lights

so in lieu of the usual pre-bedtime ritual of a few minutes of "sesame street" video on the youtube -- or "tee tee," as the boy calls it -- he, his mama and i sat on the couch in the soft glow christmas lights.

i called up the lovely "sing we christmas" album by chanticleer on the itunes as he sipped his milk and noshed on some cheerios. (he'd eaten a very poor dinner and mama didn't want him waking up hungry.)

he kept pointing to the bright strings of white across the window and the braids of color draped along the mirror, wondering at the "lighes."

with the cheerios gone, he was soon up and toddling between the kitchen baby gate and the couch, alternately activating the voice on his "lightning mcqueen" kiddie car and getting horsie rides on daddy's knee.

he eventually wound down.

i got his diaper changed and lowered the boy into his crib. mama touched his cheek and smoothed his hair. then he drifted off with nary a peep.

judging by kris' discomfort these past couple of days, the baby seems to be positioning herself for an arrival in the next day or so -- or at least before next weekend.

if that's the case, this likely will have been the last evening we will have spent as just we three.