The LaGreca Family

It’s been awhile since I posted something soley about NCL.  Here are some random tid-bits on our little person:

He is 2 yrs and 3 months now.  It doesn’t feel like his 2nd birthday was THAT long ago.

He continues to be very stubborn about talking.  His vocabulary did grow while we were in Buffalo, but he is very stubborn about repeating words that we ask him to say.  Most of the time he will look at us and say “no” – it’s as simple as that. We really can’t force him to say a word (we do our best to encourage STRONGLY though..he he).   And for those of you who care to know – he STILL calls trains, “gee gees” – I wonder if he will EVER say “train”???  (The truth is: part of me doesn’t want him to give up the “gee gee” just yet, since we are so used to it and it’s such an “NCL thing” at this point).

We found him a big boy bed last weekend.  On Saturday afternoon, the boys put the bed together.

NCL was a great little helper, as you can see above.  He is very interested in “helping” Daddy with anything and everything.  Sometimes, he gets in the way of things – but most of the time, Daddy is happy to have the help and happy to teach NCL something new.

Below, NCL tests out the new bed.  Is it me or does he look little in the bed?

As I have said before, Joe and I are nervous about the new bed.  Don’t you just love the way things go with kids? Just when you have a good routine/schedule — something happens to mess it up?  NCL is FINALLY sleeping really good at night – and we are going to introduce a NEW room with a NEW bed, are we crazy?!

If we have learned anything as parents, it’s that one should never feel like things are “set” — because as soon as you have something figured out or working the way you want it…it will change.  From what I understand, this is how it goes for the rest of a parent’s life.

Last night was a “teaching night” for NCL — an important lesson in life:  “How to eat a cherry”

After the little guy ate his Mexican food take-out (half a rolled taco, 1/4 beef enchilada, 1/4 mixed burrito, rice, and beans) – it was time for some fruit.  Joe started us off with cherries and figured this was a perfect opportunity to teach NCL how to each a cherry. (I had to grab the camera – because, for some reason, I was thinking that this could NOT possibly be a normal dinner conversation for other families with 2 yr olds).

Joe is SUCH a good teacher and of course, when it comes to food – he wants NCL to know and try everything!  So, he showed NCL the seed in the cherry and showed him how to eat around it. And then told him to leave the seed on his plate when he was done. (NCL already knows about pulling the stems out — that was Grapes 101).

NCL paid very close attention to what his Daddy was telling him and he TOTALLY got it. Nearly perfect on 6-7 cherries

On a side note – after the cherries, he ate blueberries, and then a kiwi, and THEN he ate a WHOLE yogurt.  When he is hungry, he can put away a LOT of food. It’s amazing to watch (because he is such a small person!)

We have a little brute on our hands. He is so ROUGH!  If he was around 5-8 year old boys, it would be fine because they could handle him.  But – that isn’t the case. He actually knows quite a few little girls and let me tell you, little girls do NOT like to be pushed or wrestled with!  NCL gets in a lot of trouble for being so rough with people (and with things!)

He is also VERY tough.  This kid gets hurt all the time. There is always a new mark, scratch or bruise on his face – most of which we can’t tell the story behind.  His pain tolerance must be very high because it’s rare for him to come crying to either of us.  He if runs into something or falls – he just rubs it and says “Owie, Mommy” – and I say “Are you ok?” and he says “Yeah” and goes on his merry way.

It’s true what “they say” about boys. They are simple.  As long as we have cars, trucks, fire engines, airplanes, trains and helicopters around – Nicholas is happy. Oh and he loves sticks, dirt, and rocks — how could I forget?!

Lots of people ask if NCL understands that he is going to be a big brother.  The short answer is “No” – he really has NO idea.  But, cut the kid some slack – he is 2!  We aren’t pushing it.  He knows what a baby is and if you ask him about the baby, he will point to my belly. Sometimes he says “I wanna see baby.”  And, that’s about it.  There isn’t much more for him to “get” – right?

And finally, just today, we picked a date for NCL to start Pre-School at our church! I think this is a big deal (it feels like it is). We have been talking about it for awhile now and we finally got all of the paperwork and called his daycare to give his two week notice.  We are both really excited for NCL and we are so happy that he will be at our church.  Pictures of his “first day of school” in a few weeks –  How fun!

Nicholas is such a joy to be around. He is a fun little kid – full of energy and excitement.  He wakes up happy nearly everyday.  He enjoys being around both of his parents, yet he enjoys the company of little people his age (and older).  He LOVES apples and he continues to be a good eater.  Watching this little person learn and grow has been so awesome!  We still love to watch him sleep at night (nothing more peaceful than seeing him still, with his eyes closed).  When he hears a plane in the sky – he does the cutest dance of joy (this “dance of joy” is also used for food or when we tell him he can watch “the duck” on youtube).  He sleeps with his Nemo Halloween costume every night – he uses it as a pillow, (I guess I won’t be selling it on craigslist anytime soon).

Life with NCL is awesome