Baby's first Christmas

Better late than never!

Holiday wardrobe malfunction

Spectacular: Meeting Grampa at the airport, in your jammies, on Christmas morning.

Less than scintillating: Immediately before meeting Grampa at the airport on Christmas morning, discovering a hole in the crotch of your jammies.

Emmett's 2011 Christmas Carol

With the benefit of hindsight, the Ghost of Christmas Past gave Emmett's parents Peace On Earth. The Ghost of Christmas Present, by contrast, manifests itself as a high-output 2 year-old ripping it up at the mall with only a couple of shopping days to go. One can only imagine how things might have gone terribly wrong with an errant visit to Toys "R" Us.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

The Royal Tannenbaum

Despite an extensive tutorial on effective Christmas tree selection, Emmett, ever a fan of the underdog, instead develops an attachment to a festive stump.

All aboard the Carnivore Express

Emmett got his first taste of the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train on Sunday.

Shortly thereafter he got his first real taste of Swiss Chalet, and gave his mom and dad a glimpse of meals to come.

Home for the Holidays

Emmett's parents dragged him home to visit family and friends, celebrate his first Christmas, and tour him around their respective home towns. The holidays were full of fun, festivities, and many firsts including Emmett's first plane ride. He handled the outbound flight like a champ.

On the return flight, however, he was lucky to not be hauled off by security when just before pushing back from the gate he spat up a smuggled stash of breast milk cleverly concealed in his belly. Fortunately, the volume of liquid amounted to less than 100 mL.

Relatives from the clan Stran eagerly awaited his arrival. His cousins were smitten with the newest member of the family, as were his aunts.

Not sure if Uncle Blair was as smitten, though he eventually started to come around...

Luckily, Grampa and Poppa came to the rescue, giving Emmett some quality armchair time.

All in all, Emmett received more than his fair share of attention and cuddling over the holidays. Hey, when you're as cool a Christmas character as Emmett is, who can resist?

Emmettstivus

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

In his crib, he was sleeping, the babe with no hair

His parents, they had hopes..."Through the night, does he dare?"

The adults were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of a full nights sleep danced in their heads.

When from the babe's belly, there arose such a clatter

I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter

Over to his crib, I flew like a flash

Bent down and discovered...wee Emmett had gas.

His pampers all changed, his nose, it was kissed

He drifted to dreamland while sucking his fist.

He stirred only once more, for a late night snack

Then giggled and cooed while lying on his back.

But I heard him quite clearly, as I turned out his light

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

From our little family to yours...Merry Christmas!

Cross-cut paper shredder

Relaxing in the run-up to Christmas at Nana and Grampa's, Emmett gives a sneak preview of his enthusiasm for destroying gift wrap:

Holiday soundtrack

Emmett celebrated a wintry December day by spending much of yesterday morning providing his own brand of festive music for his parents. Nana and Gramma will comment on how smart their grandson is. Little do they know that Emmett is receiving $4.00 for participating in a Pavlovian conditioning experiment at U of C.