I am not going to blab on and on and on and on about today, because everyday is both Mothers and Fathers Day and children’s day! But, I am looking forward to later in the day having some Chinese food that Nina and Niko will pickup. Noodles, rice, and dumplings for me! Yummy for my tummy! And, whatever else the N’s want.
I also know I haven’t really written about Niko lately.
Well, that will change right now.
So, on Friday, I slept with Niko and it was very nice as we were in bed around 7 pm. We were putting him to sleep an hour later and for the past several weeks, he has been waking up around 7:30 am. So far, with the earlier bedtime, he is sleeping a bit later and that is really good for him. For me, an early bedtime is bliss as I don’t get that often anymore. I don’t mind sleeping with him, I just can’t do it when I have to get up for work the next morning. When we woke up on Saturday morning, it was a bit earlier than he normally wakes up. But, he was super happy and playful. After we ate our breakfast, we took a quick drive to CVS and Walgreens in search of a dental play doh set; which we did find at CVS. We played with that, we played video games, we played with legos, and we relaxed in his bed. It was a very nice Saturday and I am planning on doing the same thing today.
Now, you’re probably asking, where is Nina? Well, on the weekends, I let her sleep in. So, when Niko is up, I am up. She also works on Saturday and cooks and relaxes on Sunday. Basically, the weekends are dad and Niko time. We do get Nina when Niko is ready to be tucked into bed for the evening. Hey, I love it and I am also very glad to get some alone time in the evenings after Niko is sleeping and Nina is upstairs doing stuff. I do stuff downstairs.
For the longest time during the weekdays and when I am done working, it is more dad and Niko time as we let Nina relax and do things. Mostly, Niko and I play, but I also take care of his dinner and he asks for a lot of stuff. As soon as I get a chance to sit down and eat with him, he needs something else. But, I can now tell him to either wait for me for a few minutes for me to get up again or come get something yourself. We don’t deny him fridge or pantry access and he can reach most of the stuff without his stool. I also get him cleaned which is actually very easy and quick. Often times, I get cleaned first and while I shave and shower, Niko is very happy to be in the bathtub playing. Then, when I am done, it’s his turn for a shower. I give him a small handful of baby shampoo and body wash and let him splatter it all over himself. Then, in less than a minute, I get him cleaned off. Sometimes, he likes to play with the water in the shower or get more soap on him. I often hear him saying OH YEAH, THAT IS NICE! But, the funny thing is, he has to have Nina dry him off! I have done it a few times, but he was mad!
Niko is 5 years old and for the past few months, he has been extra cuddly in the evenings and more laughy throughout the day. He uses his brain and imagination with legos and magnetic tiles and makes awesome things; often times, his lego innovations have to come to bed with us and I have to make up some extravagant story about them for that nighttime story. He also has markers, paint brushes, crayons, colored pencils, and multicolored pens and will doodle on whatever he can get his hands on. Thankfully, we have lots of paper! He also likes painting his cars; well, my cars, but they are his now. We have an art wall in the downstairs living room full of his beautiful work. A few nights ago, he drew on both sides of a piece of cardboard. Then he got some tape from Nina and very carefully taped it outside our bedroom, just enough so the piece can move and you can see the other side. Yeah, an interactive art exhibit!
One of the best things about being a dad is I am getting a lot more I LOVE YOU’s from Niko. Could be while we are playing or while we are driving and he gently taps my shoulders.
Oh, I also love his laugh and now it’s a real laugh, not a fake obnoxious one. Sometimes, I laugh and then he laughs, not knowing what for. Sometimes, he makes me laugh and then he asks what happened as he gets the giggles! He is actually very funny and I know he gets it from Nina and I. Like, when I take my break at work and I am working from home, Niko says, don’t break dad!
For his age, he is a really good video game player. He knows much more than me and when I need help to do something, he is like, oh, push Y and then L and then up and A and that’s how you do a midair spin for Mario. When we play the Lego Incredibles game, he always wants to do the fun stuff and takes the controller from me; don’t worry, he asks very nicely first!
He studies people playing video games and he watches other people play with toys or do science experiments on YouTube Kids.
Although I don’t do a lot of cooking with him, Nina does and she tells me he is a really good cook. My dad had knee replacement surgery a few weeks ago, and Niko made cookies, monkey bread, and two cakes; with the guidance from Chef Nina. Then, Niko and I were able to deliver some of the food to them when we visited them.
I almost forgot, he is loving a show on YouTube Kids called Numberblocks; it’s all about numbers. They sing and play with numbers; thus the name of the show. So, all day long, he asks us math questions and most of the time he knows the answer. Nina and Niko even painted lots of numbers along with common words he hears and it will get hung up upstairs.
