'Tis The Season ...

With the Christmas season fast approaching, we headed out yesterday in search of an additional Christmas tree for our new house. Our older (smaller) tree is set up in the back family room, but we needed one that was larger for the front room. We were able to find one that we liked yesterday and brought it home with us to immediately begin setting up. Samantha had so much fun helping us ...

Taking time out from her job for a quick photo

After getting the tree branches in place (the lights are yet to come, followed by all of our special, sentimental ornaments), Sam and I spent time in the kitchen making some sugar cookies. She had the best time doing this because it was similar to playing with play-doh. She helped roll out the dough and it was completely her choice as to which cookie cutters we used. She pushed the cookie cutters in place and then used red and green sprinkles on all of them. She was so happy to show her Daddy when he came home later from running some errands. And while Steve is not a big fan of desserts (cookies included), I couldn't help but smile when he indulged in not one, but two, of her cookies.

Picking out just the right cookie cutter

I was so impressed with her "rolling ability"

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, we celebrated Thanksgiving at Steve's parents' house. Before we headed over there, we paused for a couple of minutes to take some quick pictures of us and "our little turkey" in her turkey dress ...

Laughing at Daddy

She is my little twin -- look at that curly hair!

The Big Birthday Weekend - Part 2

On Saturday, we celebrated Samantha's 2nd birthday with family at friends at our house. It was a "ladybug" themed birthday party, so of course, my little girl had to wear a ladybug outfit!


Samantha helped me decorate the cakes and cupcakes on Saturday morning. I think that they turned out pretty cute!


After having sloppy joes, pasta salad, beans, fruit, veggies, dip and chips, we all migrated into the front living room so that Samantha could open her gifts. Actually, she had already opened a couple of them before I knew what was happening. Oh well, she was too excited to wait!

She still loves cards and patiently sat on my lap while we opened them.

After opening all of her presents, we headed back out into the kitchen so that Samantha could blow out her "2" candle on her lady bug cake. She actually blew it out all by herself!

The best part of the afternoon/evening for her was most likely the balloons. Steve got the balloons early in the morning and we promised her that she could play with them at the end of the party. Her favorite one was the red balloon and she loved running all over the whole house with them ...

The Big Birthday Weekend - Part 1

Friday, November 19th, was Samantha's 2nd birthday! We celebrated the day by going to her PlayGroup here in Laingsburg in the morning and then coming home to make cakes and cupcakes for the big birthday celebration at our house the next day.



Daddy showed Samantha that it was all right to taste the batter. She was a little unsure at first, but once she realized that it was chocolate ... well, she loved it.



After her nap, we went to Toys R Us so that Samantha could get her birthday crown and balloon. I was sorely disappointed to learn that they were "all out of balloons," especially after I promised Sam that we could get one there. She didn't seem to mind once she saw Elmo and all of the toys.

After shopping at the toy store, we went to dinner (where Samantha was on her very best behavior) and then came home to open her presents from Mommy and Daddy. She loved her baby doll and bottles that we got her, as well as the "Charlotte's Web" movie that we picked out for her.

Then, we practiced blowing out candles on her ladybug cupcakes in preparation for the big party on Saturday. Daddy helped, but Samantha did a great job!

Samantha wasn't sure if she should eat her cupcake with a fork or pick it up and eat it with her hands ... she opted for a fork (smart girl).

Happy 2nd Birthday, Samantha!

Daddy's Home!

Steve arrived home from China yesterday, just in time for me to leave Samantha with him and I headed to work. She was SO excited to see him ... In fact, I kept asking her all day who was coming home and she would yell, "Dad!" Too cute ...

Of course, one of Sam's favorite things to do is read books, and she definitely kept her daddy busy with them! The picture above is her begging him to read, "Goodnight, Moon."

Samantha's New Trick

Sam has discovered that she can use anything sturdy (sometimes not too sturdy) to climb onto in order to obtain anything just out of her reach. These things include boxes, bowls (see picture above), and even some of her toys. It definitely keeps me on my toes! (She was eating a pretzel off the counter when I snapped that picture).

