The Dodd Squad

This is better late than never but Sam was 2 months old on the 2oth. I took this picture on the 20th but just haven't gotten around to putting it on the blog. Time is just flying by with our sweet little Sam! He is still as sweet as ever and sleeping through the night, most of the time. He weighs 11 lbs. 6 oz. and is 23 inches long. He LOVES to watch his big brother and sister run around him and act silly. He especially loves to be outside. When he gets fussy, I can step outside on our front porch and swing him on our porch swing. Like magic, he gets quiet and just starts looking around. Sam loves to smile at us, especially when he is on the changing table and he will give Daddy a good giggle. David has always been the one to get our babies giggling. I just don't know what it is! Sam is a sweet, snuggly little guy and he is still bringing us so much joy!

We took a step back in the medieval times last Sunday. We spent the day at the Renaissance Festival with my parents. It was really neat! The kids really enjoyed it, especially the jousting and the castle tour. Addie was funny taking it all in. She looked at all the people dressed up from head to toe! It was great! She was most impressed with the Queen and Logan really enjoyed the knights and pirates. I was a little hesitant taking Sam because I didn't know if there would be a great place to change and nurse him but the sweet, laid back little guy just slept the entire time...thank goodness!! Here are some pictures from our day...

I'm so sad this school year is over for Logan! I'm happy for summer but it just means that I now have a first grader...how did this happen!!! He has had a GREAT year and come so far in so many ways! He was the 2nd youngest in his class and we had thought we would let him repeat Kindergarten if necessary. However, he has soared leaps and bounds this year and I am absolutely amazed. He LOVES to read and WRITE especially. I have to say he blows me away and just makes me so proud. His teacher always told me how impressed she was with his motivation. He is a "go-getter" and I am so proud of that. As a matter of fact, we have only been on summer break 3 days and he has already written 2 stories without being asked. They are priceless! He wrote one for Addie about a knight who saves a princess. I just love it!! He has also grown so much as a little boy. His behavior has improved 100% since the beginning of the year. Yes, he is all BOY but he is making much better choices. He has made some great friends and just had a wonderful year. He had the BEST teacher and I'm just so thankful for EVERYTHING! Really, we could not have asked for a better year. I'm so PROUD!

Here is Logan the first day of Kindergarten...
And here he is on his last day at the Kindergarten picnic...

I asked Logan what his favorite Kindergarten memory is and this is what he said,

Let's see, I really like doing Math. The money was my favorite. I really liked playing outside with Jake and all my friends and goofing off. I remember when we had DEAR time and we read books. I loved Kindergarten!

Just so you know, he directed me to put the exclamation point and and he is sitting here READING everything I write. How AWESOME! As a teacher, I have watched many children learn to read. It is AMAZING to watch. Now, as a parent, it is even better!

CONGRATULATIONS LOGAN! We are so proud of you!

FIRST GRADE...HERE WE COME!!!

As I was fixing Addie's hair in the bathroom this morning, our conversation went as follows:

Addie: Do you see my gray hairs mommy?

Mommy: No, I don't see any.

Addie: Well, I can see yours!

This is Addie's favorite book right now. I have to read it to her at least once a day. Really, she knows the story almost word for word so I don't understand why she insists on me still reading it to her. It is a super cute story! The weather has been non-stop rain for the past several days. If you don't know about Pinkalicious, it's all about a little girl who makes PINK cupcakes with her mom on a rainy day. She eats way too many and turns PINK! So, on our rainy day, Addie and I made our very own version of Pinkalicious cupcakes. It was a lot of fun! Addie told the story as we made them and we had to read the story once we got them in the oven. She also insisted on wearing her pink princess dress along with her crown...so cute!!

Do you think Sam really understands what he is in for? Addie was sad that Sam wasn't going to get to eat a cupcake. I told her I was eating one for him and she said "Oh yeah...the milk will be pink for him". She's so funny!!

We waited for Logan to come home from school to indulge in our PINK cupcakes. He was excited he got to have a cupcake (especially before dinner!) but I do think he was a little green with envy, just like Pinkalicious' brother!

I guess we have done a good job of eating our PINK cupcakes in moderation because no one has come down with a rare and acute case of PINKITIS...at least not yet!

A couple of months ago (I think February), Logan wanted to plant a seed from a red apple he was eating. We did and much to our suprise, it grew and grew. We have repotted it a couple of times. Logan repotted it again over the weekend in this sweet pot he made for me on my first Mother's Day. I never knew how much a handprint could mean until we pulled that out the other day and we compared hands! Anyways, look at his apple tree! We plan on loving it and nurturing it so we can hopefully plant it in the yard one day. They are studying plants in his Kindergarten class. He wanted to take it for show and tell but I knew it wouldn't make it back home in good condition. So, I took some pictures and e-mailed them. I thought I might as well post them on our blog. We just might get another picture of Logan in 10 years (he'll be 15!!!!) standing by a healthy apple tree in our yard. Wouldn't that be cool!!!

Sam had his first "real" bath last week. Yes, it took his cord nearly 5 weeks to fall off. I was glad it finally did and so was Sam because he loved his first bath and every one since! I don't think he has cried once! He's growing so fast! Just take a look at that tummy and those chubby cheeks!!He's doing great and he is still sleeping through the night for me! Seriously, I didn't think it was possible for that to happen but the day he was 1 month, he slept the entire night and he is still doing it. I'm NOT complaining!

Anyways, here is Sam relaxing with his first bath...