tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44102887460983701422024-02-06T18:45:01.556-08:00ben&alexben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-58170230164747602182015-07-28T15:41:00.000-07:002015-07-28T15:41:28.560-07:00Ellie 8 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't believe that we are already at 8 months! These past 8 months have flown by and I am wishing that time would just slow down a little bit. Before I know it, we will be celebrating your first birthday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I keep thinking that you'll be cutting your first tooth any day because you have all the teething symptoms but still no teeth in sight. Your hair has also been growing more and I am loving it! I am counting down the days to when you have enough hair for me to clip back! It't really filling in and you no longer have your bald spot on the back of your head. You were rocking a baby mullet there for a while. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have started to say "mama" and it is absolutely melting my heart. When I go to get you out of your crib in the morning you get so excited and say "mama mama" over and over. I love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are sitting up on your own now! You still topple over occasionally but now that you can sit up on your own it has made it so much easier for you to play with you brother. Sam is absolutely loving playing with you and always asks is you can some in his room so you two can play with his toys. It is so sweet to watch you two together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have started eating real table food and are loving it! You think baby food is for the birds and have officially started eating whatever we are eating. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You will probably be crawling here soon. You get onto all fours and rock back and fourth but eventually get frustrated and give up. It won't be long before you are crawling all over the house. I don't know if I am ready for that!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are currently wearing 6-12 months clothing at size 3 diapers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have made our lives so much sweeter, Ellie! We could not imagine life without you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Love, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mom and Dad</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-12964022578651170502015-07-28T15:06:00.000-07:002015-07-28T15:06:36.980-07:00Ellie 7 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie Girl, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your little personality seems to be bursting at the seams these days. I truly love every stage, but this age has been so fun with you! You are rolling all over the place. If there is somewhere you want to be, you roll yourself on over and get what you want. You are so close to sitting up but haven't quite figured that one out yet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You absolutely love your brother. You are so patient with him as he can be a little rough with you sometimes. You grin ear to ear when you see him. I have loved watching your relationship with him blossom. He adores you and is always asking to hold you, feed you, etc. You will always have such a great older brother. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You still aren't a big fan of baby food. You love bananas but that is just about it. You are still nursing so we have just relied on that as your main source of food. Hopefully one of these days we'll have a breakthrough and you won't spit your food everywhere!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You LOVE to be held. I am not kidding, if you aren't sleeping you prefer to be held by mom. If I try to put you down so I can get something done, it usually results in lots of tears so you're usually just glued to my hip all day long. But I am not complaining :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have started to let out some pretty good belly laughs. I remember you brother laughing a lot more, and you seem to be more selective with your laughs. You definitely make us work to get a laugh out of you! But when you do laugh, it is oh so worth it. You seem to laugh the most when we sing funny songs or when we dance with you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We have been on a good schedule with you. You are a great sleeper and I pray that it stays that way! You sleep through the night and take two naps during the day. Your afternoon nap is currently at the same time as your brothers nap which has been so great. You both wake up so happy! I can hear you talking to yourself in your crib when you wake up and when I walk into your room you greet me with the biggest smile and start flapping your arms and kicking your legs with excitement. It is seriously the cutest thing ever. Sam usually wakes up around the same time and you two are so happy to see each other after your naps. I cherish those moments with the both of you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are currently wearing mostly 6-12 month clothing and size three diapers. I feel like you are losing some of your chub because you have been moving around a lot more. But those cheeks of yours are still going strong. I hope those never go away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We love you, Ellie!</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-47633804554227663842015-07-28T14:49:00.000-07:002015-07-28T14:49:40.605-07:00Sam - 2.5 Years<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sam, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I don't even know where to begin. Technically, you are a bit older than 2.5 right now. You'll be 3 in just over a month and I am in compete denial. You truly are at my absolute favorite age right now. I want to bottle you up and keep you, as you are right now, forever. I don't know that I can even adequately express the love that I have for you but I will try my hardest. It brings my such a great amount of joy to watch you grow and also heartbreak at the same time. Not heartbreak in a bad way, but as your mom, every emotion I experience with you I feel so deeply that it hurts. I am trying live in the moment and enjoy every moment with you because the time is passing so quickly. Just know that there isn't a thing on this planet that I would not do for you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are my little sidekick, my favorite cuddle partner, and my biggest helper. You are strong-willed, kind, considerate, and hysterical. You are always making me laugh with the things you say. I am amazed daily at how smart you are. You are a sponge and remember things that I don't even remember telling you. You pick up on everything and are constantly asking questions and connecting the dots on how things around you work. Believe me when I say, you NEVER stop talking. From the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep at night, you talk and talk and talk…and talk. I love it! We chat all day long. I really savor the one on one time that I get with you while your sister is napping. I love that we can have conversations now. You are one smart cookie. I can't believe everything you know! You know your ABC's like the back of your hand and love to read signs while we are driving and tell me each of the letters in the words that you can see. You know all your shapes (you pointed to a stop sign the other say and told me it was an octagon!?) and can count higher than I can remember. You have several of your favorite books memorized (your current favorite is "Dragons Love Tacos") and love to read to your little sister. You love to talk about animals and tell me what noises each of them make and what types of foods they eat. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are the most happy-go-lucky kid and have taught me to slow down and appreciate all the small things in life. When we are out site playing and you can hear birds you always stop to find the bird, then look up at the bird and yell "thank you! thank you bird for singing to us!". You are truly the sweetest little boy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sam nothing has brought me more joy and more pride as a parent than watching you take on the role of big brother. I could not ask for a better big brother for Ellie than you. That girl adores you! And you adore her! And I adore the two of you together! I can always count on you to entertain and play with her when I need to get ready for the day. Hearing you two giggle at each other in the next room is absolutely my favorite! You are the first to run to her room when you hear that she has woken up from her nap. You give her the sweetest kisses and always make sure she has a toy to play with while you are playing with her. She is right on the brink of crawling and whenever you see that she is trying to crawl, you get down right beside her and start cheering her on. You sing her songs and read her books, which she loves! She lights up when she see's you. I hope that you two will always remain the best of friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I had the sweetest experience with you the other day that I never ever want to forget. I was putting Ellie down for her nap and when I walked out of her room I saw that you were laying in the middle of your room staring up at the ceiling. I laid down next to you and asked you what you were thinking about. You told me that you were thinking about Jesus. You went on to tell me how much you loved him. You talked about how he has "a belly, and hands and feed, and fingernails and toenails" and how he wears a towel (I'm guessing you were referring to the robes Christ wears in most pictures). You said that he makes you so happy and that He loves us so much and that he gives the best hugs. By this point I had tears in my eyes. I just kept listening to you go on and on about how much you loves Jesus and how He loves us and He wants us to be happy. I was so proud of you in that moment. I never want to forget a single detail of that conversation. You love nursery and you love going to church. Each night we say our prayers with you and you say some of the cutest things. For the most part, we just have you repeat after us but every now and again you'll throw something in of your own and it's adorable. You are the first one to say (more like shout) amen during prayers at church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Your best buddies right now are you cousins Cooper and Charlie. You love them more than anything and you three have so much fun together. I love that you have two cousins your same age! When you were younger and couldn't say "Cooper", you called him "Pooker" and even though you can say Cooper now, you still call him Pooker and I secretly hope you never stop. You love any sport that involves a ball. Baasktball, baseball, football and soccer are your favorites. I am convinced that if we just got you a ton of sports balls for your birthday, Christmas, etc. you would be totally content. Your dad just got a new long board for Fathers day and you are obsessed! Dad takes you on rides each night and you are in heaven. I love watching you two together. Speaking of, there isn't anyone in this world that you idolize more than your dad. You look up to him to much and it is the sweetest thing to witness. You and your dad are two peas in a pod! Dad seriously can't wait until you get just a little bit older and he can really start playing baseball with you. He can't wait to teach you everything he knows! I have a feeling that you'll take to it just like your dad did. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You love to FaceTime with Grandma and Papa is Fresno. When we FaceTime you want to hold the phone and go around the entire house showing them all your cool things with the phone. You know you way around an iPhone better than I do (seriously). The other day I caught you using Siri to send Grandpa text messages. It was crazy! I don' t know how I feel about this so we've been on a little technology cleanse. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">It's summer time and we have been taking full advantage of being outdoors. You are starting to get those cute tan lines and I just can't take it! We have been going to the splash pad almost daily and you love it! You love the park, too! Anything outside, and you are all in. You love to go outside with me and water the plants while Ellie takes her morning nap. I let you do all the watering and you are so meticulous about getting every last plant and bush. We got a trampoline this summer and you would stay on that thing all day long if you could.