3 months Old...and a few days.

(Sammie fell sound asleep on Mommy and Daddy's bed!)

Well, I cannot believe Samuel is 3 months old already. Time just goes way too fast when your busy. It makes me sad to think that he is already too old for some things, like swaddling. And how fast he is growing out of all his clothes, is just unreal. I'm not sure he is going to fit the summer clothes I just bought for him when it's actually warm outside! Sammie is trying so hard to sit up. He will do great if you hold his waist, and give a little support on his back. Maybe it's time for a bumbo?! He just wants to watch his big brother play and wants so bad to be a part of everything! He never misses a moment, partly because Ethan never lets him miss a moment. The noise level, Iswear, is elevated the minute Sammie falls asleep! Sammie loves to giggle at silly big brother Ethan. It's so cute to watch him chuckle from his belly.

(Ethan joining in on the diaper changing fun!)

Ethan is doing really good these days. Some days he likes to test us, but I have found that if we don't watch a movie in the morning...as much as he wants to...it just seems to be a recipe for disaster! So I've been getting him involved with the house chores like loading up the washer for me, making his bed, folding the laundry, and even baking some blueberry lemon bread this morning. It was delicious!

(Sammie loves to watch his mobile, he could watch it for an hour!)

It is taking a while to get into the swing of things again for me and school. I only had a week off, but it just seems a little tougher this semester. I have to brag a little, only because this is a first time EVER for me. I have straight A's for the last 2 quarters!! I was totally stoked to call myself a straight A student!! I just hope I can keep it up. I still find it difficult to make time for everything I would like to do after doing everything that I have to do. Were still working on that balance! (Ethan making his dolphin "dance" for Sammie, who was giggling the entire time!)

We've had a preview of spring this past week. It's just been beautiful! Nick and I let Ethan burn off some energy outside on his swing set the other day. He had a blast. Of course he cried when it was time to come inside! I am so excited for summer time and being outdoors and not cooped up inside anymore.

Sticky yet Fluffy.

Last night we got about 3 inches of snow. So by the time we had gotten home from breakfast this morning it had just about stopped snowing, and the sun had already come out. I thought this would be the perfect time to get Ethan into his snow suit and out of the house to play in the snow. After it took about 7 minutes to push him into and pull him through his snow suit, we were ready to play.

The snow had sort of a "sticky but fluffy" texture. Perfect for making snowballs. I made one, handed it to Ethan and told him to go throw it at Daddy. So Ethan quietly tiptoes over to Daddy while he's shoveling and throws it right at him. From there on out, I couldn't make the snowballs fast enough for Ethan. He was cracking up with excitement. I think it was a combination that he was allowed to throw something at Daddy and not get in trouble, and the fact that he wasn't cooped up in the house. It was the cutest thing to watch our son throwing snowballs for the first time.

Checkout Line.

Just a few days ago, I made a trip to target with the kids. Sammie in his car seat in the top of the cart, and Ethan rode in the back of the cart - squished with all the items we needed. Well anyways, when your in the checkout line does it automatically give people the right to breathe all over your baby, get in his face and call him a her?! If you know me, you know that over the past couple years I have become an obsessive compulsive germaphobe. Always washing my hands, always asking Nick if he washed his hands, having lots of Clorox anywhere and Clorox wipes on hand are a must in our house. I don't know what made me like this, but sometimes it's worse than others. This is why I have a problem taking my boys to places like target, walmart or the grocery store. I cringe the whole time.

So this lady in line was with her germ filled 9 year old, who was hovering over Sammie, saying how cute "she" was. I kept pulling the cart closer to me as I was paying and she kept scooting closer. Maybe if she was older she would have gotten my subtle hint? Well she finally was about to reach her dirt filled fingernails into my baby's car seat to touch his tiny precious hand. I think I had a small heart attack. I quickly spit out "Please don't touch him". Her mom kinda looked at me. And the little girl says "Why"? I told her because little kids have lots of germs and I don't want my baby getting sick. You should have seen the mom's face. She looks at her daughter and says "Some one's afraid of a few germs"! And I said to her "No, I just don't want him sick and I don't want people I don't know touching my baby". I thought she was going to shoot me. BUT I STOOD MY GROUND. I am so proud of myself!!! :)
On a lighter note, Ethan and Sammie are doing great. Sammie is growing so much, and so is Ethan. I just noticed that all of Ethan's pants are about 1.5 inches too short! I think he grew alot this winter. We cannot wait until we don't have to be cooped up in this house any longer. I cannot wait to be outside on the deck in the swing with Sam watching Ethan and Sadie play in the yard!!

Co Sleeping.

