Da-da-da-da

Oct 12 - Today was story time at the library. I really enjoyed myself today. The theme was fall and the librarians showed us a bunch of different colored leaves and showed us pictures of pumpkins and stuff like that. I sat on the big rug and listened really well. I also really enjoyed the egg shaker today. I got into it.

I also made a few new friends today. There were a couple of new girls and a little boy by the busy box. And of course I played with Sam too.

We spent the rest of the day home. When Daddy got home we played. He tried to get me to walk on my hands like a wheelbarrow. I couldn't really do it. I said da-da-da-da-da today and Daddy and Mommy made a big deal about it. I don't really know why but I kept saying it for them.

That was about it for today.

Mommy's little helper

Oct 11 - This morning after the usual morning routine Mommy and I put away all the laundry. I sat on the floor of her room and watched her go. Then we went into my room and I watched her in there too. She moves fast. Then we went to the grocery store. Wow, did we buy a lot of stuff! The lady at the check out counter asked Mommy if we needed a second cart! We didn't. The ladies at the check out stand also gushed over me tell me that I am so cute and so good just holding on to the cheese. Mommy packed everything in the car, including me, and we went home. I stayed in the car while Mommy got all the groceries inside but she left the car door open so I could talk to her. Then she brought me inside and let me sit on the floor as she ran around the kitchen putting all the groceries away. When she had the freezer open I grabbed the waffles and dumped them on the floor. They were cold.

Once all the groceries were away we played until Daddy got home. He didn't go to school because he was tired and said he wasn't feeling all that good. After playing a little more with Mommy she had to leave to go drop off some tickets to tonight's Caps game. I stayed with Daddy and he let me play on Mommy's computer. He made the computer play a song from the Lion King. I loved it. Mommy wasn't gone long. The rest of the evening I played with my toys. I stayed up til about 8:30 so I could watch some of the Caps game. Then I went to bed.

Meeting Mr. Todd and Ms. Nicole

Oct 10 - This morning I woke up early which surprised Mommy since she thought I was going to sleep late with getting to sleep a little later last night. Mommy even tried to bring me back to bed with her but I didn't want to and she didn't want to wake Daddy up since Sunday is the only day he gets to sleep in. So she brought me out to the family room and after breakfast I played in the exersaucer while she did the dishes. When daddy woke up he played with me a little before putting me in one of the laundry baskets while he cooked breakfast and Mommy was gathering the trash in the house.

After they ate breakfast we got in the car and went to the dump, then home depot, and then for a long car trip up to Westminster. I was ready to get out of the car when we got up to Mr. Todd and Ms. Nicole's house. Ms. Nicole is having a little boy right around Christmas. We gave them the presents that we got for them and toured the house that they just moved in to. There were still boxes everywhere. My favorite thing to do while I was there was to pull myself up on one of the open boxes and play with all the shredded packing paper.

I also played with Mr. Todd. While I was standing on their really nice leather couch, he stood behind it playing peek-a-boo. I also got to meet one of his dogs, it was a doberman pincher and really didn't like me very much. The dog kept barking and growling at me but I just laughed at it. Then we all got in our cars and went to Roy Rogers. I was getting tired so we didn't stay much longer. We said goodbye to them and headed home. I was asleep in no time. We got home and I ate and then played until bedtime.

Hanging out with Uncle Sean and the boys

Oct 9 - Today was the first day of Daddy going to school on a Saturday. I was looking forward to seeing him. So instead of hanging out with him Mommy and I ran a couple of errands. We went to the bank, then to Babies R Us to get some stuff for Daddy's friend Mr. Todd and his pregnant wife Ms. Nicole. We were there for a long time as Mommy tried to think of good things to get them. She picked a grooming and health set, some bath lotions, orajel, diaper rash cream and put it all in the same bath tub that I have. She also told me that I should pick a toy for the new baby on the way so I picked the moose toy that James has. After that we ran into PetsMart and got kitty litter.

When we got home Daddy was here! He was happy to see me too. We rolled around on his bed and he made me giggle a lot. Then we came out to the family room and Mommy gave me the finished project that she was working on. It was a blanket with elephants on it that said Daddy Mommy and Me and it had fringe all around the sides. It is so soft and I love it. Good job, Mommy.