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are totally potty trained and it is such a relief! We started in February (just before you were 2.5) and the first day was pretty rough but after that you seemed to pick it up fairly quickly. It took about two and a half weeks and you were good to go. I kept you in pull ups at night but one night I forgot to put them on and you woke up dry anyways. So, from the point forward, it was all underwear all the time! We still have occasional accidents but the whole potty training experience has gone relatively smooth. I am so proud of you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Now that you aren't wearing a diaper your pants just seem to slide right off your bum. You are one skinny boy!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">One of your favorite places to go right now is the temple. We will usually head up to the temple for FHE and let you roam around the temple grounds and then sit and hang out on the lawn. You love it and are always asking if the temple is open and if we can go. It is the sweetest. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Sam, we love you more than I ever thought possible. You are our pride and joy. There are definitely long days where I am counting down the minutes until bed time, and even on those days, your dad and I find ourselves missing you as soon as we put you to sleep and scrolling through pictures and videos of you on our phones. I hope you always know just how much you are loved. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-Mom and Dad</span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-30714810915751163912015-05-28T16:11:00.001-07:002015-05-28T16:11:38.159-07:00Ellie 6 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I am in complete denial that you are already 6 months old! How can that be? We just brought you home YESTERDAY! Your personality has completely blossomed this past month! You are truly just the absolute sweetest baby girl. You smile all the time but you're very selective on who you will laugh for. You have the funniest laugh I have ever heard. We have been waiting for a full-on belly laugh but you haven't given it to us yet. I think this funny laugh/grunt you've got going on is as good as it's gonna get. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You still favor mom and I secretly love it. I love that you need your mom and even though it means that I am basically holding you on my hip all hours of the day, I don't mind one bit. You will go to others for a few minutes but you always have your eyes on me. Speaking of, you haven't been a fan of a swing or bouncer or bumbo or basically anything that will give mom a bit of a break. But, you are now loving you jumperoo! It has been so nice to have something that you love when I need to get something done real quick. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You had your first taste of baby cereal and baby food this month. At first, I thought you liked it but it must has been a fluke because you wanted nothing to do with it for the following couple of weeks. I tried everything but you would just let the food sit on your tongue until it fell out. And then we tried bananas…and you LOVED them! So, in an effort to give you some variety, I've slowly been mixing in other fruits and veggies into you bananas and it seems to be working. Fingers crossed that over time you eventually branch out to other foods. You are still exclusively breastfed and won't take a bottle (or a binky). But, again, I don't mind at all. I love getting that one on one time with you. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are rolling everywhere recently. You haven't quite learned how to sit up yet but you're getting there. I know it won't be long before you are crawling all over the place. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You still love your brother and Sam absolutely adores you. There is nothing that makes my heart happier than watching the relationship between you and your brother grow. I prayed daily when I was pregnant with you that you two would love each other and watch out for each other and be the best of friends. And I never dreamed that he would love you as much as he already does. You are the first thing he asks for when he wakes up, he gets frustrated with me when I don't feed you fast enough when you're hungry, he constantly begs me to put you in his room so you two can play with his toys together, and he is the first to start singing to you when you start to get fussy in the car. You two are so lucky to have each other. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have been the absolute perfect addition to our family, Ellie girl, and I could not imagine life without you. I hope you always know just how much we love and adore you. </span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-9227565029126455982015-03-31T22:22:00.000-07:002015-03-31T22:22:44.077-07:00Ellie 5 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are getting more and more personality by the day! You seriously bring such joy into our home and I cannot imagine life without you. You seem to always be smiling. You haven't quite let out a big belly laugh yet, but you are so close! You talk and talk all day long and recognize mom, dad and Sam and light up when you see each of us. The huge grin that spreads across your face when you see mom seriously does the heart good…I can't get enough of it! Your cheeks are my favorite part of your body. I could kiss them all day long (and I do!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You now roll both ways and love to stand up on our lap. You prefer to be held when you are awake which makes getting things done around the house difficult but I don't mind. I know that before I know it we'll be at your first birthday so I am trying to savor everyday with you as my baby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have each of us wrapped around your chubby little finger, including your brother! He absolutely adores you and it is my favorite thing to watch. The love you two already have for each other is the sweetest. He loves to help out and is the first to run and grab and diaper and wipes when you need to be changed or get a toy when you are sad. He always seems to know exactly when you need when you need to be cheered up. According to him, your stuffed monkey and dolly are your favorite toys. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You had your first taste of oatmeal this month and seemed to enjoy it, although you couldn't quite get the hang of spoon feeding. We'll continue to work on that though! You want absolutely nothing to do with a bottle or a pacifier but you are still nursing great and I am thrilled. I had such a hard time with Sam but nursing you has been a breeze and I have loved it! It's our special one on one time. You do great in the car which has been a lifesaver. You fight the carseat at first, but as soon as I get you in the car and start driving you either settle right now or fall asleep. You sleep great through the night (8:30-7:45) and I am so grateful! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have officially discovered you toes and it is the cutest! You love to grab your toes while you're laying on your back and pull you socks off. It has been warming up a little bit so I have been loving keeping you in just a onesie while we are inside with easy access to those delicious thighs of yours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You really are a dream baby and bring so much happiness to everyone around you. I can't adequately describe how much you are loves by everyone around you. We love you, Ellie girl. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-8915455805568156612015-02-05T11:30:00.002-08:002015-02-05T11:30:42.003-08:00Ellie 4 Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You suddenly seem so big to me! Just in this past week or so, it seems like you have grown so much. We probably won't be starting cereal or baby food with you for a month or two because you are nursing great and seem content, but just the thought of it makes me a little sad. It is such a big milestone to start baby food and I am just not ready for you to be that old. At the beginning of this month you went through a little bit of sleep regression. I remember you brother going through the same thing at about 4 months so I tried not to worry too much and luckily it only lasted for a few days and you were back on your schedule. You are still sleeping 11-12 hours at night and I am so grateful! You take two good naps during the day and usually have a couple different cat naps here or there. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are literally growing by the day and I can't get enough of your pudgy little rolls. It seems like you store most of your fat in those cheeks of yours and in your thighs. We have started having to clean out your neck rolls multiple times a day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are still so close to rolling over but still haven't on your own. I am guessing any day now you'll roll over. You just don't like being on your stomach at all which makes tummy time hard but Sam and I have really been trying hard to play with you on the ground a lot during the day. You seem like you are starting to warm up to it more. If you could, you would stay in moms arms all day long. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are also so close to letting out a laugh! We love to try to get you to laugh and you have let out a few small laughs a few times but we are waiting for that first real belly laugh. You are also so quick to smile! Your gummy grins are the cutest ever! Your whole face lights up when you smile and I love it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You experienced your first Christmas and even though you slept the entire morning (and your brother opened all your gifts) it was so much fun to celebrate Christmas with our little family at home. Sam loved showing you all the presents that Santa brought for you and loved your little rocking pig that you got (he's making sure to break that one in for you:). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We just had your 4 month wellness check and the doctor and everything looks great! You are a healthy and happy baby girl! I always hate to watch you and your brother get shots but you did great. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">4 month stats:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Weight: 14lbs oz (43%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Height: 24 3/4" (57%)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are quickly outgrowing your size 2 diapers and are wearing 3-6 month clothing and some 6 month jammies.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You make each and every day so much fun, Ellie. You are so happy, calm, and patient and we love having you in our family! </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-16148441580081934732015-02-01T21:46:00.003-08:002015-02-01T21:46:28.983-08:00Ellie Three Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You truly are the happiest baby! Your smiles get bigger by the day. You smile most for mom right now and I absolutely love it. When you smile, your while face lights up and I can't get enough. You just barely transitioned into your crib in your own room and have done great. You have been sleeping 11-12 hours at night and it is the best! I love going into your room to get you in the morning because you are so happy. You are starting to coo and make the cutest little baby noises. We love talking to you and watching you try to talk back. Your brother loves to try to get you to talk. I catch him all the time saying "agooo agooo" to you, trying to mimic the noises that you make in an effort to get you to coo at him. He adores you! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have started to attempt rolling over when you are on your back but you aren't quite there yet. You also hate tummy time. I try and try to get you to lift your head up while you are on you stomach but you won't have any of it. I remember Sam being the same way. I am hoping that you will start to get the hang of things soon. You still love your car seat and going for car rides. You also love baths and being read to. You are not a fan of your swing or being set down at all really. It makes things tricky when you aren't napping and only want to be held. I basically just carry you everywhere with me while I am trying to entertain you brother as well. I really don't mind though, it lets me soak up every second of you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are starting to pack on the pounds and we love it! You have the best thighs and cheeks and I literally kiss them all day long. I can't get enough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have this nice big bald spot on the back of your head because you sleep on your back. You also have a nice baby mullet going on and a cowlick at the crown of your head. I call it the trifecta of hair problems, but I love it! I am sure your hair will grow in and even out in no time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We love you, Ellie! You have brought the sweetest spirit into our home and I don't know what we ever did without you. