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! 

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!

Elizabeth - 2 years old!!!!

On August 4th, 2015 Elizabeth turned 2 years old!  The quote, "the days are long, but the years are short", couldn't be more true!  On Elizabeth's actual birthday, she went to camp in the morning, and when she came home we had everything decorated and she opened her presents.  Elizabeth spent the afternoon playing with her toys and then we went out to dinner.  It was the perfect day!

Elizabeth has changed so much this past year.  She became a big sister, talks non stop, sleeps in a "big girl" bed, and is becoming so independent.  Elizabeth has so much personality and it's so much fun to watch her grow, she is always singing and dancing. She is very social, I like to joke at the playground that she is the welcoming committee, Elizabeth says hello to everyone that walks in, and is constantly talking to people we pass on the streets.  Elizabeth loves playing with her friends and absolutely loves Samantha.  Fear is not something Elizabeth is familiar with, she loves the dark and often goes into our closet and shuts the door, and at the playground she is absolutely fearless.  And of course, she is interested in all things girly - she is rarely without a necklace and purse (even in bed)!  Elizabeth is still a SUPER picky eater, but put dessert in front of her that she's never seen before and she will dig right in! Elizabeth knows her ABCs, many other songs, and her vocabulary is great.  She speaks in full sentences all the time - Mommy, what are you doing?  Daddy is your phone charging?  Samantha it's ok, don't cry, we will be home soon.  I want to go to the playground to play with my friends).  Elizabeth always uses her "please" and "thank yous".  A favorite is "thank you so much" when someone does something for her.

Samantha was very impressed with the day;)

Elizabeth, we love you so very much!! You are a little girl now, definitely not a baby anymore, and are so much fun to be around!  We love how sweet you are with your little sister, you are always giving her kisses and telling her you love her.  You have so much personality and are always smiling (most of the time;))!  We are so blessed to have such a sweet little girl!

Samantha Grace

On Tuesday, June 9, 2015 we welcomed Samantha Grace!!  She was born at 10:21am, weighing 9lbs 14oz and 21 inches long.  I don't want to forget the day, so here is what happened!  We waited and waited, the doctors told me she would be early, probably born at the end of May, and she came on her own time - 5 days late.  I had a doctors appointment on Monday morning, I was already 4cm dilated and the doctor swept my membranes (ouch and sorry if TMI!).  Monday night I had mild contractions, but nothing too bad, so we went to bed.  At 4am I woke up and knew it was time, my contractions were awful. I woke up David, called the doctor, and we headed to the hospital.  When we got to the hospital I was 7cm dilated, so obviously they admitted me.  All I cared about was the epidural, and the nurse assured me that she was quickly taking care of things so that I would have time to get one.  Finally around 7am I got the epidural (after sending David out to the hall many times asking about the anesthesiologist).  My blood pressure went down to the 70s and I thought for sure I was going to pass out, but once they gave me oxygen, I felt much better.

Around 10am my back started to hurt, and it was time to push.  After only about 20 minutes, out popped Samantha!  I once again thought I was having a boy, but David said all along we were having another girl.  He cut the umbilical and I fed her right away.  After that they weighed her, cleaned her, did footprints and handprints, and the nurse made footprints on David's t-shirt for him to keep.

Later that day, my parents, along with Elizabeth, came to the hospital to meet Samantha.  Elizabeth wanted nothing to do with Samantha or me, she only wanted David to hold her.  Eventually though, she warmed up and was pointing out Samantha's head, feet, and toes.

The next day my best friend, Sarah, and her sister came over to visit me in the hospital.  They were in NYC with family, so it was perfect timing!  David went for a run and decided to run from the hospital to our house (about 9 miles).  He spent the day at home with Elizabeth and my parents came to keep me company.  Of course I don't have any pics of them at the hospital...oops!  That night David came back and spent the night with me again at the hospital.  

On Tuesday, Samantha had to go into the "sunbed" because her bilirubin was a little high.  Luckily, she didn't have to stay the night and we were able to head home by 5:30 that night.

 When we got home that night, Elizabeth was SO excited to see Samantha.  She didn't leave her side.  When I said it was time for Samantha to eat, she went to the kitchen and grabbed her a snack, it was adorable.  Elizabeth grabbed Samantha's toes and started doing "this little piggy went to the market".  It is so much fun to see Elizabeth interact with Samantha.

We feel so blessed that we have two beautiful, healthy daughters!  Life is super busy and a little stressful right now, but so much fun!  Samantha Grace is a great baby and the perfect addition to our family.