Good Good Nights

Samuel is such a little BOY.  There is nothing delicate about this child.  He's a gassy little guy (especially embarrassing in public) who often has major poop-a-paloozas all. over. everything.  He grunts and growls, throws and rolls, head-butts, and shakes anything in his path of destruction.  Eleanora would to softly pat my face and hair while eating, but Samuel grabs, pulls, and rips anything he can get his hands on.  I'm usually more than a bit disheveled after feeding him, but I wouldn't trade his love taps for the world.  Just look at the angelic sleeping face of our little bruiser.

Snuggled up with the "hand pillow" he got hooked on in the NICU.  A bit strange but he looooves it.

 Patiently waiting for the day to start.

Our boy is a gentle giant.  He almost always wakes up happy and cooing, full of smiles and kicks as soon as I start to sing his good morning song.  At his 9 month check up yesterday, he was 50th percentile for weight and 75th for height unadjusted for his prematurity!  That means he is pretty much caught up growth-wise.  Yay Samuel!

Post-bath time snuggle in bed

Eleanora has completed a major life event - transitioning from crib to "big girl bed" in her new room.  We prepared by reading books about big kid beds, moving her toys and books a few at a time into the new room, and playing in the new room together during the day.  It certainly didn't hurt that her new room was previously inhabited by her favorite big girl, Aunt Na-Na.  After Ben and I tucked her in the first night, kissed her good night and shut the door, I'm the one who started crying.  She looked so little in that big bed, clutching her lambie and being so brave.  Speaking of bedtime, Eleanora has added a new element to her bedtime ritual.  After she brushes her teeth, she asks for "snuggle time!" on the couch with Ben and I.  The three of us curl up for one song before she goes to bed.  The typical conversation goes something like this:

Snuggle time, Mommy!  One song, ok?

Good good night?  Please??? 

She loves the Black Eyed Peas song "I Got a Feelin' (Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night)".  Not my first choice for a wind-down snuggly song, but she loves to sing along.

Close eyes, Daddy.  Close eyes, Mommy! 

We happily oblige.

Wake up, Mommy.  Open eyes!  

(in a whisper) Daddy's sweeeping, no wake him, ok?  

Scwatch (scratch) my back?

 -song ends -

All done song.  Time for night-night.  See you when the sun is orange!

It's one of the best parts of my day, just being still and snuggly together.

I'll sign off with a few pictures from Easter...what a fun day it was!

 Opening Easter basket from "Na-Na-Liam"

 Looking hard for her Easter basket

Baby's first Easter!

Collage Crazy

In an attempt to catch up on the past couple of months, I've gone crazy with the collages!

Eleanora and Samuel love-love-loooooove each other.  Samuel thinks anything Eleanora does is hilarious.  Sometimes they just look at each other and giggle for no apparent reason.  No one can get Samuel doing the full-body, head-thrown-back, can-hardly-breathe laugh like Eleanora.  It's usually the result of repeatedly dropping something, bumping into something, or intentionally falling down (he's a boy, he loves physical comedy!).

They are not always so sweet together.  We are working hard on sharing.  I hear, "No look at me, Baby Sammy!" and "That's MY cry!" at least once a day from Miss Nora.  But more often than not, she is thrilled to have a completely enraptured audience watching her every move.

Sibling Love

Speaking of Miss Nora, she makes us laugh every day.  Below are a few of her more hilarious quotes:

- "I taking care of my baby sister." (a toy giraffe that she fed, changed and put to sleep in a basket)

-  "Carry you!" (Carry me!)

- "I need to smell your neck" (I need to snuggle up with my face in your neck)

- "Nate, I hungry!" (hoping her buddy will do something about it!)

- "I going runnin'" (putting on earphones by the door)

- "Worms?! That's so crazy! Birds eat pancakes!" (when pretending to be a bird in her nest, I asked her if she'd like a snack of worms)

- "I workin' like Daddy on the com'peter'"

- E: Kids at church sing songs about Jesus

  K: Who is Jesus?

  E: I  don't know!

  K: Jesus is God's son

  E: That's right! Great job, Momma!

- "You kidding?!" (when told nap time/quiet time was not over yet)

- "I go on trip with Liam!" (when told Liam took Natalie on a trip after the wedding)

- "Blah, blah, Kara Hoffman, blah blah" (reading my driver's license)

Sweet Samuel is doing great.  He's rolling with purpose, scooting army-style, and eating more everyday.  He loves to grab, pull, and chew on anything he can get ahold of including hair, noses, lips, and hands.  He is the sweetest little Baby Brick (UB's perfect description!) ever!

