What a wonderful Christmas. We spent several days just relaxing with family and couldn’t have had a better holiday. I spent a lot of time just watching Ethan and being amazed at the little boy he’s become – no longer a baby. He knows animal sounds and motions, picks his own dinner and actually eats what he picks, can put his plastic baseball on top of the t-ball stick and hit it with the bat, he’ll pick out a book and sit in your lap for almost 4 pages now until he’s bored, and so many other things that I’m constantly smiling at. I didn’t realize how early a child’s personality develops, and I love it. And I just have to share his latest attempt at getting out of diaper changes. When we walk to his room and I announce that it’s time to change his diaper (the announcement is mistake #1 – I know), he quickly crawls up on my shoulder, lays his head down, pats me on the back, makes this really cute “oooooohhhhhh” sound, and smiles at himself in the mirror. I’ve noticed he also does this when I’m putting his shoes on, bringing him inside from playing in the backyard, or any other event that he finds unpleasant. Hopefully we can catch it on video because it’s hilarious. I have a feeling we’re going to have our hands full in the coming year.

Yesterday we all went to Royse City to see Clay’s mom and have Christmas with Clay’s brothers, their girlfriends, and our niece. This was our first Christmas in Susan’s new house and we all had such a great time. Santa Claus was very generous to all of us – especially Ethan. Posting a couple of pictures of Lanee (just turned 5) and Ethan with some of their gifts.

Well, Clay and I finally got to the movies tonight for a little date (thanks, Mom and Dad). We’ve been really excited about seeing the Chronicles of Narnia…both being C.S. Lewis fans. And unfortunately, the movie was a bit of a letdown. It was really beautiful and the little girl who played Lucy was so great, but all in all a bit disappointing. I guess a 200 page book really can’t be made into a wonderful movie with lots of character development. If you haven’t seen it yet, I definitely wouldn’t recommend not going, but if we had to do it all over again, we probably would have chosen to see King Kong.

So, sorry Shannon, I know you rated this one an A, but I’m going to have to go with a B. For whatever that’s worth.

Mallory Beth Porter arrived yesterday at 6:29 p.m. – much to the surprise of her parents since she was 3 1/2 weeks early! But despite being early, she is a healthy and absolutely beautiful 6 pound baby, and Mark and Amy are doing great. Amy makes me a little sick how great she looks and how fast her labor was, but I guess that’s the blessing God gives you for having a baby on your birthday. They never dreamed they would have Mallory at Christmas, much less that she would be born on her mom’s birthday! So, happy birthday Porter girls, and enjoy your first Christmas together!

I love to slobber
Yes I do
I love to slobber
How ’bout you?

Ethan is so lucky to know many of his great grandparents. Last night his Granny and Pa came over to have dinner, play and sing Christmas songs for a while. It was so nice to spend some time with them, and for Ethan to get to know them better. He especially loves singing with Pa and reading books with him.