Halfy Birthday Ollie!

Last Saturday, June 21st, we celebrated Ollie's Half Birthday. Although he could not partake in the eating of it, we made a special cake for the occassion. It did not turn out so pretty, but Sam enjoyed making it. And eating it. At his 6 month checkup, Ollie weighed 18 lb 8 oz and was 27 1/4 inches long. And he hardly cried at all for the shots. By the time I scooped him up to soothe him, he had stopped. He is such a mellow kiddo! Looks like he is right on track for everything, not that I was worried.

Here are also some pictures from Bedford Splash from a few weeks ago. Tony & I took Wednesday off from work to spend the day with Sam. Ollie enjoyed spending the day with his friends at school. We had a great time. Last year, all Sam wanted to do was go on the slides over and over and over again. This time he was a little fearful because he would go under and swallow a mouthful of water at the bottom. I had been planning on getting him in some swimming lessons anyway, so this seemed like a good time. We start in two weeks, two nights a week at the YMCA. I think he will enjoy it.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame

We had a great week and weekend!

Wednesday, we had Nana over for dinner. She was leaving Saturday to go help out Nate and Kate in KY for a whole month, so we wanted to see her before she left.
Friday, we learned that Sam and Ollie's new cousin, Amara Jane Dean was born. She and Aunt Kate are doing well. Although it will probably be awhile, we can't wait to meet her.

Sam and Daddy made a trip to the library Saturday morning which they both always enjoy. Mommy and Ollie spent some quality time together and squeezed in a few chores while the other boys were out. Then Saturday night, we all went to a Fort Worth Cats game with Kiki and Poppy. It was Sam's first ballgame and of course Ollie's too. Sam had a blast! He got very excited about the idea of playing baseball and wants to go to another game. He enjoyed watching the team mascot, Dodger, but from a distance of course. He also liked dancing to the music they played whenever the Cats got a hit or scored.

We are having a good Fathers Day. We actually spent the early afternoon at the mall!!! I know, its horrible, but I had a few things to get and Tony was a great sport about it. He will be spending the afternoon and evening watching the US Open on TV. That should make up for it.

Tony goes out of town for 2 nights this week, so please pray for us!! I think we'll make it :)




Kiki and the boys at the game.



Ollie enjoyed watching the game too...



...but not for long.



Another first...Cracker Jacks!! I am not sure, but I think he liked them.



"Look what I can do!" - Ollie can now sit unsupported. Still a little wobbly at times, but he gets steadier by the day. And he loves it! He will be 6 months old next Saturday. I can't believe it!



Last weekend...
Mommy had to work Saturday. But Sam had fun playing in the pool in Kiki and Poppys' backyard. On Sunday, Sam hosted a birthday party for who else...Sam. Everyone got in on the action, even Ollie.

Its been awhile since we've posted. I am sleep deprived and busy. Not a good combination, just ask Tony :)

We are all doing well.

Sam has moved up to the pre-school class at school and has made the transition very well. Potty training is in full force and Sam is having very infrequent accidents. He continues to enjoy reading and trips to the Library with Daddy. He loves playing outside with Daddy sweeping the driveway, playing basketball, watering Mommy's flowers, playing with bubbles etc. He is looking forward to doing some swimming soon.

Ollie is great too. Still not sleeping through the night. But, he eats and then goes right back to sleep. I am soooo glad that we invested in our super comfy glider & ottoman. I can doze while he eats. He is a very happy baby. Many people have commented on him being the smiliest (sp?) baby they have ever seen. And he definitely looks like his Daddy. We started rice cereal this week. He takes a few bites really well and then starts spitting it out. He developed a rash soon after starting it, so I hope he doesn't have an allergy. We took a little break from it and started again tonight, so we'll see what happens.

Tony and I are good. Very tired at times, but good. Tony is going out of town on business soon. Not sure how I am going to handle both boys in the evening by myself, but we'll survive. Not much else to report.






Our smiley guy



This is how Ollie falls asleep most of the time. He loves those two fingers.



Our friends Channing and her baby sister, Tatum, came to visit from Chicago with their mom, Heather. Trying to get these four to pose for a picture was an adventure (and wishful thinking).



Rub a dub dub, two boys in a tub.

Ollie's first cereal experience.

Videos of Sam Walking

I am posting these old videos of Sam walking for my friend from PT school, Skye. She has a colleague who is doing research on the way pre-term kiddos walk differently than their full-term peers. It has something to do with the fact that they were not all "crunched up" in their mother's tummy. Anyhoo, she needs some videos of these kids' early walking and was having trouble finding any of kids who did not have any physical disabilities and luckily Sam is one of those preemies who does not.

Sam cruising at 13 months old - May 2006

July 20, 2006 - Sam's first steps at 15 months of age

July 24, 2006

Happy Birthday Sam!!

Well our baby boy just turned 3! I cannot believe it! Sam had is party at Jumping Party Fort Worth. He enjoyed spending the morning playing and celebrating with friends from school and family. Even Grandpa and Grandma Dean made the trip down from Ohio. And Mommy made some monkey cupcakes for the occasion. We spent the rest of the day playing with cousins Jack and Reese who were here from Houston. It was our first time to meet Reese who is 6 weeks older than Ollie.
A few days later we ventured out to the Fort Worth Zoo with Grandma and Grandpa. It was Ollie's first trip to the zoo and he did great!
Ollie turned 4 months old on April 21st. He weighed 15 lbs 11 oz and was 26 3/4" long at his checkup.





















Ollie's first carousel ride

I have been back at work for 2 weeks. Hence the time lapse in posting. Things are going really well. Of course I live for the weekends now and the evenings are CRAZY busy. I have to be up by 5:00 in order to get myself and the boys ready and out the door on time. We have developed a good routine for mornings and evenings. Ollie has adjusted really well to daycare and his teachers are great. Sam loves going to his class to pick Ollie up in the evenings. He is not sure what to think about all those babies though.
Ollie had slept through the night every night during my last week at home. But, he put that to a stop as soon as I went back to work. Oh well.
We have moved Ollie out of our room and into the room with Sam. Its going really well. Sam is not the least bit disturbed when Ollie wakes up during the night and I am able to nurse Ollie in the chair in their room and Sam sleeps right through it. We have even put them down for bed at the same time for the last couple of nights and they both go right to sleep without being bothered or distracted by each other. I hope this trend continues.
We had a nice Easter. We actually went to church Saturday night. Sunday morning we were able the relax and enjoy some family time. Then we went to Nana's for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Sam had a great time.



This is what life at our house looks like lately. You can tell Tony is thrilled that I am taking his picture and he will be even more thrilled when he sees that I have posted it here.




This is one reason that the mornings are going so smoothly. (Sam is watching the TV and Ollie is watching the fan)


Sam's latest favorite, "Knuffle Bunny"


Can you guess what Sam got in his Easter basket? Froggy boots, Mouse (From the mouse cookie books) and a Knuffle Bunny of his own.


And he's off! Right away he spotted an egg across the yard on the fence. I think he kicked at least two eggs on the ground on his way to it and was completely oblivious to it.

Ollie is 3 Months Old!!

I took Ollie to have his 3 month pictures taken today. He did pretty good. I guess as good as you can expect from a 3 month old.
And, he also had his circumcision revision done yesterday. They said he did well for the actual procedure, but afterward he was pretty ticked off and inconsolable. He was so worked up and even refusing to nurse. By later in the afternoon he was fine.
He has slept through the night 4 out of 5 nights so far this week. He almost made it last night, but woke up at 4:00 am. He even slept last night in the crib in the room with Sam, with no problems. Lots of big milestones!!