[Nicolas] Cooker Baby

We started Christmas day with our good friends uptown, Harley and Jake, who were happy to share their new toys with Nicolas: and some old toys: and not a toy at all, but still very interesting (sharon even played a little for us, much to nicolas' delight): Then we moved on to the Negrotto's for the annual family Christmas party, but Nicolas conked out on the way: We made it in after an hour-long nap in the car, and enjoyed some great food and quality time with the Negrottos. Here we are with Uncle Lee: We also got to see cousins Tré and Jennifer and meet their new baby Jacob. When we finally had to say goodbye, Nona gave us a big kiss: and we headed back to the hotel for dinner (see "gumbo" in Christmas recap, pt. 1). After dinner, we topped off the evening at Fulton Street - a new attraction built by Harrah's: where it "snowed" every hour on the hour: right next door, inside harrah's hotel, they had a huge gingerbread house: and a really cool throne...

until the next xmas recap post: Aunt Delilah and Uncle Lee got Nicolas Shrek the Third for xmas, and now he eats lunch and dinner with the DVD box on the table. he likes to scrunch up his face like Shrek too.

We drove down to New Orleans to visit friends and family for Christmas. Our hotel stay at Le Pavillon was wonderful: Nicolas enjoyed the lobby furniture and he and Mary loved the Christmas decorations: and he was mesmerized by the fireplace in the hotel restaurant: And this guy was hanging on the wall in our room, which was also kind of fun: Nona and Pa-Pa stayed with us for a night and Nicolas walked them through the lobby on our way to dinner on Christmas Eve: On Christmas Night, we ate at the Crystal Room - the hotel's restaurant. Nicolas couldn't wait to try the gumbo, but he let me take his picture first: then he dug in, and didn't stop until his bowl was empty: After dessert, Nicolas wanted to go look at the Christmas tree, and a nice couple who was dining near it offered to take our picture - they weren't drunk, we just need a better digital camera: more on our Christmas, New Orleans Style vacation coming soon . . .

He looks subdued, but my mom said he was having a great time, kind of expecting Santa to read him a story.

he kind of knows his left from his right ... and at the end he's starting to recite the 5 little piggies nursery rhyme...

his new favorite song/video:

we are having so much fun with this little guy:

a few more from nicolas' trip last week:

nicolas spent most of last week with his grandparents in oxford, ms. we just got some pics in today. enjoy:

a bit groggy from his afternoon nap, nicolas grasps the concept of decorating a christmas tree: