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Be prepared for a several part series. These are photo illustrations from our Christmas 2006 courtesy of family photographer DC Aunty. Here you see Jack decorating cookies with his cousin. Mostly, he just ate them.

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So today was a first, a frantic Daddy (who was supposed to leave for Iowa very early) needed me to come home and rationalize with "him."

Jack is going through a new phase where he wants to pick out his own clothes. This is the second day in a row that he's put his father through the ringer but this morning was bad. Our phone conversation went something like this ...

ME: "Hello?"

HIM: "I have never seen him like this! (Screams in the background.) You have to come home and help me! Can you leave work? Puh-leese!! I am running late." (He had called me about 5 minutes before wondering if I knew where his shaving cream was...)

ME: "What?! Is is OK? What's the problem?"

HIM: "He hates the shirt you picked out and won't pick something else and it's just terrible. I am running super late. I have to get my rental car and get him to school and get him breakfast. Please hurry!"

On Tuesday night, I had laid out his outfit just like I have done every night since I don't know when. Husband gets him up, brushed, fed and dressed every day and takes him to his little school by lunchtime. They have a routine. It's ususally a fine tuned machine. I do my part by getting the clothes out so Husband doesn't have to worry about it. Well, Wednesday morning Jack threw a wrench in the process. He just didn't feel like wearing what I'd picked out. I have no idea why. When I got the outfit out the night before, I showed it to him. He was super excited. It's the cutest shirt ever. He loved it when opened it on Christmas and even wore it Dec. 26. So we just didn't get it. Jack loves Cookie Monster and especially enjoys eating cookies. He was just being 2.5 apparently.

But yesterday morning, he stomped into his room, pulled out a red sweatshirt that has a wrench, screwdriver and saw etched on it, a navy blue t-shirt and grey cargo pants. (A very complete, color-coordinated outfit, by the way.) And that's what he wore. When I walked in the door yesterday evening, I noticed it immediately. He just said simply, "No Cookie Monster today Mama."

So last night, as I pulled together his outfit for today, I consulted with him. I asked him what he wanted. We agreed and I set it aside for him. Apparently, he changed his mind. Gone went the grey and blue jersey shirt with the Tiger imprint. Gone went the navy blue pants with orange stitching. In came a hand-me-down the red Spider Man shirt (too short in the sleeves) and jeans.

Meanwhile Jack hasn't worn any of his new clothes to school. They probably think the kid is deprived.

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It's a new year ... a new design ... a new numbering. Surprisingly, I only posted 9 fewer than last year. But really, that's not a true number since my first year wasn't a full year. We'll see how I do in '07.

The holidays are over. Whew! Right? Of course now there's nothing fun about winter left. My 30th birthday is rolling in too quickly. That's just rough. No longer will I be able to legitimately watch MTV. People in their 30s don't watch Sweet 16 and Laguna Beach, right?

Jack had a blast with all of his family. "Two Grandmas!" He shouted that more than once over the Christmas weekend. When my parents got into town Christmas Eve, he was so excited to realize he had 2 grandmas, 1 Papa, 1 Ga and 1 Grandpa. He got those grandmas to dance, run around and just about do anything he asked. Next year may be a shocker for the boy since we are awaiting a new baby on both sides. Freddie should arrive at the end of March and the Craner Baby is due in this summer.

It was a Pixar party this year at our house.

We all went WAY overboard on his presents. Just yesterday he discovered a book he got and acted like he'd seen it for the first time. He got Buzz Lightyear and Lightening McQueen galore. He also got Lion King action figures that he's treasured. Thomas the Train made a sighting. We'll have to see if that's a winner in the coming months.

Now I just wonder how long I can get away with the Christmas decorations ...