The Little Mermaid

Early in December we took Sami to see "The Little Mermaid" at the Centre for Performing Arts in Munster, In. It was a Christmas adaptation of the familiar story. I must admit it wasn't as wowing as previous shows we have attended, but she enjoyed it...and that is what it is all about!

Our friend Melissa watched Skylar for the afternoon. I think what Sami enjoyed the most was having us all to herself. Undivided attention =)

I love these special moments with her...no matter where we are!

The Nutcracker

My mom, sister, Sami, and I went to see The Nutcracker ballet a few weeks ago. Unfortunately this is the only photo I got of the evening, but that was because we were enjoying ourselves so much I totally forgot to capture it!

Sami loves all performing arts, but this was her first ballet experience and she was really looking forward to it! She sat on our laps so she wouldn't miss a beat! I know I've mentioned this before, but I just LOVE watching her watch these performances. She is always in awe, and her facial expressions are what I enjoy most!

She said her favorite part was the dancing flowers. I think this is mostly because of her souvenir. Some of the dancers painted their "retired" ballet slippers and you could purchase them. Sami chose a pink one with a purple flower that one of the soldiers later told her was a dancing flower shoe.

She has decided that for now soccer isn't for her and she would like to try ballet. There is a satellite school of the Indiana Ballet Theatre right here in DeMotte, so we are looking forward to enrolling her in classes there.

Every year we buy ornaments that represent something we have done that year or a milestone. Hallmark had a beautiful ornament that is three ballerinas dancing the "Waltz of the Snowflakes" so I purchased that for her this year. I do not know if ballet will be what she "sticks with" but I do know that this evening will always be a cherished memory for me! ;)

Christmas Photos

By now you should have all gotten our Christmas card. The photos turned out amazingly well! I am discovering that I have NO CLUE how to use our camera :/ so...the photo shoot shoot was rather eventful!

Surprisingly it was Sami who I had a hard time getting to look at the camera at the right moment! Ha! But...I think they turned out great everything considered. Merry Christmas!!!!!

First Feeding

Okay so I haven't been the best with the blog lately...as most of you know Matt is laid off. You would think I would have more time in the day, but really I have less! We usually end up chatting and before I know it half the day is gone!!!

Skylar's doctor said at her 4 month check up that if I thought she was developmentally ready we could try cereal. She seemed to be showing signs of intrest, so on November 3rd we gave it a try!

She had oatmeal cereal first because rice can further complicate her sensitive tummy issues. She REALLY enjoyed it! I'm not sure if you can tell in the photos, but I made it really thin so she was basically having her formula on a spoon but I really wanted to see how she would do with the spoon. She did really great with it! Opened her mouth, and moved the food to the back of her mouth! She was smiling and eager for more and more and more!

She has since decided that food isn't really for her. We have tried feeding it to her at different times, but she prefers bottles. Bottles are what is best for her anyways, so we aren't worried. =) We will just introduce it again when she seems interested. But for now...the photos of her first tastes are pretty cute!

Field Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

(Sami and her friend Ellie on the bus)

Sami's class went on a field trip to Harvest Tyme pumpkin patch on October 20th. It was a really nice day for it!

They had a lot of fun activities for the children. Here they are playing in a sandbox filled with corn! In all of my years teaching I never thought to put corn in my sensory table!

They also had a crooked house!!!! I have loved these houses ever since I saw them featured on "Jon and Kate Plus 8"...but...just google them and you will see why the dream of having one quickly faded! =)

(Sami in the crooked house)

They also had a huge swing set, corn hole games, tractor pedal cars...so much fun! =) They also had this really neat racing game. The children pumped water into a plume type

thing (are you with me????) to make their duck race. It's hard for me to explain, but trust me...it was a hit!

We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch. Sami was one of the last kids to pick a pumpkin! They were either "too tall" "too bumpy" or yes...even "too orange" =). But she did eventually find one!

They originally planned on painting the pumpkins there. I was pretty happy when they brought out foam pieces to decorate with instead. It's not that I don't enjoy painting, however, trying to take a wet pumpkin home on a bus just didn't sound too fun to me! :/

It was a fun morning, and I am so grateful that I get to go on these little trips!

Happy Halloween!!!!

I know that Halloween is a bit...let's say...controversial...but we here at the Kristoff house think it is fun! Who doesn't love free candy????

Sami decided to be Alice in Wonderland this year! And boy was she a cute Alice!

