Picture Update! :)

Blogger is giving me picture difficulties today, so these are not in proper order. :( But I still hope you enjoy them.

1) Sam's first taste of "sweets"...his First Birthday Cake! He LOVED it!

2) After Sam's first haircut...

3) The haircut

4) Second (or third) piece of gooey-delicious cake...

5) Happy Birthday Sam!

6) Rose Marie and her Aunt and Uncle performing the Thanksgiving Play! Rose Marie played the part of a "girl pilgrim." :)

7) Sam's Birthday cake. (I had to put a turkey on it...you don't have a birthday on Thanksgiving Day every year!) Rose Marie helped make it more colorful around the edges.

Thank You Lord!

This year I am thankful for:

1) My husband! His friendship and his ability to keep us constantly in the "honeymoon phase," is incredible. He is truly my very best friend and my protector. Thank you, Lord, you picked the best...as You always do!

2) Rose Marie, I love her companionship and her nurturing nature. I am excited about experiencing Advent with her this season and seeing what God has in store for us both.

3) Samuel, my little knight in puppy pj's! He is a one-year old version of his Daddy, and that just absolutely melts my heart!

4) My family! This year my parents have been our family's "safe haven," on more than one occasion and never seemed to bat an eye! They just scoop us all up and shelter us under their wing and I will never forget that! They are the most loving and supportive family I could ever ask for!

5) For my children's ability to remind me that dancing is more important than laundry.

Victories #2

1) Finally got the biggest part of the Advent presentations made!! Yay!

2) Individual quality time with both babies!!! :)

3) Two successful trips to the YMCA, thanks to the cooperation of Sam and Rose!

Goals for the week:

1) To get Rose Marie to brush those little teeth twice a day. (Somehow that seems to be falling behind.)

2) To make a batch of oatmeal/chocolate chip cookies with Rose Marie.

3) To finish reading my book. A book just for Mommy, which requires taking some time out for Mommy time. I need to get better at that. :)

Oh, Bother!

Samuel's list of accomplishments (all within a single afternoon!)

1) Leaped over the side of his crib in a single bound! Luckily, no injuries, only frightened and then quickly elated by his new skill.

2) Crawled half-way up the stairs when Mommy wasn't looking.

3) Pulled himself up to a standing position using the coffee table for the first time to reach a snack.

4) Pulled himself up to a standing position using the couch, just because he can.

5) Pulled himself up to look inside of a box and then narrowly escaped falling head first into said box.

I feel like my life has changed in the course of a few hours. Up until nap time, Sam hadn't even bothered to pull himself up to a standing position and he still only crawls (wounded soldier crawl). So all of these new found standing skills feel extremely sudden and out of the blue! These brave "jumping over things" skills are things that his sister never did, so I am feeling like a rookie Mom again. Oh well, it keeps things interesting and lively! :) Now if he will just reach his first birthday bruise-less, that would wonderful!

My Hero, Brave and Strong!

Samuel's adoration of Mama, has reached new heights! He has become protective of me...and I must confess that I find it absolutely adorable.

Thanks to his uncles, Sam has learned to "shoot" at people using his little pointer finger and making a "shooting" noise. He shoots at everyone, and thinks it is funny when other people join his one man army. However, Mommy is strictly off limits for being shot at. If one breaks this cardinal rule, the fun is abruptly stopped and Nazgul-like screaming ensues.

Similarly, when playing the "hide and tickle game" with the kids, everything is fun and laughable, until Mama gets tickled. This is interpreted as the desecrating-of-all-that-is-sacred and again, end of game and lots of screaming.

The remedy when such an offense has taken place, is cuddling and I get showered by kisses until he has made sure that I am unscathed. I know, it is obsessive, but I find it really charming. :)

Victories

1) A well planned out dinner menu for the whole week that stayed in budget and was wholesome! :) I love knowing what is for dinner ahead of time.

2) Despite a difficult week with Sam, I was able to press through and maintain my composure most of the time. I am trying to keep calmer when his little temper tantrums escalate and I did a better job than usual.

3) I felt like I have been reaching out to Our Lord again in more concrete ways. I find myself "looking to heaven" as St. Therese would say and knowing that I am in prayer in those moments.

For this upcoming week, my goals would be:

1) Another dynamite dinner planning week!
2) Shopping trip to Michaels for our Advent Presentations. :) I can't wait!!!
3) Individual quality time with both of the little ones.

Just to Review:

Last year:

This year:

Funny how things change. :)