Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Samisms

Dad I love you because I love the shape of your face!
I like the word Italy, it sounds like a banjo playing .... "Idalee idalee idaleeeeeeeeee"

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Sam's growing up!

Sam, you are SUCH a character.  You're latest mind-blowing comment was when you jumped into bed with us and asked "What's beyond space?"  When I explained that it was outer space, you looked at me like I was crazy and said "No, BEYOND outer space."  I don't know where you get these amazing ideas, but you are sure full of them.

You are also finding your challenging voice.  When I made you dinner one night, you took one look at it and said, "Mom, you made the absolute WRONG dinner!"  Ouch!

This morning you woke up and dressed yourself in FULL pirate regalia, including the parrot on your shoulder.  After school you came home and dressed up in the same outfit.  You are truly pirate at heart!!

You are becoming quite an amazing artist - your drawings blow us all away.  The level of detail you use is astonishing.  You are VERY particular about how things should look often taking over if me or Dad is drawing with you!  You love drawing skeletons, pirates, pumpkins, spooky scenes, and pictures of our family.  We both think you may become an artist.  You've said that's what you want to be when you grow up.... well, an artist AND a pirate!

You are really taking your role as big brother seriously - playing with and talking to Nicholas all the time.  Nicholas just lights up when he sees you.  You do dances for him, make sure he doesn't roll onto dangerous things, and are always sharing your (safe) toys with him.   Nicholas couldn't hope for a sweeter big brother!

We are so proud of you.

Nicholas is crawling

Nicholas, you've made that leap into crawling!  It's still an army-style belly crawl, but you can surely get around.  Today, you crawled across your room to check out the trash can.  Before now, you were taking full advantage of rolling - using it as your preferred mode of transportation.  But now, it's all about the belly crawl.  You can get up on your hands and knees, but you haven't quite mastered the actual crawl.

You are such as joy to be around!  All smiles all the time.  You are fascinated with food - watching us eat all the time.  Tonight you took your first bite of real big boy food -- pieces of cooked carrot and meat.

Dad and I spent tonight looking at old pictures of Sam when he was a baby.  You look JUST like Sam did at your same age.  We are wondering what you will look like when you get older... will you look just like Sam as you get older too?  Our boys are SO handsome!  We love you guys.   xoxo

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Nicholas and Mom at the beach

Nicholas,
we are together with Auny Chrissy, Stuart, Nana, and Rop Pop at Rehobeth Beach. [Sam and Daddy are at home.  As Sam put it: "Mommy, sometimes me and Daddy just need some time together!"]  It's my last week of maternity leave and I'm so sad to leave you at home.  You are such a love.  Your smile lights up my day... every day.  I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to love another baby as much as I love Sam, but my heart seems to have doubled in size.  I love Sam more and more each day, and I love you more and more each day.  I don't know how that happens, but it sure is true!   I've enjoyed the last 4.5 months with you so much.  From the day you were born, you seem to just have settled in to life outside of the womb.  You find your routines (binky and blanket = nap, 8:00 bedtime, breakfast and dinner solid food with the family) and you just smile all day.  You don't cry - it's weird, but you don't.  You wimper if you are hungry or tired, but otherwise you're happy!  You have this coy look you give me - I love it.  You chatter all the time, with your voice, with your eyes, with your hands.  it's like you know exactly what's going on, but you cant quite express it.  I can't wait until you can talk so I can hear what you are thinking. 
I love you so much, Nicholas.  I'll be thinking of you every day at work!!

xxxooo
Mom

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Sam-isms

Sam, today I think you were feeling a bit displaced by Nicholas. 

The scene: we are about to sit down to dinner.  Dad is changing Nicholas. 

You say "is the guy who likes the baby going to eat dinner with us?"  

My poor Sam!!!  We love you SOOO much and will make sure we give you lots and lots of kisses so you don't feel left out.  


xxoo
Mom

Monday, August 29, 2011

NCS - you cried

Nicholas,
You cried for the first time today when I left the house.  I guess you're getting to know your mama.  I love that so much!!!

And you slept for 12 hours last night.  Daddy gave you a jar of pears and you conked out at 730!  Didn't even wake up for your rice bottle.  Must have been all the excitement of Hurricane Irene and lack of power in the house.  Whatever it was, you woke up on your belly smiling and happy when Sam and I went to get you!

Xxoo
Mom

Monday, August 15, 2011

Nicholas - three months old

Nicholas,

You are now three months old.  I don't think I've ever met a happier baby.  Really.  You just light up whenever anyone smiles at you, you love to smile, and you're "talking" already.  We coo back and forth and it really feels like we're having a conversation.  You are so expressive.

