I haven't done a post on Sam's development in months and months. I don't know why I stopped, it just kind of got away from me. I guess since turning a year, he isn't having well visits as frequently. So here goes, what is the little guy doing these days...
He is starting to look more like a boy than a baby, he is wearing exclusively 18-24 month clothes and some 2Ts. He remains long in his torso, but those legs are starting to catch up! He wears a size 4 diaper and has for almost a year, he is about 28 pounds maybe even more. I can't say how tall he is, probably pretty average. He is running at top speed, but still trips himself up when he is in shoes. He can climb steps and go down pretty easily, although he still favors holding hands to go downstairs. He wants to do everything by himself and is starting to resent the stroller and the carts when we go shopping. The park is a lot of fun now, he can navigate most playground equipment without needing help. We go every day after running errands and the gym, if the weather is nice before we go home for lunch and nap time.
He is still on one long nap a day, it is anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours. Unfortunately, he is a light sleeper and I have to keep the house quiet for him to sleep well. At night, he is a whole different animal. He sleeps about 11 hours without much fuss and noise from the house doesn't typically bother him. Sam is a routine boy and nighttime is no different...he likes books and rocking with Daddy. And, prayers and "smoochies" with Mommy. He sleeps with his crew, Diego, Jack-dog lovee and Touee (his rat). Oh, and baba (his paci). Sitters are always impressed with how easy he is to put to bed.
We packed away the high chair, and he sits at the table like a big boy in a booster seat. He is eating so much better since we changed his meal times to coincide with ours. He drinks from a open cup at the table, and is mastering the fork and spoon. Unfortunately, he does "forget" his table manners from time to time and will dump his cup all over the table. We also got out the potty chair, and he sits on it before he gets a bath--no pee-pee yet!
Sam loves big kids! He gets lots of exposure and attention from my HP friends children, who are almost all older than him. The girls really like to "take care" of him, and the boys are all anxious to hand down their outgrown toys. He is beginning to really develop strong bonds between himself and the other children he is around, he has started to talk about his friends when he isn't around them. The other night before we were going to bed, I checked on him, and could here him talking in his sleep about my friends little girl, Evelyn. It was so funny! It is really exciting for me to see what a social little character he is.
This age and stage has been super fun. His language is exploding! He speaks more and more in sentences rather than words and gestures. He is beginning to understand a back and forth conversation, and has started to even get when things are funny, sad, or scary. He is affectionate with people he is familiar with, and a bit cautious and shy with new people.
He is still really into trains, but is all about airplanes. It is his favorite topic of conversation, and he loves to pretend and play planes. He has got favorite books and we read them so much he has many of them memorized. He also has favorite movies, lets just say if I never see "Finding Nemo" again, it will be to soon.
Super long post, probally will only be interesting to his grandparents- lol.
Another attempt at a group shot of the boys, this is the funniest with poor Jr. in a choke hold by Dennis. 
We got Damien a comfy chair for his birthday, as well as, some paper and finger paints. He seemed to like the Elmo card best!
Joey being adorable, it isn't hard for him. 
Mommy, Daddy and Damien for the first year party picture...
Jr. is a little ham bone, the singing of "Happy Birthday" was met with big grins, giggles, and arm waving. He was delighted to be the center of attention, unlike his Daddy who according to Nana cried for the first 4 birthdays when people started to sing.
I got to do alot of relaxing and visiting while I was up. I am usually on a tight schedule, but I decided to take my time coming back. I met up with an old high school friend, and got to meet her two precious little ones. And, Lora had everyone from the pub crew who could make it over for dinner one night. I miss my home girls so much, and it amazes me how time can tick by and we can pick up where we left off all those years ago and still laugh till our faces and bellies hurt. As I walked back to my car that night I couldn't help but feel nostalgic, I wanted to grab them all and run to one of our old haunts...have a few pints and stay up late talking or lounge in Rittenhouse people watching and soaking in the sun of early spring. Alas, we had to get back home to our babies and our husbands and our jobs. And, I was definitely ready to be back home with Cody, Sammy missed his Dada and I missed my bed. 
It must be the age, because it is next to impossible to get the boys to look at the camera! Let alone get them to smile.
The boys really enjoyed showing Sam there truck. Dennis drove the little ones up and down the street. It was a little nerve racking watch them take that down the steep driveway, but Big D followed them and made sure there wasn't any accidents.
Sam, of course, worships little Dennis. They played so well together. Dennis is so good with him, and really pretty patient for a three year old.
Joey and Sam sharing a snack. It was sweet how Joey was feeding Sam, this went on for like 10 minutes. I wanted to do a short video, but by the time I got back with the camera they were done "sharing".
Best picture I got of the three of them all weekend, and not a very good one.
Sam was really into his game of football with his Uncle! He liked going long...
Fun weekend! We grilled out, Cody made an excellent beef tenderloin and Holly made a killer dessert, called Banana Pizza. It was so nice to catch up and as always get out of HP for a day or two. I am looking 
The house looked so pretty all snow covered.
Sammy in the snow!
Maggie bravely waits as Cody gets prepared to "pull" with only the technique an Ivy League trained dentist could finesse.
Alas, a success! The tooth came out without a fight, and a grateful Maggie left with tooth and Popsicle in hand. Cody called the Tooth Fairy later that evening to give a rave review of Maggie's behavior, her mom later reported that the Tooth Fairy of the Piedmont-Triad left a whopping $3 for her bravery, it is good to see that even in such dark economic times a these Miss Fairy doesn't let the children suffer. 