First flight...and First Laugh!

[Wrote this on Friday, but due to technical difficulties, I am finally getting it posted...]

I finally caught up on pictures from the last few months which you can peruse here:
https://picasaweb.google.com/prscarb

If you know us well, you are probably not surprised that Marlin has already traveled quite a bit. We took a couple short outings close to home within his first month. Then we ventured a little farther, taking a couple day trips just a few hours drive away.

During October was our first long trip, when we drove to Denver, and then on to Rapid City and back a week later. Now we are on our way to Pierre, South Dakota for an extended Thanksgiving trip, so this is Marlin's first time flying!

The first leg of the flight from Albuquerque to Denver went fine - he slept the whole way. And now we're on a 19 seater from Denver to Pierre. He's doing great and we are approaching descent.



[Later on when we landed, my 6 year old nephew asked me about Marlin's bib.  He informed me after discussing how we got here, that there should be one car and two planes on the bib, instead of 3 cars.  Right he is.]



......

I wrote the above, put the iPad away, then nursed Marlin as we landed. We were sitting on the tarmac in Pierre, South Dakota, waiting for them to open the plane door, and he was laying on Ryan's lap. He was smiling with his head turned towards the window, and all of a sudden he just let out a big ol' giggle. We both looked down at him and he laughed again, proving what we weren't sure we had just heard!

In Navajo tradition, the First Laugh is widely celebrated. It is believed that when a baby first laughs is when he has "found his voice" and is ready to be celebrated and join the world. The tradition says that whoever makes the baby laugh first is supposed to buy the baby a sheep to be slaughtered, and host a dinner for family and friends. There is often a ceremony where the baby gives all guests a pinch of salt to represent his generosity. This also often doubles as a baby shower, contrary to the biligaana tradition of showering the family before Baby has entered the world. Apparently, some also believe that whoever makes Baby laugh is who the baby will most grow up to be like.

Ryan was definitely holding Marlin, and when Ryan looked down at him, he looked back and laughed again. My theory is that his namesake, his nali (grandfather on the father's side), may have also been playing a part. The late Marlin lived in Pierre, of course, and he also was a pilot. He had his own plane that he kept there and he flew in and out of that airport.

I will be quite happy if the little guy grows up to be like his father and grandfather. 

When we get home we may just have to honor the Navajo tradition and host a dinner! I'm sure it will involve mutton, but still trying to figure out if I'm up for starting out with a live sheep...