Pictures and Stories....

During a recent visit, Grandpa found out the best way to hold Nicholas is while sitting down....(He is up to 46 pounds now!)

How do you turn a 60 calorie Fudgsicle into a 30 calorie one? Share one with Nicholas....he takes big bites!

Nicholas likes to have homemade pizza for dinner. Here he is patiently waiting for the pizza to finish baking....

Sometimes after one of our early evening walks Nicholas falls asleep...here is Daddy about to carry him upstairs to bed...

Lisa helped construct a tunnel using a couch, pillows, cushions and a coffee table....

Thanks for the great tunnel Mommy!

Stopping on the stairs to pose for a picture with his favorite toy...the front end loader that he calls..."Digger."



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Lisa and I are really loving this whole parenting thing so far...

I still stop and say out loud from time to time....."HEY..I'm a Father...no way!"

In an effort to get Nicholas to use up his high level of energy each day we have been taking him to one of our several local playgrounds. He loves to slide down the slides and play in the dirt. We have a playground very close to the house that we can walk to...this allows Nicholas to use even more energy during the walk. Lisa usually takes him during the day and then I take him after work.

For those of you that don't know...Nicholas was born with moderate Cerebral Palsey with spastic displasia in his legs and a mild case of CP in his arms. This causes him to walk on the toes of his left foot most of the time and also gives him some balance issues....he is also big for his age and after only 7 months in the United States, is not quite fluent in English...(he said sarcastically)

That being said....

Our late afternoons at the playground has given Nicholas the opportunity to play with other kids....since he is not yet in daycare or school (should be in Pre-K soon!!) this is the first time for him to interact with kids that are older and younger than him.

Nicholas loves to play and is always having a great time.....until it is time to go home for the day...then he gets cranky.

So, let's recap....

A large, nearly 4 year old child with walking and balance issues who cannot fully verbally express himself and loves to play, who was raised with a small amount of toys that belonged to EVERYONE and was only able to play on rocky, muddy, partially grass covered areas with one small slide, rusty oversized metal cars and a rusty ladder built to look like a giraffe....

Even though WE know he is an amazingly bright and sweet little boy, he tends to come on a little strong for some of the local kiddos here....When their parents are able to observe them and hear what they are saying to Nicholas, they will 'usually' say something....but the kids that are unsupervised can be downright rude....I am sure as Nicholas continues to improve his English skills, he will be able to "fit in" better....in the meantime it is up to Lisa and I to explain to the other kids that Nicholas is new to the country and still learning English....most kids will understand and even watch to make sure he is okay.....One little boy even 'told on' his sister for saying something about Nicholas....I know this is all a part of growing up and kids can be cruel....but that doesn't mean I have to like it!