Sam's 8 month doctor's visit

This cutie here had his 8 month doctor's appointment last week which he aced.  Like the happy kid he is, he didn't cry at all while the doctor examined him.  In fact, it was a lot of smiles.  She was impressed with his tan (ha!) and said he looked ridiculously healthy.  As usual, she was shocked by the number of teeth he has already (9!) and said to basically keep doing what we're doing.  It's time to add "real food" to his diet so the kiddo has been eating a lot of avocado, banana, grapes, bread, and other delightfully mushy food.  

He is pulling up and standing on EVERYTHING he can gets his hands on.  He doesn't even like crawling much, mainly because he's so intent on walking very soon.  

I have constantly been shocked by how BIG Sam seems compared to Jack at the same age.  Well, turns out he is heavier than Jack was but he's certainly not "huge" by regular standards.  Here are his stats!

Weight - 19 pounds, 15 ounces (the nurse said, "let's just call it 20.") - 55th percentile

Height - 28.5 inches - 75th percentile

Visit from Grammy and Pop Pop

I've been so busy this past month with no time to post but it hasn't meant that we weren't having fun. Grammy and Pop Pop were in town for three weeks and there was lots to do! For better or worse, Grammy's full time job was taking care of Sam and Pop Pop's job was fixing up our house. Sam had a ball with her and with all the attention.

 

 

 Turns out that the little guy really enjoys being catered to every hour of the day. What can I say Sam? You should have been a first born! :)

While Grammy was taking care of Sam, Pop Pop was working around the house helping us out with about a billion house projects. Jack really enjoyed measuring things with him and using his Fisher-Price drill to help out.

 

John got into the action too with a little staining and finishing.

   

 The final and most impressive project was the handmade grandfather clock that Pop Pop drove across country from Pennsylvania. After an initial wariness from Jack about the chimes, he decided that the "chimes were very pretty". Thank goodness! The clock is certainly very beautiful.

 

 

 We, of course, gave Pop Pop some time off and he had a blast with Jack.

 

 

 We had a really great visit and I'm so happy that they got to come out and see Sam at this fun age. (And Jack of course). Plus John and I got to escape for two nights to Vegas! :) Oh, and we used the helpful babysitting opportunity to go test drive and buy a van. Yikes! Now I really am an uncool suburban mom. Luckily I don't care. Besides, it's the fanciest car I've ever owned.

 

Thanks for the fun visit Grammy and Pop Pop!

 

Sam is 8 months old!

Happy 8 month birthday Sam!! This kid.  Wow.  He continues to shock us with his physical development.  He's got a mouth full of teeth but, more importantly, he can MOVE.  Everywhere and anywhere.  He skipped the military crawl and went straight to crawling.  And now is pulling up to stand every chance he gets and is cruising around our coffee table like it's nothing.  He wants to walk so bad.  

To me he just seems huge.  I think he's much bigger than Jack at this age (see his 8 month photos here).  Sam's just got way chubbier and stronger legs.  I'm curious to see at his doctor's appointment how much he weighs and how tall he is.  

Sam continues to be one smiley social little guy.  When he's at home alone with me he is bored and grumpy and wants to GO.  When we are at a giant playgroup or a party, he's in heaven.  He loves seeing other kids.  Jack started back at preschool summer camp and I was scared to death Sam would be miserable on those days so we started music class.  Same class that I took with Jack.  He's a little young but, not surprisingly, he loved it.  Loved the music, loved all the kids.  Loved crawling around the whole room.  I can not tell you what a different experience it was that when I was with Jack.  Crazy.

At 8 months Sam is still not a good sleeper.  He wakes up 2-3 times a night and then is up for good (but tired) at 5:30am.  John and I just don't have the heart to cut out all the night feedings and let him cry but we probably should since I know he doesn't really need the bottles.  The poor little guy has no schedule during the day because I'm dragging him to Jack's preschool or play dates or whatever.  So he gets 20 minute car naps here and there.  But, through it all, he smiles and is ready for action.  

Oh, and guess what else he did recently?  He has started to say "Mama".  At first I didn't believe it but he is definitely making "ma ma" sounds.  Then I thought that it couldn't actually be referring to me but one morning he was standing in his crib yelling "mama" and I'm pretty sure he was telling me to get my butt in there.  So I guess it's true.  Crazy since Jack didn't say "mama" really until he was about 15 months.  

We don't want to constantly compare the two boys but it sure is hard not to.  As always, Sam absolutely adores Jack and wants to keep up with him so bad.  

Jack has just started to get slightly frustrated at him now that he can actually move and take his stuff.  The other day he was reaching for one of Jack's legos and when Jack freaked out I reminded him that Sam was "just a baby" and that he would have to share one of his blocks.  About 30 minutes later Sam had gotten into our cable TV box and wiring and I said "Sam, don't do that!" and Jack immediately lectured to me "Mommy, he's only a baby!"

But we love these two crazy kids.  Thank goodness Sam is so easy right now or I'd never survive!  :)

p.s.  Awesome "Italia" shirt on Sam courtesy of Grandma and Aunt Julie in Italy.