Merry Merry Christmas

The grandparents are probably somewhere over Nebraska right now, on their return flight to Wisconsin after spending a wonderful week with us here in Albuquerque. We celebrated Anika's 3rd birthday, we took a field trip to Santa Fe, we laughed and cried and watched a so-bad-it's-almost-good movie about an alien invasion.

Oh, and Anika did this little thing called POTTY TRAINING HERSELF. I am still in disbelief, but, starting the afternoon of the 20th, she declared that she was done with diapers and wanted to wear underwear. She started peeing in the potty; then, incredibly, did number 2 in there as if she hadn't been refusing my pleas to change her stinky diaper a few days before. She kept dry all day in Santa Fe and, despite a few accidents here and there, has been a total and complete champ ever since.

Guess she decided she was ready. I'm sure the presence (and presents, in the form of hugs, encouragement, and lots of fun) of the grandparents helped too. Reni might have had a *wee* bit of separation anxiety (see below) but we're working on it. I don't think Grandma got as many hugs from the little guy as she was hoping for, but perhaps in a few months he will decide that everyone is not trying to kidnap him and place him in a cave lightyears away from his mother.

Merry Christmas to all, near and far. We feel very lucky to have shared our holiday this year with Grandma and Grandpa (and, p.s., aren't they absolutely adorable?)