Settling In

Dear Ace,

Your Dad and I owe you a giant muffin basket for continuing to be your awesome, happy self these last few weeks, despite the major disruptions in your life. I thought for certain that our travel day from California to New Jersey would be a challenge of epic proportions, but nope. I mean, it was certainly a long day with lots of luggage toting, but it wasn't the drama I expected.

Upon our arrival, you charmed your entire New Jersey/Pennsylvania family with your abundant smiles and cuddling and cooing--the cooing has become much louder and gruntier and dramatic lately.

The latest development concerns your thumbs, those wily thumbs that have eluded you for months! You totally found them for good this time. Right, left, it doesn't matter. You've mastered them both, and your enthusiasm for them is highly entertaining (you know, for your parents). Thanks to the thumbs, you've spent a good deal of time contemplating your hands, drumming your fingers together like some sort of cartoon villain.

There's nothing villainous here, though. I'm beyond grateful that you really only fuss when there's a problem of the food or diaper variety. Your complaints are much gentler--barely complaints--when you require a lesser service.

We're looking forward to your first Christmas, which I didn't really expect (I mean, it's not like you'll really notice anything other than extra people and extra attention). I'm trying to install a few little traditions, even though they don't mean anything to you right now--you wore your official Christmas pjs for the first time yesterday, and I have to get my hands on a specific ornament for you. If you keep napping after I hit "publish," I'm going to wrap a couple things we (and by "we," I mean "Santa") picked up for you.

Even with the holidays thrown in, this next month will be less hectic than the last, thank goodness. I'm hoping to have a bit more time to just stare at you while you do your Ace thing. Not in a creepy way, promise.

Love,

The Lady Who Finally Finished Unpacking