Happy Birthday Sam

My baby is 4 years old today!  Can you believe my youngest is 4?  It feels like just yesterday I was pregnant - begging the doctor to take him out of me!  But he wouldn't budge.  When they delivered him C-Section he was breech - which tells me he would have stayed camped out a little longer had I let him. 

He is a momma's boy - and I'll admit it - I love it! 

Sam is an all or nothing kind of kid.  He's all in or he's out.  He has the strongest personality I've ever come across.  And he's always been this way.  He's strong willed, stubborn, demanding.  All traits that are sometimes hard to deal with in a toddler - but I know - watch out world - as he grows and gets older - these traits will push him through life and he will be a strong man. 

My baby is wild and crazy - but has the sweetest heart.  He loves to cuddle and be held.  He still wants me to sleep by him "the whole time" as he says to me every night when I tuck him into bed.  He has a hard time expressing his emotions - when he does something that hurts someone else's feelings or hurts them (by accident) he gets so upset.  He has such a tender heart and loves the people in his life so much. 

As he grows up - every day we have  conversations that makes me laugh.  He tells me about his dreams, about what would "be so funny", about what he wants to do with "me, and dad, and Jake, and you mom".  He is shy and timid, yet fearless and strong - I realize these things contradict each other, but it is true - and he sometimes has 2 personalities (should I be worried?)

This boy is my heart - he is so animated and fun.  So full of life and wants to live every single minute (as long as someone holds his hand).  He completed our family - and has made my world so much more and keeps me on my toes.  He is my special Sammy - and I only hope he stays a momma's boy for years to come. 

Today - like most days- I'm going to let him rule the roost and do anything he wants! 

Happy Birthday Sam - Love you SOOOOOOOO much. 

My Baby Sam

I called Jake my baby the other day and Sam said "He's not your baby, he's big - I'm your baby." 

He is so my baby.  This week he started at his Pre-School and we are both having a hard time letting this happen. 

 

He was so nervous and anxious the first day.  When I dropped him off, he tried so hard not to cry.  So hard in fact that his lip was sticking out and trembling.  SO.HARD.TO.LEAVE.HIM.

 

 

I had about a 10 minute window to pick up Jake at his school and then driving to Sam's school 10 mins away to be there for his pick up.  I have never been so anxious and driven so fast in my life.  When I arrived at his school the line was out of the parking lot to pick up.  I zoomed around everyone and pulled up right up front - got out of the car to grab my kid - and he burst into tears.  "I missed you so much mommy" The teachers told me he had a few ups and downs throughout the day. 

 

When does your heart not hurt for your kids anymore?  Sam is so in his head - and gets use to a schedule that any disruption throws him off.  I was hoping today when I dropped him off it would be easier.  Its show n tell and that has been his #1 reason he wanted to go to Jake's school.  He has been dying to do show n tell. 

 

Well, it didn't matter - it was worse today.  The teacher told me to let go of him and hand him over and I said - "I'm not holding him"  He had his legs and arms wrapped so tightly around me I could completely let go of him and he didn't move.  He was SCREAMING hysterically.  I had to just hand him off and leave.  I got in the car and I cried hysterically.   

 

Why is growing up so hard - on us both?  Can't he just stay little forever? 

 

I want my happy, fun loving, carefree kid back.

 

 

And now I'm at work and can't even pick him up today!  I wonder if he'll break down crying when he sees Mike today.....or if that is something he saves just for me.  I love that he's a momma's boy - but boy does it make mornings emotional! 

 

A Little Update in Pictures

Summer is in full swing around these parts and we couldn't be happier.  I wish I had a job that gave me summers off, cause I sure wish I could stay home with these two jokers most days and play.

Between, swimming, BBQing, yard work, get togethers, tball, golf, lagoon, and work - we have a busy few months ahead of us!

So far this summer - we have have put our Lagoon passes to good use.  

Rode a few roller coasters

And the dinosaur egg drop may be the family favorite.  

Love this picture of Sam laughing every time it dropped.  

I have done a little quilting for myself and getting my house ready for summer which screams patriotic themes to me!

 I've been doing a lot of quilting!  This flag quilt I wanted to keep - and this chevron with the circles killed me!

I even got to the shop hop last week!

Jake started t-ball and I'm loving it!

I mean come on...aren't these 2 the cutest looking ball players around? 

We've golfed a little - both regular and mini.  

And spent a few weekends in the pool.  

Summer is in full swing around here and we are loving it!

Motherhood

My boys have been getting along very well lately.  Playing together, laughing together, looking out for each other, excited for each other.  I think watching your kids love being together and having fun together may be the best part of being a mother.  Don't get me wrong - usually the wonderful moment ends in a fight - but the moment was still great.

Last night I was exhausted.  Came home from a long day at work, made dinner, cleaned it up, we ran a few errands and when we got home the kids were playing together.  Not needing any assistance from us parents - just playing and laughing and having a ball together.

