Sam is 11 Months Old

Sam turned 11 months this weekend. I am struggling with him turning one soon. He is changing by the day. Here are some pictures on my 11 month old.

Sam is a happy baby. He is constantly on the move. Some things he is doing now are:

* He is saying mama better and making the connection that mama is ME!
* Is a pro at saying dada
* Still tries to say Andrew and Ralphie - he gets the first syllable
* He is eating better when it comes to solid foods. He likes cut up bananas and is also trying to say banana - he actually says nana.
* We have a talker - he is constantly babbling and uses different tones to tell us a really good story
* He is wearing size 4 diapers - even though they are big on him but the size 3 diapers were too small. He is in between sizes.
* Goes to sleep around 6:15 and sleeps all night. Wakes up around 5:30 to 6:30 am.
* Takes two naps one around 8 am and the other one after lunch
* Still drinking 5 bottles a day and is eating 2-3 meals a day (baby food) and is now snacking - he loves cheerios
* Does NOT like to lie down for a diaper change and really doesn't like it when you get him dressed or undressed. He has always been like this but I think he hates to be constrained now. The boy is constantly on the move.
* He LOVES remote controls and phones. I think it is a mission of his to find one of those items at all times. And he lets you know how mad he is when you take it away from him.
* He can clap and will do so when you ask him to clap. He is also a good waver and will say hey when he waves.
* He is started to "hug" your neck when you hold him
* I have started to incorporate a bed story now at night. Since he holds his bottle, it is easier for me to read to him



* Sam is very observant - he studies people and is very curious
* He hears music and dances to it. When you sing to him - it calms him down if he is fussy and makes him laugh when he is in a good mood. The other day Andrew was signing Old McDonald and stopped before he said what animal was there and Sam picked up with the sounds of a moo moo here and moo moo there. He did say those words but hummed the beat it would make if you said it. Owen and I both looked at each other in amazement.
* Sam will stand next to anything. He crawls fast and picks up toys very easily.
* He is getting two more teeth - which will make 6 teeth

He is a perfect 11 month old!

Mommy and Me professional pictures

In Sam's mommy and me class one of the moms is a professional photographer. She is trying to grow her business and needed some pictures for her portfolio. This means we got to be the models. I loved the pictures! These were taken on Sam's mommy and me birthday celebration so they are perfect to document him turning one.

Sam about to turn one!

My favorite one :)

Such a big boy

Thanksgiving 2012

We stayed in Hattiesburg this Thanksgiving. Owen's brother Nathan and his family came to town. Abby and her boyfriend Eric also came. It was the first time in a year that everyone was in Hattiesburg. Owen's mom had the big turkey day at her house. The second cousins came too so it was a big crowd. This was the first time in a really long time that the extended family was together. It was a really enjoyable day.

Here are the pictures from the day!

Uncle Nathan and Sam

Aha, Sam, Alexandra, Madalene, Catherine, Carson, Nate, Mick and Andrew and Wil on the bottom step

All the cousins (Alexandra, Sam, Madalene, Catherine, Carson, Nate, Wil & Andrew on bottom step)

Alexandra and Sam

Andrew being silly

Sam constantly moving

Mick organized a fishing rodeo for the kids. It was a big hit! They had prizes at the end of the day. Andrew got a train whistle and Sam got MSU band aids. They also had prizes for biggest fish, smallest fish, etc...Our boys didn't win any of those. Andrew liked the idea of fishing and wanted to fish but when Owen got the line ready Andrew was ready for something else. This happened over and over :)

It was a nice day!

COUSINS!!

Andrew has had one fun week. His cousins Nate and Wil (Owen's brother's kids) are here this week for Thanksgiving. Andrew has played with them every afternoon and spent the night at Aha's and Mick's last night.

Yesterday they took them to the park and these three boys had some serious fun!

Aunt Abby sent me these pictures. I definitely wanted to document them b/c they are priceless.