After eating really quick the three of us packed up in the car and went over to Uncle Sean's house because he was going to be watching me so Mommy and Daddy could go to the Caps game. Mommy and Daddy kissed me goodbye and left me with Uncle Sean, Aunt Erin, Aidan and Gavin. Aunt Lynn got home later from work. I was a little fussy after Mommy and Daddy left but was better when Aunt Lynn got home. We played and ate and watched the Caps game on tv. I fell asleep on Aunt Lynn's chest. I woke up for a couple minutes when Mommy picked me up, then again when we walked to the car and I got put in my car seat and then again when getting out of the car seat but I didn't fuss at all. When Mommy kissed me and put me in my crib I just looked at her and went back to sleep.

I can play all by myself

Oct 8 - Today was another stay at home day. Mommy told me I was a fantastic little boy today. I played so great all day long. First I got to play with Mommy's computer. I love hitting the buttons and seeing the picture on the screen jump around and change colors. Mommy is always telling me to be gentle.

Then Mommy and I were out in the kitchen and she gave me a pan and a plastic spoon to bang together. I liked that. I slid the pan all over the floor and liked the scraping sound it made on the floor. I also pulled myself up on the cabinets in the kitchen and just laughed as I hit them with the spoon.

Next I played with the cat behind the curtain by the sliding glass doors. We sat looking outside together.

The rest of the evening I just entertained myself, crawling all over the room, playing with toys and banging on the fireplace, and chasing the cats while Mommy worked on some project. She brought a table into the room and spread out this long piece of fabric out on it. I don't know what she was doing but the fabric was soft as I tried to pull on the piece that was hanging over the edge of the table. I also would crawl under the table and it would be my hideout.

Tonight was supposed to be the first regular season Caps game but I didn't make it. I was way too tired to stay up for that.

Nathan comes over again

Oct 7 - Nathan came to visit again today. I woke up and he was asleep in the next room. Mommy and I had breakfast and then played a little bit. While we were playing we got another visitor... Grandmommy came for a visit. It was great to see her. When Nathan woke up he was a little cranky and Mommy needed to pay a little more attention to him today so it was great that Grandmommy was there to play and talk to me. She gave me a bottle and when it was time for my nap she took me back to my room and I feel asleep in her arms as we rocked in the glider. I slept for a long time, I needed a good nap and Grandmommy is really comfortable.

When I woke up, we came back out to the family room and played a bit longer. It wasn't too long before Ms. Theresa came to pick up Nathan. Daddy got home at the same time as Ms. Theresa got there so I got to play with him as Mommy packed up all the stuff that Ms. Theresa brought for Nathan and they left. Grandmommy said goodbye and told me to be good and take care of Mommy. I hope she knows how much fun I had with her today.

I missed Daddy SO much! I have barely gotten to see him this week. We rolled around on the floor and he tossed me in the air. I love hanging out with Daddy. Tonight was bath night and Daddy read Go Dog Go. Then it was time for bed.

Mommy All To Myself day

When I woke up at 7am this morning and called for Mommy I got a surprise again. Daddy came in and picked me up and held me for a few minutes. He missed me yesterday and really didn't want to go to work. He told me that he loved me and then gave me a kiss and handed me back to Mommy. As he walked out of the room I started to cry. I didn't want him to go.

Today was Mommy All To Myself day. I needed it after having to share Mommy yesterday and again tomorrow. I would barely let her put me down today.

Ms. Bridget came over today. She said that I was getting taller. She also played with me a little on Mommy's bed. She makes me laugh.

Mommy and I got dressed and went to group. As soon as we got there I went to Ms. Betty and told her I wanted her to hold me. I love Ms. Betty. I spent a little time talking to Eleanor and then crawled over to Hunter but Mommy wouldn't let me touch him. Then Lincoln came but Mommy wouldn't let me touch him either. Mommy is no fun. I weighed in at 16lbs 1oz. Yay, I gained! I started to get fussy because I was getting so tired so Mommy and I left. I fell asleep in the car on the way home but woke up when Mommy tried to get me out of the car.

When we got inside Mommy put me in my swing so she could pay the bills. I didn't want to be in the swing but I waited semi-patiently. Then Mommy fed me. I got more mac n cheese and finished the apple/cherry mix. I also had a bunch of banana flavored puffs. After I ate, Mommy fixed herself a bowl of cereal. I watched her pour it in the bowl and then pour the milk. It looked so good. I sat on Mommy's lap as she sat on the couch eating her cereal. I really wanted to try it so I reached up and grabbed the side of the bowl that was sitting on the arm of the couch. I didn't know that by doing that it would knock the whole bowl all over Mommy and the couch. Mommy gasped as she was covered in cold milk and chocolate & peanut butter puffs. I tried to tell Mommy sorry and understood when she plopped me down into the pack n play while she cleaned up the mess.

