It's Been Awhile

It's been 4 months since last updated...not much new is really going on.  Just been very busy with the kids and Jim has had a busy schedule as well. 
November - Nicholas turned 1!  He was just starting to walk and now he is a seasoned pro and is running around like crazy!  The kids and I drove to Chicago for Thanksgiving because Jim worked that entire weekend.  We had a great time with both families and enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner at my parents house with Jim's family.  We headed out to Julie's house and did all of our shopping out by her!  It was so much fun!  Samantha continued with school and continued to do very well.  Jim and I went to Las Vegas for a quick trip.  Jim had an EM conference so he flew out from Detroit and a few days later I flew out of Chicago.  We had a great time enjoying some alone time.
December - This was a rough month.  It seemed like the kids were sick the entire month.  Samantha ended up with croup and then Nicholas got it really bad!  We spent Christmas in Michigan.  It was very different.  This was the first time we woke up on Christmas morning with just our family.  It was nice to have the kids open up their presents and play with them all day.  The Wagners', our neighbors, had invited us to spend Christmas dinner with them, but Nicholas was still sick and had a low grade fever.  As the day went on Nicholas had gotten worse.  The 26 was Jim's birthday.  It was the first time ever that he had to work on his birthday!  He got an unexpected visit from Nicholas and I that night.  Nicholas ended up in the ER with a 104 fever.  Poor little guy was so sick.  Luckily they just had to give him a breathing treatment.   We ended up the next day at the peditrican's office for another breathing treatment and was sent home with a nebulizer.  A couple days later we went to Chicago to celebrate Christmas with both families.  The kids and I ended up staying longer so we could have some extra family time while Jim started his ICU shifts.
January - January was a crazy, busy month!  Jim started in the ICU and most of his shifts were night shifts, so it was the kids & I all day everyday.  We had a lot of snow and spent time playing in the snow, building snowmen and building forts.  
February - Was much of the same as January although Jim was home more and he played out in the snow alot with Samantha while Nicholas and I watched from the warm house! 
March -  March was a fun month.  The kids and I drove to Chicago and they stayed at my parents while I went to Panama City Beach with my girlfriends for our annual roadtrip!  The kids had a ton of fun with family and I was able to get a bit of a "mommy" break and refresh myself.  I always think this is good.  I need to be rested to be able to have a good relationship with my kids.  We also were back in Chicago for Easter.  It was great to see extended family and see all of the cousin play together and hunt for Easter eggs together.
Thankfully it has all been pretty uneventful, but we have had a great winter.  Ready for spring and warmer weather to be able to be outside and play, go for walks, water & chalk!

1st Haircut

Tonight we went to Supercuts and Nicholas got his 1st haircut.  He did such a good job sitting on daddy's lap and looking at all of the animals on his cover.  He doesn't look like a baby anymore which makes me sad.  He looks like a big boy now!

Happy Golden Birthday Nicholas

My little linebacker is 1!  I can't believe a year has gone by since my little guy was born!  I can't imagine our lives without him.  He is such a happy baby.  Our days are filled with smiles, laughter, kisses and cuddles.  Samantha loves you so much and loves playing with you and making you laugh.  You look up to her and want to do everything she is doing.  You are such a monkey and will climb up on anything. 

1 yr stats:
Height: 31.5 inches
Weight: 23lbs

Here are just a few of your accomplishments over the last year
smile
roll over
crawl
took your first step in October 2012
shake your head no
putting your arms up when we say touchdown
you eat anything & everything I give you
you love the park & the swing

You are such a good boy and a joy in our lives.  I can't see what God has in store for you in your life and I'm glad I will get to see each step of the way.  Nicholas we love you so much!  Happy birthday buddy!

Happy Halloween

Another Halloween has come and gone.  This year Samantha was Rapunzel and Nicholas was Tigger.  It was pretty chilly out this year, but layering helped.  Papa, Mimi and Daddy took both kids out while my mom and I stayed back to hand out candy to all the kids.  Samantha walked almost the entire time and Nicholas we strapped into the wagon and he was just as happy as could be being outside and looking around at everything.
Trick or treating is so nice here in Livonia.  Kids are always pleasant as are the parents.  Each kid always says "thank you" after you give them candy and they are happy with whatever you give them.  I even heard them talk about someone giving them a pencil & paper.  They thought it was so cool!
This year for me I was nervous.  Now that we know that Nicholas has a severe peanut/tree nut allergy, all the candy made me nervous becuase almost all of it either has peanuts in it or was processed in a nut facility.  Big sister Samantha was so cute.  She asked people if it had peanuts in it before she put it in Nicholas' bag and if it did she just put it in hers.  She's going to be a great big sister!
Trick or treating ended at just the right time.  It's starting raining pretty hard.  We came in changed had some chili and watched Charlie Brown Halloween!  Nicholas had already fallen asleep by then, but Samantha loved Charlie Brown so much! 
It was another great Halloween and I can't wait for next year!
 

