My First Haircut!

What a big day for Nicholas!! We've been planning for weeks to get Nicholas his first haircut, and today we finally found the time to do it!! We called around to several places to get prices, hours, and availability, and we were quite surprised to find that most kid haircuts run from $14-$17!!! How hard is it to do a little snip, snip on a tiny head?! We had no idea what we were in store for.

We settled on a regular haircut place, Premier Cuts, that has given me great service in the past. Plus, it came equipped with a cute little red airplane seat that had a spinning wheel and propeller in its own secluded room!!

We arrived and were immediately whisked away into the airplane room. (No wait on a Saturday, Yay!) Nicholas was very excited about the airplane until the barber (the hairdresser will be referred to as a barber because it just sounds better that way) draped a sheet around him. He froze and stared into the mirror in front of him. The barber must have been very familiar with this scenario as she immediately started trying to show him the airplane wheel and propeller again. Nicholas finally calmed down and began to "Drive! Drive! Drive!" the airplane, so the barber pulled out the clippers to show to Nicholas. Freeze! She demonstrated the tickling sensation of the clippers on his hand and his Mommy's hand. No deal. Countdown to meltdown... 5...4...3...2...1... SCREAM!!!! Nicholas ripped off his sheet, stood up in the airplane, and started screaming, "Mommy! Daddy! Up!! UP!!!"

Again, the barber was on top of things and suggested that we move into a regular seat where Nicholas could sit on Mommy's lap. This is indeed how Nicholas received his first haircut. The barber did a great job with the clippers considering the subject was flailing and screaming in his Mommy's lap. At least 4 other barbers and/or receptionists ran to the back to help distract poor Nicholas. He was offered a crinkly toy, a lolipop, a kaleidoscope, and eventually bubbles!! Poor Daddy was also running around with Cheerios and a useless camera trying to help Nicholas settle down. Once the clippers were put away and the scissors brought out, Nicholas finally started to calm down a little bit. He still wasn't a very happy camper, though. At this point, he wanted his lolipop back, but it was covered in hair...ewwww!! His haircut was finally complete...a regular boy haircut with a #4 blade on the back and sides, with some #2 blade action for the edges, and scissors on the top. His haircut looked unbelievably good considering all the motion the barber had to deal with. Two thumbs up!! She should participate in speed haircutting competitions!!

As we try to de-hair and walk out amidst many staring customers, Nicholas is handed a blue balloon and a very cute certificate with a lock of his hair on it that says...
"This is a real official piece of paper saying that I, Nicholas, was real brave and didn't scream or fuss too much when they took me to this place, covered me up with a sheet thing and cut my hair! As of today, Feb. 28, 2009, I am a BIG KID and I am really cool!"

Nicholas recovered well in the car as we changed his clothes (we never did get that "sheet thing" back on him!) and let him play with his balloon. Nicholas also had a new story to tell!!! "Haircut!! Bzzzz!!! Scary!!" And Mommy & Daddy learned why kid haircuts were priced so high!! :o) We will definitely return to this place if we can...they turned what could have been a super crazy, traumatic experience into one that has a positive twist!!

Nicholas can't wait for his next haircut!!! HA! :o)

Preschool!!

We did it!! We finally signed Nicholas up for preschool!! (It's actually just a 2-morning per week Mother's Day Out program that doesn't start up until September, but it's a big step for us!!!) Nicholas enjoyed visiting the little school and was longingly staring at all the little 2 year-olds on the playground while he screamed "PLAY!! PLAY!!" It's a church preschool, so we also visited the 3 year-olds while they were in the chapel. They were singing the ending of a cute little song when we walked in, so of course, Nicholas loudly questions, "Happened?!", when the singing stops. Then, once I tell him that the kids are finished singing and are learning about ashes now, he starts loudly chanting "Ashes! Ashes!" (I was holding him, thankfully, so he didn't get his grand Fall Down finale to Ring Around the Roses.) Luckily, his loud, echoing antics did not appear to disturb the other kids, but we did get the teachers to turn around. So, all in all, I think Nicholas will have a pretty good time in preschool!! :o) At least I hope so...

On a different note, Nicholas did an amazing thing today!! He was playing with sticks next to a little girl who was also playing with sticks. One of Nicholas's sticks was magically flung into the air and the little girl retrieved it. Her mommy told her to give it back to Nicholas, which she did very nicely. Nicholas took the stick back, smiled, and said, "Thank You!" I was in the middle of speaking a sentence when my jaw hit the ground!!! I still have no idea what I was saying...I couldn't believe that Nicholas said "thank you" without prompting!!!! :o) What a sweet little boy!!! :o)

Rodeo!!

Well, things are finally settling down after Nicholas's extended weekend trip!! His Daddy and I went on a Valentine's date to the rodeo, so his lucky grandparents had the honor of entertaining him while we were gone. Nicholas had a great time visiting everyone and returned home with very interesting stories about his tunnel, Grandma's big car, his adventures with Grandpa at the park, LaLa's yummy cake, GG PaPa's doorbell (ding dong!), his playdate with Claire, and his not-so-accidental breaking of Mommy's snowglobe from Italy... just to name a few. Mommy and Daddy certainly enjoyed some much needed extra sleep and are ready to chase Nicholas around the house again at full speed!!

Nicholas also learned a new game today!! His daddy taught him how to play "Duck, Duck, Goose!!" The game is a little difficult when only he and Mommy are at home, but we talked "Pat, the Bunny" into playing and had quite a fun time chasing each other around the house!!

And, while we're at it...Nicholas has finally perfected saying "Love You"!!! :o) You just can't beat that.

Key Car!!

Have they lowered the legal driving age to 16 months old yet? Nicholas's fascination with cars (or trucks and minivans as the case may be) is only getting more intense!!