I hung out with Mommy for a little while longer before I got changed for bed. Since I didn't get much of an afternoon nap I crashed right around 7pm. I fell asleep in Mommy's lap. Just what I needed.

Hanging with Nathan

When I got up this morning I came out to the family room with Mommy like any other morning and after breakfast I started playing. Around 8:15am we heard sounds from the other room. It was Nathan waking up from his nap. His mommy had dropped him off early this morning before I woke up and had already gone back to sleep. Mommy brought him into the family room and I was so excited to see him. I crawled over to him and tried to crawl on him but Mommy wouldn't let me. We played on the floor for a while. Then Nathan got in the jumper and I got next to him in the exersaucer. A little later we took turns eating solids in the high chair.

Mommy found out that I cut my fifth tooth today. She actually found it after I had a little accident and bumped my mouth on the baby gate. As she was trying to find where the bleeding was coming from she found a new tooth. It is the other front top tooth. And I was ok. Nothing a little cold teething ring and a hug from Mommy couldn't fix.

Nathan and I went took turns sharing Mommy. We even both took a nap for her at the same time to give her a break. She also took both of us back to my room and as I stood in my crib and Nathan sat in Mommy's lap she read a story to us called Are You My Mother? After the story she put both of us on the floor and tickled us and had both of us laughing.

Towards the end of the visit I was getting pretty tired and wanted to take a nap but Nathan was starting to get a little fussy too so Mommy was holding him. I wanted Mommy so I climbed up into her other arm and buried my face in her chest. That is how Ms. Theresa found the three of us. Ms. Theresa thanked Mommy for taking care of her little boy and grabbed all of her stuff and I said goodbye to Nathan until Thursday when we get to do it all over again.

After they left I crashed. I took a 2 1/2hr nap and enjoyed Mommy all to myself. We played, I ate again, and then she threw me in the tub. She read me A Fly Went By and she was very animated and I was just memorized by her storytelling. The rest of the bath was a fight between me and Mommy. She wanted me to stay seated on my butt so I didn't slip and fall and I wanted to keep pulling myself up into a standing position. I am getting stronger and stronger everyday and am really cruising now. I barely need to hold on to things and might just reach that goal of walking by 9 months like Ms. Betty hypothesized a while back. After the bath, we got ready for bed. Mommy put me in my crib a little early tonight since I was telling her that I was sleepy but I wasn't that tired so I cried and cried for a while before finally giving up and going to sleep.

Oh yeah, and Daddy sent me a text message today that said "happy eight months Nicholas." I had Mommy send back "thanks DeDe."

Getting ready for company

This morning Mommy came and got me just when I was waking up. I hadn't even stood up at the edge of the crib yet; I was still laying down just sucking on my pacifier.

Mommy told me when I woke up this morning that Nathan will be coming over all day tomorrow and she had to get the house ready and asked me to be a helpful, good boy. She called Grandmommy real quick and I tried to steal the phone from her again. That is one of my new favorite things to do. Every time I see Mommy on the phone, I have to have it. I like pressing the button and listening to the voice on the other end. I also really like listening to the music that comes out of Mommy's cell phone.

Mommy and I ran out to the dump, CVS, and the grocery store. At CVS Mommy got a bunch of wipes for me, a few things for Daddy, and a flu shot for her. I cried for her and she told me that I was being silly.

Ms. Theresa came over really quick to drop off a bunch of things for Nathan's visit tomorrow.

I followed Mommy around the house as she tidied up. I even inspected her work - here I am checking the mat that she just vacuumed. It passed. Also, I have good news. I am no longer afraid of the vacuum cleaner and proved this by not only not crying when it was turned on but also when Mommy was vacuuming the family roof carpet I chased it around the room.

I tried a new food today. Mommy got a mac n' cheese and veggie food from the grocery store. I liked it. I finished it up with an apple/cherry mix and finished the rest of the sweet potato puffs.

I got to see Daddy for a little while since he got home a little early and I wasn't ready to go to bed. Mommy told me to enjoy my time with him because I probably wasn't going to see him tomorrow (union meeting) or the next day (school). I tried to bond with him by tugging at his beard. He said "ouch" but he was just joking. He kissed me goodnight and it was off to bed.

Relaxing after a long weekend

Oct 3 - Today was a major recovery day! The three of us stayed in all day and napped and watched football. We were supposed to go to the last preseason home game but we decided not too since we had already had such a long weekend. Ms. Rhonda, Hunter's mom from group, stopped by to borrow my headphones because she and Hunter and Hunter's daddy were going to the game. I also let Hunter borrow my red Caps onesie that I grew out of. We found out that it was kind of a good thing that we skipped going to the game and just rested at home since the Caps lost 3-0.

