Babies!

Doesn't he make a great Baby New Year? Happy 2009 everyone! Had to start off this post with a scandalously cute Peter photo, courtesy of Papy Willett, because BABIES are in the air. Erika, Martin and Jana caught a glimpse of a newborn baby elephant seal at Ano Nuevo a few weeks ago, then some baby cows (aka calves) on the drive back from Jenner this past week. In addition to the animal babies, two of Erika's friends are pregnant and getting ever closer to the big day, and another friend just adopted a new baby boy yesterday with ONE HOUR of notice. Can you imagine? I mean, she and her husband had been preparing and hoping for that day for months, but then they got a phone call and within one hour they were in the car, on the way to pick up their new baby. Erika is so excited for them that she is just tingling all over. He is going to be one fiercely loved baby. Yes, another He. Both pregnant friends are due with boys as well. Something in the water? Hmmm.

Things have returned to normal around here and I am not getting NEARLY the petting I got during the last two weeks when everyone was home. Erika is back to working 4 days a week, Martin is back to working on his plane at every opportunity, Jana is working at getting Peter to eat more solid food (Kale! Carrots! Bananas! Mashed potatoes with yogurt! Egg yolks and even...nutritional yeast!). Mmmmm. Peter is working too - his new hobby is opening cupboards and drawers. He's decided crawling is not worth the effort since our slippery hardwood floors allow him to just pull himself along on his belly with his arms. Or, if he is in a hurry, he rolls and then twists into a sitting position. So talented! If only he would apply himself to something more useful, like long-distance sleeping...

Erika has not dared to open either of the bread baking cookbooks that she received for Christmas, for fear of immediately quitting her job and completely immersing herself in learning how to bake The Perfect Loaf of Bread for the next six months. She did, however, finally find the time to read her new(ish) Chez Panisse Desserts cookbook from cover to cover, in search of inspiration for pairings for Sunday's whiskey tasting party. Butterscotch Pecan pie is on the short list.

And speaking of Christmas, Erika and Martin were delighted to discover a WHOLE BOX of Christmas presents from Uncle Dave and Beth on Monday that had been delayed in the mail. What fun! Especially because it contained no fewer than THREE containers of the most delicious real Virginia peanuts, which should go a long way in ensuring marital harmony, as neither Erika nor Martin (both only children) will have to share their container with the other. Good thinking, Dave and Beth! :-)