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-32761121121811886592015-02-01T00:57:00.000-08:002015-02-01T00:57:17.563-08:00Ellie Two Months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We are finally starting to get the hang of things around here. And by "we", I mean me. You seemed to have figured things out almost immediately and I am finally starting to get with the program and figure out a schedule that works for both you and your brother and everything is slowly starting to fall into place. It may still take us forever to get out the door, but we somehow manage to and I love having my two little sidekicks with me at all times. You are getting chubbier by the second and we are all eating it up. You now comfortably fit into size 1 diapers and have outgrown all of your newborn clothing. I actually packed them away about a week after you turned one month old and it was so hard for me to do. You are growing so quickly and while it's so fun to see you reach new milestones it's also bittersweet how quickly the time is passing. I wish I could keep you little forever. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are still on a great schedule and this has been such a lifesaver for me. I don't think it has been anything I have done, you truly just figured out your sleeping on your own and have made things so easy on me. :) You are still sleeping in our room at night but I plan to move you into your own room soon. I just can't seem to take that leap just yet. I love the cuddles you give me at night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are definitely becoming more aware of your surroundings and it is so fun to watch you take everything in and become more alert. You love watching your brother run around. You are the calmest baby and I honestly think that it is because you are just so busy watching your brother bounce off the walls. You have started to smile for us but Sam seems to always get the biggest smiles out of you. He is so good to you and is the first person to run to your side when you start to make a peep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You still want nothing to do with your binky or a bottle. You love to be held. Your brother loved the swing and but you are not as interested. You would much rather be held or walked around or bounced. It has been so fun to watch start to recognize mom and dad and those around you. Bath time was rough for a little bit but you have come to love your baths! You don't, however, like getting dressed afterwards. I try to dress you as quickly as possible because of this. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Stats at your two month checkup (12-2-14):</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Height: 23"</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Weight: 11lbs 7oz</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You did pretty well at your two month checkup. I absolutely hate to see you get shots but you handled them so well and were your happy self in no time. I do have to write down this story because I never want to forget it. While we were at your checkup, it came time for the shots. Sam was sitting on the bench inside the exam room while we had you up laying on the table for your vaccinations. I was mentally preparing to just have to comfort you after the shots that it hadn't even crossed my mind that it might be hard for your brother to watch you be in any pain. You got your shots and let out a pretty loud cry but quieted down pretty quickly. As soon as you stopped crying, I looked down and Sam was on his knees holding onto my leg sobbing. He couldn't breathe because he was crying so hard but kept saying "Is baby ok? Is baby ok?" through his tears. I brought you down to his level so he could see that you were ok. He gave you a kiss on the head and then kept crying. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I hope you always know how loved you are, Ellie. Sam adores you and your mom and dad love you more than words can express. I hope you and Sam will always have a close relationship and I know I continue to say this but I truly cannot wait to see your relationship develop with your older brother. We love you, baby girl!</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-70377342075621013812015-02-01T00:26:00.000-08:002015-02-01T00:26:00.739-08:00Ellie One Month<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie, </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I can't believe that you have already been with us for an entire month! This past month has been nothing short of exhausting, but we have never been happier. You have been the perfect addition to our family and we all adore you! We are loving our new family of four. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You truly have turned into such a dream baby. I am not going to lie, after your first night home from the hospital I didn't know how I was going to handle a newborn and a toddler. You didn't sleep a wink and were fussy all night long. Your dad and I took turns with you. He would hold you and bounce you for a while, and then I would feed you. Nothing seemed to work. Luckily, that night just must have been a fluke because you figured out a schedule and distinguished your days from night almost the next day. You have been sleeping 5-6 hours stretches at night and napping every two hours during the day. Because I know that your time in this perfect newborn stage is going to pass us by so quickly, I have been trying to enjoy every last bit of snuggling you'll give me. You are the biggest cuddle bug and I love it. You currently sleep on my chest with me each night. I know I should probably get you used to sleeping in your pack n play or crib but I just can't being myself to do it. I'll eventually switch you over to your crib but right now I'm enjoying letting you fall asleep on me each night. I love our time together in the middle of the night while I nurse you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Speaking of nursing, you are doing great! You are a great eater and are quickly developing the best rolls! You have the best cheeks that we all kiss all day long. I was so relieved that nursing time around has gone 1000 times better than it did with your brother. You aren't a fan of pacifiers or bottles which can get tricky but I don't mind. When you aren't sleeping with me, you love to be swaddled as tight as can be and love white noise. I always turn on a fan to the highest setting in the room that your napping in and your out like a light. You also love being worn in a wrap against my chest. You also do great in your carseat and on car rides and I love you for that! You are asleep within seconds as soon as we start driving. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Unfortunately, you were jaundice for the first couple weeks of your life. Your coloring was actually great when we left the hospital but at your checkup a couple days later your numbers were up and continues to rise so they put you on a bilirubin light. While it was so hard to keep you on that light all day, you did look like the cutest little glow bug. I hated taking you to visit the doctor almost daily because they had to prick your foot at each visit. Luckily, with time your numbers started to improve and you were happy and healthy in no time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You have been so great with your brother! He adores you and asks to see "his baby" first thing in the morning. He would smother you with kisses all day long if he could and you are so patient with him. I can't wait to see how your relationship grows with him. I know you two will be the best of friends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Everyone comments on how much you look like Sam, but you also have a lot of features that are all your own as well. You have the most perfect, tiny little button nose, the roundest cheeks and a head full of dark hair. I have had so much fun dressing you up in all of your cute outfits! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">You are still wearing newborn diapers (but will be in size 1 probably within the next week) still fitting into your newborn clothes and some 0-3 month. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We love you so much, Ellie! </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-61599465415297110422014-12-30T15:10:00.001-08:002014-12-30T15:10:05.964-08:00Ellie Marie: Birth Story<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">I went in for a check up on September 17th (a Wednesday) and had my fingers crossed that I was progressing. I wanted so badly for my doctor to tell me things were looking good and that Ellie would be making he debut any day. Luckily, I was dilated to a 3 and things were looking good. Dr. Meredith scheduled me to come in the following Tuesday to be induced. I was induced with Sam for medical reasons and actually loved the experience. So when I was told that was an option this time around as well, I jumped at the chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Monday rolled around and I spent the day finishing up a few last minute errands and spent the day with my family (both my parents were here as well as my sisters). We ate at Five Guys for dinner (naturally) and then Ben and I stayed up late talking because obviously I wouldn't be getting any sleep that night. Actually, the last two months of my pregnancy I was going on about 2 hours of sleep each night. I had the worst insomnia. It was a mixture of being uncomfortable (Ellie was SO low) and soon as I would get in bed my mind would just race. I felt like I had totally gotten into the toddler groove and that I had forgotten everything about caring for a newborn! So I would stay up every night and read about all things baby. I was crazy. Little did I know, that it would all come back so naturally once she was in my arms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyways, we were told to call the hospital Tuesday morning at 5am to make sure that they had enough room for me. It never even crossed my mind that they may be full. I called at 5am on the dot and one of the nurses told me to come on in and that they had a room waiting for me. Ben and I got up and started to get ready. About 20 minutes later my phone rang and when I saw that it was the hospital calling, my heart sank. I answered and, sure enough, they had several women who needed emergency c-sections come in. What are the chances? That was the ultimate let down. The nurse who I talked to was so sweet and so apologetic. My doctor even called me a couple hours later and said he would do everything he could to get me in later in the day because he knew my family was in town. I told Ben that he should go to work today and that I would hang with Sammy and our family to try to pass the time quickly. They ended up not having room for us that day and told us to try again tomorrow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">That night Ben's mom called us and said it wasn't looking good for the next morning either (she works as a nurse at the hospital) and that they had a lot of women in labor that night. What?! I tried not to be, but I was really bummed. I was so ready to have this baby! I really was physically done. I was sleep deprived, and so uncomfortable. There was nothing left in the house that I could scrub. We were all ready! That night we tried everything! Ben and I went on a long walk around the neighborhood at about 10:30pm. We got home and I had him googling all sorts of labor-inducing techniques. He tried giving me a pressure point massage but eventually we just gave in. We would have our baby girl when she was ready. