But I just wanted to help clean

Dec 29 - I slept til 9am. It was great. I woke up refreshed and Mommy could tell that my nose wasn't running as much. I got to playing early and Ms. Bridget showed up very soon after. I was really excited to see her since it has been a while since the last time. She gave me big hugs and let me hang out with her while she worked. I was very interested in how she was cleaning the toilet and tried to stick my hand in there a couple of times to help too but Mommy and Bridget told me "Ewww" and Mommy took me away. When she was done with all the cleaning and of course after she washed her hands, Ms. Bridget actually fed me a little breakfast. She was impressed with how good I eat. I really like her.

I took my medicine a little better this morning. It doesn't taste as bad as I made it out yesterday. And this evening I did even better with promises of yogurt after taking my medicine. Yum.

After I took my nap, I played with my mailbox and my track. All the rest of my toys are in the pack n' play. Mommy caught me with my face against the pack n' play looking longingly at all of them. She laughed at me. When Daddy got home I hung out with him while Mommy ran out to do some errands. Daddy and I have gotten some really great "guy time" in recently. He is always showing me new things and I love spending time with him.

I got more saline spray up the nose. It really works and I am sure that if Mommy knew that I didn't mind taking it at all that she would have been giving it to me at the first sign of a sniffle.

The three of us just hung out rest of evening. I started to get a little fussy and went to bed after 9pm.

A surprise trip to the doctor

Dec 28 - Today I still wasn't feeling good. Will this sickness ever end? I seemed to be pretty fussy and extra tired today. And even though I wasn't running a fever Mommy got worried. She had heard that RSV has a lot of cold-like symptoms and my nose was gushing with nastiness. So Mommy called the doctor and got me an appointment at 3:45pm. I took one nap before going to the doctor's office but the appointment was cutting into my second nap time. I was getting really tired. But I was pretty good as I patiently waited in the carseat carrier for the doctor to see me. When she came in she checked my nose and my throat and my ears. When she stuck that light thing in my right ear I yelled out. That hurt. She found that I had an ear infection from my cold. Mommy was shocked as I wasn't doing any ear pulling or anything to let her know that I had an ear infection. She was really glad that we came to the doctor now. I wasn't so happy. The doctor told her that I needed an antibiotic for 10 days. So we left there and went to CVS to get my medicine filled. It was going to take 45 mins so we ran to Walmart really quickly to get a few things.

Then we went back to CVS and found a cream for my eczema and picked up the prescription. Then we finally went home. I was way overtired now. Mommy tried to put me to sleep for a little while but I cried for a while before finally dozing for a few minutes. When I woke up I was pretty angry and tired. I wasn't having a good day and just wanted to sleep. After eating dinner I felt a little better and played with Apollo on the couch. I used him for gymnastics as I flipped over him. He is a good pommel horse.

I really didn't like the medicine but Daddy said only 19 more doses to take. That sounds like a lot. He gave me a bottle of water to wash it down. Mommy also gave me saline spray up my nose. For some reason, I didn't mind that as much. And it helped! I found one of my Christmas toys, a race car track from Aunt Erin, that I told Mommy I wanted to play with. She took it out of the box for me and set it up. It is so cool. The center part of the track spins. We would put the cars on it and they would fly around in a circle then off the track. After watching the cars spin we wanted to see what else would spin. We experimented with the weebles, the balls from the helicopter, the alligator, the panda bear, and even I climbed on it to see if I would spin. I was too heavy and Mommy and Daddy told me that I might break it but that didn't stop me from trying again. I was having so much fun I ended up staying up til 10pm. I am going to sleep well tonight.

My first bike ride

Dec 27 - Woke up this morning and we were still sick! My nose is running constantly and I hate it when Mommy or Daddy try to wipe it. I won't even let them close to me with that nasal aspirator thing. But while I still am not better it didn't stop me from having a great day. Mommy and I played with a bunch of my toys. Here I am walking around carrying my panda. I really love my panda.

I also played with teddy bear.

And with my busy box.

And Salem and I played with my helicopter. Salem likes the string to pull the helicopter. I like the colored balls that go inside of it. But I tried the string to see what was so fascinating about it. I don't get it.

And of course, I tried walking some more. I am getting better and better.

I took my nap and when I woke up Daddy was home from work and Mommy was putting together my bike. I was so excited that I kept trying to climb on it before she was even done! But she finally got it all together and I jumped in. Mommy took me around and around the carpet and I loved it! I felt like a big boy. Can't wait to get that bad boy out to the park but for now the family room will do just fine.

By the end of the day Mommy said that she was finally feeling much better and had energy again. Maybe that means that I will be better soon too. Here's hoping.

