Funny Story

This was a post from 3/25....we have had so many technical difficulties but I decided to post this anyway!

Last Sunday evening, Charlie and I were very focused on a show that we love and it was the series
finale. We really don't watch TV anymore...for all of those out there who remember how much Charlie and I enjoyed watching TV:) Well, Mr. Nico has found his nose and pretends that it is a pocket. He has put all kinds of things in his nose...(thankfully all the things have come out on their own and we haven't ended up in the ER yet) Well, this particular evening he was walking around with a part of a paper towel and pretending that he was blowing his nose...and then he was shoving the paper towel up his nose. On our show it was a very emotional moment and the TV screen was filled with the face of the main character....Nico walked over to the TV and tried to put the paper towel in the man's nose! Charlie and I laughed so hard I was crying!

The picture of Lulu is just because I feel like I have slided her in some way..I don't get to take as many pictures and so I thought I would put this one on this post today. She is starting to stand on her own without holding onto anything and all bets are on that she will be walking at 9 months....really!?

Bus

The Stiver's tumbling and gymnastics school!

Sign up now!

Lulu is refusing to take afternoon naps sometimes.....

the result...

Hanging out in the kitchen with mom

We were visiting Charlie's mom and went for

a walk on Pearl Street in Boulder.

There was the coolest street performer in this dog costume!

Nico was not so sure about the dog!

Nico made a bed for himself

I know that all toddler's seem to have their own language of some sort of gibberish. Nico has been telling us stories that are very intense, funny or exciting. Every now and then we can catch a real word....but it has been a slow go. However since his surgery, he is very chatty and he said bus today! Charlie and I were so excited that we started clapping so he of course made a game out of it and thought it was hilarious! We continue to be so thankful for the difference the surgery made.

Lulu is a little busy body and thinks that she is 2 too! She loves playing and wants anything that her brother has. Thankfully, Nico has become really great at sharing. Lucia always has something to say, especially if she is trying to get your attention! She started climbing the stairs on her own on Monday. Yup, we are in high alert mode again. They both love taking off all of the cushions on the couch and jumping or rolling or pushing each other off. It is really fun to watch. Little miss climbed up on the couch (wuthout the cusions) and celebrated by screeching with sheer joy!

I have to say that things are getting a little easier. There hasn't been a bedtime struggle in awhile and everyone seems to be happy. It's lovely. This is a wonderful chapter in life.

(As I was downloading the pictures for this post, I found about 15 pictures Nico must have taken...really funny!)

Catching Up

Hello there. It's been a long time. Well, we're back! A big thank you to all of you who have encouraged me to continue the blog even though time and some other issues made themselves obstacles. I have thrown to the wind my situation with my brother and his wife and figure that if they do in fact read this...well, then they will know what they are missing out on since they have shut us out of their lives.

Time. Time seems to be in warp speed and I have begged for it to sloooooowwww down. There is so much that has happened that it's hard to find a starting place. 2010 was a crazy year....for many reasons. Nico and Lulu are both doing really well and watching their friendship grow has been such a gift. Really, there were times I thought there would never be harmony in the Stiver's home again....of course I was wrong, but believe me there was some big crazy chaos in this house!

Nico will turn two at the end of the month and he is just a jokester. He continues to climb, jump, and marvel in his own fearlessness. The other day I was playing with him and Lulu and took a quick break on the coach...when I looked over and saw him climbing up onto his lego table where he had stacked his chair and he was just about to sit in the chair when....it slid off sending him flying through the air. He recovered quickly and then we discussed why chairs go on the floor and not on tables:) He had his tonsils, adenoids removed and tubes put in on January 21st. It was a really hard and long recovery but well worth it. He is not in any pain or discomfort anymore and we are truly grateful. The day after Christmas, every joint in his body swelled up and we ended up in the E.R only to find out he is allergic to all the penicillins. Long road...but he is a true fighter.

Lulu is such a happy baby! She is will be 8 months on the 4th and is just delightful! She wants to keep up with her big brother so she started crawling at 6 months and has been on the go. She is soooo fast...we secretly think she walks when we aren't looking because she gets from one place to another in seconds! Nico loves to play games with her and they both giggle until their bellies hurt. She loves to laugh and talk...she has a lot to say! Right now, she is discovering so much and you really forget how precious these moments are. I feel like both of the kids have grown up so fast.

As for Charlie and I we are doing fantastic. Since Nico's surgery...he doesn't wake up as much and doesn't cry in his sleep so life for us seems to have really calmed down. I have to say I am happy that spring is just around the corner...it's so much fun to have the kids outdoors and play with them! I promise I will post again very soon!

