Easter Stuff

We had a weekend full of Easter things-to-do. On Saturday, while daddy worked, the boys and I went to the local library for crafts and an Easter egg hunt. There were about 60 kids, so crafts were out. But, the easter egg hunt was on. This was their first hunt. I held Nicholas at first because with 60 kids running around you, I was at a high risk of losing him and/or Nathan. But after things calmed, I let him down and the boys found their four eggs. They were so excited to find chocolate kisses inside....
Then on Sunday we went to the Easter Party at (the far-away) Papa's Firehall. It was a pancake party, and can the boys eat (they LOVED it)...

They also had a two clowns; one was making balloons (the boys got swords) and the other was facepainting (Nathan opted for the hand and Nicholas wouldn't even get near that scary clown :)...



And of course, the Easter egg hunt. They were pros this time...



They also got a pail full of stuff from the Easter Bunny...


Nathan appeased me and sat on the Easter bunny's lap, although you can tell from his face he wasn't too thrilled about it...



And this was as close as Nicholas' would get...

But we had a great weekend (and Easter is still a week away)...

Nathan and His Buddies

Yesterday, Nathan's playdate was at our house. Luckily it was a nice Spring day and the boys were able to go outside for a bit. They were really good about switching between the Gator and the bike, and I was especially proud that Nathan shared his toys with no complaint. He really is a sweet little boy. These are his good buddies and I hope they remain friends for a very, very long time.....

A Weekend of Learning

It was a long weekend. On Saturday, I spent the day at a Partnership Training on Early Intervention. It was a good day, despite the fact that I had to spend it indoors in a hotel conference room. I learned quite a bit, and anything that makes me a better advocate for Nicholas is worthy of my time away from the boys. I also met some amazing moms (and dads) that have children with disabilities. Only three families in the room of sixty had a child with down syndrome (I was surprised by that fact). The mom sitting to my left had a daughter who had brain surgery (a facial cranio something or other too technical for me to understand) and the mom next to her had a 10 month old daughter with spina bifida. On the other side of me was a young mother with a two-year old son with speech delays. So there was quite a spectrum (so to speak) in the type of disability. For once, I felt like we were somewhere in the middle...actually, closer to the mom with the child with speech delays. And, down syndrome didn't sound all that bad. I mean, he can move his legs, he can say a couple words "No", "Mama" "Dada" and "Row, Row, Row." I also thought that if Nicholas didn't have down syndrome I probably wouldn't even be sitting there. What I mean is that if he had a significant physical impairment, I'd probably still likely be grieving. And if he had only speech delays, I'd probably assume he'd grow out of it. So, I give much credit to those parents of a child who fall on either side of the disability spectrum (the severe and the not-so-severe).
On Sunday, it was sunny and the boys and I played outside for a bit while daddy was at work. Nicholas is starting to get used to going outside and he no longer sees the door open and wants to run, run far away.

He actually walks (not runs)...




and plays



and watches Nathan ride his bike....






Sunday was also World Down Syndrome Day 2010! We are so very proud of our Nicholas and honored to be able to celebrate him on that day!!

I Love It!!

My new camera, that is...I can't wait to practice using it more. The two little N's were having fun with me trying it out tonight. I just have to learn to not chop off the top of their heads :)

Another Cold

Nicholas is sick again. And even the smallest cold hits him hard. It is always the same thing...alot of congestion, coughing and troubling sleeping (and sometimes breathing) at night. So, the past few nights have been tough on everyone (but Nathan). We have seen two doctors so far this week; his pediatrian and his lung doctor. Both say no antibotics, just a virus that needs to make its way out. But for Nicholas it takes longer and it is so hard to see him sick. The only thing that got him to stop crying was a sink bath....On a positive note, I decided to invest in a newer, nicer camera. My brother-in-law's brother (who knows a thing or two about cameras) figured out which one is best for me after I told him my likes and dislikes. So, the research was all done for me and I just have to make the purchase! And spring is in the air...only a few mounds of snow left in the neighborhood and the roads are clear for bike riding and chalk drawing. Can't wait and now I can capture it all!!

