Look who is a third of a year old already!

Sam is all about the mouth.  Everything goes in the mouth.  Especially fabric.  He loves to gum on my scarves and sweater sleeves.

I was bit several times last week.  I wonder if teeth are not far away.  He's super interested in watching me eat.  I got the go ahead to start solids when we feel like it. 

He's a rolly polly guy, mostly side to side.  We need to work on tummy time more, but his pediatrician said he's doing fine. 


He's still topping the charts on growth!  27 inches, 17 pounds 12 ounces today. 


His hand-eye coordination is getting really good.  He can take out his pacifier and put it back in. 


See?  (He succeeded, I promise.  About 2/10 times he gets it right).


He also started conversing in earnest this week.  All day long (if he's not moaning) he's cooing, trying out his voice. 



He likes to watch TV (grrr) and listen to stories and talk to the baby in the mirror.  But his favorite entertainment? This:

It's only 1:30 in the afternoon and we are on blowout #4.



I hate diapers.  Some grad student needs to solve this engineering problem for us. 

On the other hand, it gives me more opportunities for baby belly admiring and neck tickling.

Can you believe we didn't take a picture of just the four of us together since the hospital?  Since I had both boys in nice sweaters (adorable, yes?) I had to take the chance before we bundled up to go to church.  Sure, they are blurry and poorly lit and from the end of my arm, but they exist!













(More outtakes on my flickr stream, up on the right hand side)

All my pictures went into flickr, like usual.  This is the highlights.

We arrived in GJ the afternoon of the 23rd.  My other siblings were already there.  The next day Grandma Cook flew into town.  She got to meet her second great-grandson!




Brian came over to visit briefly. 


Jack entertained us with a Christmas carol.

Then the middle generation went to see The Hobbit Part Deux.  It was fun, but wacky, and even less like the book than the first one.

We came back from the movie to the traditional Christmas Even dinner - Chinese food!




Sam photo-bombed me and Ben.



Then we introduced Jack to the other Christmas Eve traditions: reading scriptures, reading Santa Mouse, setting out stockings and cookies and milk. 



Surprisingly, we didn't get going Christmas morning until after 7 AM.  Sam and I were up for the usual feeding, and Ben was up with his usual Christmas antsy-ness.  We roused Jack (easily) and sent him to gather the family.

Jack was most keen on Skylanders Swapforce this year.  So we fired it up before opening much else. 



Sam got a soft monkey and it's perfect for his latest craze: putting fabric in his mouth.  Om nom nom.



Andy and Amanda amazed us with their homemade presents.  I got some beautiful art from both of them.  Andy won most elaborate by making this vertical chess set for my Dad.  The characters are all based on The Big Lebowski. 



Meanwhile, Jack ate a croissant while playing his video game with one hand.



Sam got this play mat from Santa.  He was immediately entranced:



Lucy got cuddles :-)



Mom mulling spices with her laboratory spinner from Dad.  Checking the temperatures with the laser gun I gave Andy.




We played games and puzzles.


Went sledding.







The next day we opened presents from the Mason family.  Sadly, they were without power due to the ice storm, so we waited until they were able to facetime to celebrate together.  The boys got matching outfits.


But the runaway surprise winner was the pirate dagger and eyepatch. 



Indulgent food, visiting, movies, games.  That's pretty much the week. 





And baths.  Baths are fun. 




Ben and Jack went home Saturday as planned.  I stayed with Sam a couple more days to wear out the sinus congestion.  Even still, the drive home over the mountains was head-pounding.  But the extra days meant more relaxing and baby helping.  Amanda and I even went to see another movie - Saving Mr. Banks (meh.  entertaining but not a real winner).

I was also glad to watch the Nutcracker one last time.  I really love that ballet.


The dancing led to this.  Enjoy!

I made this over the holiday!








So cute, right?  I could have made it even bigger around his tummy and in length.  I was trying to get the size right for wearing this winter.  I can easily add another 1 1/2 inches if I decide it's rolling up over his tummy too much.  Next I'm going to make some matching pants using this pattern.