A Very Merry Christmas

Poppy, Ne, and Uncle Markie all came up here for Christmas. Jason was still in bed on Saturday but felt much better Christmas morning. Nicholas loved his motorized John Deer Tractor. He has been riding it everywhere for days now. He opened his presents slowly, a couple at a time, played with them, and then came back for more. At one point, he was ripping them open and tossing them at Jason if he didn't see a truck inside. When we asked him who brought something he replied, "Uncle Markie." This lasted for quite some time until he finally understood that not everything under the tree came from Uncle Markie. This year he woke up at 7:20, his usual time, I wonder what time we will be up next year!

Where will Santa Leave Nicholas' Toys?

Poor Nicholas is so confused. Jason hurt his eyes yesterday using some kind of welding or drilling machine. So he woke up last night at 2:30 and couldn't see a thing. It took me about an hour to convince him to call his dad and go to the hospital. Around 5:30 Jason called to say that he still couldn't see, his dad had to get to work, so he was going to take a nap there. I went to pick him up around 7:30 and his friend Ed was able to get him into see a specialist right away. Luckily, Jason can see now but there are burns on the cornea of his left eye. The right eye is burned, too, but not as badly. Anyway, we are not sure where we are going to be spending Christmas. My parents and Markie are all ready to haul everything here. From the way Jason looks we will most likely have to re-route Santa's reindeer and have him bring the loot here. Never a dull moment.

Spongebob's House

Today we exchanged gifts with Nicholas' best buddy Sebastien. We gave Bash trucks, because he loves to play with them at our house. Bash gave Nicholas dinosaurs because he likes to play with them at Bash's house. Dinos weren't the only great gift, though. Bash gave Nicholas a huge replica of Spongebob's house, the pineapple. It is so big that both Nicholas and Bash fit inside! I don't know if I will ever get Nicholas to come out of the pineapple under the sea . . .

The Talking Deer Head

Our friends, Chris and Deonne, bought Nicholas a huge deer head that talks, sings, and moves. There is even a microphone that you can use to make the deer speak. When he and Jason opened it I thought Nicholas was only playing with it because Jason thought it was so cool. So before we went to bed, I asked Jason to put it away in his office so it wasn't taking up so much space in the living room. Well, doesn't it just figure that as soon as Nicholas woke up, he wanted to know where his deer head was. We have been listening to that thing for three days now.

The Christmas Party Streaker

Yes, you read that correctly. The Christmas Party Streaker is now officially Nicholas' new nickname. As people were leaving our home and I was handing out candy to the kids and candles to the moms, my friend Kristyn came up behind me and started whispering. Her whisper was to tell me that Nicholas had taken off his shoes, socks, and shirt. I assured that this was not a big deal and I would check on him in a minute. Well, a few minutes went by because I was saying good-bye to more guests when Kristyn appeared again. This time she was not whispering but before she could finish Nicholas came running into the room stark naked! Then he tried to bolt out the door with the couple who was leaving. I grabbed him and tried to carry him back inside but the naked guy was pretty wiggly. So Kristyn took him and finally got a diaper on him. He kept his diaper on until everyone was gone except for our neighbors, Toni and Brian. As we cleaned up, I looked over and there Nicholas was sitting on the couch in the living room, staring at the Christmas tree, peacefully eating a piece of chocolate - naked!

The Playgroup Christmas Party

Today was our playgroup Christmas Party. The morning started at about 1:30 for us when Nicholas woke up crying about bugs and spiders. He did not go back to sleep until about 5:00. After two hours of rest, we were getting ready to go when Kristyn called. She had thrown out her back again and needed help setting up for the cookie decorating. We rushed over and helped get everything set up. One of the other kids, John, brought his John Deere tractor which was a magnet for Sebastien, James, and Nicholas. We tried getting the boys to take turns but there were lots of tears from the two who were left watching. After about 3o minutes, we took the kids inside to decorate cookies and exchange presents. Nicholas was hysterical because he wanted the tractor. Kim put the tractor away while we were inside. Nicholas cried for what seemed like ever until one of the moms brought him frosting. Then he calmed down and we went in the laundry room to look at the snakes. We stayed in there eating frosting and watching the snake slither about for a long time. When the other kids were done decorating, we did the present exchange. Then we all headed back outside for more fun on the bikes. Merry Christmas everyone!

SpongeBob SquarePants

We took a little trip to Universal Studios this past Sunday. We thought it would be fun to go somewhere decorated for Christmas. The first thing we did was ride the Jimmy Neutron ride and there was a little part with our favorite SpongeBob. When we exited the ride we saw none other than SpongeBob SquarePants standing right in front of us! Nicholas went right over to him and had his picture taken with him. He even talked to him and touched him. I think it was the greatest moment in his life so far! He was really excited. Why couldn't he have done that with Santa?

A Fun Weekend

Nicholas and I went to visit Ne and Poppy this past weekend. Jason went hunting in Texas so we took a little vacation ourselves. Nicholas and I went to Home Depot with Poppy on Saturday. Poppy must have magical powers because Nicholas never behaves that well for me in any store! On Monday, we went to the beach with Ne. It was such a beautiful day. Nicholas was afraid of the jellyfish that had washed up onto the shore. He helped us collect shells and sand in a bucket. I think Ne would have preferred just the shells but Nicholas had his own plan. Thanks for a great weekend Ne and Poppy!

