HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
We had a great time at Aunt Eileen’s and Uncle Geof’s party. We missed Mommy, though. She had to stay home, since she was not feeling well and running a fever. (She is feeling much better, now.) I woke Eric up early from his nap, so we could leave on time. We had a fun drive. I was singing along to songs on the radio, and Eric was singing with me. He is very good at picking up the last words of the song lines. He laughs sometimes when the lyrics sound funny.
We arrived at their lake house just after 5:00pm. Aunt Bev, Uncle Mike, and cousin Michael drove up right behind us. Michael helped carry some of our stuff into the house. It is next to impossible to travel light with Eric, but I am used to that. With my hands full, I let Eric walk up to the house. He was hesitant at first, and then decided that he did not want to go in. It was an unfamiliar house, so he turned and started walking away. I quickly shifted the cooler from my left hand to my right hand, which was already pulling our suitcase with another bag on top. I scooped Eric up into my left arm, and we went in. Uncle Geof greeted us at the door. Eric was sleepy and disoriented in a new place, so he played shy with Uncle Geof. Grandpa was also at the door to greet us. Eric gave a kiss, but was clinging to Daddy as if his life depended on it. Eric finally went to Grandpa’s arms to give a hug, but that lasted only long enough for a hug, then back to Daddy. I decided that the rest of the stuff could stay in the car for a little while until Eric was acclimated and settled in. We went upstairs and found Aunt Eileen and Grandma. Eric was happy to sit with Grandma…as long as Daddy stayed close by.
I finally got the car unloaded and Eric’s diaper changed. Now, where did I put that cooler with the beer…
Soon, cousins Jennifer and Jim arrived with Mario (5) and Anthony (3). Eric loved having his cousins there to play with. Within minutes, they were playing in the kids play room and having a great time. Aunt Eileen found some toy trucks and robots that Santa had left at the lake house for Eric.
Eric played with his cousins and frequently returned to Daddy just to make sure I was still there. He sat in my lap for several minutes each time. Gradually, these checks became farther between until he was comfortable with the new house and didn’t need the constant security of Daddy’s lap.
Cousin Chris was our chef for the day. He prepared a wonderful meal with salad, filet mignon, lobster tail, and a lemon-raspberry sorbet finish. Dinner was very good. Eric was not hungry and only ate some peaches that Aunt Eileen had in the cupboard.
After dinner, Eric continued playing with his cousins until 9:00pm when I started getting him ready for bed. With a shortened nap earlier today and already past his bedtime, Eric went right to sleep. I headed downstairs to join the rest of the guys in the poker game. We played until midnight when we were interrupted by the new year.
Champagne, countdown, music, hugs, kisses, fireworks, more champagne, noise makers, party hats!!!! Jim, Chris, and Michael took charge of the fireworks and launched many impressive blasts into the sky and across the lake. Very impressive display.
Amazingly, Eric slept through all the festivities…and we were LOUD!
The guys resumed playing poker until 3:30am. When I went to bed, I crept in quietly, and crawled into bed. Aunt Bev and Uncle Mike were sharing our room. They had already been in for a while. Of course, soon after I settled in, Eric woke up. He was frightened in the dark and called my name frantically. I reassured him that I was there and picked him up. He was sleeping in a pack-and-play right next to the bed. He immediately collapsed onto my chest and ended up laying asleep across my throat. I was not comfortable, but every time I tried to move him away from my throat, Eric snuggled back up under my chin. That is how we slept until 9am when he woke up.
Eric woke at the same time as Aunt Bev. Eric said, “ma”, because he heard Grandma talking out in the living room. Aunt Bev got up and took Eric out to the living room. He was very happy to see Aunt Bev when he woke up.
Eric ate an entire piece of Grandma’s famous coffee cake for breakfast. He was very thirsty. He drank more than 3 cups of apple juice. Eric played with his cousins for a while again after breakfast.
We got home late in the afternoon. Mommy was very excited to see us. We were very excited to see her, too!
Happy New Year!