2010, really?!

Another new year! Didn't we all freak out about Y2K just yesterday? We didn't stay up last night--these days, I'd much rather sleep than watch the ball drop in Times Square--but I was up around 11:00 with Kate. I realized, at that late-night nursing hour, that we've been in a different place for each of the last six New Year's Eves: Reno, NV; Manteca, CA; Lewiston, ID; Valencia, CA; Winnemucca, NV; and Las Cruces, NM. We also lamented, on our way down to New Mexico two weeks ago, that we've traveled, to either Idaho or New Mexico, every single Christmas since we've been married: EIGHT YEARS now. To put it bluntly, we are sick and tired of driving each Christmas, most summers, and some Easters, spring breaks, and Thanksgivings. It would be so nice to live near family and not have to travel as much... but enough wishful thinking!

Our trip was wonderful. We spent the first half of it in Rio Rancho and the latter half in Las Cruces. Brian and I had our first actual DATE since the summer of 2008! We went antique shopping and saw the new "Twilight" movie. And I was able to have a pedicure and haircut (precious time sans children) later on in our trip! Kate's been a little hesitant to let others hold her, but I think that's mostly because of all the traveling we've been doing. Both Brian's mom and stepmom were able to babysit her, after she warmed up to them.

Each time we go to New Mexico, Jack plays better with his older cousins. Matthew is still a little annoyed by him sometimes, and doesn't realize how much Jack idolizes him. Marissa is good about driving the big mesh "Thomas" train around with Jack. And this time, Kate was able to join in on some of the fun.

Kate, by the way, is going back to California with a whole lot more skills. She can now push herself up on hands and knees to rock back and forth, "scootch" backward while on her tummy, and feed herself chunks of bread or "sticky stars." (Although sometimes the sticky stars get stuck en route, and she winds up with food hanging from her cheeks or fingers.) I love watching her manipulate things with those chunky little hands. Every milestone is a little victory for this mommy. So much that I don't necessarily mind having sticky stars stuck to my own derriere for a good portion of my romantic date with Brian!