I just realized that my first Christmas post was boring. So I thought I'd add a few random experiences from the last month that might be worth reading.
1. When I said Noah was angelic on the airplane, what I really meant was that he was not a terror. I went into it with some apprehension, which I think was justified since he is a typically active 14 month old toddler who doesn't sit still for longer than 5 minutes, much less a four hour flight. Both flights were pleasantly uneventful. Except for little airport fling with a 2 year old girl. While we waited for our connecting flight from Chicago to Las Vegas, we met this darling little girl who took to Noah immediately. She followed him around and gave him hugs and kisses. When it came time to line up in our separate boarding groups, the girl had a hard time parting with her new boyfriend. She cried and kept screaming: "I want to see the baby!" All the passengers in line were entertained by the whole scene, and so to give the crowd what they wanted (and the girl too), we told Noah to blow kisses across the crowd to his love. He did, but it didn't soothe her feelings of loss, because she didn't stop crying. Love hurts.
2. Our New Year's Eve, like the rest of our Kentucky vacation, was quiet. We stayed at home and watched other people celebrate in crazy ways, like the guys on ESPN who were risking their lives jumping motorcycles off of 20 story buildings to ring in the New Year. Noah slept but woke up at 11:59, just in time to see the ball drop on Times Square and get New Years kisses before we sent him back to bed. He did like wearing this New Year's Eve hat though.
3. The bulk of Noah's Christmas gifts (at least from us) were books. This kid loves reading. It makes me so happy when Noah goes to his bookshelf and settles himself down in his bumbo chair (if he is really ambitious he will pull himself up into the big armchair) with a book.
He goes through all his books at least once each day, so we figured he needed to expand his collection. The first present he opened on Christmas morning was an assortment of books. We couldn't hardly tear him away from the books to open the rest of his Christmas presents.
4. As excited as we were to make him open presents, he was still kind of disinterested in the whole thing. But one gift pushed him over the line of disinterested, and actually scared him half to death. Cousin Haylie drew Noah for the gift exchange, and when he opened her gift, it seemed like fun. Who wouldn't want a Tickle-me-Cookie Monster, right? But when we got the batteries in, and Cookie Monster started laughing in his deep monster-y voice and rolling around in a seizure-like fashion, Noah got a little scared. During these first moments with his new toy, Cookie Monster actually lunged at Noah, and I think that really pushed Noah over the edge. He got a little teary and wouldn't go near the toy for the rest of the week. But lately Noah has found some courage, and so instead of running away whenever he sees Cookie Monster, he picks up whatever is nearby (yesterday it was his beloved toy broom) and beats Cookie Monster senseless. And now he has even reached the point he will approach Cookie Monster without any weapons.
5. My sweet sweet husband took up a new hobby this Christmas: cross-stitching. My Christmas gift from him was homemade with love. He got so carried away that after he finished mine, he just kept going, making more, and if he keeps up the pace, I think he will be rich and famous someday :) I am so proud of him! It was definitely adorable and pretty hilarious seeing my husband with a needle and embroidery thread in hand while he watched football on his Christmas vacation.
Sweet isn't it?
at the park (with Grandma)
listening to music
bucket head 
reading in his little box
art, especially with markers
sweeping (he loves cleaning)
He goes through all his books at least once each day, so we figured he needed to expand his collection. The first present he opened on Christmas morning was an assortment of books. We couldn't hardly tear him away from the books to open the rest of his Christmas presents.
Sweet isn't it?
aculously Noah was angelic on the flight. Visiting Kentucky is still like coming home! We didn't get out much while we were there, but after all the craziness of the holidays and work and everything, it was refreshing. If I went into hibernation anywhere, I would choose 109 Raines Avenue any day. Grandma and Grandpa and Uncles Christian and Kenton stepped right in and took over my childcare responsibilities, so it really was a vacation.
