27 Months Old!

I turned 27 months old on the 9th:) I just keep growing and learning. So what have I been doing this month, specifically you ask? Well, I have my alphabet down as you've seen in the video I posted in the last entry. I also have my shapes and number up to 10 down and I'm working on the teens now. I have a pretty good grasp of colors and get blue, red, yellow, green and purple right most of the time. Now I'm working on black, brown, white, gray, and pink.

I am obsessed with baseball! Well, all sports, but especially baseball! I have taken a new interest in my baseball-themed room ever since Mom finally put up all my baseball decorative items. (They're the same ones from my room in KC, she tells me, put I don't remember them so they're cool and exciting to me!) I know the baseball terms including strike, hit, helmet, bat, ball, glove, grounder, out, safe, slide, home run, and others.

I have taken (way too much) of a liking to some of the television shows on the Sprout station (PBS station for preschoolers and toddlers) and will watch as much as Mom and Dad let me. My favorites are Caillou, Sesame Street, Thomas the Tank Engine, Bob the Builder, and Rory the Racecar. Sometimes Mommy makes me sad by declaring it TV-free day or turning off the TV when I want to watch more:( But, we have started to get out and about more, so I don't miss it we're on the go. Mommy is also not too excited that I have started to identify all the characters in these shows and talk about them often or point them out if I see them. I love, love, love Caillou (he's a 4 year old boy who stars in a cartoon about himself, for those of you who don't know) and Cookie Monster! They are my favorites. I now call all race cars Rory after Rory the racecar. I know the Thomas trains' names better than Mommy does.

I have also taken a big interest in art. I love to color with crayons and finger paints and watercolor paints and markers. I don't understand why it can't be art time ALL THE TIME! Hmm, what else...? I am quite the loud, boisterous little boy. I will to SHOUT and SQUEAL! I like to run around in circles and spin to get my energy out. My favorite time is when Daddy gives me horsie rides on his back or Mommy gives me airplane rides on her legs/feet. I also like to jump and tumble. Mommy really needs to get me a mini trampoline already! Recently I have taken to climbing on our leather rocker/recliner and diving onto the couch next to it. Mommy keeps telling me to be careful and says I'm gonna end up with stitches again soon.

Oh yeah! Forgot to tell ya! I was climbing on the cupboards in the kitchen a few weeks ago and slipped and landed belly then chin first on the ceramic tile floor! Ouch! I got quite a deep cut and it hurt so bad! I screamed for quite awhile while Mommy held a towel on it to get the bleeding to stop. Luckily it didn't take long. Then Mommy and Daddy and I headed to the emergency room (my first time there). They put some numbing gel on the cut for about 20 minutes and then the doc came in to stitch me up. Everyone kept going on and on about how hard it was gonna be and how I probably would freak out when they tried to hold me still. But I didn't! One nurse held my head still, the doc put towels on my face around the cut, and Mom held my hands and told me exactly what was going on, play by play style. I held so still and was so brave! I stayed very quiet and only asked for Mommy and Daddy once since those towels made it hard to see! Once Mommy reassured me that they were both still there, I settled right away. Everyone kept going on and on about how well I did, how brave I was, and how amazed they were. Mommy kept thanking me for holding still and staying calm. I don't know what the big deal was, I mean, yes, it was scary and weird, but I had my parents there, everyone was staying calm, and as long as I knew what was going on, I wasn't too worried. So, I ended up with 5 stitches. Five days later I went to my family doctor and she took them out. She was amazed at how well I held still, too. And let me tell you, getting them out was even harder because the stitches were stuck in the scabs and I didn't have numbing medicine this time! But the doc stopped and took a little break every time I said ouch and I resettled and pretty soon we were done! I got a bunch of stickers and coloring book out of the mess so that was nice! Now I have an inch and half scar on my chin, but Mommy is rubbing it with Vit. E and Mederma, so hopefully it will fade over time. Mommy says, please, no more trips to the ER!

