Enjoy Every Moment, It Goes Too Fast...

Here it is again...my reoccurring theme of too much time passing between my last entry and this one. So much has happened since then and it all has gone by in a blink. Last week I received news that stopped me in my tracks. And it’s in the moments that you really stop and slow down and just want to take everything and hold it close- all while appreciating every little second of every day. While I was pregnant with Nico the most redundant piece of advice I received was, “Enjoy every moment, it goes too fast.” I mean I heard this so many times that I may have even rolled my eyes at a few advice givers just because I felt that it was being said to me on the hour every  hour. Now fast forward to present day and when I’m talking to expecting moms or meeting new babies for the first time I hear those words exact words coming out of my mouth. I also want to simultaneously grab them by the shoulders and shake them while saying those words over and over. It’s just so so true. And every day it somehow becomes even more true. Truer than true. Am I getting my point across on how I just want to walk around with a big sign with those seven little words? So because of that- I’m forcing myself to stop-I’ve sat at a computer for entirely too long already today for work and I’m just going to write about everything that has been in my head, knowing that one day I know I’ll want to come back to remember and more importantly cherish and appreciate every word.

Picking up after our “Big Reveal” blog we made it through the holidays sans cutting off digits and/or what seemed to be the traditional ER visit with Nico over the New Years. Hooray! Christmas was so so soooo fun with Nico this year even though we donated over half of his Christmas funds to other families so his gifts were few. Honest to God, while visiting Santa this year when asked what he wanted for Christmas he replied, “An orange”. So in actuality, he was overly spoiled even by his own standards since we got him an orange and more. Then add additional spoiling with our families- don't feel too bad for the kid-he still made out like a bandit. Before each gift he was given he would be all like, “Ohhh, wonder what’s inside!” But his best reactions was with the gift his Nonna gave him. We had a sheet over it and took it off after he inquired what it was and he saw his very own kitchen. He jumped up and down screaming, "What?!?! What?!? What?!?!" Priceless. Even after all the magic of Christmas wears off I’m always a bit relieved when the holidays are over. It’s such a busy time and rushing from place to place always gets to be a bit much and stresses me out. But then I think how blessed we are to have too much family, too many places to go, too much food…funny, if we just think along those lines how different our overall mindset can be daily as well. Gratitude is so powerful.

My favorite form of gratitude? Nico. So let's get back to him. I always forget where I leave off with Nico milestones and updates and looking back it has been since before his birthday in October. #badmom Since then there has been leaps and bounds in every area of development. We basically have a new little boy from the boy I spoke of in October. His movements are less like a little drunk man and more purposeful and accurate. He was running and it felt like I was watching a big kid. He was chasing after a small ball and he kicked it over and over and was so precise in his contact-I’m just like when did this happen? He use to need a giant ball and now he’s running around and accurately kicking small balls like it ain't no thang. To much of his father’s delight he’s been showing interest in playing soccer. “Come play soccer with me!” he will often say to both of us. And then he received a pair of "soccer shoes" as a Christmas gift so he’s always asking to put them on and telling us he runs faster with them.  His accuracy of even pouring things into bowls, cups, is better than my own (I blame pregnancy). Nico is also talking so well-which comes as a bit of a surprise to me since I was an Easter Seals child because I wouldn’t talk (look at me now ma!) and then the icing on the cake of Nico’s dad having ESL status- so even with poor odds against Nico's in the language department- I’m super impressed with his current abilities. I’ll precisely remember the day I came home and walked in and asked him how his day was and he responded totally appropriately. And then our dialogue went a little further and I thought to myself-holy crap we are having an actual conversation! Nico is quite the conversationalist-one day he touched his ear and goes, “Did you hear that?” I said, “Yeah, what was that?” His response, “A Dragon!” In trots Bellina and he starts laughing and says, “That’s not a dragon-it’s just Beana!” Or the time a few weeks ago where it was time to pick up toys and I started our clean up song that has worked like a charm since he was capable of helping with the (never-ending) process of clean up and he looks at me and gestures with his little hand and simply says, “I’ll watch you.” I was like ah, what? I didn’t even know how to respond- I couldn’t even come up with the words of how smart I think his little 2 year old brain is-so I just controlled my laughter instead and picked up his toys...as he watched me. Or how about the evening when he walks into our house after a full day of activity and he pulls off his hat and says, “Whew! What a long day!” I’m telling you he leaves me speechless- how can he be two? TWO! Oh and I loved this one the other day when I walked into the house after work and he says, “I’m so glad you’re home mommy!" Then in the very next breath-“Whatcha got for me?” As he peeks into my bag. He seriously cracks me up. Or another of his one liners, “Daddy you’re realllly tall!" Then walks over to me and goes, “And Mommy…you’re….ahhhh....not so tall.” And just the way he says things so matter of fact-boy, always keep that confidence in your words.

