Guinness goes to Washington

We capped off the year by taking Guinness along for an afternoon in the capital. It was a beautiful, chilly day and we fully enjoyed it, complete with walks around the Tidal Basin and to the Jefferson Memorial, hot dogs on a bench along the mall, a trip to the White House and a close-up view of the Old Executive Building. Guinness seemed to be most excited about the hot dogs and all of the attention he received from strangers, as he was seemingly the only dog out and about in town that day.



Witnessing preparations for history in all of the construction for Obama's inauguration festivities around the White House.

The Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial

-----

We spent an hour of waning afternoon light in Arlington National Cemetery, where we visited Dave Sharrett's grave and said some prayers for him and all of his brothers and sisters in service. The only sounds were those of the geese flying overhead. It was a moving and humbling experience, to say the very least.

Quieter moments of Christmas

Morning coffee with great-grand-Bomps

Bomps editing my medical article for me

Our contented Christmas elf by a dwindling fire, in his pajamas and surely past bedtime

Morning play atop the piano with Gram

Grandma DD and Mom talking into the night

A peaceful threesome: Great-grandma DD, Mateo and Guinness

Music-making, Bach looking over their shoulders

Merry Christmas

Mateo's first Christmas was a beautiful one. We spent most of our time cozied up with parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents alike in between the fireplace and the Christmas tree, donning scarves and whatever (and whoever's) footwear was in arm's reach to go outside with Guinness and collect more firewood every couple of hours. And, of course, all of this to the soundtrack of the ultimately very endearing electronic, touch-responsive music of the Rainforest Jumperoo, which daily made its way into each of our minds and humming--our own Christmas carol of sorts. (Thank you, Fisher-Price.) A smattering of the day's pictures are as follows:



Just strutting along the kitchen counter on Christmas morn, la di da.



Making our way to the chapel for mass on Christmas morning.

I just love the train embroidered on his hook-ups. Does that spell little boys and Christmas, or what?! Great find, Grandma.

The boys.

Everyday is Christmas on the Jumperoo. (Sheesh, we should now be paid by Fisher-Price for advertising.) My dad calls this the Overstimulation Chair.

The little move that Robert dubbed Mateo's "jig." This would be more convincing if I could figure out how to properly download our video footage. Stay tuned.

We have all spent countless winter--and sometimes even fall and spring--hours sitting in front of this fireplace. (I did most of the reading for my Princeton senior thesis here, meanwhile burning through how many cords of firewood? We dare not ask.) I cannot express how special it is to be here now in the company of this little guy.

We hope that all of your holidays were equally warm and bright!

What awaited him:

We safely arrived in Virginia after a flight of continual *wakefulness* on the part of the youngest among us.  All was worth it, however, as Mateo was happily greeted by Uncle Robert and Gram's super insightful Christmas gift, the Rainforest Jumperoo.  A 5 month-old and his parents could ask for little more.   

*Fun for the whole family with the Jumperoo to follow in subsequent posts.

5 months old, will travel

It is hard for us to believe that our little guy is already 5 months old.  Life with him just gets better and better.  He is constantly smiling and has just discovered a high-pitched "chirp" that he uses when he is most gleeful.  He is happiest when he is standing and requires less and less of our assistance doing so, mostly just relying on us for getting him up and maintaining his balance now.  He has discovered how to grab things and bring them (everything, that is) into his mouth--you know where he has been by the presence of his saliva.   He remains a great eater and sleeper and, most importantly, brings so much joy into this home.

And so, with Christmas upon us and this little red elf in tow, over the Atlantic and through the Virginian woods, to Grandmother's house we go! 

rain colors

This is the biological phenomenon that occurs outside our living room window each day at 2pm during the rainy season.  The doors of the elementary school across the street become host to dozens of adult umbrellas greeting their little offspring umbrellas' ebullient exit and zig-zagged dispersion from school.

Giving solids a go

*bib courtesy of Grandfather Mario



He took down the puréed fruit like a champ and finished with one less sock and one more smile. We think that Mateo could probably do a decent job of polishing off a leg of lamb, though, if given the proximity, so strong is his interest in food at this point.

To Sunnier Climbs

Our holiday weekend (the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) began with a 9-hour train ride to the southwestern coast of Spain on Friday to visit Maria, Francisco and Mercedes, Mateo's 6 year-old cousin, in Alicante.

The sun was out in ways Asturias won't see for months, the town was celebrating the holiday, and we spent most of the weekend walking outside, eating well and watching Mateo and Mercedes engage in cousin-play.

Mercedes has her way with Mateo

a morning at home

awaiting dessert

off to mass, Mateo with his godmother and Mercedes

cousin socks

While Mom does laundry...

The little one, swaddled and surfing the net with Grandfather.

Winter is here

...and with it, the gratifying task of bundling this happy baby, indoors and out.