Hmmm, so back to talking about playing! I like going down to my playroom/rec room downstairs so I can play with my trains, play my piano keyboard, cook on my play kitchen, or bounce on the exercise ball! I also have a stash of smaller toys in my closet and some in the living room. If I'm not playing with my cars or my many balls, I'm reading. My favorite books right now are The Roar of a Snore; Moo, Ba, La, La, La; The Very Lonely Firefly; and Dogs (a Dr. Seuss book). I have many of my books memorized and I can shout out parts of the books as Mommy or Daddy reads them.

If I'm not reading, I'm usually listening to music with Daddy. I love music! I memorize the words to my favorite songs (like Hiroshima by Ben Folds, You Don't Know me by Ben Folds, and So Happy by Theory of a Deadman as well as the classic, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star) and sing along with them when Daddy plays them on the computer. Daddy also showed me how to drum, and I am quite the headbanger!! Music is the best!

Enjoy the yet another monthly slideshow:

I Know My ABC's!

Here's a video of me and Mommy reading my Thomas's ABC Book.

Riding my Christmas Pony

26 Months Old

I turned 26 months old on January 9th, but Mommy and I were still hanging out in Regent then, so she nearly forgot to get my pics for the month uploaded. Anyway, this month I learned my entire alphabet, I can count to 10, I know my shapes pretty well, and I am working on my colors. I LOVE sports including baseball, hockey, football, and basketball and can say many phrases from each of them, and I LOVE transportation like trucks, trains, cars, boats, etc. I am very good at somersaults and I like to run around in circles or spin in circles sometimes. I also love to jump and bounce on the exercise ball (just like I did when I was a baby!). I am quite the memorizing machine and have a bunch of my books memorized. My favorite books right now are Thomas the Train Engine's ABC's, The Very Lonely Firefly, Baby's First 100 Words, Bambi, and We Help Daddy. Reading is the best! I also love music! Daddy taught me to drum along to the beat of the music (I have rhythm!), and I love to sing, too. My favorite song is Hiroshima by Ben Folds (I call it Oh, oh, oh, oh! because that is in the refrain and its my favorite part to sing). I also play piano on Daddy's old electric keyboard. Oh, I also had my 2 year check-up and I am 35.5 inches tall and weigh 29 pounds which are both around the 75 percentile! Looks like my typical picky toddler eating its hurting me. I am still mostly vegetarian (or should I say fruititarian since fruit is my biggest love), but I do like sausage and bacon and occasionally chicken or hamburger. It is hit or miss. Luckily, I do like nuts, seeds, and dairy so I get my protein. Anyway, that's it for me! I'll be 27 months old in just 2 weeks so you will hear from me soon:)

My 2 year portraits

Here are my portraits from early December. Aren't I handsome?!

My Christmas 2008

This year we were home in EGF for Xmas Eve, then went to Grandma and Grandpa Huizenga's in Glenburn on Xmas day, and finally to Grandma and Grandpa Laub's the Sunday after Christmas. We were busy! I really enjoyed the holidays this year. I became obsessed with talking about Santa, although I got scared when I actually got to meet him. I even followed Santa's travels on Google Earth with Daddy on Christmas Eve. I really enjoyed our Christmas tree and kept telling Mommy to turn on the "pretties" meaning turn on the Christmas tree lights:)

Though I don't need for much including toys, I did get some for gifts this Christmas. Some of my spoils include: a wood play kitchen, a play mixer and cookie baking set, a play pizza, a play sandwhich, a wood firetruck, an ambulence, a Thomas train, clothes, books, and a singing pony on springs.

Mommy also told me the story of Saint Nicholas, who has the same name as me:), and his role in Christmas. We talked about the giving spirit of Christmas and how it is important to be generous. I even made my own donation in the Salvation Arm plate at the mall.

I hope you all had a great Christmas, too, and are enjoying 2009!

25 Months Old

Some Birthday Movies

Here are some movie clips from my birthday celebrations last month:

Santa! Ho Ho Ho!

