The Francis Family: Snowman and the zoo

Samantha has been a lot of fun lately. She is smiling a lot more and has times during the day when she is very active and kicking on her mat. However, it is easy to forget how the beginnning can be. Mark and I try to remember what things were like with Caden, but so easily we have forgotten. Caden is now sleeping in his new room in a (borrowed) crib and he has been doing great there. I think that he loves his sleep so much that he doesn't really care where he sleeps! This is the first week that Samantha has spent the night in her crib. She is getting more of a schedule during the day, but (to my dismay)still wakes up once at night. I know that she is still young and we were spoiled with Caden, so I keep telling myself that it will only get better.

Being a stay-at-home mother of two has proven to be very difficult at times, but I consider myself very lucky to have two very healthy and good kids. We love them so much and have had so much fun watching them learn and grow! It is amazing how curious little Caden has become. He picks up and learns so much info everyday and loves to dance, play with Nia, get into the cabinets, and just be busy. He loves his trucks/cars, hearing the school buses/ups/mailman/garbage truck, and loves to read books. We are working on timeouts with him, but he doesn't seem to care too much yet, in time my boy.

Caden has many foods that he has come to love, one which is peanut butter! With jelly or on graham crackers...doesn't matter. He also loves tomatoes, avocados, black beans and artichokes. Actually there really isn't much that he will turn down.

Having cereal at the kid's new table (thanks Grammy and Papa Francis)

We went up to see my family a couple weekends ago and all of us (minus Brian) went to the Cleveland Zoo on Saturday. It was a chilly 39degrees, so we all bundled up and out into the weather we went! The boys did great riding in the wagon, but we were all happy to ride the tram around at the end of the morning. Here is Caden with Dad and Aunt Jen enjoying a string cheese.

The whole fam...notice Samantha, she rode in the front pack on my belly under my coat.

Uncle Joe holding the boys while they were tickling each other. They think it is absolutely hilarious to tickle and be tickled! Watch out anytime you have exposed skin, they will get ya.

They are working on the sharing thing...or they couldn't decide who was going to drive and who was the passenger!

The boys with their first snowman!! Notice the plastic bags on the feet with rubberbands...it is something we used to do when we were little. And Caden's boots are now too small.