Christmas recovery

Dec 26 - So needed a recovery day after yesterday!!! I slept in and when I woke up at 10am I didn't feel so good. The original plan was to go over to Ms. Shalese and Mr. Rashaad's house for a game day but Mommy didn't feel good, I didn't feel good, and on top of that, it was snowing! So Daddy thought it would be a good idea to call and tell them that we weren't going to come over.

I played with a lot of my new toys and just took it easy. I really like my lion on wheels. He makes noise when you push him across the floor.

Daddy fed me. We were having fun making noises at each other. Then I sneezed. Mommy caught it on film and laughed at the face I made.

I took my naps like a good boy. And didn't fuss to much even though my nose was running a lot! I am glad that we stayed home though. It was fun to have Mommy and Daddy to myself. And we have so many things here to keep us occupied. I still had a couple of presents of open since I didn't get to everything yesterday. Overall, today was a good day.

My first Christmas

Dec 25 - Christmas morning. I finally get to rip into all those presents. When I woke up and after Mommy fed me it was present time. I started with workbench and tool set that Santa brought me. It was really cool and I couldn't wait for it to be out of the box before I started playing with it.

I opened my Caps jersey next and Mommy put it on me so I could rock the red immediately.I opened a bunch more gifts including a new phone, a set of keys, and the big present was a new bike! It is a cool grow-with-me tricycle that at this age Mommy or Daddy can push me around as I am seat belted in. As I get older I will be able to peddle myself. We will put that together another day.

I didn't have enough patience to open my last couple of presents so we put those back under the tree for later. I played with my few new presents until I was ready to go back to sleep.

I woke up to a lot of noise in the family room. Mommy came and got me and I saw that everyone was here. Aunt Katie, Uncle Mike, Uncle Dave, Aunt Erin, CJ, Ryan, Kasey, and Haley were all playing and talking and Kenzie was still asleep in her carseat. I wish I could sleep through all that. Anyway, I started to get passed around to everyone and then I got to get on the floor and crawl. I really had a great time with everyone and was all ready to open more presents. I got a cool car track from Aunt Katie and Uncle Mike and an awesome lion on wheels and new red coat from Aunt Erin and Uncle Dave. Grandmommy and Granddaddy got me a helicopter and a mailbox. Everything was great. And all the grandkids got to take a picture with Grandmommy and Granddaddy. Oh, and they really loved the book that Mommy and I made them. I was really happy.

I was put in the crib for my second nap. Everyone left while I was asleep except Grandmommy and Granddaddy. I got to say goodbye to them. Then it was off to the Harrington House. There I spent some time with Grandma and crawled around the kitchen.

Then Daddy let me play on the steps. I crawled up a bunch of them and practiced going down. I did ok, trying to go the same way I get off the couch. But after a few tried I had enough. We went downstairs and saw Aunt Erin, Aunt Lynn, Uncle Sean, Aidan, Gavin, and Bailey. After a little while Mommy gave Aidan the gift we got for him and Gavin. Aidan opened it and loved it! It was a kid's size hockey set with two goals, two goalie sticks, four player sticks, and a few balls. Mommy took it out of the box and then look out! Sticks and balls everywhere. Gavin, Bailey, Aidan, and Daddy played for a while. I even picked up a stick. I also got to play with Aidan's big hockey player guy. You hit him and he bounces back up. Aunt Lynn and Aunt Erin got my brand new very own busy box out of the box. It is the coolest thing ever. I am going to have so much fun with that even if I didn't seem that interested in it right then. Thanks Aunt Lynn, you are so cool.

It was getting late and decided to go. But we forgot we had to open gifts with Grandma and Chachi. I opened the teach and learn turtle that Grandma got me. I already got it from Mommy and Daddy but its ok, I love it just the same. I spent a little more time with Chachi and Grandma before we called it a night. I was so ready for bed when we got home. It a good thing Christmas only comes once a year, I'm exhausted!

Christmas Eve

Dec 24 - I woke up this morning at 10am. I was really tired from yesterday. I was in a much better mood than I was last night. After breakfast I hung out with Daddy watching him play his video game while Mommy got started on housework. Then I went with Mommy to my room. Daddy started to help tidy up too. He vacuumed the family room rug and I crawled over to watch him. They both were running around like crazy people trying to get the house ready for visitors tomorrow.

We settled down to eat lunch. After eating lunch Mommy gave me a special treat since it is Christmas Eve. She gave me my cookie that she made for me. It was a stocking that had "Nick" spelled out in sprinkles. I was so excited that I started to bang it on the tray of the highchair. I nibbled at the toe of the stocking and up by the K of my name. It was really good but Mommy decided that I had enough and took it away. I was all ready to get down and start playing now that I was all hopped up on sugar.