I set up shop on the couch and started watching reruns of West Wing on Netflix.  The boys were playing games on the ipad.  Sam sitting next to me humming along to the Star Wars song on Angry Birds.  I paused my show to video him on my phone.  He had no idea - and he LOVES to watch videos of himself.  At the end of the song he saw me holding my phone and said "you can take my picture now".  This boy MELTs my heart.  He is a bundle of energy, stubborn, determined, thinks the world revolves around him.  But he is so much fun.  I love to listen to him talk to Jake and the conversations they have.  I love watching him play games and seeing his face expressions as he gets excited or frustrated.  He is so animated.

The boys went into their room to play together and I continued my show.  Every once in awhile pausing so I could hear their conversation.  My boys are into toys - and they watch kids review toys on YouTube (I blame my husband).  Sam can watch for hours - which is why YouTube has now been removed from the ipad - but last night they were in their room, and had set up toys across the desk.  I could hear them in there practicing their own reviews.  I was laughing out loud listening to my little Sammy describe the toy and what it does - and then you would hear him say "oh look, my brother Jake just came in" like he was introducing Jake into the mix now.  Crazy what these kids pick up at such a young age.  

Mike kept asking me if I was going to go down and quilt.  I needed to - it would have been a perfect night, fairly early, kids were playing well, but I just stayed in bed watching my West Wing, pausing the video to listen to my kids play together.  When it was time for bed - I didn't mind one bit that Sam wanted to sleep in my bed last night.  We snuggled up together and he said "Sure do love you mom".  

Days like this are the best part of being a mom.  I wish I could bottle up these days and keep them forever.  I wish I could be at home with them all day everyday.  Cause you blink and they are grown up - or in really bad moods the next day!  

The joys of motherhood.  

Motherhood

Source: wallsneedlove.com via Abby on Pinterest

I've been getting in some quality time with these two this weekend - its been a great couple of days.  Need to remind myself to do this more often!

Best Friends

Having 2 kids fairly close together in age - I've longed for the days where they get along well and start playing together like buddies.  I'm slowly seeing the benefits of not having an only child - for awhile I wasn't sure there was one...haha

Last weekend we took a little trip down south.  The weather was warm and my kids thought it was summer.  They were so excited to be out and about.  

Playing the water, playing at the park.  

Having fun and being silly together.  

I love the below picture, even though its blurry.  Sam just ran down the waterfall steps which is was nervous to do.  They ran down holding hands and at the bottom Sam was so excited saying "I did it, I did it." and Jake was clapping for him.  Such cute brother love.  

We came home and of course reality sets back in.  I work from home on Tuesdays and in recent months have spent my days on calls, which means I shooing these 2 away all day.  Last Tuesday Jake decided to take on the babysitter role.  While I was downstairs on calls, he made popcorn, put it in a bowl, poured them some drinks and was learning how to turn on their show when I came up to check on them.  They played so good together all day.  Sadly around 4pm Jake goes to his Little Gym class and as he was getting ready all the happiness, togetherness of the day fell apart.  

All day long Sam had been telling Jake that he was his best friend - it is what a mother waits to hear with 2 little toddlers running around.  Well, as we were loading into the car to take Jake - 

Sam says - "Jake, you're not my best friend anymore, dad is"

Jake getting hysterically says he's been replaced.  I tell him to calm down and he says 

"I have done EVERYTHING for him today - and he just replaced me with dad!" 

Needless to say - they were both crying hysterically by the time we got to Little Gym.  So much for having perfect days.  

Today their project of the day was to dump out their piggy banks and count their money.  Trying to put it together in piles that = dollars....We'll see how long this projects lasts today!

Conversations with Sam

Warning - may be giving too much info here!

Sam has been potty trained (mostly) for awhile now, but he still has a little trouble when he sleeps and with #2 - he wants to put  a pull up on when its that time of the day.  

Last night as we were getting him in jammies and pull up for bed - he said to me - 

"Mom, this is the last pull up."  He said while handing it to me.  "I think I can go in the toliet tomorrow."  

Me - "Sammy that would be great, I think you can do it too."  

Sam - "Mom, I just have to believe in myself and I can do it."  

I couldn't stop laughing.  Where in the world has he learned the statement believe in yourself?  He said it about 10 more times, and woke up saying it this morning.  

Maybe today we'll have a break through!  Wish us luck.

The Little Things

Source: quotesandimages.com via Abby on Pinterest

Can't Sleep

There hasn't been much sleep going on for me this week.  Tonight I had a little friend who decided sleep wasn't for him either....

After an hour or two of trying to get him back to sleep, I decided I needed to get downstairs to finish a quilt so he wanted to come.  "Mom, I'm a weally good helper" he told me as we came downstairs.  He then found his toys and played with them.  I love listening to him have his little toys talk to each other.  Isn't their imagination fun at this age?  He then had to call Grama to see if she knew where Woody's hat was.  I didn't hear her end of the conversation on the phone, but he hung up to tell me they will go on a mission in the morning to find his hat.  After an hour or so of "helping" and playing he decided he was tired and headed upstairs. 

I have no idea why this little guy thinks he doesn't need sleep.  I on the other hand have PLENTY of reasons I am not sleeping..... quilts, Christmas, work, Pinterest, blogging, sewing, more quilting, thoughts of cleaning and workouts (yes I considered jumping on the treadmill last night at about 1am), and maybe the Red Bull - do you think that is my problem too much Red Bull these days? 