We loved spending time with all of our family while in PA and only wish it wasn't over so quickly!

Nataliam Newlyweds

It's official!  My beautiful sister was a beautiful bride and is now a beautiful wife!  The past two months have been a whirlwind of travel/bridal shower/wedding crazy-wonderfulness.  Now that we are home and settling into our new normal (no Aunt Na-Na at breakfast every morning), it's time to recap the fun...

Natalie bravely traveled with the kids and I to PA for her bridal shower.  Thank goodness, because I don't know how I would have wrangled both kids on my own.  The event was beautiful, and bride-to-be radiant.  The venue was a lovely annex room in the old Theatre where the wedding was held.  In lieu of traditional games, we had several activities.  Each attendee was asked to choose the name of a movie star from a vase and then the starlets of the screen were called throughout the brunch to select an evening bag of their choice from a display.  Another activity was "Quilted Love".  Each person was asked to write their initials on a square of fabric that we are working to embroider and assemble into a quilt for the bride and groom.  I loved all the little details like the monogrammed cookies ("G" for Gibson/Grimes), the gold table linens, the a-mazing food, and the fun had by all. 

On to the big day.  The wedding was breathtaking...

That is just a smattering of the beautiful pictures.  Here is a link to the photographer's website (password  031911natalieliam).  The pictures are so amazing, it's worth a peek!  A few of my favorite moments from the wedding:

- Watching Natalie walk down the staircase (aisle) beaming and looking more beautiful than any bride ever as Liam walked up the stairs to meet her

- The look on Natalie's face when the bridal party surprised her and Liam by joining in to sing "Dona Nobis Pacem" during the ceremony

- The band playing "This Will Be" for the recessional

- The ridiculously good-looking couple's first dance (L-O-V-E) 

- Uncle Bob's moving and sweet welcome toast

- Dad and Natalie dancing to "How Sweet it is (to be loved by you)"

- The sibling dance to "She Drives Me Crazy"

- Our choreographed "Sisters" dance (yes, we used fans!)

- Seeing all of my family out on the dance floor having a ball, and my handsome cousins lining up to dance with our sweet Mena

- Feeling the love of so many dear friends and family in one room

A special thank you to my amazing in-laws who knocked themselves out to babysit Eleanora and Samuel during the pre-wedding festivities so we could totally focus on the bride and groom!

Enjoying some quality time with Grandpa and Gram at their house

Congratulations to the beautiful couple!  May you have a lifetime of joy and happiness, and may the current 30 minute drive to your house be the furthest we ever live from each other!

Five on Friday

A handful of happenings from the Hoffmans...

1. Sammy may be the sweetest little boy ever.  And I'm not at all biased.  Seriously.

2. We had a playdate with Eleanora's Valentine

More Nate and Nora adventures

Siblings watching the antics

3. Eleanora's latest game

"Where ball go, Charlie?"

4. Sweet bedtime stories and snuggles

Note the kickin' hairdo.  I. am. glamorous.

5. Samuel's first taste of solids!

What a face!

Love is in the Air

Love of Steelers...

Love of sleepy snuggles...

Love-Love-Love of adorable Nate...

Love of pretend (being Mommy with my sunglasses and her keys)...

Love of my sweet little family!

Happy Valentine's Day!

"I Can't Beweeve It!"

Tucson has been dealing with an unusually brutal cold snap the past few days (windchill in the single digits!) which has sent the city into a tailspin.  There is a gas shortage, and the water authority is dealing with mechanical issues related to the water.  Fortunetly, our heat has been working fine with the help of a toasty fire to keep us warm.  Our water, however, has not been reliable.  We were without water all day yesterday until late afternoon.  We are again without water today.  Not fun with a messy toddler and an infant needing clean bottles!  We will survive, especially knowing next week is predicted to bring 70 degree temps!  Oh Tucson, how I love thy winter.

Our Eleanora has been very busy living in the land of make-believe, and what an imagination she has.  She has had several imaginary pets/pests lately including an ant (who she kept in her pocket and pulled out to "show off" as needed) and butterfly (who occasionally eats her cheese, but mostly likes to hang out on the ceiling).  We've also had visits from various dinosaurs, both scary ("RAAAAWR, Mommy!") and friendly ("Nice, din-sawr.").  Her favorite line lately is, "I can't beweeve it!" (I can't believe it!) as in...

