20 months!

This could be the latest monthly post I've ever done!  But two weeks ago Samantha turned 20 months. She wasn't really up for pictures that day, but we snapped a few while she was playing.

Samantha talks more and more everyday.  I can't even count all the words she says these days.  She started putting words together this month into short phrases.  Most of those involve "No" and something or "Up Mama" or "Up Dada" when she wants to be picked up or wants us to get up.  

The other word pairings are her descriptions of possession.  She has started calling herself "Aiya" this month (we have no idea). But she loves telling us whose stuff everyone is.  For instance, "Mama car," "Dada car," "Aiya car" (my car is also her car).

She also thinks she knows how to jump now.  She throws up her arms in the air and steps really big and yells "Juhhh."  Love it.

Also opinions about everything- all. the. time.  I think in this one she does not like how daddy is steering. 

And this month she has really attached herself to Daddy.  "Daddy" all the time. 

S continues to be an amazing sleeper at night and during naps.  What a blessing for us.  And this last month she finally dropped the second nap. Only one nap a day now and it usually goes from 12:30-2:30 or 3.

S has also really started to run this month.  She moves fast and pumps her arms.  She loves moving fast, too!

If S is an amazing sleeper, then that is countered by the eating.  Every month we lose a few more foods that she used to eat.  Silly girl.  Lots of opinions on what she wants to eat (pasta, fruit, and ice cream) and how we should serve it ("bowl," "napka," "milk," etc).

Yum! Ice cream!

Love you little girl!

Samantha's Labor Day with Nana and Granddad

While we were in the city, Samantha had tons of fun with Nana and Granddad on Long Island. We used Long Island as our home base and got to come home to my parents and then spend Monday of Labor Day weekend with them.  Samantha and I also stuck around for a few days that week.

While we were gone Samantha stayed busy.  First off the park with Nana and Granddad.

Then some food prep at home.

They also went to visit the farm animals.

And the playground again!

Hiding from Granddad

And I found this pic of me when I was 18 months.  I definitely see a little bit of a resemblance.

Building trains

And a mini golf ball machine.  Seriously my dad is the most epic golf ball machine builder.

Samantha thinks her Granddad is hilarious!

The golf ball machine in action

Breakfast with Nana.  Samantha loves eating her own yogurt

Seriously enjoying time with grandparents.

Also she discovered she knows how to "jump." It's hilarious.

And dinner with Aunt Jo-Ann and Pop-Pop :)

Loved hanging out with my family a little!

Labor Day- Date Weekend

On Labor Day weekend we headed to Long Island for some family time and some free babysitting (love you Nana and Granddad!).  First up on Saturday was the US Open.  We've been almost every year since we've been married, and I really missed going last year when I was breastfeeding.  So it was super exciting to be back at the US Open- there's just something about watching it in person with the NY crowd.  And Andrew and I always fill out brackets to compete against each other so we feel like we care about each and every match.  So fun and such good tennis!  And this year we got to attend with Steve and his son and Vasanta.  Loved going with tennis loving friends!

View of the tennis center after exiting the subway.  What a perfect day for tennis!

Before the tennis started, we attended a breakfast.  Besides delicious food, we got to meet Luke Jensen and Tracy Austin.  It was so cool to chat with them and hear Tracy's take on playing tennis and the tournament this year.  We also got to play a tennis trivia game, and Andrew, of course, got the hardest question right and won a us open towel, hat, and key chain.  

Vasanta with Tracy and Luke.

Nishikori vs. Mayer.  So fun to see Nishikori play and then watch him go all the way to the finals.

With the husband.

Me and Vasanta

Djokovic vs. Querry on Ashe.  Wish it had been a closer match.

Watching Serene on Ashe.

And then our favorite place to watch tennis- grandstand.  Tsonga vs. Carreno Busta.

And the Bryan Brothers on Grandstand.

What an awesome day of tennis!  Andrew and I ended it with xiao long bao at Joe Shanghai.  Yum.

And then on Sunday, we had another awesome date in the city.  While Samantha hung out with Nana and Granddad we headed to the city to see a Broadway show for our anniversary.  We went to a Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, this year's tony winner for Best Musical.  It was hilarious and so fun to see a show together.  We also had a wonderful dinner afterward but forgot to snap a picture.  Too busy enjoying the date day (thanks Nana and Granddad!)

Manna Family Dinner

The last weekend in August, we had the opportunity to have a bunch of Manna friends over.  All of these friends used to live in Princeton and all have since left, and it has been so long since we've seen many of them.  It was amazing to get them all in one place, and while the chaos of all the kids running around certainly added another dimension to the gathering, it was wonderful to catch up with old friends!

Samantha adopted Andrew as a big brother right after he arrived.  

The Reverends in person!  Can't believe we had David and Blake both back and in the same place, and we got to see them!

And Reg was here!  All the way from Rwanda!

Toy party.

Caleb and Samantha checking out the grilling!

S was a little skeptical about sharing her shopping cart with Bennett.

Reading time.  S is glad she has Reg all to herself.

Regina and all the Altmans.

All the kids: Caleb (19 months), Samantha (19 months), Matthan (9 months), Eden (4), Annie (5), Bennett (17 months), Andrew (7), Hannah (3 months). 

Manna friends come back and see us again!