Lunchtime with Sam

Sam has started trying to eat food with utensils himself. Unfortunately, he doesn't quite have the coordination for it, so lots of food gets lost between the bowl and his mouth. But it is pretty fun to watch. Here is a little video of him trying (he did much better before I started videoing). the second half of the video, Sam was playing peekaboo with himself as I was turning the screen on the video camera so he could see himself, and then not see himself. He thought it was hilarious. Enjoy.

Summer Fun with Jaelyn

Here are Sam and Jaelyn enjoying a little fun on the front porch during a thunderstorm last night. Unfortunately, it didn't end too well for Jaeyln as Sam's love for her sent her spilling. I promise though, no one got hurt!

Sam has some news to share

The above picture will be true as of January 27. That's right, number 2 is on the way. Once again, we will be waiting to find out the gender. One of our favorite parts about waiting last time was hearing everyone's theories on what it was going to be. SO if you have one, send it our way.

Over due Update

Here are some random pictures that we have taken over the last couple of weeks. We have had a busier last few weeks, so sorry we have not been updating as much.

Here is Sam holding Mommy's hand. Sam loves to hold our hands now and take us places. His sense of direction is quite amazing really. He definitely inherited that from both his mom and dad.


Sam continues to be an avid slide enthusiast. Here are Sam and daddy on one of the faster slides that he has been on at Grant Park.

Sam never really had that one item that he was attached to. He didn't have a blanket, stuffed animal, or anything else that served as his security blanket. However, we believe that the stroller is beginning to serve in that roll. When we drop him off at the YMCA, he often just sits in the stroller as we work out. At the park, he will often just push the stroller around instead of playing on the playground. It is pretty funny when someone see the stroller moving, but no one pushing it. On several occasions people have been really surprised by a moving stroller.


Here is Sam showing off his new hairdo, thanks Tramels, and his new toy. Since Sam and I have been riding MARTA this summer, Sam has started noticing buses more and more as we drive. It is pretty funny, as we are driving or walking down the road, if a bus passes us, Sam will get really excited, point, and scream something at the bus. So, I decided to get him a bus for the house. He is also showing that off as well.


Finally, here is Sam in one of my favorite poses. Sam will often throw balls or other objects that will go under the TV stand, couch, or chair. He then puts his arms up in the air like below and says something resembling "where." It is really cute.

Euro 2008

Sam and I watched the final of Euro 2008 today after his nap. It was a good father son bonding time. I especially enjoyed Sam's commentary during the last part of the second half. Here is an unedited sampling of his commentary on the game:

Fridays with Sam

For the summer, I have been taking Fridays off and hanging out with Sam all day. With his nap moving to the afternoon now, we have all morning to go and play. I decided that each Friday Sam and I would go somewhere different on MARTA. I decided this because 1) I love to ride MARTA and it was a good excuse to do it (plus gas is incredibly expensive) and 2) Sam is starting to get old enough to where he catches on to things. He may not remember the trips we take, but he is starting to recognize and get excited for MARTA buses and trains!! We have gone to Centennial Park, a Chick-Fil-A playground/Target to get a soccer ball/lunch downtown, and to a playground in the next neighborhood over/visit former DOOR staff/had lunch with mom on our three Fridays out.

I have really enjoyed our times together as well. Certainly the things that we have done, we could have done in less time if we have driven. But the bus ride gives Sam and I time to play, cuddle, read, and look out the window together as we ride by places. I have really enjoyed being able to interact with Sam during our trips and not missing out on that time of interaction because I am driving. It also has been special to me because as I have been taking Sam places on the train, I realized that one of my fondest memories of childhood with my dad is the times that he took me and my brother into Philly and other places on the train. I can recall vividly the times that we went to the car show, Harrisburg to visit Uncle Don, the Franklin Institute, sporting events, and even to shop occasionally.

I know that Sam is too little to have memories of our journeys together this summer. But I am not, and I will cherish the moments that Sam and I have gotten together this summer for a long time. And I have a renewed appreciation for what my Dad did with us. It wasn't a choice for him because he couldn't drive, but I appreciated it none the less.

PS. If you have any suggestions of what Sam and I could do on the bus & train together, places to go visit, let me know. We are three weeks in, and I am running out of ideas that are 1) free, and 2) close to a train station. It'd be fun to hear some suggestions of places we might go.

Swimming

Katie and Sam have been taking swim lessons at the YMCA in our neighborhood for the past 4 weeks. Sam already loved the water before the lessons, but he definitely is a huge fan of it since the lessons. Here is a video (sorry for the delay Grammy) of Sam in the water. Sorry we couldn't get him saying pool on video, but he says it now in his own language: pppaahhh, pppaahhh, pppaahhh. Enjoy the video!