Sam's Transition to a Toddler Bed

Abby never tried to get out of her crib and we ended up transitioning her when she started potty training. Well, in true Sammy fashion, he was just the opposite.  The day I returned from a trip to Wisconsin (12/21), he revolted on us.  He absolutely wanted to sleep with us and decided to catapult himself out of his crib and onto a few of his Tonka trucks.  I wish I could say it was funny, but at 2am it was downright scary.  Troublemaker.  So we hustled to get him a toddler bed.  He doesn't have a whole lot of room for a full size (he has a convertible crib) and we don't have  twin/full size mattress yet.  In hindsight, we could have just thrown his crib mattress on the floor.  I ended up driving down to Wells to borrow a friend's toddler bed, to get home and find out that his crib did in fact have the piece to cover to a toddler bed.  Oiy vey. 

After a solid week and half, he is finally sleeping well.  And then he got the stomach bug.  I will say the silver lining is that changing sheets is easier in a toddler bed rather than his crib.

So, Sam the Man is styling in his new toddler bed.  And, the Tonka trunks are just fine - he bounced right off of them.

Playing Catch Up

The last few months have certainly been busy.  Two and a half months since our blog post?  I think that's the longest we've gone without posting.  Ever.  Look for several posts over the next few days as we play catch up on fall, birthdays, other milestones, the holidays, and more!  Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones. 

xoxox
Jess

Merry Christmas!

We continued several of our Christmas traditions - Elf on the Shelf, advent calendar, and Pj's on Christmas Eve. We added two more advent components with a a book a day for 25 days and a "Be Kind" calendar from our pastor.  The tree was cut and up the weekend after Thanksgiving and we'll likely take it down this week.  The needles are everywhere!  Unlike years past, we did have one fall due to an "butt" pushing it over.  Whoops. 

The kids were spoiled again this year in the gift department.   I almost returned all of Sam's presents, but the open mouth, fishy kissed get me every time.  Some of their favorites include Abby's vanity table (for her hair and nail appointments, of course!) and sewing machine.  She can't wait to learn to sew with her Mimi! And, Sam is enjoying his crystal climbers and bristle blocks.  Two toys we found at our library and the kids really enjoyed. They really are thankful and appreciative of all their new playthings and I was most proud of Abby digging through the pile to give HER presents to Daddy and Sam first on Christmas morning. She's very excite to get presents, but she understands the importance of sharing and giving to others as well.

Abby's First Pageant

This year Abby wanted to be part of our Church's Christmas Pageant.  She practiced like a rock star belting out "Away in the Manger" and "Go Tell it on the Mountain" in the car.  While she was a bit timid during the actual show, she still performed in front of the congregation!  She is slowly, very slowly coming out of her shell. Look at her go!

Happy 2nd Birthday Sam!

Sam the Man turns two!  Thomas the Train was the theme this year and he enjoyed the sounds of all the trains. 

Sam loves giving kisses especially fishy kisses and Eskimo kisses.  He loves trains, trucks, and fire trucks.  He likes to read books, sit and color with Abby, and loves giving big hugs.  He loves running around naked before bath and running up and down the hall with his dump truck.  Sam has several words that likely only Tim and I can understand.  He's not a big eater at home, but seems to be eating well at Day Care.  He's particularly fond of breakfast and yogurt.  He definitely likes being involved in everything that Abby is doing. 

In the last few months Sam has been a bit more challenging than Abby has ever been.  Quite the stubborn little guy with a mix of a lot of tantrums over a whole lotta nothing.  He doesn't like getting his jacket on or off, getting dressed, having a diaper changed, or even sitting down with us for dinner.  This is all a phase, right?

The awesome train table passed down from his cousins GJ and Ethan

The Holiday Season!

The first weekend in December we trekked up to Vermont to celebrate with our good friends and celebrate with PCC at their company holiday party.  Many memories made, yummy food, and an interesting Yankee Swap where I got Bacon Balm and Bacon flavored gum.  We ventured out to a vry nice gymnastic studio and let the kids run around for a solid hour.  They had a blast! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

We ended November with Sammy getting sick around Abby's birthday, Abby catching whatever he brought into the house right after her birthday, and an awesome Thanksgiving down at my cousins house in York.  The start of the holiday (and birthday season) started with a bang! 

