Hape Thayskgiven!

At school, Nico made a wonderful Thanksgiving card with the classic trace-your-hand turkey. He adorned his turkey with colorful feathers and decorated its body with black polka dots. Nico usually isn't interested in drawing or coloring, so this card was definitely a nice surprise.

The fact that Nico took the time to focus on his artwork was shocking enough, but Vic and I were simply delighted to read the message he wrote inside the card. It said, "I LUV MiY MOM AyD MIY Dad LUV Nico I cat wat fur YUW TO SEE this LUV Nichlas". Translation: "I love my mom and my dad. Love, Nico. I can't wait for you to see this. Love, Nicholas."

On Thanksgiving Day, Nico made a card for Grandpa Rich and Grandma Marilyn. Again, he traced his left hand to make the body of a Thanksgiving turkey. Again, he drew and colored bright feathers and added polka dots to the turkey's body. He wrote a new message all by himself: "Hape Thayksgiven! Tis Is FuM Nicholas Thomas. I LUV YUW. I AM GOWEN TO Et Trce. Luv Nicholas Thomas. I Luik Thaks Given." Translation: "Happy Thanksgiving! This is from Nicholas Thomas. I love you. I am going to eat turkey. Love, Nicholas Thomas. I like Thanksgiving."

My brother, the turkey

Thanksgiving family portrait
(not pictured: Nolan Thomas. In his place, a turkey!)

Nico brought home a drawing he made at school the other day. I'm probably reading too much into it, but I noticed that this was the first family drawing he created that didn't portray me and him standing side by side holding hands. In fact, in this drawing, there is a small, bald creature between me and Nico.

Understanding that Nico has felt a bit displaced since the arrival of his baby brother, I sat down with Nico and asked, "Oh, is this Nolan standing between us?" "Nolan?" Nico responded. "No. That's a turkey!"

Nolan's first outings

So far, Nolan's life has been pretty boring. He mainly eats, sleeps, fills his diapers and enjoys a little "tummy time" every day. Since his life is otherwise pretty monotonous, I think he really enjoys excursions outside the house.

When he was two weeks old, Vic and I took him to the Case Western Reserve University Homecoming game. He won't remember it, but we spent a good part of the game with me nursing him in the press box.

On weekdays, Vic and I take Nolan to pick up Nico from kindergarten. It's such a pretty walk through the leafy streets of Cleveland Heights. While Nolan doesn't seem to enjoy car rides the way Nico did as an infant, he really seems to like being in the stroller.

Twice a week, we take Nolan along to the Cleveland Heights Community Center for Nico's kuk sul won lessons. He really seems to like watching the kids tumbling around, practicing kicks and punches.

Love and hot dogs

Last night we all went to Nico's Before and After-Care Potluck. It was quite an event, featuring performances from the students and surprises throughout the evening. At one point, the kids read aloud letters they had written to their parents.

This was Nico's:

Dear Mommy, Daddy & Little Brother,
I love my whole family. I take care of my baby brother. I will help him at Potluck dinner. Sometimes Nolan cries. Tonight he will have fun. I can't wait to eat hot dogs and ice-cream.
Love,
Nicholas

The many faces of Nolan

Nolan is one expressive baby! I'm not sure why, but it seems like he communicates a lot more clearly than Nico did at this age. Even as a newborn, Nolan's cues were relatively easy to read. Of course, it may be that Vic and I are more experienced parents now, but it really does seem that Nolan is easier to understand than Nico was.

These are not the most flattering photos of Nolan (he really doesn't look like such a pumpkinhead in real life), but it gives you an idea of the faces he makes.

First smile!

Nolan just smiled me at me for the first time (intentionally, that is). He was crying in his infant car seat when I reached down to pick him up. As I lifted him out, he beamed at me with a huge, gummy grin.

I think my heart may burst with joy.

Waiting for the smiles

One of the most exciting moments for a parent is seeing her baby smile for the first time. That first "social smile" is the light at the end of a long, sleepless tunnel. For me, witnessing Nico's first intentional smile (pictured) directed specifically toward me is among the best moments in my life. Now I'm looking forward to Nolan's first smile.

Nico's first social smile happened in the early morning. Zombie-like, I was nursing him on the sofa in our California apartment. I was exhausted and both physically and emotionally drained when he suddenly beamed at me. He smiled at me for several seconds and excitedly, I woke up Vic to tell him the happy news.

Now I can't wait to see Nolan's smile. It should be any day now!