Saturday, January 29, 2011

Nicholas is Three!!!

Nicholas turned three on the 17th of January. I just can't believe my baby is gone, my toddler is gone, and my preschooler is here! Times passes by so quickly! Nicholas certianly enjoyed his birthday festivities. Starting with a visit from Mom-Mom and Pop-pop and ending with a birthday party with friends. Nicholas thought it was pretty neat that the focus was on him. He kept on saying, "I got birthday suprises and Christian didn't!" He's in for a real wake up when Christian's first birthday approaches in just two months!

While Nicholas still enjoys Thomas the Train, I wouldn't say it was his favorite any more. He has normal boy progression of fire trucks, rocket ships, jets and dinosaurs! But still loves anything with wheels! If he is allowed to watch TV, he will usually request Curious George and loves George books too! He still loves to read and could probably spend countless hours having me or Chris read to him, but one of his new favorite things to do is to listen to made up stories or to tell us stories. He starts by saying..."Let me tell you a story...", it can actually get quite creative. When he asks that I tell him a story his favorite character is always a boy named Nicholas! He loves hearing stories about himself even if it is just relaying the story of our day, as often times it is since sometimes my brain is fried and I can't think of anything else to talk about in my story! This is such a fun age for all of us, but it is not without challenges! I would say that Nicholas is also a normal three year old who demonstartes a strong will to do it all on his own, at the same time a certain clinginess to mommy, and the most stubborn will imaginable!

He is a very funny boy and is always talking. I can't believe I already have a back seat driver at three years old, I wonder where he gets that from? I know a particular someone who always tells me how to drive! Our conversation went something like this the other day:

Nicholas: "Mommy, hold the steering wheel with two hands!" (I was guilty of driving one handed!)
Me: "OK, thanks Nicholas."
Nicholas: "Mommy, slow down and keep us safe." (I was driving the seed limit!)
Me: "OK, I will."
Nicholas as we are at a red light: "It's green Mommy, green means go!"
Me: "Nicholas, lets play a game called how long can we keep quite without speaking."
Nicholas: "Why?"

His three year check up was very cute! He and the doctor were chatting it up, talking about the things he can do, the bed he sleeps in, the bike he got for his birthday. The doctor said he communicates like a 5 year old! The best part for me was when she was looking into his ears, she asked him to turn his head and look at mommy, and he said "I love you mommy!" What a sweet boy (sometimes!) He is now 33 pounds (50th %) and 381/2 inches (75th %).

Three yeas ago our little boy was born and changed our lives more than we ever thought possible! It has been the best three years of my life and I feel like I am such a better person because of him. He has taught me about patience, respect, the value of free time, but most of all he has taught me about the truest form of unconditional love. Happy birthday Nicholas, I love the boy that you have become and I can't wait to see the changes and growth this year brings!
We had a quite morning of cake and presents at home on the day of Nicholas birthday.

Nicholas licking the cake of of his new train, Spencer. I used him as the cake topper.

Birthday dinner night at Red Robin. Nicholas was delighted that they sung happy birthday to him and that he got a birthday sundae!


Since Nicholas enjoyed his tyke yoga class so much in the fall, we did a yoga birthday party. Here we are, slithering and hissing like snakes!

Even the Dad's did the yoga class! Chris, unfortunately could not as his foot it still healing.

Nicholas' favorite, roaring like a lion!

Tree pose


Followed by a pizza party lunch within walking distance of the yoga studio! The kids got to watch them make pizza through the viewing station.

The Dad's conversing





Nicholas really enjoyed his cake and all of the attention from family and friends! What a great birthday, thanks to everyone who made it special!





Pop-pop's Birthday and Mom-Mom and Pop-pop's Visit

We enjoyed a nice visit with Mom-mom and Pop-pop. We got to help celebrate Pop-pop's birthday with him as his birthday and Nicholas' are exactly a week a part. What fun we had with them! And how lucky we are to have such a selfless, giving, and caring father, father in-law and grandfather!

