NSJ

Everybody is happy when Michigan wins.

It just wouldn’t be the holidays without family, fires, lazy mornings, and a good knit sweater.

It also wouldn’t be the holidays without Champagne.

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Like any true one year old, Niko was as excited by the boxes and wrapping paper as he was about the actual presents. Next year we are going to re-wrap the presents from this year (or maybe just the boxes).

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I’m cutting over to encoding and hosting my own video, which might cause some minor glitches over the next couple days. I can upload videos faster to my server than YouTube/Google Video, and I also have better control over quality. It does mean videos might take a bit longer to buffer, but hopefully you will see a higher quality video and won’t get as much flickering or jumping once the video is loaded. I don’t auto-play the movie when you view the page, which means the player doesn’t start buffering the movie until you hit play. If you are hitting up against the buffer, you can always hit play, and then pause the video (and go get a cup of coffee). Once you see it load to 100% you can watch it without interruption. I’m also still working on tweaks to the actual video player, but hopefully won’t break anything too badly.

Sadly, this will do nothing for my poor camera work.

In case you should be stuck with Niko, here is a handy language reference guide:

• Bah – ball
• Bank – Blankie, a.k.a red blanket with train, MUST be red blanket with train
• Bebe – Baby
• Bubbub – bubbles (please blow more)
• Bur – bird
• Caaaaa – car
• Clock – clock
• Co – Crow
• Code – cold
• Cook-cook – cookie
• Coz – close, as in “I just closed the TV Armour doors at a critical point in the football game”
• Dada – either me or jul, interchangeable
• Daugh – animal with four legs, usually a dog, but also applies to other four legged animals
• Duck – stuck
• Ducka duka – duck
• Ha – hot
• Heh – head
• Geh-ma – Grandma (Pat or Mart)
• Ka – Caw (what the crow says)
• Ki ca – Kitty Cat
• Mama – either me, jul, or molly, interchangeable
• Maw – more
• Melmo – Elmo
• Mi-k – thirsty, would like any liquid in my cup, milk would be fine
• Mun – moon
• Nana – banana
• Pa! – Grandpa (Lew or Jere, must be said with explanation)
• Pa pa – pacifier
• Pairpane – airplane
• Papa – Paper
• Pop – I’m popping the bubbles
• Pum pum – pumpkin
• Pupl – purple
• Rocky Rocky – what a rocking horse does
• Sta – star
• Tick tock – in case you were wondering, that is what a clock says
• Wawa – water
• Wee – fun, like swinging
• Wow – interesting
• Wuf – what the dog says

We did some dancing over at Lynn and Steven’s house this week.

[flv]http://happyinwater.com/nicholas/videos/jingle-bells.flv[/flv]

After some time in CT for Thanksgiving, we stopped in Ann Arbor on our way home (where I managed to generate a bit more Google news than I expected). Niko got to see Great Grandma, and Janice joined us for the weekend. When Niko spends time with Mom, you really never know what is going to happen. For example, he might end up in the sink.

Sadly, the snow melted before we could get much playing in.

He was great on the flight home and slept the entire flight from Houston. This continues to strengthen our theory that getting him his own seat is the key to air travel. That, and a little Jack Daniels.

After getting back we had a visit from Josh, Amy, and Saffron. There must be something in the water out there in Colorado. Both Saffron and LC are absurdly well behaved. Saffron had a “melt down” once which involved quiet whimpering for about three minutes.

Jul and Amy took the kids to see Santa one day. Nicholas was not a huge fan, but I can’t blame him. Until you understand the scary man in red is going to bring you gifts, it is hard to get past the fact that he looks a bit like a fat red demon. I am having some camera issues but luckily Josh and Amy recently posted their photos.

Niko’s new favorite word is “Wheeeeee” which he says anytime we are within 15 miles of a swing.

[flv]http://happyinwater.com/nicholas/videos/wheee-swing.flv[/flv]

[flv]http://happyinwater.com/nicholas/videos/wheee-playground.flv[/flv]

After learning of Niko’s fascination with ducks (ducka-duckas), Kim sent us a gigantic duck. Giant Ducka-Ducka has been a huge hit with Niko, but has been claimed by another boy in the family.

All sorts of excitement here in “con-kit” (Connecticut). Mary and family came down (up?) for a visit, pianos have been played, bird baths explored, toy chests summited, bones chewed, and other such fun. Never a dull moment at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Next stop, Ann Arbor.

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