18 Months and Long and Lean!

Long time no chat!!! Sorry, we've been busy. Mama's been working a bunch on her dissertation and I've been wanting to be outside as much as possible. Anyway, there's lots to catch you up on. First I turned 18 months old almost two weeks ago already. But, I just had my doctor's visit last Thursday. Guess what? I am still tall - 34.25 inches which is in the 90th percentile. However, now I am a skinny dude - 25 pounds even which is in the 30th percentile. The doctor says I have the same build as Mommy. She called me "long and lean" and said I was doing great. Guess all that running around burned some of my baby chub off. Oh, and my head continues to be in the 25th percentile for circumference. Other than that, here's what's been going on this past month: Daddy turned 32 in April (and we had yummy chocolate cake), Mommy and I have been going to the park a lot (check out the pics), I have a new cousin, Abi, and another new 2nd cousin, Jada (my cousin's Holly's new daughter) who was born on my Mommy's birthday (May 14th), and my Mommy turned 31. We also spent Mother's day weekend in Minneapolis because my daddy had a job interview in Marshall, MN (nice town, but he didn't get the job). I got to play in the pool. Fun! Oh, I just got another tooth in with more on their way! The other bottom left tooth popped through last week and now the other right one is coming. So are a bunch of my molars. Ouch!!! Mom can feel the edge of one of them already popping through. Why do they have to all come at once?! And on top of that, I have the nastiest seasonal allergies this year! Yuck! I guess the pollen count in through the roof here in KC.

Tomorrow we are taking off for a week in North Dakota!! Mom's not sure how I'll do with all the driving. Hopefully I'll sleep just enough but not too much. We are going to visit both sets of grandparents plus my new cousin Abi. Can't wait. Better go prepare for our trip. Hope too see everyone in ND! For everyone else, have a great holiday weekend!!

Welcome Baby Abigail

I have a new cousin!! Actually, she's my first one. Baby Abigail Sophia Huizenga was born last night. She belongs to my uncle/Godfather Byron and my aunt Becky. I get to go meet her next month. Can't wait! Check out the pictures Uncle Byron sent us last night:

My 17 Month Update - A Few Weeks Late!

Gosh, my family has been so very busy lately. Mommy has gotten barely any time on the desktop computer and has instead mainly used the laptop so we can stay out in the living room where most of my toys are. Problem is that the pictures are stored on the desktop which makes updating the web albums hard. Anyway, she finally got it done today so enjoy!

More to come - LATER!

The Easter Bunny came on Sunday!

Hi Everyone! I had so much fun this past Sunday! I bet you did, too! Did the Easter Bunny visit your house, too? Let me tell you about my Easter. First we went to church in the morning and learned about Jesus's death and resurrection. Church was really full again so we all sat in the crying room with some other families. Dada said that sitting in the crying room is not an excuse for all the adults to talk during the mass. Anyway, then we went home and I got my Easter basket. It was full of fun toys and books. I got bubbles, sidewalk chalk, play dough (that I've already tried to eat), some special toddler crayons (that I've also already tried to eat), some board books including Peter Cotontail, a wooden toy train, and a casinet. I had so much fun playing with that stuff and the plastic eggs and grass that came in my basket. Daddy even got out the bubbles and blew some for me. Those things are cool!! Can't wait to use my sidewalk chalk. Mama won't let me use that inside:( Ooh, I also got the coolest stuffed Easter bunny from my Godmommy Tiffanni. He is a baseball bunny and he is so soft! I love him! Wish we had pictures of him but our camera battery went dead. Mommy, hurry up and charge that thing! She also gave me some Nicky-sized Easter candy - good thing since Mommy didn't buy any candy for me. Mommy says the mini suckers Tiffy sent are the perfect size for me and she left me have one. Yummmm! I slept through Easter dinner but got to have some when I woke up. Mommy made orange glazed ham, scallopped potatoes with leeks, asparagus, a citrus spring greens salad with candied pecans, buns, and a strawberry lemon trifle for dessert. Super yummy.

Anyway, hope you all had a great holiday, too.

More New Words

I have now mastered saying "doggy," "thank you," "mooo," and "hoo(t)" (can you tell that I'm obsessed with animal sounds?). I am getting close on meow and ruff ruff. And just today, I said my first sentence. I am really enamored with my Dada lately, so everyday when I wake up, I start talking about my Dada. I usually get upset when Mama points out that my Dada is at work. However, today when my Mama said that, I repeated back "Dada at work."

