Happy New Year!

The last weeks of 2008 were full of chaos and fun! Besides all of the holiday happenings, Theo got to spend some QT with lots of important people. Granny Sue came for a weeklong visit from Tennessee. We had good friends come home from all over the country. Most importantly, Theo had his first encounter with Santa Claus! We were all prepared for screams and tears, but he handled it like a champ and even told Santa that he wanted a car for Christmas. Be sure to check out the newest pics on Flickr!

Christmas itself was a fun-filled whirlwind. We had a great time at both the Struven family and Bastian family Christmases. I have of course "trained" Theo to do the 12 Days of Christmas dance, but when the video camera came out, he wanted no part of it. Fortunately, we did manage to get a glimpse of "five gold rings..."

Presents included a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse playset, a "smash crash" car set, a Thomas the Tank Engine train set, and the appropriately overdone amount of Hot Wheels and Pixar car stuff. Beyond the toys, his Auntie Laura made a BEAUTIFUL Mickey Mouse cross-stitch for his room, and the Gilmores and Falvos bought him his very first share of Disney stock. With all of those fantastic gifts, how could he possibly pick a favorite?

Theo spent his first NYE home with Grandma and Grandpa so Andy and I could go out. It might be the last time I convince Andy to attend a NYE party as one of our friends broke his ankle as he toasted the new year! OUCH. Fortunately, Theo had a much more pleasant experience with Grandma and Grandpa, mostly watching videos and making a disaster of all of the toys he keeps at their house.

We also had another first... Theo's first illness! I know, it's crazy that he's been home since April and hasn't really been sick. Well this time, after three doctor's visits, he was diagnosed with an upper-respiratory infection and prescribed two antibotics. What a trooper, other than needing extra cuddle time and a few thousand boxes of Kleenex, he really didn't complain. 1st one down, ten million to go!

December's Flickr pics: http://www.flickr.com/photos/68847421@N00/sets/72157611698600623/detail/