Happy 4th birthday Princess

Samantha I can't believe you are 4 already!  It feels like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant with you! 
You are becoming quite the little young lady.  You have a great personality.  You are loving, caring, helpful, and a little bit sassy. 

You had another great birthday this year!  It was a Tangled themed birthday.  This year your daddy and I made your cake.  You requested a strawberry and chocolate layered cake with pink frosting and Rapunzel on top.  That is what you got!  Your daddy and I had so much fun making it.  The weekend before your birthday, Oma, Papa, Auntie JuJu & Uncle Matt came in and we celebrated.  You got some wonderful gifts again!  Oma & Papa had bought you and your brother a Power Wheels dune buggy.  You love riding it outside in the grass and around the park!  Auntie JuJu & Uncle Matt bought you a plasma car and you are starting to get the hang of it.  Uncle Awesome got you a stage, ballerina bar and a balance beam game.  Again you were very spoiled but you were very thankful for everything you received. 

Year 4 fun facts:
Weight: 40lbs
Height: 40.5 inches

School/Vocabulary

You have been in preschool now for a month and you LOVE it!  You can spell your name and write it now without anyone telling you what letter comes next.  Next month you will be starting the 4 yr preschool 1 day a week along with the 2 days of 3 yr preschool.  You are a little Ms. chatterbox.  You will talk to anyone about anything. 
Eating
You are getting MUCH better!  Although we still fight about what you eat at dinner it is becoming much easier and you are more willing to try new things.  Breakfast is still by far the best meal of the day.

Current Favorites:
Cartoon: Calliou
Toy: dress up & book
Movie: Lion King & Wizard of Oz
Food: cereal & grapes

Other Misc
awesome big sister
potty trained for 1 year
can swing on the big swings by herself
love playing dress up & being a ballerina
you took your 1st ballet class and loved it
we have started story time at the Livonia library
this past summer you went to 2 VBS
love to help me bake
love to help me clean
love reading your books, especially your Disney princess books

I'm sure there are many things that I'm forgetting.  Samantha you are such a big girl and we have so much fun together!  Thank you for being a great big sister to Nicholas.  He looks up to you and you love playing with him.  Your daddy and I are so proud of the little girl you are becoming.  Can't wait to see what God has in store for you over the next year!

11 months

I can't believe you are almost a year!  Not too much has changed over the last couple of months.  You know have 8 teeth with your molars on their way in.  With the teeth coming in, you haven't been sleeping the best and eating the best but you are still a great baby.  You are becoming more steady on your feet but not walking yet.  You will try to climb up on anything.  You have climbed up on the end tables, your jumparoo, and the tv stand!  You continue to amaze us everyday.  Your sister is still in love with you as much if not more than the day you were born.  You love playing with cars & trucks and my cell phone. Let's see what this next month has in store for you.  I can't believe you are going to be 1 in just a few short weeks!

9 months

Already!  9 months I can't believe it!  Where has the time gone?  Nicholas is such a good boy!  He's getting big and just loves everything!  He's sleeping pretty well.  Still needs to eat in the middle of the night, but he goes right back to sleep.  He is eating everything we are eating.  Still mashing his fruits and veggies and he loves everything!  He now has 5 teeth.

9 month stats
Height: 30 inches
Weight: 22 lbs 12 oz

Every once in a while we hear mama.  He is walking along furniture and I know walking isn't too far away. 

On another note, Jim has started his 2nd year of residency.  Last month he was in the ER and this month he is doing MICU.  This month is going to be a very busy month for all of us.  He will be working a ton of hours which means he won't be home much which in turn makes long, busy days for the kids and I.  Things have been going well so far.  The kids & I will be heading to Chicago in a couple of weeks to see my brother graduate from the Police Academy.  It will be a welcomed break after this month.  Also, getting samantha ready for preschool.  She starts in September and she is getting really excited.  She will be starting at a Lutheran church right around the corner from our house and she will be going Tues/Thurs from 830-1100. 
That's it for now.  I will make a seperate post for everything we did this summer!