Monday is the Day!

So this is our last weekend as a family of 3. It is so surreal and I really can't believe it! I am 39 weeks pregnant today. Last Friday (April 26th) the doctor did a sonogram and we found out that Luke was already 7 1/2 pounds. In order to try and avoid having a huge baby and complications like we did with Samuel, we decided to induce a little early. So, Monday morning we will report to the hospital and help our little guy get here! Mom, Dad, and Rob are going to be watching Samuel at our house while we're in the hospital. I'm a little emotional about it all but really not as much as I thought I'd be. I know Samuel will be in good hands and he will come and visit us at the hospital. He'll have so much fun with Nana, Granddaddy, and Uncle Rob that he probably won't even notice that we're gone!

Both Matthew and my work threw us little showers recently. We work with such nice people!

Speaking of work, Thursday was my last day for the year. It is CRAZY to think that I'm done! I got everything done early at school, so I wasn't stressed at all this last week.

Here's a pic of Samuel and I one morning before school. I just love this little man!!

I will post again when I have time after Luke is born!!

Easter and 36 Weeks

Samuel spent the night with Cammy and Outpaw for the first time last night! So I am still laying in bed at 8:30 and I have time to write an update!

We have had a busy few months, between our usual craziness and getting ready for the Luke. Let's start with Easter. Samuel and I dyed eggs and painted pictures to get into the spirit. I love doing crafts with this little guy.

Then we had a fun Easter egg hunt at Valley View.

The Easter Bunny visited Samuel on Easter morning...

We went to church then had a fun afternoon with the Irbys.

 

 

And here I am at 36 weeks pregnant:

 

Our Little Man

I wanted to share some things that Samuel has been doing lately so I don't forget. He will be 22 months tomorrow and it seems like he's doing more every day.

He is really in to letters right now. He can sing the ABCs with help, can name a handful of the letters when he sees them, and LOVES to play iPad ABC games. He has bath letters do he absolutely loves bath time (he really always has).

Samuel repeats everything we say and says a ton on his own. His newest thing is to say "thank you, welcome". It is so cute. He can name all of the animals, his colors, tells us what he wants to eat(usually a cracker or raisins), etc.

Samuel loves being outside. We recently got an awesome swing set from a very generous friend and Samuel loves going down the slide. If he is in a bad mood, stick the boy outside and he will be fine!

We are trying our best to prepare Samuel to be a big brother. We talk about Baby Luke all the time, point out his baby toys, read Samuel a big brother book...it'll be interesting to see how he reacts to his baby brother.

Testing out the bumbo for Luke

 

 

 Ready to meet his baby brother

Sitting on his new tractor that he loves!

Reading his bible one morning before going to Ms. Sheryl's

Enjoying our "Samuel Day" (Matthew and I took off work and took Samuel to the zoo...one last hoorah before baby Luke arrives!)

24 weeks

Today I'm 24 weeks pregnant. Time is flying!! I went to the doctor last Friday and everything seems to be going great. I'm feeling wonderful. I have energy, I have a (big) appetite, and I don't think that I'm gaining as much weight as I did with Samuel.

Luke has been kicking a ton lately. It's fun to watch my tummy wiggle as he does his aerobics. Samuel still really has no clue what's going in. I think once we get the baby stuff out he will realize that something is different.

Here is a self portrait of me at 24 weeks. I feel huge!

Some Samuel news:
He is saying new words all the time. He has the cutest, cheesy smile that just melts my heart. Samuel has also started to throw some major tantrums. He probably had at least one a day this week. We are trying to work through them with him but it sure is hard to do after a long day at work!! We know that this is part if being a toddler, though and that it won't last forever.

Our precious little man at the zoo

Big News

So in September I was feeling a little different, and I told Matthew I thought I should take a pregnancy test. Matthew kept making me put it off because he didn't want to spend the money on a test and he knows I can be a bit dramatic, but I eventually convinced him we should do it. We were shocked to see a plus sign appear!! We were both very excited. We told our families by putting a big brother shirt on Samuel and just having them figure it out. It took Matthew's family no time at all, and it took mine a little longer.:) We found out at 19 weeks that we are having another boy!! I really wanted another boy for several reasons: I love Samuel so much and have tons of fun with him and I think a boy will just add to that, I know how to raise a boy so I am more confident, they can share a room, making the extra room a playroom, and we already have all the clothes and I get to go through them and remember when Samuel wore them!! As you can tell, I am very excited to be welcoming Luke Joseph into our family.

Here is our newest little guy at 20 weeks. 

18 Months

Well I have been the worst blogger ever!!! Guess I've been a little busy.:) I wanted to give some highlights of Samuel's 18th month.
- 25 lbs, 12 oz (50th percentile)
- 33 inches long (25th percentile)
- wearing 18 to 24 month clothes
- Samuel is talking so much! He will pretty much try to say anything we ask him to, but some of his favorite words are: mama, dada, Santa, nana, outpa, rob, Hannah, oh no, what's that, truck, please, thank you, bear, and all animal noises.
- Some of Samuel's favorite toys are puzzles, books, cars and trucks, and plastic animals.
- Some things he likes to do: play with toys, go on walks, go to class at church, play hide and seek (really he just runs and hides) and take baths.
- Favorite foods: bananas, raisins, graham crackers, any fruits, potatoes, yogurt, bread.
- takes one 2.5 to 3 hour nap per day.

Samuel has a sweet, loving, and stubborn personality. He loves giving kisses and snuggling (though the snuggles don't last long). When he wants something, it's hard for him to be distracted from it. He is very active but can focus on a book or puzzle for a good amount of time. We love our little man and can't imagine life without him!!

July and August

Well, summer is coming to an end and I can honestly say this has been the best summer of my life. I have had so much fun with Samuel, family, and friends. I really don't feel like summer flew by like it usually does and I am thankful for that. Here are some highlights from our second half of summer:

We took lots of walks to go see the ducks.

We did several activities at home to avoid the heat. We played with cornmeal, jello, and cool whip. Messy but fun!

We swam, swam, and swam some more!!

We tried lots of new foods from hamburgers to watermelon to cherries...there is not much that the little man won't eat!!

We played and played and played!!!

We spent time with Uncle Rob, Nana, Granddaddy, and Granny. Such fun!

We learned to play the piano and the harmonica!!

We are in the process of watching "Shark Week" with our little shark.

Here are some things that Samuel is up to these days:

Talking- He is still just saying a few words: mama, dada, cheese, dog, I think he can say hi and I think he tried to say banana this morning. He makes animal noises for a lion (roar), monkey(oooh ooooh aaaah aaah), duck (cack cack), and pig (tries to snort).

Walking- Samuel finally took his first steps on Saturday, August 4th. We were at the ACU Welcome Center in Abilene and he took 3 steps! Since then, he has taken several steps a day. We're still waiting for him to do some real walking.

I am so sad for summer to end but I have to keep thinking of the fun we had. AND, the fun doesn't stop just because I'm working!!