"Good mowning, Mommy!  The sun is owange, I can't beweeve it!"

She is also very excited to "read" both to herself and to Samuel ("I readin', Mommy!").  She sits for long periods of time in her room, "reading" aloud to herself with all the voices.  

Sweet Samuel is doing well also.  He is a roll-over pro (front to back) and flips nearly every time he is on the floor.  He's drooling like crazy, which makes me wonder if teeth are on their way, or if he's just a drooly baby as I hear Ben was.

Here are few pictures of the wee ones in all their glory...

Oh the joys of being a little brother - never a moment's peace!

But he loooooves it!

"Come on, Baee Sammy!  Dance me!"

"This way!"

Water service just resumed, so I'm off to quickly do the dishes and laundry while I can!

6 Months!

Today our sweet little man is six months old!  Our lives were certainly turned upside down a half a year ago today with an unexpected traumatic birth, l-o-n-g NICU stay, and adjustment to life as a family of four.

Samuel has come so far from that tiny little 4 pound baby on a ventilator...

Our first snuggle

At his six month checkup yesterday, he weighed in at over 15 pounds.  He's in the 10th percentile for both height at weight on the full-term growth chart (unadjusted for his prematurity).  He's smiling, cooing, laughing, grabbing, and standing.  He "swims" in place while on his tummy, kicking his legs and moving his arms as fast as he can.  He loves baths, snuggles, and watching his big sister's antics.

We are so grateful for our handsome little man and all the joy he brings to us every day!

What we've been up to...

We have been very busy...

...being adorable

...looking for the "monkey in tree!" spotted outside Nora's window (we're guessing it was the neighbor's cat?)

...celebrating Christmas Eve

...opening Christmas Stockings

...loving baby's first Christmas!

...getting all dressed up

...adoring cousin Mimi

...concentrating on coloring

...watching the sunset with Daddy

...making a bed in the laundry basket

giving messy kisses (she thinks it's hilarious!)...

...and the stunned reaction

...and loving it!

...enjoying first ride in yard swing 

...and being a caretaker to all stuffed animals

It was our first Christmas in Tucson, away from the usual family traditions we love.  Although it was hard to be far from family, we had a lovely Christmas (a Christmas Miracle!) at home.  We spent the entire day opening presents at a leisurely pace, allowing plenty of breaks for playing, eating, and napping.  We had dinner with Ben's Aunt, Uncle and Cousin Mimi which was also lovely.  I have to say, I didn't miss the crazy holiday travel, airplanes full of germs, and cold snowy weather, but it was sad to hear family gatherings over the phone full of laughter and craziness.  All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas, and I am just so grateful to have my kids, home, healthy and happily celebrating together.

Since Christmas, (and Natalie's much-anticipated return from PA!) we've been busy going for long walks, playing in the backyard, and enjoying elaborate games of pretend.  Eleanora's favorite is to be a doggie.  For up to an hour at a time, she will follow Charlie around the house and imitate his every movement.  She will only respond to questions with various barks, pants, and growls, but obeys commands to "sit" and "stay" very well.  She even scratches her ears with her foot.

She also loves to baby her stuffed animals, treating them exactly as I treat Samuel.  She feeds them, rocks them, sings to them, reads to them, changes their imaginary diapers (with exclamations of "Oh my!" coming from her room and oodles of wipes being used), putting them to bed, and then admonishing us to "peas be quiet, bear seeping".  

She is also very protective of her baby brother, reminding Natalie to, "Be gentle, Na-Na.  Peas don't hurt Baee Sammy". 

She also always lets me know when Samuel is crying - even when I'm holding him.  

"Mommy, Mommy! Baee Sazmmy cying! I sing him! Giggle Bews, Giggle Bews, Gigle aww da way!" 

("Jingle Bells" is her second favorite song after "Happy Birthday!).

Samuel is growing beautifully, weighing in at over 14 lb at his last check up.  He loves to watch his big sister's shenanigans, and seems to be quietly dreaming of when he can join in the fun.  He is a sweet little snuggler, generally happy and peaceful as long as he has a good view of the action.

After the horrors of last weekend's events in Tucson, we are reminded to count our blessings and pray for those lost or injured within just a few miles or our home.  As Gabrielle Giffords and others recover at University Medical Center, the hospital we know so well after spending nearly 8 weeks watching over our sweet Samuel, we are thankful for how far we have come in the last six months.  We will never take for granted having both of our children under one crazy, fun, loving roof.

Hurry home from your conference Ben!  We miss you!