Birthday Party

This weekend was Davis Hayes 3rd birthday party. This is Andrew's best friend at school. There are three of them that have been friends since the baby class. Davis, Vivvie and Andrew. Luckily I really like their parents and we have all become friends. Davis had a toy story party and asked people to dress up like a cowboy or a space ranger. Andrew dressed up like Woody. He even had the pull string.

Yummy party food

Vivvie and Andrew having a blast!

Looking at the goodies from the pinata

attempt at a group picture

another attempt: Vivie, Andrew, Davis, Cousin, (top) cousins

It was a really fun party and it's fun to watch Andrew play with friends. These little people know each other so well. Vivvie is going to kindergarten with Andrew so it's really fun to see them b/c they will be in school with each other until college. Hard to think about!

More 13 months pics of Sam

Yesterday at Mommy and Me

 A couple of things I left off about Sam. He is almost walking. He stands up on his own - will even pick something up and stand and hold it. BUT no walking.

He also got his two top molars in and a bottom tooth. This makes 8 teeth. We think he is working on a couple of more. Over the weekend he was pretty pitiful and it had to be from his teeth.

But even when he doesn't feel good he is still pretty happy. :)

Sam at 13 Months

Someone is 13 months at our house!

It is hard to believe he is a one year old. But he is every bit of that. Sam is exploring his world with such a curious mind. Some things he is doing and some of his likes are:

* He LOVES milk and drinks it out of a cup.
* He does not love fruit unless it comes in a pouch. Definitely does NOT like bananas.
* He waves his arms in a flying motion when he is excited.
* Sam has a little bit of a temper. When you tell him no or take something away he cries a GREAT big cry with a terrifying scream. But luckily he gets over it pretty quickly.
* He loves Andrew and watches him very closely
* He loves to dance and to sway in your arms.
* He is wearing size 4 diapers and 18-24 month clothes.
* Sam goes to sleep at 6 pm and will sleep all night - usually waking up at 6 am.
* He is giving great hugs and can try to kiss you.
* Sam is good at giving 5, touching his nose with his pointer finger, and blows kisses at you.
* He can wave really good too.
* Sam is starting to talk more and more. He is good at saying Mama now. But does not do it often. He can say ball, bye, trying to say dog (will look for Ralphie when we say dog), dada, and ut oh.
* He is not walking but can stand on his own. He walks behind a push toy. He did take 3 steps this week but hasn't since then and I was the only who saw it.
* He can throw a ball
* When he wants something he will point to it and whine a little to get our attention. 

Sam is very loving and sweet. Sam plays so well by himself until he is sleepy or hungry. Then he becomes very clingy.

 We just love him so much!

Christmas in January

I struggled a little when trying to decide what to get Owen for Christmas. I thought about several things but decided we needed to make a memory. I called my mom and asked if they would watch the boys one weekend for us and once she agreed I bought Owen and I tickets to a NBA game in New Orleans. We had the best 24 hours. We left for New Orleans last Saturday in the morning and arrived just in time for lunch. After lunch we walked around the French Quarter. Stopped in Hotel Monteleon for a drink - where we saw Sylvester Stallone!! Then we headed back to the hotel. We rested a little and then went to dinner in Uptown New Orleans at Vincents. It was highly recommended by my New Orleans friends here in Hattiesburg and they did not lead astray. It was wonderful!! Definitely a place to go back to. After dinner we headed the arena to watch the New Orleans Hornets play the Golden State Warriors.

We were 10 rows up - and as my Dad said great seats to see ball handling!

Enjoying our date day

We came home to happy boys. We got them Hornets beanie ballz :) Our kids love a stuffed animal. In fact they have both slept with this ball since they got them.

We are very thankful for Grandmom and Granddad who came to babysit so Owen and I could enjoy a date day. Merry Christmas Owen!!

A Proud Mom and Dad

Last week Andrew had his basketball half time performance. He participates in TOTS at school. Once a week a lady comes to the school and she teaches them ball handling skills to fun music. Each week is a new theme and Andrew really likes it.

In order to show the parents what the kids learn - the teacher coordinated a half time performance at a local high school. We showed up at 6 like instructed and got to watch the first half of the basketball game. Andrew left at the 2nd quarter to meet up with the teacher and other kids. We were impressed he left us to join the group.

