14 Months this week!

I believe we are just on the edge of the 14 month mark!  Sam had a big month 13, mastering his walking - now he is unstoppable and confident on his feet.  I was happy to see the tip-toe walking is gone and he is on the move.   He does have a few battle wounds to show for these new skills as well - some bumps and bruises - he gets a little brave somedays in his new skills.

 

Sam still loves Mr. Monks more than anything - He often squeals and tackles him to the ground for a hug/love fest....  I'm not sure what it is about that monkey!

Sam loved his floatie so much this summer in the pool that I figured he might as well play with it year round!  Sam spent the weekend lounging in his Mickey inflatable, "Honking" the steering wheel and often needing help getting out of it!  As you can see, he found dad's pile of Reeses peanut butter cups as well!

Sam is talking more now - we hear a lot of "Ma-Ma" and a mixture of "Ba-Ba, Da-Da, Pa-Pa" - he does the "Uh-oh" and "all done" as well.  He is getting good at his sign language too - it really is cute to see him do it.  His newest thing we are teaching him are animal noises - he is best at the Bear noise, followed by monkey and then a tie for the dog/pig - both of which are just a heavy panting :)  We'll have to get a video.

 

Friday, mom and dad had their first "parent - teacher conference."  We weren't sure what to expect, but it was just a topline of Sam and what things he is learning at daycare, what things they will be working on (eliminating bottles, utensils, etc..).  His teacher said he is well-liked by all the kids and a very happy baby.  She did say he had a "new thing" of shrieking at the top of his lungs and will get all the other kids going - had we seen this?? - Yes, we have :) 

 

We are getting a glimpse of toddlerhood and the "Terrible Twos" to come.  I brought Sam to the toy store while out with our friend Kelly on Saturday - I let him play with some of the toys and anytime he had to leave a toy, he would scream, arch his back, and make a scene - a lady walked by and said, "I'm guessing he's almost two." Uh.. no, we got a 10 months to go!!!!  I am seeing some stubbornness starting to come out and am a little worried about what's ahead of us....or more, how to handle it!

All in all, every day is a joy!  The laughs certainly outweigh any of the frustrations or challenging moments!

....Tomorrow - Halloween!  We tried on his costume today..... can't wait to post pictures tomorrow!!!

Look what I found -

Vaseline!!

Sam loves sliding!

 

Monday night we decided to take a quick walk to Sam's favorite playground on the east side of Lake Calhoun.  You can see him wiggle to get going down the slide!

Maybe it's time to childproof more cupboards.....

Sam loves to go grocery store!

(Mom finds it easier to go to the grocery store with only one of her babies in tow, but she does like the extra help carrying!)

Child-Proofing

Sam does not like dad's efforts to keep him out of cupboards! 
(Make sure you have the volume on :))

Sam is pretty strong and determined, though, so I hope the childproof latches can withstand him!

Sam is WALKING!!!!

Walking soon??

We feel like Sam is going to walk soon!  He cruises along furniture at lightning speed, and just in the last week will take shortcuts and free-walk several steps to his next destination (often mom :)).  He'll also be standing along furniture, pick something up to look at/play with, and will be just free-standing.  So... I think we are close!

Sam has become quite the climber and brave adventurer.  Below are some pictures from daycare of him on the playground.

Last weekend I took him to a nearby park and He LOVED it - he was not happy to leave.  His favorite was the slide - of course, I held his hands as he slid down, but he would grin at the top in anticipation and squeal the whole way down. 

 

Monday I took the day off as Sam's daycare was closed and we went to Edinborough park to check out their Toddler zone play area.  He loved sitting on all the animals and playing, but was just a little too small to climb up everything!

Sam's new obsession is BOOKS!  He has a shelf of his books in our living room and they are always pulled down and spread all over the floor.  After work or at night, I just sit in front of the couch and he brings me book after book to read - I have a couple memorized!  I think he just likes turning the pages :)  His daycare sheet said the other day, "Sam enjoyed helping us turn pages during storytime today" - I totally imagine him plowing the other kids over to turn pages!  Today when I picked him up from daycare, he was sitting in a "mini chair" reading a book - too cute!

Here is some of dad's influence..... (don't mind the disaster zone in the foreground)

This week, Bradley and I decided we needed to learn some baby sign language as they have taught it to Sam at daycare, but unfortunately for him at home, we have NO IDEA what he's trying to sign to us or the context in which he uses it; Regardless, it's adorable.  It was nice to see that the most common sign Sam is using is "Please" as dinnertime is when he could use some more manners!  

Sam is starting to talk more and babble - we get "ma-ma" and "Da-da" and other variations.  A lot of time in the car or home or reading books, it's a lot of babbling and loud yelling - he likes to be heard :)

 

He continues to be into everything and loves to explore - he loves to be on the balcony outside, but after last weekend when he threw toys and his pacifier over the edge causing mom to go on recovery missions, he isn't allowed as much free reign!

IN baby news, our little girl is 25 weeks - we are getting closer!  Mom got to hear her heartbeat today and continues to feel her move!  We are only 3 months to meeting our little baby girl!

Dance! dance!

Sam showing off his Backstrom genes - he loves to dance and get down when he hears a beat!!!

Seriously.... This is my life!

Does he eat more or throw more - that is the question!

My two Loves!

Another teaser photo from Sunday - my two loves!

Could you just die?????????

We had a beautiful Sunday afternoon here in Minneapolis - a perfect day for a quick one hour photo shoot for some family pictures and of course, Sam-Man!  I just got two teaser photos from today's shoot and I just LOVE them!  Sarah Ta from Septemberthreephotography - (and an acquaintance from Boise) - did a fantastic job once again!  I know I am a very biased mom - but I have one handsome little man on my hands!!!

 I can't wait to see all the family photos and other shots of Sam - he was so good for the photos - albeit a little serious due to his nap in the car on the way there, but hopefully we got a few smiles in there as well.  It was definitely not from a lack of monkey noises, peek-a-boo, barn animal noises, jumping around, and other ridiculousness to get a smile out of him!

Otherwise, life has been wonderful!  It is so fun to see Sam growing and changing every day and never a shortage of laughs at the new things he does and discovers - Today, Sam worked his way back to the Rhumba vaccuum cleaner, turned it on, and then put both his hands on it and used it to propel him in a much faster scoot than he is able to do.  He would have climbed and sat on it if it stayed still long enough (trust me, he tried) - I can't believe how brave he is sometimes!

Making sure mom has lots of messes to clean up!

                                                            

Sam looking "too fly" in his new PUMA tracksuit - We had a family date night this weekend where dad introduced Sam to the finer things in life - PF Changs!  Sam LOVED the lettuce wraps and all the food he tried - truly a boy after his dad's own heart :)

 

Sam is really starting to grow more hair and the curls are becoming evident!  He has little curls in the back, but after a bath, you can see the curl in all his hair!  He also has four top front teeth coming in, which are so cute.... so many changes each week!

As for our baby girl, mom is officially 23 1/2 weeks!!!  I feel her move all the time and am so excited to add to our little family - I am amazed at how much I love our little boy and am so excited to imagine we are going to have another baby in our house soon that we will love just as much!  I did have to buy my official first outfit for the baby - I do have to exhibit much more self-control with a girl! 

Bradley and I can hardly believe we will be a family of four (!) in just a matter of months!