Happy 2010!

So, it seems that I have a touch of post-New Year's Eve insomnia. Jay and I survived Christmas with our families--a bit more intense on his side because almost all his Welch relatives were in town for Sef's christening. I was so glad to see (nearly) all his aunts and uncles again. The last time they were all in town was for Rus and Heidi's wedding.

There was a noticeable trend in the gifts I received this year: Time to Buy a Hope Chest. Jay's grandparents gave us a set of pillow cases and my grandmother gave me a set of mixing bowls. I'm actually beyond excited about the bowls. My roommate and I do a lot of cooking and baking, and it's become clear that we need more than one set of bowls--and since they were a Christmas gift and not a wedding one, I can use them right now!

One of Jay's coworkers gave him an electronic counting jar, which I have commandeered for wedding savings purposes. As a kid, I was always amazed by how much spare change I had laying around. I was able to make a major donation to the Relay for Life one year using only change from around my house. So now, I'm applying that experience to our wedding savings. So far, we have almost fifteen whole dollars in the jar!

This year, Jay and I have had a low-key New Year in Athens. We went out to dinner at my favorite Indian restaurant, but have been in our pajamas since ten o'clock New Year's Eve. My roommates won't be back for a few days, so we've taken the opportunity to have some quiet before winter classes begin.

Resolution-wise, Jay is taking his usual route: in January, he resolves to give something up for Lent. On Ash Wednesday, he gives up his New Year's resolution.

This year, I've decided to be a little selfish in my resolutions. I tend to take care of everyone else and let my needs get pushed to the back burner. Last fall, I found myself completely burned out. So, I'm resolving to get more sleep and journal, as well as keep all my doctor's appointments. Also, because I'm vain and there will be many pictures taken of me when Jay proposes, I'm going to try to tone up before the spring. I know it's only a day into 2010, but I have high hopes for this year.

Mid-Holiday Recap

One thing that Jay and I have dealt with for years now (and will continue to deal with once we're married) is the family holiday conundrum. Thanksgiving has always been a little tricky because there's only one day of celebration (we stretch Christmas out as long as we can). This year, Jay's family ate with his brother's in-laws, and while he and I were both invited, I think it was nice for the Welches and Pifers to have a nice dinner before the birth of baby Sef (more on that later!). So Jay spent Thanksgiving dinner with my family--and claims he loves how laid back we are. I know that my mom sometimes worries that we're not "festive enough," but personally I've found that we strike a great balance of festivity and relaxation (I mean, isn't that what vacations are meant for?).

Of course this Thanksgiving was especially low-key because on Saturday we left for my Mom-mom's 75th birthday party. Now, Jay has done long (read: 12+ hours) car trips with my family before, but never with all five of us in one car. Jay and I are used to talking out disagreements, but as it turns out, we don't feel entirely comfortable doing it in front of four other people. So, we had a few rough moments. Overall though, we had a ton of fun, and Jay got to meet almost all of my Dad's side of the family (and they seemed to love him!).

I think the lowest point of this holiday season was when my parents had to put down our dog Pippin on December 2. As far as we can tell, he had a brain tumor that was forcing him to have seizures; the night before he died, he seized for most of the night. His death was especially hard for me because I wasn't in Youngstown at the time--also I found out right before going into work. Jay was really amazing through my grieving (even when I was irrationally angry). He did his best to comfort me over the phone and told me about his favorite memories of Pip. One of the things I love best about Jay is that he is an unabashed dog lover--he coos at puppies and grieves lost pets.

On a far brighter note, on December 10, Jay's brother and sister-in-law welcomed their first child, Joseph "Sef" Kumar. Vital stats: 7lbs 7oz, 20 inches, dark hair, navy blue eyes, and an adorable dimple. I'm still waiting for pictures (drat my being in Athens!) from the proud parents and grandparents. I'm so excited to have a little nephew to spoil, and I'm hoping that spending time with Sef will help Jay to become more comfortable with children. I'm not looking to have my own anytime soon, but I wish Jay would believe me when I say that he'll be a great father. Now at least he has his brother's excellent example to follow.

And on a random note, Jay and I may have found where we'll be honeymooning. The dream honeymoon would be a trip to Wales, but in all honesty one (or both) of us would need to win the lottery to make that happen. However, while hiking in Hocking Hills this weekend, we discovered that the state park has amazing cabins for rent. They range from rustic "campfire and a bunk" set ups to luxurouis chalets with hot tubs and private balconeys. As I asked Jay, "How wonderful would it be to hike these trails all day, then collapse into our own private jacuzzi?!"

At any rate, we're looking forward to enjoying our last Christmas as "just" boyfriend and girlfriend. I'm not expecting a ring under either of our Christmas trees, but I'm so excited to share another holiday season with our families. Happy Santa Lucia Day to you all (and to all a good night)!