Happy New Year's Houston Style

We had a great time in California, and then went to spend a few days with good friends in Houston.  Martin was Nick's roommate.  Martin and Sarah have two wonderful kids, Sebastian and Luciana (Seb and Luci).  Sam had a blast playing and we did even more fun things.

Here are Seb and Sam putting our Christmas card on the fridge.



Here is where we went bowling. 



Sam and Luci drawing on the floor.

We went to Rainforest Cafe, which was a hit with all the kids.

Here is Princess Sam with a foam light saber.  Seb loves Star Wars stuff.  I think Sam was using it like a hose because she sometimes pretends we are on fire and sprays us.  And she was making a water type sound.  She enjoyed it though.

Again, the whooshing water sound versus a light saber sound.  Pretty funny.

We also went to the children's museum, which is amazing but was very crowded.  Sam was in the last few weeks of being able to play in the infant/toddler area.  She was probably the biggest kid there, but she loved the mini ball pit.

Seb was too old for the toddler area.  So Nick climbed with him in this play structure.  It said adults were welcome to climb, but Nick said he had trouble squeezing through some areas.  Good thing it is not in Huntington :)

We flew back to Atlanta on New Years Eve, but we decided to celebrate a night early.  We shot off some quite fire works (sparkler cones and bottle rockets), which Sam and Seb loved.  Sarah also had these great hats.

We also decided we needed a picture of everyone.  This is how Nick tested the auto feature on our camera.

Here we all are. 

The last day Sam loved playing with this bike game.  She was not good at it, pedaling the wrind way a lot, but she enjoyed herself.

Sam wishes all our faithful readers a wonderful 2011!  I know ours will be busy and full of blessings.  May the new year bring everyone laughter and joy.

Santa

We have taken Sam to the same Santa for three years.  The 2008 picture would not re-upload, so you can see it here (http://southernkellings.blogspot.com/2008/12/almost-christmas.html).  But below are last years and this years.  What a difference a year makes.  Last year she cried at the Marshall santa and was so scared but brave at the mall santa.  This year she walked right up, told him she wanted a doll with a hairclip and hopped in his lap for a photo.

                 

Christmas Capers

We had a crazy and fun whirlwind trip to California and Houston.  I will post some pictures now of California and add Houston later.  It was over 200 pictures :)

We also had an interesting day yesterday.  The house we own in Atlanta was broken into, so we when we by to pick up rent, the door was open and we ended up having to call the police and our renters, who were out of town.  My dad and Nick had to patch the door frame.  Not quite what we had planned for the day and our quick run by before lunch.

But Sam had a great time on our trip, other than being tired for most of it.  A 3 hour time change is rough and she never really adjusted, getting up at 4 something California time every day.  But we managed to squeeze in a lot of fun.

We did a Christmas Eve Chuck E Cheese trip.

Stocking fun.

Gifts galore!  Sam was funny saying again, "It's just what I wanted for Christmas!"

These balloons were a big hit with all three kids.

 Isabelle got an easel and Sam had a great time pretending to be the teacher and writing rules on the board.

In case you were interested in what the guys did.  Football and computers.

Luke got a little truck. 

Nick played a lot of tackle.  He was a great sport.

All three kids playing with the truck.

The carousel was broken, but was still a big hit before and after pictures.

An example of the rules.

 The girls put on a show.  It was very cute.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas (if you celebrate it) and a Happy New Year.  Hard to believe is is already 2011.  Big changes coming our way.

Christmas take 1

We made it to Atlanta and have been going ever since.  The trip was a bit rough with some traffic.

We actually made these at a friends before we left, but I just got a picture before we threw them out.  Sam and I made the one on the right.  She love decorating it, especially the coconut snow.  Nick made the one on the left.

                                

Sam has had a great time with Nana and Papa. Here are some selected pictures. Internet is slow at my parents, so I did a lot but have even more :)

There has been lots of book reading.

                             

 Sam and I shared a milk shake at Chick-fil-A.  I love their holiday shake!

Mom had a small tree for Sam to decorate on her own again this year.  She keeps adding and rearranging. 

We spread out gift opening.  Mom got Sam this tent.  Nick set it up in the hall.



Sam got him to play peek-a-boo.  She said, "Daddy and I are peeking-a-boo."

What a difference a year makes for Santa.  She jumped right in his lap and repeated that she wanted a doll with a hairclip.  No crying, just had to be told he was nice and not a stranger.

