When did 2012 happen?

It's been a little more than two months since I've posted anything on this blog, which is funny, since it has felt like only a few weeks. I've realized that it's a lot harder to keep this up than it was the first time around, in part because the kid from the first time around is more demanding than ever, and Adam isn't exactly sitting in a corner of a room anymore, impersonating a garden troll. No, these kids want my attention almost all the time, and when they don't, I'm usually preoccupied with staring into space and drooling. Coffee often perks me up, but these days, with the two overly-energetic kids, even the basic cup of joe is starting to fail me. I might soon need something stronger, like a dark roast without milk, or ecstasy.

It also hasn't exactly been the slowest of times here.  In November, we drove down to North Carolina because we are crazy, and because Jennifer's wonderful Aunt Anna and her husband Jim were hosting a big family Thanksgiving celebration.  We survived the trip down, even though Kyle nearly threw up in the car and was out one day with a fever.  The visit was worth it, though, as the holiday was so much fun.  Jennifer even said it was her all-time favorite Thanksgiving.  Kyle was much better on the way back, but with his health came his energy and impatience.  He decided that he was in Brooklyn an hour before the rest of us actually arrived there, and he whined and yelled, fighting us hard and attempting to unbuckle his seat belt.  It was not exactly a joyful moment, and it led one of Kyle's loving and caring parents to say something like, "You were much better when you were sick!"  The elder brother had also caused the youngest to cry.  We were so happy once we returned home, with the kids in bed and beers in our hands.

Meanwhile, our second child is into hunting and gathering these days.  That all began a few weeks ago, when this little beauty showed up:

Yep, that's a bona fide lower left central incisor (bite-sized).  Adam has his first tooth.  He's already using it to gnaw on his toys and his brother's fingers.  I exaggerated a bit when I said he's into "hunting and gathering," since he can't bring home a lot meat without the ability to walk or crawl.  His best catch is his stuffed lion, which does not taste as good, even if it's cooked on the grill.  Trust me.  Still, we are excited about the tooth, though we're approaching the development with a bit of caution.  Some of you may remember what happened when Kyle's teeth came in:

Fortunately the recall gods had pity on us, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission warned that the slats of this crib could potentially break when a bowling ball is thrown at them, thus posing a hazard to children inside.  So, we had to send this crib back for another one.  We also invested in some crib-rail protectors, and if those don't work, we plan to coat the rail with goop that tastes like envelope glue.  After a few licks of that, Adam is sure to leave the rail alone.

After the first tooth came Adam's first Christmas!

Our holiday was delightful, as my parents and brother and sister-in-law visited to open presents, eat good food, and drink egg nog.  Best of all, nobody was snowed in, which meant the refrigerator still had some food in it after everybody left.  While Adam enjoyed the presents and the celebration, the wrapping paper wasn't as tasty as he had hoped it would be.  As you can see, he's obviously very disappointed, though not as disappointed as he will be years later, when these types of packages contain underwear and socks. 

So now begins 2012, hopefully a year far less crazy than the last one.  I plan to get caffeinated more, and to write more.  We'll see if I can get back on track with my blogging.  If not, see you in a few months!