Happy New Year!

Posted January 1st, 2007 by Michelle

I am just back from eleven days in New York, where I experienced a familexplosion. I was staying with Sean, Jordi, Barnaby, Mom, and Steve, and also got lots of face time with Kent, Sean Patrick, Lucas, Ian, Tessa, and Lucy. And that’s just the immediate family. It was intense, and truly wonderful. And here’s every last little one of us.

Early in the trip, the Iowa Williams showed up, and I had a terrific evening in the city with the elder Williams kids and elder nephews.

Brothers Steve and Kent… and, well, vintage Kent…

Sean Patrick and Lucas were awesome as always. Lucas is always available for the keenest comments on all things random and hilarious, and I hope Sean will be on my team when I save the world. Sean Patrick for president 2020!

Sweet Barnaby was the highlight of the trip, particularly his penchant for squeezing his own face whenever his hands are free. He also has a habit of sleeping on one fist, just like his Daddo.

Christmas Eve in Brooklyn was a quasi-dressy family & friends event during which Lucy was in rare form. Her favorite fellow 2-year-old Hank was in tow, and Lucy spent much of the evening with her arms wrapped tightly around him. I was able to snap this pic during one of the few times she actually let go, for sake of banging on the piano with Hank and Daddo.

Tessa and Lucy, adorably, matched that evening, and I’m always stunned that any ‘ol pic of Tessa that even I, with my untrained eye, happen to snap, always shows Tessa’s stately beauty. These two just kill me.

I spent a great deal of time with Barnaby at the Christmas Eve party, letting his parents be human beings for a couple of hours. Only days old, this little one already locks on your face with his huge dark eyes, and if you swing him (which he dearly loves) he will watch the shadows play on your face, on the walls, whatever he can see. He is the sweetest of the sweet.

Ian, Lucy, and a “Spicasso” print.

The joy I felt in hanging out with this little one is apparent; the joy she felt about eating a “clem-men-ti-YEEEN” was no less rich. She wouldn’t stop for love, money, OR a picture.

Finally, Christmas Day was upon us, and I think all of us scored an embarrassment of goodies and gifts. My very first completed knitting project was a shawl for little Lucy, and she loved it. She loved it more when she decided to wear it as a skirt.

This might be my favorite pic from that day. Barnaboots was the greatest gift, for all of us, this year. I can’t wait until he’s big enough to rip the wrapping off of presents and he and Lucy make forts with all of the gift boxes.

Soon, though, Christmas was over, and the Queens Williams household settled back into baby time. At any given moment, someone in that house was almost always up, or about to wake, to cater to the little one. I, however, slept about ten hours a night and spent spurts of time working in a nearby coffee shop. But one of the nicest hours I spent was with my mom at the Bryant Park ice rink & holiday shops. It wasn’t too cold, we had the most terrific hot chocolates, and mom told me about the farm she lived on when she was little. Festive, fun, and we got to watch hundreds of people giggle madly as they slowly scooted around the rink.

I also got the rare chance to hang out with my dear friend Eddie. We went to many of my old haunts in the East Village; the night ended in another state. Good times, good times.

Because I can’t help myself, another pic of little La Luce, sitting on a present, quietly reading a book during the Christmas Day chaos.

And finally, a pic of terrible quality since it was taken on my Treo, but my favorite pic of the season. Sweet Barnaby, our little Christmas baby.

I can’t wait to go back.