Visiting Santa . . . or Not

On Markie's last day with us we decided to head for the mall with Courtney and Kailey to visit Old St. Nick. Did I have any expectations? Please. I was fairly certain that Nicholas would not have anything to do with Santa. Markie carried Nicholas over to Santa while Kailey walked right over and let Santa put her on his lap. We asked Nicholas if he wanted to go sit with Kailey on Santa's lap and tell him what he wanted. Nicholas' response was to cling to Markie's neck for dear life and say "NO!" Mrs. Claus came over to talk to us and tried to take Nicholas from Markie. Nicholas crawled up Markie's chest and held onto his shirt as tight as he could. So Markie tried to make him feel better and I told him to tell Mrs. Claus what he wanted so at least Santa would know what to bring. Nicholas scooted back down and let go enough to whisper "Trucks" and then buried his face in Markie's neck. At least he was able to put in his request! We miss you, Uncle Markie!

Thanksgiving Weekend

Nicholas had a wonderful visit with his Ne, Poppy, and Unc Markie. He even ate butternut squash to all of our surprise! He played trucks with Poppy and made him go outside to play, too. Unc Markie loved watching Max and Ruby, a cartoon about bunnies. Ne enjoyed being a kissing dinosaur that chased Nicholas all over the house. On Sunday, we went to Dinosaur World where he dragged us all over the park showing us how dinos roar. Then we went to the Boneyard to dig up dino bones. He made his Ne help him brush off the bones and then dumped a big load of sand down her pants! The rest of us had a great chuckle but poor Ne had to walk around for the rest of the time with sand in her underwear!

Thanksgiving

Tomorrow begins our Thanksgiving weekend. Ne and Poppy will be here tomorrow afternoon. Nicholas has been talking about it since Sunday. He thinks they should have come then and not tomorrow. I guess he doesn't have any patience, another trait from Jason. On Thursday, Uncle Markie will arrive and then it will be as if Ne and Poppy don't even exist. Uncle Markie will be spending quite some time playing trucks and legos if Nicholas has his way. Courtney and Kailey will also be in town this weekend. What a great time of year! We'll be thinking about our family (freezing up north) and wishing we could all be together! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Christmas Pictures

Yesterday we went on our annual trip to have a family picture taken as well as one of Nicholas alone. We arrived at Sears nice and early for our 9:45 appointment so we could get our name in and not have to wait long. The only problem was that there were several people waiting who had appointments at 9:00. The list grew from there. We ended up waiting an hour before they took us in. An hour to Nicholas is like 10 for us so the pictures did not go well. He sat for one pose of the three of us and that was like torture. He started to scream, kick, and yell. So Jason took him to the car and I looked at the one shot that was "perfect" according the photographer. The pictures was absolutely horrible and there was no way I was going to buy it. So, we will be headed back to Sears to try again for the first appointment during the week. I hope it works or there won't be any pictures this year.

Flu Shot

Today was Nicholas' flu shot. To sum up our experience, there was crying and screaming before we even entered the building which continued for five minutes after we were in the car. There was repeated yelling of "No go to doctor!" and we didn't even see the doctor. The nurse gives the flu shot. On our way out, the doctor rubbed my back and shook her head as I literally wrestled Nicholas out the door and into the car.

Our Trip to Jacksonville

Last Wednesday, Nicholas and I took a trip to visit our friends, Courtney and Kailey, at their new house in Jacksonville. The ride up took about 4 hours but thankfully a nap and the DVD player kept Nicholas occupied. About an hour of the trip is on 75 North but the rest is on backroads. It is amazing that there is still so much of Florida untouched by Walmart, Publix, and CVS. There were cows, trees, horse ranches, and quaint little towns with signs warning of speed traps ahead. So peaceful compared to the hustle and bustle of our town. Courtney's house is absolutely beautiful. She has done a wonderful job decorating in the short time they have been there. Nicholas loved playing in Kailey's room and her playroom. He dressed up in beads, headbands, and pretty purple shoes. He also loved her shopping cart and rocking horse. Courtney took us to a gorgeous park on the St. John's river. The view of the river was incredible. We can't wait to go back and hopefully stay more than just one night! Thanks again, Courtney and Kailey!

Locked Out

While on the phone with my mom yesterday morning, I went out on the porch to let Alli outside to do her business. She finished in a few minutes and we went to open the door. As I chatted away, I reached out my hand to pull open the slider door. At the same time I saw Nicholas standing there on a chair pushing in the pin between the doors. I tried to open the door but it wouldn't budge. I filled my mom in on the dilemma and then asked Nicholas to take out the pin. He reached up and pulled it out and said "Come in, mommy." So I tried the door again but it still wouldn't move. Nicholas climbed down from the chair and tried to open it from his end but the door stayed shut. So I calmly asked him to push down the silver button that he had pushed up. He tried and tried but couldn't get it down. I asked him again and demonstrated what to do. My mom was offering helpful suggestions like maybe I should have a spare key outside, maybe I should call Jason to let us in, and what was I going to do if I couldn't get back in. I kept coaching Nicholas on how to unlock the door and finally, he did it! His final words were, "Stay inside, mommy." Thanks, son.

