I'm Playing with my brother

The 2 year age difference with Andrew and Sam is finally starting to not feel so far apart. Sam starting playing on his own for moments at a time recently - which is such a breath of fresh air. But what is also amazing is that the two of them are playing together now. This weekend was the first real play time. I loved sitting back and watching them. Andrew had Sam following him all over the house and then creating dance time in Sam's room. Sam's sound machines plays musical tunes and the two of them danced to their hearts out. At one point Andrew ran out of the room to proclaim that "I am playing with my brother Sam!". I hope the love and laughter of those two stays consent their whole lives. Here are some pictures of their play times this weekend.

Splish, Splash fun in the rain

They LOVE being outside

A brother hug

Andrew really wants to go camping so we made a tent

Sharing the Cozy Coup!!

Having a Blast

This was a really good weekend with the two of them. They were both so happy this weekend.

Sam at 19 Months Old

Someone is beginning to act and look like a toddler. That someone is my sweet, energetic, oh so funny Sam.

Sam is curious. He is loving. He is smart. And his is FUNNY! Sam has the best facial expressions. This has not changed. I say it month after month. He brightens up my day. He has perfected the hug and puts his arms around your neck for a real good "I love you" hug.

He is talking more and more. Owen and I counted and he has 25 plus words. He says something new every day.

Sam does not like to be left behind. But he loves to be chased. He loves peek a boo. He likes to be sneaky in a kindhearted way. I think he likes to be sneaky b/c he loves to be chased.

He loves to hold your hand and walk. He likes to walk everywhere.

He also likes to have what Andrew has. If I am holding Andrew - Sam makes a beeline to me and says "hold me" in an almost crying voice. Sam knows 8 out of 10 times I am going to put Andrew down and pick him up. I can't help it - he is the baby!

We call him Sam the swiper. In a Dora the Explore book (we don't watch the show so I am not sure if this is a main character) there is a character called the swiper. And there is a line that says "Swiper no swiping". This is Sam. He will come up and do a run by take of a toy that Andrew is playing with. So we call Sam the swiper. I can't tell you how many times in a weekend we say "Sam no swiping".

Sam is making small progress with staying in the kitchen to eat or drink. This morning in fact he put his cup down to come with me to the bedroom. This is BIG progress actually.

He is also developed a must have relationship to his tag blanket. He calls the blanket "beck". This has only just developed with in the last month. Sam has owned the blanket since he was 3 months old...but now it is his favorite item and the only item that will calm him down when he gets upset.

Last night I did not give him milk before bed. Normally he gets to drink milk while I read stories and rock him. But last night I switched it to water. I had done this months ago but then he hit his head and I went back to the comfort of milk. He definitely noticed and kept calling for his dad to get him milk. But he went to sleep like normal and all was well.

We love him so much! And one person that Sam loves alot is his big brother. Sam studies Andrew. It is so adorable and a friendship is blooming - I just know it or at least I pray for it.

Funny Big Brother

It is hard to believe my baby will be 2 years old in 5 months!

Owen is another year older

Sam during our pretend birthday party

The birthday boy

 Owen is now a year older. Andrew really got into Owen's birthday. He even planned a pretend birthday party for him. It was too cute. I was in charge of balloons and party hats. Luckily the party drawer came in handy and I was prepared. I am not sure what Andrew and Sam were in charge of but they also had missions.

On Owen's actual birthday he got the present he has dreamed of...a vintage Land Cruiser. This will be his main car but the vintage part makes it all that more cool. Or so I am told :)

 Andrew is in love and they have already been on "adventures" in the land cruiser. Andrew is planning their camping trip too. It is really fun to see how interested Andrew is in cars, just like Owen.

Happy Birthday Owen :)

Cousins

Owen's brother is still visiting and his boys came over yesterday to play with Andrew and Sam. There is a big age gap - at least right now there is. Wil and Andrew are 3 yrs apart and I think one day those 3 years won't be too far apart.

Here is a picture of the 4 of them. I think it is the cutest. :)

Sam (19 mo), Andrew (3),  Nate (10) & Wil (7)

The silly pose

a day at the beach

We went to the beach for a day this weekend. Owen's brother and sister were there so we wanted to let the cousins play together. Andrew had a blast and did everything he could to get Nate and Wil to play and talk with him. They are older - Nate is 10 and Wil is 7 so there is a big age gap. But Andrew loved being lumped into the big group with Sam still being a baby.

