Another rainy day...

Dear Nicky,

This morning it was raining as I put you into your ride, then it rained again after you got home. In the interim I went to the gym and to Target, then Mom went to the store, after bringing Junie back from the phlebotomists who drew some blood for tests. I hear she freaked out big time. Mom made us delicious burgers tonight, which you didn't touch. Then you had a bath, watched Sleeping Beauty, and I put you to bed, which ensures a peaceful night it seems.

Love,
Dad

Eye doc, and bad behavior...

Dear Nicky,

This morning I had to take food out of your mouth because it was time to go to the eye doctor. Once they called us into the exam room, you turned into a bowl of spaghetti. I had to carry you in like an invalid. When the nurse had to put some drops in your eyes to dilate them you went berserk. Any hope I had of your cooperation with the exam and the optician who fixes your glasses went out the window. Afterward you were so upset I debated whether to bring you to Stones, but I did, and then when I saw you when I returned home your mood was fine. You had some difficulty going to sleep, but after I gave you some stern talking-to, you finally went down.

Love,
Dad

Some rain...

Dear Nicky,

Somehow I woke up with you next to me this morning. You're a cuddly noodle. You were also pretty hot, but a dose of Motrin straightened you out and you were fine for school. Today a magician came to Stones. It was pouring rain when you came home. You had a good nap this afternoon. You didn't eat much for dinner, then I gave you a bath, then some more Motrin and it was off to bed.

Love,
Dad

Kinda warm...?

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon Mom took Junie for her physical. She's fine, but you woke up from your nap rather warm and were sluggish for quite a while. We had pizza for dinner and you came around later.

Love,
Dad

Sciatica...

Dear Nicky,

Sciatica is a pain from a pinched nerve in your butt and in your leg. I have it sometimes and today it's bothering me because I had a nice run at the gym earlier today. It makes my leg jump all over the place. I hope it doesn't keep me up all night.

Love,
Dad

An excellent weekend...

Dear Nicky,

Things have been going well this whole weekend, since Thursday night actually. Good food, good times, etc. Yesterday we had a bunch of your Stones friends and their parents over in the afternoon. Everybody had a nice time and they all stayed four hours; if not for a sudden downpour, they'd have probably stayed longer. There were snacks and drinks and pizza. I broke out all the toys and the sandbox and water toys. It was a chore to clean the yard and set everything up, and it was really hot too, but it turned out nice. Also you specifically said you had to go poopy on the potty and you did. This is great news. Furthermore, Junie's been doing well this weekend too regarding potty training. So, huzzah! This morning Mom and I ran the childcare room at church. It felt like we were suspended in liquid gravity time or something, I thought it would never end. But it was totally fine. This afternoon it hailed like crazy and made quite a mess. The Subaru was unscathed in the garage, and the Honda was in the B&N parking lot in Livingston, so it was fine too. There was another thunderstorm just when you were going to sleep, which prolonged your nod-off, but I held you till you said "I'm okay now."

Love,
Dad

Afternoon get-together...

Dear Nicky,

I'm gonna owe you a post regarding this afternoon's successful party. It was a fun time.

Love,
Dad

Burgers...

Dear Nicky,

You took a really long nap today, woke up around 5. Mom made some delicious hamburgers, which you didn't really eat at all. Bath, then watched Little Mermaid. Went to bed close to 10 o'clock. More fun tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Nice anniversary...

Dear Nicky,

Today was my wedding anniversary, so Mom and I went out to a nice dinner and a movie. It was a lot of fun and we enjoyed being able to get out for a while. Junie had a strange fever all day that comes and goes. Hopefully it broke earlier this evening. Weird. You fell out of bed some time ago and I picked you up and put you back, but first I gave you many hugs and kisses.

Love,
Dad

This morning...

Dear Nicky,

You sure were cranky this morning, not wanting to go to school. This afternoon you arrived home passed out, but you hardly napped at all. We all went for a ride, then played on the lawn for a while, then had pizza bagels for dinner. You wanted more, but there were none. Mom gave you a bath, we watched some Peter Pan, and put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

A little under the weather...

Dear Nicky,

This morning you woke up acting weird and whiney. You seemed sick so we kept you home. You slept most of the morning, then brightened in the afternoon. You made a real foul poop, and from that point on you were fine. Tomorrow it's back to Stones for you.

Love,
Dad

Yesterday's ice cream party...

Dear Nicky,

Yesterday morning we dawdled a lot, then we went to the Great Swamp to walk around. It was fun for a little while, then you pooped out on me about a mile from the car and I had to carry you all the way back. You took a nap when we got home, but Junie didn't because Mom had just returned. We played outside for a while, then gave you some dinner. Later we went next door to our neighbors, where they had an ice cream party. It was a pretty decent time, but by the time we got home, got you bathed, and into bed, it was pretty late and Mom and I were really beat. Sorry I was too tired to post. Nothing much special happened today except that I got my missing shoe back from the gym.

Love,
Dad

This time I mean it...

Dear Nicky,

So wiped completely.

Luv,

This was Saturday...

Dear Nicky,

It's been a long day. Sorry if that sounds whiney. You were great all day. Took a while to get going this morning, then we went to Wegman's. You guys fell asleep on the way home. We had pizza bagels for dinner, then played outside till bedtime. You went down pretty easy. I broke out old Spotty Cow to make you feel safer in bed.

Love,
Dad

Mild storm...

Dear Nicky,

There was a mild thunderstorm earlier this evening that scared you quite a bit despite its mildness. I had to take both you and Junie into my big bed for a while in order for you to calm down. Once you did I put you back into your own beds.