Speaking of being savvy he knows how to work it. He plays me. He plays his dad. He is all charming saying he's whoever's baby whenever he’s with that person-knowing it will get him more cuddles and affection. He knows how to get what he wants and will take me by the hand and very strategically walk me in the direction to whatever he in the end is after and casually tell me as we pass items-“Mommy’s flowers, Bellinas toys, Nico’s ball, oh! What’s in here?” Oh you know you little wise devil-it’s the screwdriver that you so badly want and because of your casual smartness here is said screwdriver to utilize as you wish (with supervision of course) because you’re so dang smart. See how I get played by him?

He still really enjoys eating to the extent of one day waking up and first thing out of his mouth was that he wanted to go to Nonna’s. I asked him for what and he goes, “I want cookies.” knowing that is the place you go for the goods! Like his dad he is extremely gracious and giving when it comes to food and making sure we are well fed. I’ll ask him if I can taste something of his and his reply, “Sure you can!”. Or even without asking he will say to me, “Give it a try! It’s tasty!” I mean I work with a lot of kids and everything is mine, mine, mine right? Nico was at the restaurant with one of his little friends and was asked if he wanted a piece of the chocolate by another adult…he of course said yes and then preceded to hand it to his friend! I was so shocked. Two years old? What two year old gives the candy first to his friend? Mr. Nico that’s who. I recently saw this graphic and thought it spoke nothing but truth....

Even though I of course think Nico is the smartest kid on the planet (haha...I'm his mom and am suppose to say that right?!) I'm most proud of his caring, giving, kind heart. We were recently at a party and he of course made friends with some of the other children. While playing with another boy running around a pillar in came a little girl who probably was just over a year old- as she was a new walker to join in on the fun. She was trying to keep up with the big boys running in circles and she tripped and fell. Nico stopped running, went over to her, crouched down and put his hand on her back to make sure she was ok. Pride, pride, and more pride beamed from my heart witnessing this from a distance knowing that his dad and I must be doing something right with this parenting thing. Isn't it truth in saying that you can be super intelligent but if you can't care/interact/get along with others-all the brains in the world can only take you so far? As it's perfectly summed up above teaching your children kindness should be our only priority as parents. The rest of the "stuff" will come. Amen? Amen.

Can I now go in further detail about how sweet he is? I was getting ready for work and he was heading out the door to nonna’s…most likely for cookies…and we had said our goodbyes and had given kisses and he turns around and says, “I’ll come back to you mommy.” Ah, can you say full water work tears after the door closed? I initially wanted to tell him to stop right there, let’s get that in writing and I’ll just need you sign here and again here and just once more with your blood that you will always come back to me. Sometimes I just want to shake him and ask him if he’s real and how can he make what is supposedly a hard thing so dang easy. Then I know he probably will answer me to wait till he is in his teens and he’s going to give his dad and I a run for our money. Or the alternative that our next child will make up in challenges for the both of them. So I kept my mouth shut knowing that I’ll probably eat my words in one way or another. In the past couple months his dad started to refer to Nico as Superman and himself as Batman and it's theeeee cutest thing ever. So this went on for a few weeks of in conversation Steve would be like, “You ok Superman?” and Nico would be like, “I’m fine Batman” until one day daddy came home with two figurines-you guessed it-one Batman-one Superman. Let.me.tell.you…it was like Christmas all over again. It was the coolest thing for Nico to have his own tangible Batman/Superman. And since then our lives have become nothing but superheroes. I’m proudly referred to as Wonder Woman at home now…which some days feels more accurate than others. And he can do anything with his cape on!

