November 2014

Soren was reunited with Brenda at stake conference, and I enjoyed an hour of peace and quiet two rows back while they searched for Goldbug.

This is how Soren feels about going on the potty. I want to hide my head every time I think of toilet training too.

We made two IKEA runs this month — yikes. Soren quickly learned about checking the price tag before falling for anything.

And then he suckered us into buying him a mini table-and-chairs set.

I finished up my little photography class in November and got a couple of good Soren faces.

A little out of focus. Always out of focus!

Soren occupies himself with a loader and fresh ginger to get through the craziness of a pre-Thanksgiving Market Basket run.

I both love and hate when Soren ends up in my bed. At least he’s cute.

I often worry that Soren will grow up with no creative abilities since both his parents are completely unimaginative. But every now and again he surprises me with a little inventiveness. He often morphs my bread pans into a train, but this day it was something else entirely — a car wash. The felt board nativity characters were washing the machines. Look at those wisemen taking care of that loader!

We took off for Brooklyn the day before Thanksgiving. As usual, I over-planned and over-packed for the car ride out of fear that Soren would demand entertainment all four hours of the drive. All my worries were put at ease pretty quickly. Two hours in and all he’d needed from me was new books!

After a two-year hiatus from our NY Thanksgivings, dinner at Linsey’s was perfection. The food gets better every year. But the large crowd of good friends was sorely missed. Linsey, don’t ever move!

The kids went for the drumsticks.

Soren’s thinking about switching families.

We’ve been totally upfront with Soren about Santa, letting him know that jolly old St. Nicholas is pretend but a good symbol of secret service. I had no plans to take him to sit on Santa’s lap, but Linsey persuaded us to join her family for their annual jaunt to ABC Carpet & Home. And I’m glad she did — it was kind of magical. I figured Soren would pass on getting so cozy with a stranger, but he was perfectly OK with it. Another highlight was seeing Jane Krakowski (Jenna on 30 Rock) sit on Santa’s lap (along with her kid, of course), right after us.

Then off to City Bakery for hot chocolate and pretzel croissants. And mac and cheese priced at $14 a pound that was kind of amazing.

Best of all, the kids entertained themselves in the play space under the stairs!

Back at the house, my vampire baby showered me with snuggles all weekend.

Soren also spent a good chunk of time fawning over the two cats we fed in exchange for a dirt-cheap apartment rental just around the corner from Linsey’s. “I’m touching his foot!” he says.

Just waiting for the kitties to come out of hiding.