Quack Quack

Daddy wore Samantha out and vice versa. He walked her to the park THREE times to swing and slide and run. She enjoyed herself so much that she zonked out and took a long afternoon nap.

She's so funny. When I left for work this morning, I leaned over to give her a kiss and she put her breakfast down to give me her attention :)

As Sammie was pulling out all of her toys with Daddy (while I was at work), she came across a duck and said "quack quack" but he didn't tell me about it. While Daddy was out getting dinner, Sammie said "duck" then went on to quack with me. I'm so happy she finally picked up on how to say "duck" and "quack". She is really learning so much! Of course she repeated herself in the bath. She also added "pirate" and "butt", but wouldn't repeat it again.
Other words she is saying: dad, dog, baby, elephant, Sam (Saa), sock, kiss (some times will kiss), Ali, cat, that, mama, baba,
Although she may not be able to say words for everything, she sure does understand almost everything you tell her!

Cat For A Day

Daddy put Samantha in her new kitty cat sweatshirt that has kitty ears on the hood. When I got home from work and gave Ali her treats, Sammie crawled over to one and ate it up. Meow!

 Brian and Melisa brought over a Christmas present for Sams and she loves her new Moo Cow pillow pet. It's so soft! She was very sweet and gave them hugs and kisses to say thank you.

Wheelin' and Dealin'

Daddy brought in Grandma's old/Sammie's new doll carriage. She had a good time rolling her dolls around the living room and taking care of them. Daddy bundled them all in the carriage with a nice warm blankie while Sammie fed them a ba-ba. She is such a sweet care taker!

 Daddy, Sammie and I went to South Austin to get some lunch and dropped by to see Cousin Nicole at her brand new store Rocket Electrics. Her and John are selling/renting electric bikes that are powered by battery. They are so much fun to ride! Sammie had a MAJOR BLAST playing with Fleck Dog- giving him pets and treats and getting kisses in return-, running around the store, getting into the merchandise and showing it off. She even tried picking up on business conversation. Smarty pants!

Daddy, I think I want the blue one!

...Actually, I'll take the orange one.

... and don't forget, gotta wear a helmet!! How cute do I look?

This is where Sammie sat while John was talking business with a friend/customer... and she listened so seriously as if she was really picking up some good information.

These bikes can ride forever when fully charged.

Swingin'

Not much action today, the weather was nice, so we got to go for a walk and then go over to G-ma's and play outside.  Grandpa Wells got Nate and Sammie a new swing for Christmas and Sammie Loves it!

Daddy

Priceless :)

Sammie and Nate in the hammock at Grandma's

A Brees-y Day

Mommy was off work today so we all hung out and played at the park. Sammie loves going down the slide head first! Daddy has also taught her to kick her legs while she is swinging.

Daddy made his very own marinara sauce and I gave in and let Sammie completely feed self. I usually don't for something so messy, probably because she won't keep a bib on, but tonight she somehow kept on her ' Little Saints fan' bib. Daddy says it's because she didn't want to mess up her Saints tee. She loved Daddy's marinara and enjoyed the dessert Mommy prepared for her too.

That was de-lish!

It is Monday Night football and the Saints were playing the Falcons for the Divisional Championship. It was also Drew Brees' shot to beat the passing record, which he did: 5,087 yards passed in one season. Congrats, Drew B! Needless to say, Sammie sported all of her Saints gear... all day.

Who Dat

Hut-Hut

Calm down, Ali. The game is starting!

Merry Christmas!

Santa came last night! The deer bait worked!... and he left presents under the tree!

Sammie got a wooden kitchen, a baby doll, LOTS of books, a rain stick, crayons, bubbles, forks, and some blocks from Jenn and Jerremy. Sammie loves playing with all her new toys..... especially her baby, she even "baby sat", literally, at nap time.
Samantha was so funny unwrapping her presents: Since she had gotten the hang of tearing off the paper, every time she tore off a piece she would hand it to me. Although it took awhile, we got everything unwrapped. However, when we got to the last gift- the Baby- Daddy had to snuggle her tight because Mommy could not open that package fast enough! Dern twist ties and heavy tape!

*All of opening presents is on video. Daddy got her when she walked into the living room to see the tree lit up and full.*

Daddy! Santa brought me a baby! Look!

I love my baby! Thank you Santa!

Washing my hands.

In the evening, we went to Grandma and Grandpa Wells' and opened more presents and ate dinner. Sammie enjoyed playing with Nate and getting into mischief around the house.

Mommy. Daddy. I don't wanna take any more pictures.

Merry Christmas, Love Sammie and Nate!

As for Samantha's cold: She seems all better. We have had 2 full nights of sleep (besides her waking up to random house noises early in the night) and her sniffles and snot have disappeared. Yeah! We are so very thankful!

Merry Christmas Eve

Saturday, December 24, 2011

It was a nasty cold and rainy day, therefore a nice day to stay in and hang out.
This evening before bath, we went outside to put out some reindeer food to help guide Santa and his gang to our house.

We started in the front yard and wound up at the front door.

A special Elf had come and left Sammie a package under the tree. After bath, she tore it open, handing me each torn piece of paper, and found a new pair of pink Saints jammies! This elf must have sent this package from New Orleans! ;)

We better get to bed so Santa can come visit while we're all snug in bed.

