Zoo Trip



Last weekend we got together with the Borts family and Manson family to go to the zoo. Sunday was free in celebration of the Chinese New Year, and they opened at 9, one hour earlier. It seemed a lot of people knew about the free part, but it was empty for the first hour, no one seemed to know about that part. For the first hour it really felt like we were the only people there. It was great for the kids to get to see the elephants and play on the structures before other kids were all over them. Sam didn't even know the zoo had drumbs. Ironically the only animals I didn't see that I was hoping to were the polar bears and penguins, who didn't seem to be out much in the cold weather. Go figure. I've also never seen so many elephants. There were 3 in the main area, mom and new baby Lily inside, and then one more out back. Lily's brother was being very vocal knowing that the baby was on display right next door, that was great to hear too. Sam was so happy, and so exhausted after 3 hours of running around.

 

 

 

I can't believe we got this photo, all 4 kids cooperating, amazing!

 

 

New baby, Lily

 

My two favorite people

 

First taste of elephant ear, she LOVED it!

Exhausted on the way home

 

More Samantha

 

The first time we put Samantha in the car facing forward after turning her car seat around. She must have thought we were so stupid, she freaked out until we drove a bit then she got really into it and was super excited to just say "forward" over and over again.

 

Samantha and her friend Hannah at daycare

 

Samantha has a new potty, she doesn't know how to use it certainly, but loves to sit on it. She knows it's hers and loves having it. Small steps...

Samantha has been having this same "conversation" over and over on the phone. It's usually with Grandma and Papa Eric, sometimes with Daddy, but always this conversation, with pauses in proper place. "Hi.  Good. Playing toys. Bye."

 

The Park

Last weekend it was so sunny the Sam had to get outside, she's been hating being trapped inside all winter. We jumped at the opportunity and went across to the park.

Last time we went to the park, so maybe October, November, Sam still wouldn't go down the slide on her backside, always turned around on her belly backwards. Then she showed us what she was made of on the higher slide at the park.

 

Insta Samantha Update

Sorry for all the photos, it's easier to have my phone out during the days with Sam than the big camera. I do have plans for a photo shoot again sometime soon, but it hasn't happened yet. Here's a brief photo recap of the last few weeks. 

 

Balancing with her hands and feet up made her look a little scary, she hasn't done it since, not sure how I managed to capture it, especially with my phone.

 

The girl loves bubbles, and baths... put them together, tears. She hates bubble baths.

Trying to convince me she wasn't tired yet... sure

Showing her baby doll the football game

Love my pigtail girl

She asks for a wipe when she makes a mess to clean up her tray, hands, and face

2 Year Check Up

The day after Samantha's birthday I took her in for her 2 year check up. Her 18 month check was horrible, and she didn't even get any shots, she just didn't want to be there. I of course tell Josh how bad it is and then he came to an appointment when Sam had an ear infection a couple weeks ago and she was totally fine, no crying. I wasn't sure what to expect this time around. When we got there we start by seeing my Aunt Kris (who works there), so I think that helps seeing a somewhat familiar face, then she just wanted to look at the fish tank. Unfortunately for her we were called in shortly after that. But after being measured and weighed got to wait 30 minutes for the doctor, and then the shots. Poor girl. At least now there are no more scheduled appointments for her for a year!

She got weight and measured like a big kid on the wall and with a real scale, no more baby scale. She didn't mind that at all. They didn't however take her shoes off, or anything for that matter. Her shoes added at least an inch in the back of her sneakers, and they didn't line her head up with anything straight so they basically guessed. So I'm not exactly taking the 36 inches they told me she is. When we measure at home she's about 34. I'm going with that. If it really is doubled to get your adult height 5'8" sounds way more realistic than 6' despite how tall Josh is, she's got my build. Her weight was just under 30lbs. This was also the last appointment where they measure head size. I'm ok with that, it's still huge, 98%. They also start measuring BMI, which is kind of cool to start early. She was right in the middle there, with her inaccurate height and weight measurements. haha.

Now that she's 2 there are exciting changes, one of which is she can now drink whatever milk we have, no more buying whole milk. That one excited me a lot, no special trips for just her milk or making sure I pour the right one for myself. The other change is she can finally sit forward facing in the car. She didn't mind backwards so this one was cool, but she didn't know any better. Josh turned both carseats around and the first time he put her in my car she cried. She must have thought we were so dumb, putting her in the wrong way. She just kept crying "backwards" over and over agian. Once I started driving she started to like it. The next morning she woke up ready to go and once I told her she got to go she said "forward, car!" She was so excited, and still loves it. She also says she wants to ride backwards though, so she's just happy.

Waiting for the doctor

She got tired of waiting and decided to act like a frog while pacing back and forth

Not sure about this carseat direction yet

 Happy girl post doctor, post birthday party, hanging out at home

18 Weeks

18 weeks down, 22(ish) to go until Samantha is a big sister. We find out in about 2 weeks for sure if we're having a boy or girl, but all signs have been pointing to boy, so we'll see if they're all right. Samantha knows there's a "baby in mamma tummy" but doesn't really get it yet that eventually that baby will be in her house, her space. It will be interesting. She'll be getting a big girl room in what is currently our guest room so the nursery can stay the same and hopefully her transition a few months before baby gets here will help her love it before someone takes over her space. She loves the "big girl" thing so far. (More on that later) We've also moved a lot of toys into the extra bedroom that used to have the desk and shelving in it. It's now ready for kids, and Sam loves it and has been running back and forth playing "toys" with anything she can find. Her desk and table are both in there, making room for the eventual baby "stuff" that will make it's way out of the garage and back into the family room forefront, the swing, bouncer, etc. The good part about having a single story is we won't be setting up the pack and play this time around since we can just go 5 feet down the hall and use the nursery.

In case anyone missed the announcement, here it is.

Wait, say what?