Combo-Combo

When you have a birthday near Christmas like I do (my 30th was on New Year's Day), you get used to getting the combo present. As in, this present is both your Christmas present AND your birthday present.

When you marry someone who also has a Christmas-time birthday (Chris' 31st was Dec. 27), you get the combo-combo. As in, this present is for both of you, covering both of your Christmas presents AND both of your birthday presents.

When I was 12, I hated the combo present. Now that I'm older, wiser and own a home that's quickly filling up with baby toys, clothes, jungle gyms and other assorted baby gear, I'm beginning to appreciate the whole "quality over quantity" idea.

For example, last year, Chris' parents got us furniture for our combo-combo. And this year, they got us a Wii and the Wii Fit Plus, which we are loving. Chris has perfected playing tennis while holding Maya. It's like a combo-combo workout.

My parents and sister also got us tons of home repair gifts — a circular saw, sander, workbench, massive pliers, etc. So, we're finally going to tackle a handful of home projects when we have time. Although somehow, many of our weekends between now and August are already starting to fill up. I have no idea how. I swear we're not that popular. But we have a ton of little trips and events planned for the next few months. (In fact, we just got back from Florida last night. I'll post pics and tales from taking a 3-month-old on a flight soon.)

On the weekends we're not traveling, I'm hoping to do some races. Without officially making a New Year's resolution, I'd like to say that I plan on doing a triathlon this year. And I really, really want to do the Soldier Field 10 Miler in May. But we'll see. Can one of you out there hold me accountable please? Maybe give my butt a little kick? Thanks.