Then came half time. I was so proud of Andrew. He followed directions. He dribbled, he moved the ball in between his legs, and did everything he was told. He waved to us from his spot on the court. He loved every minute of it and so did we.

Sam goes to Mommy and Me

Sam started Mommy and Me today. We haven't been since November. He has moved up to the "Just Moving Class". He is the youngest in the class and the only not walking. But he is a fast crawler. He knew just what to do in the rocking chair. I think Ms. Madalene got a great picture of him. He melted everyone's hearts. He is so cute.

Sam came to work with me and then we drove around before class so he could take a nap in the car. On the way back to school he didn't fall asleep like I thought he would. His teacher Ms. Anne saved him lunch so I didn't have to pack anything for him.

I think Sam really enjoyed it. He was all smiles except when there was a transition. For example getting out the rocking chair to give someone else a turn - he through a fit over that one. :)

Enjoying snack on his snack mat

Snack Time

At work with mommy :)

I am so happy I get to have this special time with Sam. Andrew took it really well when I dropped him off and not Sam. We had been talking about it so it wasn't a surprise to Andrew.

Good first day - looking forward to next week.

He is a Momma's Boy :)

There were so many thoughts when we found we were pregnant with Sam. One of my main concerns or worries was, would he be a momma's boy too? Andrew and I have a special bond that I wondered if I could be lucky enough to have that bond with the 2nd son. Well my sweet Sam has shown that his mommy is number 1 is in his book. Melts my heart.

Last week I took dinner to a co-worker of mine who recently had a baby. Owen was going to put Sam down for me. When I called Owen on my way home I asked how bed time went. Owen asked if I wanted to the truth and of course I did.  Owen proceeds to tell me that it was a nightmare. That Sam was good and happy until he realized I wasn't putting him to sleep. He looked at Owen and said Momma and through a fit. Owen put him down and he crawled out into the living room and through another fit. Sam didn't want his milk or anything else. Owen finally put him in his crib and let him cry to sleep. I don't like that Sam was sad when he went to sleep but it does make me feel good that he missed me.

Sam is an outgoing little guy. He will let others hold him and he likes to see what others are doing. So I don't get many moments when I know that I am his number 1. But I know I am and it feels good. How lucky am I to have two healthy sons who love me so much.

Andrew Update

It's 2013 and Andrew is 3 years old. He is fun, talkative and inquisitive. He loves cars - big monster trucks. He loves watching Toy Story - the third one is his favorite. He loves his momma in the mornings and wants me to do everything for him the morning. He does not play well with Sam. He wants Sam to be around but only if he doesn't touch anything. Andrew asks me daily if Sam learned how to walk yet. He has very few things he likes to eat. He loves yogurt, cheese, hot dogs, mac n cheese, fruit, corn, & lima beans. It is very hard to incorporate new things into his diet. At school he eats a good breakfast but doesn't eat much lunch anymore. He likes to pick out his plate, spoon, fork and cup for meals at home. He is great at washing his hands and throwing away trash.

Recent picture of Andrew - looking more like a per-schooler and not a baby

Potty training is not going well. He refuses to sit and have a bowel movement on the potty. Absolutely refuses. He is decent at teeteeing in the potty. Now we are working on him telling us he has to go. We are giving potty prizes for this and it is working well. If he goes #2 then he gets a prize too and if he is consistent he gets a football helmet that he wants. I have bought the helmet so he can stare at it and that does not even work. I personally feel like I am failing as parent when it comes to potty training.

He is very smart. One funny thing he says is "I have an idea" - but doesn't really tell us an idea. He is pretty good at telling us what happened during his day and what he learned. He is also starting to give us directions. For example "Look at Walmart on Sam's side" (telling us there is a Walmart out the window on the side of the car that Sam sits).  He has started picking an animal or toy that becomes his prize possession. The toy or animal changes frequently.

Night time has become a little different lately. He goes to bed around 7. The routine is the same - brush teeth, potty, read 2 books and rock a little bit. Then Owen comes in and sings a song to him. Lately what has changed is Andrew gets up and turns on his lamp. Then plays in his bed until he falls asleep. We try to catch him before he falls asleep so we can turn off the lamp. He is quiet so we know he is winding down, but we don't want the light to wake him up in the middle of the night. Now we turn on a light that is on his sound machine. He calls it his dream light (a commercial he sees on Sprout). But last night he got up after we told him to go back to bed. When we went into his room this morning the lamp was on and he was asleep. So our theory of the lamp waking him up was wrong.