Skylar was a pea pod...also rather cute if you ask me! =)

We went to our old neighborhood for trick or treating. The houses are pretty close together, and there are a lot of houses that give out treats. Sami was still recovering from her run in with H1N1, so she pooped out after about 45 minutes of trick-or-treating. She isn't very greedy though, so she was perfectly content after getting one Reese's peanut butter cup in her bucket! Skylar slept the entire time in her stroller.

We went home and passed out candy to the few kids that stopped by. We ate dinner with Nana and Papa (my mom and dad) and then we went to the church. Nana and Papa stayed home with Sky so she wouldn't be cold.

This year the church did something a little different. We had a bonfire and hayride. It was a bit chilly, but everyone really enjoyed themselves! Sadly I forgot the camera...so you will have to trust me that it was a good time! =)

We also let Sami carve her own pumpkin for the first time this year! I was surprisingly calm! =)

Why the pumpkin has 3 eyes the world may never know! =)

So...Happy Free Candy Day everyone!

A Tooth!!!!

It's official...Skylar has (okay is still getting) her first tooth!!! I am still really shocked by this because she is only 3 months old!!! Matt noticed the signs early last week. I must admit...I thought he was completely crazy because she is SO little! He just kept saying..."look its white and looks just how Sami's did..." or "she's drooling everywhere" and "Why else would she be chewing on EVERYTHING????"

We discovered he was right Thursday morning when she successfully got my finger in her mouth and I felt it! Its on the bottom right in the middle. I tried to take a picture, but since she is so little she still thrusts her tongue. I tried to hold her mouth open for a picture, and she thought my finger was a lollipop!

So...when it comes through all the way, and she cooperates a little better...there will be a picture for you! =)

Samantha is 5!!!

Is there some sort of phenomenon going on where the earth is spinning WAY faster and no one told me??? Because I'm pretty sure Sami was born yesterday, so how is it that she is already 5????

Sami has been looking forward to turning 5 for awhile! Having a "full hand" to show how old you are is pretty neat after all! =)

For her birthday this year she had another trip to American Girl Place in Chicago. This time it was super special because she went only with her Nana (who is my mom for those who do not know). They rode the South Shore train, and took a taxi to every girls dream store! Turning 5 is pretty special, so her Nana had told her she was going to buy her a "big girl" American Girl doll. She looked through the catalog so many times I lost count, and planned on getting "Kit" a doll from the depression era. She had watched the Kit DVD from the library, and I thought it was going to be a perfect fit. When they arrived they looked at all of the dolls and all of their accessories and Sami decided she would prefer to have "Molly" a World War II era doll. Her reasoning???? "She has glasses!" =) I was actually really thrilled when my mom sent me a text message letting me know Sami had picked Molly for her glasses. When I was a little younger than Sami I asked Santa for a Cabbage Patch doll with glasses, and I cherished it!!!! So it melted my heart a bit to see that part of me in her....

They also ate lunch at the cafe there which was a first for her. It sounds so cute, and I hope to get to go one day! She took her American Girl Bitty Baby along, and they brought out a special chair and place setting just for the doll! I can't get Shutterfly to let me copy the pictures to share with you, but once I figure it out I will...because they had a GREAT day! =)

(At the Chocolate Shop holding her new doll Molly)


Sam's birthday party was at The Chocolate Shop here in DeMotte. It is an adorable ice cream parlor, and it really was a cute place for a party! It was held in a little "room" that is decorated very girlie with hats and feather boas for the children to dress up with! After everyone was all dolled up they enjoyed a little tea party. They had a real china tea set, and Sami kept telling everyone they should "try to be fancy and drink with their pinkie up" which made me giggle all day! It wasn't actually tea, but pop...and it seemed to be a big hit!!!

(Sami and her friend Emma "getting ready")

"Pinkies up everyone!"

After the "tea pop" party all of the children made their own ice cream sundaes. Everyone must have eaten a big lunch though because no one really ate any! :/ Oh well...it was fun! No party is complete without presents...so Sami opened her gifts, and then shared in the fun by giving each guest a bag of gummy bears and a Chocolate Shop coupon to take home (you know how I love a coupon!) for next time.

(Everyone choosing ice cream for their sundaes)


(Sami and her friend Ella)

It is amazing to me that I have a 5 year old, but what a joy that beautiful 5 year old is!

A Look Back (Skylar's Arrival)

The road to our beautiful Skylar was a long bumpy one, but it is a journey we are so blessed to have been on! From infertility struggles to a loss there were many times our dream of having another child seemed impossible. Thankfully nothing is impossible to God, and Skylar is our little miracle to prove that!

