Christmas and It's Lead-Up

It's a white Christmas here in the South and it's bringing a blessed calm to the 646--though it must be said that the clam is greatly aided Sarah's success in the daily struggle of "how to get Hannah to sleep?" It turns out the girl is more responsive to vigor than subtlety. She prolly gets that from me. So as she naps past feeding time, I'm seizing the opportunity to update this blog. 

The Food-Tree continues, as does our overwhelming gratitude to those who keep bringing us food. The big winner this week is our friend Nancy who figured that we'd be ready for some snacky-noshy things. So she brought us Pimento Cheese! While she claims to make a mean pimento cheese herself (a claim I hope she will substantiate at a later date) she was a crunched for time as any of us and so fell back on the until-recently-ever-dependable Five Points Deli, an establishment which has just closed its doors after 18 years of success. While correlation is not causation, one must wonder how we ended up with the last batch of pimento cheese ever to leave those hallowed grounds. What knocked Sarah's socks off, though, was the accompaniment. Nancy brought with her a key lime pie, courtesy of Mr. Jonathan Klein. Jonathan, you had me at, "My Little Peroni!"

The future Dr. Riley wields the pimento cheese prize.

Also gracing  us with their presence this week were select members of the Bennett clan. Brooklyn resident Bennett, whose first name I forget, brought his son, Lucian, and mother, Grandma Mimi, over for an afternoon at the 646. It was a great visit- plenty of time to catch up and discuss and marvel at the growth at the next generation. Still, watching him drive away reawakened the sadness of having my dearest and closest scattered to the four winds.

Bennett- still tres chic in white socks.

And yes, my mother- Grandma Kushi/ Dr. Cumberland- is here until the 2nd. Here we see her meet her granddaughter (in my favorite hat) for the first time.

It's been wonderful having her here to share our first Christmas at the 646.

Our first tree, presents and all. The stockings may or may not actually be my socks.

However, it is my guess that if you're reading this you really just want more pictures of Hannah Mo. Here we go.

Ah!

Ooh!

The Roly-Poly & the Glo-Worm

Sadly, time waits for no man... or woman, as the case may be. My world's-foremost-authority anthropologist Mom has some story translations to keep rocking through and my college professor wife has a Federal Tax Accounting class (um, yuck) to prep. And I am working on this blog. Here's what our kitchen table looks like.

Busy times at the 646

Too much going on these days to keep it all documented.
Dad was here for a couple of days to meet his new granddaughter, I graduated from college, and Hannah id charting news levels in her vocal capacity. These each deserve their own post-- I hope I'll get the time...um... sometime.

Until then:

More soon. Gotta go- the baby is stirring.

A Nice Afternoon

Hannah Mo, kickin' it bouncy seat-style. Love those pants!

So, I'd mentioned in an earlier post that we're settling into a nice routine here at the 646. Yeah... not so much. Everything changes: the growing, the feeding, the sleeping, the trying to get things done.
But we have our fun. And now that I am done with school- oh yeah, I finished college last week- I get to be around the house helping out a lot more. And our friends have organized a food-tree for us. That means that every other day (or every day last week) some kind soul(s) bring us dinner. How cool is that?! Precious minutes are gained when dinner vanishes from the to-do list.

Hannah has smiled at me twice. It's amazing how powerful that small gesture can be, melting away all frustration and weariness, no matter how much there is to do or what time of the day/night it may be. And no, it's not gas she's expressing. It's pure, unadulterated affection for her father, a not-soft, man who provides no sustenance and smells nothing like mommy. I have no doubt.

Anyhow, the afternoons of late have been mild enough to spend a little time outside. Two days ago, Sarah, Hannah, and I happened to be out front when some of our dear friends happened by with their littluns.

The two Simpson girls reenact the good ol' days.

Keeper:"Hmm- I can catch a chipmunk. I can eat a squirrel. Now, this red thing..."

Keeper's prey, blind to the danger he is in, is delighted.

 

 

Hope saves her son from mortal peril in the nick of time.

Meanwhile, a young visitor to the 646 (who looks nothing like his father) tried to figure out why people kept taking pictures of him.

Finally, young Morris does his best Sean Penn, and tells the camera to clear out.

By the time Mr. Penn realized what was about to happen, it was too late!

Germany's Finest Export

Today, my sister celebrates another anniversary of her 27th birthday. However I don't think the champagne corks will fly with quite as much gusto as they have in years past. Two days ago she had to say goodbye to her faithful companion of 17 years, Cynnamon. I don't have a picture of Cynnamon so just imagine the cutest red-and-white Cocker Spaniel you ever saw, add a sweet and outgoing personality, and a tender heart and you get kinda close to what Cynnamon was.

It was a two-way street, of course. Lo was just as good a friend to Cynnamon.
And she's always been there for me, too.
Thanks, Lo. Happy birthday.

I mean, really!

  Hannah has been the subject of over 300 photos so far in her short life. 

Here are four of them.

Hannah's First Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was a huge success. It always is--it's my favorite holiday of the year. It's a time for me to reflect on what a sweet, charmed life I live.

