That time of year

Christmas is that time of year. Time for family, get togethers, food, wine, reminiscing, memories, shopping, gifts, traveling, all of it the good and the craziness of it all. It is the holiday season! It has been interesting this year with Garett. He still does not understand Santa and gifts. He understands that there is a tree and he can pull ornaments off it (much to my annoyance)! He continues to say the Christmas lights are hot and he loves to look out the window at the Christmas lights on the neighbors house. One neighbor has a train all lit up, he especially likes to say "choo, choo." It is fun watching Garett enjoy some of the seasons traditions. He also loves to dance to snowmen (see below) so much so that I could sing you the song too!

But with the Christmas season brings some sadness too, sadness that Jack isn't here with us. Setting up the Christmas tree, seeing Jacks' ornaments, was incredibly hard. It is those times that I miss him the most. Makes me realize that although the holidays are a time for family and laughter there are so many for whom the season brings with it so much sadness too. Sadness over the loss of a loved one, sadness over what may not be next year. Just sadness. Working hospice too, you realize how much the season affects people. I had a woman tell me that she would prefer to know when exactly her mom may pass, because she has a lot of things going on right now. I was taken aback until I realized that these are lessons learned, for her and for me. She didn't mean to be callous, we just sometimes forget what matter with all the chaos around us. Whether it be what matters at Christmas or what matters in general. We often don't have time to fit it all in during Christmas, but taking a step back , remembering what this time is all about is important. Remembering those that are not here with us. Remembering that there are those less fortunate that us. These are all important reminders to me. So, yes, setting up the Christmas tree made me miss Jack and made me a little sad, but it also made me incredibly thankful for what I do have in my life...somehow Jack always reminds me of that just when I need that reminding.

And so we enter into the Christmas week. We are headed back to Minnesota to see family and friends. We celebrate Christmas. We meet the newest addition to the Iverson family (Stacy and Jimmy's daughter Emily). We see extended family. We see family that we love the most. And we enjoy being together...that is what this time is about.

Lots to say

Garett has a lot to say these days. Some of it we understand and some of it we don't. I am sure he knows exactly what he is saying, we just have not figured it out quite yet! It sure is fun to listen to him jabber away though!

He continues to work with a therapist to make sure his language skills stay on track (which they are for the most part). She sees him once a month and it is wonderful reassurance for me that things continue to go ok developmentally for garett. I think sometimes it is easy to forget Garett was born 13 weeks early. Thankfully, we don't normally think of it, but it is still nice to know that he is doing what most 2 year olds do! And our therapists is always amazed at his motor skills. And I am not therapist, but really he amazes me too!

He is in the beginning stages of stringing two words together. In fact right now two or three words are smashed into one word, "whatsthat?" and "hereyougo" are his two favorites (that we can figure out!). He is learning opposites like hot and cold, near and far. Personally I find hot a hard one to teach, because he naturally thinks everything is always hot. Hard for a two year old to understand that no the iron isn't hot when it is not plugged in! IN fact, for a bit he thought the Christmas tree light were hot. Hans insisted we keep letting him believe that, but he caught on! Overall he is moving right along, literally and figuratively.

For the rest of us, I finally as of today have a moment to breath and relax (which is why the blog is getting updated!). I am done with my semester! Yeah! I am very much looking forward to "doing nothing" for the next five weeks. Of course "doing nothing" is a term used loosely. Hans is excited (for now) that he doesn't have to sit on the couch by himself all night for a bit. He has some company again.

We are just getting into the holiday spirit. The tree is up, we did some Christmas shopping today and we are gearing up for our trip back to Minnesota! Hope to see most (or at least some of you while we are back!)