Christmas in Kansas

We started Christmas early this year as we let Samantha open the gifts we got her before we left for Kansas. At first she tore a piece and handed it to her dad but by the end she was just tearing it all off. I think overall she enjoyed her gifts. We don't get her much because we know that she will get gifts from other people and it will all add up!

The 19th was our day to leave on our vacation. We got on the road at 5:00 p.m. and 15 hours later arrived in Kansas just before Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy left for work. Dad hadn't slept so we put him to bed and Samantha and I played. We were able to meet Grandma Linda for lunch and it was the first round for Samantha to meet new people.

Kansas had some leftover snow from a big snowstorm and while we were there got another inch or snow. Samantha wouldn't touch it but kept on saying "snow" everywhere we went. She did love wearing her boots though and got lots of compliments on them.

It was a nice relaxing vacation. We were able see quite a few relatives and spend quality time with the grandparents. Of course, now she is totally spoiled as we would expect from a visit like that and we are having to de-program her as her dad calls it.

The trip back went as well, if not better than the trip there. We again made it in 15 hours and the weather was pretty good. We are so thankful for God's traveling mercies!

Samantha met so many people that by the end she wouldn't say a word. The first day she was shy but would at least say "bye-bye". By the last day she just looked shy and often look away when Grandma Linda tried to show her off.

We came back into a busy time as we are moving this week into the house we built. We knew it was going to be this way and were prepared as possible. Samantha isn't thrilled that we keep on trying to put things on boxes but I'm hoping she'll adjust quickly as soon as we get into the house.

A big thank-you to Grandma Linda and Grandpa Willy for a great time. I think we wore Grandpa Linda out and Grandpa Willy was ready for his once quiet house by the time we left. We look forward to their visit when our baby boy is born.

I have to mention that Samantha is seriously working on more teeth. All of a sudden there are aboug 5-6 that are working on coming in. They include another bottom "front" tooth and her bottom molars.

On a baby note...I failed my glucose test before we left so I had to take the 3 hour test again (I had to do this with Samantha also). I got a call the Tuesday before we left saying that I passed my 3 hour test with flying colors which means I don't have gestational diabetes-Yippeeee!

She opened gifts from us before we left. Her she is with them...



New toys from the grandparents...




Showing Grandma Linda her gift...


Being silly with Grandpa Willy...


A sampling of the snow they had...



Is this relaxing or what???


With Grandpa Willy and Great-Grandpa James...


With Great-Grandma Ellie...

Busy and Sick

We had another full, full week. With help we were able to finish up our Christmas shopping. Yippeee! I can hardly believe it's already done although with everything going on, it's a good thing.

I forgot to write a couple of weeks ago about a small thing Samantha did. Previously she used to see "meeee" when we asked her what a cow says. All of a sudden one day she figured it out and now she says "moooo." She is really catching onto things.

It seems like lately our little girl is trying to figure out the words "ours", "yours", and "mine." She tries to use them but doesn't always get them in right. We have a couple of Christmas CD's that are for her-they are kids singing. Of course, most of the music is mine. She often says "yours" when referring to my music.

Samantha has done amazingly well with the tree. She continues really not to touch it or even the gifts we put out this weekend. In fact, I don't think she's even acknowledged the gifts that are under the tree and they are for her!

Today Samantha is sick! For a bit I was wondering if it was just teeth but a constant fever for over a day and the lack of movement that she's been doing has me convinced it's a little bit more. She just hasn't been her normal self and is quite warm most of the time. We hope that she gets better fast as we're supposed to leave for our Christmas vacation Wednesday.

I had another doctor's appointment this week. As of Monday, the 17th, I'll be 28 weeks already. Wow, where does the time fly. Again, dad and Samantha went along and the entire way there Samantha talked about the baby and heart after we told her we were going to listen to the baby's heartbeat. The little guy is doing well and growing like he should. His heartrate was 140 bpm. I am doing fine and didn't gain as much weight this time--good! I don't think he is as quite as active as Samantha was and his movements are different. At this point he probably weighs nearly 2 lbs and is 10 inches from rump to crown.

While on vacation we won't have any internet access so we won't be able to update our blog as usual. I'm sure once we get back we'll have lots of pictures though so keep checking back.

We hope everyone has a very safe and merry Christmas. Keep warm and we'll try to do the same.

We pulled out the tub crayons again and Samantha loves them...


Samantha's bangs were getting very long and she just wouldn't keep a barrette in so we decided to trim them...


She loves the clemintine oranges and can peel them herself...


Mom and Samantha...


Annual Christmas photo...

Apparently we're still pretty busy because I didn't take any pictures this week. I'm hoping to make up for it by posting a couple of videos.

Samantha did hurt herself Sunday evening. She was playing on the couch and apparently fell down onto the coffee table. She must have hit her ear right on because it instantly turned black and blue and swelled up. Even though I knew there was nothing I could do it made me very concerned. Today you can hardly notice it and she doesn't seem any worse for the wear.

We have the Fisher Price nativity Little People set up on our hearth. Samantha enjoys playing with the animals, angels and baby Jesus. She can pick out Baby Jesus and Mary but has a harder time picking out Joseph.

She continues to grow leaps and bounds, especially her vocabulary. She seems to always repeat at least one word you say in a sentence.

This week we're gearing up for Christmas. We head to Kansas on the 19th so we will finish up Christmas shopping, wrap gifts, etc. before we head out for the big trip.

The ear, several days later...

Another fairly quiet week at the Renfro household. We ran errands as usual and accomplished some Christmas shopping. What a great feeling to have probably half of it finished already!

Samantha has been taking great naps and sleeping in until 8 (until THIS morning). It seems she does well with a "routine" of sorts and is such a great little girl when this happens. Sabbath, she didn't nap until 5:00 and was ready to go back to sleep at 10. She was great until 5 though and held out quite well.

We were very fortunate to have Aunt Jenney come visit us for a very short time. She was in Nashville for a class for her job and decided to come see us since she was this far. Samantha kept thinking Ellie should have come along but she enjoyed seeing Aunt Jenney just the same.

Being inside so much lately due to the chillier weather and the sun setting earlier I've already run out of things to do with Samantha. One night I set up a "tent" for her to play under. She loved it!


She also loves to climb up on our bed and slide down...



Ready for church...


With Aunt Jenney...