Jack is 5 years old today!

My baby is 5 years old!  The old cliche is true...they grow up so fast.  Time has flown by...and yet of course it seems like Jack has been in our lives forever.  

I'll write more about our first born later but thought I'd post these pics.

Jack never disappoints with an expressive and giggly photo shoot.  

I just wish he was this happy all the time.  ;-)

Our happy silly 5 year old.  Happy birthday Jack!!

Sam is 2 1/4 years old today!

Little Sammy is 2 1/4 years old!  Except I can't call him "little" anymore because he's huge!  He really looks a lot older than he is.  

Sammy remains a lovely, happy, mild-mannered boy.  Sometimes he tries to copy Jack's angsty moods and yelling but it's just not the same.  He doesn't have it in him.  :)

He's started at preschool for just a couple of mornings a week and, after a brief adjustment period, he seems to really like it.  He loves other people, other kids, and playing with all the toys and outdoor equipment.  And, in a huge 180 from my experience with Jack, every time I pick him up from school, Sam immediately, unprompted, starts telling me all about his day, what he played with, who played with him.  It's adorable. 

So happy 2 1/4 birthday Sammy!  We love you!

Sam is 24 months today!

Sam is two years old!  Look at that cutie pie.  We just can't believe how quickly two years has flown by.  Though, to look at him, people guess he's almost three all the time.  He's a big boy that towers over his entire playgroup.

He's just started his two year old tantrums and insane moods.  He's always been a bit feisty but now he's started his lay on the floor and scream and flail phase.  But I'm not too bothered by it because at least now I know it's normal and it'll pass.

He remains entirely devoted to his brother and just loves him so much.  He looks at the window every afternoon to look and see when Jack will be dropped off from school.  He tackles his brother when he decides it's time to wrestle and he holds his hand when it's time to be nice.

He loves hanging with the older kids and loves a good party.

Watch out for this one because he sure likes crowds and being social.  Doesn't want to read a single book but will talk to any stranger in any public place.

I just love my little guy with the feisty attitude.  Happy 2nd birthday Sammy!

Sam is 23 months today!

Sam is 23 months old today!  Looking pretty old in these pictures.  My blonde haired blue eyed baby is almost 2!

He continues to be a "maniac" as Jack calls him.  Jumping on couches, climbing on tables, eating a ton, laughing, smiling, giggling, and throwing temper tantrums.  He's got quite a boisterous personality usually. 

He really loves to be out and about and with people.  Sitting at home with mommy is fun for Jack but not for this one!  He screams and kicks every time I drag him away from Jack's school after pickup.

But happy birthday to this cutie.  Thanks for being happy and lovely, even when you're not sleeping well and throwing a fit.  :)

Sam is 22 months old today!

There's our Sammy!  Wearing his brother's hand-me-down shirt that Jack wore when he was 3.  Sam isn't even 2 but he's a beast.  Everyone always thinks he's older than he is because he's pretty tall and solid.  

Not much new this month except a lot of new words and language development.  I'm not sure anyone can understand him except for us but that's okay.  He's not shy about telling us exactly what he wants.  And his go-to move is to grab us (or any adult really) by the hand to lead him/her to where he wants to go.  Sometimes it's just to play with him outside, sometimes it's to show us how crazy his older brother is being, and sometimes it's right to the fridge for more food.  But he's very assertive!

He's starting typical 2 year old behavior and gets frustrated pretty easily.  If a toy or something isn't working right away, he's quick to yell and throw and run around screaming.  Luckily it's not that often and we aren't very phased.

 

Besides, he's even cute when he's throwing things.

He is playing well with Jack now and that is awesome.  Of course, nowadays the roles have switched slightly and sometimes Sam is the aggressor, pulling Jack's hair or tackling him to the ground.  Wrestling is fun when both parties are in agreement, but not so fun if one isn't in the mood.  But we try to let them work it out themselves.  

Jack really thought it would be great to tickle Sam during these photos to make him laugh.

It did make Sam smile but then he was OFF and ready to chase down big brother.

