Christmas 2016

I actually wrote this post in January and found it in my drafts folder.  Just the other day we were in the car and Elizabeth said "I wonder if Mossy will come back this year for Christmas" .  All I could think was thank goodness I remember where I hid him;)


We had a wonderful Christmas in Maplewood this year.  I realized this was the first time since David and I have been together that we haven't been with either of our families for Christmas.  David had time off and we were so excited to finally be in our house for Christmas. 

Since we had a pretty busy December, we visited Santa Claus right after Thanksgiving this year.  This is the fourth year we went to Macys in the city.  It's insanely crowded, but we got there before it opened and waited outside the store for about 20 minutes, rushed upstairs when the doors opened, and only had to wait about 25 minutes.  Elizabeth had prepared herself, she wasn't farm and fuzzy with Santa Claus this year, but she didn't cry either.  Samantha wanted absolutely nothing to do with him, I had to pry her off of me for the picture.  After we braved the Macys crowd, we went to the Christmas market in Bryant Park and then went to see the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza. 

This year we started Elf on the Shelf!  Our Elf came on December 1st and brought us breakfast.  Elizabeth enjoyed it, but Samantha is still too young to really understand the idea.  Each morning, Elizabeth woke up wanting to know where "Mossy" was in the house.  And, I'm proud of the fact that I only forgot to move him one night- luckily David distracted the girls while I ran down and placed him somewhere new;) 

Christmas Eve we attended church where they had a live nativity outside.  Elizabeth wouldn't go any where near the animals, but was very excited to see baby Jesus.  We attended an early service with the Christmas pagent and childrens choir.  After church, we came home to have dinner and put out cookies and milk for Santa and the reindeer.

On Christmas morning both girls woke up at their normal times, 6:30 for Elizabeth and about 7:00 for Samantha.  They opened stockings at the foot of their beds before we headed downstairs.  (I think this will be the last Christmas that David and I will be able to ease into the morning and shower before we come downstairs to see what Santa left!).  Next, we opened stockings at the fireplace, took a break for breakfast, then opened presents under the tree.  Elizabeth was all over Christmas this year.  Samantha would start to open a present, get bored, and walk away;)

After all the presents were open, the girls played with their new toys while David and I relaxed.  David made Christmas dinner (prime rib that he had been drying out in the fridge for days) which was EXCELLENT. 

Next thing we knew, both girls were fast asleep and we were on the couch with drinks and a Hallmark Christmas movie, it was the perfect day! 

First Day of Pre-School 4s!

I'm back!  My plan is to try to post about current things, and then play catch up in between those posts!  I have so much I want to write down, and I finally have a decent computer to use (thanks, Kara;))! 


On September 11th, Elizabeth had her first day of preschool in the 4s class.  It is so hard to believe!!!  Looking at these pictures she has grown up so much since she started preschool!  Elizabeth was so excited to start school, almost every day this summer she was asking me when it was time to go back to school- I hope she's always this is excited to go to school.  She has the same teacher she had last year, which is awesome, we love her teacher! 

I wanted to get a picture with Samantha, but she wasn't having it.  She starts school in January, so we are trying to prepare her now! 



Happy Birthday Samantha - 1 year!!!

I am way behind on my blog, but I am determined to catch up!  Of course I didn't keep up with my monthly updates for Samantha (poor second child), but I do have pictures so I'll slowly add more posts.

On June 9th Samantha turned one year old!  It's very hard to believe!  She still seems like such a little baby in so many ways, but has grown so much.  For her actual birthday, David took the day off and we celebrated as a family.  Samantha started her day by opening her cards and presents.

We made breakfast and had plans to go to a park, but Samantha decided to take an epic morning nap.  So, we headed out to lunch at McCloone's Boathouse (Samantha loves her food, so the meal wasn't just for us;)), and had a wonderful lunch outside.  Next, we went to Turtleback Zoo where we rode the train, saw the giraffes, and rode the carousel.

After the zoo we came home and had cake.  Samantha loved her smash cake, but was surprisingly reserved with it.  When cake was done, we headed to the park for Elizabeth's end of the year school picnic.  After the park, the birthday girl and her sister were exhausted from a long day!

