Day 132 - My Boy

My mom has been telling me she needs a new photo of Sam for her wall.

So yesterday I took him outside for a quick shoot. It wasn't easy but I got this little gem.

However, we had to go through all of this to get there.

Weird smile, no eye contact

Uhhh . . . hands down please

Cute if he were looking at me.

Again with the weird smile

So cute!  But looking at something over my head.

Looking at me but saying something.

Classic Sam. Just a little squinty.

Sam giving up and doing what he loves.  Stinking Action Chugger.

Day 131 - Swimmin!

Sam has been telling me all week that he wanted to go swimming and/or go to the beach.  Since Elly isn't quite ready for the pool yet we needed to wait until Dad could take him.  At first he didn't want to get in because it was too cold but as soon as he warmed up, he didn't want to get out.  I think someone is going to be very excited to start swimming lessons in June. 

Now we just have to talk Dad into taking us to the beach . . . 

Day 130 - Tiger Hat

Yet another FABULOUS outfit choice by Sam.  Nothings says 90 degree weather like a knit tiger hat.  It is especially fetching one is only wearing it and Lightning McQueen underpants.

Day 130 - Puzzles

We didn't know Sam could do jigsaw puzzles.  Apparently, he's been doing them at school for a couple of weeks.  No big deal.  

Day 129 - Gettin' Dressed

Getting Sam dressed in the morning is a battle.  He always says, "NOOO!  PJ's!"  Then in the afternoon after lunch he immediately strips down to his under-roos.  Lately when he wakes up from his nap, he will come out wearing a shirt that he wasn't wearing when I put him down.  Usually backwards.

Some days, he comes out wearing an entirely new outfit as shown here. 

After watching the Aristocats, he decided he needed to wear his CAT shirt and brown pants . . . backwards.

7 Weeks

We are seeing a lot more of these sweet little blue eyes everyday.

And we are all pretty excited about it.

Day 128 - Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to my sweet mom and mother-in-law. My kids are much more excited about the two of then they are about me.

Day 127 - Good Morning

Could not love this little face any more.

Favorite phrases of the week:

Take that smunch.  

(I have no idea what a smunch is)

I'm a wee devil.

What does the clock say?

What does that spell?

What game are you playing?

Day 126 - 6 weeks (and a couple days)

Someone's mom is very excited to see some little smiles!  Love this cutie.

Day 125 - Rain

2.4 inches in 40 minutes.  

We are 7 inches up in rain for the year.  

We have almost met the total amount of rain we got for the entire year last year.

Let's just hope it stays this way.  

Day 124 - Snacks

Easter Candy is balanced out by Diet Mt. Dew right?

Day 123 - Umbrella

This kid loves using his umbrella.   However, most of the time he is holding it upside down so he can catch the rain.  Welcome to having a 3 yr old.

Day 122 - Lazy Sundays

This is how we roll on Sundays.  

Sam in the chair . . . in the chair.  

Elly on the Boppy. Dad playing Mario for Sam.  

No really, it is for Sam.  He demands that someone play so he can watch.  Unfortunately Mom is terrible at Mario so Sam will usually take the controller away from me. 

Day 121 - Chuggington

Sam has been working extra hard on his chores to earn Chuggington trains.  He is up to 25 stars to earn a train.  He can usually do this within a week.  It has made a HUGE difference around here.  He happily picks up, listens to Mom and takes a rest each day.  We are even starting to see him clean up toys without us asking.  

His behavior at school has improved.  (Mostly.)  On the days that he doesn't have a "happy school day"  he becomes quite distraught. Throughout the week he counts his stars and tells us how many more he needs to earn the train of choice. 

 In case you were wondering, we are working on Action Chugger this week.

Day 120 - Running

Since we are officially cleared to exercise Elly and I are back to working out in the morning.  Ok, I may have started before I was cleared but I'm feeling great. 

Little Miss is a great workout partner.  We get up in the morning, eat, get Sam ready for school, drop him off and head to the gym.  Elly typically will sleep all through my run and then my shower.  Then we eat again,because that what babies do.

Day 119 - Big Brother Sam

This kid is something else. I would never have thought that he would handle becoming a big brother as well as he has.  He doesn't call her Dannelly or Elly.  He ALWAYS calls her "Baby Sister." Rather than being jealous, he honestly loves her and is always concerned for her well being. I love how he shows us that he loves her.  

He holds her hand in the car.

He sings to her (Twinkle Twinkle or the chorus to We are Young by Fun.) when she is crying and getting her diaper changed.

He likes to sing and dance with her.  Particularly to the cover of  Zou Bisou Bisou from Mad Men

Each morning he asks me where she is,

Today he wanted to "snuggle with Mom and Baby Sister.  AND read books."

When I put him down for an afternoon rest, he tells me that he wants Baby Sister to sleep with him.

Every night before bed he gives her a kiss.

And my very favorite . . .

In his prayers (meal and bedtime) he says, "Bless Mom and Dad and Sam and Baby Sister.  And Sam and Baby Sister again."

Tender. Heart. Fade out.

Day 118 - Siblings

Every day when I put Sam down for a nap he tells me he wants Dannelly to sleep with him.  Today I laid her down in the bed with him for a minute.  She was as happy as could be.  When her binky fell out Sam very sweetly gave it to her.  

I know that they won't always be this sweet with each other but for now I'm just going to soak in as much of it as I can.

Day 117 - Daddy Time

Missy is usually fussy at night.  Ben has taken to calling her Princess Crabbington.  

I started to wonder if this perhaps had something to do with the fact that she spits up ALL THE TIME. So today I took her into the doctor.  Yup.  Acid reflux.  We are trying soy formula and some Prilosec for babies.  As you can see she isn't fussy tonight.  Maybe after a couple more nights like this Daddy will drop the Crabbington and just call her Princess.