Grampa

Ever since I explained to Nicholas that Grampa has a boo boo and had to go to the doctor, it has been the topic of many conversations. Typically they go like this: "Gampa has a boo boo mommy." "I know, but Grampa is OK." "Gampa go to doctor mommy." "Grampa did go to the doctor but now he is home." "Boo boo me mommy, go to doctor me." "You are okay, you don't have to go to the doctor." The last two sentences also take place each and every time Nicholas bumps something or falls down. Jason took Nicholas over to see Grampa today. Nicholas asked Grampa if he could see his boo boo. So Grampa showed him a bruise on his leg. Nicholas covered his eyes until Grampa covered it up. Nicholas, not to be out done, showed him a bruise he has on his leg. Then he gave Grampa a kiss so his boo boo would feel better.

No Trick or Treating

For the fifth time, Nicholas refused to wear his costume. I thought he might want to when he saw the other kids coming to the door, but no. We even told him he could wear his truck shirt and construction hat and be a truck driver. He still said no. Actually, his exact words were "No trick or treat, stay home mommy!" "Stay home, mommy! NO trick or treat!" He helped me open the door and showed everyone his front end loader. I wonder what will happen next year!

Pumpkin Carving

After a quick visit to the "Pumpkin Patch" we had to stop at two stores to look for a pumpkin carving kit. We used the kit to make a ghost, witch hat, and spider. Once Nicholas finished painting his he wanted dad to carve it like the others. The he piled all the pieces and the tops into mine and wouldn't let me empty it back out. Alli tried to eat everything that fell on the floor. It wasn't the same without Uncle Markie though. Jason had to get the gooey stuff out of his pumpkin himself. Happy Halloween everyone!

Bash's Party

Nicholas went to Sebatian's Halloween party last night. He was disappointed that his dad couldn't be there but he understood that "Gampa has a bee boo, Gampa go doctor." Jason's dad fell off of a ladder at work yesterday so Jason had to rush off to the hospital. We think Gampa broke his pelvic bone, leg, and possibly his back. Until the swelling goes down we can't be sure. Again, Nicholas wouldn't wear his costume. But he did enjoy collecting the candy from the pinata. He wouldn't let Bash's dad help him hit the pinata but when he saw the candy he quickly began stuffing it into his bag! He also did the limbo with the other kids, they were so cute! Kailey came with us, it was the last day of her visit. She was adorable in her JoJo costume. The party was a huge success! Thanks Joe and Kristyn!

The Costume

Well, again Nicholas would not put on his Halloween costume. He did have his truck shirt on and a little track hoe with him. A few parents thought he was dressed as a truck driver until they saw the ghost costume tucked under my arm. I also brought the costume he wore last year, Winnie the Pooh. He will wear that at home but it was a no go at the party. He did have a good time running around with his buddy Sebastian, who was dressed as a dinosaur. Sebastian came for a visit this morning and brought his dino costume. Nicholas wore it for most of the morning. Jason took him to Walmart to find one for tonight's party. Jason found one that was a different color and put it in the cart. Nicholas turned around, picked it up, and threw it on the floor. When Jason tried to put it back in, Nicholas threw a fit and kept trying to grab it and throw it on the floor again. Instead of buying a costume, they bought a . . . truck! I guess there is always next year.

Playground

Today our little playgroup visited Lithia Springs. There was a beautiful playground and the kids had the best time. The weather was absolutely perfect, too. It was sunny but cool with a breeze. Nicholas had a great time but was very protective of the truck he brought with him. He even held in the swing so that no one else could play with it! I, being a horrible mother, didn't pay attention to his diaper so it was hanging out of the side of his shorts by the end of the morning. I didn't even bring another diaper so he was forced to wear a Cinderella pull up that a good mother brought for her child. The poor kid, at least he had fun digging in the dirt!

Halloween Picture

Today we went to Sears for Nicholas and Kailey's annual Halloween costume picture. Nicholas would not put his costume on but Kailey was so adorable! The photographer did manage to take a picture of Nicholas kissing Kailey and one of Nicholas alone so it wasn't a total loss. I just can't imagine what he will be like when I get his picture taken for Christmas. I just don't know where he gets his stubborness from.

Sweet Dreams Mommy

Nicholas' vocabulary is just incredible. I can't believe how many words he knows. The things that come out of his mouth are too cute! Our nightly routine inclues watching Spongebob with dad on the bed, teeth brushing, a diaper change, and then reading his three favorite books. I will lay with him for about five minutes, slowly counting down, until it is time for hugs and smooches. I always say good night and sweet dreams to which he usually replies night night. The other night, o my surprise, he answered "Sweet dreams, mommy." Those were the sweetest words I have ever heard!

A Visit to Ne and Poppy's House

Nicholas and I went for a little visit to Ne and Poppy's this past weekend. During the ride, Nicholas informed me that "mom stay home, Ne and Poppy's house me" meaning sorry about your luck mom, but you can't stay with me. Once we arrived, he didn't seem to mind that I stayed. Then he wanted "Ne and mom go, stay Poppy me" so we told him that we would go shopping on Saturday and he could stay with his Poppy. He thought we should leave right away. Saturday arrived and Poppy fixed Ne's car battery which had died the day before. "Poppy fix me Ne's car" was the phrase we heard until Poppy was finished. Nicholas desperately wanted to be in the garage helping Poppy fix "Ne's car broken" instead of inside with us. After lunch we left and Nicholas had the time of his life with Poppy. They went swimming, had cupcakes, and watched Monsters Inc. (Nicholas favorite thing to watch at the moment). When we came home, Nicholas said "No mom, no Ne, Poppy stay home me". I really don't think that translates to "Welcome home, Ne and mom." On Sunday, Ne made Nicholas the cutest ghost costume ever that he refuses to put on. Hopefully, when he sees the other kids I'll be able to talk him into it. When it was time to leave, he held onto his Ne for dear life, as if he would never ever see her again. My dad finally told my mom that the longer she dragged it out the harder it would be. Ne put Nicholas in his seat and he screamed and cried for about 45 minutes. He passed out for an hour and then woke up crying which continued for another hour. Luckily, Monsters Inc. was in the DVD player and he calmed down. I just don't know how parents ever traveled in the car without a DVD player.

