Aden's big cold adventure

Normally, I think that the day after Christmas may be my favorite day of the holiday season. Usually. You know, the pressure's off, there are presents to enjoy, there's probably some nice leftovers. All the good stuff. Today, however, started off a little differently. For one thing, Aden woke up at 3 a.m., and wouldn't go back to sleep. Thankfully, I was able to persuade him to nod back off with 7 oz. of formula, but the die was cast for me for the morning... after getting so knocked out of my sleep cycle, I didn't feel human again until nearly 10 a.m (with the help of three or four cups of coffee).

Melissa and I were determined to salvage the day, though, so when Aden finally got up from his pushed-back nap (he went down around 11, was back up around 1:45), we suited him up and took him out for a walk with Nugz. It was nearly perfect out - cold, but not bitingly so. I didn't even need to put on gloves. We trekked a ways up the ice-covered road, came back, and went past Mom & Papa's cabin to the abandoned property next door. There was still great snow cover there, so while Nugget frolicked, Aden got to play in the snow for the first time in his little life. He thought it was hilarious! Once he realized that you could eat the weird cold white stuff that he was crawling on, he couldn't stop bending down to lick it. Each time, he'd come back up giggling. Pretty great. When we got home, Melissa passed out on the couch, while Aden and I spent a little time playing with all of his new toys on the floor.

And when it was finally time for him to go to bed, Aden went to sleep without a peep of protest.