Happy 22 months Sam!

Jack is 4 1/2 years old!

Look at our big 4 1/2 year old!  Jack is suddenly very proud to be four AND A HALF and can't wait until he's 5.  I don't know what he thinks will happen but I guess it just sounds very cool.

Jack remains one heck of a kid.  Complicated, smart, sensitive...an enigma.  John and I are definitely still trying to figure him out...and I'm pretty sure he has the upper hand!  He is funny and cuddly and moody and there's no one like him.  :)

His current obsession is numbers.  Of any kind.  He loves taking measuring tapes all around the house and measuring any and all things in our house.  He loves analog clocks and telling time (which is really cool).  Jack also loves elevators and escalators and, as he puts it, "high places".  He loves to park on the top floor of parking garages and just take the elevator up and down.  It's an extremely fun way to spend a Monday.  

He is reading better and better every month.  Not that you would know it because he's the kind of kid who clams up when you ask him to show off his knowledge.  But he'll randomly read signs or pages in books so I know he knows a lot of what he sees.  John and I, like most parents, have been spelling things occasionally so that Jack and Sam don't know what we are talking about.  But it may be time to end that tradition as the other morning Jack leaned over and whispered to me, "Mommy do you want to go get some C-O-F-F-E-E?"  Awesome.

This handsome 4 1/2 year old starts his second year of preschool in a few weeks and I know he'll do just great.  He's come so far the past year.  Now if we could only get him to stop saying "poopyhead" and "shut up".  Sigh.  Love you Jack!

Sam is 21 months old today!

There's our smiley Sam, 21 months old today!  It's such an awesome age and John and I are enjoying him immensely.  He's learning new words and putting together more and more sentences every week.  

We can't get over how friendly and social the little guy is.  He'll take anyone's hand and lead them around, showing them different things or engaging in games with them.  Sammy has the cutest little voice so to hear him say "hi" or "bye" with his little inflection is really adorable.  

As he approaches 2 he is starting a few temper tantrums.  But they seem so short and easy to us compared to what we've seen.  :)  He'll throw himself on the ground for a full 3 or 5 seconds and then it's over.  And back to looking for fun or mischief to get into.  He loves to climb on top of anything and everything.  He loves jumping and he loves running after his big brother.  Really there's nothing he loves more than his big brother.  It's pretty awesome.  Even when the feeling isn't always mutual. 

Overall we are just in awe of how good-natured and happy and even-tempered he is.  What a cutie.  Happy 21 months Sammy!

Sam is 20 months old today!

Well, as you will see, I didn't get a nice, in focus, shot this month because my darling Sammy would NOT SIT STILL.  Not that he ever does so I guess this perfectly captures my little boy at 20 months.  

This kid is ridiculously cute.  He really has the sweetest, cutest disposition.  Sweet definitely doesn't mean mellow or calm though.  Sam is constantly bouncing off the walls, jumping off tables, standing on chairs, and yelping in joy or frustration.  Because he is happy as a clam right up until he doesn't get something or can't figure something out.  And then, BAM.  He's an almost two year old, flinging himself on the floor and screaming.  But, for some reason, it's just sort of cute when he does it.  And it's usually over very quickly.

He continues to learn new words every day and he can say so much now.  He and Jack play so well together now.  Sure, there are still times when Jack hits him or doesn't want him around, but a majority of the time they play and giggle and have a great time.  Sam just absolutely adores his big brother.  He tries to copy him at every turn which is both cool and frightening.  Because his 20 month old body sometimes doesn't have the skills and coordination to keep up with a crazy 4 year old.  

Sammy still gets up sometime between 4:30 and 5:30am but we've fallen into a routine and it's manageable most days.  He's still taking two (very short) naps every day but hopefully I can get him down to one fairly soon.  

He's starting to like books a lot more which is awesome.  Finally!  We can complete a whole book!  (Well, as he hurries me to turn the page).  Who has time to sit that long?

Not this kid!  So happy 20 months Sammy!  And, to keep it real, here's another side of Sam, post-photo shoot.  :)