Love,
Dad

Ton of bricks...

Dear Nicky,

Nothing major to report. Sleepiness hit me hard out of nowhere. Going to bed.

Love,
Dad

Steak at last...

Dear Nicky,

It's been a while since you had some steak, so I made some tonight. I'm also marinating a nice london broil maybe for Friday. We'll see. You napped late today, so basically you woke up, had dinner, then a bath, then went back to bed. A real man of leisure.

Love,
Dad

Diving in the grass...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon, we went out into the front yard, where you and Junie chased each other around for a while, laughing and throwing yourselves down into the grass. It was really sweet to see, and it made me happy that you guys have opportunities in your lives for moments like this.

Love,
Dad

Kinda sucky day...

Dear Nicky,

This morning the day began with you getting stinging sunscreen in your eyes. I wasted my morning trimming some shrubs instead of going to the gym. June ran away from me in Target and scared the pants off of me. You guys ate nothing for dinner. I had insomnia again last night. I was faint and dizzy all day. I hope for a better day tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Lazy Sunday...

Dear Nicky,

Didn't get much done today, but it was a nice, mellow day. Your grandpa and Uncle Jon came over for some delicious spaghetti dinner that Mom made. I drank way too much Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke.

Love,
Dad

More deck wash...

Dear Nicky,

I was up till two this morning, then I did some more powerwashing today. I'm so tired I feel sick. Sorry I'm not posting much.

Love,
Dad

Deck wash...

Dear Nicky,

I've been cleaning the deck outside all day. It's a lot of work, and it's hot too. I'm beat. Mom baked a cake. You sure made a mess of yourself eating it. You got a bath and went to bed. You still fuss a lot in bed.

Love,
Dad

Hunger strike...

Dear Nicky,

Once again you arrived passed out this afternoon. I put you to bed and you napped a good two hours solid. I love when you sleep well. When you woke you played in your room a bit, then joined Junie and me downstairs. I made a nice dinner, which you completely didn't touch. You didn't even want any banana after. I then gave you guys a bath and put you to bed.

Love,
Dad

Eyes burning...

Dear Nicky,

I'm suddenly so sleepy my eyes are burning. I'll write more tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Napping during the rain...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon you came home passed out again, but this time you slept well because at one point it grew quite dark and thunderstormed outside. Nothing like sleeping during a rainy day. We had pizza bagels for dinner, and Mom gave you a bath while I went to Borders.

Love,
Dad

Summer Stones starts...

Dear Nicky,

This morning Mom got you already for school, which began again today. She got you dressed in your swimsuit and slathered you with sunscreen. The driver was the same driver we had last summer, a nice Arabic lady. They were here right on time. After you went off, I got Junie ready for Santa Fe with her bathing suit and sunscreen. Then I came home, had something to eat and went to the gym. Soon it was time to collect June, and she and I went to Target to get some things. We would have gone to the bookstore as well, but she dropped a big deuce in her pants and we had to come home. I put her down for a nap, then you came home shortly afterward. You were passed out, but you didn't nap long. We hung out the rest of the afternoon, had some dinner (pancakes, this evening), had a nice bath, and went to bed. I think you're finally getting used to the new bed setup.

Love,
Dad

July 5, 2009...

Dear Nicky,

Sorry about not writing yesterday, was kinda tired and wiped out. You've been having some trouble adjusting to your new open layout in your bed, and you've been waking up at odd hours, feeling scared and insecure. This year's Fourth of July was totally uneventful. We went out to eat, then had a bath, then went to bed well before the fireworks started. They barely had any anyway. You woke up around three this morning, unhappy, and I took you into bed for a while. You slept comfortably from then on. Me, not so much. But this week did end very productively for me. I got four major things done today: sprayed the lawn for bugs, mounted a wall lamp, painted the seam in the foundation where the new house meets the old, and fixed the downspout under the deck. This is all in addition to all the stuff I did earlier this week, which included prepping the aforementioned foundation wall, cleaning out my closet, converting your and June's cribs to toddler beds, cleaning out the windows in the master bathroom, and cleaning that china marker off the replacement window screens. It feels so good to be productive.

Love,
Dad

IOU a post, Saturday, July 4 2009...

Dear Nicky,

I'm just really sleepy, so I'll catch you up tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Return from Vermont...

Dear Nicky,

This afternoon you guys came back. It was so wonderful to see you all. I'd missed you terribly. I'm very happy you had a nice time. Mom said you guys and Noah had so much fun. What makes me even happier is that you're back. I did a lot of stuff around the house the last few days. It was easy because I was alone. I still have a couple things I'd like to do this weekend. If I can get them done, it'll be great. I just put you two to bed a few minutes ago. You seem to be having some difficulty adjusting to the new toddler bed setup I put together for you. I hope it doesn't last.

Love,
Dad

New crib...

Dear Nicky,

Among my other chores today, I converted your crib to a more open "toddler bed." It was quite simple actually, unlike Junie's bed, which required bringing my formidable brain power to bear. Both are done and they look pretty good. I think you'll enjoy getting in and out of bed like a big boy. I hear you've had a great time in Vermont, and I can't wait to see you tomorrow.

Love,
Dad

Doing well in Vermont...

Dear Nicky,

Mom tells me you're doing well and having fun up there. She said you and Junie slept well last night, apart from your diaper leaking a little. I hope you continue to have a great time. Don't forget about me!

Love,
Dad