It's Just the Beginning

Nicholas and his friend Sebastian have been going to Gymboree for over a year now. Kristyn and I think the boys are getting bored. So we decided to spice things up by trying out the program at the science museum, MOSI. The first day was a little much for Nicholas, he isn't fond of big crowds or adults hovering over him. He cried a little in the middle and then stayed one step behind the group for the rest of the class. The second day brought trouble. Nicholas wanted to bring his truck to class. His truck is like a security blanket for him and it goes almost everywhere with us. I tried and tried to keep that thing in the car but he wanted to bring it or go home. So I thought, what's the harm, Kristyn can hide it after we get in there. Well, Mr. Nicholas would not be separated from that truck. He also refused to make a human body cookie choosing instead to make a dragon. There was this mother there who refused to let her child do any of the activities himself, she made everything so it would be perfect and he wouldn't get dirty. She was not happy with the truck in the room or the dragon and she made sure I knew about it. She gave us dirty looks and told her son that making a dragon wasn't what the teacher said to do. I ignored it and carried on with the dragon making. After several looks and comments later, I had had enough. Nicholas was watching the kids do the limbo and putting crayons in and out of his truck when that mother started whispering about us while standing about two feet away. I wanted to cry but instead I picked Nicholas up and we left. We both cried the whole way home, him wanting to go back and dance with Sebastian and me because I couldn't believe that another mother could be so cruel to a child. When we arrived home and I took Nicholas out of his seat he pinched the tears off my face and said "No cry anymore mom" and hugged me. That sweet little guy made feel better and cry harder! After telling the story to my mom, she said "You are going to deal with the parents like that all the time now that Nicholas is getting older. It's just the beginning." Gee, thanks mom, I feel so much better.

Chuck E. Cheese

We went to that wonderful place yesterday with two of Nicholas' friends, Hannah and Sebastian. Nicholas was very adventurous. He did not ride Bob the Builder over and over, instead he only rode it four times. We played skee ball, drove race cars and tractor trailers, and used a water gun. Quite a change from the last trip there! I am still not brave enough to let him climb through the tunnels overhead. I just don't know how I will get him down if he gets stuck or worse, what is up there, left behind by other children. I wonder how, or if, they ever clean those tunnels. I can imagine left over crusts and hot dogs, molding away or little bugs feasting on the remains of someone's lunch from a couple of months ago. Yes, I think we will stay out of the tunnels for quite some time!

The Zoo

We took a little trip yesterday to the zoo. Nicholas loved watching the monkeys swing from branch to branch. Then he rode the Merry Go Round over and over, which made Jason feel sick. We also rode the Skyride, which takes you over almost the whole zoo. Once I stopped thinking about the three of us dropping straight down into the rhinocerous pit, I enjoyed the view. Nicholas wasn't afraid at all. He saw the trucks the zoo keepers use to clean and move things and from then on that's all he wanted to see! He was able to indentify each one from up in the air. He also wanted to know who had the keys and where they were!

A Purple Dress

I am not sure where this has come from. I wonder if it's because he has seen one too many of my soaps. Anyway, Mr. Nicholas decided to wear a lovely purple cape and pink skirt today at Gymboree. Oh yes, dress up time brought yet another girlie outfit. I think he is just very secure in his manhood. He looked absolutely adorable! I think he was a little bummed, though. All of girls had his favorites - the tutus!

A Happy Reunion

Nicholas played with his best friend Kailey today. He has not seen her for about two months. Before she had even been here five minutes, he was hugging her and holding her hand. He even let her hold and play with his favorite trucks. This is something that absolutely never happens. He hardly lets Jason or myself touch them never mind another child! He also gave her a huge piece of his playdoh. When I ask for a piece I end up with a piece about the size of one tiny sesame seed! Oh how he loves his Kailey!

Pink Tutu

Oh yes, you read that correctly, a pink tutu! The kids played dress up at Gymboree yesterday and Nicholas' favorite was a pink tutu! He wore it around his waist and used a white, lace something as a cape tied around his neck! He was so happy, running around the room in circles, his tutu and cape flapping in the wind. He was a riot! The other mothers were in hysterics, wondering what his father would think. I thought it was great, nothing wrong with a little creative expression. Maybe I should look into ballet lessons . . .

Butterflies

While we were in CT, we took a ride to the Yankee Candle store in Deerfield, MA and we visited the Magic Wings butterfly exhibit. I could have bought one of each of the candles, they were all so yummy to smell. Nicholas wanted to build a monkey at the Build a Bear store. Once we started, he was no longer interested so I built the monkey. This consists of picking a heart, pledging to love the bear, kissing the heart, turning in circles and pumping the stuffing into the monkey. In case you have a picture of me looking ridiculous in your head, you are right. Anyway, we named the monkey Paul because there is a monkey on Nickolodeon whose name is Paul that Nicholas loves. So, we finished Paul and went off to the butterfly place. As soon as we walked in, the butterflies started flying towards us. Not one of us, Jason, Nicholas, Heather, Aunt Wendy or myself, liked the butterflies touching us. Nicholas hated it so much that he was screaming and clinging to Jason as if bees were stinging him! I can't imagine where he gets this fear of bugs from, can you? Anyway, after I tortured them by taking a few pictures, they left. The three of us braced ourselves and continued to walk around. Heather screamed for her mommy every time they touched her and jumped all around. Oh yes, people were staring. This caused us to laugh hysterically and annoy those around us. I snapped a few more pictures and our total time there was probably less than a half of an hour!

