Photoshoot: New Year's Eve, Part II

Taking a peek back at New Year's Eve in Kansas City. We came indoors in the afternoon and enjoyed a few quiet hours.




Alexa fell asleep in my arms and I transferred her to the corner of the couch, where she slumbered for another few hours, take comfort in the murmuring voices and small movements from the rest of her family. Paranoid as always, I built a fort of pillows around her to keep her safe.




The aroma of glazed ham filled my brother and sister-in-law's impeccably styled 100-year-old home as dishes appeared on the table and Lola emerged during her wakeful period, her eyes open and alert. She couldn't keep the paparazzi away.








At last we sat down for a wonderful feast. It's only been a few weeks since I went meatless, and looking at my last meal of ham has me salivating.



Alexa joined us at the table, her pigtails askew, just in time to help us clean off our plates.



Afterward we toasted s'mores on the patio and watched New Year's coverage on TV that made me feel older than the hills. The new parents retired well before midnight, as did Alexa, but H and I stayed up with Dad ... just long enough to say "Happy New Year!"

Part 1 of New Year's Eve here.