DADDY AND NICO'S BATHTIME FUN....

THE CRAZY THINGS WE DO TO ENTERTAIN A 2 YEAR OLD AT BATHTIME!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME.....

RAINY DAYS...

So finally after 2 weeks of trying to schedule Nico's pictures with our friend Jennifer, the newest up and coming photographer in the area....what does it do all day, RAIN!!! What the heck??? Got up this morning thinking oh, it's just going to rain for a while and as the weather person said...I was half asleep not sure what station I was watching....that it was going to be scattered! Ha, scattered my toshie...it's been raining all day and not a pouring down rain, but an annoying sprinkle that just won't go away!!!! Not that we don't need the rain because I don't know about everyone else's grass, but mine is brown and completely scratchy to the touch but why today?? I guess in life though if this is the worst thing that happens, then today was ok....but as in life I can still be disappointed and that I definitely am.....

So to all my friends and family who I inundate with photos of the cutest baby boy, we'll have to wait and see until hopefully in the next couple of weeks we can show off Jennifer's talent and everyone can enjoy the newest, cutest pictures of Nico.

Until next time......

Happy Birthday Daddy!!

It's hard to believe that another year has passed and now Nico is turning 2 in a month or so and it's Daddy's birthday again! I was thinking on my way to work today that not only is Bryan going to be 32 this weekend, but also that I have known him since he was 19 and I guess I knew that, but thinking about that and how much we have been through the last almost 13 years...Gosh am I that old????? :)

Starting out from working at McDonald's and then you going away a month after we started dating and believe it or not our 10 year anniversary is in a couple of months!!! Then moving to North Carolina where I knew no one and you leaving for Japan. Or buying our first house that ended up being the biggest money pit ever!!! Or how about the frustrations of owning a brand new house even.....then the biggest journey of our lives, having our one and only son who we both love and adore more than life itself. Then the brain surgery and everything that has come along with it, and that was a life changing experience for both of us but in the end as everything else has worked in the last 12 years and will continue to for the next 12.....because you know you are stuck with me :)

So as this day comes upon us, and we remiss on our lives together and celebrate your birthday I can only think of one thing.....Boy you are getting old!!!!! And that my birthday is just around the corner to be old like you.......

Happy Birthday, and we love you!!!

Kelli and Nico

Nico's Language

I was sitting here thinking about Nico and how he is changing and learning new things everyday, and it came to my mind that he really has his own language. A language that no one understands, and he in his own little mind has a conversation with himself and if he had a sibling maybe it would be their language but since he doesn't we all just look at him like...WHAT?? The funny thing is that he says something in his language looks at you and starts laughing, and continues talking and then laughs again...we all look at him like what the heck?? Everyone says it's just a matter of time that he will be talking away but if you could just hear him sometimes, you would be rolling on the ground laughing with me!! He definitely has a personality and I am sure he gets those genes from me....where all the good ones came from.....LOL!! Now don't worry though he can talk when he wants to, the other day Mom and I were driving and talking about Athena and the next thing you know he says "Athena" clear as day. Of course you ask him to say it again, he looks at you like you have three heads and he doesn't have any idea what you are talking about. I keep telling myself, he will talk when he is ready and I am sure once he starts talking he will never stop so in some ways I do encourage him to use his words, but in the back of my mind I am thinking maybe I shouldn't push it so hard :)

So the next time you see Nico and you hear "his language" and he looks at you and laugh, you'll understand it's just another crazy moment in the wonderful day and life of being Nico's Mom.

Until next time........

Nico Wins the Gold!!!!

In the spirit of the Olympics, I thought these pictures were cute on a day when Nico was being Nico....so one day when he is the next Michael Phelps we can come back to these photos and say this is where it all began....winning the Gold Medal in Mommy's heart!!!

Until next time......

Nico's Fun Weekend!!

It seems like lately that Nico's been having a lot of fun weekends and this past weekend was no different! Daddy was off so of course we had to pack everything into two days.....first Grandma Beth and Grandpa Tim took Nico to the Uniontown Festival to sugar up an almost 2 year old up properly, but to Grandpa Tim's surprise......Nico wasn't coming home, he was spending the NIGHT!!! Nico got to ride the train ride and jump on the jumpy thingy (does anyone know what those are called??) and eat a elephant ear, boy was he in heaven!!! They brought him back to their house to eat more cookies and ice cream with Grandpa Tim because apparently that's what Grandparents do.....at least that's what I am told....and then it was off to bed!!! And to Mommy's surprise he slept through the night with only getting up once. Which is good, but on the other hand only shows me that he is growing up and not needing me as much and as Bryan says I need to cut the strings..........for all those Mother's out there you know how hard it is!

