Hi Grandma… Thank you for sending me Christmas presents!

I love all the buttons on the crawl ball… that toy has really captured my interest! I am wearing the cozy fleece vest and pants often b/c they’re ideal for running up and down the docks (kidding, I’m not running quite yet). All the clothes fit perfectly (good timing, as I was running out). Daddy put the train set up on the ledge above my changing table, out-of-reach but within my range of vision when it’s changing time, or when I’m sitting in my own chair. Mommy’s been eating the shortbread, which she says is still her favorite after all these years. Daddy calls my brown sweater an old man’s smoking jacket, but he loves it. 

I wish we were together for Christmas, but I know you’re coming to visit me in March, which is just around the corner. I’ve changed so much since October when you last saw me. I can tap dance, and I do a special wave like Princess Diana did. But mine’s better because I wave my hand with my thumb still in my mouth. I always have something in my mouth… I suck on anyone’s thumb, not just mine. The bigger the better, really, so I prefer mom’s and grandpa’s thumbs. I even enjoy sucking on my own big toe. And when grandpa sits on the couch above me while I’m on the floor, I attack his sock, and tongue it like a lizard. I’m still not crawling, but I’m fine-tuning my sitting skills. I wobble occassionally, but I can correct myself in any direction except when I fall backwards (and then I go Bonk!).

I’m eating anything at all now, but my favorite is Turkey Vegetable Dinner. I can’t understand why you adults only eat this at Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’m using a sippy cup for water now… pretty soon I’ll be drinking out of a wine glass! I can hold my bottle all by myself, so mommy and daddy just need to make my bottle and then roll over and konk out again, as I’m quite capable. I’m talking all the time now, and I especially love to practice my vowels and consonents first thing in the morning or when I’m just about to nod off. I yell Whooo! Ahrrr! Rawr!  

I’ve almost mastered my standing skills, and if I have something to hang onto, I can bounce! I can even laugh like a little boy if you amuse or tickle me!

I visited Santa this week, but he was a creepy, scowl-faced man. It will be a snowy day in Santa Cruz before I’ll fly his sled. He was not jolly so I did not smile…  which says a lot about my judgment of his character. Because normally, I smile at everybody.

On Christmas Eve, we went to the beach to listen to the Ukelele club. They sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, which was a lovely song. I also enjoy Little Drummer Boy when mommy sings it while tapping on my belly.

 

At sunset, Auntie Judy and her gorgeous girls brought champagne to the boat. We had a big feast on Christmas day in grandpa’s trailer, and I ate ice cream. 

Dad’s home renovation is really coming along nicely! I have mixed feelings about leaving the boat and moving into a house… I love the big bathtub and can imagine myself splashing around in there. My bedroom is so cozy and I’ll enjoy the hardwood floor and space for crawling. I’ll miss being the monkey in the middle between mommy and daddy, each ready to shake up a bottle in a jiffy. I’ll miss snuggling into mommy to avoid the drops of condensation from the hatch, and I’ll miss the bright morning sun beams shining down on me. And I hope we can still go on dinghy rides b/c my life vest finally fits me. Daddy carries me around in it by the neck handle like I’m a kitten. And I’ll miss the ukulele on Saturday mornings, and all the joyful harbor sounds.