Whatever it is - I'm learning to function on about 4 hours of sleep a night.  Just like Martha Stewart - maybe I'll become as successful as her if I keep this up!  I wonder if she wants to take a nap around 3pm each afternoon like I do....

Happy Birthday Sam

This little guys has me wrapped around his finger.  He is my heart and soul.  He is wild and crazy and always on the go. 

 

He is happy and playful.  Likes to tease people and thinks he's funny.

 

He loves to cuddle - and every night has to have a arm under his head and the other over his body - so we are in full spoon mode as he goes to sleep each night. 

He is stubborn and sometimes difficult.  It is his way or now way - and there is no talking him about of that.  (I'm sure one day I will be glad he holds this trait)

 

Sammy was born with a big personality.  He is passionate about everything he does.  He is funny and animated.  He loves to play, and loves to have people around him.  He is smart and determined.  He loves to play with Jake and I love to hear Jake make him laugh.  He wants to do everything Jake does, and he wants to do everything "by myself". 

Happy Birthday Sam!  I can't wait to see what year 3 has in store for you!  Love you buddy.

 

Run for my Money

This guy is giving me anxiety these days.  He is a bundle of trouble and is the most stubborn kid I've ever laid eyes on.  (I think my mom would say "just like his mom")

He does nothing he isn't up for - NOTHING.  He rules this house and I often think I'm going to change that, but he always has other ideas.  The hard part about this boy is that he is sooooooo cute, so funny, so full of life and personality, it makes it difficult to follow through with much - and frankly following through doesn't matter at all to this kid.

I have taken on the attitude that I have to pick my battles, or he and I would be going at it all day every day.

This week we went to Target.  We had just gotten these pictures taken, he cried through the whole process (there is a tear below his left eye if you can see it).  He screamed the whole time we were in the car (Whit, maybe he was trying to be like Wren?) and hadn't taken a nap.  You could call him a nightmare - and I did.

Once inside Target he was running around the isles.  Screamed if he was in the cart, I mean - at a certain point I was offering him up to anyone who would have him (not really, but the thought crossed my mind).  He ran into an isle where I couldn't see him.  Jake went running after him and I hear Jake say "Sam, you can't just wander away from us.  You have to stay where we can see you - do you understand?"  At least I've raised a good mom in Jake!

We continued down another isle and I hear Sam quietly saying under his breath, "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh" over and over again.  He ran to the end of the isle, hopped on a pink tricycle and was off and pedaling.  So excited to have found him a bike!  Jake yelling "Get off, thats a girls tricycle" running after him.

As he turned the corner, and again out of my eye sight I hear him saying again "Oh my gosh, Oh my gosh".  He found a Cars tricycle.  By the time I got around the corner he was speeding right past me and down the main isle at Target.

This kid is fast - and he was finally happy.  So I let him ride the tricycle the whole time we were in the store.  He went up and down about 10 isles.  Speeding, swerving to miss the carts.  Most people laughed as they saw him speed past them.  But I always wonder - are people wondering what kind of mom would let their child be this out of control?  And then I think - live with him for an hour and you'll understand our life choices.  And at this point in my life - Sam is king.

BTW - he so tried to shoplift the tricycle out of the store, and it would have been SO easy.  But I made him leave it between the 2 doors in the exit.  Yes he made it all the way past the first door!

CRAZY KID!  Give me some hope - will he grow out of his need for speed?  His need to cry?  His need to have everything his way?  Please say this is a 2 year old phase - and in 2 short weeks at the stroke of midnight on his 3rd birthday he'll chill out a bit?

All in all - He is crazy - but he's my crazy and I love this little bundle of trouble.

Happy Thoughts

I know this picture isn't a great shot or great quality - but it is my two little ones playing together.  Sam playing with this little figurines making some type of noise.  Jake with his headlight on, tongue out putting together his legos.  Playing together - having fun - no fighting (at this moment).  

I've waited FIVE LONG YEARS for this to occur.  

Sewing the other night I sat back and listened to them playing in the exercise room.  They turned the elliptical into Mickey's Fun Wheel from Disneyland and were laughing and playing.  There is nothing better than sitting back and listening to your kids giggle together.  I think this may be my new favorite sound in the world.  Five years of chaos was worth the wait to have them playing happily together each day, even if its only for a few stolen minutes before the fighting starts!  

Photo Shoot

Remember this photo shoot I tried for on my own in Fish Lake?  I will never understand how these professionals are able to get such good shots.  Watching the session take place, I thought to myself multiple times, how are they going to get any good shots with these two crazies?  Luckily for me - I came home with 91 pictures that I can't stop looking at.

LOVE how they turned out.  Here are a few of my favorites.

I can't get over how big these boys are getting!  We used FotoFlyAway.  They are so good with the kids and great at capturing those perfect smiles.  You also walkaway with a CD full of all the pictures they took edited.  For such a great price - why ever go anywhere else!

Problem is now picking a favorite.  I have updated my picture wall  with the new pics and I have to smile now every time I wander through that room.

Love these dang cute kiddos.

Today I Love