cousins :)

David & Sammy... chillin in the radio flyer

oh babies!

Life has been pretty sad lately. I got a crazy case of a cold/flu about 2 weeks ago. It stuck with me for a good week.. & when I say stuck with me... it really stuck with me. I was literally down that whole time, feeling like death. Then it ended with a cough. That was lots of fun. I was lucky that I caught it the night after my last day of work, so I had several days of no work to try to recover & ended up only missing one day of work & then sweating through the next. I'm feeling a ton better now though!!! Now it's just pregancy sickness again :) I thought I was getting more energy, then after lunch today I felt like there had to have been sleeping pills in my food... so of course, Sam won't take a nap today. What is up with that kid???!!! I don't understand not taking a nap when there is a perfectly good one to be had! Needless to say, I will sleep very well tonight!

I had another dr apt today & heard the baby's heartbeat, so it actually is real. Is it wierd that I still don't feel like it is? I was relieved to hear it. There is always this nagging fear that something goes wrong, but I think Dr. Hollar said it perfectly when we heard it- dosn't that just make everything in the world right? It does, doesn't it? I wished Sean was there to hear it. I came home & Sam was in this crazy mood. He kept hugging me & trying to kiss me.. I think. He would open his mouth up huge & slobber all over me & it made me laugh so hard, he just kept doing it, which made me laugh more. Goofing around with him today made me think back... but it's hard to remember him being a tiny little baby. Like I said, this whole thing dosn't seem real & maybe won't until there is another baby in my arms.
At work yesterday I heard the front office girls scheduling the patient's 6 month appointments & I realized I will most likely be starting maternity leave then...super wierd. Dosnt' that mean I should be entering that honeymoon phase of the pregancy... & not so tired anymore?

The Call...

This morning my cell phone rang its special " family member" ring, so I knew I actually wanted to answer it. I saw it was my sister in Alabama giving me a jingle & I hoped everything was ok, cause we don't usually have many early morning phone calls. When I answered, I just heard a cute little voice mumbling undetectable words. I knew it was my 2 1/2 year old nephew. How cute :) Then he started asking for Sammy... even cuter!!! "Sammy? .. I love you.. bye!" he said a few times. I tried to hold the phone to Sam, who usually just tries to yell into the phone & push buttons. I kept waiting for my sister to come on the line, which did finally happen. We both had a nice laugh- my nephew called by himself! She said he had been telling her he wanted to call someone. When he was really little he would always get ahold of her phone & call me, somehow.. I must be #1 on her speed dial :) We just both thought it was hilarious that he would not only call, but that he knew it was us & was talking to us too. So, today Sam got his very first phone call :)

My Special Boy

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Sam? He's pretty much the cutest & most adorable, crazy kid that ever was. We've been having fun spending time together the past couple days. I got crazy sick last Wednesday night & am just getting over it, so I'm finally getting back into mommy mode instead of dead zombie mode.
This morning I made french toast, so I pulled up a chair & let him help me... He was soo excited!


He is such a special little boy! Although he can get a little frustrating... I couldn't be more in love :) This past Tuesday he had one heck of a day. He was out "helping" Sean with yard work & when Sean looked away Sam brushed his knuckles on the muffler of the lawn mower. You can kinda see his poor little burned hand in those pictures above. He's not been happy with the wrap we've been keeping on it with pain neosporin to help it heal. The same day, he fell on the fireplace & took a chunk out of his chin... this kid is so accident prone.. I swear!!!! Every time we're at the park & he runs up the jungle gym to the highest point he can with me having a small heart attack at the bottom, some parent always asks "how old is that kid?" I just shake my head... not old enough to be as fearless as he is!!

Thursday I was reading a book with him - Story's of Jesus. I started really thinking about how much I really want my children to have the same testimony of Jesus Christ that I do. I try to point out Jesus in pictures to him as much as I can. As long as I can remember, my parents have had this picture of the Savior on their wall...
after reading the book with him I took him over to the picture & pointed to Jesus & told Sammy "this is Jesus". He just smiled. About an hour later I asked Sammy where Jesus was. He ran over & stood underneath the picture & raised his hands up smiling & laughing & said- Jesus! I seriously couldn't believe it!! It brought a tear to my eye. Now he will just run over to the picture & tell me that it is Jesus. Of course, it sounds like varying things every time- cheese, geez, sus.. whatever it comes out as, I know what he means, & that makes me very happy :)