You've hit some terrific milestones.  
  1. I've stopped nursing you.  You LOVE the bottle - I guess it's more satisfying.  Nursing has been a challenge for me (it was the same way with Sam, too), but even so, I miss it.  It's a special bond that only Mother-Baby share. 
  2. We gave you your first tiny taste of bananas the other day.  You loved them - hardly spit out a spoonful.   Over the next month, we'll give you some little tastes and by 4 or 5 months, you'll be eating like a champ.
  3. You are playing with toys.
  4. You are rolling from your belly to your back and occassionally from your back to your belly.
  5. You are standing up (holding our fingers) and holding your head up.
  6. You slept thru the night twice so far.  Dad and I have our fingers crossed that it becomes a pattern :)
 Before you hit #6 milestone, I would sit up at night nursing and think about you and Sam and what kind of boys/men I hope you become.  I want to teach you both how to be polite, engaging, creative, and inquisitive.  I want to teach you how to treat women.  I want to teach you how change a tire, light a fire, pitch a tent, marvel at the world around you, laugh, and hug.   I also want to teach you how to question the "norm" and challenge the status quo.  I want you to become leaders... in anything.  Lead yourself, lead your peers, lead your community, lead the country, lead the world.  What you choose is up to you, but make sure that whatever it is, you love it and you do it well.  You can be ANYTHING you dream of and I hope you both take that opportunity and make the most of it.

I can't wait to watch you turn into the incredible people I know you will become.

Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease

Boys,

We all got hand-foot-mouth disease.  It's a pretty common child virus that results in high fevers, malaise, sores in hands, feet, mouth (go figure!) and was completely miserable for the three of us (Daddy avoided it!).   You all were troopers.   Sam, you got it first - probably from camp - and woke up from the afternoon nap with ouchy swollen cheeks!  Nicholas, you were hit a couple of days later with a 103 fever and hardly able to take a bottle because your mouth or throat hurt so badly.  Coincidentally, I was weaning you, so you were barely nursing at that point either.  Poor dear.  It was the first time I saw you really cranky.  At three months old, you have barely cried.  You are just the happiest baby ever.  You smile, coo, and play all day. 

During the illness, I revisited the dosage for Tylenol for you, Nicholas... it turns out that on those LA-Baltimore flights (to LA, home for Stuart's birth, back to LA, and home again), I was not only giving you Ibuprofen (which is not recommended for kids under 6 months), but I was dosing you like a 25lb kid (you weighed about 13lbs)!  OOOOOPS!  I told your pediatrician about my mistake and she was not worried, but said prolonged ibuprofen use can cause damage.  Wow, I must have grabbed the wrong bottle.  Neither Dad nor I realized it.   Anyway, i guess that explains you sleeping through all four flights.  Sorry sweetheart, but thanks for sleeping  ;)

I love you guys SO much.
Mom

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Sam-isms




Sam, you are almost 4 and you don't want to nap in the afternoon.  I decided to let you stay up and when we were in the car you looked like you were about to crash. I asked if you were tired and you lazily responded: "no, my brain is recharging".  You are too much!!!

Thursday, July 21, 2011

From Rop Pop to the cousins

Sam, nicholas and stuart;

The three of you will have great fun growing up together.
Try to stay close as family is important but if you wind up living in different parts of the country make every effort to maintain close contact frequently. You will have many other good friends along the way but nobody could or should replace your family. Its important to pay attention to your family.
Rop pop

Sam-isms

Sam to Mom while playing a shape game: "you're the thinker and I'm the maker.". What a team we make!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

A cousin!!!!!



born 7/19, 7lb15oz, 20in, 4:06pm
Stuart Hopkins Fenton

Saturday, July 16, 2011

From Uncle Nick

Sam: "Uncle Nick says when girls wake up they are cranky"

Nick

Uncle Nick has a baseball head

Sam to Uncle Nick: "does uncle nick play baseball? His head looks like a baseball... I mean a football."

Sam and his pirates

Sam, you are obsessed with pirates... Still. It's been over a year now and your love only seems to grow! Your cousins got you pirate PJs, which you love... And when you slept with Uncle Nick here in Malibu you woke him up every few hours to see if you could get up to hunt for treasure. Classic!

Friday, July 15, 2011

Sam-isms

To his 11-yr old cousin Chrissy: "can I watch you take a shower?"

Chrissy was horrified... The answer was obviously "no!"

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Dear Nicholas

As I sit up at night with you, I rub my chin against your soft head and think "there's no place I'd rather be than right here." You complete our family and I already love you "infinity", as Sam would say. Your smiles and coos brighten my day and make my heart skip a beat. Every day watching you grow is a joy. I can't wait to see what kind of person you become. As you lay in my lap, I think of how quickly Sam has grown. He doesn't fit in my lap anymore!! I know the same will happen with you and i want to cherish every minute. I look at your little strong legs and think of all the potential you have... To be a friend, a love, an adventurer... Whatever you want. Nicholas, I love you, little man. I want you always to know that!

Love, mama

Monday, July 4, 2011

Sam-isms

When Aunt Chrissy asked him if he wears floaties to swim: "Steinmeiers don't use floaties!". What??? We've never even mentioned floaties!

Friday, July 1, 2011

Family fun

Matts 29th bday. Sam requested a cowboy birthday so we made cake shaped like a boot and daddy dressed up. Mimi was there (celebrating her bday too) and took this pic.