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The next morning, just to be sure, we called the hospital again at 5am. We were told that they were still currently full, but to call back at 10am. I got back in bed and started to read. At 7am, my mother in law called me and said that the hospital had been trying to get a hold of me and that we had the green light to head to the hospital! Ben and I hopped out of bed and I showered and got ready while he there a few last minute things into our bags. When we were all ready to go, I snuck into Sam's room to say goodbye. He was asleep and I didn't want to wake him so I gave him a kiss on the cheek and we told him we loved him. I was all sorts of emotional. My one on one time with my boy was coming to an end. It was such a hard concept for me to process but I knew that giving Sam a sister would be the best gift we could give him. That boy was meant to be an oldest sibling. My parents stayed home with Sam. My mom was going to come meet us at the hospital once we got all checked in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">We got to the hospital and checked in fairly quickly. They then took us back to our room in labor and delivery. Of course, the one thing I had forgotten was the order form that my doctor had given me to bring to the hospital so the nurses would know what to start me on. So once we got settled in our room, we had to wait for about an hour to get a hold of my doctor (who was in a surgery) before they could start me. Ben and I just relaxed in our room and talked with my amazing nurses. Seriously, I totally lucked out with nurses during our entire stay. Tara and Kendra were my nurses while I was in L&D and they were nothing short of angels! I could go on and on. I loved them. Once they got instructions from my doctor, we got the ball rolling. Everyone had told me to expect things to go a lot quicker with my second baby. With Sam, from the time they started me to time he was born was about 12 hours. I didn't want to get my hopes up for a certain time frame but I was hoping that everyone was right and that it would go slightly quicker this go around. Tara came in to put my IV in and it was just as bad as I remembered! I am not exaggerating when I say that I would rather go through 10 epidurals then get that IV put in. With Sam, they had to try several times because my veins kept rolling and the same thing happened this time. It was so painful. I tried not to look while she was trying to get the IV put in. Once she was done, I looked down and my hand was covered in blood. I knew it wasn't the nurses fault because the same thing happened with Sam. Apparently, I just have crazy veins. But it was so painful. Once that was over, the waiting game began. My doctor came in to check me and I was still at about a 3/4. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">About an hour later, my mom and Ben's mom arrived. It was so nice to have my mom with us. I was planning on having them both in the room for the delivery. And it was great to have Ben's mom with us throughout this whole process. She is a nurse at the hospital and knows everyone. She made sure we were completely taken care of. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">By 11am, my contractions were starting to pick up and I was really starting to feel it. By noon, my nurses came in and said I could either get my epidural right then or I would have to wait an hour and a half. Of course, I opted to do it then rather than waiting. When they came in to tell me this, Ben and his mom had just left to go get some food at the cafeteria (by the way, this hospital had the best food!). Once I had agreed to the epidural, the nurses told me that the anesthesiologist would be right in and that he had a student with him who would be performing the epidural. Even though I had an epidural with Sam, I was still so nervous about getting it this time around. Once I heard that a student would be sticking a needle in my back, I freaked! I told my mom to run and get Dallen so that she could do whatever she needed to to make sure this wasn't going to happen. She came right up with Ben and the nurses and they assured me that the lady who would be perming my epidural was amazing. Sure enough, she came in and was fantastic. Her name was Verity. When the nurse described her as a student, immediately my mind pictured some college kid coming in to give me an epidural. But Verity was on her last year of residency and was amazing. My epidural with Ellie so much better than the one I had with Sam. It worked immediately was the perfect combination of taking the pain away while still being able to feel pressure and what not. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Things went QUICK after this. About an hour later, I felt a ton of pressure. My nurse had just checked me a few minutes prior and said I would probably be ready to push in a couple hours. I had her come back in and let her know what I was feeling a lot of pressure. She checked me again and, sure enough, I was ready to go. Honestly, everything after this happened so quickly. My doctor must have been close by because we didn't have to wait at all. Everything was ready to go and the Dr. Lovell was in the room within 5 minutes. I waiting through a few contractions and then started pushing with each contraction. This part was so different than my experience with Sam. I felt a lot more pain with him so maybe I just wasn't as coherent when I was pushing with Sam. But with Ellie, I really enjoyed the pushing. It was so relaxed and laid back (that feels weird to even say, but it was). I would push through one contraction, and then lay back and we would all chat for a bit. My nurses were amazing and so fun to talk to. At one point my doctor was making jokes (something about us not having a name picked out and suggesting we name her after some weird town in Idaho; it was weird but I remember laughing). I pushed through 4 contractions and she was out with a full head of dark beautiful hair. The nurses laid her on my chest for a bit. I was such a bawl baby this time around so this part is kind of fuzzy. But I do remember her grabbing onto my hospital gown and not letting go. She was so perfect. I snuggled her for a few minutes then her nurse took her to get cleaned up and weighed. As I was watching her with the nurses, I remember feeling so incredibly blessed. I had an amazing husband who had been by my side the entire day and we now had TWO beautiful and healthy babies. There were no complications and I remember thinking that if I could, I would relive this day and the day Sam was born over and over again if I could. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Once they had Ellie cleaned and checked, they brought her back over to me. They had her all wrapped up and she just looked like the cutest little butterball. She had the cutest cheeks I had ever laid eyes on. My dad and sisters, who had been waiting in the hall, came in and everyone got a chance to hold her. While everyone was holding Ellie, my nurse (who knew I had been starving all day) brought me in a turkey sandwich with french fried and a milk shake. It tasted amazing! After things settled down a bit, everyone left to give Ben and I some alone time with our precious baby girl. I nursed her and she did great. I wanted so badly to see Sam and to have him come meet his new baby sister, but our hospital didn't allow kids in once flu season started. We had just missed the cut off. I understood the reasoning, but I was so disappointed. My dad had Sam down in the cafeteria so Ben went down to see him and it killed me not to be able to go too! I knew that he was in good hands with my parents though. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Once I showered, they moved us into a recovery room. That night, Steve and Audrey (Ben's brother and his wife) came to visit us. It was so nice to see them. Ben's other brother Rob happened to be out doing ward visits with our Bishop (he serves in the bishopric) so they both stopped in as well. I loved watching Ellie get passed around and admired by everyone who loves her most. My mom left at about 9 and the rest of the night Ben and I spent alone with our baby girl cuddling her and trying to decide on a name (she didn't have a name at this point). The name we had talked most about we didn't end up using. She just didn't seem to fit that name. We decided on Ellie about 20 minutes before leaving the hospital the next day. We hadn't even talked about that name at all but it just seemed right. Marie is my middle name and my mom's middle name. I hadn't plane don using that name either, but it also just seemed like the right choice. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ellie has been the perfect addition to our family and brings so much joy into our lives. We love her more than anything and love watching how much Sam loves her. It truly is nothing short of magical to watching Sam and Ellie interact. I cannot wait to watch them grow together. They already have the sweetest bond. </span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-82253588774620011692014-11-03T23:21:00.004-08:002014-11-06T20:44:35.430-08:00Sam: 2 Years<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i have said that every stage of sam's life has been my "favorite", but truthfully, if i could keep him one age forever this s would be it! two year old sam is hilarious, sweet, kind hearted, polite and makes his parents so happy on daily basis. i cannot get over how fun this age is. ben and i have several "where did he come up with that" moments daily. the things that come out of sam's mouth are hysterical and we have no idea where he picks this stuff up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he has started saying "thank you mommy" and "thank you daddy" to everything. when i finish bathing him, when i feed him lunch, when i change his diaper, when i put on his jammies…i always get a "thank you mommy" afterwards and it melts my heart each of every time. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">whenever he doesn't want to do something we always get a "no thank you". we usually die laughing because we will ask him is we should go change his diaper or go take a nap or go to bed and his response is always a quick "no thank you". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam LOVES his disney movies and can recite every line from frozen and tangled. he also currently loves despicable me, brave, the princess and the frog, and of course daniel tiger is always watched at some point during the day. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">we have the stage of imaginary play, specifically when it involves food. sam loves to pretend to "cook" things and then make me eat them. he is constantly opening my hand so he can place something in my hand for me to eat. i'll ask him what it is that i am eating and the most common response is brown cake (chocolate cake). he loves his sweets!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he is currently obsessed with puzzles! he got a few more for his second birthday and he could play with them all day long. i am actually really surprised at how well he can complete them. we got him a wooden alphabet puzzle and within a couple days he had mastered it. he loves to tell you which letter is which and what color each letter is. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he's still all about all things sports. we finished our basement just before ellie was born and he now has the entire downstairs living room filled with all his sports balls and is constantly asking ben to go down stairs with him and pitch the ball to him (he got a t-ball set for his birthday). i love that he would choose to throw the ball around with dad over just about any other activity. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam is quite the celebrity at ben's office. he asks daily to go visit dad at work. i am sure he really does want to go to see ben, but am convinced he just loves the attention he gets from everyone there. he usually makes the rounds visiting each office and getting candy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">just after sam turned two, we welcomed our sweet girl, ellie, to our family. just like that sam went from only child to oldest child. i was so worried about this transition and was constantly praying that he would love ellie and that he would be a great older brother for her. i don't know why i was so worried because sam did great when we brought her home. no one loves ellie more than sam does, and that is not an understatement. she is the first thing he asks about when he wakes up in the morning and he is the first person to run to her side when she starts to cry. he loves to give her kisses any chance he gets and loves to hold he little hand and tell me how cute her fingers and toes are. ben and i laugh every time he talks to ellie because his voice goes really high; he has mastered the baby talk. :) i know there was a reason sam was sent to our family first and i can't wait to watch these two grow and develop a friendship with each other. i hope that they are always the best of friends!