Why we can't leave Sam alone with Ava for even a minute!

Luckily, Ava slept through it!

As Bradley said, we're glad he's learning to share already, but not like this!

Ava

 

Ava is a lot more alert now and smiling all the time!

Dad gave Ava her first official bottle and she drank it with no problems!
Dad is great at soothing Ava down (or at 4am when mom is at her brink!).  He has also definitely won the award of "Master Swaddler" at our house! 

Getting help from her Big Brother with her pacifier!

Life with Sam

Sam loves his books - his favorite is "Mike Mulligan and his steam shovel Mary Anne" - it was missing for a few days and mom and dad looked at each other suspiciously to see if it was their doing!  (How many times a day can you read this book!?).  It was found by Sam a few days later - he had put it in his wagon for safe keeping!

Sam LOVES hockey and is one of his most common words he says.  If he sees a game on TV, he will say "Ho-CKEY" and run and grab his hockey stick.  You do have to watch out for him when he has it in hand - he doesn't understand high-sticking yet!

Sam being silly playing in the baby's bathtub and riding cowboy with his two monkeys (his mega blocks served as his horse)!

Sam and messes are an inevitable combination at our house - it's amazing how much damage he can do in a short time!  He loves to get in dad's bedside drawers, into the baby bins, his books, and anything else in his eyeline!

Just chillin"

Cute boy!

Looking cute in one of my new outfits from the Cooke family!!

Ava's First Smile!

Papa's Birthday Party

Great Grandma Bev (with Papa's help) cooked up her infamous Swedish meatballs for a family get together to celebrate Papa's birthday!  Everyone had a great time - Sam loved playing with Garrett and terrorizing the girls!  He also loved the cake!!

 

Arts and Crafts time - Sam was only semi-impressed!

 

Ava hanging out with dad

Looks like a rough nap!!!!!

Sam is mommy's helper giving Ava a bath!

Legoland at Mall of America

Fun Week

Last week we had a great time and were happy to get out of the house a couple of days!  On Monday, it was 46 degrees (which is CRAZY for February in Minnesota), so mom got the double stroller out for our maiden voyage around Lake Calhoun!  This is how we roll now.....

 

Ava was bundled up and slept the whole time!

 

  Sam loved the walk as we saw a lot of dogs and puppies - he made noises at all the dogs - dog noises and squeals - and waved hi to all the people we passed.  He also loved a little stop at the playground!

On Thursday, we had fun checking out the Kids Play area in Eden Prairie before meeting dad for lunch.  Sam was a little timid at first but had a fun time!

Ava continues to be such a good baby and will be one month old on Valentines day - Time is flying by.

Sam loves his little sister - he just needs to hone his "gentle skills" - this week I caught him (so Cute!) giving Ava kisses from Mr. Monks!  Sam also tries to put her pacifier in - needs some practice but could come in handy for mom and dad....

Sam also thinks all of Ava's things are his (I guess they were at some point!).  He loves to play with the boppy pillow and loves the infant seat.  He learned how to turn the infant seat to vibrate and we find him sitting in it relaxing.  He loves the swing and trust me, has tried to get in it!

 Sam checking his email in the morning!?!?!? 

Note that Sam has Ava's pacifier and Ava's blanket!!!

 It is fun being home with Sam and Ava - lots of fun and entertainment from Sam, but there are definitely times mom is pushed to her limit :)  Sam managed to put a black stripe down his hair this week with mascara, crumble mom's blush on the bathroom floor, and get into everything as usual!

Ava has given mom some four hour stints of sleep at night (YAY!) and is officially an easier, more mellow baby than Sam!  I can't wait for her to start smiling in the next couple of weeks!

Sam & Ava Updates

Ava's first bath

She seemed happy to be done, 

and was sucking on her fingers to comfort herself :) 

Ava continues to be a good baby and sleeps a lot - impressive considering the Sam-storm that constantly surrounds her!

Sam has been very interested in Ava's swing and will always say "Baby" and check Ava out when she is in it!

Sam is getting good with his fork and spoon, but not enough to leave him unattended for 5 minutes - lesson learned.... this picture doesn't show the sides of the chair, floor, and counter which had yogurt on them as well!

Sam getting ready to go to Mema's for a Friday Funday!

(It was a very quiet day for Mom & Ava!)

A great weekend and another week ahead of us!