Let there be At- Christmas 2005

Playing with new toys on the stairs with Daddy- and see below for a lot more photos.
Nolan had a GREAT time with cousins Will and Elise- they taught him al sorts of things (like how to play in a box) and were very patient with him, stoically putting up with his aggressive baby grabs at noses and even occasional bites.
His favorite toys: Train song book, Elmo phone, bug puzzle, big cardboard boxes, his Baby Einstein monkey puppet (all the way from Japan!)
Favorite foods this Christmas: mashed potatoes with peas and gravy, spinach lasagna, shortbread, ham (and more ham), nanaimo bar (just a bit). The last taste netted a big "HmmmmMMMMm!" and a "Mo-ah?" (First experience with chocolate.)

New things: Conversations!
If you were listening in at around 0500H this morning, you would have heard a hopeful "At??" with Nolan, sitting up fuzzy headed, newly awake, looking at the light switch with a "can do" attitude, as if on my merest word he'd jump up for me and turn on the 'at' (that's light, by the way). "No at, honey, it's still sleepytime". Pause. "At?!" in a wheedling, you-must-be-misunderstanding-me-I'll-just-pop-over-and-turn-on-that-light-shall-I tone. "No 'at' yet honey. How about some bottle." Two hand push away as bottle approaches, X 2. Then, a "mo-ah?" with a feint at the front of my shirt. To summarize the transaction- no 'at', and no bottle either- settled on a compromise- nursing a bit back to sleep.

(Now he sleeps part time with us but the last few days the schedule has been WAY, way off, and he's also been wanting to nurse at night a lot more again. Comfort rather than sustenance, with all of the excitement and people around I suspect. Once things normalize we'll continue the movement toward a almost full time crib sleeping, fully weaned mannie.)

Sheila told me that Will's thing at this age was gleefully shouting "Door!" - he loved doors, loved pointing them out to everyone...like Nolan is with lights. He loves 'ats' and loves light switches- when grouchy, a sure distractor is to hold him up to a switchplate and let him turn lights off and on. Doors and lights are both are important everyday objects and important metaphysical ideas as well, in a way, so I thought that was interesting. Baby brains- you can see the wheels turning, really.
Not sure what he'll be doing next, but watching him change and develop is a lot of fun!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, I'll post more new photos soon.