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Sam-isms

In the shower: "Dad, are you putting air conditioning in my hair?"

Sam to me: 
"Guess what my dinosaur name is, mom...
Crackodon...because I get up at the crack of dawn."
Daddy had a role in creating that one!!!

Sam and Nicholas talking (June 29, 2011)


Nicholas - 6 weeks old - cooing and smiling

Friday, June 17, 2011

Relax, Baby

Sam,
this morning, when I told you to relax around the baby, you said: "Mom, if you want me to relax, take me to Hawaii."
I hear you, Sam!!!!
Only later did you tell me that you pilfered that line from Garfield, the DVD.   Wow!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Nicholas - one month old

Nicholas, you are a dream baby.  You LOVE to be in the swing -- you just fall asleep right away!  If only you would sleep for more than 3 hours during the night  :)  You are a champ of a sleeper during the day, though.  You are such a content baby; you barely fuss and cry.   You have 3 cries:  I'm hungry (bird call/shreek), I'm gassy (grunty), I'm sleepy (cooing-cry).  

It's been a month since you were born and we love you as much as ever.  Your brother, Sam, adores you -- always wants to kiss you on the cheeks, says how cute and little you are, gives you your "paci" when you fuss, and is a great helper to me when I change your diapers.

I just love being your Mom.  xoxo

Sam-isms

Today Sam said:
  • Only people with big boobies get shots at the doctor.
  • The baby looks funny... Like an old man.
  • Mimi, are you older than Dad?
Sam, you are a hilarious kid!!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Newborn photo shoot

Since I regretted not doing a professional photo shoot for Sam, I decided to make sure I got some good newborn pictures of Nicholas.  Of course, Sam the big bro, was included as well.   It seemed really simple as I was watching the photographer, but I've never taken shots that look like this.   I'm so pleased!

Nicholas, you were a bit of a squirmer -- fighting sleep the whole time.  Fortunately, I was able  to nurse you into a food coma - at least until we could get some shots of you.   Sam, you were NOT excited about this photo shoot at all -- throwing a fit when it came time for your turn.  You refused to take off your Mr Mischief shirt, so we compromised and you turned it around backwards.   But it all worked out (after 3 hours!).   Aren't my boys handsome??

Anni Oh Photography (www.anniohphotos.com/).  Anni is terrific!





Thursday, May 12, 2011

Nicholas - Day 5

Today is day 5 of your life.  May 12 was your due date but you came early... Thank god... You were big in my belly and I was not moving around well at all!!

My milk came in yesterday and that made you pretty happy!   You are a good little eater and seem to want to sleep in between feedings.  Mom can sleep for 3 hrs or so and it feels like a lifetime!!

Aunt Sarah visited last night.   She was so happy to meet you. Says you look just like your big bro BamBam when he was born!

You make so many of the same faces as Sam did... Old Man Face, & the desperate open mouth nipple attack when you are hungry.  But we all know you r your own guy - and love every minute that you reveal your personality to us.   I love you so much already.  I didn't know how it would be possible to have this much love, but it just is.   From the moment you were born I just loved you and feel very protective of you.  Welcome to the family Nicholas.
Love, your mama

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Warning from Uncle Eric

Nicholas!  This is a Warning!!! Your NANA is crazy and will send you crazy email forwards full or right wing propaganda and rants and raves about the democrat’s tax policies, and how president Obama was born in Kenya!  Be forewarned! 

Despite the fact she genuinely believes all of this to be true, she is still a sweet grandma and you should be kind to her, just try not to be swayed by her staunch republican opinions!!!!  Keep an open mind, there is still hope for your generation!!

From Aunt Chrissy

Aunt Chrissy set up email addresses for both Sam and Nicholas:
  • samsteinmeier@gmail.com
  • ncsteinmeier@gmail.com 
She says:
"I am sending you an email from Nicholas' first email account! I set one up for him and will do the same for Sam so that you can send them your thoughts, pictures, stories over the next few years. When he is old enough to open up and read these emails, hopefully he will have a treasure of thoughts from family! There are so many times when I think of something I want to tell Sam so I hope this will help us remember to tell them :)"

Great idea Aunt Chrissy!!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Our Steinmeier Boys

Sam Smith was born on August 22, 2007, 6lb 6oz, 19 in.
36 weeks pregnant with Sam



















Nicholas Craig was born on May 7, 2011, 8lb 10oz, 22 in
36 weeks pregnant with Nicholas

Waiting for Nicholas...


With Daddy in the hospital

A few days old


First bath

Peace Out!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Steiny Blog - let's get it started!

OK, so I planned to do this when Sam was born, but it has taken 3.5 years and Nicholas' birth for me to actually make it happen.  Sorry!!

I plan to track you boys here... both for me AND for you.  There are so many things I want to tell you both and I never got around to writing them in a book.  Maybe I'll be more successful with this blog.

I love you both SOOO much and don't want to forget a moment of your lives (OK, well, maybe those moments in the middle of the night when you were crying  :))

xoxox

Mom