Santa Babies 2013

Its a good time as any to start posting again. Most of 2012 will be lacking, but I am going to make a great effort to catch up before end of year. So bear with me

Its tradition the weekend after Thanksgiving to go see Santa.

2013 might be the best picture since Nicky's first visit back in 2008 and then all three of them in 2011... 

(see below)

There were no tears, there was matching outfits, and 2.5 smiles.

it was a gorgeous day, a great looking Santa and thanks to 

Millie & Mox

we didnt even have to leave Steiner Ranch!

I love the Holidays and all the festivities that come with it!!

SANTA BABIES 2012

SANTA BABIES 2011

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

For the last 3 years I have documented our annual visit with Santa. Each year seems to represent my (or Dans) enthusiasm (or lack of) for the event. 2008 was our first experience and I don't think we could ever replicate how adorable Nicky would looked, his perfect reaction, and how charming the picture turned out. 2009 and 2010 were um ....considerably LESS festive. No matching outfits, no professional pictures. Although they never cried, they didn't really compare too 2008. However, my boys are always adorable.

Well, now I have three babies, and this year I was determined to get a good picture. If not, at least they would look cute. (even that is debatable according to Dan and Shauna)

I dressed them in matching Harajuku Mini plaid pants and Luke in the cutest bow-tie tuxedo pantsuit.  - And to be clear, I had to bride Nicky with three lollipops, a new army truck, and 5 presents to get him to put the pants on. I actually sat on him and pulled his feet through. Followed by a chase and lots of laughs, they were finally dressed.

We went to Lakeline Mall and brought Grandma Booba along. We waited in line for an hour. The had a great time racing across the mall, making some new friends. To pass the time, we went to a balloon twister, and both boys asked for orange guns (of course they did. they by in front of us asked for a monkey on a tree.) She couldn't make a gun (engage Meltdown Mode 3 - 2- 1-....) BUT she made them swords! (Meltdown avoided!) They were happy little campers....until Brandon popped Nicky's. (repeat Meltdown)

When it was finally our turn, I prayed, held my breath, hoped for some smiles, and handed them over to Santa; the santa with the cowboy boots and the largest hands in history of all Santas. really, take a look.
And what do you know....they smiled! all three of them. PHEW. Here is their 2011 Christmas with Santa Picture.

I thought this was cute too - We captured Luke in the same shot as Nicky from back in 2008.

 and here are the past 3 years

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SANTA BABIES 2010

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

When Nicky was 7 months old, we got him all dressed up in his Christmas best, went over to Hillsdale Mall in San Mateo and waiting in line for 2 HOURS to see Santa Clause on Christmas Eve.  I think Dan was scarred for life. But it was worth it just to see the pictures. This was when he loved the word Poo Poo. So that smile was all of us shouting "Say Poo Poo"

The next year, we avoided the malls like the plague, but managed to sneak in a shot of the boys with Santa at the always fabulous (ghetto) Steiner Ranch Christmas Bazaar. Steiner, pulled out all the stops and made it really fun and festive. I kid. And as you can see, I made a real big attempt to get them in some Christmas outfits this year....at least they were matching Pluto T-shirts

Fast forward to last Sunday at the famous Oasis overlooking Lake Travis in Austin..One of the best Santas I'd ever seen, was taking complimentary pictures if you brought your camera. We again failed miserably at dressing the boys in anything that resembled matching, Christmas outfits, or non scruffy clothes. We defined this outing a success, because while we may not have gotten many smiles, we didn't get tears. And we did get some mysterious sign language from Nicholas.

Merry Christmas!

0 comments

2 and a Half

I woke up the other day and thought, "Nicky is 30 months old". 3-0. Thirty. That's two and a half.  That's half way to three. How did that happen? I know time goes fast and its so cliche to comment on how fast they grow up, but I wasn't really prepared for that. Part of me can't wait to watch him grow up and experience all these "firsts" and part of me wants to box him up and keep him my special little boy forever. Tiny, with chubby little hands that hold mine, and warm arms that hug me, and his perfect lips that kiss me. Two and a half is pretty cool, except for those terrible parts. Which there are a lot. :) Many in fact, and the time outs have increased and so have the spankings.  But then he smiles at me, and does it matter? I am already doomed.

Nicky is truly a bundle of energy...he is always on the go - loud and demanding. he is smart and sassy, creative and sensitive. He is going through a Mommy phase, which I love. He will pat my face and give me "bunny kisses" on a whim. He sits on my lap and wraps my arms around me. He tells me he "likes Mommy." And I like him too.

I've said it before, but he continues to amazes us with his language and his thought process. He constantly says these really cute things and I will write them all down one day. My favorite was yesterday the door bell rang. Nicky jumped of the couch and ran to the door screaming, "Christmas is here!"
Grandma Booba was visiting this weekend, and when she said she was going to the new house to get some things fixed, he asked her "What's broken, Booba?" He is so cute.

He tries to spell his name "O - N - C  - Y" and can identify about 15 letters in the alphabet. He can spell STOP on a sign, although he says X for S. He gets very excited when he can identify letters.

Speaking of stop signs, he is a back seat driver and he throws terrible tantrums in the car if you don't turn where he wants you to. He loves to help Dan garden and mow the lawn. He has his own gloves and a squirt bottle and gets so excited to be outside. After school we spend about an hour playing in the dirt and squirting things.

I wish sleep wasn't still an issue, however, every night is still a battle. We have to stay consistent or he takes a mile. Some nights are better than others, and now, after months of this sleep training, we are happy when he gets into bed without a fuss and sleeps till 630 am.  Some nights I am still sleeping on his floor in his room.

Right now he doesn't like Brandon because "he's not nice", but loves Roxy because "she's cute." He loves Dino Dan on Nick JR, and still loves his tractors. He loves to call Daddy, Dan. He is so helpful and loves to vacuum and clean.. He won't eat anything right now, except mac n cheese and yogurt. He is picky with his clothes and  he loves his crocs and flipflops.He is mostly in 2T - 3T and a size 8 shoe. He is almost potty trained. We just have to get through the night.

He is fascinated by the weather and at school is the official "weatherman."  He hates bugs and screams like a little girl, which I find endearing, but Dan blames me. He is very cautious before doing anything, but once he figures something out, that's all he wants to do. His best friend is still Kylee Jo, and he loves his neighbor Colin. They play trains and tractors together everyday.

When he plays games with Brandon, I am filled with pride and love and I feel so lucky. When they laugh together I don't think things could get better.  Usually that ends when Brandon snatches something from Nicky and runs away as fast as he can, laughing. Nicky tackled him the other day. I see lots more of this in my future.

In 6 months, my little baby, will be the oldest. The Big brother. The biggest brother. I hope he knows how proud I am of him and how much he means to me.  I love him so much. I adore him. He makes everyday better and every day worth getting up.

Happy two and a half, my little angel. Mommy and Daddy are so thankful to know you and have you in our lives. We have been given one of the best gifts in the world. xo.

0 comments