The LaGreca Family

I don’t think this post will really “flow” — but, I have a ton of fun/cute/everyday/random pictures of NCL I wanted to post, so I will just start posting and see if anything comes to mind.

Joe bought these ‘tools’ for NCL a long time ago at the Parent Swap Meet (I think he paid $1 for an entire bag of tools).  NCL LOVES the pliers and recently he has been interested in “working on things.”  One afternoon, he decided he needed to work on his oil truck (just like Daddy does in the garage).

NCL successfully gets Daddy’s shoes on and goes for a “walk” (it only lasted 2 steps).

One of NCL’s favorite books “The Goodnight Train”

We borrowed Aunt Patty/Uncle David’s pick-up truck last weekend so we could furniture shop (I am SO excited! We found a used dresser for NCL’s room on craigslist and it’s absolutely PERFECT in there. When we are done with the room, I will take pics and post them.)

Anyway, we had the pick-up at the house and NCL was SOOOO excited to stand in the bed of the truck. I mean, you would have thought it was Christmas morning. He was dancing back there and yelling – huge smiles. It was super cute (this kid is ALL boy!)

Bath Time for Nicholas is a highlight.  As most of you know, this kid loves Nemo and ANYKIND of marine life. He especially loves sharks.

There is NO DOUBT that the best .99 cents we EVER spent was on this bag of cheap, Chinese made fish/sharks/octopus.  I am not kidding that it was .99 cents (we went to a cheap store before flying to Buffalo for Christmas and picked up stuff to give NCL on the plane.  This bag of “fish” was one thing we found and didn’t think much of it at the time).

3 months later – and NCL loves all the sharks, fish and octopus. You would think they are part of our family.

*Angie Pizz – here is another one for you And, actually – this picture is ALL about Buffalo (I just realized).  Monster towel from Aunt Angie AND Joe is wearing his Sabres shirt from Mary and Grant.

These LaGreca boys are just so darn cute.

Below, you will see – we have a new location for the train tracks (this was last week).  The livingroom has been transformed into “Grand Center Station.” NCL spends a lot of time on the tracks. We had to pick up the tracks last week because the cleaner was coming on Thursday… BUT….don’t worry, a NEW and IMPROVED track has been constructed in the livingroom. I am pretty sure that will be the last time I get on the floor and build tracks while this baby is still in my belly.  Daddy will have to engineer and build the next one.

Yesterday, I got home from work and NCL was napping (it was 5:30pm). He didn’t nap at preschool and he wasn’t feeling well. I just had to take a picture of him in his big boy bed.

And finally – tonight’s picture.  Mary & Grant – this one is JUST for you

I sure do love having a little boy in the house.  Yes, it’s crazy. Yes, it’s loud. Yes, there are a lot of crashes/accidents/bruises.  But, I wouldn’t change it for ANYTHING.  I honestly can’t remember what our house was like without Nicholas.  This might sound strange – but when he is napping on the weekend (IF I can get him to nap) — after awhile, I actually miss him.  I know he is in his room and I am busy doing a ton of other things, but I find myself thinking about him and wondering when he will wake up because I miss him.  That sounds crazy, right? I guess I just can’t help it.  He is a fun kid to be around.

We have seen a BIG difference in NCL’s growth since he started preschool (only a few weeks ago!)  He is trying SO many more words and making sentences now — it’s awesome.  I guess he really wants to be like the bigger kids at school (or he quickly figured out that he HAS to use words to communicate with others, to get what he wants).  Whatever his reasoning – I don’t really care – I am just so excited to hear him talking more.

Nicholas is now 28 months old (2 yrs and 4 mths).  Wow – it’s amazing how FAST 2+ years just flies by!  I know all parents say the same thing – but man, it’s so true.  Before we know it, NCL will be a big brother…and then, he will be off to real school, and then eating us out of house & home with his teenage friends after swim practice.  Ok – maybe not THAT fast – I will try to slow things down from here on out…ha ha.

