Week of December 24, 2003
"Dominic is not happy?"(said while frowning)
"I want Me Oh M" (Wiggles song = Wags the Dog)
"I want Blow Me Down"
"He dropped ice cream"
"She took picture"
We are preparing for Christmas. We don't entertain so preparations mean writing Christmas cards and wrapping presents. Our Christmas card this year is by Edward Gorey, a dragon exchanging presents with a man in a winter coat (see below). I was hoping to include an incredibly dear picture of Owen in his Dragon costume at Halloween, but we all know how that worked out (poorly - the 4T dragon costume didn't fit over his shoulders. It was really cute though!)Our free time is an hour or so in the evening, after Owen is in bed. We use the time from 7:45 to 9 to furiously run around trying to cross things off our to do list. It's tight. This week, we're just wrapping. Each year I think "oh, this would be a really good thing to do as we get the presents" and each year it's a mad dash to get it done in the last few days. I think perhaps if we unpacked the wrapping paper a little ahead, it would be easier.
Owen is starting to come down with a cold. We hope it's like the last one, where he was affected mainly at night. His sleep was awful, but at least he was happy and perky during the day. This means that it's mainly Scott and I suffering the effects - sleep deprivation and all that. Unfortunately, Owen becomes a Lamprey when he's sick, and needs to be physically attached to feel comforted or to sleep. In many ways, this is my chance to get all the cuddling I could wish, since normally Owen is not terribly cuddly. Unfairly, I get almost all the cuddles he has to give. I try to relish the proximity, even as I'm contorted into a pretzel as he and I share the uncomfy futon couch.
I sleep poorly because I'm a pretzel and because I know every movement Owen makes. Scott sleeps poorly because I'm not there, and because he can hear us when Owen's up, and because he becomes hypervigilant whenever Owen is unwell. Let's hope this is just a quick cold.
Our plan is to see Scott's family on Wednesday, and mine on Thursday. We hope staggering the days lets Owen have a better chance of minimizing the stress that comes with visits. I don't know how excited he is by Christmas, at home, all he cares about are the lights. He understands presents, but they're still not all that an intense thing for him. I know next year will be a different story.
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