Merry, Merry!

Christmas spirit has finally arrived here in Seattle and certainly in the Calkins Homes. Mom and Dad Calkins have decked the halls, covered the walls and set up the trees with twinkling white lights, and all the beauty of the Winter. Here at our place in West Seattle, the oven's been working overtime baking triple espresso peppermint brownies, sugar cookies ready for icing, and loads of other treats. The gifts are getting made, bought and wrapped and we've finally started our Holiday Film viewing with "How the Grinch Stole Christmas!". The joy of the season was really impressed upon us when we took West for his first Santa Photo! He was completely indifferent to the fact that this Old, hairy stranger in a big red-suit was talking to him, let alone holding onto him, as you can see in the photo,
and we had a great time watching him interact and try to figure
out just what St. Nick is all about.

In other news, we are getting over the last of our various illnesses, planning for Westley's first birthday (Wow!) as well as a few other events coming in the beginning of the new year, and trying our best to enjoy the season, family, friends and watching Westley do and say new things all the time. Lately his word of choice is "up" and he's enjoying a couple of new foods, testing his limits when it comes to standing alone and cruising, and he is, as always, so very entertaining to anyone he encounters. I am especially in love with his gorgeous head full of curly blond hair!