Poor Sam caught an 8 hr virus so his visit was not fun at all. I worried about him but around 5 pm he perked up and was good the rest of the visit.

Here are a few pictures we took.

Beach bound

Andrew loved everything about the pool

It started to rain so we popped in a movie.

Sam's 18 Month Stats

As you can see this little Sam of ours is a hoot!! From day one he has had the best facial expressions. We are so lucky to have him as our baby.

Sam had his 18 month check up on Monday and he is growing healthy.

Here are his stats :)

Height: 33.25" - 72%
Weight: 26 lbs - 70%
Head Circumference: 19.76" - 100%

I looked up Andrew's stats from 18 months and they are pretty much identical to these - which is so amazing to me.

Hide and Seek

Andrew has learned the Hide and Seek Game. He played this with his dad over the weekend. It is so funny. He is good and finding but not that great at hiding. He finds good hiding places but then tells Owen where he is. It is so funny to watch Andrew play.

Here he is in his "hiding spot"

Andrew is really getting big and able to understand so many things. It amazes Owen and me. This weekend we discovered he can count to 20 and spell his name. I am over the moon in love with this little boy.

A New Toy

Some how while we were in Jackson, Andrew convinced us to go to a toy store. I think it happened because Owen was looking at a car and the boys had to be patient in the car for 30 minutes. So maybe it was guilt...whatever the reason we took the boys to Toys R Us and let them pick out a toy. This was fun for me too. I love watching them pick something out - even Sam got into the rush of the excitement.

Andrew picked "Dusty" the crop-duster from the new movie - Planes

Sam picked Sully from the Monsters. He growls and talks.

4th of July Holiday 2013

We had a low key 4th of July Holiday this year. All four of us have been getting over a summer cold turned into a sinus infection so low key was best. The boys are still too young to stay up late for fireworks, hopefully next year we can catch them.

For the 4th we had Andrew's friend Vivvie over for a play date and had lunch with her mom and sister. It was a fun morning and both boys napped very well after lunch :)

On the 5th we did it again with the Powell's. They came over and played and had lunch too. Another successful napping day :)

We went to the children's museum on the 6th and the boys loved it. Even Sam was able to play and enjoy all the toys. We have to go back soon.

Sunday we stayed around the house and watched tv and just enjoyed our last day of the holiday break.

Here are some pictures of our holiday!

Waiting for Vivvie and Bergen

Mommy and Sam at the Children's Museum in Jackson

Playing at the Children's Museum

Swim time fun

Add caption

Peek a Boo

Precious Boy

He has the biggest smile and loves to smile

By baby who is growing way too fast

Say "Cheese"

Emery, Andrew and Brantley

It was a much needed holiday - Happy 4th of July!

An Andrew Update

Andrew is such a little boy now. He likes superheros, big dump trucks, fire trucks, and playing. He is great at playing. He has an imagination and can pretend. It is so fun to watch. Here are some pictures of him recently at 3 1/2. He is already ready for his birthday and for Christmas.

Mornings with Andrew are 50/50. Some days we wakes up ready to take on the day - then there are the grumpy mornings :) He likes to eat baby waffles (mini cinnamon waffles) or waffles. He likes chocolate milk in the morning.

This was the first time he picked up the hamburger and ate it like a big boy. He typically doesn't like hamburgers except at Wendy's.

Last day of Swim Lessons. We did not get much out of swim lessons but he had fun none the less.

Andrew at birthday party.

Pajama day at school. They had Pajama and movie day. Andrew brought pop corn to share with his class.

Andrew is a loving child. He is smart and can hold great conversations. He likes to procrastinate a little before bed time even though he is very tired. Owen and I are still in awe that Andrew is fully potty trained. He amazes us daily.

A sick Weekend

Somehow all 4 of us caught a cold/sinus congestion this weekend. :( It was a pretty miserable weekend on that front but it made us stop and relax which was good too.

Saturday morning we were lazy. Then we got antsy. So Owen and I packed up the kids and went to Jackson to look at furniture. The main reason for this decision was so we did not have to chase kids around the house - we felt that bad.

Good news is the furniture store we went to had a Carousal so there was a treat at the end for the boys.

I don't think the pictures turned out b/c it is was so bright behind us...

 Then we went home and all fell asleep early.

Saturday morning during our lazy downtime was fun and entertaining by watching this big kid change into a cowboy and then an worker man.

It's really no fun being sick :( The boys are on the mend. My congestion is lingering a little too long though.