Well Jenni just pointed out to me on my recent trip to KC that we have not added any updates to our blog since Christmas. "I keep checking your site to see if you've got anything new on there but every time I look, it's still Christmas!"
Well, not much new has happened since Christmas other than our toddler is growing like crazy! Now the true parenting challenge begins as we realize, "holy heck, we could really screw him up good!"
Since not much new has happened, I figured for this posting we'd show some photos of how Nick's grown and changed in the last 20 months.
He was born the spitting image of Anthony. "Anthony with blonde hair" as he's affectionately known in my department. Some say he's "Christine from the eyes up and Anthony from the nose down." Either way we think he's pretty cute. He came into this world on July 13, 2005 a solid 12 days past his due date and he's proven to be equally as cautious about trying new things ever since.
A very serious baby who other parents and teachers at the day care called, "all business" or "an old soul." "The face of a 30 year old on the body of a baby" was one of our favorite comments from more than a few friends. He finally cracked a few smiles as an older infant and loved to giggle.
He was late to walk, waiting until he was 16 1/2 months paving the way for us to learn a basic law of parenting: you can coach, lead, cojole and persuade but kids will do things at their own pace pretty much despite your best efforts. Hmm....a chaplain at work's reminder to me while pregnant ringing in my head, "God gives you children to work on your control issues."
Nick has loved sign language, music and tumbling classes but had a very tepid reaction to infant swimming classes. He's very affectionate giving hugs and kisses to pretty much anyone. As Opa said, "I used to think he was attached to me reaching his arms out to me when I came to the door. But then he was at our house and the doorbell rang. I opened the door for the UPS driver and Nicholas reached for him in the same way!"
Nick is now a soon to be 2 year old who loves basketball, football and golf. He carries his basketball and football around as other children carry their teddies or blankies. He's even refused to part with them at bathtime so, the balls go to the tubby too! He used to ask for Thomas the Tank Engine on tv before bed, now it's "GOLF!!" complete with the swinging of his hands to show the golf stroke. He jumps on the couch to cuddle up with mom or dad and appropriately responds to the action--"OHHHHHHH......" when someone misses a putt. or "Yea!!" when they sink it.
Nick is still the apple of daddy's eye and loves to watch and "help" with the cooking, cleaning, dishes and laundry. He refuses to wear any clothes that do not have Elmo, a train, helicopter, airplane, football or basketball on them. He even digs through the dirty laundry until he finds what he's looking for. Did I say, challenging?
Anyway, hope you enjoy some of the pics. I'm sure we'll post something again this summer!
Love,
Anthony, Christine & Nicholas
1 comment:
Thanks for the update! Nick is quite a kid- we both feel like we know him, although we've never met. She worked on his book this weekend and completed four more pages. Slow but steady!
Tiff was so excited to talk to you yesterday...thanks in advance for traveling with us this summer. It should be memorable. The townhouse I wanted is already booked, but we will find something.
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