NSJ

A small sampling of Grandma Pat’s most recent photos.

Grandma Pat caught a picture of the “Niko” in his wild habitat. Up until this picture scientists were not sure if the Niko slept at all, so this is an exciting development.

We headed down to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena this weekend. Nicholas had a lot of firsts on the trip.

His first hotel stay in Santa Monica (Shutters on the Beach)…

His first trip to the beach…

His first Rose Bowl…

Michigan football game…

His first Michigan Rose Bowl loss (get used to it kid)…

USC: 32, Michigan: 18

His first New Year…

More photos of the trip…

Matt, Rach, Miles, and Jude were nice enough to trek down from Boston so we could see them while we were in CT. I hadn’t seen the Kodama clan since they moved to “that other coast,” what I believe was a decade ago (or a year). Niko and Jude got a chance to hang out and I can see they are destine to be good friends. If I had to guess, Niko and Jude are going to be the ones who distract the policeman while Miles removes the carburetor from the police car. I nominate Matt to be the one who bails them out of jail.

More…

Nicholas had a great first Christmas. Sadly despite having both Nicholas and Molly in holiday outfits both Christmas Eve and Christmas day, we failed to take photos. But they were both adorable. Trust me.

More Christmas photos…

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We made it safely to CT, flying non-stop to JFK through a storm system over Colorado. Niko and Sumo did great and grandpa Lew was a huge help. Delta had televisions in each seat (perhaps feeling the pressure from Jet Blue) and so Niko got to watch football.

I remember a time when Jul and I would travel with a single suitcase. We would share one of those small suitcases that fit in the overhead bin, each bring a carry-on, and Sumo in a duffel. Somehow traveling with a small child has added four more suitcases, a diaper bag, and a small squirmy boy. Luckily we had Sherpa Lew with us or I might have had to make some tough decisions about what to leave behind.

Cousin Molly lent us her “baby lazy boy” chair which Niko seems to enjoy. He also looks good with a purple backdrop.

He is growing but still fits on my legs.

And he is learning to pick up things. 1. Assess, 2. Grab, 3. Shake.

Niko has this play mat which has toys hanging over it. He gets very focused when we put him under it — like he is driving a rocket ship. I got under it with him, and I have to say, it is pretty compelling. I wonder if they make these things for adults.

Nicholas seems happiest in the morning. Sadly his morning starts about 5am (Yes, Meg, I know that would be 8am on that other coast).

He has started to roll over. Which is actually pretty funny because he hates it on his stomach. All that work, just to end up stuck on the tummy. So I guess he is developing strength but still needs work in the foresight department. He is well developed in the “hamming it up” department…

He has also started “talking.” In the photo below you can see him saying “Basdf bawsefasdfb afasdgasdg. Ahhhhh.” I’m pretty sure that is French. Makes me wish I had paid attention in French class.

I taught him to hail a cab in case he gets in a jam…

And just for the record, whoever invented bouncy chairs is a genius. I’m not sure how people had kids before the bouncy chair.

Lynn’s cousin Melody did a photo shoot with baby Niko last weekend and took some amazing shots.