Last Thursday I went to visit Santa at the library. Beforehand, mommy and daddy told me about him and I kept saying "Santa" and "ho ho" all day. But when it came time to go sit on his lap, I got really scared! Come on, some strange man in a red suit with a long beard who wants me to sit on his lap- tell me that's not weird?! Anyway, I didn't want to sit on his lap right away so he gave me my goody bag and we went and did art projects in the story room and walked around the library for a little while. Then mommy gently took me back to try again. I still didn't want to go up to him by myself so mommy went with me. This time I didn't run away but I still wasn't too excited about it. I didn't know what to tell him when he asked what I wanted for Christmas. All I could think of was "truck." Daddy captured some pictures of the event which we'll post later and so did the local newspaper. One of them even made it into the paper. The links to those pictures from the paper are below. Mommy didn't include the links to the pics where I protested sitting on his lap. No need to relive that! Anyway, despite the minor trauma, I am still talking about Santa lots:)

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5

Poopy in the Potty!

Last night I went poop in the potty for the first time! Yay!

Mommy has been slowly introducing me to the concept of the toilet and encouraging me to use it if I want to, but she isn't forcing me to. Before yesterday, I'd sat on the toilet many times with my little toilet seat insert, but I was kinda scared to actually do anything.

Then, last night while we were washing up to go to bed, I told mommy, "Potty," and pulled down my pants. Mom asked if I wanted to sit on the potty and I said yes, so she helped me do so. I like a little privacy so Mom went back to washing her face while I did my business. It sure sounded like I was doing something this time, so after I was done she checked and sure enough, I had went poop! Yeh! Still no pee, but Mom assures me that whenever I'm ready she'll help me get to the potty to do that, too.

I am TWO!!!!

Happy birthday to me!! I turn two today. And I will tell you so if you ask me:)

No big party for me today - a big snowstorm last week snowed in my grandparents and uncles so we'll have my party next weekend instead. Hope they shovel out by then, ha ha! Its gonna be a train party and I am so excited! Mom says there will be cake, too. Can't wait.

Check you later. I am gonna go play and enjoy my birthday.

Updates, updates, updates

So, we are way behind on keeping you up to date on my happenings! Its been over a month and a half since my last post - I apologize!! We've been busy moving from the apartment to the house on Oct. 6th and since them have been unpacking and trying to make the house pretty. Well, not so much me - I like to demolish whatever I can in the name of exploration and having fun:)

Anyway, I turned 23 months old on the 9th of October - right after we moved in the house. I keep growing and developing, saying more and more words. Mommy can't keep track anymore since I say a new word every day. Currently my favorite word is EAT! I am still a picky eater but I want to eat constantly it seems. I am also obsessed with sports and say baseball, hockey, football, and Touchdown!!! I also love my books of course. You can never read too many books. I love my Baby Beluga book but Daddy does not. He does not know the song so he won't sing it to me:( I am really into my Dr. Seuss books lately, too. And my counting books are getting good use. I can count to 3 now and sometimes even further although many times out of order. I know that I am turning TWO!!! soon. I am also interested in colors and shapes. Other favorite phrases include "Wowsie!" and "Oh buddy!" I love saying goodbye to people and will say so to everyone as we leave a public place. My goodbyes are regular bu-byes now instead of "see ya's." Mommy and Daddy kind of miss the see ya's.

Oh, last week I went Trick or Treating for the first time. I dressed up last year but didn't TorT. This year I was Superman or Superboy depending on who you ask. It was so much fun. Daddy helped me fly! We went to the Treat Street at the Alerus Center and then Daddy and I TorTed on our street while mommy stayed home. When I got back I helped her pass out candy to the kids coming to the door. I loved it! I got loads of candy but my parents only let me have some of it:( Not good for my teeth of something they said.

Speaking of teeth, forgot to mention that I got my eye teeth in a few months ago when we were still in KC. Now I only have my 2-3 year back molars and I will have a full set of teeth. We'll have to wait until I get to the doctor to learn my 2 year stats, but we do know that I am 28 pounds about right now.

Well, that's it for now. Enjoy my pictures from the last 2 months!

22 to 23 Months:



23 to 24 Months

Help me plan my birthday!

