Christmas Traditions

Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday. I think because it is a season ripe with holiday traditions. People tend to do the same things over and over again, year after year because they are fun and comforting and familiar. To some this might seem boring, but I adore traditions and well, I never was really good with change.

My mother will tell you that I hold long and hard onto holiday traditions. Case in point - the advent calendar. We had a big advent calendar on our wall each Christmas season and each day had a pocket that held a little piece of paper. Every morning my brother and I would race to the calendar to see what piece of joy the paper held. Sometimes it said "A Christmas Treat!" which might be a little debbie christmas tree cupcake (yes, I still love them, bought them at target yesterday in fact) or "Go get our Christmas tree!" or, on December 24th each year it would say: "Read a Christmas story together". Needless to say, my poor Mother had to keep buying treats for this tradition long into our adult years. Last year she gave the advent calendar to me, and while Zane is still a little young to care about the fun goodies and events that might be tucked into the pockets, I am just overjoyed at thinking about the fun we will have together in Decembers to come.

If I were filling out those little pieces of paper already, last Sunday's would have said "Christmas Time in the City!". Enjoying Christmas in the city (with a trip to Center City Macy's and their annual Dicken's Village display) is a tradition that Mahmood and I started before Zane was born, and we got to share it with him for the first time this year. Sharing this with Zane and watching him take in all the lights and sounds was so much fun and isn't that what traditions are all about anyway?

9 months

9 Months. That is how long we waited for you. We watched my belly grow. We picked out names (Hard to imagine you as a Nathaniel or a Micah now...you are definitely a Zane through and through). We put together toys and furniture. We kept watching my belly grow. It seemed like an eternity. And then you got here. And now? 9 months have flown by.

You completely light up our lives. You make us laugh with joy and amazement each and every day. You worry us too sometimes, but that's just what parents do. You entertain us with your new games. Right now you're all about peek-a-boo. You show everyone. The check out guy, the waitress, Santa. They all get to play peek-a-boo with you. And they do. You have two teeth. You move around a room with the precision of an assasin. You're eating new foods everyday and showing some definite likes (banana, mango, avocado, chicken) and dislikes (corn! How can you grow up in PA and not like corn?) and some things that you unfortunately are allergic to (lentils - who gives their baby lentils anyway, sorry about that one kiddo! and peas). You love your toys (especially your fisher price farm) and are starting to not like it when someone leaves the room even when you are happily playing all on your own (and for our own good probably, since now if we leave the room you can get into some serious trouble what with that whole moving around thing and all). You love eskimo kisses (or forehead rubbing - who knows what tribe expresess affection that way) and big giant hugs and we hope you never stop being the super-cuddler that you are now.

9 months is a long time to get ready for a baby. It seems like an eternity. But then you get here and time starts wizzing by in a flash. Suddenly you're becoming a big kid and before I know it you'll be running after me and another 9 months will fly by. Don't let it pass me by without stopping for a hug now and then? Ok pal?

Love you!
Your mom and dad

p.s. here's what you looked like on your 9-month birthday. Your cousin Aimee made you this super cool lion onesie all by herself. She's pretty crafty isn't she? if you look REALLY closely at the picture you can see those two shiny new toofers.

A quick post-November update

Oh November, where did you go?

November was a big month for Zane. He graduated to a new big-boy car seat (which he seems to really like a lot), got two front teeth (guess Santa came a little early for Zane), started picking up finger foods and feeding himself, and started scotting around the floor mission command style. Yep, watch out folks, we are mobile.

And I wonder why I had no time for blog-writing?! I barely had any time for picture-taking. But, I managed a few. Here's a quick look at some fun November days.

Showing off his standing skills. Working on his "music". (this reminds me of a Friend's episode with Ross and his terrible keyboarding).


A little fun in the leaves while Dad rakes on a pretty fall day.


Some Thanksgiving day fun. I pretty much kiss Zane every time I pick him up. He's started "kissing" back. Or maybe he's a cannibal? By the way, that's Dallas in the picture in the background. We were trying to get a picture of Zane next to the picture of Dallas. It is pretty amazing how much he looks like D did as a baby.