Plane time

Once again, Nico did fantastic on the plane even with all the choas that comes hand in hand with traveling these days. He is really becoming a frequent flyer, making this his 5th round trip via air travel! Here is super cute, but very short video clip of Nico on the plane watching and singing along with his favorite My Friends Tigger and Pooh. The captain came on the loud speaker so the video is shorter than I was hoping.

Another good trip

Nico and Mommy once again traveled down to the Rio Grande Valley for some warm weather, sunshine and loves of love and attention from Pops! Nico showed off his constant talking skills, climbing the stairs skills, and his walking/running abilities! He did a wonderful job flying again, however, this time Nico did have a little earache while the plane was descending in altitude. He had a great time exploring (and sweeping!-see the photo below) the Salzman museum as well as the jungle outback.

Thanks for a great trip Pops! Hope you come to visit SOON!

Nico's Chair

Just like his Daddy, Nico loves his "man" chair. Whenever, his favorite show, "My Friends Tigger and Pooh" comes on or it is snack time, Nico runs to his chair and plops down for some vege time. While he has this little routine down now, Nico hasn't always understood exactly what the purpose of the chair was. At first, he wasn't sure why this red monstrosity was always in his way or why he often got plopped down on this shorter then rest piece of furniture, but now I am pretty sure he would miss his "Nico-chair" if it were missing.

Trip to the East

Typically, when we travel, we head south, but this past weekend Nico and Mommy drove to east Texas, specifically, Tyler. We went to celebrate Mason, Nico's cousin, turning 1 year old. Aunt Shae threw a great party for her darling little boy, including lots of yummy cake balls to eat! We had a great time visiting Aunt Sterling and Aunt Jessica who we don't see as often. Then of course Gigi and Nanny were also there to love on their grandsons as much as possible. We had a great surprise guest show up who initially had not planned on coming...Daddy! Ed called and said he was heading east and was on his way to Tyler for the weekend. I think he missed us!









Aunt Shae took us to a great diamond in the rough in Tyler. The Discovery Science Place was a fantastic place for Nico and Mason to run around exploring and playing. There was a simulated grocery store and hospital, an ambulance and a car the boys were able to crawl into and play around, a puzzle area, a ball room, an exploratory cave and so much more. We will definitely have to make a trip back out there for some more fun soon!

One Night of Peace

Glen Rose, TX was our destination for one night and one night only; but it was one night in which we would be allowed to enjoy each other and have peace from the absence of drama and conflict. It was at the Ten Triple X Ranch, just outside of Glen Rose, where Ed was scheduled to run a 10K. Not only did he run the 10K amidst the snow covered ranch grounds, but he did it breaking a personal record. I was, and still am so proud of how hard Ed has worked at become not just a fit person, but a dedicated runner.



I love spending time with my boys and this one-nighter in Glen Rose was a great chance for us to have quality time together as a normal family. Nico had fun just wandering around the hotel room exploring his environment and jumping off of the bed into Daddy's arms. I am looking forward to doing this again next month when Ed runs a half marathon.

I really do have a toddler!

Two weeks ago Nico developed a strange fear of baths. He went from absolutely loving bath time to kicking and screaming when I would put him in the water. I have no idea how this switched happened, but it did. Scared of baths or not, Nico still needed to bathe, especially since the smearing food in his hair is typically a part of meal time now. We tried bubble baths, having a bath time playdate with Mason when we were in Houston, new bath toys, and even getting in the bath tub with him. Nothing work except time. Just as there was no apparent reason for the bath fear to begin with, the last two nights Nico was practically jumping out of my arms to get in the tub with no cause for explanation. I guess we have to chalk it up Nico just being a toddler.

Nico in the bath crying, while cousin Mason is having a blast playing.

Before the bath fear even began, Nico showed his true toddler colors in the eating department. Up until he was 13 months old, I spent precious time making all of Nico's baby food. Homemade, fresh, organic baby food, what could be more healthier? The best thing was that Nico ate everything! Now? Not so much. He began refusing the baby food at 13 months, so we made the switch to eating all table food. As soon as I mastered how to make and freeze enough vegegtables for at least a week, Nico decided he wanted nothing to do with them. In fact HE decided he only wanted milk, yogurt, Cheerios, and possibly a meatball here and there. Not the best diet. I continually keep offerring the little man all the foods I would have hoped he would still be eating. The strange thing is that Nico will take the various foods, put them in his mouth and even chew on them for a bit; however they do not get swallowed. Instead, out the food comes. So my great, healthy eater became a very picky eater! Well, knock on wood, but I think Nico may be expanding his food options a little more. He has been eating more of a variety of food in the last week. I just hope he keeps it up!

Family Times

While Daddy headed north to New York, Mommy and Nico went south to Houston for the weekend. There was a dual purpose behind Nico and I packing up for the weekend. First and foremost, Nico and I were unable to visit with my grandpa, his great-grandfather last time we were in town. Unfortunately, Nico came down with a yucky cold and I did not want to spread it around. My grandfather's last doctor's visit was not a very encouraging one; so with him getting weaker, I wanted to make sure Nico and I were able to visit sooner rather than later. We had nice visit chatting and everyone had the chance to see Nico walk around like a pro.


