Samantha Maria Boncel

Hi everyone!

     I think the last time I wrote about being pregnant was when I posted ultrasound pictures of our baby at 15 weeks old http://nickyboncel.blogspot.com/2011/06/summers-here.html. Time flew this time around, I think with being so busy at work, and of course, with chasing Nicky around...I think by the time I was 36 weeks along I gave up and just let Dan chase him around.  The delivery was scheduled for November 22, 2011.  I was 100% confident I was having another boy.  When my doctor asked me in the operating room what I think it is, I said "I think it's another boy", in which she responded "don't sound so excited Michelle."  I guess she could tell I really wanted a girl!  Dr. Dairiki told Dan that he will be the one to make the announcement to everyone in the operating room as to what we were having, which we were so excited about!  At 1:55 pm, Dr. Dairiki asked Dan to stand up and take a look over the sheet to make the announcement, and Dan said "I think it's a girl?"  And tears just started flowing.  We were overjoyed!  Of course, we would have been happy either way :)
         When Nicky was born, Dan videotaped the delivery and said "it's a boy!", and announced his name.  This time around, after Dan announced that we had a girl, he got the notice on the video camera "Memory card full".  Samantha didn't get to have her name memorialized on video like her big brother did - barely being 5 seconds old, she is already being treated as the second child, ha!  Dan and I both loved the name Samantha (we thought that "Nick and Sam" go great together), and her middle name Maria is in honor of my grandmother.

Dan cutting the umbilical cord.

Proud parents!!

Samantha Maria Boncel was born on November 22, 2011, at 1:55pm, and was 7 lbs 6 oz., which is 2 oz. heavier than Nicky when he was born..and Nicky was 5 days overdue, where Samantha was 1 week early!  Can't imagine what she would have weighed if I delivered on the 29th, my original due date.

Our baby girl

Nicky is getting used to his new sibling - he is sweet enough to say "shhh" and hold his finger to his lips if Sam is sleeping, and he will walk up to the pack and play and say "hi baby".  But there have been moments where I will be nursing Sam, and Nicky will try to push both of us away and has even thrown a book at Sam.  Oh well, the trials of getting used to a sibling I guess.  But it is encouraging to know that anything Nicky will remember, his sister will be in his life. When Nicky visited me in the hospital, it just hit me that he is such a big boy now.  He is doing so much, talking a ton, and even repeating things that I don't realize I say - the biggest thing is he yells "honey!" from the top of the stairs.  Apparently, I do that if I am yelling for Dan when he is downstairs - Nicky even has the same inflection in his voice like I do, it's hilarious!

Nicky got an early birthday present from his grandma and poppa, who have been kind enough to watch him when I was in the hospital and take care of everything at the house, and help me when I'm getting adjusted to being at home with a newborn again.  Nicky LOVES this playhouse! And he'll even have more fun when his baby sister is old enough to walk around in it with him!

Nick's new pad (even has a name plate to prove it)

My little man!

Nicky-angelo

One of Nicky's past times is to stack things..he has a high interest in stacking spices. Here are some photos of his masterpieces:

First it started with blocks

Then the spice rack

And sideways

Trip to San Diaahhhhhhhgo

Last month we took our first family summer trip and spent a week at Coronado Island! It was both sets of Boncels (other set is Dan's parents) and the Herrons (Dan's sister and family).  We were worried with the "June gloom" that it would be cloudy and chilly but the weather was PERFECT every day!  Even though we had a 2 hour detour/stop in Yuma (Herrons blew a fuse - the car did, not them :)), we made it to San Diego in one piece.  During those 7 days we went to Sea World, the San Diego Zoo, the beach, and took in the sights!

Our first day there Dan and Poppa (Dan's dad) took Nicky to a Padres game and in order to get there, they took a water taxi from Coronado Island to the game, Nicky's first boat ride! 

Dan, Nicky and Friar

 While the guys enjoyed the game, Nicky enjoyed the kids sand area, also referred to as "the Beach", hope he doesn't expect a sandbox at every baseball game he attends!

Nicky did great during the game, got through 5 innings without his afternoon nap!  It was 75 degrees during the game, then got to the mid-50s when they left - luckily Nicky was prepared when they were waiting for the ferry.  It's all about layering in California!

Nicky and Poppa

We had such a great time at Sea World!  We saw Shamu, people swimming with the dolphins, and watched the pet show!  We were there practically the entire day and only got to see 1/3 of the park - next time we'll make sure to plan more than one day at Sea World!

Nicky with his cousins Maya, Sarah, and Tess

They're swimming with dolphins!

