Compare these two...

Can you name this person? (HINT: It is one of Alden's relative's at age 1)

Classic Brother & Sister

Comfortable...
Still okay...
Scared to death!

Samantha loves to hold her brother and he usually loves to be held by her. However, sometimes I'm pretty sure he feels frightened for his life! These pictures tell the story well!

"Bumbo" Sitter

Alden loves to chew on his hands! There always has to be something in his mouth for him to be happy! This also causes lots of slobbering! And Samantha doesn't enjoy the wet kisses he give her.

Alden has started sitting in the "Bumbo" chair that Samantha used when she was a baby. Samantha is quite possessive of her Bumbo Chair, so that makes it all the more interesting! The Bumbo chair helped Samantha sit up earlier than normal, so we are hoping it does the same for Alden. Samantha gets mad that he's sitting in the chair and tries to pick him up out of it! Yikes. Alden seems to enjoy getting to sit up and enjoy the world from a new perspective.

Heads Up!!

Alden is becoming quite a bit more active these days! He started rolling over on February 6th and is starting to enjoy him "tummy time" more and more each day. I imagine crawling is just around the corner, as he loves to watch Samantha move around the room.

Happy Valentine's Day ( A little late)

Samantha with her new Elmo.

Samantha got a balloon and a purple rose from Doug and Alden got a balloon and stuffed Lion.
Smiling with their Valentine's Day Attire.
Alden-His normal smiley self!

Samantha and Alden enjoyed their Valentine's Day (a day late) on Friday. We gave Samantha a "Many Kisses Elmo" which blows kisses and talks to you. Alden got a "tummy time" playmat. They also got cookies and clothes from Grandma and Grandmpa McKnight and clothes and a coloring book and a barking dog from Grandma and Grandpa Merritt.

Grandma and Grandpa Merritt came up on Friday night while Doug & I went swing dancing with Auntie Debra in Omaha. It was a much needed night out!

Super Bowl Sunday

On Super Bowl Sunday, we went to Doug's parent's house to watch the game. Doug always wears his Kansas City Cheifs gear during the Super Bowl because he says they are tied for 1st after the Super Bowl (because it's a new season again!). I always laugh, but go along with it anyway. This year, he was excited because Alden could join him and wear his Kansas City Chiefs onesie!

A Day With Friends...

Alexa & Samantha smiling with their new bunnies

Sam with her "Cheese" face & her new bunny

Bri & Alexa stuffing their bunny

Samantha & I stuffing her bunny

Samantha is rubbing the "heart" for the bunny

Stuffing Alden's Polar Bear

At the "Washing" Station....Washing their new bunnies

On Saturday, Samantha, Alden & I met up with our friends Brianna, Alexa, and Mary (Brianna's mom) at Oakview Mall. We ate lunch with them at the food court and then went to Build-A-Bear workshop, where we made some new furry friends. Samantha & Alden were using gift cards from Christmas from Grandma & Grandpa Merritt and Alexa got a gift card from us for her birthday in December.

Alexa and Samantha both choose bunnies to build and Alden chose a Polar Bear (okay...so I chose the Polar Bear). Samantha showed Alexa how to do it and I was very impressed at how mature she acted! She told the build a bear employees that she was "two" and also showed them her fingers that she held up to show them she was 2 years old. She did everything they asked of her. She jumped up and down, she pushed on the pedal to stuff her bunny, and she kissed the heart and spun around! She had a lot of fun. She named her bunny "Hoppy" and Alexa named her bunny "Flowers" and they dressed them a like and put a spring looking pink dress on the bunnies. I dressed Alden's polar bear in a KC Royals Uniform and named him "Royal."

After building the bears, we headed to JcPenney to get the girls' pictures taken. (They won't be in for 2 weeks, then I'll post them on the blog).

Which turned out adorable!!!

Chatter Box

(Samantha's shirt says it all...."Chatter Box")

In the last few weeks, Samantha has gone from barely talking to ALWAYS talking. Everyone kept saying that "she'll start talking someday and then you won't want her to shut up". Well....we are at that point!! She talks and talks and talks and talks. About what? We have no idea!! (most of the time). She loves to say "Yes, Mommy. Yes, Mommy." or "Yes, Daddy. Yes, Daddy." over and over again! And then there's "NO, NO...Mommy" She also is very polite these days, as her "please and thank you" are used all the time, as well as "sorry". But it's all very cute and we enjoy trying to figure out what she says!!

Baby Backpack

The other day, we got out our "Snuggli" that we got when Samantha was born. It's like a backpack that you can put babies in so that your hands are free to do other things. Samantha's legs were so chubby that it was hard to get her in and out of it. Alden was the perfect size and he really seemed love it! He just cooed and smiled and slobbered alot while he was in it. Alden's legs really got a workout too, because he just kicked and squealed in delight!