John, looking very distinguished in his new jammies, also from Jim, Joan and Laura. They also got him a great chew-toy, which is temporarily frozen in the car.

These are some of John's gifts which came early - we'll be opening the rest on the Orthodox Christmas. I think I mentioned it earlier, but even though it's Christmas, it's just a regular day for us because Mike is working all day. We always make dinner together, and sit around talking all day, so it's just not Christmas without him here. We're celebrating Ukrainian Christmas this year instead. If he's working that day? Well, I guess we'll just pick a random day.

I have a feeling a lot of kids got those walkie talkie radios for Christmas. I've been hearing voices on John's baby moniter all morning.

We did squeeze in one tradition for regular Christmas - we watched It's a Wonderful Life with John last night. He liked the credits at the start the best. I was trying to nurse him, but he wanted to watch the letters instead. Unfortunately, it ended past his bedtime, so he doesn't know how it ends - he melted down just after Clarence arrived. Maybe next year - we watch it every year.

I still don't believe Mike's working. Thankfully, there's nothing trivial on his board - every single one is out of service. Even still, he plans to make them all feel horribly guilty. Though, in their defense, they probably aren't expecting anyone to be working today. When our water heater exploded on Labour Day, I never thought they'd send a couple of guys out that day to replace it. I didn't even think anyone would be there to pick up the phone on a holiday. I was just going to leave a message. I felt pretty bad - I could hear them in the basement griping that anyone would call in on Labour Day. Now I know better - I'll just suck it up next time a utility blows up or conks out, because I don't want some poor guy to have to give up his holiday for me.

John's doing great! Still loving the banana! He's not gassy, but he's still really grumpy now and then - I think he's teething again. You can see the drool rash on his cheek and chin in the photos, and he's been biting like crazy. I guess I need to put cream on all of his cheeks now - he sleeps with his face in a puddle of drool, so it's having a hard time healing up.

I made him some baby food yesterday - apples and pears. Though, I'm still going to try to find that iron free cereal. He's started waking up hungry throughout the night, even though he's been sleeping through the night for nearly three months. I don't mind getting up and feeding him - we've started co-sleeping for part of the night again to make it easier on everybody - but I'm worried it means he's not getting enough to eat in the day, and it's just going to keep getting worse until he can get something to fill him up. He always falls asleep right after his banana, but it isn't really a stick-to-the-ribs kind of food. I was talking to a mom online who's son is the same way. She said she just made him regular adult oatmeal out of the little quick oats. She said it solved his digestive issues, he loved it and it kept him filled better than baby cereal. That sounds like a good idea, but Mike thinks we should still find the baby version to start off with, because it might be easier to digest. However, it will have to wait until it warms up a bit - our car is encased in ice right now from a big ice pellet storm that blew through. The ice scraper is frozen inside. I'm such a pansy - if I were working, I would be out there chipping away with a credit card or something, but there's no rush now. I have the luxury of waiting out the cold snap. At least until the food runs out - then things could get ugly.

It's actually really beautiful here right now. It rained, then froze solid, covering everything in ice; now if you look up into the trees, all the branches twinkle in the sunlight. It's really pretty. Treacherous for anyone trying to walk, but pretty. I tried taking a picture, but the camera can't pick it up.

Sorry if this is all really boring to anyone. I'm still writing to keep family posted on us and John, but I have no idea who's reading anymore. Regardless, whether you're directly related to John, or are a friend of the family, or a friend of a friend or relative, I hope all of you are having a great Christmas!