And Christmas is done.....

Here we are seeing the fabulous Christmas display at the Macys 8th floor.




Ever since Sam could get on the couch a couple weeks ago, he is up there all the time! How cute is this?
Sam giving Daddy a big Christmas Eve kiss.
Cousin Max showing off Sam's new Jordans.
Very happy Gigi feeding Sam at Christmas dinner.
Aww....the happy family!

Just like every other boy in the family, Sam, too, is obsessed with hockey! He got a net from Uncle Pete and we are so excited to play...and play...and play....
We got a very special visit at Grandma Connie and Papa Tim's house from Santa. Sammy, however, was not the biggest fan :)

What an amazing Christmas! We had the best time. Sam was at a wonderful age. He was active and loved the presents...well, actually the wrapping, but still had a blast!

A couple major updates with Sam -

-He now "talks" up a storm. He points, babbles and I really think that he gets that we are saying. Grandma Connie thinks he is speaking Chinese.
-He can point out "mama" and "dada" in photos.
-He waves "hi" like a mad man
-He still loves signing more and all done.
-A couple weeks ago he started getting his molars! All 4 at once. They are slowing coming in and he is a rock star! You would barely know that the kid is teething.
-He is still a dancing machine. He has added a little "head bang" to the mix. So he has a nice mix of "hip hop" and "rock" dance moves. Love it!
-He can now go up and down on the stairs

xoxo
BC

Had a fabulous family Christmas with my family - Pat, Sam, Dad and Colin - What an amazing Christmas!!! The boys loved playing hockey before Chinese Christmas dinner!

Back from Australia....

I got back from Australia after a 2 week vacation with my mom and brother. It was an amazing trip, but I am very excited to be back with Sammy!

Sam is growing up so fast! When I got back, we went and got our tree! It was beautiful and snowing!



Here are the updates from the past couple weeks:

Sam is now a waving machine - he loves to wave "Hi" and "Bye"

When he wants more, he can sign it and does it a lot with cookies, bananas, blueberries and raspberries. We cannot help but give the kid what he wants when he is so cute and smart :)


He LOVES to dance - whenever he hears music (particularly Hip Hop) or the word "dance" he dances. Head, Shoulder, Knees and Toes is one of his favorites.

He can climb on the couch - boo - where he can grab all the things we put up there to keep out of his reach such as phones, clickers, cameras and computers.


He still LOVES toothbrushes. All kinds, all sizes. The kid is a toothbrush loving machine.

And just like his Daddy, Sammy loves hockey! Pat is very happy. They play and watch sports all the time. Like father, like son.



He can now walk backwards and loves to spin around. Pretty funny to watch.

And the kid is still a book fanatic. Loves to read, er, well flip the pages. He is obsessed! I think it is fantastic. Whenever we get to a bear or lion he makes a "roar" sound that is way too cute.
This kid makes us so happy and it is so fun to watch him grow up to become the perfect little person he has always been.

xoxo
BC

OMG This kid is SO fun!

So in the last several weeks Sammy has just been way too fun!

List of "news":

Dances - shakes up and down when music is on (mostly hip hop) and when we say "dance". I need to video this!

Hugs and Kisses - still rocking the kisses and hugs. New kiss is that we now kiss through the glass door in the front. He loves this and thinks it is so funny.

Copies - He will now copy any noise or sound that we make. We have to be on our toes much more in the language department! Or he will copy if you turn your head to the side. So dang cute.

Reads: He LOVES books. I take him to storytime at the library even Monday and he loves it! He turns the pages and loves to read on his own. Way too cute! See below at Storytime today.


As always, loves our phones and computers! Anything that lights up when you push a button and looks real, he is in to. We have a tech guy on our hands! Or just a modern tech kid!

xoxo

PS: Off to Australia in 2 days. Excited, but SO sad to leave my peanut. Aw, that will so hard!

Sam's 2nd Halloween

We had a wonderful Halloween! Sam was the cutes Karl Pavano I have ever seen!!!

We started the day with a great breakfast compliments of Chef Pat/Dad. Then we headed to Grandpa Dude's for another fabulous breakfast-for-lunch meal. We got to meet Everott and saw Tristin for a little bit too before he napped. After a VERY short nap after we got home, Sam, Pat and I went around the neighborhood to say hi to all our friends!

I am so lucky to have such a beautiful, happy little boy. Life is so good!

First Pumpkin Carving Party

Photos to come....