Bath time was nice. Daddy read Put Me In The Zoo while Mommy got me all clean. And I was asleep and in my crib around 8pm.

Caps Convention

Oct 2 - What a long, wonderful, hockey, fun-filled day! Today was the Caps Convention! Started the day getting dressed in my Caps gear, hopping in the car with Mommy and Daddy, and picking up Granddaddy. We got downtown and parked the car and I rode in the stroller the couple of blocks to the convention center. Everyone was rockin the red. We met up with Uncle Dave and shortly after that we met up with Uncle Sean, Aunt Lynn, and the boys. Uncle Dave, Granddaddy, Mommy, Daddy and I spent the day going to these panel discussions with players talk about different experiences and answer questions. I sat for a long time being really good on Mommy's lap and taking a bottle but when I started to get a little loud Granddaddy would walk around with me or Daddy would push me around in the stroller until I fell asleep. Mommy and I met Ted Leonsis and I would have met Alex Ovechkin if I hadn't fallen asleep on Mommy's shoulder.

I also scored Mommy and Uncle Dave some Gold Passes to get more autographs when a father and daughter that were leaving saw how cute I was and gave their passes to them. Mommy was so happy. She was able to get Backstrom's autograph too. I didn't meet him either because I was hanging out with Granddaddy at that time.

We were there all day and I was tired and Daddy was tired and we had done almost everything that we wanted to do so we said goodbye to Uncle Dave and left. Granddaddy fed me a bottle in the car and then we dropped him off at his house. Grandmommy got to say hi to me really quick before we went home. I told Daddy and Mommy how tired I was on the way home and Daddy told me how tired he was back. Once we got home I was pretty much ready for bed.

My second Caps game

Oct 1 - Today I got a surprise. When I called out for Mommy to come get me from my crib it was Daddy that came in my room and said good morning to me. Daddy took a day off to hang out with Mommy and me. The three of us just stayed inside and played and napped until late in the afternoon.

Mommy changed me into this warm, red outfit that had a lion playing hockey on it. All three of us got in the car and went down to DC. We got to a parking garage, then walked a couple blocks to the Verizon Center where there were tons of people and they all had red on. We rode the escalator up to our seats. And the view from up there was awesome. The first five minutes of the game I was just frozen watching the players on the ice. I started to loosen up and relax and then the Caps scored and the big horn went off and everyone jumped up. I was wearing my headphones so it wasn't too loud and I didn't cry that time but it did startle me. After that goal, I spent the rest of that period just looking around and taking everything and everybody in. I smiled at all the people sitting behind us and they smiled back at me. During intermission Daddy took my headphones off to give me a break. When he put them back on at the start of the second period I told him I didn't want them. So I got to keep them off but when that horn went off when the Caps scored again I was so scared that I started to cry. It was just for the minute that everyone was celebrating the goal so no one heard me. The rest of the game I was great except when the horn went off (which it went off three more times). I did get tired at the game cause it was past my bedtime but I hung in there. Mommy and Daddy were very proud of me and the Caps won 5-2, even though it was just a preseason game. We walked back to the car and I cried for a while until I fell asleep. We got home, Mommy changed me and it was back to bed.

Ms. Donna and the Wii

Sept 30 - Today Mommy told me that Ms. Donna and her niece Vicky were going to come over to play the Wii. I like company and I really like Ms. Donna. She always makes me smile. But before they came over Mommy and I had to make a quick trip to the dump. Mommy makes a big deal about the house smelling like trash. Anyway, we packed up and went to the dump. I fell asleep on the way to the dump and Mommy was able to get me and the carseat out of the car and into my bedroom where I took a nice long nap.

When I woke up Ms. Donna and her niece Vicky were already here. I watched the three of them bowl, play archery, hula hoop, and do step aerobics. I love watching people use the Wii and I try to play too but they keep pulling me away from the balance board. After they were done they had pizza and just talked and played with me. Ms. Donna even helped feed me my lunch. Mommy noticed that I cut my fourth tooth. It is on the top but it is the one next to the front tooth.

Shortly after that Daddy got home. It was good to see him but he was really tired so he took a long nap in his room. Mommy and I hung out the rest of the afternoon until it was time to take a bath and read a story. Tonight's story was The Cow That Was The Best Moo-ther. It was the library book that Mommy picked. Silly story. Daddy woke up just in time to say good night to me as Mommy got me dressed for bed.