Holiday Fun

Dear Vinny,

On Saturday, we went to a holiday party at the next-door neighbor's. You were a popular guy and lots of people wanted to hold you. For a long time, a neighbor down the street, Shigiro, held you and you two watched TV in the other room. You knew her from Halloween and from when Mommy and Daddy voted, because she was one of the poll workers and she watched you while we voted.

But it was that night that we noticed you were a little crankier than usual. By morning you were all stopped up and had a cough: it was your first cold. Continuing the holiday tradition of children everywhere, you were sick on Christmas. We had been invited to go over to Joe and Katie's for Christmas dinner (that's the son-in-law and daughter of the next-door neighbor) but we had to decline because you weren't feeling good.

On Christmas morning we opened our presents. You helped Mommy and Daddy open your presents. We would start to tear the wrapping paper, and then we helped you get a handhold on it and you would rip it some more. I think you will enjoy your presents more next year. You made out like a bandit. Daddy and Mommy bought you a bunch of toys, but Granny and Granddad also gave you toys as well as some cute clothes.

The day after Christmas, I took you to the doctor. As it turns out, you also had an ear infection, so you are now on amoxicillin, which they are able to put in a thick, berry-flavored liquid that you seem to think tastes pretty good. Daddy has been doing a consistently good job of spraying your nose with saline spray and sucking out your boogers, which you totally hate. But it makes it easier for you to breathe. I've also been taking advantage of the fact that you cough before you cry in order to make you clear your breathing passages. Sometimes while you're eating it sounds like you're having a hard time breathing so I take away your bottle, which makes you upset. The first thing you do before crying is you cough, so I just wait until you clear out your throat and then I give you the bottle again. It's a dirty trick, but it seems to work.

Later in the afternoon your grandma and grandpa arrived, en route to Florida. They were happy to see you, even though you were still under the weather. But you were cheered up by their charms. Your grandma spent some time cooing with you, and she really enjoyed it. Grandma and Grandpa also brought a bunch of presents, most of which were for you. Even some of the presents for Mommy and Daddy were actually for you!

They were reluctant to leave in the morning, but they knew that they'd get to see you again on their way back from Florida. They will be back tomorrow evening. I'm sure they can't wait to see you again!

Love,
Mommy