A Fun Video

I didn't get much, but this is the hardest I've ever heard Paul laugh...

Easter

I decided that I didn't want to do the whole egg hunt and Easter basket ON Easter since (when Sammi's older) it will detract from what Easter is really about. So, we did it yesterday with both Adam's family and my family coming over to my mom and dad's house. Samantha was so excited to go find the eggs. She was trying to get upstairs so fast that she kept tripping. She was also yelling "Let's get the eggs! Let's get the eggs!" I am really glad that we did it yesterday since today it snowed quite a bit. Enough that they cancelled church. I guess we didn't really focus on the REAL Easter either day. Oh well. Here are some pictures from yesterday, and a couple of Sammi playing out in the snow with Adam today. Oh...you might notice I cut Samantha's hair and gave her bangs. I wasn't crazy about it at first, but it's growing on me.

Paul wishing he could be out there with them

Samantha at 2 yrs 10 months

Here's what Samantha is like just before turning three:

• She is excited for her birthday and is always telling me what she wants for her birthday.
• If I tell anyone she's two she'll respond by saying, "And a half!! I'm two AND A HALF!"
• She loves, loves, loves dolls and playing babies. We never go anywhere without one of her babies. We also have to have her diaper bag, bottle, blanket, etc.
• She is really sweet and sensitive. She is always concerned that everyone is happy. If Paul is crying she'll come up to him and say, "it's okay buddy, I'm right here. It's okay, I'm here and I gotcha." She also told my mom today that she could have her baby "for all of the time" (I think she was afraid that my mom slept alone when my dad is out of town)
• She's talking really well and only says a couple words wrong; like "breas-quist" = breakfast, "flam-ly"=family, "pa-man-a" = banana, "bin-a-nin" = vitamin
• She goes to bed at 7:00 although she will almost always play for awhile before actually going to sleep. She wakes up around 6:30 and takes about a 2 hour nap, but it can be as short as 45 min or as long as 3 hrs.
• She loves to hold Paul and (unfortunately) does it all the time, even when Paul doesn't want her too.
• She is SUCH a messy eater and we can't get through a meal without making a HUGE mess.
• She is very polite, always saying please and thank you.
• She has had a hard time listening lately and I'm convinced it'll be the terrible threes rather than the terrible twos.
• She knows all her colors as well as what happens when you mix them (i.e. when you mix red and blue you get purple)
• She has one-to-one correspondence (when she counts 1, 2, 3 she can touch the objects as she's saying the numbers) but she still counts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
• She is learning her letters, but can only identify "s" consistently. She can also pick out a few other letters some of the time.
• Her favorite food is pizza and anytime I ask what we should have for dinner she yells, "I know, pizza!"
• She still misses her friends in Utah and will occasionally ask about them (although it's getting less frequent)
• Pink is her favorite color. When you ask what color of something she wants she will say, "I want pink, I looooove pink."
• Whenever she's doing something wrong, she tries to get out of it by saying that she was just teasing.
• She is really verbal and is able to express what's going on in her head. She can tell me what she wants and why, as well as why something is bothering her.
• She loves nursery. We spoke in church a couple Sunday's ago. She was running up to Adam during the closing prayer. She hadn't quite made it to him though when the prayer was over. She immediately turned around and started running for the door, yelling "nursery time, nursery time!"
• She is always kind and is such a sweet girl that we love!

Paul at 11 Months (almost)

Here is what Paul is doing at almost 11 months old:

• He is crawling, pulling himself up to standing, and trying to stand on his own, but I think it will still be awhile before he's walking (especially since he's only been doing all that for less than a month).
• He has 7 teeth and is getting 2 more. It seems like the poor kid is always teething.
• He is still always very happy and pretty easygoing.
• He will growl (that's not the exact word, but it's the closest I can get) when we are eating and I can't keep food on his plate fast enough.
• When Sammi takes something from him he will try grab it back and since he's remarkably strong, there are times he is able to get it back (I am usually cheering him on).
• He eats 3 meals a day, plus one snack and two bottles (first thing in the morning and right after naps).
• He goes to bed at 7:00, wakes up around 7:00 and takes about a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day.
• When Paul accomplishes something he looks at me with this big grin like, "I did it Mom!"
• He is my little cuddle bug and when I pick him up he will put his head right down on my shoulder.
• He follows Samantha wherever she goes now that he's able to get around.
• He is content to play by himself a lot of the time but also loves the attention when he gets it.
• He is a champion imitator. If I make a noise or do something with a toy, he's immediately trying to do the same thing.
• He sleeps on his tummy curled up in a little ball.
• He can eat marshmallows like no other. Adam gave him some today during conference and he inhaled them. I don't think he even chewed.
• Yes he is still chubby (and CUTE!!)
• He is a sweet and lovable little boy who is so fun to watch grow up!