Hannah, Sarah, and I were joined at the 646 by Sarah's parents and her aunt and uncle, Judy and Joe, who made the 6-hour round trip from Clover, S.C. In keeping with tradition, they had to drive through torrential rain and get stopped in bumper to bumper traffic on the way here. Still, they arrived safe and unscathed (a good thing too, since they brought the sweet potatoes and lemon pound cake!)

Despite the rough treatment Mother Nature  gave Joe and Judy, it was a beautiful day here in Athens, affording us the chance to take the oh-so-important pre-dessert walk.

Let's let the pics tell the tale!

Our friend Brittan came by to meet the littlest Simpson. She never fails to swing by when she's in town

What would you caption this one?

Joe and Judy take in as much Hannah as they can

"What? You mean I have three grandmas?"

Keeper, ever vigilant, kept an eye on the neighborhood.

Dinner, after we got through with it. Note the beautiful cutting board Uncle Joe made. Yes, made!

The walk: 4 ladies, 1 guy, and 1 cat?

The payoff! Apple-Cranberry pie, Homemade mincemeat pie, and lemon pound cake. The zinnias are from our cutting garden.

 

Enough said.

Turkey Day! er, Ham Day

Thanksgiving 2010 is finally here, and not a moment too soon. The leaves have fallen, Sarah's family is in town, and the little one is settling into a routine. It'll be an action packed eatfest for all, I'm sure.
All the gory details will be forthcoming.

Salut!

Nope, not Hannah, but still dern funny

Keeper paid the dog next door $5 to wear the costume so he wouldn't have to.

Da Funk at 646

Did I pick it up student teaching?
Did I pick it up at DePalma's?
Is it just something going around, unavoidable like Communism in the 50s or Justin Bieber today?

Who knows. What we do know is that the common cold has come, and it's visited me, Sarah, and now lil' Hannah has the sniffles. It's nothing serious, but anything to compound the general lack of sleep going on can turn the frustration knob to 11.

Mama Donna is still here (thank heaven) and will be here through Turkey (actually Ham) Day. After this weekend, though, we 646ers will be left to our own devices. Updates to come.

We've all been there

This one is called, "Taking its toll"

We'd expected a sibling rivalry. We were wrong.

Uncle Sam Comes to Visit

The 646 was graced by a visit from two of our favorite far-flung friends today. Sarah's brother and Rosie Thomas-Shoop Shoop Doowop swung by today to meet the newest 646er. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day to have out-of-towners in; the leaves are in stunning fahsion right now, and are fighting the good fight against the battering rain. Crimson leaves look so good against a gray backdrop, no?

No visit is ever long enough, but we were unhurried and without an agenda. Mama Donna, Sarah, Hannah, Rosie, Sam, and myself were able to just sit back and chat and bask in the glory of a child who really couldn't be more easy going. I hesitate to say that, and Sam chuckled as he said, "You just wait," but still... I'm pretty sure that every parent thinks they have the best child in the world. What makes me different is that I'm right.

Just a couple pics today.

Rosie and Sam examine the view(s)

Our best to all.
More soon.

Hannah's Big Day Out

First of all, the above picture is for those of you who've been wondering about the 646 part.
It's also a good reflection of the nature of our days lately. The fall weather has been beautiful--crisp mornings with warm afternoons and the leaves are peaking this weekend. This is the stuff that makes Athens, Georgia one of the best places to live... well, anywhere. Sarah and I have played the "If you could live anywhere..." game and we really can't think of a place that beats where we already are. All y'all should move here and see for yourself!

So the last couple of days have been highlighted by the visits of dear friends. Nedra (now Aunt Nedra) swung by to meet little Hannah yesterday and this morning saw visits from the Macker-Morris Co., Melissa "Temp Mom" Roberts,  and the Cymerman clan. Us 646ers would be in sad shape without the help, support, and invaluable advice from said parties.

Then, as if this wasn't enough, Hannah attended her first society function tonight. Seth and Kate finally tied the knot at the Campbell Compound in Cumming where I went to high school. It was a beautiful ceremony and the perfect opportunity to introduce Hannah to a good portion of the people I hope to never lose touch with. Friends-- they're the family you get to choose, right?
The Campbell's have done more for me and all us crazy boys than we could ever hope to repay. 

On to the pics!

Somewhere behind the glo-worm hides a much-appreciated grandmother

Aunt Nedra and the Ladies of 646

The littlest Cymerman and the most petite Simpson met for the first time today

Temp Mom contemplates all the sparkly things she will dress little Lady Ha Ha in when she gets the chance

Ladies of the Day- The Bride: Kate Fowler Campbell and a temporarily out-shined Hannah Marie. Oh yeah, and me, too.

Mother of the Groom, Lady Meg Campbell, meets the newest branch on her informal family tree.

Sometimes it's hard to believe that they'll let retired pizza delivery boys have kids, yet here' the proof. Adam Morris, me, Drew Strickland, and 2 choice examples of America's future.

Anybody who's anybody was here! Well, except for Bennett and Vivian and the McGaughey's, and Jody and...