Christmas in Colorado

Jake, as it turns out, already likes Christmas.  So much that he woke up around 2 am and wouldn't go back to sleep.  He didn't care so much about opening presents, but he just knew he'd better be awake to enjoy the day, even if it was still about -20º outside.  Things he did like about Christmas:  trying to pull down the Christmas tree (his Grandpa had secured it to the wall), ornaments (especially bells), and strings of popcorn (mmmmm);  sled rides and snow piles;  gingerbread cookies;  Grandpa's egg nog (well, he would have liked it);  and giving the stuffed animals sled rides inside. Oh, and Grandparents.



Grandpa Tibboel took my place as second favorite, hands down.  Grandma and I settled for 3d and 4th.  It was pretty consistent from the time we showed up - maybe the immense heights were exciting for him - but the ranking got cinched up on the final day when he got to help inspect the dishwasher.  Big times.  Meanwhile, Grandma convinced him that saying "mama" was a good thing again, with a little jig she called the "mama" dance.  Fun for everyone and, hey, it worked!  Maybe I should try the "bicycle" dance - see if I can introduce his first 3-syllable word.

The Stay-Puft snow suit and big-honker snow boots kept him warm, but it took him several days to progress from wadling to running in the snow.  In his defense, he got only limited time outside during most of the first week - it's hard to keep those big ol' cheeks warm!  (yeah, you try to make him wear something on his face)

As for me, I got my one planned day of telemarking in, at Winterpark.  Snow conditions were relatively lousy (much better than 'Bama), but I was worked by the end of the day anyway.  The other days we cross-country skied from the condo, or lazed about.  Never did get Jake down to the nordic center for a ski trailer ride, but judging by his initial reaction to the bike trailer this last week, I'm not sure it would have gone that well anyway.  Especially since with mittens on he has a hard time playing with toys or snacking.  On the flip side, he was amazingly docile - a lump on the proverbial log, even - during sled rides by Grandpa (see the top photo).

Two more photos to share, from before the trip to Colorado (nothing above is in chronological order, anyway).  He got a gift from Nana Mimi and Papa Lyle before we left, which he's been making heavy use of and really enjoying: a table and chairs.  Much of his time with is still just getting in and out of the chairs, but the table is good for eating, playing, talking, thinking, painting, climbing - and more to come, I'm sure.









And finally, just because I like it, a shot from the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, where we stopped before catching our flight to Denver.  The fish, as it turns out, held about the same interest for him as the TV, since he couldn't grab them.  Maybe less, even, since he couldn't turn them on and off.