The Visit

Our little shy guy spent most of his days in Connecticut glued to his dad. While I sat in the sun, visited with family, and shopped, Nicholas and his dad were outside in the "pit" (a place at the end of the street where there are numerous trucks) or upstairs on the bed watching Spongebob. Poor Jason did not have a moments rest. Luckily for Jason, Uncle Mike charged the golf cart battery so they were able to ride to the pit instead of walk. When Jason didn't want to go, he would tell Nicholas that it was broken, so we now listen to "golf cart broken" over and over again now that we are home. He also likes to say "no keys to the dump dump truck" because they couldn't ride the trucks in the pit without the keys. Even though Nicholas was shy, he still let everyone kiss him at least once and he always waved and said good-bye!

A Success

Our plane ride can be considered a success. I must also add, especially for Jason. He was able to purchase a movie both on the way there and on the way home. It was I who spent three straight hours entertaining with all of our goodies from "the backpack"! Nicholas behaved as if he was a seasoned traveler. He did not require a car seat. He simply sat back and let mom put on a show. He watched his all time favorite, Spongebob Squarepants, over and over on the portable DVD player. He played with playdoh and his trucks. He colored pictures of Spongebob. He also drank juice (from the stewardess, not what I packed) and ate M&M's that Dad bought at the airport to keep him still while having lunch at TGIFriday's. I really can't complain about my airplane ride, though. Nicholas stuck like glue to Jason once we arrived. More about that tomorrow . . .

An Airplane Adventure

We are leaving today to fly in an airplane with Nicholas for the first time in a year. He hasn't flown since last summer, which seem so long ago with the terrible two's upon us. I have everything packed - DVD player, DVDs, books, trucks, crayons, coloring books, play doh, play doh tools, Mr. Potato head, candy, snacks, wipes, diapers, anti-bacterial wipes, anti-bacterial lotion, T-shirt, shorts, sippy cups, and tissues. Did I mention that this is just what's in the backpack for the plane? Wish us luck!

New Words

Nicholas has been expanding his vocabulary by leaps and bounds this past week. As we all know, Nicholas is obsessed with trucks. Needless to say, it was only a matter of time before he started to correctly name the trucks. He can say concrete truck, dump truck, and crane. I think he says garbage truck, too, but I am not sure yet! Every night when Jason gets home from work Nicholas wants to "i cone in dad's truck" which means go and get an ice cream cone in dad's truck, in case you weren't able to decode that. Some of his other favorite words are Abu (Jabu, Markie's dog), Alli, barn, mucky, paint, play doh, suit (bathing suit) sim (swim), and pool. I am sure there are more but that is all I can come up with under pressure. If he can't think of the name or doesn't know it he just says "this mom this" and I try to get him to say the word. That is of course unless it is after 5 and all my patience have run out. In that case, I just give him what he wants!

Bob the Builder

Today we ventured to Chuck E. Cheese, the germiest place on earth. The group of moms that we get together with every Friday thought it would be fun to go somewhere with air conditioning instead of playing outside in the heat. We arrived at 9:30 to beat the lunchtime rush. Nicholas quickly found a Bob the Builder ride, which was a backhoe, that he loved! We bought ten dollars worth of tokens and off we went. For the next hour and a half, he rode the truck and we sang the song. Each time the ride stopped, I tried to coax him into looking around at the rides and fun to be had. He was having none of it. He did learn to say "Token, please" when the ride stopped. After about the hundredth time, he figured out how to put the token in himself. By the time 11:00 rolled around, there were about a million daycare and bible school kids there so I pried the poor baby off the ride. We stopped for an ice cream cone on the way home to make up for having such a mean mom.

A Wild Art Class

Today was the craziest art class we have ever had! There were at least 10 kids with one teacher trying to paint, glue, and create. It was like a nightmare that lasted an entire hour. The first project went bad when there weren't enough shape sponges to go around. Don't worry though, Nicholas is always the first to grab the project materials. We are never without the items we need. Nicholas and the two kids next to him shared their shapes, so things went smoothly in our corner. It wasn't until the tactile table came out that the kids started to grow fangs. I think six kids would be the max for this tiny table so there was plenty of pushing and shoving. Nicholas was the smart one who filled up a measuring cup with noodles and brought them to me to play with. The worst was when the glue project started. Can you believe that for all of those kids there were only five glue sticks? It is true. Glue sticks are Nicholas' favorite thing in the world of art so he wasn't having any part of sharing his. He never glues anything to the paper, he just glues the paper from top to bottom while I stick on the required materials. Finally, it was time for stamps, which we skipped to avoid the madness, and fled through the front door. Maybe some of the new kids will switch to the Tuesday class. Or maybe we will!