Andrew is on cloud 9. He has really opened up and letting everyone see his fun personality. Wil who is 6 years old is having fun being the "big cousin" and Andrew is following Wil like a shadow. I think both boys like this arrangment :)

Mommy and Me Graduation

In 2010 I started taking Andrew to Mommy and Me. He was three months old. At that time I asked how long Mommy and Me lasted. When I was told until they turn 3 - I thought that seemed like a long time. I tried to image life three years in the future and it was hard. I really didn't understand then how fast time flies.

2010 Easter Party

Just look at how tiny he was. These were my favorite classes. I love the first year!

Then came the Just Movin' year...he was wild. We were learning so many new things. We worked on transitions and sharing and following directions. Little things that seemed so big at the time.

2011 Easter Party

Andrew still didn't quite understand Mommy and Me during the first year and half but then came the toddler class. And he grew leaps and bounds. Talking non stop and learning to speak in public. He started learning family facts and becoming a big boy.

2012 Easter Party with baby brother

Last week was Andrew's last Mommy and Me class. He "graduated". Mommy and Me had a family night and Andrew got to show off one more time to his Dad and Grandparents. I thought I would cry. I was just more in awe of my little boy who pulls at my heartstrings on a daily basis. He is a three year old. I am in amazement of how little ones grow up and become their own little person. Andrew is definitely his own little self. What a character he is and Owen and I love to watch him learn, make jokes, and be happy!

Here are pictures of Andrew's last Mommy and Me Class.

Andrew with his certificate

Proud Parents :)

Sharing and playing with this friends

Aha and Mick came too

Story Time

The Three Year Olds - Brantley, Andrew, Judah, Emi, & Ms. Madalene

best friends

 At the end Andrew knew Mommy and Me was on Tuesdays and he would ask all of the time if it was Mommy and Me day. We talked for weeks about his last class coming up. I know when it starts back up in January for Sam that Andrew is going to be upset and confused. He enjoyed the one on one time with me as much as I did. I am so lucky to be able to steal these few hours each week with my little man. It was a wonderful night full of happy memories.

Sam celebrates his birthday in Mommy and Me

In Mommy and Me we have birthday celebrations. Andrew never had one b/c he has a December birthday and we don't meet in December. Even though Sam has a December birthday his class decided to celebrate winter birthdays on the last day of class - so we participated. I made mini cupcakes with football toppers to get in the spirit of his birthday party.

It is very hard for me to realize he is about to be one!

Halloween 2012

We did not just have parties for Halloween this year - we actually trick or treated too!!

Our friends Amanda and her kids - Brantley and Emery as well as our friend Mandi and her kids - Meredith, Noah and Margot came over to trick or treat with us. Owen and Josh (Mandi's husband) also joined in the trick or treat fun and Kris (Amanda's husband) came later that night.

We decided to go early at 4:30 and then eat pizza together. This way everyone would have dinner and getting the kids to bed would not be so hectic. In theory this plan worked like a charm but in reality the pizza man was 45 minutes late so we had very hungry kids and tired kids by the time we ate. We still had fun chit chatting and seeing the kids play together.

Here are some pictures of our night.

My Sailor Men

It's going to be hectic having Andrew and Sam's birthdays in the same month but it's been fun for me to look back at how much they look a like - yet are so different.

This is Andrew and me at Mommy and Me in 2010



And here I am with Sam at Mommy and Me in 2012



I am one lucky mommy!

Sam's Mommy and Me Party

Sam also had his Mommy and Me Halloween party this week. It was his first :) I was lucky this week b/c I got to attend both Mommy and Me classes. I just love going to the First Year Mommy and Me. It is so sweet and the babies are so precious. Sam has some sweet little friends in this class. I am a little sad b/c he will move to the Just Movin' class in January and some of his friends won't move up b/c they will still be little. Hopefully we can make new friends as easily in the new Mommy and Me class.

Sam was a Navy Officer in his dress blues - this was the same outfit Andrew wore and I just love it.





This one on one time I have with Sam melts my heart. I just love him more than I ever thought I could. I know that is an odd sentence but you just don't know how much your heart grows until you have that 2nd child.

Ms. Madelene took this picture of us and I LOVE it.



Here are some more pictures from the party.









It was a happy day!