Breakfast of Champions

A long break... and a new name

The long break doesn't need a long explanation.. I was very pregnant, exhausted and wrangling a four year old and 2 two year olds. Any free moment I was able to squeeze in was spent laid out on the living room couch and most definitely not typing away at the computer. Had I a lap top things may have been a little better for this blog but I probably would have been whining and complaining about my third trimester discomforts so it's probably a good thing I stayed away for the last few months.

Obviously the most important thing to get to right away is the announcement of our beautiful, sweet addition Claire Elizabeth. She came into the world on December 16th at 9:20pm weighing in at a healthy 6lbs 12.5 oz (our biggest baby!) and has been a welcomed blessing in our lives. She is a happy, easy going little girl and has easily adjusted to three loud and overbearing siblings who can hardly stay away  and constantly shower her with kisses and love.

With her arrival we had to reconsider the name of this blog previously A love letter for S.A.M. in order to include our sweet girl in our story. After going back and forth on a few other iterations, none of which worked very well, including A love letter for C.A.S.M. and A Love Letter for S.A.M. & Claire, we  ditched our prior name entirely and decided that C. SAM Grow best fit the purpose of continuing the blog. So here we go. Come with us and see Sophia, Alex, Max and Claire Grow!

Happy 5th Birthday Honey Girl

My Sophia Lou

This past year, from four to five, went by in such a hurry. I still find it hard to believe that the little, beautiful baby I held in my arms, bright eyes wide open, is now five years old. And what I knew about you in those first few days, that you were a smart, determined, amazing and wonderful little girl is still true. You constantly amaze us with your bold, shining personality that is immediately the center of attention no matter where you go. In the past year you took on your first dance class and did beautifully at your first performance, became a more confident swimmer. bravely entered school and started on your way to reading and writing. Daddy and I are so very proud to call you our little girl. 

Happy Birthday Sophia

we love you from age five until forever.

Family Photos 2010

Photos By Visionyard Photography
Click here to view these pictures larger

Finally a little summer afternoon rain

And a whole lotta fun.

What every Mama wonders..

Can someone please tell me how we went from this:

to this:

So quickly?

Sigh.

But before sending our baby off to her first day of preschool we took a few of the requisite first day pics.

Little brothers weren't really sure what was going on but they did know that big Sis was excited and in a good mood about something. So they got excited too!

And of course I wanted one of me and my baby girl. 

Then it was Daddy's turn.

One of the reasons she had no hesitation about going was that she knows several of the kids in her small class of 10 including her best buddy Charlie.  I think at the point we snapped this picture she was ready for us to gather up the brothers, the camera and be on our way!

Luckily she was very excited at both the start and end of her first day. I only hope she loves school and goes on to remember it as fondly as I do.

One baby turned preschooler.

Three more to go.

Creeping ever so closer to the BIG 3 0. But not just yet!

A little help blowing out the candles

Mama Koala

And this one is not related to my birthday except that it captures just how excited our brown eyed girl is at any birthday party, even if it's not hers.