Dinner, lots of first, homework

 Good times around here with our little Sam. What a bundle of yumminess. Is it possible for a baby to get too much love and kisses? He has got it coming from so many different people. The poor kid gets attacked multiple times a day. He better like it because it is not changing any time soon.  

Look how sweet they are. My heart just melts. Seriously, try and tell me there is anything better than this. Watching sibling with one another is so sweet!

Gavin has started to have homework lately. He is really pretty proud that he gets to be like his older siblings. Kate has cheerfully volunteered to help him each day. It has been fun watching the two of them interact and play these roles. Who would have ever thought. These were my babies and now they are so BIG. 

 Emma has been working super hard on her reading.  The last couple years have really pushed her to work hard. I am really proud of her good attitude to keep trying. I love when I get a chance to sit down and read with her with no distractions. (ok, there are always distractions) I have been trying to read a lot more with her.  Just her and I went to the library last week to pick out a few books and then we sat and read them together. Just the two of us. I wanted to freeze time.

 Ethan loves to help out in the kitchen. He was really getting into making the pancakes into all different shapes. I was trying really hard to not get upset with craziness. That's another story. They tasted great and that is what counts, right? 

Sam has been going nuts over his hands. He can not get them in his mouth far enough. He would rather play with them most of the time over any toy.

This last week I took Sam in for his 4 month appointment with the doctor. He weighed 16 lbs. (50-75%). His head and height were in the (75-95%). Doctor Gill gave me the go ahead on starting Sam on solids. She also said he was good to start sitting in his walker and johnny jumper. I was so excited to come home and try all these new things out. He was a good sport about trying them all.

He liked the rice cereal. He did pretty well using a spoon.

Johnny Jumper was a hit. He isn't quite bouncing around, yet but he loves being able to stand and be right in the mix.

His poor little feet do not reach the floor yet. We may give this one a little more time. I think he will like it more once he can walk around and follow the kids. Ethan has already been pushing him around fast. 

I have been dying to get home to visit my family. It has almost been one year since I have been home. That has got to be a new record. I may try to take the kids and drive home in April for our Spring break but that is too far away for me. Only my parents have ever met Sam and he was only days old. He has changed so much!

Thankfully, Lance agreed with me when I suggested that Sam and I take a trip home soon. I just booked a flight home for this next week. I am getting so excited. I felt terrible telling my kids that I was going alone. We always go together. They were understanding and made me promise we would go ASAP.