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!

8 months

He's crawling!!!  Yes he is on the go!  He is also now pulling himself up on whatever he can.  He is going to be walking before i know it.  We now have baby gates up and his crib needed to be lowered because he could flip himself out of his crib.  Evey once in a while I think I hear mama.  I just say he does and pick him up!  He is eating so many different things now.  I don't think there is anything this boy doesn't like.  We were in Chicago for the last 6 weeks and Nicholas had so much fun with family.  We took him to the pool, park, church, and many family parties.  I can't believe how big he is getting.  He's such a good boy and love him so much!

Samantha's Words

There are some words that Samantha says that are just too cute that I don't want to forget

Parade = harade
mosquito bite = a basquito bite
Police car = po po car
bathing suit - babing suit
If you don't listen, you don't learn


I know there are a few more and I will just have to update when she says them.

1 down 3 more to go!

I can't believe intern year of residency is OVER!!!!  I also can't believe we have lived in Michigan now for a year!  This past year has been CRAZY, but I wouldn't have changed anything.  Jim put in a ton of hours and learned a lot.  Hopefully in this next year we will be able to see him more!  This next year he will have more ED shifts which will be nice and there will be no studying for any big board exams.  Botsford has been a great hosptial for Jim and hopefully this year, the kids and I can get to more events to meet other wives & kids.