Merry Christmas!

Making sugar cookies for Santa


Putting out the cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer.


Andy patiently waiting, in his new wagon, to open gifts on Christmas morning.



Sharing a ride in our new wagon!

Andy Turns Three!

Andy turned three on Sunday. We celebrated the occasion with the second annual trip to Union Station to see the enormous model train display. This was followed by lunch at Fritz's where the overhead train delivered our food.

This is how Sammy spent the day!

Andy checking out his new tricycle.

Sammy is Four Months Old!

Another month gone! The months are going by too fast for me. If only I could freeze time, so I could enjoy my sweet little four month old girl a little longer.



Sammy Facts:

-She weighs 10# 14oz (10th percentile)
-She is 22 3/4 in. tall
-She is a quiet baby, but loves to talk back when we coo at her.
-She sleeps in her crib...a big milestone for us
-She sleeps about twelve hours at night.
-She eats twice at night, she added a feeding when we moved to the crib:(
-She will usually take three naps during the day.
-She is starting to give us little giggles
-She does not like to be ignored!
-She is growing out of 0-3 months clothes and into 3-6!
-She can hold onto the rattle and even get it into her mouth.


Andy showing Sammy how it's done!


Tummy Time!

Breakfast with Santa

On Saturday, we had "Breakfast with Santa" at church. The pancakes were definately the hightlight for Andy. He wasn't real excited to sit on Santa's lap. Sammy didn't seem to mind (this year anyway).

Andy's Birthday Party!

On Saturday, Andy celebrated his third birthday with a couple of his little friends.

Miss Heather, his Kindermusik teacher, started the party off with some music. He spent a good deal of the hour running in a circle with his friends and there is nothing Andy loves more that that!

These are just a few highlights of the fun! (sorry they're long)

Next was pizza and chocolate cake. Andy claims that eating chocolate cake was his favorite part. Apparently, he takes after his mommy!

Before the grown-ups could take a bite of pizza, the kids were on to the gifts. Andy's friends were eager to "help" him open the goodies as only 3 year olds can.

It was two crazy hours of non-stop fun!

Fall Pictures

It has been a busy month. We have had a lot of nice days to play outside in the leaves. Here are a few pics from the month.

Every fall I look forward to seeing our backyard Japenese Maple turn. It is my favorite tree in the fall. Andy likes the red leaves too!


Andy and his active imagination turned Sammy's play gym into a rocket ship. The star on top makes a great steering wheel!

I can't get enough of her smiles!

Our friends Ellie and Will turned one this month. Andy was very disappointed none of the gifts were for him. Thank you Susan for letting him open and play with them anyway!

Sammy in her new (borrowed) spit-up...I mean Bumbo chair. I have to remember to wait after feeding her before putting her in the chair or else she soaks herself in spit-up. Must be the pressure on her stomach. She seems to like her new sitting position, but her head is still a little wobbly.

Sammy is Three Months Old!

The time goes by too fast. I can't believe she is three months old today!

Sammy facts:

-No official weight this month, but I would guess she is close to 10 lbs.

-She smiles all the time!

-She found her hands and loves to suck on her fingers

-She blows adorable little spit bubbles

-She sleeps about 11 hours at night with a quick feeding around 4 am

-She has officially outgrow her newborn size clothes

-She likes to hold on to daddy's finger when he gives her a bottle

-She loves her nightly baths, so do we...she sleeps longer on bath night which is why they are nightly:)

-She enjoys her play gym, swing and bouncy seat

-She likes to sit in her bouncy seat in the middle of the kitchen where she can watch the action (Andy). She gets quite upset if we leave her in the swing in the living room when we are in the kitchen.

-She loves her pacifier, unlike Andy

-She still sleeps in the bouncy seat in her room. We need to work on sleeping in the crib...soon!

-She loves to be swaddles when she sleeps

Smiley

If she's not sleeping, she's smiling:).

Fall

As far as fall weather goes, last weekend was perfect with lots of sun and temps in the 70's. Andy took advantage of the nice weather to play in the leaves. He will be pretty disappointed when that "big pile of leaves" disappears on trash day!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween couldn't arrive fast enough for Andy. We started the festivities off with pumpkin carving followed by the neighborhood Halloween party. Our little fireman then hit the block for some "Trick or Treating". It will be awhile before the excitement/sugar high wears off!

Cuddling on the Couch

A Busy Fall Day

Today was a busy day for the Cooper family. We started the morning off at a charity run called Abby's Run for the Heart, benefiting research for viral myocarditis. Scott ran and the kids and I cheered him on (while eating our complimentary bagels from Panera).

Next, we made our annual trip south to the Powell Pumpkin Patch to find some pumpkins. We found four great pumpkins, one for each member of the family, and rode the hay rack ride.






Being so far south of town, we made the Louisburg Cider Mill our last stop for their "famous" (locally, anyway) apple cider donuts and fresh cider. Andy enjoyed watching them make both the cider and donuts. The morning was so exciting for Andy (or exhausting) that he fell asleep on the ride home and slept almost 3 hours (I had to wake him up).

Sammy is Two Months Old!

Sammy Facts:

-Sammy weighs 9 lbs. (Andy weighed 9 lbs. 4 oz. at 2 months)

-She is 21 inches long

-She has a beautiful smile

-Her cooing is very cute

-She eats 6-7 times a day

-Her longest stretch of sleep is about 6-7 hours at night

-She falls asleep between 8-9 pm

-She is finally growing into her 0-3 month clothes

Summer Comes to an End

It is football season again. The boys have been making the trip to Manhattan to cheer on the Cats. Andy loves the touchdown train, the band and cheering "KSU Wildcats!".



In September, Scott took Andy to the circus.



Andy is still pretty excited to be a big brother.



We all traveled to Nebraska last weekend to celebrate Ron and Mom's wedding. Andy and Abby had a great time riding in the wagon and splashing in the tub.






Sammy continues to be a very sweet baby who spends her day sleeping, eating and watching her always entertaining brother.