He said to me the other day something about the light on the ceiling and then went on to say, “It’s too high and I don’t have my cape on.” His logic-is something special. Oh and when you get your friends to be super heros with you that's a pretty proud moment.

But even Superman still gets owies and when he does he of course needs a Wonder Woman kiss to them to make them feel better so he will come over and instruct me to kiss his boo-boo and I can.not be a millimeter off if I am? He says, “No, no….rightttt.here” and this will repeat until he’s certain that I kissed exactly the spot he has specified. That Wonder Woman and her powers I tell ya.

Speaking of Wonder Woman-today marks my 29^th week of pregnancy. I thought this pregnancy I’d be able to enjoy more and I’d allow myself to take cute weekly photos of my growing belly and celebrate each week…which I am celebrating for sure…but ain’t nobody got time for the picture part. Well, at least I don’t. Even if I did-my husband and I are usually only seeing each other in passing so maybe I can turn Nico into my own little personal photographer…ah scratch that. He’s my muse for my own photographic eye and he’s so much cuter than I- so think we will just keep it that way. But, I’m getting bigger and better by the day…and according to my husband so is my back end…he did leave out the better part…but I’m sureeee he meant to say it’s better as well. Right honey?!? Nico is also enjoying the bigger parts of me being pregnant and he will sit on my lap and point at my chest and ask me, “Can I lay in there?” Funny, his dad is asking the same thing. My husband continues to be a saint by making all my cravings and desires magically happen. I want some lemon water? Boom! He comes back with a bottle of fresh squeezed lemon juice. Oh you want a slushie or a chai tea? Sure, I’ll go pick that up for you! Stefano is very accommodating during pregnancies. It might be because there is an Italian superstition that if the woman doesn’t get her craving and then touches herself the baby will be marked for life in that very spot.  So I'm not sure if Stefano’s doing it out of the kindness of his heart or if he buys into those old Italian superstitions.  I mean he tries hard to do his best like when I send him out for groceries and he comes back with the wrong apples and I chew him out over it. I mean how can he NOT know we ONLY eat Pink Lady Apples or Honey Crisps! How dare he bring Gala Apples into our home! Then I kind of want to throw the apples at his head but control my craziness. I really do wish him the best over these next 11 weeks. He’s made it this far after all. Oh and about that 11 weeks thing? 11 weeks! We are sooooooooooooooo not ready. Like for real, not even joking. I think we both are still in denial about another baby coming. Truly, some mornings I wake up and I am laying there and then try to roll over and it’s like, “Oh yeah! I’m pregnant.” We have no room set up. No crib (yep, we gave it away and about 2 weeks later I got knocked up…typical huh?), no diapers, no nothing. The only person prepared is Nico-as he has 2 big brother shirts on queue in his wardrobe. I’m not overly panicking yet because new babies really don’t need that much and I’m kind of a get crap done person under pressure so I know things will eventually fall into place. Until then we will live in denial and make long drawn out decisions about our current living situation and in the meantime I’ll just keep enjoying food on demand. OK, being serious now-in times of big changes I find myself reflecting on life in general. I was recently driving and thinking of having to split my time and love between Nico and another child. The thought seems impossible and brought me to tears but then some wise words by someone in my life (can't recall who...sorry) popped in my head that you don't need to split your love because your love just doubles. Not sure how that is even possible but I'll let you all know if it is true. In the meantime, I want to tell and show Nico how much I adore him and how special he is to me. Knowing one day he will he will be reading this- I will even write it in words what I think every time I look at him....

Nico Baby-Even though you are getting smarter/funnier/cuter/bigger by the day know that when I look at you and always see my little sweet chubby baby smiling and you saying you will always come back to me. I love you and am so proud of you. I thank God for each and every day that I get to watch you grow. I love you my big boy.

So yes friends, it all just goes by too terribly fast and because of that I plan on cherishing every freaking second of it…and more importantly-not taking any bit of it for granted. Promise me you’ll do the same?

XO. 

JLOVE A.K.A "Mommy"

IT'S A…..

Santa came early this year and gave us the greatest gift of all! We had our ultrasound this morning and found out we are having.....

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.............A HEALTHY BABY!!

