New pj's

These are some new summertime pajama's that I bought Sammy last week. Grumpa couldn't believe that I would spend money on something that came with a tutu. I couldn't believe that Grumpa would want to see Sammy as anything else but a Ballerina Princess!

Friday nights

Mommy took this picture of Sammy last Friday night while they were waiting for their Starbucks order. Mommy entitled the photo, "Trouble". I think Mommy is right. It also looks like Sammy has as much hair as an egg!

Cocktail hour

Sammy is drinking Welches Apple Juice and Grumpa is drinking Grape Juice. By Kendall Jackson.

All tuckered out

Mommy took Sammy shopping yesterday and by the looks of it, Sammy needed her nap...she just needed to zzzzzz....................

Kids, these days...

This little cup that Sammy has is a great invention. The snack inside the cup is another great invention. Why, in my day.......ok, enough. The cup allows toddlers to put their hand into it, pick up a snack and pull it out to eat, all without spilling anything. Sammy can snack on her Sweet Potato Puffs, Cherry Puffs or Banana Puffs anytime she wants. And because at her age she understands that grinding said puffs into the carpet makes Mimi wince, she leaves a trail for the dogs. They love them, too.

Come hither

Seriously, Sammy? Aren't you a little young for this pose?

Duck!

This spring we've had a pair of ducks taking over our front area. I don't mind them so much, but they are messing up the area in our water feature next to our door. They are tearing up plants, eating some of it and leaving the rest for me to pick up later. Much like teenagers. I've named them Ricky and Lucy. They take long naps on our grass before waddling over to the pond. Here Sammy and Daddy discover Ricky on top of the boulder. Sammy was VERY. EXCITED. IF. YOU. KNOW. WHAT. I. MEAN.

It's Official!

Hi Uncle Kyle and Hi to my official brand new auntie today! HI AUNTIE SHEENA!!! I love you and want cousins.

And Happy Birthday Grampa Ed!

Practice Makes Perfect

I have been practicing with Sammy on standing up and holding on to something with only one hand. Wait. Let me rephrase that. Sammy has been practicing standing not me. I got that one down! Anyway, each time she does it and I make a total fool of myself praising her, she gets this very knowing smirk on her face. I'm sure she's thinking to herself, "If you people even knew how I run around the place at night while you're sleeping, you'd have kittens!"

Pineapple Express

The other day I took Sammy with me to Gymboree (aka the Devil Store) to get her a wide brimmed sun hat for this summer's walks around the neighborhood. While we were there and trying on the latest fashions, I spied some sunglasses that looked like they would fit. They did and she loved them....then. Now it's hard to keep them on her without her pulling them off and trying to lick them, bend them, crawl with them, you name it. But for now, we'll keep trying to keep them on her face while out cavorting.

Sshhh....my baby is sleeping

One of the biggest helps we had during the move over the weekend was Auntie Kenna coming over to watch Sammy while we all played dray horses. At one point, it became very quiet and I went to find where the two of them were. Here is a great shot of both of them taking a little snappy nap.

8 Seconds

Ride 'em cowboy! This is another piece of Mommy's childhood that Sammy now has. Nana and Grampa Ed were very good at saving these precious pieces for the future grandchildren. Nana should post some memories here about Mommy's experience with Horsey. And Sammy should really hold on with two hands for the time being...

Uh oh, someone's in trouble

This looks like Grumpa is sitting in the time out corner with company. Actually, this little chair was Mommy's when she was a little girl.

Do Not Pet the Animals

This is Sammy's very own private petting zoo. We'll let Uncle Dave explain what a Jackalope is, though.

Fortune Cookie

"When loved unconditionally, good fortune comes your way."

Lucky numbers are: 4, 1, 21, 8

Groan...

Sammy is outstanding in her field!

Stabelization

Daddy put Sammy on the floor and let her try to stand all by herself. It worked for about .03 nano seconds. Grumpa said that her center of gravity was off because of her diaper.

Handyman

Sammy has been such a big help to all of us over at the new house. But we are getting tired of helping her off and onto the ladders. She fits into the small spaces that we can't so we use her to fix things in cupboards and such. But that first ladder step is a doozy.

Where's the beef?!

Seriously, sometimes this blog just writes itself.....

