What a Dump...truck!

First birthday celebration was great, with lots of cousins around for the party. Nicholas loved his cupcake, and the older kids loved pulling theirs from the cupcake cake itself. Unwrapping birthday gifts with your one year-old is a little bit like trying to give a cat a pill, but it all worked out, and Nicholas had more fun sharing with everyone than he would playing all by himself. His one year check-up was a few days later, where he weighed in at 25 1/2 pounds and measured 33 1/2 inches, "unchartable for height" as the doctor said. So, while he started out "small" at birth, by our definition at 8 pounds, 1 ounce, he is no shrimp now! It was certainly a quick year, as Nicholas kept us very busy. We like to call him (affectionately of course!) our heat-seeking missile. He sees trouble and he goes after it... An open baby gate at the bottom of the steps? He's halfway up them in no time... Back screen door not quite shut tightly enough? Pop goes the Nicholas, right out onto the porch. Even now, as he is up and walking full force, we see a bit of a change in his personality. He seems much happier with his independence -- but we're not fooled. The terrible two's begin in the second year of life, and this time we're ready and well informed! Nicholas will also join the ranks of his older brother Owen when he welcomes a younger sibling in the springtime. He and Owen are already sharing a room in preparation, and we know this much: Owen sleeps like a tank and Nicholas is an early riser...