POTUS

Today Xander chalked another one up on the list of amazing things to do and accomplish before the age of 1.  Xander met, hugged, and got a kiss from the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!!  Oh, yeah, and I shook Obama's hand. 

Michael Bennet, appointed Senator for Colorado (http://www.bennetforcolorado.com/) had a rally today and was supported by speeches from the President, Barack Obama,

the Governor, Bill Ritter, (http://www.colorado.gov/governor)

Senator Mark Udall (http://markudall.senate.gov/)

and Congressman Jared Polis (http://polis.house.gov/). 

It was a long, hard day- We had to get there very early and Xander only got a short nap on the way downtown.  I then had to hold him and keep him happy, clean, and fed for 6 hours while we were in line, waiting for the rally to begin, holding our spot against a large crowd, and listening to the speeches.  I'll be sore as heck tomorrow, and I'm incredibly glad I wore the sneakers and not the boots, but it was completely worth it!  Because I had purchased a "premier standing" ticket I was assured a decent spot,  but because it was cold outside and I had a baby, the Bennet campaign let me jump the line of folks on the way in and I was able to score us the very very best spot in the house- front row center!!!  We were 12 feet away from the podium the whole time.

I met some nice folks there, and hope to have more photos from them to add to this posting soon.  One new friend, Ethan, even got a picture taken by the AP Press- see Xander in the corner looking sad?  I'm the orange/brown shoulder behind the lady (Susan) in the green shirt.

Xander was a real trooper, but was really really tired by the time the speeches started and got scared every time the applause erupted.  I would get him calm again only for more applause....  but I'll hand it to him- when it was time to be held by the politicians, he bucked-up and tried really hard to smile for the camera, with mixed success.  Given some of the looks we captured, I'm not sure he really likes politicians.  Really, it was just his exhaustion showing- I have no excuse for why I had made terrible faces... 

Barack Obama had visited with the Daili Lama just this morning before coming out to Denver... and I would really like to think that maybe just a little of the Daili Lama's presence was still with the President when he gave Xander a kiss....  A Blessing from the Daili Lama?  Almost....  for now, we'll settle with a blessing from the POTUS!