Summer Fun

I know I say this a lot...but time seems to be flying by! I can't believe that it is almost September...which means fall is just around the corner! There are so many things that we had wanted to do before summer ended. One of our favorite things to do is to have a picnic! We went back up to Georgetown..they have an awesome park and playground for the kids and had a fantastic day! The weather was great...a little warm but we all hung in there and had some ice cream to cool off! The kids continue to bring us entertainment on a daily basis. Nico has decided that Lucia can stay...he was ready to leave her at a store! He has such an amazing sense of humor...he might be on the stand up circut at some point. One night my mom was reading this prayer card we found in my Nana's stuff and it was a prayer about growing older and it was really funny. She would read from the card and then we would all laugh. Well, Nico had a deck of cards he was playing with and when she was done reading....he picked up a card and pretended to read it..pausing and then laughing and slapping his had on his knee! Hilarious!

Lucia is a bundle of smiles. She is such a happy baby and loves to watch Nico run around her. It is such an important reminder to me everyday that babies are so different from each other. It is so important to treat them as individuals and encourage their personalities. Lucia doesn't cry much and is a great little sleeper. I read a book and it has really helped me understand babies patterns..eating, activities and sleeping. So far it's working like a charm....I think about if i would have tried to do things with Nico...since he was not a sleeper but remind myself that he has always been on his own pattern and had his own agenda. We love the experience of having two babies that are truly different and watching them both grow!

Here are some pics from some of our summer days:

Daddy and Nico swinging at the park in Georgetown

Sweet baby girl almost 8 weeks old

On the ride home from Georgetown, Lulu was so giddy

Nico was out cold!

The girls in Georgetown!

Papa with Nico and their cool hats

After a bath

I gave Nico some Nutella and turned my head for

a minute...when I turned around i had a surprised look

on my face..so Nico made the same face and said OOOO!

Daddy and his boy hanging out on the back porch

on a warm summer evening! Nico LOVES to be outside!

Fire marshall Nico

Something surprised lucia...Nico almost jumped on her--

her little eyes got sooo big!

1 Month

My sweet Lucia, you are almost 5 weeks old! The time has flown by and you are such an amazing little girl! You smiled cooed at me when you were only 2 weeks old. You are such a happy girl and you have brought so much sunshine into our lives. Nico loves you so much and is so curious about you. You have already been to a lot of places....the zoo, the children's museum, the spray park and have been on lots of walks with the family. One of your very favorite things to do is to sleep on Papa's belly...you just snooze away! Lucia Angelina, you come from a long line of strong, loving women and from what I have seen from you already...it's a part of who you are and the woman you will become. Thank you for being such a wonderful baby and know how much you are loved sweet girl.

WOW....2 kids really???

Okay, these pictures are out of order again! All I have to say is octomom...really? What was that lady thinking with having more kids...even if you do get a check frm the govt..she is crazy! No, seriously, we are having a blast and yes things have been at times challenging, chaotic, a bit stressful, but most of the time hilarious and fun. Lulu has been such a wonderful baby and little sister...although, I think if Nico could talk, he might ask when she is going back. One day last week, my parents and I and the kids went grocery shopping at Whole Foods...a little bit of a drive. The kids were great in the store with no problems. We get in the car to go home and Lucia starts to scream..and continues to scream and scream. About half way home, we all check on Nico and he has put his hands over his eyes and he has started to cry as if to say,"I just can't take her anymore! What is wrong with you people!" We made it and that day Nico went with Papa and his dad to get his first big boy haircut!

We are trying to focus on teaching Nico some fun words like Wow...so far nothing has wowed him enough to be his inspiration! Parenthood I have to say is more fun than I ever thought it would be and Lucia Nico are both just loves. My house may look like a romper play room for a couple of years but who cares right?!

Nana with lulu!

Nico before is haircut......

Nico after his haircut...and yes, we gave him a sucker so

he would sit still...a little drool..

He Loves corn on the cob..Nana makes it for him!

Lucia's close up

Uncle Ed's b-day..she looks so tiny..she was a week old here!

Thinking about life outside the womb..

Napping on Papa's belly...

Nico about to give his sister a big kiss!

At home

These pics are of when we arrived home! Lucia is not even 24 hours old!!! It was such a sweet welcome home to have Charlie's sister and brother come to visit us! aunt Kathy and Aunt Dorie came by too!

Aunt Kat

Big Bro

Charlie bought this shirt for Nico and he was so happy!

Aunt Dorie

nico wanted to try out his old car seat!

Uncle Ed

taking anap with Papa