she was born September 26, 2001, 1:33 pm

she was then 8 lbs. 1 oz. and 20 inches

This Christmas Eve, we met Alexa Rose in person for the first time. She's grown considerably (that's as should be) and she's already experimenting (that's also as should be) and we couldn't have asked for a better gift than her company.

This Christmas Eve, she was experimenting with her tongue: she rolled it inside and outside her mouth and she curled it this way and that. She was so solemn and intent in this pursuit that I was too busy watching to take any pictures---besides, the flash might have distracted her, and I didn't want to interrupt her scientific progress.

She's also experimenting with facial expressions. She can go through fifteen different expressions in as many seconds, including one where she shoots one eyebrow so high that even Spock would laugh his surprise out loud. ---I bet she learned that from her daddy!

House Rule: If you don't help hang the ornaments, you don't get to toss the tinsel.

We have to keep after the boys anyway. When they're replete with roast goose, stir-fried shrimp with garlic, saffron rice, beef with black bean and tomato, not to mention cashews and pistachios and clementines and grapes and six or seven different kinds of cheese and three kinds of bread, all they want to do is lump and watch somebody else trim the tree.

Deb and Alexa were ready and willing to set a good example for the boys.

Rachel and Alexa are the third generation of their family to help us trim our Christmas tree. Because of them, this was a very special Christmas Eve for us.