As most of you know the pregnancy was a long one. I started getting sick at about 5 weeks. At 12 weeks Dr. Waran finally let me take oral Zofran. By that point I was already 8 pounds lighter. I was so scared to loose another baby, but he kept assuring me that the baby was getting what he/she needed and everything was still looking great. I had many trips to the ER for IV fluids, and after the SIXTH trip he decided it was time to help me out. =) I was 16 weeks at this point, and had now lost 18 pounds and was severely dehydrated. He talked to my insurance, and I was placed with a high risk pregnancy home health care agency. They came out that evening, and started me on a Zofran pump. I wish I had taken pictures of this experience because even though it was rocky...it was a reality! Oh well... The pump was actually pretty easy for me to figure out. I just had to change the sub-q site everyday and switch out the medicine pumps. It felt so great to finally be able to leave the house, and feel slightly normal! At 25 weeks I decided I'd had enough with sticking myself with needles, and decided to go off the pump. I still continued to be sick, but oral medication was able to keep me pretty healthy! =)



Ok...so fast forward to 38 weeks! By this time I was DONE being pregnant! I just wanted to meet this little girl who I already felt SO close with! I was having pre-labor contractions, and even went to the hospital once only to get sent home because it wasn't active enough. Bummer! But at 39 weeks Dr. Waran said I could be induced if I wanted to, and I said "sign me up!!!!"



So on Tuesday June 30, 2009 Matt and I got up before the sun and went to St. Anthony's in Crown Point to have our baby! I was induced with Sami, but this was WAY different! The major difference was I had pitocin this time, and I learned exactly why it is called "pit" because man was it the pits!!!! I was able to walk around comfortably for a long time, and my intense labor wasn't too difficult. But towards the end I remembered that there is no ribbon for birthing "naturally" and everyone gets the same prize at the end, so bring on the drugs!!!!

It didn't take the anesthesiologist very long to get to my room, and in he came with his tool box! Yes...a craftsman toolbox! Matt was thrilled...I just wanted him to start! I couldn't understand a word the man said, and started to have second thoughts that I was going to do move wrong and never be able to walk again!!!! :/ But...he got it in...I was able to relax and 5 minutes later (it hadn't even taken full effect) I was ready to push!

I am so glad that I decided to get the epidural because I was able to relax at this point and take a breather! My doctor was in surgery, and couldn't get up to me right away!!!! But Matt just stroked my head, and my mom rubbed my back. The nurses were getting a little concerned because I was having some decelerations in Skylar's heart beat on the monitor. The same thing happened with Sami, so I wasn't worried. Dr. Waran waltzed in (by the way I LOVE him and am so thankful for him) just in time to catch our beautiful baby at 3:13 PM.

Dr. Waran (my doctor)

It turns out her cord was wrapped around her head causing those decelerations on the monitor. She was a healthy 7 lbs. 11 oz. 18 1/2 inches. TONS of hair and just as precious as could be!

Alice in Wonderland

Matt called me one afternoon on his way home from work and said "Hey...do you want me to get Alice in Wonderland tickets???" I paused for awhile because he hasn't been working that great, but I also knew Sami would love to go...I told him to stop and do whatever he thought was best. He of course bought the tickets, and I am SO glad he did!

It was a Theatre for the Young production at The Theatre at the Center in Munster. It was a wonderful musical with all our favorite characters! It was designed for children who are in Pre-School through Grade 4. It was interactive with invitations to stand up and dance...count along with the characters...answer questions...get your feet stepped on by the white rabbit!!!! SOOOO fun! =)

Skylar spent the day with her Grandma and Grandpa Kristoff, so it was fun to treat Sami to a fun day just for her! She took her Alice rag doll and snuggled her the entire time! It is so neat to watch her light up at events like this! Every once in awhile she would just whisper..."Oh this is SO fun!" or "This is the silliest thing I've ever seen!" At times it is more entertaining to just watch her enjoy than to watch the performance!

After the show the characters were all in the hallway for autographs and pictures. For those of you who are not aware...Matt and I DO NOT like crowds! We tried to wait it out in our seats until it thinned out a bit, but Sami just wasn't having that! So...off we went to be touched by strangers (yes I am still bugging out about this one!), get our feet stepped on, deal with rude people and their crying children.... Wait...it was fun...focus on the fun! =)


So here is Sami...meeting everyone...


Alice




The Queen of Hearts

Chesire Cat

She enjoyed herself so much that her Daddy bought tickets to see The Little Mermaid in December! =)

3 months old!!!! REALLY???