Trucks at the Jobsite

Jason took Nicholas to the jobsite Saturday to visit Grandpa. While they were there, Nicholas (and Jason) rode the bulldozer and forklift all around for hours. Nicholas did not want to leave, so Jason just kept riding around all morning. Around 11:00, Nicholas' head started droop. When Jason would slow down, it would pop right back up. So Jason would speed up again. Then his head would slowly droop, and well, I am sure you get the picture. Finally, Jason was worried that Nicholas wasn't just sleepy, that maybe he was suffering from heat exhaustion. So he put the kicking and screaming Nicholas into the truck. To make up for being such a mean dad, Jason took him to McDonald's for lunch. Jason has also taught Nicholas how to say "Buy a dump dump truck." Nicholas repeats this phrase over and over to anyone and everyone who is listening. Jason is especially proud when he says it to Grandpa because I think Jason wants Grandpa to "buy a dump dump truck"!

Boys and Baby Powder

Before I tell this story, I think I should mention that the baby powder was on the book shelf right next to the changing table. I left it there last night after Nicholas' bath. Now, here goes. On Tuesday, my friends Kristyn and Elizabeth come over to scrapbook while our three boys play and I hold the baby. There were two times when things became awfully quiet. The first time Elizabeth went to check and her son and Sebastian were on the changing table. They had figured out how to open a drawer and climb up. The second time Kristyn went to investigate and the boys were back up on the table while Nicholas was on his bed holding out his poopy diaper. The next time it was quiet again, it was my turn to check. As I walk by the family room, I see Sebastian watching TV and I think, OK, at least they aren't on the changing table this time. I walk into to Nicholas' room only to be greeted by a cloud of baby powder with James and Nicholas jumping on the bed. James was whipping the baby powder all around in the air and huge billows of powder were flying everywhere. My first reaction was to laugh because they were such a sight, covered in white powder! I held back the laughter and snatched the baby powder from James. Then I brushed them off and sent them out to play in the other room. Since the room looked like a blizzard had hit it, I just shut the door until everyone left I guess this will teach me to put my things away!

Hurricane Dennis

Hurricane Dennis is lurking beneath Cuba busily deciding which state to hit. We are prepared no matter which way he turns. Nicholas will not need a thing even if we are without power for a week. We are stocked up on juice, juice boxes, water, diapers, wipes, kleenex, snacks, hot dogs, and pb&j. Although we can't believe that there is already a level 4 hurricane out there in July, we will get throught the weekend with Sponge Bob and Bob the Builder playing over and over again. Our flashlights, generator, and canned goods are all piled up just in case. Isn't this supposed to be the Sunshine State?

The Sick Family

It all started with a few meaningless coughs from Nicholas. Then Jason came home on Thursday with a terrible headache. My parents had to suffer through the weekend with three sick visitors who couldn't sleep. Now they will probably end up with the dreaded Bronchitis! All three of us have been to see the Dr. and are taking our antibiotics. Poor Nicholas also has an ear infection. Germs, who needs them?

Potty Training

I have just finished training Alli to stop going in the house. Now I am lucky enough to start teaching Nicholas not to go all over the house. He is trying very hard to "go go" on the potty but we're not always able to make it there in time. Needless to say, I have cleaned up endless messes over the past couple of days. Today has been much more successful, though. I think the bribe to call dad at the office helped tremendously! I just hope we have seen the end of the smearing of the poop all over the walls. Hopefully by the time we arrive at Nana and Poppy's on Friday things will have greatly improved. If not, at least they will be there to help us!

Should I even write about this?

Our curious little boy has come up with a new way to say "Hey mom, my diaper needs changing!" This may make some of you gag but I am going to tell the story anyway. Nicholas has started to put his hand in his dirty diaper and decorate the walls with it. The first time I could forgive, the second time was annoying, but the third was just ridiculous! The first time I was a little nervous about upsetting him and causing him to have issues with his bowels. I have been reading too much about what happends to kids when they are potty trained but not ready. The next time I was upset and kept telling him it was disgusting and NOT to do it again. The last time I was highly upset because it was everywhere in his room. This time I yelled, something I hardly ever do, and for now it has stopped. So our next step is potty training, time to get rid of the old diapers!

Father's Day

This Father's Day, Nicholas made a T-shirt for his dad. We put his handprints on the front and wrote "World's Best Dad, Hands Down!" It is just the cutest thing I've ever seen. We took Jason out to breakfast at IHOP and then went over to Outdoor World in Orlando. Nicholas played his first arcade game. It was some type of driving game so Nicholas used the steering wheel and Jason hit the gas pedal. They were just too funny!

Summertime

Yesterday was our play group day and we brought Kailey with us. Courtney is teaching summer school so Kailey has been spending Fridays with us. Since it is so hot here, and it has finally stopped raining all day, Kristen put out a sprinkler and two kid pools. The kids had a great time swimming and spraying each other with the sprinkler. We put the slide into one of the pools and Nicholas taught all of the kids how to go down head first! The kids had watermelon for their snack and loved it! Nicholas kept going back to eat the other kids' leftovers! (Sounds like something his Uncle Markie would do, even now!) Kailey started out eating it correctly but then decided that the rind was much better! We are going to be so sad when they move in a couple of weeks. At least Jacksonville is only a car ride away instead of a plane ride!