Is everyone groaning right now? I know, I know we are so so sooooo lame for not finding out...again! We are currently torturing our family and friends (and yes, even kind of ourselves) in not finding out but it's just how we like to roll...by slightly annoying others. I mean last time we did not tell anyone even after we had the baby! They had to wait until they walked in the hospital room (mind you in another county) and find out themselves. I literally had my sister in law in tears because she couldn't get up to the hospital till the next day and we.would.not tell her. LOL...we might not just slightly annoy others but down right piss them off. Sorry not sorry-but it was just so.much.fun seeing each person's expression when they walked through the door.

Everyone is always like, "But don't you want to find out?!?" Well of course we do, BUT there is just something about waiting 40 weeks and that surprise being that much more of an anticipated moment. If you yourself have found out in your pregnancies...can you imagine the anticipation of waiting another 20 weeks?!?! It's like you are overwhelming and bursting FULL of anticipation! There has been nothing like it in my life and since I've been blessed and I know how special that moment is and I want to experience it again, and again, and again! <------*Husband looking nervous about that statement. It's just one of the rare (good) surprises in life.

I should back up and openly disclose that my husband DID want to find out this time around what we were having. My reasoning for his reasoning? One-he already has his boy and Two-if it's a girl he has to mentally prepare himself for that fact. My argument (which then shut him right up) was that if I find out we are having a girl I'm going to go NUTS buying things before the baby even arrives. Well, in the two years that Nico has been with us he knows what my "nuts" looks like and didn't have much to say after that. He has since said, "I figure if we have another boy we will save about 30 thousand right off the bat...lol...not sure where he came up with that figure but hilarious none the less.  I myself wanted to find out solely for the purpose of being able to tell others that we found out the sex of our first and not the second and let me tell you...this is how you have to do it because I KNOW! Listen, I'm a total type A personality. I'm a rabid planner, I like to know what's going on, when it's going on, and how it's going on. I.am.a.control.freak. I was the one during school group projects saying, "Don't worry about it, I'll get it done and you all don't have to worry about a thing." All my group members would be like, "Oh Jess, you're so wonderful and that's just so nice of you!" I would nod and look slightly embarrassed all because I was NOT being nice! I was being a control freak playing it off that I was being nice! So I get the whole argument of needing to know to be able to "plan". But guess what? Your baby needs very little (ha-the baby business has tricked everyone in making you believe you NEED the stinky diaper genie, and this and that) but really a baby hardly needs anything! They really only need a lot of LOVE and.... diapers. Not to mention if you hold out on finding out-you will actually receive items you NEED instead of the cutest swimsuit for your newborn baby that's due in smack dab of a Wisconsin winter. But really...who could pass something like that up?! It's just sooooo cute! ;-P

I get so annoyed (sorry I could be potentially offending some of those close to me) when people say they are going for their ultrasound to find out what the baby is. Me being medical and "stuff" want to scream (yes scream) at them-"NO, you're going for your ultrasound to make sure your baby's organs are where they are suppose to be and that your baby is developing normally. Finding out the gender of your baby is just an extra potential perk." But us being us- assume that a healthy baby is a given which sadly is not always a guarantee. Honest to God, the only words I want to hear at my 20 week scans are, "Congratulations! Your baby looks perfectly healthy!" I'm so not trying to make anyone feel bad or guilty for their past, present, or future decisions...because I would say almost all of my friends and family have found out what they were having and I 110% respect their decision. I promise I still think they are just as lovely as I have always believed them to be prior to them finding out. I'm just "penning" this as MY reasoning and maybe to convince (or challenge...hehe) the next expectant mom to NOT find out! There are so many positives in NOT finding out and I won't bore you with all of them but trust me in this. I'll give you just two (out of my list of give or take 1000) that perhaps you maybe haven't thought about...How about being able to avoid other people's insensitive comments when you're pregnant with your 4th boy and they say, "you're going to try again for a girl, right?!" Um, how about you let said pregnant lady GIVE birth to her child before asking that question...oh wait...how about just never ask those kind of questions...EVER! Or for all those people out there that may be standing up against their future child not being stereotyped? Well hate to break it to you, but finding out half way through your pregnancy you're already allowing your baby to be stereotyped solely based on their sex before it even comes out of your womb! Let me put it this way, I can counter every reason you give me on WHY you must know your baby's gender. Sorry, for being a little in your face about this topic...again no offense is meant. But I'm the pregnant lady that walks around wanting to scream, "LOOK AT ME! I'M PREGNANT! I'M CURRENTLY TAKING PART OF THE MOST AMAZING THING THAT A HUMAN CAN PARTAKE IN!" And I guess because of that-I'm just like isn't having a baby enough? Do we really have to participate in this need-to-know-before-it-happens world we live in? Can we just enjoy being in the moment and awaiting the biggest surprise ever?