Here are some fun/random pictures of the little guy from the last few weeks.

Above: I made homemade Mac & Cheese (yes Mom, your recipe – I have had to practice a few times to perfect it…although, I still need some work) and NCL LOVED to lick the cheesy spoon after.

Above: NCL wanted to wear my jacket – it looks HUGE on him!

Above: Just another Saturday morning — listening to a little Christmas music (in February) while lounging in the laundry basket (isn’t that what everyone does on Saturday morning?)

Above: NCL is finally learning that the way to win over Roscoe is to “sneak” him scraps of meat from the table. NCL thinks it’s funny…Roscoe loves the food!

Above: The next “American Idol” ?

Above: One Sunday morning, NCL wanted to carry my Bible to the car. He was so proud of himself — he kept saying “My Bible…Mommy’s Bible…My Bible”

And finally, the latest obsession just this week — his “gees” — he wants to play with them ALL the time.  It’s the first thing he asks for in the morning and the last thing he talks about before bed.  We have had this little track set up in the kitchen/dining area for the past 3+ days (Joe finally took it apart today).

Sometimes, Joe and I feel like our house is a zoo.  NCL will get a MILLION toys out and scatter them ALL over the place — then take one of the toy bins, put it on his head as a “hat” – and run ALL over the house, screaming.   OR – he will get his big firetruck (given to us by my boss) and turn the buttons on and drive that all over the place. The noise of that firetruck would drive anyone crazy – but it especially drives Joe crazy. I am really surprised that thing hasn’t “disappeared” yet..he he.  Oh – and then..the dog will start his routine of running crazy all over the place and barking.  I tell ya – a zoo.

Since I had President’s Day off this year – we decided to get outside, in the 80+ degree weather, and visit the zoo.

Note to self: never visit the zoo on a holiday.  The parking lot was INSANE and I have never seen so many people at our zoo (probably because we go when no one else is there – since we have annual passes).

Joe dropped us off and parked the car. So, we decided to have a snack and watch the flamingos and ducks.

Nicholas wanted to visit the elephants. I wish I could type out the word he uses for elephants…but I can’t. It’s more like a sound and it’s long.  It’s almost the sound a rooster makes – we laugh everytime.

On the way to the Elephant Odyssey – we had to stop to play with the coin machine. We didn’t have to put any money in – NCL was perfectly happy to turn the crank a few times.

(These two pictures will have to serve as my Week 29.5 pictures. It’s all I have during the time I was sick)

After 400 miles of travel (did I mention it was 80+ degrees?), we finally made it to the *New* Elephant Odyssey exhibit (it’s probably the newest addition to the zoo, but it was finished awhile back. I hadn’t been before).

(Yes, Nicholas needs another haircut…oh Gina…I wish you lived closer. I am actually thinking of trying to re-create your haircut on NCL…what a joke that will be – I was not meant to cut hair!)

Although NCL enjoyed watching the real elephants – he thoroughly enjoyed playing with this giant, fake elephant:

Being that it was almost lunch time, AND I was starting to run out of energy, (the day before this was the day I was in the urgent care for the sinus infection — we went on this little adventure, after I battled a 2 hour pounding-headache in the morning) it was time to make the 400 mile journey to the Zoo’s Exit (mostly uphill) and then the 56 mile journey to the car once outside the gates.

The rest of the afternoon went like this:

(1) Turn A/C on FULL BLAST in the car – all the way home

(2) Eat lunch – Mexican food we picked up on the way home

(3) Mommy and NCL – Take a looong nap

..and back to reality!

It feels like forever since my last blog post (yes, 12 days in-between posts is a LONG time for me).  I have a good excuse though – after the last post and my week long cold – I got my very first sinus infection….and nearly fell off the face of the Earth for over a week.

I will spare the gory details since most of you have been keeping up with me the last week on facebook.  I will leave this sinus infection behind me..as soon as I say — WOW! That was a PAINFUL week and I hope NEVER to get another sinus infection again — especially while pregnant!

