The Kings: sweet summer time

It's crazy to think that the kids are now 2.5 and 1 year old! Has it really already been a year since we welcomed our sweet Samantha Grace into our family and moved into our home? Oddly enough, even though last August was very busy for us, this August might have been even busier...or maybe just more hectic. Between planning a first birthday, hosting family from out-of-state, and transitioning jobs to a new hospital we've been attempting to keep up with our typical routine(s) around here.

Tidbits on noah:
- His potty training is going very well! He wears undies for the whole day and only wears diapers for nap and bedtime. He still isn't very good about telling us when he *needs* to go, if you ask him he will readily answer "No, i'm still dry!", but he will typically go when we tear him away from his toys/game/puzzles/etc. and sit him down. It's become a family affair during the day -- I will take Noah to the bathroom and Sammy will follow us. Like most kids, Noah enjoys flushing and insists on stating (very loudly) "BYE, BYE tee-tee!!!" which Sammy will then echo with "byee byee!"
I'll admit, it makes me giggle every time.
- I can also tell his memory is improving, he now talks about things days after they occur (especially birthday parties) and remembers things after he wakes from his nap. He will typically tell me that his "cousins are coming over...to play, and we'll open presents, and sing happy birthday, and eat cake!" :)

- He has recently learned how to get pretty much anything he wants in the pantry or off the counters. One day the kids and I were napping (or so we thought) while Matt ran to the grocery store. When he returned, he found Noah out of bed and sitting on the kitchen island. He had pushed his step-stool from the pantry over to the island, used the cabinet handles as steps, then crawled up to sit on the island and eat the *dozen* brand new pears that were sitting there after that morning's trip to Costco. Apparently Noah wanted to sample each one, so he had taken bites from all of them, and had even fed one to Lexi. such a giver...

- He has picked up some new phrases that make me smile when I hear them, most notably he adds "or something" to the end of his sentences: "And after lunch we can go to the park or something" or "Mommy, I want cheerios for breakfast or something." His other new phrases include telling you that he has a question for you...when he doesn't...and prefacing whatever he is going to tell you with "I have something to tell you."

Noah swimming with Grandpa David. I'm not sure who was having more fun ;)

"When good cousins collide"

The injuries after Noah and cousin Maddie smashed into, and then ricocheted off, each other onto the walls -- Noah into the sharp edge of the door frame.

Samantha practicing her soccer skills.

Sweet Samantha has had a busy month:

- In addition to celebrating her first birthday, she has learned to "cruise" while holding onto the furniture and while walking behind push toys. I'll admit I was a little concerned that she wasn't doing this already, but the week after her birthday it was like she just decided that she was ready to start trying those little feet out :)
- Sam also sprouted two new teeth this month, which brings her total to 4. She now has both bottom front and both top front teeth. The only bad thing? Sometimes she likes to grind them together....a noise that makes me cringe!
- She is continuing to communicate with us more through signs and words. She does an excellent job telling us when she's ready to go "night-night" and signing when she's "all done" eating. I love seeing her learn to speak with us!
- She had her one-year check up on the 15th. The normal pediatrician wasn't there, but the check up was all good, despite Sammy's tears over her immunizations. She weighed in at 18 lbs, 14 oz and measured 29 3/4 inches tall. Yes, she's light and tall (like Noah has always been), but is maintaining her growth curve just fine. And developmentally, she ranked on-par with a 16 month old. Way to go, Sammy!
- the girl already loves to dance, like her brother (and her parents). here's a quick video of her "jamming out" to some ipod music. of course, noah provided some distraction...

- We were lucky enough to have Matt's family visit us from Ohio for Samantha's birthday party. They arrived a few days before so we could all spend time together, and Sam even got to meet her Aunt Heather and cousin Miah!

Family time with Lauren, Jacquie, Papa King, Grandma Pat, and Miah.

Heather and Sammy.

- Age 1 means no more bottles! Fortunately, Sammy transitioned fairly seamlessly, since she had already started to dislike taking a bottle. Honestly, I probably could have taken them away a month ago!

- For details and more pics from her birthday bash, check out my other post.

Other pics from August:

Playtime together. Noah typically looks like the blur in the picture below

Just hanging out in the playroom/closet under the stairs.

Ah-ha! I've learned to stand up in my high chair!!!

Sweet sleeping beauties:

Noah continues to sleep on the floor, despite having that queen size bed -- this time he fell asleep while playing with the floor switch for his lamp.