Hmmmm…living in the moment…that's a thought eh? 

And since we have to wait (and in turn-so do you!) we want to make this EVEN more exciting and fun! So indulge in our guesses and then how to participate in our anticipation as well!

What do we think Baby "G' is going to be?

Daddy's Guess: BOY!!
Mommy's Guess: GIRL!!
Nico's Guess: A MONSTER!! (I swear this is what Nico told his Nonna when she showed him the 3D picture of his sibling today)...But since then and before then he has said-GIRL!!

Disclaimer: I'm so WITH Nico on this one....I am fully preparing myself for our next child to be a monster as well as a little sister for Nico. There is just no way I'd have two perfect angel babies in a row. No way. A person doesn't get that lucky. This baby is going to be bad...so, so, sooooo bad.

Anyway, my husband is a gambling man and I like to give away things so we are inviting all of our family and friends to join in on the excitement! Click the link below and put in your guesses! Bets are open till April 20th and winner will get bragging rights as well as a PRIZE!

Here are the deets:

We have decided to use BabyHunch.com to put together a Baby Pool where you can guess certain things such as Baby's Birthdate (date and time), Baby's Sex, Baby's Weight, (etc, etc.). If you'd like to play, simply click the link provided below to submit your hunches!

          Click Here for: He or She? What will Baby G be?

Our little bundle of joy is due 05/11/2017 if that helps you start the guessing process! :) And if you haven't fully processed that I'm pregnant yet...oh wait that's probably just me...I'll be reminding everyone to "guess" before we close the polls as our due date approaches closer!


Good luck! And thanks for "playing" along!

Photo Cred: Karen Ann Photography

XO. 

JLOVE A.K.A "Mommy"

Celebrate!

I do love the change of the seasons. And since we have a fall baby it's made the season even more fun and a reason to CELEBRATE. As my readers know we had a big party for Nico last year that was a littllllleeee over the top. This year I was going to keep simple and just do a family get together but since we are not able to host friends as often as I like-I did it again and had a "smallish" party for him. Party started at noon and check out the birthday boy when guests started to arrive...

Per usual I don't really understand simple or small and had a special treat table to really hop up all of our friends children right before they left...

And seriously I have to give a shout out to Mara for making Nico's special cookies. She is like a cookie wizard and hand cuts any cookie you can imagine…well worth the drive to MKE to pick up. Contact her here.

Nico of course LOVES to be serenaded with Happy Birthday and was just as cute about it as he was the year prior…

And since I'm serious about us liking to party and Nico is serious about liking Happy Birthday sung to him...we had another family party the next evening. I know. I know. Of course Nico was able to share the spotlight with his idol Antonio so he was beyond thrilled.

It's also pretty much tradition that my husband always manages to get cake in the birthday person's face and I guess he doesn't discriminate and will happily do it to his own child as well.

Nico clearly did not appreciate this gesture. He did not cry. He did not laugh. He just gave his dad a death glare all saying with his eyes, "How dare you daddy. Don't you see I have my special occasion bow tie on?"

Bakery on State Cupcakes of course

We are so so so blessed to have so many friends and family love and adore Nico as much as we do. And who love me so much that they come over to help me throw fun parties (Jenni the Jeweler) and pick up food (Matt & Kim) and the Luigi girls that help me set up when I'm losing my mind. And my MIL that always is helping us out in every way possible. So yes, these celebrations would be nothing with all of those that are always there for us.

So Nico's present from us this year?










A………….





SIBLING!

LIKE MY COSTUME THIS YEAR?

I'm pretty sure that Nico is going to be great at this big brother thing….

