I'm back from Norway

I just have to share this picture of me going for a ride in Sara's most excellent stroller. Who cares if it's cold outside?

I have a cold. I think I picked up the bug in Houston, then brought it with me to Norway for some refinement. Now, I'm sick - for the first time, really. It's no fun. Runny nose, chest cough and high fever. Luckily, the worst didn't hit until we got home, since no-one wants to sit next to a moaning baby for 10 hours.

That's about it for now. I'm sure this thing will be better in the next couple of days, but today is no fun. Happy New Year, everyone.

D.

God Jul fra Norge!

Hey Folks!

You didn't think I was going to forget about you, just because I'm on a different continent, did you? Hey - there's a lot of stuff that has been going on.

First of all, there was the flight over here. Now, if you're going to travel, bassinet-class is the only way to go. I had a flat bed to sleep in all the way to Germany. Now, I would like to tell you that I slept all of the way there, but no - there were just too many things and people to look at - and I had a big-screen TV right over my bed. Not much sleep for me.

Once here in Norway, I got to see the grandparents again, and Farmor has set up the house so that it's Daniel-friendly. Then my cousins came over, and I got to meet Leo for the first time. I'm still the youngest grandchild on both sides of the family, which doesn't seem quite fair.

I stayed awake for Christmas dinner, whcih was all sorts of yummy food, but fell asleep for the presents - so I missed out on the excitement, but when it was all said and done, I got some toys and a really nice handknitted sweater from Farmor, which I'll have to get a picture of here soon.

It's been a little chilly, but not too bad, and I am cruising around in this most excellent baby stroller with a sheepskin cover. Very cozy. Today we went skating, and then to Jan's place for dinner. Food from Voss all around - this can be scary, but was actually very good, I had turnips and sausage and lamb. They still won't let me at the Aquavit....

I'm also fundamentally 8 months old today. Wow, time flies. Yay, me!

I should be back in the USA for new years - look for an update then.

Love, D.

For Me? Really? Yay!

I'm back from a quick trip to Houston, where I made appearances at David and Barbara's annual Christmas party and also got to see some aunts and cousins. Good fun. Nice people keep giving me things, and I'm really enjoying the books, blocks and other toys. Grown-ups miss out on the fact that half of the fun lies in eating this wrapping paper. I don't know why they are in such a hurry to get to the gift.

A lot has happened since last time, so let's get to it. Remember how I told you that my passport was "in the mail"? Well, it still is - it's lost somewhere between sorting machine 3 and 4, or so they say. The idea that I wouldn't be able to go to Norway has been turning Dad's hair gray, so I'm happy to report that the nice people at the Denver passport office issued me a same-day passport to replace the missing one today. I just wish my picture wasn't so bad!

I have a new cast these days. It's blue. It's much bigger than my old one, which was starting to pinch, just a little. The doctors at Childrens' are very happy with the progress so far, or at least that's what they say.

I got a cool hat and a little reindeer doll from my great-aunt Joan. I love the reindeer - he sleeps in my crib these days. I've discovered shadows, and they're lots of fun, and I can make mom do itsy-bitsy-spider for hours by laughing a little.

This is probably my last posting before we go to Norway, so I want to wish everyone here a Merry Christmas. Thanks for a good year so far.

Love, D.

The editorial staff here at Daniel's blog would also like to step out of character for a second and say a big thank you to all of our friends and family for your support in the last year. 2005 has turned out to be a good and happy year for us - a year of many changes, and we cannot imagine life without the little guy anymore.

Today marks the anniversary of John Connor's death, and we miss him. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Merry Christmas and an even happier 2006.

Love, Eric and Anida.

ho ho ho

Howdy Friends!

First of all - thanks for all of your notes and emails. I'm not all that good about writing back, but I sure appreciate the thought.

I have a couple of bruises on my forehead, because I've started to launch forward from a sitting position to a crawling one. I can almost catch myself, but not quite, so I've banged the noggin into the floor a couple of times. No fun. I'm doing the "wounded soldier" crawl all over the place, and I'm so close to a real crawl that I can smell it, but not quite yet...

Since I'm on the bad news update, I had a bit of a stomache flu on Sunday. It was so bad that I had to skip our christmas brunch with friends. Sorry, friends! I seem to be over it now, but the projectile vomiting was no fun.

Let's see - my new passport is "in the mail", they say, and Thursday I get a new cast, for sure. So there will probably be another message this week. Friday I go to Houston. Boy, that's a lot of travel in my future. Makes me tired just thinking of it, so I'm taking a nap.

Love, D.

I met Santa!

Ho-ho-ho!

I went to Vail this weekend, and I got to meet Santa. No kidding - he was there early. He asked what I wanted for Christmas, and I couldn't think of a thing! It was fun trying to chew on his beard, though - and the "elves" thought I was beyond cute.

That was actually a theme for the weekend -> Strangers just "goo"-ing and "gah"-ing over me. Here's what I looked like when I was trekking around town.



Dad calls this get-up "trolling for ski-bunnies". I'm sure I don't understand what he really means by that.

It was otherwise a very nice, very mellow weekend in the mountains with the folks. I got to sit in the jacuzzi, chill in front of the fire and eat all sorts of grown-up food, though bananas remain one of my favorites.

Christmas is coming. I've been good, I promise...

Love, D.