Dec. 25, 1999 - Saturday (Christmas)
Harry's first Christmas was his coming out party. For the first time aside from the trip home from the hospital, Harry rode in the car seat and went to new places: his grandparent's house and his great uncle's house. Several relatives marveled at his calm demeanor, lack of noise-making, and reports of 5-6 hour sleeping stretches at night. All said he was adorable.

No doubt we have been lucky in these early days. A quite baby makes this whole life changing process much easier, I'm sure. I know Harry's life will bring us less comfortable times, too. Hopefully they won't be plentiful. However, I'm not surprised by Harry's nature; in fact, I as much as expected it because he's his mother's child. Those who know her won't be surprised that she was the same for her parents as a baby and has been a joy for me as a adult for more than 12 years. I guess I wasn't quite truthful about not knowing my life'sgreatest moment. It's no affection hierarchy and Harry's birth was beyond compare as a unique experience. But, real life for me, including Harry, wouldn't exist without our day in October eight years ago.