We took a picture of him one night with his light on and Andrew sound asleep. He has so many things in his bed. 

I am discovering that this is the age where Owen and I are in charge of really parenting. I thought I had been parenting before, but really I was just making sure he was safe and healthy. Now I have to teach him things. Not just teaching manners like please and thank you but right and wrong. The kids in his class (Andrew included) get caught up in the moment and hit and bite each other. I do think Andrew has only done this on one or two occasions b/c I have only been told about a few of them from the teachers. I am teaching him about the Golden Rule. I know a little of it is sinking in but now as a parent I have to be so consistent. It's hard and overwhelming.

Sharing with Sam isn't going well. Andrew usually wants what Sam has and we talk about trading with Sam but I know this is going to backfire and haunt us. Sam will eventually say "No, I am playing with it". I pray all the time I fostering a friendship between them. It is so important to me that they are close.

Three is a new ballgame. Andrew is a little boy now. He is very sweet and even though he doesn't share perfectly with Sam he cares about him. He has to give Sam a hug before Sam goes to sleep. And Sam's face lights up when this happens. If Sam isn't in the room he asks about him. I knew being Andrew's mom was going to amazing and that feeling hasn't changed. I adore watching him and being the one who has a front seat into his learning and discover life.

Andrew in front of his birthday sign at day care

Andrew at his 3rd birthday party

Sam's 12 month well baby visit

I have purposely avoided writing about Sam being a year old. It is sad for me but I am happy that he is growing and we are loving the new things he can do. Some of those things are:

* Touch his nose when we ask him
* claps so happily as if he is really cheering for you
* He blows kisses and gives real kisses
* gives you high 5
* waves bye-bye

Sam is the happiest baby around. I love him to pieces. Owen and I randomly will look at Sam and just get this overwhelming feeling of love for this little boy in our lives. He is so funny. He is going to be our comedian. He loves people and likes to make you laugh. He has the BEST smile and will throw a smile at you in a heart beat.

He doesn't use a lot of words. He attempts sounds like God, Andrew, Mama, Dada and bird. He says "hey" and "bye" perfectly and appropriately.

He can climb on anything and is running circles around Owen and me. He is walking more behind his toy car that he got for his birthday. Yesterday he pushed a play tool bench all around the kitchen by walking. He will stand up on his own without holding onto anything but when he wants to move he immediately gets on his knees.

Sam has 6 teeth (4 top and 2 bottom). I think he maybe cutting some more because he has been drooling more lately.

Here are his "stats" from his 12 month doctor visit:

Length: 30.4" (66% for his age)
Head circumference:  19.3" (100% for his age)
Weight: 24 lbs (66% for his age)

He is growing really well. He is no longer on formula and I packed up the bottles this weekend. He is doing really good drinking out of a cup. And he tries anything we give him. I am giving him more meat that I did with Andrew. Andrew doesn't like meat except for hot dog so hopefully I am being a better mommy this time around with Sam and introducing things earlier.

We did discover he had an ear infection in the left ear at the appointment. We knew he had a lot of congestion and that ear had been draining but the doctor said his left ear was very soupy so Sam is now on antibodic which has cleared up the ear - thank goodness. 

Sam is into everything

Sam is so perfect to me. He is loving. He loves to sleep and doesn't really fuss about naps. He lets you cuddle him and hold him. In fact he loves to be held. He is curious. His ears perk up when he hears loud sounds or something unfamiliar. He waits for Owen to come home at night and gets so excited when he sees his daddy. Sam loves music and will dance when he wears musical sounds.

Being the second son I know much more now. I feel like I buy things differently and cuter for Sam. For example; he needs a nap mat at school. When i bought one for Andrew I analyzed for a month about his nap mat and ended up going with a basic blue and green one. But with Sam he is getting a cowboys (horses, rope, etc...). He is going to love it. I knew just what I wanted and bought it in 30 minutes. No stress!! This is just one example but I have noticed I am more confident with what I am doing. Except for last week when I felt like I was running 3 steps behind everyone BUT this is a new week and I am feeling better.

So I will end this post with how lucky I am that he is in our life.  And I am loving watching him grow up and learn knew things even if it does mean he isn't my infant son anymore!