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we are so in love with our boy. i feel blessed every single day that i get to be this sweet boys mom. he is patient with me and always forgiving of my mistakes as i am still leaning to be the best mom i can be. he never misses an opportunity to tell ben and i that he loves us and has recently started calling me that i'm pretty; melt my heart. he makes friends with anyone and everyone and has the kindest heart. i am over the moon for you, sam. now please stop growing. </span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-80336993308367453592014-10-15T13:39:00.001-07:002014-10-15T13:39:15.718-07:0022 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i can't believe we are so close to having a 2-year-old on our hands!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i feel like sam's second year has flown by much more quickly than his first year. at this point, it literally seems like he is learning new things by the hour. the craziest is when he picks up on something that i didn't even teach him. i'll catch him saying a phrase that he heard on daniel tiger or singing a new song he learned in nursery. he is a sponge!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">his new favorite word is "ouchie". we have been playing outside a lot this summer which means there have been quite a few "ouchies". if he falls or bonks his head he immediately runs to me pointing to whatever is hurting him saying "ouchie mama..kisses?" and will absolutely not let it go until i kiss his scrape. and then he asks me to kiss his scrape about 134 times a day until it is healed and he can't see it anymore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he is also the most polite little boy. always saying "thank you" when i get him what he's asking for or "bless you" if i sneeze or cough. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i have realized that i must say "cute" a lot because i'll occasionally catch sam in his baby sisters closet, going through her clothes while saying "oooh cute" to every piece of clothing. he also loves to take pictures of himself on my phone and after each picture he'll look at himself and say "oooh cute". we die laughing every time!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">he absolutely loves all things sports. he could play for hours with his basketball hoop and loves to throw the football with dad outside. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">at this point he can pretty much fully communicate with us. he talks in sentences which still blows me away and can tell me whatever he is thinking or whatever he needs. he literally talks all day long. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">he is definitely showing signs of potty training (i.e. telling me when he has a dirty diaper and wants to be changed) but i still think we will wait until after the baby comes and we are stick indoors all day during the winter. as much as i would love to not have two in diapers, i don't know if i could handle being in the beginning stages of potty training while also bringing baby girl home. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">some things that sam currently does that we don't want to forget:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-he is newly obsessed with his magna doodle (which he's had since christmas and hasn't touched?). he brings it to me and tells me to draw something, then erases it and tells me to draw something different. when he asks me to draw a person he tells me exactly how he wants me to draw it. "face mama. eyes mama. nose mama. legs mama…". he also always asks me to draw a flower with a sun in the sky and clouds and grass (what?). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- he can count to twelve and has started to say 6-7 letter sequences from the alphabet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-can say his full name.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-i have caught him singing songs around the house from daniel tigers neighborhood. the other day he was singing the song from the episode about singing about your feelings. too funny!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is fascinated by my pregnant belly. he loves pulling up my shirt and poking at my belly button.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to FaceTime with papa and grandma in fresno! he asks about papa and grandma all the time and asks about all his aunts and uncles. he is pretty confused by the fact that his aunt samantha has the same name as him so instead of calling her sam he calls her "ah-the". and no matter how many times i say "kenzie" or "mckenzie" he still only calls her ken ken. he also idolizes all his cousins on the webb side. he is always asking to play with charlie and pooker (cooper). </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-his current favorite foods are tomatoes, turkey, mac n cheese, avocado, fruit snacks, oatmeal, french fries, and teddy grahams. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-he plays extremely well on his own. whenever i let him play for a while with his toys on his own, he just always needs to know that i am nearby so every 15 minutes or so he'll peek his head into the room that i'm in, throw me a wave and say "hi mom…bye mom" and then he's off again. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves watering the plants and loves to be outside. he asks to go outside every chance he gets. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">-most of the time when we sit down to eat dinner as a family, he has his arms folded and his head bowed for a prayer before ben and i even have a chance to sit down. it's the sweetest and melts our hearts. </span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-39399862592553804402014-06-23T20:53:00.003-07:002014-06-23T20:53:49.620-07:0018 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">where to even begin? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">the love i have for my sweet, kind hearted, long lashed, sports loving baby boy is out of this world. toddlerhood is exhausting. i'm finding it harder and harder for my pregnant self to keep up with a busy and curious toddler but this stage is the most rewarding. sam is learning new things daily and is constantly picking up on everything going on in the world around him, which can be scary at times. he is so independent at hime and wants to do everything for himself. when it comes time to brush his teeth he says "i do" and grabs the toothbrush. while we are reading books he says "i do" until he gets to turn the pages himself. he wants to tackle everything himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam actually went to nursery at 17 months because both ben and i have callings in young men and young women's and it was getting harder and harder to have him with us. his first week, he did amazing! but from the second week on he freaks out whenever we step foot near the nursery. it breaks my heart. we are hoping he will learn to love it soon. his nursery leaders are gems and are so great with him so we are hoping with him he will warm up to them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">my little book worm loves to read and although he occasionally has me ready a few different ones, he generally sticks to his favorites. his current favorites are "brown bear, brown bear", "the little blue truck", "that's not my elephant", and an old goodnight book from when i was little. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he can name each of the animals in his brown bear book along with the noises that they make. we are working on counting, but he generally just makes it to three and then starts naming random numbers. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we absolutely love teaching him new things and seeing his wheels turn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">at this point, we can basically fully communicate with him. he understands when we tell him to do something and he can tell us when he is wanting something. he is starting to get better at stringing 2-4 word sentences together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he currently loves playing with his mega blocks, any sort of tractor or car, and ALWAYS has his teddy bear with him. i am not sure at what point he became so attached to this one random teddy bear that he has but it is glued to his hands at home and always says "teddy?" as soon as i get him in his car seat to go somewhere. he also loves playing with his basketball hoop and actually has great aim. give his boy any sort of sports ball and you'll have his heart for life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he is still the worlds biggest ham and loves to say hi to every single person in every single store we step foot into. he if they say hi back to him he continues to say hi over and over until he can no longer see them. he honestly makes friends wherever we go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we have been trying to explain to sam that he will be a big brother in september. he probably doesn't really grasp that concept yet but he loves to give kisses to "baby sissy". he comes up and pats my belly and then plants a big one on his sister. there is no doubt in my mind that he will make the worlds best big brother and i can't wait to see him interact with his new baby girl.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam keeps us on our toes but no matter how tired i may be at the end of the day, i wouldn't trade this age for the world. i feel so blessed to be sam's mama and i love him to pieces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">18 month stats:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">31 1/2 inches tall</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">21 lbs. (11%)</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-30475481484669764712014-01-22T10:42:00.001-08:002014-01-22T10:42:15.848-08:0016 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam at 16 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is a major chatterbox! he wakes up talking (and sometimes singing to himself:) and doesn't stop until it's time for bed. it is amazing to watch him learn new words daily! he loves to copy whatever ben and i are saying (which has really put us in check). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to talk on his "cell phone". one of the toys he got for christmas came with a pretend phone which he loves to carry around and occasionally put up to his ear and say "helloooo" or "hiiiii". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- sam went through a hitting phase a couple months ago. he thought it was pretty funny. so we taught him how to be "soft". so now whenever we tell him to be "soft" he gently strokes out cheeks and says "soooff". we can't get enough of it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- he LOVES his backpack and wears it everywhere. he will usually bring it to me first thing when he wakes up so i can put it on him. and he looks pretty darn cute in it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- church is rough right now! sam is a mover and a shaker so trying to sit in sacrament and throughout our meetings can be hard. we usually end up doing laps around the church. i am both excited and terrified for him to enter nursery. on one hand, ben and i both have obligations the second and third hour (ben in elders quorum and me with young women's) so it's hard to keep and eye on sam AND be engaged with our callings so nursery will be a relief but on the other hand i am terrified that sam will come home sick every week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-sam is obsessed with out iphones. he can turn them on, get to the pictures/videos, and scroll through them. it is crazy that i didn't have a call phone until i was 12 or 13 (and it was one of those nokia bricks) and sam can work an iphone by the time he is one. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still loves to be rocked to sleep. and mama loves it too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- learned a new animal sound this month. he now says "sssssss" when i ask him what a snake says. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to facetime with grandma and papa!