And as for my husband…I just hope that he doesn't go crazy before the 2nd baby arrives. Case in point...

So between celebrating and throwing up (and driving my husband crazy) I've just been trying to savor every.single.minute with this ONE. Before there are TWO.

And to all of our guests, the thank you cards that have been sitting on my counter for a month and a half…they are going out tomorrow…pregnant people get a pass on sucking at life…right?

XO. 

JLOVE A.K.A "Mommy"

Thirty TWO and ALMOST TWO....

Well, I'm 32 now and wondering when and how did I enter the 3-0 club? I hardly recall but I'm assuming it was approximately two years ago. ;-P I mean I feel in my 20's and some very generous souls said that they too thought I was in my early 20's . Buttttt I'm pretty sure that's what people say/do to make you feel better when you're a lady of my age to make you feel a little more optimistic about yourself. Right? That will just be the standard protocol now a days when you ask me my age-got it?

Funny, how birthdays and really any day is no longer about ME. Parents, remember when it was all about us? What the hell did we do with all of our time before our child(ren)? Once again, life proves to be all about perspective. But yes, lets get back to me. (Haha) It's so hard to even recall, I look at my days and 99% of my day is about someone else. Then I think all the years previously when I was living for me, I was doing it wrong and I didn't even realize it. Never have I been more content, more satisfied to give my all to my family, my career, and the big man upstairs. Isn't that how we are suppose to live-serving others? By doing so though-days can be so dang hard, and especially in jobs like mine nothing short of emotionally draining. To the point where after I come home I want to lay in bed in the fetal position and not even think  about how the world operates the way it does and how we can have horrific things going on literally in our backyards. But instead, I walk through my door and give my son my biggest smile and a "smooch, kiss" and give him the love and attention he deserves. And as always, while I still think it is healthy and necessary to have some "me" time it just happens at a much less frequency. Trust me, if you saw my nails and grey hairs you'd think come on girl....getchyo self together! But there's just no time for that! My baby is going to be 2 in just under one week!

Speaking of this almost 2 year old he's doing (and saying!) such amazing things I just can't wait to share (and partly because I don't forget a minute of it) some of the incredible things he is doing! The last time I blogged (too long ago, sorry baby) what he was up to was six months ago. Yikes. I looked back upon that blog (thank goodness for this keepsake, otherwise it would be more of a blur than it already is) to refresh my memory and it's like we have a new kid running around. He's so busy, so soooo busy. And the epitome of a boy-yep, pretty much Nico in a nutshell. While his friend Grace is trying to have him sit down for her tea party he grabs the whole teapot takes a pretend swig out of it sets it back down and then runs off to chase a ball. She looks a little flabbergasted and confused but it's all so funny to see and experience the difference in gender play. He loves balls, anything with wheels, and being outside.

And since we legit have had close to a Sicily summer this kid also has the tan that comes with it. Truly is my golden boy. 

Oh and his hair...changes everyday but some days are the closest thing to perfection as I may have ever seen!

HOW DOES THIS EVEN OCCUR?

This summer we fenced in a part of our yard to create an area that would be designated as Nico's safe outdoor play area. But wouldn't you know-that is no longer considered outside per Nico! Outside is outside of this area...you know the area we invested in? Stinker. So outside of the outside is where we spend our time. Summer is just the best isn't it? Perhaps it's because it seems to come and go so fast that we appreciate and savor every minute of it..and Nico does just very that. While he out running he will see a butterfly and point -"Mama! Butterfly! White butterfly!" Then at the very next moment he will hold his ear and go, "Listen! Airplane!" Gosh darn it kid- just absorbing ever sight and sound during every.single.second. Talk about living and being so very present in the moment. If you only knew how many life lessons you have gifted to me since your existence. Thank you for that baby.  

Back to our summer-as, you probably observed and kindly "loved" our recent travel Instragram posts of our recent visit to NYC and exploring the New England area-well once again my child proved to be an ideal travel companion. Both flights he fell asleep while we were taxing on the runway before takeoff and slept the entire flight. Perhaps that's because we let him run wild in the terminal where he actually ran behind the airport's gate desk and ONTO a jet bridge which was not ours. Nico had the whole terminal laughing while his mother and father wiped sweat and tried to avoid any encounters with TSA. Per usual, he charmed people from NYC to Boston and handled every adventure with ease and flexibility. Here are some fun photos from our trip and you'll see why traveling with him is so much fun!

