Merry Christmas

What a WONDERFUL Christmas! Having a 2 year old on Christmas is SO much fun :) Nico was amazed by everything Christmas.  The tree, lights, all the yummy cookies and candy, and I could just go on forever.

Christmas eve we did the Ayars Christmas. A delicious surf and turf dinner(lobster, filet,crab cakes, mussels, and so much more). Nico got to open one present from Uncle Matt, Aunt Stacey, and Sof and Lily.  He loved his remote control car. There is no better gift for a little boy than a monster truck police car that lights up and can run down the dogs... Peter and Chico may not have loved it as much as Nico. After playing for a bit, we put milk and cookies out for Santa, which Nico had to eat half the cookies and drink half the milk first, then, "otay, put for Santa, I done".

Christmas morning was just amazing.  I wish I could have been looking through Nico's eyes and knew exactly what he was thinking. He was happy with all his presents and had to take a break in the middle of opening for snacks and to play with everything he already opened. He loved his rock n roll elmo from Papa Chelo and his bouncy from Grammy and Pop pop.  That fast, Christmas morning was over, it was nap time for Nico and baking time for Mommy.

After Nico's nap it was off to the Santiago house.  It felt good being with family.  Was almost as I remembered growing up. A tree that is way too big for the house, presents piled half way up the tree, kids running around and loud music playing in the back. After dinner, it was present time.  It is such a good feeling when you see your child as happy as you were and experiencing the same traditions as you growing up.  A old family friend came over with his congas, guitar, maracas, and guido. It was music time!  Nico was banging on the drums, dancing in circles and just having a great time.  It was a wonderful day.

Nico and Daddy were fast asleep the car ride home : ) As soon as we got home, he was up and wanting to play again, which of course, it is Christmas, so we let him.  I was so exhausted, I passed out on the chair and around 2am this morning, Casey came and got me to go to bed.  I can't wait to do it again next year!!!

fun

Nico is at a great age!  He is SO much fun.  He loves coloring, reading, running, playing, and everything else that little boys do.  His most favorite I would say is going to the playground.  He says "Mommy, I play on toys"? or "Run, run Mommy, Let's play"  He LOVES the slide and will go up and down 100 times before we can leave or do something else.

Nico is a smart cookie.  When he wakes up for breakfast, it is usually cereal he wants.  We have to always give him a option, always!  He needs to make his own decision or he doesn't want it or wants the opposite of what you gave him.  So, we say "Nico, do you want this one or this one" and we usually get a response like, "Hmmmmm, I want Zat one".  The other night I went grocery shopping and Nico discovered that Mommy bought new cereal.  So, we get from Nico, "Mommy, Daddy, can I have this one or this one". How do they know to work us.

He has also been making me feel like he is playing mind tricks.  Nico will come up to me or Daddy and say "Chocoalte milk, chocolate milk", so our response is," you would like chocolate milk, please", and we get a big ol' "OK" , like it was our idea.  This has been happening a lot lately. Again, no idea how he knows, but he knows what he's doing.

When I put Nico to bed I always say "Sweet dreams, Sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite".  I have been a little under the weather lately, so went to bed early. Nico opens the door and screams. "MOMMY, WAKE UP"! So of course, I woke up.  He then says, "Sleep tight, Sweet dreams, Yuv You"!  I was so worth being woken up out of my sleep :)

He is SO excited about Santa right now.  Actually, has been amazed seeing the lights outside and blow up Santas and Snowmen.  He will say in a whisper, " Mommy, Santa, WOW. Pretty lights." His most favorite show/movie right now, Barney's Night Before Christmas or as Nico says, "Barney Santa"!!!  I have never seen a 2 year old able to sing all the songs word for word and all of the dance movements.  I love it. After watching Barney Santa, I asked Nico, "do you like santa"? His respones, "Yes, fun". I then asked if he wanted to sit on Santa's lap? I then get a worried look and a "NO Mommy, I sit on Mommy's lap". LOL.  We will see what he thinks of Santa when he meets him.

family pics

Please excuse the appearance, just working on some updates :)

Happy Halloween

Nico at his School's Fall Festival

What a FUN Halloween!  Almost everyone that Nico loves came to Trick or Treat with him.  We had Mommom, Titi Bernie, Ghamom(Great Grandmom), Poppop, Grammy, Mommy and Daddy.  Nico didn't understand in the beginning, but as soon as he got that first piece of candy it was " More Cannies" from Nico.  He went up to the doors like a champ saying, 'Trick or Treat" and "Tank you" for every piece of candy he got.  It was too cute :)  Nico is such a sweet boy. Anytime any of us got out of sight it was," Dis way, c'mon, dis way" or "Gammy, R you Gammy'?  He was definitely leading the crowd.

Mommom as a lady bug and Nico as Plex the robot

 The whole group getting ready for trick or treat

Nico got to check out his bucket

"Cannies Mommy"!

Nico loved having everyone there and enjoyed some late night candy :)

Catching up!

It seems I will go strong for months and the, "freeze" for a good month.  Well, I am back to playing catch up!  Lots of pictures :)

There has been a lot going on.  We have moved, had LOTS of birthdays, holidays are on their way, and Nico... Nico is something else.  He is charming, loving, smart, ornery, happy, and adores his family.  He is such a joy and growing SO fast.  In just a month it seems he can now count to 20, talks in full sentences, understands what he should and should not do(for the most part), and when asking him a question, you can actually see him thinking before he answers.  I just can't believe it.

Nico entertaining the crowd

Family trip to the Orchard

Lexi and Gigi's skate party