Our First ER Experience...I hope it is our last!

Last night Sammy took yet another fall and hit his head. He had this horrible little egg on his forehead, but shook it off pretty well and seemed perfectly fine! I was upset at seeing my little peanut hurt- that is just the worst!
After we put him to bed, we went in shortly after to check on him and he got sick in his crib, the poor sweetheart. We were not sure what to think about this because I was sick that weekend and Sam sometimes gets sick after drinking milk so we were thinking that it could be one of these things - head injury, flu or just a little acid reflux.

Not wanting to take any chances, we took him to the ER. Oh, what an experience. We had about a 5 hour wait in a lobby that had been flooded upon our arrival. Ick.
Sam was such a good boy, but after a couple hours got a little restless. Thankfully, we were put in a room shortly after that. The aquarium station on the TV was pretty cool to watch for a while - we loved seeing all the different colored fish swimming by.

Finally, the doc came in! The doc checked him out and said that he said he was fine. We were relieved! Though we did feel that he was okay, we were so glad that we took him in anyway so we could sleep better that night. (Sam did sleep with us that night....just to make sure :) )

Hugs and Kisses

Sam is getting to be the BEST hugger and kisser! He will just put his arms around you and lay his head on your shoulder for the best hug in the world! And the kisses are just open mouth advances that still rock!

Plus, he is getting great at walking, drinking out of a cup (but does not stay dry) and LOVES to play with hair. He twirls mine which is SO cute (until it gets stuck and he pulls it), but I will still take it!

Photos soon....

xoxo

Luverne - Oh, how we love Luverne!

We had a great weekend in Luverne...as always! Sam loved being able to walk outside uncle Pete's house in the leaves and maybe even trying to eat a couple :)
Grandma Connie encouraged Sammy to make lots of "music" with Pete's pots and pans. Seriously, who needs toys?Here is Sam with his almost 95-year-old aunt Margaret at Renfro Variety! He had a fabulous time going through all the items there. And a FIRST happened at Renfro - Sam walked backwards! So funny!!!
At Sharkee's, Papa Tim, Pat, Sammy and I had a great meal. Sam LOVED the french fries that Papa Tim gave to him. LOVED.

Still loving the fries!
Here is Sammy sleeping with Papa after a bottle. Tim and Connie are the absolute best and love putting Sam to bed. Here Tim go an extra treat when Sammy slept with him for a while. That is heaven on Earth!




A great father and son shot in front of Sharkees! Go Twins!
And a mother and son shot there too - Go Wild!

And finally, photos of our very messy ride home!

Wow - how time flies!

In the last couple weeks Mr Sammy has really, well, grown up! He now has 8 teeth (4 on top and 4 now on the bottom), he can walking throwing his hands in the air and started school (well, just ECFE, but still we are separated and he hangs with his pals for an hour). He still loves sticks (hockey ones and baseball bats), balls (all shapes and sizes), cards and anything with a wheel!

Sammy walking with his signature "raising the roof" type form.
Can you see his 4 teeth? Little peanut really has some chompers!

He loves trucks and gets how they work! Smart little boy! This was the first time he played with the truck by pushing it around the room on the floor. So fun!
I love all my trucks!
See, I get how they drive. I am so smart! :)
Ok, I am really, he is literally watching sports. Oh man, this is going to be crazy!
(Thanks to Auntie Gina for the great outfit that finally fits great!)

So dang cute!
Look at my baby just standing there - holy cow! I love it!
Here he is getting ready for a wedding today! He cannot put down his beloved measuring cups, however. Maybe we have a chef on our hands. And darling chef!

Ok - now the kid is crusing!

Sam is walking SO well now - I cannot believe it. It seems so strange to see the little dude toddling around house! He has mastered "So Big", clapping and shaking his head no. Even though I know that the "No" one will get super old fast, I couldn't help but gut laugh when I asked if he wanted to go seepy and he looked at me with his big blue eyes and shook his head no. I never even taught him that, the little pooper!

He is growing up so fast.....but still is my little peanut!!!

Our First Trip to Omaha - Sept 2010

Couple fun pics of Lucy and Sam playing....

So Big and Paddycake + Moving in Paigie

Sam is totally rocking his "SO Big" and "Paddycake".....

And now he is taking steps all over the place. My little boy is growing up. I love it!

Here are the photos of Sam and I moving Paige into her fabulous U of M apartment!!!