Shae, Mason and Mindi (Nanny) also met us Houston, and we were packed into Gigi's house for the weekend. I feel so blessed that Nico has a cousin he is going to be able to grow up with. Being only 2.5 months apart, these two boys will be able to experience so much together for many years to come. What is even more fun is that Shae and I get to experience being new mommy's together and our mom's get to spoil their first grand babies together. Between all of us girls, we had lots of laughs, ate way too much food, and just enjoyed watching our little boys interact with each other.

It Just Needs to Run its Course

It just seems like it has been one thing after another in our little world. A little over a week ago, poor Nico caught a virus from who knows where. First, our little guy broke out in a rash all over his chest and tummy. After observing him clawing at himself, I concluded that this may be an itchy rash, so Benedryl became our best friend. I took Nico to the doc-in-the-box on a Sunday and low and behold I was told, "it's a virus and just needs to run its course." Because time has not been much on our side, Nico developed a fever of 102 and then graced me with a layer of vomit within two hours of returning home from getting the superb advice. With the new symptoms, I called the on-call pedi/nurse, and surprisingly was told, "it's stomach virus and just needs to run its course." I was definitely glad to have that cleared up (sarcastic).

The good news, is that this "stomach virus" was gone within 24 hours and we did not have repeated vomitting. The bad news....as soon as Nico was rid of the virus, he began teething! Apparently I have been neglectful of noticing the new additions to Nico's mouth, and once I felt around in there, I was in shock. Nico now is the proud owner of 12 beautiful pear;y white teeth!

Besides a second haircut, a fun filled trip with Matthew to Abbey's Playtown, getting a new ball pit, and a couple of excursions to the park (before this cold weather came back), not a lot has been happening in the life of Nico. But as always, here are some recent pictures of the man of the hour.

All Over the Place and Beyond!

Nico took his first steps just a week or so before Christmas and it wasn't long he became a full fledged walker. Being on two legs has been the preferred method moving himself around for a few weeks already, and Nico is getting faster and faster all the time. He now has lots of fun playing around with Mommmy and Daddy. For example, one of Nico's favorite things to do now is to take something off of a table such as a remote or a cell phone and wait to be chased by one of us. He will turn around and give us a look along with lots of giggling and then take off just as fast is his little feet can take him around the house. Our little guy now gets around the house really well now. He loves walking from between his four play areas in the house and finding new and fun things to do. He does not have a problem telling us when he needs or wants something; Nico has become a great pointer and is also able to come get Mommy or Daddy's hand and take us to come with him!

Here is a video of the little man moving from room to room and doing what he does best: playing!


And here is a video clip of Nico and Daddy playing chase!

Canine Conflict

I know, it has been a while since I last blogged. 2010 has not started out quite as smoothly as I would have hoped; however, we are making it through every little trial and tribulation God hands us. There is a purpose behind everything that happens, but for me it is finding the silver lining in it all that is hard at times.

God promises, "I will guide you. I will turn darkness into light before you and make the rough places smooth." Isaiah 42:16. With this said, I know all of these little hills we must conqueror are nothing in the face of God, and that He knows what He is doing and why.

On top of the typical discord and tension in the house due to endless circumstances that I do not have the privledge nor the desire of discussing, Nico and one of the furbabies of the household had a conflict. A little over a week ago, while the streets outside were in the process of icing over, Nico startled Pettie and received the brunt of an old, sleepy, startled, defensive canine. Not seeing exactly what happened, all I can say is that one minute all was quiet and the next there was an "I am in pain" scream coming from my one year old. I ran into the bedroom to find Nico laying on his stomach and Pettie crouching near his dog bed. Everything is now a blur, but Nico's face was bleeding near his eye. I remember thinking over and over, what if it's eye, oh my gosh, what we will do, will he be able to see?! It the midst of me screaming and crying right along with Nico I managed to call Ed, and wake up EJ, who was very sweet by sitting with me and helping hold Nico until Ed came home. God, once again, was looking out for little Nico. He stopped crying not long after the incident, but looked like he had been in quite a tussle. The whole situation could have been so much worse than it was, but fortunately, I think God is overly invested in Nico (being a two time miracle and all...). We did make the trip to the ER, where Nico thankfully did not need stitches and I was forced into making a police report.

After texting everyone in my phone trying desperately to find a new home for Pete who has been with me for 10 years, my mom came through once again. After lots of stress, tears, an unexpected visit from Animal Control, and a 10 day quarantine, this story will end on Monday in Waco when I meet my mom to give her my long time friend. While this whole ordeal was a nightmare for me, I think God was giving us a warning with Pete's attack on Nico. He has always been an overprotective and defensive dog and now with him being 70 in human years, this was probably an inevitable occurrence. All in all, the situation could have been so much worse than it was.