My nose was a pretty constant drip today. I have been coughing a bit and can't really breathe out of my nose without it sounding like I am sucking through a straw. Daddy gave me Tylenol again this afternoon and while I don't like taking it, it makes me feel so much better.

We took a family picture in front of the Christmas tree including Mommy, Daddy, Apollo, Osiris, and me. It only took two tries to get it right. Since Mommy and Daddy moved the presents to under the tree I was pretty constantly being told "no, its not Christmas yet" and being moved away. I punched tiny holes into at least two presents. I just can't help myself.

We did have to go out to the grocery store so we had food for tomorrow's visitors. Daddy pushed me in the cart and played with me. We have been having so much fun together recently. I did start to fuss toward the end of the trip because I wanted to be held and out of the cart. We got back home and I played in the fridge as all the groceries were put away. Then we had dinner. Then I had a shower with Daddy. I was so tired I cried in the shower for the first time ever. Mommy took me from the shower and got me dressed. Then she read me a story and I felt much better. Back out to the family room to open one present from under the tree. I tore into one of the presents I poked a hole into earlier. It was this really cool turtle. It has numbers and letters and a bunch of pictures. I liked it a lot. I also really liked Daddy's Santa hat and ended up pulling the little white ball off the end of it. Mommy laughed. I helped Daddy open his present. He got a Caps shirt. Then Mommy opened my gift. She smiled as she opened it and rushed back to her bedroom to get the pendant to put on the chain. When she picked me up the next time I immediately started to pull on her chain again. She took it back off so that I wouldn't break it again. After a few more minutes of playing Mommy finally put me in my crib at 9pm. She told me that I am going to have a big day tomorrow full of lots of people and lots of stimulation. I was asleep in no time.

The sickness continues

Dec 23 - When I woke up this morning Mommy told me that I no longer had a fever. I was feeling a bit better but she still gave me Tylenol. I seemed to be in better spirits and wasn't as clingy to Mommy. I was able to go off and play on my own. I went down for my nap a little late this morning. I was still sleeping in my crib when the dogs started to bark when Ms. Donna came over. I cried because I was startled and Daddy came to rescue me. He had gotten off early today and I was glad to see him. He walked me out to the kitchen were Mommy and Ms. Donna were talking. Ms. Donna told me she was sorry for waking me up and hopes I get better soon. Then she left.

I hung out with Mommy and Daddy the rest of the afternoon. Overall, I was still doing well other than my nose needing to be wiped every now and then. I played with my toys and even played catch with Mommy with the rattle ball. I took another nap in my crib and woke up around 4:30pm. Mommy fed me very quickly and then started packing. I was not doing as well as I was earlier. I started to feel a little cranky and fussy again. Mommy, Daddy, and I hopped in the car and went over to the Harrington house. Aunt Lynn, Uncle Sean, and Aunt Erin were going to watch me so Mommy and Daddy could go to the Caps/Pens game. Mommy was a little nervous about leaving me when I was sick but she told Aunt Lynn that if she was going to leave me with anyone while I am not feeling well it should be the registered nurse.

Mommy and Daddy said goodbye to me and left. I didn't fuss at all. I ate everything that Aunt Lynn gave me like a good boy and played around on the floor with toys. It wasn't until bedtime that I started to get really fussy. Aunt Lynn gave me a little Tylenol and laid me down on the bed. After a while of fussing I finally gave up and went to sleep. I woke up breifly when Mommy and Daddy put me in the car. I woke up when Mommy tried to take me out of the car and put me into my crib. I was so stuffy and couldn't breathe. Mommy held me in the glider and after trying to eat a little I was put back in my crib and finally went to sleep.

A sick day

Dec 22 - We are officially sick here! I woke up at 5:30am crying but managed to get myself back to sleep. I woke up for real at 8am. When Mommy came and got me she knew right away that I was really sick. I feel really warm and was all snotty. She took my temperature and I was at 99.9 degrees and that was just under the arm. She brought me out to the family room and we ate breakfast. I wasn't really in the mood to play right away like I usually am. I just wanted to snuggle with Mommy for a while. Mommy gave me some Tylenol to help with the fever and then I was ready to go back to sleep for a bit.

I slept for about an hour in my crib and then wanted Mommy again. She brought me back out to the family room and I fell asleep in her lap for a while longer. I was really tired. When I woke up I was in a much better mood. I guess the sleep and Tylenol worked. I was ready to play but still stayed close to Mommy. We were playing on the floor when Daddy got home from work. He told me he was sorry for getting me sick.

