Christmas: Take Two

Since both sets of grandparents are out of town, and since our house isn't really big enough to accommodate all four of them at one time, Ayden basically celebrates Christmas twice - one with each set (Christmas Day, when it's just the three of us, is so low key by comparison it doesn't really count). After Allison's parents departed, mine came in. Thus, Ayden again had the opportunity to show off his ever improving walking skills.

Ayden also found two people who were more than happy to do his favorite thing: walk back and forth down the hallway with him. While Allison and I are glad he is so interested in walking (I think he'd do it for an hour straight if he could find a willing participant), the novelty of traipsing back and forth with him for extended periods of time wore off a while ago. Gran and Grandad, however, were all about it. If one needed a break, he shift his focus to the other. Eventually, Ayden found it necessary to carry around one of his letter flash cards - the W, of course.

The presence of two Christmases produced an interesting, additional effect. Because presents opening was spread out over almost a week's worth of days, Ayden was able to figure out a new skill. With the first presents from Grancee and G-Daddy, Ayden was only remotely interested in the process. He didn't really know something was inside for him, sure, but more significantly, he didn't know how to open them. By the time he had opened his last present from Gran and Grandad, he had mastered the process. Not only had he learned where to look on a present to find an edge to the paper he could start on, he was opening boxes once he had unwrapped them. Allison and I were impressed with how quickly he picked this up - unless the underlying box is taped closed, he can do the whole thing on his own now - and maybe a little concerned about how interested he'd become in the whole process.

Finally, another grandparents visit meant another trip to Sweet CeCe's for some frozen yogurt. Ayden probably wishes he had grandparents visiting every day if it means a trip there each time. Of course, then he'd weigh 100 pounds and we'd be getting a call from the Department of Child Services.

Thanks for coming to visit, Gran and Grandad!