Elmo...or not!

Yesterday we took the boys to see Elmo Live. I was probably just as excited as them to go. It counts as a trip to the theatre, right? Nicholas wore his Elmo sweater and his bright red nose (which is a result of running outside the other day in what was finally a break from the snow and tripping after continuously running away from me) ...It looked like he was going to like the show. I knew Nathan would like it. He has been to a couple of shows and even remembered the place.


But then the lights got dark and the theatre got loud and Nicholas just screamed!! It was comical though because he would scream and then stare at the stage. He was fascinated and frightened at the same time. Paul and I ended up taking turns with him in the lobby while the the other enjoyed the show with Nathan. The lobby was full of two year old boys who were either scared or couldn't sit still long enough. Maybe next year....

Easter Eggs (A month early)

Last night, we colored and stickered our easter eggs a month early. I guess we won't be eating those hard boiled eggs anytime soon (or ever should I say). But ever since our shopping trip to Target when we picked up the egg coloring kit, Nathan has been asking to it. So we did it a month early...and I'm glad we did because we had so much fun.
Nicholas loved pointing and "counting" the eggs... ...and he also provided the entertainment by "singing" in his microphone for us...Nathan was surpisingly very good and careful with the eggs, although he has always been quite artistic so I don't know why this would be a surprise to me....
I love holidays with them...they make holidays so much fun. And I love this picture, cause it shows how close the two of them are and how they make eachother (and me and Paul) laugh and laugh...

Root and Hoot

I still have tooth pain, which both fortunately and unfortunately is being caused by a bad tooth. So tomorrow I have to have a root canal and I am dreading it. But, I guess a root canal is better than some of the crazy things I thought was causing this pain, including a tumor on my brain hitting a nerve. Oh, the way the mind can wonder when there is pain. On a very positive note, Nicholas blew a horn today. And neither me nor a therapist had anything to do with it. He was at the far away Nana's house, picked up a plastic flute and blew in it. Whoo hoo! So, let's bring on his horn therapy. Nathan played the Wii for the first time at cousin Peyton's house on Saturday. He liked it so much...which means we are not getting one for sure. When Nathan likes something, he Really likes something and gets "hooked." First it was Blue's Clues, then Thomas the Train (esp. Gordon) and recently he has taken interest in my laptop computer. The Wii would be something he would be easily addicted too! Off to get him to bed...another great weekend (despite all the tooth pain).

I'm Back (I Think)

I enjoy so much reading other people's blogs, esp. different moms who seem to manage it all. I get jealous that they are documenting their lives so beautifully. So, I'm back to capture the memories and times of my family. I say I "think" I'm back because I don't know how I am going to add writing on my blog to my already overextended list of things to do. But, I'm going to try and maybe it will be theraputic for me.

As I sit here, I have an unbearable toothache that I have had for three days now. I've should have gotten it fixed two days ago, but I wasn't sure if I was pregnant. Ha, I'll really see now who is reading this blog from my family :) Anyway, I'm not so I can go get the darn tooth fixed today. Thanks goodness, because I don't think I would make it through the weekend. I'm also listening right now to Nathan, Nicholas and Nana (the far away one) play hide-and-seek downstairs. Nathan came up with a new trick, which means Nana has to count from 1 to 12 and then back to 1. She doesn't get it, and neither do I, but I have to let them work it out themselves.

Paul has off this weekend...the first in a long time. We have lots planned. We are putting together Nicholas' new Firetruck toddler bed which we found on Craigslist (that in itself is another story and Paul will never go pick anything up from someone on Craigslist). It has never been opened so I hope everything is there. Nathan has seen the box and is a bit more excited than he should be. The bed is going in Nicholas' room, not sure if he realizes that yet. As for Nicholas, we shall see how he does over the weekend in a toddler bed. I wonder if he will wake up in the middle of the night and come wake me up or just be scared...either of those scenarios are better than his climbing out of the crib. I can't believe my baby is not going to be in a crib anymore. We are also going shopping for the boys for Florida. More for Nathan because Nicholas has enough hand-me downs. Oh, my boys are getting so big....