Way Late on my 22 Month Update

Yeah, Mama sucks and is way behind on computer stuff. Better catch you all up, huh? Well, on Aug. 28th the packers arrived and packed up all our stuff. Then me and Mom had to live in a house full of boxes for 5 days until the moving truck came on Sept. 2nd and hauled away all our junk. Next, it was off to our friends the Dunn's house where we stayed for 4 nights while Mommy finished up her dissertation stuff and such. It was really fun because Lexi and I had a blast playing! I miss her bunches. Before we left town, our friends Liz and Gabby threw us a goodbye party (see the post below) that was so much fun! A bunch of my little friends came including Lexi, Lilly, Iz, Claire, Eli, Joseph, Khary, Khalil, Valerie, Charlotte, Louise, Jacob, Merani, Zoe, Kieran, London, and Linc. I already miss everyone and our playgroups and such. Mommy is so boring and I haven't made any new friends yet. I have played with other kids at the playgrounds up here but most of them have been older than me. I think big kids are cool!

Anyway, after leaving KC on Sept. 6th, we drove up to Omaha and stayed over night with my Great Aunt Jeanne. I had fun visiting with her and my cousins David and Debbie and Steve. I played on Debbie's swingset and with her kitties! Aunt Jeanne's kitties were pretty fun, too. Well, Sept. 8th we finally took off for EGF and drove the 10 hours up there in one shot. Mommy's junky car made it all the way no problem despite doubts from lots of people. Ha ha!

It was so nice to see Dada again and roughhouse with him! I missed him! We settled into the apartment with Daddy, but I wish the rents would let me run outside more! They won't let me go out on the balcony by myself since its 2 stories up. Since we aren't on the ground floor, I've gotten practice at walking up stairs unassisted. At first, I thought I couldn't do it but Mommy had not doubts I could. She knew I only needed practice since I wasn't used to it being our old house was a ranch style. Anyway, I learned to hold onto the handrail for support and I say "Step" every time I take a step:)

I've come up with lots of new words in the last month, too many to list. But my current favorites are "eat" and "water" (for drinking and to take a bath) and "car." I also have some sentences like "I sit" and "I step." Mommy still wished my enunciation would get better so she could understand my Nicky Chinese, or as Matt calls it, Chinglish. I get frustrated when she can't understand what I'm trying to say. And when I want to do things myself and she won't let me, that really gets me angry! I LOVE to play clean and I push around the broom and Swivel Sweeper all the time. I continue to be obsessed with books and computers. Mommy says she's gonna have to wean me off TV when we move to the new house. Despite not having tv for the last 2 months in our old house, since being in the apartment I have become transfixed with the tv despite the fact that we don't have cable and only get 4 channels.

We had our house inspection last week and as long as the sellers agree to make the fixes Mommy and Daddy asked for, we will be moving in on Oct. 6th. That is only 2 weeks away! We all can't wait.

For all you in ND, come visit us soon! I'll be having a big shindig in Nov. for my birthday. For my friends in KC, I miss you! Can't wait til our next visit.

My Friends in KC

Mommy and I have been up here in EGF for two weeks now, and Mommy finally got all our pictures uploaded from the past month. Before we left KC, we were sure to spend lots of time with our friends there. In fact, our friend Liz hosted a farewell party for us and all our friends from our parenting group in KC. Mommy made sure to take lots of pictures that night:)

21 Month Old Waterbaby

Hi y'all! I'm 21 months old as of Saturday! We have busy day planned visiting my friend, Clayton, in the morning, and then Mommy is working on genealogy in the afternoon with the help of a friend and will even busier Saturday. So, I thought I'd give you the monthly update a little early. We didn't do anything special for the 4th of July because I'm not a big fan of loud noises so Mommy and Daddy didn't think I'd enjoy the fireworks. But, we did grill out and hang out at home which was nice after our crazy week before that getting our house ready to be sold. Since then, we've been spending a lot of time (even more than the usual) outside the house since we've had a bunch of showings and open houses. We've went out to eat, to coffee shops, to malls, to the playground, to the spraygrounds, and to the wading pool. We've spent a BUNCH of time in the water, as is my preference! I l-o-v-e the water. I am always hopping in my baby pool when we are at home, but the pool and spraygrounds have been so much fun, too! I am a social butterfly and make friends instantly. I love summer. I have a nice little farmer tan, but that's only because Mama always makes me wear my rashguard shirt at the pool. I'm getting really blond, too, from all that sun. Although, it has gotten so hot this past week (over 100 degrees)that I have been telling mommy its hot and blowing (my way of signing "hot") whenever we go outside or get in the car. You know its roasting out when a toddler thinks its too hot!