When Nicholas first awakens in the morning, he enjoys playing with his aquarium, talking to his pictures on the walls or toys on the shelf, counting to himself, or poking at his GloWorm. Then, once Mommy or Daddy decides to slither out of bed to retrieve the silly little guy, he starts shouting "Key! Car!" This is his way of demanding the car keys and a trip outside to play in the car. It begins in the morning...and it doesn't end until he shuts his eyes for the night!! We spent well over an hour in either vehicle today.

Nicholas is very good at putting the correct key into the ignition and turning the key (without actually turning over the engine) to activate all the exciting car gadgets. The most important gadget is, of course, the radio. We definitely need to get more pictures of him sitting in the drivers seat holding the steering wheel while swaying and bobbing to the radio!

They grow up so fast!! :oP

Happened?!?

The word boom is here!! Just as predicted in all the wise little baby books, the amazing word boom has arrived!!! Nicholas is just a little sponge!! So watch your mouth!!! (You know who you are!) The best part about this word boom period is all the stories Nicholas is starting to tell!!

He has three favorite stories: What Happened to the Candle (A thrilling tale about a match that makes a flame and lights a candle that is soon blown out, sending the flame away) , Barney's Hurt (A drama about an innocent day on the swings that goes awry when Barney is kicked off the swing, goes Boom, and shakes loose his batteries so that he is obviously hurt and needs to be fixed), and The Loud Vacuum Clean-Up (A high-speed adventure about a helpful grocery-unloader with slippery palms who drops a jar of Gerber banana-strawberries, sending glass everywhere, and a giant, loud vacuum that saves the day). These stories are told many times throughout the day using the most important keywords as Nicholas recounts his exciting adventures.

The cutest thing about all these tales is that they start with Nicholas looking you straight in the eyes, shrugging with up-turned palms, and questioning "Happened?!"

6...7...8...9..10!!!!

He did it again!! We've been casually counting with Nicholas for awhile now, but we never really expected to see any results until he was a little bit older. His attention span isn't really the longest... But, a few weeks ago, he surprised both his Daddy and Mommy after he spilled all his little Gerber Puffs on the ground. Daddy sighed and started trying to return the puffs to their happy little green cup home with Nicholas's help. So of course, Daddy started counting. But Nicholas finished!!! Mommy was in the other room when she heard "3...4..." and she was very impressed. But when she heard "7...8...9..", she ran into the living room with her jaw dragging the floor!! Nicholas actually knows the order of the first 10 numbers!!! This feat has proven very difficult to repeat, though. Nicholas loves saying "TWO!!!", so he gets distracted very easily, very early in the counting. Plus, he throws in the occassional "Barney!" in the middle of counting.

But...he did it again!! (At his own pace, in his own time, of course!) Nicholas was playing with a pile of his diapers while Mommy was trying to discourage the mess she knew was about to occur. Then, he recklessly threw the top diaper to the ground and announced "1!!" He threw a couple more down and counted "2...3..." Now Mommy was very impressed since he'd successfully made it past 2!!! He had a little help with 4 and 5, then finished off with "6...7...8...9..10!!!" Mommy was so proud!!! She didn't even care that the pile of diapers on the floor was still growing!! I guess all those mathematics genes from Great Grandpa, Grandma, and Daddy are already kicking in!! :o)

I also found out that a little girl from Nicholas's Little Gym class is also counting to 10! (They're only a few days apart in age.) So, I suppose it's not an unusual feat at this age, but we're still very, very proud!! :o)

The First Blog!

Welcome to Nicholas's World!!! Nicholas spends his days making his Mommy and Daddy so happy and proud, but they tend to forget all the great Tales from the Crib! This blog will hopefully help us recount those crazy, cute, and ever-so-brilliant antics!!

Where to begin?! Nicholas is almost 17 months old now and is continuing to blossom into a smart little handsome boy!! He had his first sick baby doctor visit this past Friday!! He's had a few minor colds in his short little lifetime, but this was the first that required a visit to the pediatrician!! The poor boy was suffering through a fever, runny nose, and eventually a nasty cough. It turns out that he not only has croup, but an ear infection as well!! That cough just sounds so horrible and it came on so quickly!! The doctor prescribed him some delicious Amoxicillin for the ear infection (you must remember the yummy refrigerated pink stuff from your childhood...it smells so good!) and a one time dose of corticosteroids for the croup (the Walgreens pharmacist - super nice lady...I will definitely go back - suggested mixing the crushed pill in some chocolate syrup to disguise the taste...Nicholas was definitely a fan!!) The drugs seem to have kicked in and Nicholas is much happier and much more comfortable. We'll keep you posted on this milestone illness. :oP

In other news, Barney is wonderful. I grew up with such a dislike of the creepy, purple T-Rex that ran around hugging various children!! But, I just did not understand the preschool appeal!! Purple dinosaurs are cool!!! Especially when they sing and dance!! And who really cares if the child actors have not quite perfected their trade - they're kids! Plus, the show was made for kids who don't care if the acting is spot-on! Nicholas loves Barney. The huge smile that appears on his face when the Barney theme begins playing on PBS can just melt your heart!!! To all the nay-sayers who discourage TV-watching before three-years-old, I ask...how do you get dressed in the morning?! Everything in moderation. Nicholas also has a talking plush Barney doll thanks to his Auntie "Em". Nicholas involves Barney in quite a bit of his daily routine...it's just too cute!! Barney eats with him at his diner, drives around with him in his sports coupe, and sits with him as we read books. Barney also comforts Nicholas while he watches Barney on TV in his Pack & Play so that Mommy can get dressed/packed in a super rush to get to the pediatrician's office before it closes. We love Barney. :o)

So, that ends our first post. The rest will most likely be shorter. And don't expect frequent updates...you should know us better than that!! :o)