Christmas, etc

It's been awhile. In fact, it's probably been too long for me to recap everything that has happened in the past month. We took X back to NC for the holidays. It was wonderful to see family. I think I never fully appreciated my parents until I had my own son. It felt good to introduce him to our families and to have everyone under one roof for Christmas again. I came to Korea wanting the adventure of living far from home; two years later, I wish I was a little closer. And yes, I still consider NC home. We live in Daegu, but we will always be guests here. It was also wonderful to watch American TV, visit Target, Fresh Market, Baby's R' Us, Kohls, and a plethora of American restaurants, drive on less insane streets, and understand the people around us. These are all things I miss ten times more now that I have a baby.

X was an excellent traveling companion. He slept through most of the flights and gurgled and cooed through the rest. He was excited to be in warmer climates, where he could go outside. I will never get tired of that look of wonder he gets on his face when introduced to something new, whether the sound of birds or trees with leaves or a cool light fixture (there were some humdingers at Narita Airport).

We stopped in Hawaii on our way back and enjoyed some beach time and some beautiful scenery. All of this is meant to cushion the impending blow of returning to work. Yes, it's time. I realize how small my world has become when talking to other people who work, or at least leave the house on a regular basis. Most are not as interested in my X narratives as I am.

With that caveat, I have to insert a X narrative. We've returned to an all new house, as far as he's concerned. He gets really excited about his toys, particularly the mobile over his changing table. This baby has travelled around the world, seen the beach, the mountains, the suburbs, and a big city, and stayed in two houses and four hotel rooms, but his old mobile brings the strongest reaction. Go figure.

Christmas at the Healeys'

Christmas at the Dubuissons'

Xander loves his grandparents

View from our hotel room in Waikiki

Stretching after a day of car rides

Sandy beach park...?  I think.

We found a quiet beach

Pali overlook