Glimpses of the Holidays

The holiday season at the Webkins Home is still in full swing. Before it all becomes a big blur in our post-holiday memories, here are some random factoids and impressions from Jeremy's Christmas 2005.

What foods did Jeremy eat?
Wheat roll? Yes.
Sweet potatoes? No.
Pumpkin pie? Yes.
Whipped Cream? Yes.
Scalloped potatoes? No.
Cheezy biscuit? Yes.
Ham? No.
Jingle bell salad? No.
Fried rice? Yes.
Steamed rice? No.
Polenta? No.
Milk? Yes.
Yogurt? Yes.
Cheerios? Yes.
Graham crackers? Yes.

How many parties did Jeremy attend?
So far, six.
One holiday party at Mama Nay's work, with about 40 people.
One gift-wrapping party at Terri & Glynis', to wrap gifts for a needy family that we adopted this Christmas, only Jeremy had to leave before the party started to go home and go to bed.
One Christmas Eve dinner at the Webkins Home with Nanny, Poppa, Uncle Ross and Aunt Brenda and Kara and Lindsey and their Grandpa John.
One Christmas Day dinner at Aunt Betsy and Uncle Rick's house with about 22 Webster relatives and lots of great rain puddles outside where Uncle Rick taught Jeremy the fine art of puddle stomping.
One Boxing Day dinner at the Webkins Home with a subset of 10 Webster relatives.
One Christmas/Hannukah celebration last night at Leslie and Chu's, with about 20 big people and at least as many 0-5 year olds running and squealing with delight throughout the house.

How stressed were Jeremy's mommies?
On a scale of 0-10, about a 7, unfortunately. We offered/committed to entertain and cook as much as we always do, even though we now have a thirteen-month-old who cuts our collective productivity in half. Jeremy's upset tummy on Christmas morning (triggered most likely by his recent graduation from formula to cow's milk) preempted our plan to open gifts first thing. While I comforted him and cleaned him up, Barb whirled around the kitchen preparing dishes for Christmas dinner. Our schedule was strung so tightly that we found ourselves racing to get on the road to Aunt Betsy's. At Betsy's, Barb & I tag-teamed to keep Jeremy safe from the oh-so-very-attractive nuisances, such as the fire place, the tile steps, the pool. By the time we headed home from the festivities, Jeremy fell into a deep and well-deserved slumber. That evening, while Jeremy snored in his crib, Barb & I finally sat by the tree gazing at the lights shimmering off of Jeremy's shiny gifts which sat still unopened and untouched.

Jeremy is a wonderful tension-breaker, though. At one point, Barb & I were bickering over something mundane like whether we could be more polite to each other even if we are stressed, and Jeremy looked at us and started laughing! He found the interchange quite comical! Yes, Jeremy, thank you for reminding us to not take ourselves so seriously, to go easy on ourselves, and to laugh often.

Where is Santa? Who is Santa?
On Christmas Eve day, Jeremy wouldn't nap. So, while the Hawkins clan was finishing up the main course and making room for Barb's scrumptious pumpkin pie, I threw Jeremy in the stroller thinking a quick spin would facilitate a power nap. As I left, Barb suggested cheerily, "Just go around the block!"

Two miles later, Jeremy was still alert, happy, gabbing enthusiastically, kicking and swinging his feet. I guessed that he was on the lookout for Santa Claus.

So Jeremy and I talked about who Santa Claus is. People have been asking us whether we are going to "do the Santa thing" with Jeremy. And we are. To me, it is important to celebrate Santa Claus in a way that inspires Jeremy's imagination while he is a child, and also in a way that will remain an enduring inspiration for hope throughout Jeremy's life. So I described Santa to Jeremy as a very generous person who helps us remember to be generous to others, especially to those less fortunate than ourselves. That is why a considerable portion of the Webkins' gift giving at Christmas time is to homeless and other low-income families and to charities that help people in need. Also, looking into Santa's face helps us to remember that the best gift that we could ever receive is what we already have -- the love shared among our family and friends. Finally, Santa also encourages us to focus on children -- to step out of our oh-so-important adult lives for a moment and consider what children can teach us. Children exude joy and playfulness in the moment, and embody hope for the future. Santa sustains and celebrates that joy and hope at Christmas time by bringing children gifts that make them happy.

Jeremy contemplated my description, and it seemed to sit well with him. When we returned home from our walk, Jeremy was content and relaxed even if he didn't sleep. Over the next several days, Jeremy certainly found Santa in his generous and loving village of extended family and friends.

Merry Christmas!