16 Months Old!

My Vocabulary: Mommy, Daddy, Yucky, Owie, Uh-Oh, Kitty, Go, Didy, Yummy, Hi/Hello, No, Yeah, working on Thank you and Good Night

My Signs: More, Diaper, All Done, Eat, Drink, working on Sleepy/Tired

My Loves: exploring, playing with the big kids, practicing my words/talking, copying the big people, computers, the bathroom, watching Mommy cook, roughhousing and wrestling with Daddy (I pin him!), climbing, running, being outside, bouncing and jumping, singing and music, answering the phone (Hello, hello, hi, hello), using my fork and spoon (I can spear a Cheerio with my fork!), baths, books, making noise and screaming, my shoes

15 Months Old!!

14 Months Old!

My Trip to Union Station

As my mommy mentioned in her blog, she and I made a trip to the old time train station building here in Kansas City called Union Station right before Christmas. The KC Amtrak stop is still there. It also has a children's science museum, historical stuff, and changing exhibits there now. Anyway, every year for Christmas they have a huge toy train display complete with villages and dozens of motorized trains. It was so cool!!!! I loved it. I giggled and ran around looking at different parts of it from behind the plexy glass partition. Mama is promising me a toy train set of my own when I get a little bit older. I also got to go on a kids train ride around the big Christmas tree they had. So fun! Mama kept reminding me that I needed to stay sitting and once she reminded me, I listened. Here are some pictures and a video. Enjoy!

Merry Belated Christmas Everyone!

Change My Diaper!!

"What we've got here is failure to communicate." - The Warden in "Cool Hand Luke" (edited for correction:)

I hate wearing poopy diapers. Yuck! I want them off and changed ASAP. So, I've been working on the word "di-dee" for diaper and pretty much have it down. When I have a full pants, I tell Mom or Dad "didy" and try to get them to change me. Problem is that sometimes they don't understand me. They say my didy word sounds like Daddy or Dee-dee-dee or di-di-di sometimes. Phhhhth! Throw me a bone here! I want my dang diaper changed NOW! Yesterday afternoon, it took numerous attempts before my parents finally got it, and then they sure felt stupid. Serves them right. I kept going back and forth from one room to the other (Mom was on the computer in the guest bedroom and Dad was out in the living room)trying to get one of them to understand me. They didn't realize this until after Mommy finally understood me and then checked in with Daddy. Those two are such dorks some times!

Baby Signs and Talkin'

Hi Guys! Wanted to let you know that I used my first sign yesterday - for the word "more." Mommy was very excited! She has been trying to teach me some signs since I was about 8 months old (she says she wishes she were more consistent with it, though). Anyway, I think its pretty neat, so now I use that sign all the time. Mommy hopes I learn the signs for "all done" and "diaper" soon. She says that would help us communicate a bunch.

I am also still working on my words. I finally learned how to say "yes" yesterday. We'll see if I get as good at saying and using it as I am with "no." It also sounded like I was trying to say "kitty" yesterday when I was playing with my friend Clayton's cat. I am parroting all kinds of words I hear adults using. Its fun to be like the big people!

I'm 13 Months Old!

Gosh, I am 13 months old already! Seems like my birthday party was just a few days ago. Well, I've been busy this last month. First, I caught a case of roseola, a virus that causes fever and a rash, right around my birthday. The doctor saw my rash at my appointment and diagnosed it. She said I must have had a mild case since it barely affected me. Then me and the rents went to San Diego for Thanksgiving. See the details in the post below. All of us had fun. But, I caught another germ and got sick on the plane ride back. I've had a yucky head cold for the last 2 weeks but am getting better. Guess I am building up my immune system. Cold season is no fun!

These days I am working on using my spoon and fork (I'm not that interested most of the time), shaking my head no and saying no (Mama wishes I'd learn how to say yes), getting people to laugh and laughing when I want to be silly, getting into every nook and cranny of the house (I love the stuff in Daddy's bathroom organizer, pulling the CD's down off their shelves, and trying to un-decorate the Christmas tree), practicing throwing my ball, singing and dancing along to music, saying Yeah randomly, squealing, and talking babytalk like I'm actually having a conversation.

Oh, since Mama forgot to give you my 12 month stats at my doc appointment, here they are: Height - 30.5 inches (75th percentile), Weight - 23lbs. 10oz. (70th percentile), head circumference - 17.75 inches (25th percentile). If you look back at my 9 month stats, it look like I barely grew in length or head circumference these last 2 months! But you might remember that Mommy said that the nurse that month was very generous with her measurements so they weren't very accurate. The doctor said this same thing when she saw my numbers this time. Oh, and my 4th top front tooth finally popped through the other day. That makes 6 total. Mommy is wondering where my other 2 bottom front teeth are hiding!