Born Beach Ready

Beach Lover

Joy...Sheer Joy

Every second with Nico is an adventure. He brings us so much joy that even though he won't recall these times he's made these moments that much more enjoyable and memorable for us. Selfish I know. ;)

He further amazed me when we were at the beach and went by a group of young kids who were digging in the sand and stood there for a second observing and one of the children invited him to come play (bravo to his parentals) and Nico crouched down and side by side "helped" the group of kids dig. Can I tell you what this does to my heart?!? I'm just so proud of his ability to be independent and confident so young. Isn't this one of those parental passages-to help your children be able to become independent and to work well with others? Nico-you're not even two and you're passing these life tests! Although the independence only goes so far. We got Nico a big boy bed and I spent way too much "time" (code for money...don't tell my husband)  finding the perfect sheets, comforter, and quilt for this big occasion.

When I unveiled it Nico was as equally excited-"Nico's bed! Coooool!" Then he would lay down in it and pretend to sleep. Success right? No. That's what he does-pretends to sleep in it and Bellina really does all the real sleeping in it...at least someone is enjoying my efforts! In order to get Nico to go to sleep he prefers "Daddy's Bed" and at the moment likes to cuddle into me and he will pull my arm so it's wrapped arm him while I tell him "stories"-which he wants me to make up but my brain has such a hard time doing so...as it has been used over it's full capacity at my place of employment. So then I just decide to sing-and he sings along. And it's the most precious thing I may have ever been a part of. So precious that my not very sentimental husband will also lay there just to absorb the sweetness and innocence of it all. Don't worry big boy, you still needing me to fall asleep is quite alright by me. I know these days will eventually come to an end so I'm savoring each and every evening till then.

As I shared in my last update we surrendered 6 hours of our time with him each week to let him have a break from his smothering family. His time with Miss Ann has become a part of his weekly routine and he comes home each week excited and happy and talks incoherently about his time away and cries when he has to leave Miss Ann's house. I receive such fun pictures throughout the day of his adventures with her and his friends there.

Once again he not only shines for us but for her as well. I'm so thankful for Miss Ann and for our decision....

The funniest thing he currently is doing right now is learning to give the thumbs up sign. It has been hilarious to watch the dexterity...or at first the lack of…and his little brain telling his little hand/fingers to do this task. He would say "Good Job!" and then he would make a fist and shake it up and down and think he was doing a "good job" at this thumbs up thing. Then a few days later he realized...oh wait my thumb isn't up. So then he had his thumb and pointer finger up shaking it up and down and then it progressed to the pointer finger randomly triggering out and he would try to pull it back so hard but just couldn't.make.it.happen. Then we were at the point that his thumb was at such a weird angle and bent back so far I thought I'd have to make a call to an orthopedic surgeon to make sure all was OK. Now we are pretty much there and he goes around and tells everyone, "Good Job!" with an almost steady upright thumb. I'd rate him at a 98.97% mastering of this very very verrrrry tricky skill.

His other words of choice....

• "Your turn!" He makes me proud on what a good turn taker he is
• "Hi Baby" 
• "Hi, my daddy"
• "Thank you!" 
• "Pease" (Manners of a saint)
• "Bless you!"
• "Bood! Baby Boods! (Birds)",
• (In a really deep voice)" "Gogocycle (motorcycle), vroom vroom!" 
• "Ummmmmmm" When he's thinking really hard. 
• "Nana, come mere! Nana, back mere! Not istening!" (Loves to holler at Bellina)
• "Nice job!!"
• "Shoo, cats!"
• "No big deal"
• "Holy Cow!"
• "Whoa-whoa-wee" (Borat Style)
• "Eazzzzyyyy!"
• "Whoa-dude"
• "Santo Dio" while shaking his hands together Italian style…I'm serious.

