You created one of the best New Year’s Eve memories for me ever. Probably not for your dad though. Not a traditional NYE-type memory of raucous craziness and partying all night long, but it was even more memorable.

One of us still always bathes with you since you’re so active in the tub. Tonight was your dad’s turn. While you two were in there I was sitting in the bathroom chatting with your dad, and we were talking about how a) you hadn’t gone poop in a day or so and b) how it’d be pretty entertaining if you went potty in the tub. About that time your dad had his hands around your tummy and he felt you pushing, and you pooped! In the tub! He was justifiably shocked and disgusted, uncertain what to do, and I was laughing hysterically. Finally I pulled myself together and told him to hand you to me while he drained the tub and cleaned it out.

Even a full hour after the incident, when you were falling asleep in my arms before I put you down for the night, I had a smirk on my face that I just couldn’t wipe away. Thank you for bringing us so much joy and laughter, constantly shepherding us through new and crazy (although not always sought-after) experiences, and helping us ring in the New Year in such an entertaining way.

Your dad watched you for a few hours today so that I could ski a bit. At the end of the day you and he rode the gondola up to meet me. We grabbed some drinks, you ate some pickles, and then we headed back down the gondola. You seemed right at home both on the lift and in the ski lodge, which is a good sign for your future as a skier!

We headed up to Breckenridge today and grabbed lunch at the brewery when we arrived. There was a family sitting next to us with three kids; you loved watching and interacting with them. You kept smiling at them whenever they looked at you. And they had lots of fun waving and playing with you. Everywhere we go you make friends. You’re so curious and outgoing, happy and interactive, people just can’t resist.

We went out to dinner downtown this evening and ordered an appetizer of kale chips. You’d never had them before, but you loved them! You had pieces of kale everywhere, which is always the sign of a treat well-loved.

You’ve started to stand unassisted, just for a few seconds. You’ll be holding on to your walker or some furniture, then you’ll just be leaning on those things or holding on with only one hand, and next you’ll fully let go. Most times you stand for a few seconds then grab back on if your balance gets shaky.

Nana and papa left last night for NV and your dad had to work today, so we had a fun day hanging out. We headed to the mall for the after-Christmas sales. In one store you were a little fussy and I assumed you were sick of riding around in the stroller and wanted to get out. I held you for a while and then sat you down so I could look at something. You were just sitting there, looking around. And then you weren’t! I looked back down and you had crawled half-way across the store and you were under a rack of clothes. I couldn’t believe how fast you’d covered so much ground! I learned a good lesson in always needing to keep an eye on you.

Today was a wonderful first Christmas for you, the type of day that rivaled my best expectations for what the day should be. I love the holiday season, and Christmas in particular, and I’ve loved getting to share it with you. I relish the colder weather and arrival of snow, the festive lights all around, the smell of an evergreen tree decorated inside our home, and the anticipation of giving and receiving the perfect gift.

Nana and papa stayed here last night, and we all woke up and almost immediately dove into present opening. First was your stocking. Even with lots of prodding you didn’t really understand that you were to pull out the objects from within the sock, and that they were for you. After that we started opening gifts. We’d start opening the present for you by making a small rip in the wrapping paper, and you’d take it from there. You’d rip and tear until you’d freed a piece, then more often than not you’d try to eat the paper. Papa kept telling you that you can’t eat the paper and taking it from you. Towards the end of the presents you were a pro; you’d rip off the paper and immediately hand each piece to papa!

Some of your favorite presents included: a Winnie-the-Pooh car just like the one you enjoyed at your cousin’s house in Seattle (from Grandma and Grandpa Stephans); your first pair of skis (thanks to nana and papa); a walker (from Denny and Nancy); nesting cups and a shape sorter that will be perfect on the beach in Costa Rica (though also perfect here; thanks Jen and Brett); and a little toy house that makes all sorts of sounds and music (thanks Kim and Brandon).



After the presents were all unearthed we enjoyed a nice brunch, and you took a nap. Then we decided to try out our new backpack. I bought it last summer but you’ve been too little for it. But recently you’ve been growing agitated in the Baby Bjorn after short walks, and so we thought we’d try it. We bundled you up and loaded you in, and you were so happy and curious once strapped onto your dad’s back. You happily chatted the entire way.

When we got home I decided to let you play in the snow a bit since you were all bundled up. We sat you down in the snow in our backyard and you just looked around for a bit. You moved your legs in the snow and touched it with your glove-covered hands. You seemed pretty impartial to the whole deal.

This afternoon we went to nana and papa’s for a nice Christmas fondue dinner. You had lots of fun crawling around and eating all of the yummy food for dipping. It was a perfect day.

Nana and papa came over this afternoon and we all went to church. It was an early service and they had a traditional pageant with lots of singing. We sat at the end of the isle right where a lot of the singing and acting was happening, and you seemed mildly interested in watching it. But you really loved all of the singing, and you even ‘talked’ and ‘sung’ with everyone else. At one point the song ended and the entire church quieted, except for you who kept ‘singing’ aloud. The whole congregation burst into laughter. I wish I had a video of it!

On the way home from church nana asked if we were going to let you open one present the night before Christmas, a tradition we’d always done while growing up. We decided to go for it, and you had your first experience of ripping open a present. You seemed to enjoy it, though it took us a bit of prompting for you to understand that it was alright for you to rip off the paper. Inside was a little toy tea set, and we all had lots of fun drinking our imaginary tea with you.

Last night was your first night without us; you spent the night at nana and papa’s. Your dad and I went to Denver to a museum exhibit of artwork by Van Gogh, then had a nice dinner out and stayed downtown. Nana and papa had so much fun with you, playing with you last night and this morning. They even got some good snuggle time; after you woke up around 3 am they brought you to bed with them. I was glad they got to experience waking up beside you because it is one of the best things in the world to roll over and see your cute, smiling face and to hear you babbling aloud first thing in the morning.

We had Santa attempt #2 today, and this time it was a success. Well, a success in that he was actually there this time, but a minor fail in that you were not overly enthused to see him. Before I even handed you over to him you started bawling. He held you for the requisite pictures, but you cried the entire minute or so that he held you. Even Ms. Claus’ attempts to get you to smile by clapping and shaking her bells were not fruitful. You settled down soon after I picked you up and held you in my arms, but you definitely weren’t sad to say goodbye to Santa.