Update on Baby Boy #2

This week I am 29 weeks pregnant. I had Samuel at 28 weeks and he was only 3.1 lbs. This little one is already 3.7 lbs. WOW. I am so excited to have made it this far in my pregnancy. I've enjoyed being pregnant even though I am limited to what I can do and it is becoming harder for me to sit on the floor and play with Samuel. Every day is a new experience. He is constantly moving around which my doctor says is great. We are hoping that we will make it to almost his due date (4/11) but my docotor doesn't think I will. We're going to schedule a C-section soon for the week before his due date and hope that we make it that far. Overall, everything is going well and I am hopeful that we will make it much farther.

We have been busy preparing for the arrival of our little one and as you can see so has Samuel. I've been putting Samuel's "baby toys" away as he has outgrew them but now that I'm going through a "nesting" stage we've been pulling out all his baby toys, clothes, etc. Mike and I figured that maybe if we let him play with all this baby stuff now he'll be more willing to share with his little brother once he arrives. For the past few weeks Samuel has started his days with saying "Baby Toys, Baby Toys." And yes the hat he has on in the picture below was his when he was a baby.

I know Samuel is really too little to comprehend me being pregnant but Mike and I talk to him constantly about his new little brother, the pregnancy process and all the fun things Samuel will get to teach him once he arrives. Whenever we talk to Samuel about the baby he always says "I Touch. I Touch Baby." I know it will be an adjustment for all of us but we're excited to be adding to our family and our memories.

Samuel has had the same routine since he was 8 months old. He sits in his daddy's lap with his blanket and pacifiers and listens to stories being read to him by his daddy before he goes to sleep. There are a lot of times I will read to him but overall Mike has done the majority of the nighttime reading. Samuel likes when Mike reads to him because he does different voices. Daddy's more exciting than Mama. ;)

Oyster Debut

Our new family business got underway the beginning of the year, with Mike and Sam's first trip to the American Baseball Coaches Association Convention in Nashville. At the convention, The Oyster made its debut. The Oyster is a baseball cleaning machine that Mike and Sam have been perfecting over the past year plus. They finally had a finished product to show at the convention and it was very well received. Another big hit was the GOT DIRTY BALLS? t-shirts that they wore to the convention. Of course, I am not surprised. To learn more about The Oyster visit http://www.baseballoyster.com/.  

 Mike partying it up in Nashville with cousin Chris and his new bride, Erika and Sam and Sarah.

 The booth in Nashville.

Mama and Samuel at the High School Coaches Convention in Waco.

Christmas 2010

I remember one of the first days of December Samuel looked out our picture window in front of the house and said "Halloween, Halloween" after he saw our neighbors house with their Christmas lights on. I know he didn't quite understand at first that it was time for a new holiday but eventually I think he got it. He loved to go look at Christmas lights, which he called "Santa Trees." 

He could say Christmas lights but he always called them Santa Trees. I think we went looking at lights at least 20 times between Dec. 1st and Dec. 30th. He would always say "More, More" even before we were done with one street. He recognized Baby Jesus and Frosty the Snowman and would say "Coooolll." We enjoyed that time spent with him. Unfortunately, as the month ended and everyone started taking down their Christmas decorations Samuel didn't understand why there weren't any more Santa Trees. Poor guy! I think he's finally stopped asking for them when we are out at night..and it's January 10th!!

He did pretty well about not ripping all the ornaments off the tree but he seemed to be infatuated with throwing stuff at the tree. Actually, he's infatuated with throwing anything and everything at everyone and everything. It has really tried our patience and sometimes patience did not win.

It was definitely a Christmas to remember and although it may just be us that keeps these memories, I know that Samuel had a wonderful time enjoying the splendor of the season.

 Christmas night at Lulu's and Grandpa Guy's. We celebrated with a tradiionally Canadain Christmas meal and enjoyed time with Bobby.

 Samuel loves his Bobby! And so do we.

 Samuel and Mariah playing with some new Christmas toys.

 Christmas breakfast at the Welshs.

Samuel showing Granddad how to play.

Christmas Eve 2010

Merry Christmas Eve, daddy!

 Uh.. Nice pink shirt Mariah.

 Happy Santa and his elf, daddy!

It was nice to have Forrest home for Christmas and for Samuel to spend some time with him. Although, he's leary of his beard he definitely knows what his name is and who he is. In Samuel's words, "Forrest. Mama's brother."

 I don't know why but Samuel's loves the goggles. They came in a set with tools and a hard hat as well.

  I told Monica I wouldn't put this picture on the blog.. I lied. Actually, there is a closeup of her with the goggles on but I figured I was already treading on thin ice by posting this one. This is why Samuel loves her so much.. she's silly and a lot of fun.

Samuel was very good at opening presents and not insisting that we actually open each gift and play with it right then. He even did pretty well about saying "Thank You presents." Too cute!

Gaylord ICE Exhibit

The theme this year was A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was really amazing. Although, we waited for an hour to get in and we were packed in like sardines (I wouldn't reccomend going two days before Christmas like we did) it was fun to be with my sisters and niece and for Samuel to experience it.

 Cool daddy!

 If only it was really that cheap. The world might be a little sainer.

 Samuel has such a cute lo onhis face. It was 9 degrees in the exhibit.. hence the fashionable blizzard coats.

 Samuel and all his fans!

 Don't these three just look like trouble... that's because they are!

 Crazy Aunt Monica and her sidekick Mariah, the entertainer

I'm sure this will become an annual Christmas tradition.

Santa Snapshots

Sleepy Santa!

 I couldn't resist buying this Santa suit for Samuel. He really played along and enjoyed wearing it... even the hat.

This picture cracks me up. We bought him a frog potty (which he still hasn't offically used yet) and of course he wanted to try it out. What a silly Santa.

Gaylord Christmas Brunch

 Samuel watching the trains at the Gaylor Texan hotel in Grapevine. We have a tradition of going to brunch and taking in the sites of the Gaylord each Christmas with Dude, Joan and all the siblings.

Mama, Samuel and Baby Boy#2

Hanging out in Santa's sleigh

Cutie Pie Siena in her Christmas dress

Aunt Emily, Samuel, Mama and soon to be Aunt Sarah

 Newly engaged Sarah and Sam.  ;)

The gang after brunch. Thanks for another great outing at the Gaylord Granddad and Joan.

Fun times with the Telling kids

 We couldn't get Samuel to sit still long enough to be in the picture. Oh well, he missed out.

 Samuel with all his lovies... except his pacifier which I took out of his mouth. Sometimes it seems like all we have are pictures of him with that thing in his mouth.

Mike forgot to snap Samuel's onesie after changing his diaper so he just snapped it on the outside of his pants instead. Pretty funny, I think.