Singing happy birthday to Pop-pop!

Mom-mom in front of the dinosaur at Nicholas' newest favorite Seattle attraction, the Pacific Science Center!

Pop-pop with Christian at the museum.

"Look Mom-mom and Pop-pop, I can build really big towers!"

Christian changes so much each time they see him! Can't wait to see the changes when they come out for his first birthday in March!


Pop takes our family shot

Snuggles with Mom-mom!

Brother love

Wright Brothers at the Museum of Flight



Saturday, January 8, 2011

Christmastime ~ 2010

We had a wonderful and busy holiday season. Kids really make the season magical again, anyone who has lost the Christmas spirit just needs to hang around some kids to get it back! I would say this is the first year Nicholas really "got" it. Sure, last year he knew who Santa was and pointed him out by name, but I really think this was the first year he grasped the whole concept! It made it easy to bribe him with Santa, I wish I had something that powerful to use now:) He was so excited to take part in all of the holiday festivities, such as going to the Christmas tree farm, decorating the tree, picking out an ornament for himself this year, going on cookie decorating and gingerbread man making play dates. It was for sure a lot of fun! Christian is such a good baby and was joyfully going a long for the ride!

At the tree farm!
Ruby and Tessa have become Nicholas' surrogate cousins! Looks like these kids are Patagonia models. I guess that's what happens when your dad's work in the industry.



Family shot in front of this years tree!

Stockings are up and Christian is waving hi!

Nicholas was really into decorating the Christmas tree this year.

We let him pick out his own ornament this year at a Christmas shop...

and what do you know, it was a shiny red truck!

Uncle Christian came to visit in December for work and play! It was so nice to get to spend time with him!

What a treat for me, Christian and I took a mini weekend get away to Suncadia, about 90 minutes East of Seattle for a cross country skiing/spa trip. It was exactly what I needed to recharge my battery before the crazy holiday season!


Hanging out on Lake Washington before brunch!


Cookie decorating play date.

Concentrating on what he should do next.

And, on another day, a gingerbread man making play date.

Here is Nicholas' gingerbread man. We saved it until Christmas Eve night where we left it by the chimney with a glass of milk for Santa!

The babies having their own fun! Love their drooling faces!

Nicholas feeding Santa's reindeer apples at the Reindeer Festival

and sitting on Santa's sleigh!

Story time, hearing How The Grinch Stole Christmas for the first time. He was enthralled!

Christmas was a success this year! The boys loved all of the gifts and there was the perfect amount! Nicholas was so excited to come down stairs and see his new play kitchen. He played with this for a good 20 minutes before we even went over to the tree.

Eating breakfast from his new kitchen.

He made it to the tree and was so excited!

and Christian wondering what the heck is going on.

one of Nicholas' favorite gifts, the 2010 Hess Truck!

Christian crawling thru his favorite gift!

Mommy and her two boys!

Mommy and her three boys!

Enjoying his first Christmas...

all day long!

The Ranalli boys!

Mimi and the boys!

Day after Xmas, Mimi and Christian practicing his free standing.

Pop and Mimi at Pike's Market.

At the Boeing Museum of Flight

Pop and Christian in the airplane hanger.

"Wow, I'm flying!"



At the Botanical Garden Light Show, very cool!

On top of our busy month, Chris got foot surgery a few days after Christmas and is still recovering; AND Christian fell and bumped his head right on his brow bone. We took him to the Children's ER. He got his induction into the boys club a little early!

He was such a trooper!

Poor guy! Luckily, they only had to glue him and clean it up! It is still healing and hopefully will not leave a scar.

Videos

Here is Nicholas just waking up on Christmas morning as he was looking down to see if Santa had been there yet. It looks dark, but it was actually 7 AM.



Here is video of Christian dancing. He LOVES to dance, much more so than Nicholas. Any time he hears music he starts bopping! He seems very musical, as he also bangs Nicholas' xylophone and drum more so than Nicholas ever did! So funny how each kid is so different!