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- sleeps 7:30 pm - 8:00 am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- learned how to crawl up onto chairs/ottomans/anything. we were watching a movie one night through the apple tv. so it was playing on our tv as well as over on our computer. somewhere in the middle of the movie we realized that sam was no longer sitting next to us. i looked over towards the computer area and he had pulled himself onto the chair in front of the computer and was watching the movie on his own. we could not stop laughing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still loves his books. i hope reading never gets old for him! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- has learned how to fold his arms for a prayer. and honestly, i feel like me heart is going to burst every single time he does this. he can also say "Jesus".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to play basketball! or to play catch. my parents got sam a little tikes basketball hoop for Christmas and it is probably the best purchase ever made! just in the past couple days he has started making baskets on his own! ben is a happy man. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- this was sam's second Christmas and it was truly magical! he is at the perfect age. seeing everything through his eyes was so special for ben and i. we loved watching him open all his gifts and "oooh" and "ahhh" at them. my family got to be with us for Christmas so sam was spoiled with love and attention. and prezzies :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to help mama clean. i usually sing a song with him while we clean up his toys and he will dance while putting his toys away. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- his obsession with "Daniel Tigers Neighborhood" has reached new levels. we watch it in the car, at home, everywhere. he calls him "dannnny". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still sleeps like a champ as night and takes one 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-89252603974858808222014-01-22T09:15:00.000-08:002014-01-22T09:15:39.547-08:0015 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam at 15 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves his daddy! there are certain times where he only wants his mama, but overall the relationship between sam and ben is something special. i love watching those two interact. they get each other and as soon as sam hears the door open at 6 o'clock each night he can't get into ben's arms quick enough!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves to facetime with grandma and papa! he even has started to say "papa" and is so close to saying "gamma". just has to figure out how to say those darn g's.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves his cousins! i feel so comfortable leaving his for a couple hours at our relatives because he LOVES playing with his cousins. and they love him! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-he has a new love for sweeping the floor. i need to find a little miniature broom for him. he will drag our broom around and around the kitchen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-still cuddles with mom when he's ready for bed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- has mastered the stairs. it's pretty cute to watch him slide down the stairs on his belly. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-can show you where his nose, ears, mouth, belly and feet are. one of his favorite activities is pointing out each part of the face on mom or dad. he can say most of them too :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-his favorite food would probably be bananas! or "nana's" as he calls them :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- starts dancing the second he hears music! i die every single time. he loves to dance!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-learned how to do a somersault! and i have to say, he actually has pretty good form. he now does somersaults all around the house, i usually just give his bum a little push in the right direction so he doesn't face plant! but as soon as he bends over and puts his head on the ground i know he's wanting to do a few flips. it's hilarious. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves to build things with the blocks at grandma's house! he may have a few sets coming his way for Christmas ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves to share! which just makes me heart happy. he will gladly hand over his toys or snacks to other kids at church. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is still sleeping great! and still weighs just over 19.5 lbs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">nothing brings me greater joy than being this little boys mom! </span><br />
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-43190963880232131782013-12-27T10:48:00.000-08:002013-12-27T10:48:30.992-08:0014 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> sam at 14 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves anything with wheels, books, riding on his mickey mouse truck, playing peek-a-boo, and playing catch with dad (also officially learned how to catcha ball by himself). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-has mastered his fake laugh.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-is a lefty! will only hold his sippy with his left hand and will only throw with his left hand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loved bananas, crackers, avocados, anything chocolate, cheese, and carrots. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- says mama, dad, hi, bye, hello, "uh-oh", catch, ball, shoes, socks, "1..2..3", car, truck, bath, toys, more, bottle, and tickle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- can make animal noises for puppy and cow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-has absolutely no sense of "stranger danger". this both makes me laugh and terrifies me. he is the most friendly little baby. he loves to go up to anyone and everyone to share his snacks, play peek a boo, or just to say hi. he is constantly making new friends!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-takes a 2-3 hour nap mid-afternoon and sleeps from 7:30 pm to 7:30 am. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves to watch daniel tiger and mickey mouse clubhouse! he will crawl up on the couch with his bottle and watch a 20-30 minute episode. i truly can't believe that he is old enough to sit that long and be entertained. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves bath time but HATES getting his hair washed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-hates wearing clothes. sam would be naked 24/7 if i let him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-is so SO cuddly when he wakes up in the morning and from naps. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves reading time. he will go back into his room, find a book that he wants to read, and bring it to me and then plop down in my lap until i start to read to him. current favorites: "brown bear, brown bear", "i love you stinky face", and "i love you through and through". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-loves to give kisses! he just learned how to blow a kiss as well. i seriously cannot get enough of his kisses! he also now loves to give his stuffed animals kisses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-dressed up as the cutest little hobo for halloween!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- wears 12-18 and 18-24 month clothing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-LOVES to push the cart at the grocery store himself! he also knows exactly where the toy aisle is at target. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves to "sing" and we loooove to listen to him. his little voice going "lalalalalaaaaaa" is my absolute favorite. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-is actually really good at cleaning up. he can make an absolute mess is 6 seconds flat but when it's time to clean up he loves putting his toys back where they belong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">-weighs about 19 lbs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we love you, sammy! </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-44766671009035194542013-11-03T15:56:00.000-08:002013-11-03T15:56:09.354-08:00pumpkin patching<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i wanted to take sam to the pumpkin patch SO bad last year. but he was so little, and flu season was in full swing so i opted out. however, this year we had the perfect opportunity. he is a little older and was really able to enjoy going. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam LOVED the pumpkins. we kept one in the wagon with him the whole time and he was fascinated by it. he loved looking at the rows upon rows up bright orange pumpkins. but i am pretty sure his favorite part was making friends with other pumpkin patch goers. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-61309431704791287002013-11-03T12:41:00.000-08:002013-11-03T12:41:01.583-08:0013 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i told ben the other day that if there is one stage of sam's life that i want to be able to remember clear as day in 20 years, this would be it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">my love for this boy is beyond words. he is our whole world and we can't even remember what life was like before him. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">this past month has been full of adventure with sam. he is curious, happy and so entertaining!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he loves to walk on his own now (which breaks my heart and makes me so proud at the same time). if we are anywhere where he could be walking instead, then that is what he wants to do! he loves to push the cart at the grocery store and roam the toy aisle at target. it is so fun to see what peaks his interest...he runs straight past anything that looks semi-girly and heads straight for building blocks or trucks. he is still quite the charmer! and i would be lying if i said i didn't love the amount of people that stop and tell me what a happy, beautiful little boy i have. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sammy is truly the most affectionate little boy. ben and i don't even have to ask him to give us kisses. he will walk up to one of us and just start planting them on us one after another. I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT! we will be mid-conversation with someone and sam will grab our cheeks and just start kissing us. i hope he is always this affectionate. he isn't that much of a snuggler right now (unless he is watching cartoons or i am rocking him to sleep) but his kisses make up for it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i am in awe of the relationship that ben and sam have. i absolutely love watching those two together. to say sam LOVES his dad would be an understatement. his favorite time of the day is when ben gets home. he could sit with ben and play catch for hours. in the occasion that sam is already up for the day before ben has left for work, he stands right next to him (holding on to ben's leg) while he gets ready. the mom in me immediately wants to get out the camera and start snapping away, but i have to force myself not to just so i can sit back and watch these sweet moments between my boys. saturday's are our favorite day of the week. we both get ben to ourselves all day and sam takes full advantage, he is glued to ben while we are usually out and about running errands. it is truly hard for me to even find the right words to express how much i love watching these two together. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam loves to read! my favorite part of the day is going in to get him from his crib in the morning. he grins from ear to ear when he see's me. i pick him up, he cuddles into me neck for a second, then immediately pops his head up, points to his bookshelf and yells "booooook" until i grab him a book and read it to him. i love getting several books down for him to play with and then watching him flip through each book on his own while babbling to himself. he could easily do this for an hour on his own and be entertained. i hope he will always be my little bookwork. his favorite book is "brown bear, brown bear". i could probably recite that book to you in my sleep. