more teeth than a tennessee trailer park!

Nikolai has two new teeth!! He now has a matching set with two on the top and two on the bottom! The top two just poked through his gums yesterday. I gave him a zwieback toast with his dinner and he was astonished when he was able to bite off chunks of it. He was so excited - he kept putting it into his mouth and then pulling it out in amazement. Today he is going in for his 9 month check-up. I'll let you know how he does . . .

baby has skills . . .

Nikolai has been a bit cranky this weekend, recovering from an earache and one heck of a diaper rash caused by the anitibiotics, but he has still been up for a little fun and games. His newest game is that he tries to put his pacifier into my mouth and laughs hysterically when I pretend to try and get it from him. The funny part is that as soon as he is finished trying, he makes sure to put it in his mouth so that I know I can't really have it!

His second skill is saying "da da." He started out with "la la," and transitioned it right into "da da." He says it all the time, without really relating it to Colin yet, but I use it as an excuse to pass him along to Colin whenever it is convenient :)

He is also trying all sorts of new table foods. He shared my roasted fish with avocados and black beans at Cafe Sebastian last week, and loved the rotisserie chicken that I picked up at the grocery store.

His last new skill is that he is just starting to "cruise" around rooms by walking while he holds onto furniture or objects big enough. He is starting to move his feet really well. In fact, he moved his feet more today than Chenowith did during his 4 years at KU!

Ok, I know this isn't a Niko picture, but since it is 14 degrees outside, I thought I'd share another Florida photo from earlier this month. . .

Legos!

How much fun are legos and blocks??!! Mommy and Daddy have even more fun than me . . . they are the builders and I am the demolition expert!

Missing my boys!

I am on my first business trip without Nikolai and Colin along, and I miss them!! Here is a shot from the car window in Flagler Beach, Florida. So far I've been in meetings and have only seen the ocean for a few minutes, but I have some time on the beach tomorrow before my flight. According to Colin, Nikolai started making a "La" sound on Monday night. I tried to get him to make it on the phone for me, but he apparently kept looking around for me when he heard my voice on the phone, and didn't talk for me. Thanks to our neighbors who let Colin and Niko hang out last night after they accidentally tripped our alarm system and couldn't turn it off (I hope this means they need Mommy around and don't have too much fun without me!)

In with the big guy. . .

Here is the little guy chatting up the big guy surrounded by some of his cousins. Lucky that Santa didn't take offense when Nikolai grabbed ahold of his beard!

For Me?

Nikolai's most loyal Germany-based fans are clamoring for Christmas photos. From what I can tell, he is bigger than Hasselhoff over there! Here he is the night before Christmas, checking out the pile of loot that Santa had to delivery early due to the size contraints of his sleigh. Someone must have been VERY nice this year, and never naughty!

On the Move

Nikolai is no longer content with mucking about on our dirty floors - he is ready to

stand up and walk like a big kid. Lucky for us he can only get up the first stair, but I'm guessing it won't take much for him to be running up and jumping down the first flight all on his own. Yikes!

Happy 2008!

The New Year is here, and I promise to not go so long between blog entries . . . I know the world is crying out for more Nikolai pictures, and I promise not to disappoint. Santa was so good to us this year, and I hope he was good to everyone else as well. Thanks to everyone who made our holiday so wonderful!

Now, for the run-down of Nikolai's accomplishements in the 6 weeks since I've made an entry! Nikolai is:

1. Learning to climb the stairs
2. Pulling up on furniture
3. Bonking his head on a daily basis as he practices items 1 and 2
4. Eating biter bisquits, zwieback toasts and all kinds of mashed fruits, veggies and meats
5. Working on getting more than 2 teeth
6. "Talking" all the time
7. Getting into everything!
8. Playing with Christmas presents, including his role-and-play ball, dump truck, race cars, Discovery Farm, Penguin Bowling, and Colin's favorite, a wrapping paper tube
9. Being his cute little self

Best wishes for a good 2008 - may you all forget your resolutions by February, because I love you just the way you are :)

Sarah