We played for a little while longer until it was time for me to go back to sleep. Mommy put me in my crib and I took a short nap. I didn't eat very much for lunch so Daddy gave me a bottle of water to keep me hydrated. I guzzled it down. I ended up playing a lot with Daddy this evening and having a great time. I sat with him in his chair and watched him play his game. I walked to him when he asked me to which made him really happy. He decided to help Mommy rest a little and fed me. He put me in the highchair and tried to feed me the chicken noodle and green beans and potatoes that Mommy tried to feed me for lunch. I don't know how else to tell them that I DON'T LIKE IT! I shake my head and try to hit the spoon but they keep trying. They think that since I liked them as the 2nd foods I will like the 3rd foods. They taste funny. They finally decided that I needed to eat something so I had more oatmeal and fruit like what I eat for breakfast.

It was getting time for more Tylenol but Mommy held off for a little while so that I could get it right before bed. They got me changed for bed, suctioned my nose, and gave me more Tylenol. When they took my temperature again it had dropped a little to a 99.4. I was in bed at 8:20pm. Hopefully, I will get a good night sleep and feel much better tomorrow.

Bucket fun and a game of catch with Daddy

Dec 21 - Today when I woke up Daddy surprised me by being there. I was good to see him but he wasn't feeling well so it wasn't good for him. Mommy said that her throat started to tickle a little. Uh-oh. Maybe she finally got what Daddy has. Could I be next? Probably.

We stayed in today. Mommy put me in the big red bucket and slide me around on the floor. I loved that! I laughed and laughed as I swung around back and forth. She put a few of my nesting balls in with me so I could kick them around as I squealed with glee. Then I hopped out and flipped the bucket over and pushed it across the floor. I did that for a long time. It also was pretty cool that Mommy had put some of the nesting balls under the bucket so it made a bunch of noise as I slid it across the floor. I like noise.

After all that play time with the bucket and nesting balls, I got to playing with Daddy and the rattle ball. He had bounced the rattle ball across the floor to me. So I picked it up and bounced it back to him. He was thrilled and bounced it back to me. So I bounced it back. This went on and on for a long time and I think Daddy was having more fun than I was. He was pretty impressed that I was able to play catch with him and he also commented on how good my aim was.

As it got closer to bed time I started to get a little fussy. I also felt a little warm and my nose started to run a little. Uh-oh again! I think I am getting sick. Hopefully a good night sleep with make me feel better.

Cookie time with the fam

Dec 20 - I had a pretty normal morning: breakfast, playing, then napping. When I woke up from my nap Mommy got me ready for my doctor's appointment. We had a couple of errands to run first though. The dump, then the post office, then the doctor's. I really didn't want to sit still while we waited for my turn to see the doctor so I fussed if Mommy held me and every time she put me down I crawled somewhere I wasn't supposed to go. She was getting a little frustrated with me. But finally it was our turn and we were quick with getting my second flu shot. I cried for just a second and then was all better.

After the doctor we went to the grocery store to pick up cookie mix and decorations because the trio was coming over. We got home and waited for Aunt Lynn and the kids to show up. When they did Aidan, Gavin and I played for a bit. Uncle Sean called about bringing dinner over. Then Aunt Lynn and Mommy got started on cookies. Uncle Sean got to the house with a bunch of chicken. He got Aidan and Gavin set up at the table and then took me from Mommy. We hung out in the family room together while Mommy and Aunt Lynn giggled in the kitchen making cookies. Daddy got home and joined the guys in the family room. We played for a while until Mommy came to check on me. Daddy, still not feeling well, handed me off to Mommy and said he was going to bed.

Mommy let me play in the fridge while she and Aunt Lynn continued decorating cookies. Gavin came to join me but got a hold of one of the glass jars higher up on the door and threw it. Not way too long after that Uncle Sean took Aidan and Gavin home. Aunt Lynn stayed for a while though and I stayed up with them. Once they were done decorating all there cookies they each ate one. Mommy let me have a taste of my first cookie. It was really yummy and Mommy said it turned my teeth blue! I ended up going to bed after 10pm.

Come back, Salem

Dec 19 - So today we stayed in and took it easy. Daddy is still pretty sick so we didn't do anything or go anywhere. Its ok, we seem to take it easy on Sunday's anyway. We hung out watching the Redskins game. I played on the couch and crawled around the dogs. Mommy is very happy that I usually remember the way to get off the couch is to turn around and slide off feet first, although she sometimes has to remind me.

I also played with Salem a bit. He was laying on the floor so I went over to him and started climbing all over him. He didn't seem to mind very much. When he did finally get up and move under the Christmas tree I followed him. I couldn't get to him with the prickly branches in the way but I tried a few times before finally giving up and finding something else to play with. I continued to use my car to walk across the room.

We also watched the Caps game but I was asleep before it was over.