Then on Sunday it was off to the Akron Zoo! I couldn't believe how nice that zoo is, even though it's not as big as the Cleveland or Toledo Zoo we went to last week. They definitely do a nice job keeping it clean and their exhibits are beautiful. The weather was perfect and the animals were out and walking around entertaining the crowds!!! Nico even got up close with the bears, we'll close to the glass....he got to pet goats again and even fed them crackers!!! All in all it was a beautiful day and the rain waited until we got home so what could we ask for more?? I would definitely recommend the Akron Zoo to anyone and if you haven't been there this year, you gotta go!!! Not to mention the neat Jelly Fish exhibit!

The summer is almost gone, but I am sure Nico will continue to have more adventures....so keep visiting!!!

OUR TRIP TO TOLEDO

Kevin ~n~ Nico

Nico Swimming...

Nico and the goat...

Aunt Melissa

Another picture Mommy????

Last weekend Nico had another adventure, visiting his Aunt Melissa in Oregon, Ohio. It's amazing to me all the places this little man has been in his 22 months of life...plane rides, through the mountains, to North Carolina multiple times and now to western Ohio....I can't imagine Bryan or I did so much in such a short time of our lives, it must be good to be Nico!!!

Anyways, he was such a good boy driving up watching his Cars DVD, yet again, and looking through his bucket of cars....Until finally we arrived to see Aunt Melissa and meet Kevin's parents who very nice and had lunch ready for us before we off to the Toledo Zoo which was only about 20 minutes away. We got to the Zoo to see lions, tigers and bears.....or something like that. Actually it is a very nice zoo, with a lot of exhibits and even a Fisher Price petting zoo that Nico got to pet a few goats which he was very nice too ( I was a little nervous after the bunny incident). Then we were off to the aquarium where he loved watching the fish and other creatures in the tank, and by then it was almost dinnertime so we left to go to a restaurant that is famous for their hot dogs in Toledo called Tony Packo's. There is signed hot dog buns all over the restaurant of famous people, such as Bill and Hillary Clinton and many more (don't worry they were lacquered or something so they weren't moldy!!) It was a really neat place, and Nico got mini-corn dogs, which he devoured!!!

Then it was off to Nico's first hotel experience, which surprising he was so good. He ran around the room like he owned the place!! He had to open all the doors and drawers, and even took a shower like a big boy!!! He thought he was king of the place!!! About 9 o'clock he crashed and we put him in his pack -n- play to have him fuss for a few minutes only to fall asleep for the night and even though he threw a few things from the sink he was up against, he was a really good boy that surprised both Mom and I!!!

Sunday Morning we were off again to walk the Boardwalk at Lake Erie and Nico had a great time looking at the deer and running around, but he wasn't too sure about the sand on his feet at first. Even though he loves the sand at Grandma Decker's I think the different texture on his little feet, he wasn't gonna have anything to do with it but we got his feet in his the water and he was splashing away having a great time!! All in all it was a great day with beautiful weather and great company!!! I sure know Nico had a great time because when I put him to bed last night, not a peep out of him until he got up this morning with Daddy at 8:45am!!!

Until our next adventure....

EMBARRASSED...

I have to admit that I am kind of embarrassed because I just looked at the ticker at the top of my page that I just updated when I changed my background this week and noticed that I inputted that my son is 1 year 6 months and 3 days old......obviously I don't know when he was born even though I was in labor with him for 13 hours and cried to the doctor for 3 weeks begging him to take him 3 weeks prior and then having him say I guess you were right when he was almost 9 pounds......if I could of gotten up and smacked him, I think I might have.....but anyway....I updated his age and I have to say to my little man, I am sorry and Mommy does know that today you are 1 year and 10 months old.....only 2 more months until you are 2, Gosh!!!

Where did the time go??? I guess I'll have to cherish the last two months of your 1's and even though your terrible 2's have already begun...I'll pretend that they haven't and that you are going to stay little forever....OK, I'll wake up now!!!

Until next time.....