Bubblehead not Bobblehead

Here you go...the standard bath tub shot. You can almost see Sammy's thoughts of, "Daddy, seriously? Take the stupid bubbles off of my head!"

Go figure...

Now we know how Mr. Potato Head got started.....

Happy Mother's Day 2009!

My original thought for this photo today was something along the lines of some really cute POSED shots of Mommy and Sammy together. Dressed for their photo shoot. I had planned on taking some snaps of their faces close together smiling at each other. Cute as buttons. But then, yesterday while we were winding down from cleaning the new house all day, Sammy was so tired and ready for her nap, she just needed to be held by Mommy. This is what Mother's Day is all about. Sammy doesn't care that Mommy is in filthy clothes and that she's tired. Sammy just wanted to be held in loving arms while she fell asleep. Mommy certainly doesn't care that Sammy is in a messy food stained shirt. She loves her little one and would hold her wearing anything. So, here, for Mother's Day is a picture of a new Mommy and her Baby, quietly holding on to each other in love.

I'd like to wish Auntie Lynn a Happy Birthday today!

And to the Original Mimi...Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I miss you.

We're moving!

Well, actually, they're not moving in the picture, but they're moving to a new house. We've been cleaning up the new house getting it ready to relocate their belongings and furniture next week. And Sammy has been an absolute doll baby being so good while we clean and scrub away. She loves how it is so echo-y right now in the rooms. She burbles away all day long. The only thing that isn't good is that her naps are suffering. Mommy and I could nap easily but then who would shampoo that one room over there?

Baby's Got Her Blue Jeans On

Down on the corner, by the traffic light,
everybody's lookin', as she goes by,
they turn their heads and they, watch her till she's gone.
Lord have mercy, Baby's got her blue jeans on!
Up by the bus stop, and across the street,
open up their windows, to take a peek,
while she goes walking, rockin' like a rollin' stone.
Heaven help us, baby's got her blue jeans on!

She can't help it if she's made that way,
she's not to blame if they look her way,
she ain't really tryin' to cause a scene,
it just comes naturally, nah , the girl can't help it.
Well up on main street, by the taxi stand,
there's a crowd of people, and a traffic jam,
she don't look back, she ain't doin' nothing' wrong,
Lord have mercy, baby's got her blue jeans on!
She can't help it if she's made that way,
she's not to blame if they look her way,
she ain't really tryin' to cause a scene,
it just comes naturally, aw, the girl can't help it.

Down on the corner, by the traffic light,
everybody's lookin', as she goes by,
they turn their heads and they, watch her till she's gone.
Lord have mercy, Baby's got her blue jeans on!
Heaven help us, baby's got her blue jeans on!

--Mel McDaniels

Here's a link to this song: http://artists.letssingit.com/mel-mcdaniel-lyrics-babys-got-her-blue-jeans-on-hjnbjnd

Ribs!

Sammy got her first taste of BBQ ribs the other day. Mommy picked off all of the larger pieces that Sammy wouldn't be able to chew, and gave her the mostly cleaned off bone. DROOL! That baby loved it! Which is a good thing because we love us some pig around here....

Time flies

Yes, Sammy, I can't believe that you're one year old now. And so close to walking and more talking. Pretty soon you'll be saying Uh-oh, or No, or Can I have the keys to the car, Daddy?

Barrettes!

On the top of Sammy's head her hair is long enough but certainly not thick enough to hold a barrette. I managed to distract her long enough with other barrettes to place one in her hair the other day. It didn't bother her at all; she wasn't even aware that she had something in her hair. But that hair! Thin, thin, thin......the barrettes don't stay in very well or very long. I told Mommy that when she puts one on Sammy's head, she may have to use hairspray. Or gorilla glue. Or staples.

Hey Moon Doggie!

Mommy wanted some pictures of Sammy in this little outfit for a certain surfer in the family....happy to oblige!

Sunhat

Yes, Mommy finally got Sammy to keep her brand new sun hat on during the last half of the party. Here she is complete with chocolate frosting still on her face. But at least, it's not a sunburnt face!

The Princess and her Consort

This is the new red wagon we got Sammy for her birthday. She and Declan had their very first joy ride together.

Birthday party, part 4

Here are the best pictures of the day:

Before the cake

During the cake

After the cake