Don't Blink

It's been a while--suffice it to say we have been extremely busy! With the Holiday season come end of term papers and extra meetings with professors, but I can't say we've been busy only with school--we've enjoyed a few holiday excursions, some shopping (for Christmas of course!), and some good, quality play time with our ever growing boy. Henry will no doubt be telling you all about his meeting with Father Christmas as well as putting up the Christmas tree on his blog and all about Thanksgiving Dinner at Peter's, so I'll spare you the repeat.

In the meantime, I'll give you an update on how we are. 

Derek has been rowing like a madman as of late--ok, perhaps not that much, but it seems like it! The Clare Regatta was this last Saturday, something he was really looking forward to. Unfortunately, one of his teammates "caught a crab" and the ended up on the side of the riverbank--literally. Henry and I were right there, just across the shore, and caught every moment of their spectacular fail. The tragic thing is they really were winning! A full length ahead of the Corpus Christi boat. Oh well, luckily they have another race this coming week, the Fairburns. Henry and I are hoping to get up and haul our cookies over to the river to cheer Pembroke on again, but we'll see what time he decides to get up (race is at 9am, I believe). I was pretty proud of our Pembroke boys, however, as they finished the race with dignity and gave Corpus their semi-deserved 3 "Hip-hip-horrays". 

Derek's also been rather busy keeping up with school. He's stayed up well past 11:59pm a few nights this last week completing his assignments and went in to college early once or twice so he could keep up. I'm proud of him and his dedication to getting things done--it's not easy with Henry around (I should know). 

Daddy continually makes his little boy smile and is teaching him all sorts of new, amazing things. Last Sunday, during church, Mr. Squeaky Hedgehog found his home in Daddy's suit pocket. Of course he didn't stay there long, as Henry found that absolutely delightful. It's wonderful to watch Derek in his role as Daddy--certainly makes me love him even more.

Speaking of Henry, he has learned how to turn the turbo on around here. Derek has compared him to the Weeping Angels of Dr. Who: "Don't blink...[he] is fast. Faster than you can believe. Don't turn your back. Don't look away. And don't blink. Good luck.". Seriously, one minute he is right there playing blocks with you, and the next--half way through the kitchen. Yes, keeping up with Henry requires constant vigilance at our house--way too many things to get in to, pull over on top of himself--you know how it is. 

He is still the delight of our home, however fast he is, and I am finding my days with him are wonderful. I must admit I do get a bit frustrated when he wants to help type my homework assignments, or assist me as I try to get some work done (try being the key word here), or when he lets me know that I'm done doing the dishes, even though I'm only half way through. Thank goodness he has started sleeping a lot better and that his two new teeth (yes! two now!) have come through and seem to be staying that way--I felt them just before he went to bed and they haven't snuck back in yet. Whew!

The Holiday season is well underway here in Cambridge. Just this evening (4pm and it was dark!) we took a family walk through the city. The lights are all up, several of the booths at the Market were sporting Christmas items (we bought a real holly wreath for our front door on Friday!), and there are lighted trees in the square. I'm aching for snow, but truly enjoying our Christmas tree, which made its debut on Friday as well. So yes, life is good here in Cambridge. We are incredibly busy--thank goodness the end of Michaelmas Term will be here this week!--but we are enjoying our time here. I'm trying not to blink, because just like Henry, our time here will go faster than we think.