We have much to be thankful for this year.  Our good health, families, love, welcoming new family members, growing families, more love, and many, many, many fortunate blessings. 

Much love to your family from ours!

Happy Fifth Birthay, Abby!

Five!  Our little girl is FIVE!

Abby loves Frozen, My Little Pony, reading books, and legos. She also loves to help around the house. You can find her in the sink "washing" dishes, pressing the buttons on the laundry machines, sweeping, and organizing her toys.  She is an awesome big sister and just teeters on the line of being bossy.  She retrieves Lamby for Sammy, tucks him in at night, offers hugs when he's upset, and even gets him drinks from the fridge.

We made the decision last spring to not move Abby from her Day Care setting and she's thriving.  We are so lucky to have a perfect extension of our family and they are slowly getting Abby ready for Kindergarten.  Abby's learning her days of the week, months, more numbers, and even compassion, being kind, and a little sass while she's at it.

We had her ears pierced to mark her fifth birthday in style.  She really wanted to get them done and was a wee bit nervous. She freaked out just a little bit, but made it through the appointment at the Tattoo/Piercing studio.  She is now sporting gorgeous diamond studs!

Abby had several parties to celebrate turning 5.  A small dinner/cupcake on Friday, a big shin ding on Saturday with the both our families, and a party with her friends at the gymnastic studio on Sunday.  For the second year in a row, she was willing to forgo birthday presents for donations to the Animal Refuge League.  She even made their website!

Overall, it was a wonderful birthday season for Abby.  FIVE!

 Happy Birthday, Abby!

Blanket Forts!

A favorite activity and we do not build them nearly as often as we should..... What's a fort without a glow in the dark swords?? 

A Snowy November

Abby built Olaf with a little help form Daddy after an early November snow storm.  Several inches on November 2nd!

Brew Fest 2014

Always a highlight of the year, we had a blast at our annual Maine Brew Fest.  A crew that gets larger and larger and is always a family affair.  I think this is my 12th (or 13th) year going, 11th with Tim.  Getting dropped off and picked up by our own taxi and a BBQ back at Rob's house.  Just a plain old awesome time!

Halloween 2014

In the year of Frozen, we followed the bandwagon and had an Elsa and Olaf for Halloween.  Each of the Halloween parties we went to had a few of them around.  We even won best family costume at our Church's Monster Mash!  Tim dressed up as Curious George and "I was a bunch of grapes".  We raided our Costume crypt to piece together the last two.  I snagged the last Olaf Costume at the Spirit of Halloween to complete the Frozen theme for the kids.  They LOVED it!  We hit the streets to get candy with some dear friends of ours.  This was the first year that Abby literally ran to the door and said the magic words.  She's starting to come out of her shell a little bit more each day. 

A Little Fun with Paint

Abby and Sam really missed their Daddy while he was on a trip. They got out some paints and decided to paint each other!  Thankful for bath time and a quick wash.

Pumpkinland 2014

Tragedy struck Pumpkinland in the evening of the day we visited - one of the wagons on the Gauntlet Night Ride jack knifed, tipped over and seriously injured dozens of teenagers including one fatality.  I didn't sleep well that evening as I continued to pray for those involved.  It also reminded me to make memories daily with my family and loved ones.  

With that said, we had such a wonderful time during the day - they have a plethora of kids activities - bounce houses, corn mazes, sweets and treats, pumpkin patches, tractor rides, and so much more. Mimi, Uncle Rob and Aunt Trish joined in the fun.  Dad missed out because he was on "vacation" in San Diego. 

I just woke up from a nap and I don't wanna go...

Fire House Open House

This picture sums it up:

Sam was so excited to see all the fire trucks - old and new!  

We visited the fire station and saw the poles they slide down, a car fire display, and Zach on of the City's K-9's.  Gosh, did they have fun!

Good reminder to have a fire plan in place for when there is an emergency.