It is amazing to me just how quickly time flies by! Skylar is already 3 months old, and this is her very first "solo" post devoted just to her!!! I just hope she doesn't look back one day and say "Mom where were all of my posts?!" :/

I was going to try to catch you all up, but I decided that the time is now...so let's focus on now...and as time permits we will travel to the past. Sound good? (I know you don't really have a choice...but let's just roll with it! Ha!)

At 3 months Skylar is doing the following:

*Drinking 6 oz. bottles of Similac Isomil (soy) every 4-6 hours

*Sleeping through the night in her own room

*Laughing, giggling, talking, smiling, cooing...

*Holding her head up like a pro

*Trying REALLY hard to roll over, but not making it all the way (any day now!)

*Sitting in a bumbo seat

*Batting at toys with purpose with her hands and feet

*Pushing up from her belly at a 45 degree angle with ease

And in general...just being a joy! =)

Getting Into Our Groove

I can not believe that Skylar is 3 months old, and this is the first post devoted to her! There was no "She's Arrived" post...no "First Bath" post...BOO! I am a slacker!!!

The two most common questions we here are:

"How is Sami adjusting???" (or something similar)

and...

"Is two way harder than one???"

Sami LOVES being a big sister!!!! I will admit the first 24 hours home from the hospital were a major adjustment for her. Let's face it...she has been front and center for nearly 5 years, and never had to share that spotlight!!! Up until a month ago all of her cousins even lived far away...so she was IT! With that said...the girls truly bring each other joy! When Skylar lays down for a nap Sami will ask for her, and listen intently to the monitor for even a whimper!

It is so amazing to see the bond that they already share! If Skylar is playing on the floor and Sami walks past she will almost break her neck to watch her...flashing a HUGE smile all the while!

It was never our "plan" for our girls to be this spaced apart in age, but I love to look back and see God's plan! We both believe that God had the timing JUST right, and we are so thankful for the gift of Skylar. Two really doesn't seem to be much different than one. Okay so there is an additional load of laundry...and another body to bathe...and one more little person to buckle BUT there is one more person to hug...and kiss...and read stories to! I could go on and on, but I think you all know what a joy both girls are! =)

Harvest Time at Chelburg Farm

Going to Chelburg Farm at Harvest Time is one of my favorite memories from childhood! I love the Lakeshore, and I am so excited to share these experiences with my girls now!

We went to Harvest Time on a Sunday afternoon in September. There are so many historical fun activities to do! Sami had a blast! Skylar slept almost the entire time, but that's what babies do! =)
My mom and sister Marianne were able to meet up with us there, so that made the day even more special!

When we first arrived Matthew had an agenda: FOOD!!!! But then again...I think that is pretty much always #1 on his priority list! Sami and I each bought an ear of sweet corn and we sat down to listen to this gentleman sing folk music while Matt went in search of goodies!

(Licking the butter from her face!)

I think one of my favorite things about this festival is how they make history fun! Sami made a doll from corn husks which she is still playing with! She also really enjoyed washing clothes on the washboard! She was pretty good at it...perhaps I will put her to work at home!

It is neat to see the clothes that they wore around the turn of the century (well...you know...LAST century) as well as the various traditions they had. Samantha is still weirded out by the thought of going outside to use the bathroom! :)

We were all set to watch a sheep be sheered when it started to rain! Luckily we were right by the barn, so they moved the demonstration inside. We were amazed just how FAST they can get it done!

All in all we had a super fun day, and it was a great way to start the fall!

Off To School!

Samantha has been in school for over a month now, so I suppose it is time to post her "first day" blog. :) It is amazing how easily you can forget how much time a little baby takes up...and blogging just doesn't seem to be high on her priority list!!!! :)

Samantha started school on August 24, 2009. This year she is going to the preschool program at DeMotte Elementary school. To be honest I did not know a lot about the program when I applied (yes...applied!) for her to go there, but it came highly recommended from a few people whose opinions I hold very dear to me. We are THRILLED with the program, and so happy she is there!

The class has so many wonderful aspects I do not even know where to begin! The class has children with special needs, and other children who are there as "peer influences" as well. The program is SO developmentally appropriate I just gleam as I read the weekly plans!

She goes to school four mornings a week. She has learned many songs, sign language, and is starting to read!!!! They take monthly trips to the library (its across the parking lot), weekly visits to the gym, and so much more! She comes home with so many crafts and papers I think we need another refrigerator to display them all!!!! :)

I think this is going to be a great year for her!