Samantha isn't walking yet, but has taken a few steps.  Everyday she gets closer and closer to walking!  She will eat anything and everything.  Samantha still prefers me over anyone, but is getting much more content with other people.  Her favorite thing to play with right now is the play kitchen, Samantha will stand there forever just moving the food from one basket to another.  Samantha is a very quiet girl, but I have a sneaking suspicion that has to do with her sister who talks all the time!  She loves her sister and anything Elizabeth is playing with, Samantha wants.  Over the past year, Samantha has gotten better in the car, she has gone from screaming the entire time to only half the time she's in the car;)  Samantha loves her sleep, she is usually in bed for the night by 5:30 or 6:00.  She is slowly getting used to the swimming pool, but wants to be held at all times, occasionally she will sit in a float, but is only happy if I'm still holding her hand.

What a great year it has been!  Samantha brings so much joy to our lives and we love her so incredibly much!  Life gets better and better each day with this happy girl and her sister!

Samantha - 5 months

Samantha is 5 months (well as of November 9th)!!  Time is flying...and so is Samantha!  She had her first flight this month, and did awesome!  We flew to Florida and she slept the entire way down. We've had a busy month going to Florida and then my parents for Halloween, then to Virginia for my grandmother's funeral, and Samantha did so well traveling considering she slept at home only three nights over the course of a month.  On the way home she was awake for most of the flight, but she was happy, so that's all that matters!  We have also made great strides riding in the car, Samantha can finally fall asleep on her own in the car - although not often, it's much better than it was!

Stranger anxiety has set in, and Samantha wants mommy all the time.  She knows Elizabeth and Daddy, and greets them with big smiles, but if Mommy is in the room, that's who she wants.  The girl can move!  No crawling yet, but Samantha can roll across a room in record time.  She loves being on her tummy, and has started to sleep on her tummy - just as I did with Elizabeth, I stressed out about that, but the doctor assured me as long as she rolls there on her own it's completely safe.Samantha has become very tolerant of her big sister, who can't wait until she is old enough to play with her.  Elizabeth is always giving her (no so gentle) hugs and kisses, and shoving toys in her face any time she cries.  When Samantha wakes up in the morning, Elizabeth gets so excited and has to kiss "mantha" right away!

Any time we are out in public, people comment on Samantha's chubby cheeks, they are so adorable and you just want to squeeze them!!  Her toothless smile is so cute, and her chunky legs are the best!!  We don't have any "formal" measurements this month because she didn't have a 5 month appointment, but the girl is quickly growing out of her 6 month clothing already.  We LOVE LOVE LOVE our Samantha Grace!

Samantha - 4 months

This month has been a turning point for Samantha.  She has started to smile more, and is so much better in the stroller, she has even started napping in the stroller, which makes it so much easier for us to get out!  In addition to rolling over, Samantha is trying so hard to sit up.  Any time she's in the stroller or flat on her back, she tries with all her might to sit up and her little abs look adorable!  According to the doctor, Samantha has started teething, she is drooling constantly and her fist is always in her mouth!

Here are her measurements from her 4 month appointment:

Weight: 13lbs 15oz
Length: 25 inches
Head: 41.5cm

Samantha is wearing 3-6 month clothing, and growing quickly!!  Her chubby cheeks are adorable and her hairline is so cute.  Elizabeth loves "reading" to her, and gives her hugs and kisses all the time.  She can't wait for Samantha to be old enough to play with her.

 

 

I'm slowly catching up on my monthly updates, better late than never!!  :)

Samantha - 3 months

Samantha is already 3 months old!!!!  We don't have her measurements because there is no 3 month doctor visit.  The big news is that Samantha is rolling over!  I thought it was a fluke, but she kept doing it.  Long gone are the days of putting her on the couch and turning my back, the girl can move!  She rocks at tummy time and moves her arms and legs like crazy when she's on her tummy.  Samantha still loves the bath.  She isn't a fan of the car, unless I am sitting in the back with her.  Samantha definitely gets the most sleep in our house, she takes 3 naps a day, and by 6:30pm Samantha is exhausted!  She usually sleeps until 7am or until Elizabeth wakes her up:)  Samantha loves to be held and cries when I leave her sight.  She is getting really good at grabbing toys, and is super strong.  She has a grip like no other!  For some reason, Samantha loves loud noises, any time we are out walking and the lightrail goes by, she immediately stops crying and becomes calm.  Unfortunately, the sound machine doesn't have the same affect.  She eats every 3 hours, and her spitting up has gotten much better since going on the acid reflux medicine.  Elizabeth lights up whenever she sees Samantha, and Samantha just gives her the biggest smiles, it's so great to watch the two of them together.

What a quick 3 months this has been!  I'm beginning to think Samantha is going to be as big as Elizabeth sooner rather than later!  We have a 4 month appointment, so we will have exact measurements for the next update.  As Samantha gets older, she is beginning to look more like Elizabeth.