It's been a little bit since we have chronicled the life of Reid on these pages. In fact, this is the first post of 2005. I've been thinking a lot about the fact that Reid, since he was born, hasn't lived in a time without this whole war thing going on. It's just strange. When I was a kid, my first memory of politics was that the president was Jimmy Carter. I recall the Iran hostage crisis. I recall my mom voting for Carter in 1980. I don't recall the fact that the president when I was born was Richard Nixon. I also don't recall any of the Vietnam war which continued for a year after I was born.

I don't go in for comparing Vietnam and Iraq or any of that stuff. I'm just pointing out that when I was born, in March 1974, there was an unpopular and contentious war on with a compelling grip on the public. When Reid was born, in July 2003, there was an unpopular and contentious war on with a compelling grip on the public. 13 months after I was born that war ended. Reid's war keeps going. I guess I just hope it will end before his memory starts.

Reid's had a lot of good fun since he got all his Christmas gifts and his cavalcade of visitors. He has been playing with the toys, and they've been completely integrated into the litter that covers our living room floor. One of the toys Reid got was the Wiggles Guitar. It basically plays eight songs and eight notes (and a lot of broken string noises which some kids who aren't Reid must find hysterical). He also received a wide variety of Little People products, including the Little People airport, car wash and playground. He also received the Little People Circus train. As you can see, one of the circus animals, a tiger, has been pressed into service as the operator of this dump truck.

K's again on a long trip, same place as the last two times, for about two weeks. We will, with a hint of regret, be launching the first 2005 series of the Reid Photos of the Day, known as the RPOD. We got a late start this evening, after a successful meal of barbecue chicken and macaroni and cheese and a dessert of melon (ew).

Then Reid towered over me like a giant.