Boy still lovesssss to eat. He will make appreciative noises and his favorite thing to say is "ooch (lips puckered) HOT!" Even when it's not hot at all. His current obsessions, "Snacks, pouches, and chocolate." He wakes up and wants something to eat. "Pouchhhhhh" I tell him that he can't have a pouch for breakfast! Then I say, "What do you want for breakfast?" His response? "Snackkkkk." Kid cracks me up! But he really is a nice eater. He loves his dad's cooking, "Nice Job Dad! Good Food cook!" He will gobble up his artichokes or chicken saying "Down, down, down into mache" (Stomach). Or being the smart kid he is-when he's hungry he knows who to utilize-"Dad! Daddy! Food!"

He knows all his body parts including his eyebrows, collarbone, elbow, chin, and neck. And he's constantly seizing to amaze me with his recall as well as his physical abilities. We got him a little scooter earlier this summer and I set it down in front of him and he jumped on and was like OK, now what? So, I showed him how it works and he tried a couple of times and I was like, "yeah, probably next year he will have this thing mastered." 5 minutes later he was scootin' along ringing the little bell like what's up? You underestimate me? I'll show you....Grandma recently told me regarding his smarts, "You can't send him to Kindergarten! He's going to make the other kids look dumb!" I'm not questioning her....she's 94 and I'm assuming she knows a thing or two!

Further example of his ability to make other kids look dumb (GRANDMA'S words NOT mine!) is when about a month ago we were outside playing with the chalk and he grabs a piece and goes "N-I-C-O" I almost choked because I could not believe my not even two year old just spelled his name! Talk about a proud mom moment.I know it's probably due to me writing his name obsessively whenever we play with the chalk outside. But whatever the reason, I'm impressed. My worries about him being color blinded are gradually lessening. As he knows his colors and everything is no longer "Blue!" but his current favorite color is "Orange!" When I ask him what color an object is, he will look at me and then go, "Blue" start laughing and then say "Nooooooo." Knowing that my fear of him being color blind and going around the world in non color coordinating outfits terrifies me a bit. Not even two years old and he teases just as much as his daddy loves to tease. Oh and you know what else this PUNK is doing? I will ask him for a "smooch" and he will look at me and say, "No!" and then grab his daddy with both hands by the face and plant the sweetest smooch on his daddy's lips and look at me and laugh. Eventually, he stops teasing me because he goes, "Mama, cryyyy." and then proceeds to give me a kiss and says, "Mama! Happee!" I sure am big boy. As I know most of you are quite aware but he truly is the sweetest little boy I or you probably have ever met. He will gently caress his baby friend's face and even more gently give a little smooch and say, "niceeee". Boy, you are going to be quite the catch. Smart, cute, funny...you got it all.

Nico also thinks I'm a Kardashin (not flattered), all the models at the stores (sometimes flattered), as well as the lady on the Startbucks cups....which I can kinda see some resemblance to as well. Most of the summer we took our daily strolls to the mulberry tree where Nico sat and picked ONLY the black ones to eat and he'd do a little dance and go "mhmmmm, mmmmhmmm!" and then go pick some more and do another little appreciation dance. We are enjoying the fruit that is coming now with the apple/pear trees and take daily walks so Nico can enjoy one. He knows that we pick the apple from the trees and then brings an apple to the horses from the ground. I like his ability to remember to care for others. I always find it so bittersweet that the very fruit Nico enjoys and loves so much is all labor and love of his own father and his grandfather-whom he never had the opportunity to know. But how sweet it is that long after he has gone he is still caring and providing and such a special part of our daily routine. One of those things in life that makes my heart feel a little more full knowing.

Summer has now concluded and all the fun that goes hand in hand with summer also feels to be slowing down. We've had numerous celebrations, holidays, days/nights of fun with family and friends, and now we are starting a new season. Which again brings me to another bittersweet moment. A new season, a new chapter. After I think about it, I guess it still is about ME...ME being  a wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend to the best of my ability. Reflecting on the past year, I feel so humbled and blessed by it all. All the craziness, all the adjustments, all of it all. There's nothing more in life that I've wanted to accomplish in life then being a mother. Doing well at it (for now)...that's just the icing on the cake. And you Nico, you're the best gift that I have ever received. So bring on the birthdays for you and I both big boy. I will embrace each year as we both get older. And even though this "2" thing is happening to the both of us...YOU will always be my #1.

XO. 

JLOVE AKA "Mommy"