when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.

We have a lot be be thankful for lately. Dylan will be 13 weeks old on Monday and 3 months old on Tuesday. (Stupid calender.)

It's going to be so weird when he comes home. Andrea will be home for two months, during which time we'll take turns existing in a sleep-deprived stupor. We probably won't see too many friends or family. So for 8 weeks, it's pretty much just the four of us.

In the middle of it all will be Christmas. Last year was the first that Josh remembers. So this year he knows what to expect. And he has high expectations. He'll be the kid on Santa's lap with a War-and-Peace-sized list of presents.

We're going to try to do it up big. Lots of decorations and lights. Christmas tunes. Maybe little reindeer antlers for the dogs.

Oh, and more good news. My sister-in-law, Lynn, is back from Iraq. Yay! My brother, Tim, has two more months. It sucks that they won't get to spend the holidays together. But with her stateside, it's less for him to worry about.

Question for comments: What do you all think about the holidays?