Nicky and Uncle Steve watching the Shamu show

Maya loves cuddling her cousin!

 Nicky enjoying the big musical instruments!

We also went to the San Diego zoo, and Nicky had the best time - so much so he refused to take his nap in the stroller (which I knew would happen since we tried out a new stroller during the trip), and there were just so many things to see! 

Ooh what is that!

 One of Nicky's favorite parts of the zoo was the petting zoo - he thinks there were Bentleys everywhere, and he tried sitting on one of the goats as if it were a log, and one of them ended up getting up from their comfy position to find another spot to sit!

Petting Zoo

 As we left the zoo, Nicky finally gave in:

We visited Seaport Village and Nicky took his first ride on a carousel...I have never seen him get so excited...he actually smiled for the camera! 

Every evening after the kids went to bed, it was game night for the Boncels and Herrons - we played Uno every night and accumulated the score until our last night, and Uncle Steve won, he was very proud! 

And any down time was spent on a puzzle that Sandy brought for us...it was funny to see Grandma "supervise" the group, almost like we were working in shifts and she would give us a section to work on!  With two nights left on the trip, we successfully completed the puzzle (yes, simple minds, simple pleasures!)

The finished product

Nicky also spent time at the beach - although the water was very cold, he enjoyed playing in the sand!

One of the major events during our trip was that there was a 24 hour bug being passed around the house...of 10 people, 7 of us were affected by it!   It became a game of Survivor - the three who didn't catch it were Grandma, and Steve and Sandy (both doctors, go figure).  Sandy has aptly named our trip Cholera 2011.  It definitely made it memorable! 

Here are more family pics (thanks for taking great pictures Sandy!):

Summer's here!

I apologize to everyone for the long overdue post - given that Nicky is 15 months now, I knew I wouldn't be posting every month, but I promise to aim for at least every quarter! :)

We took advantage of the beautiful weather this spring (and our membership!) to the Phoenix zoo - Nicky has been practicing all of the animal sounds (elephant, lion, monkey), that it was finally time for him to see them in person!  The hardest part of the visit was having him get back in the stroller after he saw an animal, only because he wanted to keep walking!

Nicky has had a very busy two months - first, after his Auntie Mattie went on maternity leave, I dreaded the day would finally come...Nicky would have to go to daycare.  Every day when we would pick him up, he was sitting in the corner, holding his lovey, and sucking his thumb.   His teacher told us that in the afternoons, he would cry because all the other kids were being picked up by his parents and he wouldn't see us come through the door (mind you, Dan and I would show up before 530!!).  And of course, 3rd day at daycare, I get the call "Nicky has a temperature" so him getting sick from daycare didn't take long at all!

Second, he took three weeks off from daycare to spend two of them with his Lola who came here to visit from Austin.  They had a lot of fun together, even when Nicky was getting over an ear infection!  Lola probably took over 100 pictures of Nicky while she was here, and I would say there were multiple sets of photos where I don't think he moved once!  The two weeks went by WAYYYY too fast.  It reminded me of when she came to visit for almost a month when Nicky was first born, she spent a lot of time with him and practically cooked every night!  It was nice to spend Mother's day with her too...especially when Nicky was getting fussy in his high chair and I wanted to continue eating..ha!  By the time Lola left, Nicky learned 4 more body parts, and walked into his room when asked if he needed a diaper change!  I remember how it took Nicky 3 days for him to warm up to Lola when he turned 1 in March, and then when Lola came back 2 months later, it only took an hour!

Mother's Day 2011

Taken by Lola - one of my favorite pictures!

After Lola left, Grandma and Poppa came up for a week to visit and take care of Nicky.  They took Nicky to music class, the library, and to the park!  It's so nice to see Nicky immediately connect with all of his grandparents!


Nicky then went back to daycare this week and although the first couple of days were rough (back to his 1 hour daily naps - he still needs and wants 2 naps a day!), by the end of the week his teachers told us he has become more talkative, and loves to show off his dance moves! 

Today we went to the Children's museum, and Nicky had a blast!  I was worried that he would get fussy since he only took a catnap on the way there, but he was way too excited once we arrived. 

Kinda funny that the outlets at the children's museum don't have outlet protectors!

What's going on over here?

And some big news on the family front...WE'RE PREGNANT!!  We found out the day after Nicky's birthday party (I thought I was just tired from having family and friends over to celebrate with Nicky), but sure enough, we will have a 2nd addition to the family soon!  I am currently 15 weeks along, and Baby #2 is due on November 29, 2011.  We've decided to wait until delivery to find out whether we are having a boy or a girl!  Either way, Nicky is going to make a great big brother!!  We are so excited!!