Now – onto life at the LaGreca house.

We live with a “little monster”

NCL’s Aunt Angie got him that cute bath towel while we were back in Buffalo for Christmas. He was actually scared of it in December — he kept saying “Uh oh – Bite!”  (he thought the “monster” was going to bite him).  Now he is ok with the towel and it just looks so darn cute when he gets out of the bath.

The bedding arrived for NCL’s Big Boy Bed — he likes it.

I wish I could say the transition to the new room/bed had been done..but it hasn’t.  It’s totally our fault.  We still don’t have a dresser for his clothes (which isn’t the MOST important thing in the transition, but it adds to the list), the closet hasn’t been completely cleaned out with our stuff, and Joe is working through some electrical work in that room.  I had said before that we would probably paint in there, but I don’t think it’s going to happen (Joe says it’s definitely not happening).  We are running out of time and it’s just not necessary at this point. More important to get him in the new room/bed before Baby LG #2 arrives!

NCL’s grandparent’s took him to Balboa Park for the morning.  They had a BLAST!

(Our poor boy has scrapes/bruises ALL over his body — it’s a really good day if there isn’t a new one added to the mix…those days are far and few between).

(I absolutely LOVE the above picture..thinking about framing it for our bedroom).

Grandpa & Grandpa took NCL to the Model Railway Museum in Balboa Park.  I probably don’t have to tell you how much NCL loves that place..it’s all about GEE GEEs!

NCL kept himself entertained while Mommy wasn’t feeling well last week (at home).

—And, no, we don’t let him sit on the coffee table to watch his Chip & Dale shows.  But, I walked in the livingroom and caught him up there – I had to grab the camera and snap a picture before telling him to get down and sit on the couch instead.

Joe and I are continually amazed at HOW MUCH this kid LOVES Donald Duck/Chip & Dale cartoons.  It’s so awesome because there are tons on youtube – and they are only 6-8 minutes long.  I have found that it’s the easiest way for me to take a shower in the morning.  I take him in the bathroom with me — I start a Donald Duck cartoon on my iPhone (youtube) – I am always careful to pick the longer episodes, at least 7 1/2 minutes or so, and then I take a shower. He watches the “Duck” the whole time..and behaves. It’s wonderful.

And finally, time to wrap up this post — but first, I HAVE to post pictures of NCL’s 1st Day of Preschool (Thursday, Feb. 11th)

I snapped a quick picture of Daddy and son in the parking lot, on the way into NCL’s first day of “school” – (yup, I am one of “those” Mom’s – the camera goes everywhere with me — but that is no surprise to anyone, right?)

NCL was a little skeptical at first. He didn’t want us to leave….then he saw the box of cars/trucks/trains and he went right over to them. We tried to sneak past him, but he caught us. THEN – he saw the playdough on the table – and that was it…our get-away was flawless. (I won’t lie – I was a little sad….our baby is growing up – BUT, mostly, I was SO excited for him. The sadness didn’t last long for me).

An hour after we dropped NCL off at preschool – we got an email update from the preschool director (Thank YOU, Robin!)  She said NCL was doing great & snapped this picture of Amos and Nicholas playing dress-up. (These 2 boys are 3 weeks apart and have been together at church since they were teeny babies. When we tell NCL we are going to church, the first thing he says is “I wanna see Amy” — that’s what he calls Amos).

And a few hours later..we got ANOTHER email update…with the sweetest picture EVER.

(NCL took his first nap at preschool..on a little person cot. I just LOVE this picture — HUGE thanks to Robin for making us feel so special on NCL’s first day at FHPP. We are so happy to have Nicholas there!)

And, as if 2 emails with attached pictures wasn’t enough – we got the cutest little personalized “report card” (NCL is “eating” plastic corn on the cob from the play kitchen)

Time for bed (it’s almost 11pm!)  More pictures/updates to come….

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