3rd ANNIVERSARY

PARK CITY

For our 3 year anniversary, Clark and I decided to go to Park City and stay the night. It was a perfect little get away trip. We had fun walking Main St. and seeing all the fun shops there. Then ate at a Mexican place called La Casi ta. The best part was their salsa bar!! I love salsa, so that was a little something different that I really liked. Then the next day we did some shopping at the Outlet Stores. That was a lot of fun too. Amazingly, I only called 3 times to check on Nick : ). We missed him sooo much! It was my first night away from him. (I know, I know... After 20 months, it's much needed!). Grandma and Grandpa Call were so good to watch him for us. He had so much fun with them. Anyway, the weekend went great, and I can't wait to do it again!!

~ MY TIME ~

It's sometimes hard to remember what you did for fun before you become a parent. For the past year and a half I've had late nights, been changing diapers, feeding my hungry baby, playing with him to make him happy and teaching him how to be a little man. He is at a point where hes a little less dependent. It is wonderful. But now what?? I've got to find the things I loved before the baby. One thing that I have started up is Yoga. I've really enjoyed this new hobby of mine. After Nick's bedtime it's my time. It is a wonderful way to unwind after a long day. Thank goodness for YOGA!!

DO AS I'M DOING

Nick favorite thing to do recently is imitate what his Mom and Dad are doing. So Clark decided to get creative. He would sit down really fast, then go to his tummy, then to his knees and stand up again. Sure enough, Nickolas was right behind him. This picture was taken somewhere between the sitting to tummy move.

SOOO FUNNY!!

I brought Nick in with me this morning as I was putting on my makeup. He had so much fun throwing my makeup off the counter, turning on the sink... And so many more things you could imagine. But after he got bored of that he found himself in the mirror. Now, that is nothing new. He has always loved the mirror. But, today he did something I have never seen him do before. He was making faces at himself and then laughing! It was the cutest thing ever!!

MY NEW FOUND LOVE

I have always been a huge fan of music. The 90's has to be my favorite era and style. (Who couldn't love old Q99 or X96?) I loved it. Lately I have been going through all my many Cd's and I came upon The Wallflowers. As I re listened to their songs the more I liked them. They made some really good stuff. And I wonder why I am realizing that now.

MUST HEAR SONGS FROM THE WALLFLOWERS:

1. Closer 2 You
2. Three Marlenas
3. Bleeders
4. Josephine
5. I Wish I Felt Nothing
6. One Headlight
7. From the Bottom of My Heart

NOW AND THEN...

Nick is still patching an hour each day. Although it is a little better than the patch, you can see it's not his favorite thing to do. He's trying! (He he, it's a bit big. Hopefully he will grow into it.)

This is Nick when he was patching at 6 months old. We accidentally got the girl patches. How embarrassing! Just kidding, Nick can make anything cute.

MY LITTLE BOY CAN SEE... AGAIN!

Wow, end of day one and I am already amazed at how Nick is doing! I can't help but remember back when he was so tiny, just out of the NICU when we realized something was wrong. It was the day before Halloween and we went to the doctor to get his eye checked out. She sent us to the hospital to get it checked it out a little further. The next day we were back at the hospital early in the morning. It was a long day at the hospital. There were many things going on. We saw a few different Doctors. Eventually, it was determined that Nickolas had a wall of white blood cells blocking his vision in the right eye (caused by stress from labor). Dr. Carver gave us a few options and we decided the best way to go was to give Nick a shot of Cortisone in the corner of his eye. HEARTBREAKING to watch. I would never want to do that again. But, even as soon as that night, you could see Nick's eye was clearing up. Nickolas could see!! He could see things he couldn't before. I remember that feeling so well, as if it were yesterday. Since then, we have been doing the patching thing. But, today I had the same realization. Nickolas can see!! Even better than he ever has before! He is playing with toys as if they were all new to him. And it's funny, he has been happier than he has been in months. It makes me wonder how bad his eyes were before. I just think we have been so blessed through this whole ordeal. We have had many talented Doctors. I am just glad things went so well, and Nick is doing as well as ever!

*NICKOLAS HAS GLASSES*

Most of you may know of the problems Nick has had with his eyes since birth. He has been seeing a Pediatric Ophthalmologist, Dr. Hoffman, up at Primary Children's Hospital since he was only 3 months old. We have been patching his left eye to make his right eye stronger. At his last appointment a few weeks ago, Dr. Hoffman informed us that is was time to start him on glasses. If this helps, this may prevent Nick from having surgery in the next few years. Anyway, to be honest, I was scared to death to start him on glasses. He was a nightmare to patch for an hour or two each day. And to have something on his face all day? No way!! I have been so nervous and worrying that he would just cry and cry. But, he has done amazingly well with it!! We got them just today and he has not cried once. He has only tried to pull them off a few times. Our little Nickolas has been through so much this past year 1/2 and Clark and I are so proud of him. Doesn't he look handsome? Any who, wish us luck!!

FROM BABY TO BIG KID

So I've been thinking allot lately about when I should start getting Nick on big boy things. Being a first time Mom, I don't have a clue as to when or how to do that. So I decided to review some Parenting magazines I have kept and found a perfect article. From baby to BIG KID (April 2007) PERFECT!! So here are some tidbits I've learned...

CRIB to BED

Pretty much when they are climbing out of their cribs would be a good time. Most kids try to climb out around 2, but since Nick is so tiny I bet we will be fine for a while. He also needs to understand limits. They say a good age to move him out of crib is around age 3.

SIPPY to CUP

I was shocked to hear that by 9 months a baby could drink from a cup! Wow. As soon as he can keep food in his mouth then he can drink from a cup. Start little and give more as needed. *Nick just learned how suck from a straw!* (Thanks to Will)

FEEDING THEM to DIG IN

When kids can hold a crayon and exert enough pressure to mark paper, their motor skills are developed enough for them to try using silverware. Always supervise them. Around age 2 is a good time to start.

HIGH CHAIR to BOOSTER

Around 18 months to 2 years. Especially if their little legs are awkward on the foot rest.

NAP TIME to QUIET DOWNTIME

No!! Does this day really have to come so soon?! So much for blogging. : ) Around 3 to 5 years they should be sleeping enough at night time to not need a nap. Kids that age need 11 hours of

sleep to make it to that stage.

DIAPER to POTTY

What it comes down to is GOOD LUCK!!