Nick is THREE

Here are some pictures from Nicholas' big day... 

I cannot believe he is 3 already!! 

Call me kooky, but I swear he is "older".  His vocabulary has expanded almost over night!  It's weird.  When did this little baby turn into a little boy?!

Nicholas was born early, just after midnight three years ago on November 5th.  He came a few days early before his due date.  Perhaps he "knew" that November 7th was his Aunt Karen's birthday and that she wouldn't be working that day.  Whatever the reason, he decided to make a special early appearance right when his Aunt Karen started her shift at the hospital. 

Earlier that evening, I was shopping at Target with my mom and my daughter.  We were searching for unsalted saltine crackers (I know that doesn't make sense) for my mom, but we couldn't find any.  It was late, and we thought about checking out Walmart, but being new in this town, I couldn't find it.  Good thing we went home instead, otherwise my water would have broken on the Walmart aisle. 

Rich drove me back to Santa Cruz late into the night, over the hills and through the woods to the hospital, while mom stayed home with Liz and Andrew.  It had been storming outside, but the evening was clear, with no rain. 

Nicholas couldn't have picked a better night to be born. 

I only have one regret about it all.  I only wish my father was here to see his youngest grandson.  I know he is somewhere looking down, watching all the havoc around here.  The year previous I was mourning my father's passing, and now, as if by magic, I was celebrating a new addition to our family.  Strange how things work themselves out..  I'm always amazed by it.