Big Boy Bed

Yesterday we bought a brand new bed for Nicholas. It's a twin size bed with guard rails so it can one day be transformed into a bunk bed. Although it looks adorable in his room, it makes me very sad to look at it. I just can't believe that it is already time to change his room and take apart the crib! Jason and Nicholas picked out a truck comforter and sheets so the room has completely changed. Jason painted the walls a darker blue and so the bears that Nana so lovingly stenciled are gone. Every time the tears welled up in my eyes, Jason would laugh. He thinks it is great that Nicholas is growing up so fast, he can't wait to take him hunting and fishing. I can still remember Nicholas sleeping peacefully in his crib, only a week old, while Nana worked on the stencils.

Rain

Will this rain ever stop? Poor Nicholas is dying to go outside and ride his front end loader. Even his friend Kailey wasn't enough of a distraction today. Instead of having fun with her, he is grumpy and wants to be outside. Poor Kailey had every toy she picked up taken away from her. After several trips to time out, Nicholas started to give the toys back after taking them away. He even gave her a good kick in her shin. The poor girl is never going to want to come here again! If only the rain would stop and we could play outside again.

Monkeys

Nicholas' favorite book is Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Dr. Suess. When he wants us to read it to him he says "mokey, mokey" and hands it to us. He likes to repeat the little sayings like dum ditty dum ditty or whack whack whack. He just cracks us up. Part of the fun is that he has to play with Playdoh while we are reading to him. We are not allowed to touch the Playdoh, just the book. Each sitting requires us to read the book at least three times sometimes more. Since he loves the monkeys so much and they are a welcome change from the trucks, we decided to take him to the Zoo. He was so excited to see the orangatang (which we ofcourse called a monkey) that he was jumping up and down and pointing. We toured the rest of the zoo and even touched the sting rays. He loved touching the sting rays with dad like a big boy!! Anyway, when we went to the gift shop to find a monkey Nicholas wanted the orangatang instead!! I guess on the next visit we will clear up the confusion by seeing real monkeys and buying one, too!

Play Group

Almost every Friday we get together with a few moms and all the kids for a little play group. This week wasn't any different except that it has been raining here for four days straight. This might not seem like a big deal to most people, but for us Floridians it is huge. This is the land of sunshine where a quick shower refreshes our lawns and causes a few hundred car accidents. It then moves on towards the other coast leaving behind more sunshine and a perfect ending to the day. Needless to say, our little ones are feeling the effects of this weather. If the kids weren't fighting over the train then it was the cars. When the juice boxes came out the claws were flying, whose is whose? Then Nicholas was pushing and grabbing and the other kids were too. It was just chaos. All of us mothers looked at each other wondering what we had done to deserve this torture. Then a miracle happened, the rain stopped. We rushed the kids outside despite the gray sky and finished the play date relatively calmly. Where oh where is Mr. Sunshine?

Our New Arrival

Our new puppy is a hit! We have renamed her Alli, Sunny just wasn't working for us. So far she has only had two minor accidents, knock on wood! She is so sweet and listens incredibly well for being so young. Nicholas calls her Jabu, who is actually Markie's dog. Hopefully he will figure out that she is not Jabu but for now it doesn't really matter because she doesn't know her name anyway! Nicholas loves to go out in the backyard and throw the ball for her. She brings it right back to him and then he thinks about throwing it again. If he takes too long she lets him know by bumping into him! They are just too cute!

Nicholas' New Best Friend

After a year of debating the positives and negatives of every breed of dog possible, we have finally chosen one. Last night we bought a beautiful Golden Retriever and we named her Sunny. We are picking her up tonight and our baby girl will be spending her first night in her new home with us. She is so gentle with Nicholas it is incredible. She does not nip or chew on him, she is just as sweet as can be. Maybe by the end of the week I will be singing a different tune but for now I am excited and so is Nicholas! Luckily, Nana and Pop will be here on Sat to help out with their newest grandchild! I'll keep everyone posted on how her training goes and how Nicholas likes her!

Nicholas' First Crush

I don't know if he is old enough yet but I would definitely say that Nicholas has a crush on his new babysitter. Our new sitter, Loren, recently turned 13. We had just lost our regular babysitter so I was eager to ask her mom if she would be interested in sitting while I am at the Y. We worked out the details and her first day arrived. Nicholas was cautious and cried just a bit when I scurried out the door. By the time I returned, it was as if they had known each other forever! The next time came and as soon as she came in the house Nicholas pushed me out the door! Never in babysitting history has this happened! In the past we had to bribe him with toys, food, drinks, or video tapes to make it to the car. Each day she comes I tell Nicholas that she is on her way and he rushes to the window to watch for her. As soon as she is in the front door it's almost as if I don't exist. A quick kiss is all he has time to give his mom! When it is time for her to leave he walks her to the door and then to the corner of our street so we can watch her walk home safely. He waves good-bye to her as she walks away and looks up at me as if to say, "Thanks mom for leaving me with such a great sitter!"

Favorite Shirts

For as long as I can remember I have heard stories about my cousin Melonie and her favorite frog shirt. The gist of the story is that my parents went to Puerto Rico and brought home frog shirts for everyone. Mel became extremely attached to hers and it was the only shirt she would wear. Unfortunately for my poor Aunt Wendy, it was not possible to run to the store to buy more. She had to continuously wash this shirt for Mel. This story was never very significant to me until Nicholas became obsessed with trucks. We are now living the same story with only a few twists. Luckily, JCPenney has several different patterns so I was able to buy a few hundred allowing me to use the washing machine far less than my aunt. Also, although Nicholas can distinguish between brands, he will allow us to put him in the red, green, or gray truck shirt from JCPenney. I can now sympathize with my aunt and I truly see what pain she must have gone through. At Markie's graduation, my mom, dad, husband, and I all tried to put Nicholas in a cute outfit but to no avail. He was insistent upon his truck shirt for his uncle's graduation! I am just happy that he is not obsessed with only one shirt with one frog on the front!