Last week my daddy was off from work before he started his new job so I got to spend lots of time with him. That was fun! On Thursday we went to the Deanna Rose Farmstead. Daddy helped me feed the goats and I had fun playing on the playground there and checking out the duck pond. Too bad the next day Daddy had to leave for Minnesota. He started his new job there this Monday. Mommy and I both miss him tons!! I talk to him bunches on the phone and blow him kisses before we say bu-bye. Hope our house sells quickly so we can all be together again soon.

This week I got to go to the Wonderscope Children's Museum with my friend Clare. They have a cool indoor playground with ramps and stuff just for babies and toddlers plus a play store with playfood, grocery carts, an ATM, and everything a real store would have. In the lunch area, I enjoyed checking out the play submarine and watching the big kids feed koosh balls into the air tubes and watching them come out the other end of the tubes. So cool! Mommy has a whole list of things she wants us to do before we leave Kansas City so I'm sure she'll keep us busy.

I keep working on my words. I say a bunch of new ones all the time but only some of them really stick. Mommy counted 30 words that I definitely use regularly: Mommy, Daddy, Yeah, No, Yuck, Yum, Hi, See ya, Puppy, Doggy, Kitty, Beep beep, Toot toot, Car, Ball, Nicky, Bobby, Pretty, There, Owie, Baby, Eye, Happy, Cookie, Hoot, Hee-haw, Up, Didy, Thank you, Sorry, Go, Good, Cold, Hot, and Dirt. I am currently obsessed with dogs - every animal is a puppy according to me, and cars - every vehicle is a car, I say, although I am really more interested in trucks and tractors then regular old cars. I have said truck before but prefer to refer to every vehicle as car now. I have told both of my parents that I love them. Mommy thinks I have a bunch more words but that they just can't understand me most of the time because my enunciation is bad. I'll keep working on it. My Grandpa Huizenga says I'm speaking Chinese. I continue to adore reading. My books are currently my favorite toys. My favorite books right now are The Very Lonely Firefly, Tractor Factory, and Moo, Ba, La La La.

Oh, we got to see my grandparents a few weeks ago when we made a trip up to Grand Forks to look at housing options. I got to hang out with Grandma Sharon and Grandpa Bob while Mommy and Daddy looked at houses and apartments. I even got to go in the big pool at the hotel which I was really excited about. Every time I saw the big pool on the way to our hotel room, I squealed with delight. Mommy and Daddy did decide on a house for us to buy, too! After some negotiations, our offer on the house was accepted, but it is contingent on the sale of our house in KC, so sell, house, sell!! The new house has a whole lot more room, a fenced yard for me to play in, and a cool fish pond. We'll post pictures as soon as its a done deal.

Enjoy my monthly slideshow and a video of me playing at the playground at Deanna Rose. Check you later, homies!