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">it fascinates me to watch sam's vocabulary grow by the day. he loves to say "mama" and "dada". however, if he wants something or is angry it's "moooom" or "daaad" which is think is hilarious. his current favorite words are "ball" (surprise, surprise), "baba", "no", "hiiii", "byeeee", "dank doo" (thank you) and "uh oh". we are seriously kicking ourselves that he ever taught him to say no. he knows how to use that word and while is hilarious it can also be frustrating. but i love listening to him chatter all day long. he definitely has A LOT to say. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam's current favorite foods are apples, bananas, avocados, quesadillas, peas, graham crackers, and chicken. he has finally mastered the sippy and it has changed my world! took him long enough. he now won't even let us try to hold his bottle or sippy. it's like he became independent overnight. it's sad but i can't complain. it is so nice to be able to hand him his sippy while we are in the car. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we have gone to one long nap a day. overall, i actually like this better. it gives me more freedom while we are out and about not to have to rush home for a nap. and he actually seems to be a lot happier with this setup. sam pretty much got on this new schedule on his own. i could tell that he was struggling with an afternoon nap so i just followed his sleep queues and eventually realized that a long nap about mid afternoon was his thing. so we went with it! now that he just takes one nap he usually goes down for bed around 7.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we love our sammy boy! this stage is the absolute best. i want to remember every little detail about my little jelly bean right now. we can't wait for the holidays this year! sam is at the perfect age to enjoy all the holiday festivities! </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-43003320206492314142013-10-01T22:56:00.001-07:002013-10-01T22:56:51.804-07:00family pictures 2013<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i truly could not be obsessed with these pictures of our little family. i can't wait to get them up on our walls!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam is at the perfect age for family pictures...he was cheesin' it up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we had my good friend, rachel, of RaeTay photography take them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">she never ever ever ever ever disappoints!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">thank you, rach! i am over the moon excited about these pictures!</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-21921010460457510272013-09-23T20:11:00.004-07:002013-09-24T09:26:14.944-07:00ONE YEAR<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">this past year has been the most amazing year of our lives. there have been hard days as your dad and i have both been learning how to be good parents, but we both agree that we wouldn't trade a thing for the blessing it is to be your parents. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">if i am being honest, i had been dreading your first birthday. this past month i could have (and did) cried at the drop of a hat thinking about you no longer being my baby boy. i would scroll through pictures of you every night when i got in bed and my heart would sink thinking about how quickly this year passed. i knew i would be a mess on your birthday so i just didn't want it to come. i wanted time to freeze so that you could be my baby forever. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">but then, as if on que, your little personality got 100 times stronger. i told your dad yesterday that the past two weeks of have seriously been the best with you. you have always been so charismatic but something in you has intensified recently. you will find me from across the house and trample me to give me the biggest, slobbery kisses over and over. you have started walking, you find everything hilarious, you have learned so many tricks to keep up laughing. i laugh out loud constantly at the things you do. you have just been SO affectionate recently and we are eating it up. when you lean in to kiss your dad or i you put your lips together and say "mmmmmmm".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">it was like you picked just the perfect time to remind me that even though you aren't my little newborn anymore, there is SO MUCH MORE that we get to look forward to with you. i can honestly say that you as a one year old has been my absolute favorite stage. you are so full of life! you literally love everything and teach me daily to see the beauty in the small things. you make your dad and i happier than we ever thought possible and fill our days with joy and endless love. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">now onto all your fun new milestones! you are a walker!! obviously, you preferred method of transportation is still crawling. but if we stand you up you will walk from your dad to me and are so proud of yourself when you are done! the look of accomplishment on your face is just about the cutest thing i have ever seen. you took your first steps on september 2nd (labor day) and i think the most consecutive steps you have taken is 11. big boy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you love to entertain everyone around you. when you know you have someones attention you will pull out all your best tricks to keep them entertained and laughing. you love to wave "hiiiii" and "byeeeee". you say "boo" when you are playing peek-a-boo and you say "yaaaay" to just about everything. ball, bath, toy, bottle, tickle, nose, saaaaa (sam), mom, mama, dada and daddy are some of the other words you can say. it amazes me everyday how much you have learned and how much you pick up on. you point to your belly when asked where you belly is and point to you nose when asked where your nose is. we are still working on eyes, ears and mouth but you are slowly picking up on those with each passing day.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you love to watch cartoons in moms bed in the morning while drinking your bottle. your favorites are sesame street, daniel tiger's neighborhood, and the lorax. watching you try to smile or laugh at your favorite parts of the show while still trying to drink your bottle is hysterical. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">we all joke that you are 100% boy! you love any kind of sports ball you can get your little paws on. and you actually have a really good throw. we got you a little tikes football and basketball for your birthday and they have been you absolute favorite toys to date. you could lay with dad all day and watch him throw a baseball in the air over and over. you LOVE TO PLAY CATCH! you and i will play catch for at least an hour every single morning and it never gets old to you. you also love anything with wheels. cars, trains, wagons, you name it. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you have the biggest sweet tooth! you get this from you dad. you guys will share a bowl of ice cream on most nights and you will squeal and grunt until you get that next bits of ice cream in your mouth. we can't feed it to you fast enough. you can spot a dairy queen blizzard cup from a mile away. you love french toast, bananas, avocados, chicken, baked potatoes, crackers, cheese, and anything that is on our plate. seriously, the best way to get you to eat is to pretend like it's our food. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i have to say that one of my absolute favorite things about you is how sweet and sensitive you are. don't get me wrong, you love your rough housing and love to wrestle with your dad but you also have this sweet, gentle and sensitive side to you. when anyone around you is sad you will cuddle and give kisses until everything is better again. it is the sweetest thing and melts my heart into a thousand pieces. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">your first birthday party was a blast! we were able to have both sides of the family there and based your party on the book "oh the places you'll go". it turned out so cute! you were pretty confused with all the attention you were getting but loved opening all your new toys! you were definitely spoiled. your dad and i now joke that you probably would have been happy just getting your little football and basketball because you now have those glued to your hands at all times. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i still had a hard time and got a good cry in the night before your birthday as i rocked you to sleep. but i truly could not be more excited for this next chapter in your life. i can't wait to see you as a toddler and watch you grow and develop into a sweet little boy. we adore you, sam!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">love, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">mom and dad</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">one year wellness check-up stats:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">weight: 19 lbs 2 oz (15th%)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">height: 29 3/4" (45th %)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">head circumference: 50th% (for some reason they didn't write down the exact measurement)</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-5720107777580258682013-08-21T14:31:00.000-07:002013-08-21T14:31:23.557-07:00family night<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">for family home evening we can almost always be found at the park. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">pizza, diet coke and letting sam roam around the grass is our thing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">these are from a few weeks ago but i just love these pictures of our little family. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam was not into the swings at first but warmed up quickly!</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-54993394938026657512013-08-16T10:02:00.002-07:002013-08-16T10:02:28.866-07:0011 months <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">where to even begin?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> i am trying to soak in every last day of your babyhood. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">the fact that in one short month you will be a toddler is so bittersweet for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">but this past month has been so perfect with you. if it is even possible, my love for you has multiplied times 100. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i feel blessed each and every day that your dad and i get to be your parents. you are just the sweetest, most tender and perfect little boy. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you are always doing something to make your dad and i laugh. and you are no doing things deliberately to get anyone to laugh. before you would do things without realizing it but it has been so fun to watch you figure out what makes people laugh and then intentionally work at getting laughs out of anyone you can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">this past month you have grown especially close to your daddy. you two have the sweetest bond. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">you usually wake up about 20 minutes before he leaves for work and and cling tight to his legs as he gets ready. when it's time for him to go you wrap your arms so tightly around his neck and it is truly the sweetest thing. i usually have to take you off of him so he can leave and i think it breaks all three of our hearts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">you have the sweetest ability to read the emotions of others so easily. and it is something that a lot of people notice. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">the other week at church you and i were walking the halls (a common occurrence these days) and you crawled right up to a little girl about your age who was crying and started to stroke her arm. and then my heart exploded. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">you are a smart boy. you stop what you are doing when we say no and you know to wait for when i am not watching to do something naughty. your recent favorite activity is unrolling all of our toiler paper and lifting the toilet seat and sticking your hands in. i have wanted to dunk you in a tub of sanitizer too many times recently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">you have mastered the fake/courtesy laugh, love pizza, can play catch for hours, and stick out your tongue when you are in deep concentration. