Our Crazy Christmas!

Our Crazy Christmas started on December 24th. Daddy thinks it is really weird for us not to celebrate on Christmas Day, but with all the running we do, we have to ask Santa to come early. I woke up at my usual time and my parents seemed really anxious and excited. They were taking photos of me going down the steps and Daddy had the video recorder out too.

I was amazed by the scene in our living room! Santa must have thought I was AMAZING this year (ha, ha). I was really excited about my new kitchen that has a coffee pot and makes lots of sounds. I would have been happy with just this one present, but again, Santa was convinced that my good behavior warranted more presents... love that guy!

My coffee making skills are getting better and better by the day and I take great pleasure in pretending to pour hot coffee all over my brother. My parents said if I did this for real, Santa would bring me a rock next year :(

Santa must have heard me right when I kept asking him for a chainsaw! I did get a chainsaw and quickly put it to use. Liberty (background) sought shelter and my Mom even used it the following day to chop down our living room Christmas tree (so she says). I even shared my safety goggles with Cooper. I am looking forward to landscaping our yard in the spring.

Cooper was really excited about his mirror. Mr. Happy Baby finds great excitement in simple things in life, such as gazing at himself.

We gave Daddy some wonderful gifts, but his favorite as usual, was the photo calendar we made for him with our favorite pictures from last year.

Cooper was quite overwhelmed by the Christmas experience. Mommy and Daddy said I was the same way as a baby. He was content eating the Christmas bows and paper and I had a lot of fun playing with all of his new toys.

Every time I opened a gift I would excitedly say, "WHAT'S INSIIIIIIDE!?!?!?" I said this for each and every present. My parents thought it was very cute and we did get it on video camera. I am sure I will find it cute when I am older too.

After our gift opening, we all needed a nap! In the afternoon, we headed to church for the early Christmas Eve service. I learned about baby Jesus' Birthday and even decided to sing, "Happy Birthday" to him a few times in the car. That evening, we headed to Grammy's house which was SO exciting since Auntie Erin, Uncle Ben, and cousins Kyra and Bennett flew home from Georgia this year!

Bennett became my accomplice as we harassed Rudy and Sassy cat.

Cooper was fighting a cold, but still had time to smile and act happy that night. The next day, was a whole different story....

When we got up that morning, Mommy and Daddy were walking zombies and Cooper was hacking, wheezing and breathing very quickly. They called the nurse line and she told my parents to get to the nearest ER. I got to stay at Grammy's and my parents headed to the hospital back home (30 minute drive). It was a stressful situation for them b/c they were worried for Cooper and the roads were slick. When they got to the ER, they gave Cooper a steroid shot and immediately started albuterol through the nebulizer machine. After many other tests, everything came back negative (RSV, pneumonia, etc...) and they declared he had an upper-repiratory infection. Luckily, they were able to leave the hospital after a few hours and return to Grammy's house for our Christmas gift opening. My parents realized that when they thought Christmas couldn't have gotten any more crazy, it sure did! Funny how life reminds us of that from time to time. Since this ER visit, Cooper has had ups and downs with his respiratory infection and he continues to need his nebulizer almost daily. The doctor said he might need to do this all winter long which is not what my parents wanted to hear. The good part of all of this is that Cooper is such a Trooper (love the rhyme) that he is still his happy self. What a guy!

We had lots of fun presents to open at Grammy's! Unfortunately our photo taking skills this day were completely off thanks to the stress of the ER visit. Sorry Kyra that we didn't get you in one of our photos. We are hoping your Mom has a few to share with us!

Cooper received this cool airline runway bib and an airplane spoon from Uncle Matt and Auntie Jill. They both blink with red lights and it is about the coolest gift ever! Makes me wish I was still a baby :)

After our overnight at Grammy's, we went to Grandma and Grandpa's in the cities. Uncle Jimmy plays the acoustic guitar but has wanted to play the ukelele for several years now. Grandma bought him one and I loved strumming the strings. I was a natural at it and my parents were wondering if someone we know introduced me to a guitar already. My Mom thinks it would be great if I learned to play it when I get older.

Here is our lovely Cooper eating his Christmas meal, or at least he is wearing it. We wanted a photo with him wearing the Christmas bib that Great-Auntie Janice made for me. It's hard to see it with all of the food on it, but luckily, it did wash clean.

We opened more gifts at Grandma and Grandpa's house. I sure am spoiled; I just love this Christmas holiday! My parents remind me all the time that I am very blessed and that we need to help others in need too. Even though I am fortunate, I will grow up giving to others... that is Mommy's one wish for me.

My parents have realized that every Christmas gets more enjoyable. They said I was so much fun to watch while opening presents. I used my manners and took time to play and look at my toys. I had a blast with many of these new things that I am sure I will be a busy boy for a long, long time!

To end our crazy Christmas, we were able to see Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa for dinner before my parents headed to Jamaica. They drove all the way down to the cities from northern MN just to see all of us. It is always a special treat to sit with them, visit and share hugs and kisses. It was a busy holiday season for everyone but as I mentioned before, my parents are teaching me about the true meaning of Christmas... baby Jesus and the many blessings we have in our lives. Life is good to us and we are appreciative of the many gifts... family, friends, and of course, all of those fun toys (OK, I am not going to forget about that!!!)