Sam: ONE

And just like that, Sam turned one!  

Sam's first year has gone the fastest of all three boys.  I already miss his snuggly newborn days (as brain-dead-sleep-deprived as I was), and the days when I could lay him on the floor, walk away, and return to him being where I left him!  He is busy all the time, into EVERYTHING and very...opinionated; he often just sits in his high chair and yells, making sure he doesn't get forgotten in the chaos of life with two older brothers.  He has six teeth (four on top, two on bottom) and has dropped from three nursings a month ago to just one right before bed.  Sam stands independently and can walk holding onto a rolling toy or our hand, but he won't take any steps yet.  He is a talker already, saying ba (ball), buh buh (brothers), bye bye, hah (hi), da (that, always pointing at things), and uh-uh (uh-oh), and he signs eat, more, book, tree, diaper, and probably a few more since he seems to add more everyday.  A stomach bug a few weeks ago seems to have triggered his pickiness, since then eating mostly crackers/cereal and fruits/vegetables and throwing cheese and meat on the floor.  He is still tall (30 inches) and lean (22 lbs).  What a year!  We are so in love with our Sam, and cannot imagine our family without him! 

Sam's First Birthday Party

We celebrated Sam's first birthday at home with our family (including grandparents and Uncle Jason's family).  

Smash cake: Not convinced

I ate the whole thing.

Grandpa made a "busy board" with all kinds of fun things to play with

Brothers were happy to help open prensents

Sam: Eleven Months

Sam's was 11 months old for two seconds, or so it seemed with September.  Here is his month in pictures and videos.

First Days of School

This fall has been a whirlwind!  School started on August 24 for Evan...

First Grade!  Canyon Creek Elementary, Mrs. Ware's Class

...September 2 for Matt... 

Pre-K 4s/5s!  Rainbow Connection Preschool, Ms. Phyllis' Class

 ...and September 14 for Sam (and Sara, who started back to work part-time).

"Wobblers" class at First Kids Mother's Day Out

Gratuitous Sleeping Baby Pictures

Sam: Ten Months Old

Can we just stop the clock now, please?  At ten months, Sam:

• Jabbers constantly and makes little boy noises (i.e., spitting/blowing raspberries)
• Pulls up to standing on anything and everything and cruises from side to side
• Lets go and stands for a few seconds at a time
• Has his fifth tooth coming in (two top front teeth came in within days of each other between 9-10 months)
• Is beginning to sign: he signs "dog" and "more" and occasionally, randomly, makes a few other gestures we believe are signs we have taught him
• Says "mama", "dada" and "bubba" and means it (though he won't always say things on command, he clearly knows who is whom is and looks at the right person when we say the words)
• When asked if he wants to eat, will crawl to and pull up on his high chair
• Won't stay still for a clear picture!

Safety Camp

During the first week of August, Evan attended "Safety Camp" put on by the Richardson Police Department.  They covered virtually every topic you can imagine (fires, guns, strangers, water, being lost, animals, and bike safety, to name a few) and had a fun time getting to know our community helpers.