Ha ha – got you.  No, we are not crazy enough to get a dog yet even though the boys LOVE dogs.  We’ll need to wait until 1, they know to avoid stepping in and playing with poop, and 2, they pick up the poop themselves.  :)

No, this story is about Nicholas and his sudden attachment with certain stuffed animals.  About a month ago, we headed on down to the Vancouver, Washington area to visit with relatives.  It was our first BIG road trip with 2 year olds.  We planned it all out so that there would be minimal “I’m stuck in a car seat and want out NOW” chants/shrieks from the boys.

That said, our 1st stop was at IKEA in Renton.  The two other times we’ve gone, the boys have had a great time, running around and testing out furniture.  This time around, in the kids section, were big red & orange stuffed hippos.  Nicky, who had not yet shown any interest in the multitude of stuffed animals at home, grabbed a hippo and would not let go.  Each time I put it back, he calmly walked back to where they were, and grabbed another one.  Soon, we became the proud owners of two hippos because you never know when a fight will ensue around the lack of multiple hippos.

Nicholas loved the hippos so much that for the next couple of days, he had to sleep with one of them and it needed to be nearby.  That was, until he met Trouble.

Nicky carried them everywhere, sometimes unsuccessfully.

Let me introduce you to Trouble, whose full name is Luke Trouble Yates.  When Joel and I had first started dating and he lived all alone down in Los Angeles with no friends, his very sensitive girl friend, bought him a dog that did not need to be housebroken.  Trouble was a good companion.  After the hippos came home, Joel decided to see if there was a somewhat smaller stuffed animal that might peak Nicholas or Dexter’s interest so he brought out Trouble.

Immediately Nicholas took to Trouble and really hasn’t let go of him sense.  Trouble has helped us out on numerous occasions.  If Nicky is having a frustration meltdown, we ask “Where is Trouble?  Go find Trouble, Nicholas.  Trouble needs a kiss.”  Nicky will snap out of his crying jag and go get Trouble.  He’ll then proceed to kiss and hug him.  Even Dexter knows Trouble is Nicky’s.  Dexter will give Trouble to Nicky when Nicky’s going through a rough patch.  We did not teach Nicky to kiss Trouble.  Laura taught Nicky to kiss and he decided Trouble would get the vast majority of the kisses he doles out now.

Here’s a series of photos taken so that you can appreciate the bond between boy and dog.  Trouble always sleeps with Nicky.  Trouble sits on the table and patiently waits for Nicholas to finish eating breakfast / lunch / dinner.  Trouble is always there whenever Nicky needs him.  He’s a good dog and gives Nicky lots of kisses.

Nicky is dancing with Trouble to one of Laura’s kid CDs that she left with us.

The last two photos melt my heart.

Now we just need to find Dexter his “Trouble”.