We opened gifts with my family.  Look at the haul, all the stuff on the right is for Sam.  We may need another u-haul trailer.

Sam painted Nana a mug with my help.  Nick had to go pick it up the day before we left after the 6 inches of snow on the roads.  A true group effort!

 Sam got her own set of golf clubs from my parents.

Dressed up for a party.

The whole family.

Wearing the coat that belonged to her second cousin.  It used to be way too big and almost fits now.

I went to get my own ice cream and Nick had the foresight to prevent a major incident by using a napkin bib.  Of course, Sam took it off and squeezed a juice box on her nice dress.  Luckily it is washable.

 Dancing with Papa being a princess.

We also squeezed in a quick zoo trip.  It was a nice day to go and the birds were eager to eat.  Sam even got tired of holding up the stick and shook the bird off.

30 week ultrasound and more snow!

We had our 30 week ultrasound today to check on the baby's growth, which is a concern because of the single umbilical artery.  Weight looked great at 3 pounds 4 ounces, 59th percentile.  The baby, Munchkin, is still breech at this point, but should turn evidentially.   Here are a couple of pictures.  Looks like that Kelling nose in the profile.  We will see if any of Nick's genes other than the nose were strong enough to beat out mine this time around. :)

                                           

Munchkin was not being cooperative for a good face shot.  The cord was near the baby's head, hence some of the lumpiness.  But here is a 3D one.  I think they are a bit creepy.  But Munchkin did not reveal gender, either, so I am happy.  I was worried the technician would easily tell and put it in our chart.  Assuming things keep progressing well, we should be done with ultrasounds, so as far as gender goes, your guess is as good as mine.  Sam is saying boy today.  Other guesses?

We had another few inches of snow.  Sam had no school on Monday, so we went to a friends house to sled/tube.  It was fun.

Here is a video clip.  None turned out great since I was in charge of the camera and stopping Sam from going into the road.  But you can get the idea.

Sam also had a 2 hour delay on Tuesday.  She had a much better day.  She still did not eat lunch, but she did eat snack.  And she played a lot more with other kids instead of mostly sitting and watching. So small steps in the right directions right before we have a huge break :)

We continue to wait on any news on the job front.  Holidays and finals make it hard for committees.  Nick did have one positive phone call that may result in an on campus interview in January at George Mason University (outside of DC in Fairfax, VA).  And he got a positive we are still pushing a list through administration email from South Florida Polytechnic (Lakeland, FL near Orlando).  I have not heard anything on any of the 4 colleges I had phone interviews with yet.  Fingers crossed all around!

Good cold fun!

We have been having a lot of Winter fun lately.  Sam and I went to Charleston with some friends to go to their ice rink.  They have an event called totsicles.  They basically put a bunch of toys out on the ice and let the kids wear shoes and helmets and have fun.  Sam has a great time.

One of the women that worked there played with Sam some.  She would set up the pins and skate while holding Sam so she could knock them down.

Sam loved pushing the cart around.

We also went to a nearby city called Ashland, Ky which has a great light display (http://www.winterwonderlandoflights.com/).  It was so cold, about 28 and windy.  But we rode in the train and saw all the lights.  We then warmed up a bit and went to see their Santa.  This is Sam's first of the year.  We are planning to take her in Atlanta to the same one she has been to for the last 2 Christmases.  But she was excited to sit on his lap and tell him she wanted a doll with a hair clip.  What a difference a year makes.

We have been super busy with fun stuff on top of finishing up classes and sorting all the Atlanta stuff.  Grades should be done soon, which will be a relief.  I have also been busy with phone interviews.  We are still waiting to hear beyond that.  Fingers crossed.  Timing may be a bit rough, but we will see.

This week will be my 30 week appointment, which will have an ultrasound, so we will see if we can still avoid finding out gender.  Sam has now declared that she wants 2 babies, a girl now and a boy later.  We will see.  We will find out in the ultrasound how the baby is growing to be sure everything is on track with the Single Umbilical Artery.  I do seem to be measuring at or above expected size and the movements are getting more forceful, including elbows or knees left in certain spots.  Many people tell me I look small for my week, but I feel huge!

Sam is also doing a lot better at school.  She only cries on drop off.  She still will not eat, but at least it is progress.  And she seems to be enjoying the day a bit more.  I think one aspect that helped is that they are practicing for a Christmas program and she loves to sing.