could go hang out. When I arrived at her house, her father met me at the door and walked me back to her room. A bit unusual, but I had no idea what was coming. When we entered her room, her dad picked up a pack of cigarettes and said to me, "are these yours?". They weren't. I had a split second to make my decision whether I was going to throw my friend under the bus and let her get beat up by her abusive father, or if I was going to take the blame for her and take the chance that her father would tell my father and I could be beat up by my abusive father. I glanced at her face and knew I had to take my chances. When I saw the look of terror there, I saw myself. I said to him, "Yes, I asked her to hold them for me. I'm sorry.". He walked over to me, handed me her cigarettes, and walked out of the room.

I knew I did the right thing.

It was the moment I knew who I'd become.

And he never did tell my father...

Seriously! Lowe's is having a 50% Christmas decorations sale.

I just bought this today. I never would have spent the amount of money on it that was the regular price, but 50% off! Now, they were speaking my language. I've never had such a nice tree before. That would be the reason i felt the urge to actually blog about it. Much to your dismay, I'm sure. Sorry about that...

I put it up, but, obviously, it's not decorated yet.

To take your mind off the above nonsense, I will shamelessly use my adorable son:

He has taken to climbing up and down time and time again on the dining room chair for some reason. Naturally, when I pulled out the Flip, he stopped.

Again, he stops doing his adorable antics once he sees the Flip. Sigh. Of course, he was singing and clapping to...wait for it....The Wiggles. (BTW...You can see part of the old, crappy Christmas tree in this video that, when I plugged it in, some of the lights were burnt out...hence, my justification for buying the new one.)

I've done gone and lost my mind

We went shopping on Black Friday. Not in the wee hours, mind you, but we did venture out in the afternoon.

Just for shits and giggles.

I had never seen a HDTV in real life before. As I muscled my waysauntered through the electronics department, I gazed upon these most wondrous of inventions. I stood there with Kevin just gawking. Drool escaping from my mouth as I stared in amazement. Where have I been? How have I never seen these before? Why haven't any of you told me about this?

Can you say "impulse buy"? Yeah.

I don't have the actual HD hooked up, yet, because my appointment is not until next Wednesday, but this thing is pretty sweet already.