(Contrary to what this image may suggest, I actually recommend staying clothed when you visit people during the holidays.)

I’m a big believer in coming gift-in-hand to any and all holiday get-togethers – even if all you tote along is a bottle of wine (which no one will ever be sad to see), it lets your hosts know that you’re appreciative of the time and the effort they’ve put into the event, whether it’s a cocktail party or a week-long stay.

My general rule: tailor the size of the gift to the duration of your presence in their home. For a regular old dinner or cocktail party, a bottle of wine or a bottle of decent liquor is sufficient (assuming your hosts drink or are serving alcohol) – flowers force your hostess to stop whatever she’s doing and trim stems and find a vase.

Before we get started: This Wednesday at 8PM EST come hang out on Twitter, where I’ll be chatting family vacations past and present with some other CTMs using the hashtag #AlamoDriveHappy. 

Now: let’s talk travel.

My mom, dad and I always traveled together a lot, and kept traveling together way past the age when kids typically enjoy running around the world with their parents. I remember once asking them why they never packed me off to some relative or another so they could take a trip alone together and they said, “Because it’s more fun with you.”

At the time I was a teenager and probably rolled my eyes – goddd you guys are so unromantic – but I get what they were saying now. Because while I do miss (and plan to have) just-us-two trips with Kendrick, once your kids hit the age when they’re actually experiencing things, making memories of their own…you just want them to come along for the ride, I guess. All of the rides.

The orangest sweater in the whole wide world is now my favoritest sweater in the whole wide world (Ralph Lauren, from TJMaxx; I saw a bunch there so run run run if you, too, enjoy looking like a citrus fruit). In related news, I would like Francesca to come live with me and photobomb all of my Instagram pictures, please.

This slideshow of what really happens during a baby's first hour of life is so cool.