Nickname for Samuel

Kevin had a nickname from the moment he came home from the hospital. He was always my little sweet pea, or little pea as daddy called him.

I have struggled with what to call Samuel. Kevin gets irritated with "Sam" or "Sammy". He always says "no mommy, that is SAMUEL". I started calling him Sam I Am for awhile and it has somewhat stuck. However, yesterday while Kevin and I were watching Curious George (or Monkey George as Kevin calls him), we stumbled on a new nickname for Samuel...

CHUNKY MONKEY

Now tell me there is not some resemblance...

I love my little monkey! :)

Big Boys

As if we didn't already know it, yesterday Dr. Lovell confirmed that we have two big boys! :) We went for check-up appointments for both kids and of course they are doing great.

Kevin weighs 38 pounds and is 40 inches tall. This puts him in the 90th percentile for both height and weight. We were glad to know that he is finally getting taller! We have spent so much time wondering if he would forever be the shortest kid in his class! :) He did well with everything Dr. Lovell asked him to do... drawing shapes, counting, etc.

Samuel has gained 4 lbs. and 13 ounces and grown 4 inches longer since birth! I knew he was getting big, I guess I just didn't realize how big. As you can probably tell from the pictures, his little cheeks are getting chubby and he has more than one chin! His height puts him at 95 percent and his weight at 75 percent. Dr. Lovell says he is trying to keep up with his big brother. The doctor didn't have any great words of wisdom on his spitting up issues, but doesn't think it is a real problem since his weight gain is very good.

Of course all the fun came to an end when they both had to get SHOTS! Kevin had to get a Hepatitis vaccine that he should have gotten last fall. Apparently I forgot to bring him back for the 2nd part of the vaccine. I am sure you all find that hard to imagine! And then poor little Samuel had to get 3 shots and an oral vaccine. Needless to say, I was quite the sight trying to comfort Kevin and hold down Samuel.

The best part of it all was that I promised Kevin ice cream if he was brave... which of course meant that mommy got ice cream too! :)

January, February, March...

Sometimes Kevin chooses to share the things he learns at school and sometimes he doesn't. Lately we have discovered that he knows ALOT more than he lets on! In the matter of a week, I discovered that he could recite the days of the week, months of the year, and the pledge of allegiance. Not to mention, he can show you his right hand and his left hand. Not genius material, I know, but it amazed me how much he actually knows!

I got so excited when I discovered that he knows the months of the year, that I made him recite it for everyone -- daddy, granny & grandpa, aunt Bo and uncle Brad, etc. Needless to say, he now has an obsession with the months of the year. Here he is...

Samuel keeps growing & growing...

It is SO hard to believe that my baby is already two months old (see photos below)! The past two months have been alot of fun for me, but unfortunately it is back to reality! :) I started working from home on Wednesday and will continue to work from home until Samuel is 10 weeks old (May 27th). Samuel will then start to go to daycare with Kevin.

I have a very bittersweet feeling about this transition. I have savored each moment a little more this time around, not knowing if it will be my last...I have taken less pictures and instead spent hours memorizing every teeny, tiny feature of Samuel. I am hoping to remember this stage of life, but I know that somehow it will all be a big blur by the time he turns 3 (as it was with Kevin). Samuel & I have spent the last 8 weeks kissing, cuddling, talking, tickling, caressing, crying. laughing, cooing, smiling, and so much more! I feel so humbled and blessed that God would entrust me with this amazing little boy!

I have also spent more time with Kevin over the past 8 weeks... loving on him, singing with him (he doesn't know that I can't carry a tune!), reading to him, and making memories with him (lots & lots of "puppy" kisses!). After all, he is (and always will be) my #1 baby. And while his strong will makes me crazy at times, it is one of the things I love about him the most! After all, his determination to defy me and push the limits is also the same determination with which he constantly declares his love for me, his daddy, and his "brudder". He melts my heart like no other person can.

I am extremely thankful for my husband and the great way he has handled the past 8 weeks of emotional breakdowns, lack of sleep, and constant parade of relatives through our house! Not to mention that I have not gotten any better as a housekeeper or cook in the past 8 weeks -- mainly for lack of trying! :) He didn't ever complain that I spent all day at home and did not manage to get a meal on the table. And trust me, there was LOTS of those days! :) I am so blessed to have him to walk through life with!

So, while I am slightly teary-eyed that this chapter in our life is closing, I look forward to the great things God has in store for each of us in the days and weeks ahead!

Samuel at 7 weeks

Samuel at 8 weeks

Picture Time

I used to believe that the reason my parents didn't have pictures of the four of us together had to do with the financial constraints of having four children....
Now I realize it had more to do with my parents keeping their SANITY! :)

One of the girls in my Sunday School class has a photography business and took the boys' pictures on Monday. It was quite the time trying to get two boys to cooperate and be happy at the same time! Kevin always starts out shy with everyone and spends his time hiding behind me and clutching my leg. Once I could finally pry him off of me to get started with some pictures of Samuel, he was getting into everything. First he wanted us to blow up a balloon, then he wanted to put on some PINK galoshes. When it was finally time for him to be in the pictures, he wanted nothing to do with sitting in any position we wanted him in. And when we got outside, you can forget it! All he wanted to do at that point was to pick up sticks and throw them in the lake. Somehow we managed not to fall in!

All in all, we did get some great pictures, but I won't be volunteering for this job again anytime soon! :)

Here are some pictures... and the website link where you can see them all.

Website & Passwords:

www.mjwphotography.com/clients

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