Intentions being what they are it won't do much good to declare I had many in regards to documenting the aspects of our lives these past three months. Three months in the life of a small child can very well be half of it! Life has been moving at either a break-neck pace or has become ensnared in the muck and mire of circumstances that are better left historical and thus forgotten. With Christmas nearly upon us and two holidays already passed with nary a word it is high time I write something, though I fear it shall not be in any great depth.

October not only brought us the changing of the leaves, harvest parties, a visit to a pumpkin patch, and Emma's first Halloween, October took my grandmother away from us. The week prior to her passing was dotted with false alarms and vigils; every ring of my phone sent my heart racing wondering if it was The News, and every time we thought it was I rushed over. If I have a personal philosophy it is: "Live so that you have no regrets." I cannot even recall how much work I missed and had to make up in the late hours of the night. I know there were a few hours, but what I do remember was I was able to be with my grandmother in her last days, and be something of a blessing to her: I was able to demonstrate I did love her. I have been blessed that thus far, I have been able to say good-bye to those who have gone on before me.

With every death there is grief, and grief brings about unpredictable reactions in people. Some surprise you with malice, and some with kindness. The grief-ridden fallout from this sorrowful affair caught me be surprise and found me in some cross-fire. Death is not an easy thing for people to cope with, and October tossed us into some situations where coping is all we could do; in some ways that still holds true and our extended family is still healing.

November brought with it some introductions and closure. My grandmother's funeral was postponed until my brother could fly home from Sweden. I would have liked to visit with my brother and introduce him to his niece under better circumstances, nonetheless Emma met Adam, and they seem quite comfortable together. She hasn't yet cried or fussed at him, and has gotten better about that in regards to grandpa, much to his delight. Emma continues to grow and amaze us, specifically she was quiet the entire time during the funeral. However, she was adorable to the point where some relatives and close family-friends admitted they watched her part of the time.

Thanksgiving was a quiet affair with just a small group of us. It was Holly's turn this year to be sick, and luckily only with a cold. We did eat, we did give thanks, and we did spend time together as a family, all six of us, something unprecedented, and very welcome. My brother will still be around through the New Year and then he'll head back to Sweden indefinitely.

December marks Emma's sixth month on this voyage we call Life! For her this was marked with an introduction to solid foods, which meant rice cereal. What we didn't know was that also meant a sudden onset of hives one Saturday night that reminded Holly and I that we are parents and we will earn each and every grey hair we have, and will be able to attribute them to our children. Emma cleared up by Sunday morning. Regardless we switched her to oatmeal and so far, so good, plus she seems to like it much better.

Somewhere in these past months Emma has learned to laugh infectiously, keep her balance while sitting, and discovered the joy and pleasure of "petting" (grasping really) our cats. Much to our relief Louie avoids Emma rather than hissing at her, and Phoebe not only tolerates her but has been seen rubbing up against her in an affectionate way (which is usually short lived as Emma will grab a huge hunk of fur and Phoebe decides that's not what she wanted). This has, of course, meant Mommy has been quite emphatic that Emma not put her fur covered mitt in her mouth, which usually results in some light entertainment for Daddy.

Christmas this year will be spent with Holly's side of the family, and we shall meet our niece for the first time! There will be two little girls, only six weeks apart, stealing the show and passed from relative to relative until they've been exposed to enough family cooties to mark them for life. It should be a wonderful affair, and made possible thanks to my stay-at-home job, which does mean I'll be working through the holidays, but we will be together.