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An update on my pregnancy: I am almost 25 weeks along now and am feeling pretty good. I get tired every once in a while and it simply reminds me that I have over-done it and need a few minutes to relax (those moments are hard to get when you have a toddler and your husband is out of the country, though). At my check-up last week, it was discovered that the baby is "transverse," which means that he/she is sideways in my belly with its head below my heart and its feet on the right side of my body. This position is favorable for the baby, but means that I am experiencing A LOT of kicking (more so than I remember feeling with Samantha). It also explains why my belly is measuring larger than it should at this gestation stage.

I don't mind all of the extra kicking because it reminds me of the precious life that it growing inside of me, and gives added security to the health of the baby. This position also means that my risk of pre-term labor is minimized. My doctor predicts that the baby will stay in this position until about 32 weeks and then he/she will flip in order to prepare for labor later on.

I will go to the lab in a couple of weeks for my glucose tolerance test and then see the doctor again in December for my 28 week check-up. Time seems to be flying lately, and I have a feeling that it will continue to soar with the upcoming holidays. Before we know it, we will be welcoming a new addition ...

The (Dreaded) Time Change

I'm not going to lie -- it's been a hard week. While most people revel in the idea of the big time change taking place in the Fall, bringing with it an "extra hour of sleep," I can't help but feel frustration over it this year. It seems that my little one has somehow sensed this change in time (I can't explain it, but apparently other parents notice this with their children too). While nothing has changed in her room (it continues to be dark during normal sleeping hours) and we are maintaining the same night-time schedule, she has consistently been getting up early every single morning this week. And by "early" I am referring to 5:20 am.

I have tried to get her back to sleep, but to no avail. Instead, she is ready to go and spouting her letters and numbers loudly, as if to tell me that it is time to learn. Perhaps she is just excited about all of the new-found words, colors, numbers, letters, etc. that she has been learning and can't wait to practice them. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that she will be turning 2 in a week and that is a huge developmental milestone. Either way, it centers around this time change and I am not enjoying it too much.

Yesterday, we were talking to Steve just briefly on the computer (he comes home from China in a week), and in the middle of the conversation, Sam just went over and laid on the floor. I called her over to say "good-bye" to her Daddy and when she didn't respond, I went and checked on her. She was fast-asleep on the floor ... just like that. She has NEVER done that! She was so tired that she just clonked out right there and I carried her up to her bed for a 3.5 hour nap! Woo-hoo ... Mommy got a little rest too!

Too cute for words!

How could I resist this little cutie sitting at the counter doing her "more" sign to tell me that she would like a freshly-baked cookie? I couldn't ...

Leaves, Leaves Everywhere

Before Steve left for China ... again ... we spent some time outside in the leaves with Samantha. She loves looking up into the sky as we drop leaves on her. She giggles and says, "down," referring to the leaves falling down all around her.

I can't believe that my little girl is growing up so fast. She is going to be 2 years old in 16 days ... 16 days! She is the light of our lives and we can't wait to see how she is going to react when we bring another little one home from the hospital in just a few short months. I have a feeling (and I hope that I am right) that the adjustment with her and her younger sibling will go smoothly. She seems very interested in babies these days (particularly the one in my belly).

Climbing in the leaves with Daddy

Dropping leaves from the sky

Mommy joined in too


Hide and seek?

Halloween 2010

Happy Halloween!

Samantha was a pig for Halloween this year ... and she was the cutest one ever! She did such a great job keeping her costume on, even the hat, and I attribute most of that to the fact that it was very chilly outside for trick-or-treating.

Steve's parents came over to see Samantha and then to pass out candy for us while we took Sam to about 6 houses in the neighborhood. Samantha learned to say, "trick or treat" just this week and she had a lot of fun carrying her little bucket up to the houses and quietly saying that while holding out her bucket. We don't let her have much candy at all ... the trick-or-treating was more for the experience and for the neighbors to be able to see her. And it was so adorable to watch the excitement on her face when we pulled the wagon up to a new house and told her whose house it was ...

Getting ready with Daddy

Putting the final touches on with Mommy

A quick family photo

Posing with Grandpa before Steve and I took Sam around in the wagon

Showing us her candy after we got home

Steve's pumpkin

My cat pumpkin

Ready for bed in her Halloween cat pajamas