Yes, our baby sleeps with us. It's "big secret" these days because everyone is afraid of what other people will think. And to be quite honest with you, I don't care what others think. It works for us. It's almost like when I find out someone else does it too...were whispering, and looking around the room to see if anyone has heard. It's not a sin. It's actually a great way to bond with your baby, while meeting your needs and his needs. There not going to want to sleep in your bed FOREVER. Just for a short time until they feel "satisfied" of that need. To me, it's the most peaceful thing to awaken in the middle of the night and look down at your beautiful baby, who's so dependent on you, all snuggled up next to you...feeling your warmth, your breath and your skin against his tiny little body.

So I found this book called Nighttime Parenting by William Sears, M.D. It is the best "self help" book I have ever read. I have finally found a book who's parenting style TOTALLY matches mine. I love the book and recommend it to anyone who is pregnant or has a young child.

Happy Reading!

9 weeks Old.

Today we took Sammie to see the Dr. for his 2 month check up. He did so well. I couldn't believe that he weighs 11 lbs. 10 oz. and is 22 3/4 inches long. He has grown over 3 inches and gained 5 lbs. since he was born!! I think it's all that "liquid gold" we've been feeding him ;) What a champ!

He had to get 3 shots and 1 oral vaccine. The shots were difficult for me and Sammie. He cried...like such a sad cry. I felt so bad for him. As soon as I got him in my arms, he settled down. Ethan came along too. We ended up spending 2 hours there, and Ethan was such a good boy. I was so proud of him.

I just can't believe how fast these last 2 months have gone. His "baby stage" is going to be over with right before my eyes...

Time for a Change.

Ok, I have been growing out my hair now for...oh about...5 YEARS!! And I've only made it down to my bra-strap on my back. I think you know it's time to cut your hair when you wear it either scrunchy to work or up every single day. When I do wear it down, Sammie grabs ahold of it for dear life and ends up with chunks in his hand which make their way to his mouth! So I have made my decision to cut it all off. Well not all of it because then I would look like Britney Spears or something...
This is the look I am going for...

Not so much the color, but the cut. I tend to like my new found brunette style! :) Let me know what you think!! I haven't made my appointment just yet...

Happy (late) Valentines Day!

This year I had to work my 12 hour shift on Valentines Day. Which is really no big deal, because we don't celebrate Valentines Day anyways. I think it's just another day to spend more money. You should show your love for each other everyday!! Of course we'll make Valentines Day fun for the kids though! Sammie had on the cutest outfit though, and I wasn't home to grab a picture of it! It was a white all one piece outfit with a big red heart on the butt. SUPER CUTE!

Sammie has taken off on growing. He is wearing 3-6 month clothes, and some of them are too tight. It's mostly the pants that are tight around the belly, and some onesies are a little short. And the one piece footed sleepers are too short. I can't believe it. If he keeps growing like this, all of Ethan's cute clothes that I saved won't be for the right season!! Sammie is doing great. He is a very easy baby. Once in a while he has a fussy moment, but most of the time he is pretty content doing whatever we are doing. We go to his 2 month check tomorrow. I am so anxious to see just how much he weighs. My guess is around 11 lbs. We think he might be teething. YES ALREADY. He has 2 bumps that look like they have a little white behind them, on his bottom gums. This would explain his sporadic drooling, messy diapers and occasional spit up. I'll believe it when I see that thing pop through his gums. But I really do think he is teething!! If I remember right, Ethan got his first 2 teeth at around 4 months.

About a week ago Nick called me when I was at work, asking if we had any vanilla flavoring. I was wondering what the heck he would need that for, since he rarely bakes...only makes really yummy breakfasts! Some I come home that night and ha made this oatmeal raisin cookie bake. They are like a bar instead of a cookie! And of course, Ethan got to lick that beaters!! :) Ethan has grown up a lot lately. The things he says, he just sound so grown up. For about the past week he doesn't want to miss a beat. No naps, and he gets up when he feels like it in the morning. Like this morning, Sammie woke up at 6:07. Nick went to get out of bed, and discovered Ethan standing there staring at him...kind of a creepy though to have someone watching you while you sleep...
I think he might feel left out. Everyone is in our bed except him. So he jumped up and we all watched "Handy Manny"...at 6:07 in the morning...Zzz
It's going to be a long day!

Sammie has a twin.

I was searching through our picture cabinet this morning looking for a picture of Ethan when he was a baby. But I found this instead. It's Nick and his Mom from 1980. I cannot believe how identical he looks to Sammie. Now we know who BOTH kids are going to look like. I told Nick, on that note, we need to keep having kids until we get one that looks like me!! (I'm only kidding of course)

Right Now at Our House.

Right now at our house, Sammie is sound asleep in his swing, while our sneaky Ethan is doing something very suspicious in our room. I go in there, with my phone to sneak a pic, and Sadie is hiding under the bed in fear of the big monster truck Ethan is trying to run her over with. Let alone, he has this hat on...maybe it came from teddy ruxbin? He looks like a scarecrow. I'll have to remember this hat for next Halloween!