For the Record: Sammy, 2 1/2

This info is probably not interesting to anyone but us, but we just wanted to jot it down for our records!

Samuel Robert Kearney: Age 2.5 

Favorites:
Foods:  Homemade hummus and homemade granola (loves to help me make it), guacamole, raw veggies and ranch (everything dipped in ranch-even sweet stuff), meatballs/steak/BBQ (any type of red meat, really), "red" (fruit leather), watermelon, green drops (spice drops from Grandpa), Cheerios, chocolate chips (treat after eating all his veggies), Goldfish, yogurt, pears, apples
Toys:  Cars (by far your favorite...you could play with your cars for HOURS), iPad (you now call it "my iPad),
Stuffed animal: Lion
Book: Curious George
Outfit: Cammo shirt and green striped jammy pants (clearly, you picked that one out yourself!)

 

Game: Lining up your cars
TV show: Anything on Disney or Nick Jr...you love Peppa Pig, Little Bill, Doc McStuffins, Dino Dan, etc.
Movie: Cars
Activities: Helping me cook, Picnics outside (anything outside), going for walks, riding in your police car, rough-housing with daddy

Least Favorites:
Foods: Any type of pasta made any type of way, anything involving a tortilla, I have to peel your fruit b/c you won't eat apple skins, etc. You'll usually try just about anything, though.  You're not too picky.  I refuse to peel your grapes, though!  :)
Toys: You love most toys, but you're not a big fan of your trains.  Probably b/c you love your cars so much!
Stuffed animal:  That silly dinosaur that daddy got you.  You think it's scary :)
Book: Almost anything I pick out.  You like to pick them out yourself.
Outfit: Your hulk shirt.  You just won't wear it...but you love the hulk??  We're confused!  :)
Game: The quiet game!  Just kidding.  You really don't have a least favorite game.
TV show: You're not a big fan of the Backyardigans
Movie: It takes you a while to warm up to any new movie we introduce you to.
Activities: You're pretty easy going.  You just go with the flow and like just about anything we do.  Like any toddler, you're not a big fan of picking up your toys or getting ready for a nap, but that's typical. 

Sam"isms" (you're favorite phrases):
I doing cars crash
I almost all done (anytime I say his name)
Oh...I okay (anytime he stumbles)
I DON'T HAVE TWO COWS!! (when he's mad at us)
I'M NOT GOING TO THE COW HOUSE!!  (also when he's mad)
I gonna tease a goggy (play with the dog)
One, two, three, four, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve (always skipping five)
Green "job" (read: drop)
Dis hand an dis hand (one drop for each hand)
I yining cars up (read: lining)
Dees pants are NOT my best friend (I don't want to wear pants)
I too hot to wear dees pants (I still don't want to wear pants)
Dees pants are not good for me (again, not going to wear the pants)
I help you make dinner (every time we're in the kitchen, you pull that chair up to stand at the counter)
I do all by myself
I need a new dip dipe (diaper change, please)
Oh man!
Oh bummer!
I serious!
I going to the cow house(Deanna Rose)
I get in police car (referring to your cozy coupe...you whisper this to me every time we pull into the garage with a huge smile on your face b/c you know that I'm going to say no)
I wanna do yaps (doing laps with daddy around the house)
Are you sure? (anytime I say no to something)

Sam...you are an absolute joy and treasure!  You are extremely verbal for your age, stringing together very long sentences a lot earlier than 2 1/2.  We get the most comments about how well you talk, and how cute you are.  You're a charmer and a flirt and it's pretty funny to watch.  You'll chat up anyone who will listen to you!  You really are a gorgeous child, and I'm not just saying that because I'm your mommy.  You have huge brown eyes, you're long and lean and you have a very compassionate personality...always concerned for anyone who's upset or crying.  You quickly bring them a toy, rub their backs, or ask me if their mommy is going to take care of them.  It's very sweet!
On the flip side...I've seen you be a bit of a stinker, too.  You can be very possessive of the public playground, church nursery toys, or other friend's toys-warding off other toddlers by telling them "you can't play with that car".  Or simply batting the toy out of the unsuspecting child's hands.  Oh my!  We are always working on making sure we speak kindly and share with others.  And sassy!  Don't get me started.  Daddy and I have had to really crack down on your sassy side.  Lots of time-outs lately for back talk :) 
You also have a particular love for babies.  You LOVE to just look at them and watch them, and if it's okay...touch them and kiss them.  I hope that love extends to your baby sister!  You talk about "Baby Anna" often and ask about her.  I don't think you totally get it, but you will in August! 
You love the older girls at church, and they love you too!  Madi is a particular favorite.  In fact, in order to get you dressed in something acceptable for church, Daddy and I often have to tell you that this is one of Madi's favorite outfits on you and you become very agreeable.
You're a very easy-going kid at this point.  You love to go anywhere and do anything whether it's playing with friends, running errands or even going to the doctor.  You're up for anything and full of energy.

We love you so so so much!!

Weekend

Fun weekend!
Any weekend that involves smoked brisket and strawberry crepes is a good weekend.  And forts.  Forts make for a great weekend, too.

Our neighbor had some venison loin and briskets that he needed smoked.  Andy's hourly rate is a cut of the meat.  Not really...he loves any excuse to pull the smoker out of the garage, but they generously shared their brisket, some amazing potato salad and vinegar cucumbers.  Oh my goodness.  Yum!

Forts were made out of the couch cushions.  Perfect place to enjoy the Cars movie.

Are you taking pictures of me?

Nooooooo!

And check out that cute mutt in the back...

Much like a teenage girl, Sam is becoming very opinionated about what he wears.  On Saturday, he insisted on his "fuzzy hat", his jacket and his mittens.  Unfortunately for Sam, it was in the low 80s.

He actually kept his winter hat on during our trip to the local WalMart to see the Batman car that was on display, which was actually pretty cool to see in person.

So last weekend, Andy wanted to let me sleep in and make me a special Mother's Day breakfast.  However, I had to get up early and make it to church because I was helping out in the nursery.  So we moved it to this Sunday.  Strawberry crepes were worth the wait!

This guy is a pretty amazing cook.  Not just the kind of cook that is really good at reading a recipe (like me), but the kind of cook that just makes stuff up and it turns out awesome every time.  He'd never made crepes before, but of course, they turned out perfect!

Then, later that evening, we burned our eyes out trying to watch the solar eclipse.  Okay, not really.  But we did look very scientific watching it.  That's 4 pairs of sunglasses... 

 We're very cool.  And I'm very pregnant...

Daddy's Home!

Mommy is great, but she just doesn't cut it in the rough-housing department.
That's why it's so much fun when daddy gets home...

That's not to say I refuse to participate.  I join in the fun on occasion.  But when this is what happens...well you can understand why I leave the rough-housing to daddy.  I present to you a little game Sam likes to call "I sit on your face".  And so he does...

A leisurely game of "pretend to take a nap" takes a wrong turn

 He's making his move

 Going in for the "sit"

 No.  This is not degrading in the least.