I think that covers it! I hope I feel all better soon so I can go play with my friends again. I miss playgroup! I was going to go today but now we have a little ice storm outside to deal with so it was canceled. Bummer! Oh, I saw snow for the first time a few days ago. Weird stuff! We sent out Christmas cards to lots of people and I've enjoyed looking at the cards and pictures we're getting in return. Mommy tells me to wish you all Happy Holidays!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving Everyone!

Hi Everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We sure did. I got fly for the third time! We went out to San Diego, CA to my uncle Daren's place. It was so much fun! Uncle Daren is silly and tried to teach me how to run really fast. He also gave me many rides around on his shoulders. His girlfriend, Anna, is my new best friend. She is so nice. She snuggled me and played with me lots. I liked exploring Uncle Daren's new condo. He has steps so I climbed those a bunch. I'd rather skip the coming down on my own part, though. Climbing up the stairs = fun; climbing down the stairs = a waste of my time. I also got to hang out with my Grandma and Grandpa Laub and they were fun as always. They even babysat me one evening which went fine. I fell asleep on Grandpa's chest. We got visit my mom's friend Kim from grad school who also lives in San Diego. I liked playing with her sons Max and Miles. Uncle Daren also showed us the beach and ocean and the Wild Animal Park. We saw lots of animals there, but I think the gorillas were my favorite. I got to pet some of the animals, too. Cool! It was an awesome trip. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving dinner including the turkey, sweet potatoes (my old favorite), and pumpkin pie (a new favorite). I think I am most thankful for my family since they are a bunch of really nice people. Wish I could see everyone more often. The only downside to the whole trip was on the way back home. I got a fever on the plane, but it didn't really bother me too much. I slept during both flights which was a relief to Mommy and Daddy. So, I've been sick with a head cold for the last 2 weeks. Yucky. But its finally going away. Mommy wonders if it was one cold or 2 in a row. I sure was a snotty bugger for a while. It made it really hard for me to breathe at night when I was sleeping. Mommy says that's what she gets for taking me on a plane twice in the matter of a month. Yucky airplane air plus new germs as well as all the excitement and energy wipe-out that comes with vacations means I was susceptible to getting something. Maybe I should be thankful for my health as well. Happy Thanksgiving - hope you are as blessed as I am!

My 12 Month Portraits

My Birthday Party Slideshow

Happy Birthday To Me!!!!

I am 1 year old today!!! Yeh! I'm now a toddler. Peace out - I gotta go party!

Another Haircut Before My Birthday

Just got another haircut an hour ago. That makes number 3. Mama thought I needed to spiffy up before my doctor's appointment tomorrow and my party on Sunday. She says I was too shaggy. She was scared to give the haircut this time because it was more involved (she had to trim around my ears) and I move more now. But, it turned out pretty good again. Check out the pics.




Oh, please keep your fingers crossed for us. The party decor for my birthday was supposed to arrive today or tomorrow and now the tracking info. says it won't come until Monday. That's a day too late for the party which would be a major bummer. Let's hope the estimate is wrong and it gets here tomorrow or Saturday. Mom talked to customer service and if it gets here too late, she can send it all back and get her money back but she would be sad. Please, post office, get me my package fast!

My Twelfth Month

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

I have been grumpy this week. Mama thought it was just teething. Then, Tuesday evening, I developed a fever of 102 degrees. Uh oh, Mama thought, maybe Nicky's getting sick. Other than the fever, I didn't show many other signs of illness other than a very slightly stuffy nose. My parents let the fever do it job and it seemed to work. By morning my fever had broken. I did get some Tylenol to help me sleep at about midnight. I also had some diarrhea the next day but nothing too bad. I think I am pretty much over whatever was going on. My immune system must be working!

In other news, another tooth has popped through. Its my other front tooth on the left side. That's number 5 for those how are counting. Man, I wish my toofers would give me a break for a while. This teething stuff is hard work! Mama says the fourth top tooth looks to be popping through soon. Mama says they are just trying to catch up since I started teething a little later than is usual.

Today is the last day of the first year of my life. This year went crazy fast! I go to the pediatrician tomorrow and we are having a party with some of my friends on Sunday. Don't worry, we'll post lots of pictures!