St. Joseph's shrine

We recently took a little day trip & on our way home we decided to go to this small town that has a shrine called St, Joseph's Shrine. Sean told me that his parents would bring them there around Easter when he was younger.
In the 30's members of the Catholic church built this shrine & dedicated it to St. Joseph because he was the "foster" father of Jesus Christ and the head of the Holy House of Nazareth. They felt that children were not receiving the kind of direction and love they needed in a proper house raised with God. If it was true then, think of how true that statement is now!! It was very interesting. The sign at the front gate says that it is to be treated like a place of worship & is for all denominations.
It is a series of statues of Christ from the Last Supper to the Ressurection, placed along a pathway built out of a mountain. Amazing. I can't imagine even beginning to figure out how to do something like this.
It begins with a statue of Josph holding the Christ Child. "The statue depicts Joseph returning home from his work. Still carrying some of his tools, he has lifted the Holy Child into his arms. Through his fine example of faithfulness and devotion to those in his care as head of the Holy Family in Nazareth, St. Joseph is the perfect model for all parents. The Shrine stands as an appeal to all people to promote spiritual peace, harmony and love in their own homes. Beyond the statue of St. Joseph, a beautiful rustic path beckons you to walk with Jesus through His last days on earth (from the websight)"
The Last Supper

climbing the mountain

in the Garden

there was a series of crosses that had plaques that told the story of Christ's journey to the cross.

the very top of the mountain- Christ on the cross.

then you begin down the mountain and come across Mary holding Jesus.

and then find Him in the tomb

and the end.. the Resurected Savior in front of the tomb.

Sean pointed out to me that Christ was standing on a skull, symbolizing His triumph over death.

It was also interesting that at the time they built this, there was not a easy way to come visit it & they had to make huge trips to get to it.

We really appreciated the amazing statues and life of Jesus depicted.

Happy Valentines :)

My whole life as far back as I can remember, my family has always done a Valentine exchange for Valentines day. We would take brown lunch sacks & decorate them how we wanted it & then set them out on the counter for people to put little treats & notes in & then on Valentines Day we would open it to find what we got. Love it :) This tradition has not died since we've grown older. My nieces & nephews all make little Valentines for each other.

Sam loved his bag. His cousins, however, failed to remember there was a baby around when they all opened their bags & left their candies & cookies out. In comes Sammy... terrorizing-especially by smooshing the cookies. I did have to exchange out his good cookie for a smooshed one in hopes of making peace with the kids, but then found out he did it to someone else too. What am I gonna do with this kid?
and us adults? we just make lots of goodies & candy for each other.. I mean, does sugar ever get old?

side note: I tried making homemade lollipops for everyone, & ended up leaving the pot of scalding sugar to run after Sam & returned to burnt sugar :( I tried to salvage it, but it ended up being a big burnt mess. Maybe next year!

Daddy's boy

Sam is basically Sean's clone. If I said it was ok, Sean would probably live outside in the woods somewhere. Sam is pretty much the same. He would live outside if I'd let him. The other day I found him by the back door longing for the outdoors.. it just made me laugh, especially that he loves to push his toys around & then stand on them.

5 Years & counting

Today is our 5th anniversary, so I made Sean a little video to remind him how much he loves me :) Here's to many more years!!!

Freaking adorable

Please meet the two most adorable children on this planet.....

Sammy

and Amalie

Sam had playdate today with Amalie- which also means I get to hang out with my awesome friend Stefanie. These kids are so freaking cute together! & they play AMAZINGLY well!!! I actually told Stefanie that she could leave Amalie as long as she wanted, cause Sammy is such a good little boy & I never hear whining when she is here. I can't get over what a good boy he was today!!! We love Amalie :)

Lady to the rescue

although this puppy is slightly spazzy... we are very lucky to have her around! This morning at about 4am she started barking pretty crazy & then we heard a few loud thuds & saw a couple of guys, who looked like they were carrying baseball bats, walking away down the street. I convinced Sean to not go outside this time, so we just called the police. At first I was afraid they had hit Lady, but she was sitting on the porch outside the back door when I looked out. Not really sure what happened. They could have been in the neighbors back yard.. Anyways! I'm really glad we have our own live alarm system :)