At the Half

October marks the half-birthdays for my girls. Sam will be 4 ½ later this month, and TODAY Abby is 1 ½.

Since I haven't done a kiddo-update since April, here we go...

Samantha Joy (Sam, Sammy, Sammers)

Ahhhhh - age 4 has been SO MUCH BETTER than age 3. Seriously, every month past her 4th birthday has been easier and easier. When I think about what life was like a year ago...well, actually...I'd rather not. Sam hasn't lost her spunk, or taste for loud bright clothing ensembles, but she has tempered her sass (for the most part), and now recognizes when an outfit is perhaps a little much (although I am kind of sad that the days of wearing costumes to Target are waning). Sam has a new love for learning and when she isn't skipping down the sidewalk to preschool (M/W/F), she wants to play school at home. I continue to be amazed at how loving Sam is toward her baby sister. Abby's best audience is definitely Samantha (does that sound familiar, Mom and Dad?). Sam is my little buddy, and big helper. She never wants to be alone...ever...a trait she certainly doesn't get from me. She is a water girl and her interest in surfing is definitely on the rise thanks to daddy's brainwashing encouragement. Sam continues to be a little leader, and she is so quick with her words and thoughts it is honestly hard to keep up sometimes. Her recent interest in giving money to people in Kenya is accompanied by her intense desire to receive trinkets and toys from any source possible. She is a giver and a taker.  She is a joy!

Abigail Charis (Abby, Abs, Abby-cadabby)

This picture pretty much sums up Abby right now. While age 4 has been really good to us with big sister, little sister is continually reminding me why 18 months of age is VERY challenging. She is on the move, and she is dangerous. I feel like I save her life at least once a day. We laugh about how we used to think she was going to be our mellow and compliant child. HA! No, no...apparently our genes do not combine to produce 'mellow' or 'compliant'. When Abby isn't climbing in the dryer, fishing in the toilet, crawling on tables, or just plain running away from us, she is entertaining us in another way. This chick is funny. We have been saying that since she was very little, and she continues to keep us laughing. I'm pretty sure she knows she's funny too. And she especially thinks its funny when we say "No!" Oh boy. Speaking of boys, Abby continues to be quite rough (although not terribly tough), and very fascinated in mechanical things and how things work.  She doesn't sit in our laps long, but she gives a lot of hugs (which sometimes feel more like head-butts and recently resulted in a fat/blue lip for momma). She loves to be held, and is currently OBSESSED with Daddy. Her curly blond hair is simply AMAZING, and she gets bigger and cuter by the day. We are so in love with this child!