A very long update.

It's been awhile since the last update. Lots of memories to share. Enjoy.

On his cousins horse



Flying a kite in Oregon



At a bubble farm with his cousin



Picking berries in front of Grandma's beach house



In a hay tunnel



******

Life is not all laughs and giggles. Education is a big part of his upbringing.


Be it visiting a Science Museum



or saving the world with his dad


Nic rises to the challenge. We teach him that team work gets the job done



and that exercise is good for the mind, body and soul.



Nic's taken some classes that have helped him become the person he is today.
Here,he's making use of the Acting class he took last summer.


and the swimming class he took last fall



He's also learned that a person has to be comfortable being by themselves.



and he's content with entertaining himself. This was taken during a really LONG drive to Arizona.



He also knows the importance of good dental hygiene (his first ever dental appt.)



I have to insert an obligatory dad teaching. John is already teaching Nic to love speed




*******

Holidays are especially fun for us. Halloween is now our favorite. Nic was Optimus Prime (like who DIDN'T know that), check out the last entry.


Nic went on a hay ride with some cousins




and also rode the train of, "Sleepy Hollow Legends" with some other cousins.




Christmas is Nic's favorite holiday. He got a Wii from his Grandma




And everything Tranformer related




Nic enjoyed all the Holiday parties too





If I had to pick ONE memory to remember for last year, it would have to be this one. I'm glad I caught the moment on (digital) tape:



Yes, Nic leads an amazing life. We're just happy he lets us along for the ride.

I AM OPTIMUS PRIME!

Anyone who knows Nic - KNOWS he's Mr. Transformer. For Halloween, his dad built Optimus Prime from scratch. Check out the slide show to see how Dad got into the project!

Road to History

Nic saw Barry hit number 758! He has yet to understand the nuances of baseball and why America loves it so, but he got on the bandwagon when the stadium exploded in cheers. He jumped on his chair, pumped his arms in the air, yelled at the top of his lungs and went, "WOO-WHO!" over and over. Dad caught the moment on video.





After, we went to the stadium's "kids only" section and waited in line for our turn to see if Nic had Bond potential. You be the judge.

A great Orator

Every morning I ask Nic if he had nice dreams. As he's gotten older, his answers have changed. In the beginning, it was, "yup" and "Uh-huh". Then it was, "I dreamed candy and ice-cream". Today, it was:

"...and Shamu was in the ocean and he flopped, and flopped.... and I got on him and he flopped, and flopped, and flopped and flopped some more and I said gitty up cowboy!

(wow, that sounds like fun)

Yeasss, and (in sing songy type of voice) he flopped, flopped, flopped and flopped and flopped and flopped and flopped...

(o.k. Nic,so he flopped. Then what happened)

Then I got off him and he died.

(he died? from all the flopping?)

Yeasss, and then I took him to the doctor

(what did the doctor say)

He said there were more Shamu's.

(that flopped?)

Yeasss.

Dangerous??

What's dangerous???

1st time riding a bike.

This video is a bit misleading. At first glance it looks like we’re bad parents; what are we thinking - teaching a child to ride a bike around a pool! In our defense (and the parents mantra), you do the best with what you got. And what we got around our neighborhood are hills!! Nic around a pool is better than Nic up a hill. We try hard not to set up our son for failure.

If you look closely however, the video shows that we do love our son (so don’t call child services just yet). Nic’s wearing his helmet (all the better for a water landing) and he’s polite with a, “no thank you” when his dad offers to help. Turn up those speakers so you don’t miss the dialogue.

Easter

Nic had a great Easter.

Easter egg hunt:



His idea of coloring eggs:

Feeling a bit nostalgic

As I prepare for our son’s birthday, I realize I’m having a bit of a breakdown. I can’t believe it’s been three years since "our gift" arrived. Nic has made us proud from the moment we heard his heart beat. In three short years he's transformed into a little person with his own mind and his own ideas. My son wipes his own butt now and says things like, "No Mom, I can do it" and "Yes Mom, I had a good day". And, if I'm very good, a random, "I love you". I know the future is bright with all the wonders yet to come; I just can't help but look behind me and reminisce on all that has been lost.

His first birthday - he was 29 lbs and had yet to walk. Trust me when I say, we were READY for him to walk. Luckily, he took his first unassisted steps two weeks after.





His first solid meal - he was never shy with food (hence the 29 lbs), took right to it! His very first meal was a memory in a matter of minutes



His first pair of party shoes - he was so impressed with them and so proud that he was able to walk without tripping. And no, that wasn't what he wore to the party :)




His first haircut - done in Oregon so Grandma Shipman could share in the experience. He was such a trooper, didn't cry at all and didn't move... much.





His first time in an inner tube - he wasn't even two when this picture was taken.







Sniff. Are these the memories that condemn parents to cry like fools at their children's wedding? If that's the case - I'm doomed to be a stereotype.

VACATION, Pt II

Three weeks after our Hawaiian vacation, we took a "mini" vacation to the Los Angeles area. We did the typical tourist thing: Universal Studios, Sea World, Mann's Chinese Theatre. If you can't tell from the pictures, Spiderman is my "thing". Wish Mom and Dad could afford to go on vacation all the time.

VACATION! It's all I ever wanted.

We went to Hawaii in late January for my Mom and Dad's birthday. As you can see from these pictures, we had an awesome time. The weather was 78 - 80 EVERYDAY. It was paradise.

We went swimming everyday, picked bananas on a farm, swam with dolphins, snorkeled in the ocean and ate like royalty!
FYI: You can double click on any picture to enlarge. Enjoy.