i heart

Buby in his new robe from Santa, Christmas 2007

Christmas week...
i love the sight of: tree lights glowing, family all together, Buby rolling dough, a smile back from a teeny tiny niece, a 2-year-old napping--even if only for an hour in the car between houses, Buby playing piano and sitting on Grandpa's lap reading, Buby's ear pressed against a big sea shell my Grandma V. collected on the beach many decades ago {"I HEAR THE OCEAN," he tells us}, Buby casting with his manly man fishing pole
i love the sound of: an excited "WOW" as Buby makes his way down the stairs to presents every morning, Eddie Vedder's "Into the Wild" soundtrack in the car, a firm "NO, MAMA... STAY OUT THERE" coming from under Buby's makeshift fort at Grammy DJ's, Christmas lullabies on repeat, an appreciative "DADDY, THIS IS DELICIOUS" at breakfast, an approving "MAMA, IT IS BEAUTIFUL" after trimming all 20 toddler nails, my sis-in-law "MISSALALA" {as Buby calls her} explaining Wigilia--a Polish tradition on Christmas Eve that we were so blessed to be a part of this year--before we all shared Oplatek wafers
i love the scent of: food and people filling a room at the holidays, snow, clementines, breakfast at my mom's house on Christmas eve, aroma sticks in fresh cotton, Thai food so spicy it makes the eyes water
i love the taste of: winning what i wanted in 2 yankee swap games, my mom's mac + cheese, chocolate-covered cherries, warm applesauce with blueberries + strawberry slices, soft dinner rolls smothered in melted butter, an entire dining table of appetizers and desserts
i love the feel of: Buby falling asleep with both hands on my face, being with nieces Sid + Lily on their very first Christmas, knowing that Buby has a real sense of family--even though we don't live nearby, hugging Spencer, Grace + Parker after many months away, getting all of our year-end donations and charitable gifts squared away, being able to see our attic floor again, Buby throwing out names for his baby sister every night before bed
i love the surprise of: Buby's Great Grandma J's terrycloth apron {thanks, Aunt Mary, for thinking I'm worthy of it}, a vintage rocker my mom cherished as a child--which my little ones will now love, a super soft homemade quilt for Buby's big boy bed, a cookbook Buby + I can get into together, matchbox cars from the 70s rediscovered in the old barn, Buby's Great Great Aunt Izzy's memoirs, a homemade snowman kit for a family of 4 {from a clever sis-in-law}, a painted wood key cubby crafted by Billy + Lauren, a live video phone that'll add visuals to chats with my mom, a pink pokka dotted nappy set for Bebe, the gift of never ever getting into a TOO hot or cold car again {electric start, baby!}, and lots of other beautiful things