20 Months & BIG NEWS!

We're moving!!! That's right, we're leaving good ole KC... Here's what's going on: Daddy got a job as the city administrator for East Grand Forks, MN (right across the river from where Mommy and Daddy went to college and met) and he starts his job Aug. 4th! The last 3 weeks since he found out have been super busy. First, the parents had to clean the whole house and get it ready to be sold. Mommy says this is called "staging" and it involved them packing up half of our stuff and furniture to make the place look nice and big. They moved all of my toys from the living room to my room and even the TV went into the garage! It was no fun because they only had 3 days to do all this before our first open house. They were so busy and didn't have time to play with me:( So, a bunch of my friends had me over to play at their houses while Mommy and Daddy worked on our house. That was way more fun than hanging out with them anyway! So, Daddy will have to be in EGF early next month but sounds like Mommy and me will likely stay behind in KC until the house here sells. Its a bit up in the air which is freaking Mama out. We are making a trip up to the Grand Cities this weekend to check out houses and other housing options (aren't sure if we're going to buy or rent yet)so we should know more after that trip. Mommy says I get to see my Grandma and Grandpa Huizenga and my Uncle Dusty so that should be fun! Anyway, please pray that our house in KC sells quickly and for a good price so Mommy can quit her worrying! Then we can concentrate on the move and getting to know our new home. Mommy says its really pretty and closer to all our family. She did warn me that its way colder with more snow and that they are probably going to teach me this game called hockey in a few winters. Hmmmm.... I'm going to miss Royals baseball, all the fountains around KC, and my awesome friends here. Its gonna be sad to say bye-bye to them:(

Ok, well in other news, I turned 20 months old on the 9th. Only 4 more months til another birthday party! I keep getting taller and people keep telling me I look like a little boy instead of a baby. I now know how to say my name (Ni-te), pretty, ball, there, and a bunch more words that I can't think of right now. I'll have to add more later. My favorite word continues to be NO!!! I love my books. And having them read over and over and over again. I still have 12 teeth (all of my first 4 molars are popped through) but more seem to be on the way. My hair is pretty darn thick and now it is very wavy, too, just like Mama's. I got another haircut at the barbershop on Saturday and Mommy says I look just like a minature Scott. She says she prefers my hair longer though, and won't quit talking about how the hairdresser cut too much. Thank goodness my hair grows quickly.

We've been doing lots of stuff this past month including hosting water playdates at our house once a week (until the house had to be sold and then we had to stop:( ), going to playdates and playgroups, going to the park, playing outside whenever I could which usually involved me jumping in my pool, and attending classes from the summer co-op that my mom's parenting group organized. So far I've done Toddler Tunes (like Sing & Sign), Paren-Tot gymnastics, Spanish Songs, Yoga for Littles, and if we stick around in August I get to go to a Fingerpainting Dance Party and a class on bubbles. Fun!!

Hi, Hello; Bye, See ya!!!!

I am obsessed with greetings these days. I love saying Hi. And I am an enthusiastic waver. But, my new favorite phrase is "See ya!!" I like to say that as we say goodbye. I also play "goodbye" where I get on my ride-on truck or sit backwards on my push-toy (I use it as a scooter) and wave bye-bye to Mama and Dada and say "See ya!" and they have to say it back. I'm starting to get into the pretend play thing. I also love play kitchens and cleaning tools and anything going on in the kitchen. Mommy jokes that they will have to send me to culinary school. I also love cars and enjoy any chance I get to pretend drive in cars or trucks or grandpa's tractor. I've got the steering wheel thing down!

Well, better say Goodbye again. I gotta take a nap. But I hate saying goodbye!!! I cry every time someone leaves whereever I am at. I love people and want to keep playing with them. Mommy calls me a sensitive social butterfly. Anyway, bye bye, see ya!!

19 Months Old!!

I turned 19 months old yesterday! I'll try to add some more updates soon, but please be patient. We have be so very busy lately. First of all, I have been teething a ton. Owie!!! In the last month, the last 2 bottom front teeth and all 4 of my first molars broke through. It was so painful. Poor me!

We got back from a 10 day trip to North Dakota last Monday. It was so fun! Since then we've had a garage sale, Mommy and Daddy went to a concert (without me:( ) while I had fun at my babysitter Jessica's house, and I've been participating in a summer school co-op my mommy's parenting group is putting on. This month, I am participating in Parent-Tot gymnastics, Toddler Tunes, and today we took at tour of a farm down in Pleasanton, KS. It was a lot like my Grandpa Bob's farm except this one had pigs, goats, and horses. I really loved the baby kittens they had there - they were only a few weeks old. Anyway, I gotta go take a bath. I got dirty at the farm:)

My Trip to North Dakota