A Sweet Story

Last week I had the pleasure of watching Kailey for three days because her grandmother wasn't able to. In the weeks leading up to this event, I was not sure what to expect from not one but two almost two year olds. Had I have known how wonderful the two would play together, I would have volunteered to take her forever! Nicholas and Kailey spent every day sharing toys, laughing at each other, and talking together. It was a little like watching an old couple walking through the mall sharing their little secrets and helping each other along. Nicholas would take Kailey's hand and lead her towards the crayons. Then he would show her, as if she doesn't already know, how to draw all over the paper without getting it on the table! At times the two of them would be sitting down, each busy with a different toy. Then Nicholas would look over, get up and hug and kiss Kailey! It was just the sweetest thing to see! I should mention that Kailey did not want any part of the kissing but she somewhat tolerated the hugging. It was just so sweet to watch them interact! We really miss you Kailey!

A Toddler's Eating Habits

When Nicholas was just beginning to eat regular table food, I thought he was going to be the best eater ever! He would have vegetables, meat, fruit, and usually some type of bread. He would gobble up everything on his plate and be ready for more. Now that we have entered what seems to be the early terrible twos, nothing is the same. For days in a row the only thing he will eat is a hot dog. Then all of a sudden the hot dog is tossed on the floor with the toys as if to say "What is this! Why on earth would you make this for me?" He used to love every vegetable including peas. Now the only one we can get him to go near is corn on the cob! One would think that he would also eat the same corn we do, but that is not the case. Only corn on the cob will do! He spits out chicken, turkey, steak, hamburg yet today he ate a whole piece of "ham" off of an Egg McMuffin sandwich! Does this make any sense? How can you eat the so called ham from McDonald's of all places but not any other kind of meat??

A Nightmare, I mean Haircut!

This morning was the fifth haircut for the Nicholas. We were ready in plenty of time. I had all of the snacks packed and off we went with enough time to stop for gas. We looked at the trucks, named all the construction equipment we passed, and were generally having a grand time on the ride over. The problem began when Nicholas saw the building. It was as if eight weeks had not passed since the last time we visited Amy for a haircut. He began saying no over and over again. When I unbuckled his car seat, the kicking and screaming started. Then he threw himself on the ground and refused to move. I picked him up and carried him into the building. Amy was still with a client so we quickly went back outside. I thought for sure a little trip outside would calm him down. He could not be distracted by anything! We looked at birds, a dead snake, the gutters, the pool, and leaves. Nothing worked! Finally, I dragged him, kicking and screaming, into the salon. For the next twenty minutes he clung to me while swinging his head from side to side and letting out an ear piercing scream. When we decided to give up, he finally quieted down. I stood up and he ate a cookie while Amy finished trimming what she could reach. His hair is shorter but not perfect. Maybe next time will be better!

Preschool

Nicholas has not even turned two yet but already everyone is thinking about preschool. All the moms at Gymboree are engaged in lenghy conversations about preschool and I am standing there wondering why in the world they are already talking about it. During my eavesdropping, I learn that most preschools have a long waiting list and that this fall is the right time to choose a school and get onto the waiting list. Even though this boggles my mind, I quickly joined the conversation because I must learn the secrets to finding the right one and being able to get in. Some moms are hoping that the new public preschool law will go into effect right when it is time for our children to start but I pointed out that the children have to be four not three for that to apply to them. Then it was onto the list of local schools - Montessori Llamas and Learning, Montessori of Brandon, Nativity Church, and St. Stephen's. All are considered the best, but each different in price. So, I took a deep breath and decided that I would wait until the fall, visit each school, and make a decision. If the waiting list is too long then, horror of all horrors, maybe he won't start right away when he turns three! Or we will choose another one. Since he hasn't even turned two yet, I am not going to think about it anymore until the fall!

The End of the Pacifier

I would have never, ever guessed that getting rid of the pacifier would be so easy! When we changed the crib from the toddler bed, I removed the bumpers. This led to all of the pacifiers getting stuck between the wall and crib and landing under the crib. On Tuesday of last week, I was just too lazy to look for one while Nicholas sat screaming in his bed at nap time. Instead, I quickly ran out of the room and he fell asleep. This accomplishment led us to try bedtime without the pacifier which led to SUCCESS! Just one more example of how quickly is changing from our baby to our little boy!

Finally - Sleep!

It has been quite some time since we have had a real nights worth of sleep here! Mr. Nicholas learned how to climb out of his crib! This led to night after night of his waking up and walking out of his room and into ours! One morning Jason found him asleep in the kitchen on top of the mat with all of his little blankets curled around him. Jason came up with idea to lay with him until he feel asleep while we were at my mom's for Christmas. This led to Nicholas coming to get us everytime he woke up. This continued at home and through the new year until my mom suggested locking him in his room. We just couldn't do it at first, so we continued to lay with him night after night, almost all night long. At last, my common sense has kicked in. What did we do when he was crying in his crib and he couldn't get out? We left him in there until he fell asleep. So, I put a safety doorknob onto the inside of his door and after one night, he started staying in his room when we put him to bed and sleeping through the night once again! Hurray!