For your situation, I would monitor the fares on a regular basis (every day or couple of days), and consider the prices that I see today as an average or typical price. Then if I see a good price, I buy it. If nothing good has shown up by February, I would buy it then at the typical price.

Keep your eyes open for fare sales or other exceptional fares. Be willing to consider flying into alternate cites, for example SJC, MRY, or even LAX as your destination.