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we love you, sammy boy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam at 11 months:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- weights 19.2 lbs according to our scale at home. such a small fry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- wearing 6-12 month and 12-18 month clothes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- nick names: sammy boy, bubba, love bug, "slammin sammy say it aint sosa" by your uncles. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- has 5 little chompers (two on the bottom and three on the top)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- loves avocado, pizza, cheese, applesauce, oatmeal, yogurt, and toast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is so close to walking! you pull yourself up onto anything and everything and can cruise around while holding on to things. you have started to stand up and can balance on your own for about ten seconds. then you usually realize that you are not holding on to anything and quickly sit down. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- sleeps in the craziest positions and most of the time you hold on to one of the slats on your crib while you sleep. my favorite is seeing you sleep with your little bum in the air. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- hate getting your diaper changed and hate getting dressed. it's a daily struggle. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- you have had a rough time with sleep this month. you sleep well at night but getting you into your crib is the hard part. you have become attached to having us rock you to sleep (our fault) and now you can be in the deepest sleep and when we transfer you to your crib you freak out. you would be cuddled all through the night and all throughout nap time if you could. we started a little bit of a bedtime bootcamp and things have actually been a lot better the past few nights. we place you in your crib and you wiggle and and talk to yourself for about five minutes and then pass out. yay!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- love to play catch. i am amazed at the things that you have learned and picked up in. your hand eye coordination is already so great and sometimes a flinch when you pick up an object because you can actually throw pretty hard. your dad is happy about that. you throw the ball to us and we roll it back to you. you could do that for hours. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- you wave goodbye and hello, clap your hands when you accomplish something (you actually clap after every bite you take while eating), can imitate sounds, will point to you belly when we ask you where it is, can sign "more" when you want more, recently started fake laughing, and you are fascinated by anything with wheels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- church is a challenge right now. you don't usually want to be held but if we put you on the ground you will crawl all throughout the chapel. so your dad or i usually take turns letting you crawl out in the hall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- you say mama, daddy and tickle. and when prompted can say toy (doi), yay (yaaaaaaaaaaay) and hi. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- sleeps from 8-7:30 and is still taking two naps a day (and only one a day every once in a while). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still has not figured out the sippy cup or how to really hold his bottle. your doctor said as long as you are feeding yourself finger foods than not holding your bottle is really just preference. you would rather just lay back and let your dad and i feed you. we are working on it. i neeeeed you to learn how to drink out of a sippy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- ticklish under your arms and on your back. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is sensitive to loud noises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still loves to flirt with everyone while we are out and about. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-56180093787220711982013-07-19T09:47:00.002-07:002013-07-19T09:48:07.026-07:00the day my baby said his first word<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">yesterday i was the proudest i have ever been. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and maybe the the most bittersweet i have felt as well. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam has been saying "mama" and "dada" for a while now and blurts out an occasional word that <i>sort of </i>sounds like something in english but not enough to truly count as his first word. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">until last night. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">ben and i were sitting on the couch looking something up when sam crawled over to bens foot and started stroking his toes while saying "tiddle tiddle". </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">it took us a second to realize what he was doing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">he kept doing it and soon his little voice became clearer as he said "tickle tickle tickle" while tickling bens foot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">WE DIED! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i don't know what is more exciting to me. the fact that he said tickle or the fact that he actually associated it with the correct action. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">it blows my mind what this little guy is able to pick up on. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">also, "tickle"?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">not "ball". not "hi". but "tickle". </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i guess we do tickle him a lot and always say "tickle tickle" while doing it but i just didn't realize that he was old enough to pick up on that. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">once he started saying it over and over again i whipped out my phone as fast as i could and started recording. you have to be sly with sam because wants he see's that there is phone within his reach everything goes out the window. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the video is way too long so i cut it down to the very end where he says it again.</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyHXQiyOK1GROWkJDUTBxLllyvM2z6UZmnuXVNrka9yOCy8icBSi5DBw-lP9Hyk_bsaySLOwu3hLTrkhmyysw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">other new milestones:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- will lift up his shirt and point to his tummy when we ask him "where's your belly?"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- claps for everyone and everything</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- will reach his hands up towards the when we tell him to "reach" or "touch the sky"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is officially all done with baby food as of yesterday. only wants to feed himself. </span></div>
ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-80615713845264247312013-07-10T21:18:00.000-07:002013-07-10T21:18:21.035-07:0010 months<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">ten months. TEN MONTHS! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i can't believe it. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">the months are just flying by. i am currently planning your first birthday party but can only do it in small increments because i start to get so incredibly sad that you are almost not a baby anymore. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">where has the time gone?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you are so full of personality and charm right now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">our favorite part about this age is literally watching your thought process play out on your face. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">it is the cutest thing in the world, watching your wheels turn. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">and you are one smart little man. you have figured OUT so many things this past month. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">i really do have to stay on my toes and make sure that our house is always spotless because you will put anything into your mouth these days. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">you catch on to everything ben and i do. we love being able to teach you new things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">we just adore you, bubba. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam at 10 months:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- has three teeth with one ready to break the skin any day now. has the bottom two and the top left canine (random). ben and i get a kick out of his grin with that random tooth on top. leave to to sam to go about teething the non-traditional route. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- says dada A LOT and will throw in a mama every once in a while (usually when hungry/fussy/tired). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- scared of loud noises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is clapping, waving "hello", blowing kisses and melting my heart all at the same time. at one point we were working on clapping so much that i found him clapping in his sleep. it the funniest thing i have ever witnessed. he will now clap anything he hears someone say "good job" or "yay".</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still loves to read books and has started to turn the pages for me. (stop it, sam. just stop growing up.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- chewing on everything in sight. and in the past week has started to bite a little bit. we're working on it. obviously, he doesn't realize it hurt ben and i when he does it. i think her poor little teeth are just causing him so much pain. but we"re trying to teach him not to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is a charmer. loves to find someone in church, at the store, etc. that he can make smile and then will zero in on the person and ham it up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- is using anything he can get his hands on to try to walk. i'm actually excited for him to start walking so his poor little knees won't always be red. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- diaper changes are a struggle. end of story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- has been extra cuddly the past couple weeks. i'm gonna chalk that one up to teething but we are loving it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- still taking two naps a day and sleeps 8:30 to 7:30. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">- wearing 6-12 and 12-18 month clothing. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- eating three meals a day and transitioning into more finger foods and away from baby food. loves feeding himself and LOVES pretend feeding mom. he will always offer me his food. current favorite foods are blueberries, avacado, grilled cheese bites, string cheese, mini pancakes, and sliced bananas. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">- talks and talks and talks. all day long. he will chat with anyone and has discovered that he can fluctuate the tone of his voice. which i love. i listen to him "sing" to me all day long.</span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4410288746098370142.post-34515778510774305372013-07-09T07:24:00.001-07:002013-07-09T07:25:07.014-07:00little dare devil<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">sam surprises me every day with the things that he likes/dislikes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">for example, he FREAKS out at the sound of the vacuum but apparently doesn't mind being tossed six feet in the air. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i don't understand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">but i do love watching the look on his face as ben throws him up in the air. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">my heart stops. but he loves it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">just giving the boy what he wants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">and introducing my favorite picture of ALL TIME. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">i don't know if it's the wind in his fluffy hair, his chubby hand on ben's cheek or that gummy grin. but i can't get enough of this picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">framer for sure. </span></div>
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ben+alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11680937568605255584noreply@blogger.com0