The Eastern Kids' Christmas

Every year, around the 27th of December, we venture down to my parents' place on Emerald Isle, North Carolina and have a little fun in the sun. My brother Jim and his family also come to the Island and we have a Christmas with our parents. Because the two of us are the pair of siblings on the East Coast, my dad affectionately refers to us as the "Eastern Kids". So, on Saturday morning, we packed up the car and started the 6 hour drive down, and sure enough, 6 hours, on the dot, we drove off the bridge and onto the island.

The last time Jim, Lindsay, and his three sons Max, Jack, and Ben, saw Jamey, he was but a little boy of about 5 weeks. The boys could do nothing but stare at him. Imagine their delight to find that their little cousin could now interact with them and beyond that, brought some really amusing toys. Needless to say, they love it, and especially Ben takes joy in making funny faces to make Jamey laugh, or just make him stare at him enthralled.

With the temperature rising to a surprising 70 degrees, we all headed out for a Hardee's lunch on the deck at the clubhouse, and a touch football game for the Big Boys on the beach. Now that Jamey is more aware of his surroundings, I let him wriggle his toes in the sand, which he seemed to enjoy very much. Mesmerized by the sound of the waves, he was asleep in my arms after about half an hour.

After weeks of spending the day with Christopher and now, a few days of watching his cousins run around and talk, I think that Jamey has really begun to find his voice. Now, if only we knew what he was saying. But I suppose that will come soon enough!