Snow White's Apple

Sammie hung out with The Grans and Cousin Naters while Daddy did some Christmas shopping today. They may have worn her out cause she went to sleep quick tonight (and with no meds too) :)

When I got home from work we were all hanging out in the kitchen, I plopped Sammie on the island and she leaned over to grab an apple. Of course, I let her play with it- no harm, right? Well, she stuck it in her mouth and took a big bite! Well, I may as well let her finish... So I washed it and gave it back. She tore through the skin like a champ, but sometimes a piece of skin would get stuck in her throat so Daddy peeled it. She continued to gnaw on that apple throughout dinner and after. She did a really good job tearing it up!
I bet it felt good on her teeth and gums.

Here you go, Snow White. A nice juicy apple.

Sorry, Sams, we're not letting a Prince Charming in.

Cookin' Up Somethin'

Daddy and Sammie caused a ruckus today- Mostly Sammie! Daddy called and said that she totally destroyed her bedroom, pulling everything out! Boy, did she!

It was a beautiful day, so Daddy and Sammie went for a walk and played at the playground and ran in the fields. I hope he wore her out and she sleeps well tonight. (She did go down like a charm. Let's hope she stays asleep all night.)

Mommy wanted a boring dinner, but Daddy wanted to be a chef and of course, Sammie wanted to be a chef too. She did a very good job mixing up some apples and biscuit dough. Oh Sammie... how adorable and smart you are and Oh how we LOVE YOU!

Big Gulp!

Mommy brought home one of her big water cups from work yesterday and Samantha LOVES drinking from the straw. It was so funny seeing how big the cup is in comparison to her head and she just holds on to it walking and drinking all through the house!

Sluuurp!

 

 Sammie spent a good bit of her day playing with Ali. It was hilarious: in the morning they chased each other through the tunnel, in the evening Sammie petted Ali and tried to give her sips from Mommy's water cup, then Ali came to visit Sams in the tub and smelled her feet after bath. She even came back for 2 more visits during jammie time and during bottle. Sammie just did her cat's meow, "Ahhhhhhhhh".

I'll share with you, Ali!

As for her congestion: She woke up during the night again, but Daddy went in and rubbed her back for about a half hour to calm her and she eventually fell asleep. I tried a different technique tonight with her meds, suctioning her nose and giving saline spray. She is such a champ when it comes to getting well. I know she is ready to beat this cold! We are glad to see that she was having a good day, overall.
Tonight before bath, as I was waiting for the tub to fill, she had ripped some toilet paper off the roll. Instead of correcting her not to touch the tissue, I let it go, only to find out that she was using it to blow/wipe her nose and then she tossed it into the trash :)

Sammie will now cheese for the camera, share her snacks with you (a lot), and only a couple times today when you ask what Santa says, she will say "Ho Ho Ho".

Sunshine After The Storm

Another sleepless night. What more can I say. I tried to get her to sleep from 3:45 until about 4:30/4:45 then I put her in the crib and left. That's when the hysterics started. We let her cry until she fell asleep around 5:15. Come on congestion and teeth!! Enough already!! Well, when she woke up this morning she was in such a sun shiny mood! She was ready to take on the day.

Let's ride, Daddy-O!

As for Sammie and her snotty nose: She can actually blow her nose. She has done this with previous runny noses, but this time snot actually comes out! I asked Daddy to bulb her nose before bed (hopefully that will help), so he used the big bulb and we let Sammie hold on to the little one. While Daddy was working, Sammie would hold her head up to him like she was helping with the angle. When he was done, Sammie tried sticking the little bulb up her nose. She must really want that snot out! :)

Daddy and Sammie went to Grandma's today and got to play with Cousin Naters. We hope he's feeling better.

I taught Sammie to lie on her belly in the bath and kick her legs like a frog and she had such a blast splashing water all over. I was so happy to see her so giggly and energetic! When I told her to swim like a frog, she looked all around for her frog bath toy and snatched it up- hee hee hee
She also lined up her duckies on the tub :)

Little yellow duck is my favorite

Up All Night!

Sammie had a rough night last night, she was very congested and couldn't stay asleep.  Mommy picked her up from the crib at about 4am and wasn't able to get her to go back to sleep so Sammie and Mommy came to back to our bed and tried to rest there.  Well, about 5:30 I took Sammie to the couch and we slept until about 7 am...I came back to bed right after only to get back up at 8 to help Mommy get ready for work.  We were tired but Sammie seems to be much better after naps and a full day of play.  We are ready to get back into spring weather and even more ready to get these teeth passed the 'cutting in' stage.

Daddy

Feeling icky with crazy bedhead :/

 
Sammie is learning body parts and is doing a great job...she knows several including teeth but I am trying to get her to respond to 'Let me see your Grill' for teeth a la Nelly.  It would be even better if she could respond 'You wanna see my what!?' but that will have to come later.

Merry Rx-mas

It was the cutest thing I caught in the monitor this morning! Sammie picked up her Baby, hugged her, threw her down and patted her bottom. I thought about videoing it, but I was more than half asleep. Once I got her out of her crib, she was so alert and intelligent, as always. She pointed out all of her parts when I asked where: hair, eyes, nose, hand, feet and even teeth. The funny thing about "feet" is that I always kiss her feet, so when I asked where she lifted them up and gave a smooch- ha ha ha!
Before turning on the Christmas tree lights, I asked her if she wanted Mommy to turn on the lights and she gave a huge head nod. It was awesome!!
She also said "Baby" which kind of sounds like Ba-Ba (bottle) but there is a slight difference.

This evening we celebrated Christmas with the Pharmacy at Kathy's house. Although it was late, Sammie found so much energy and looked for things to get in to. She loved playing with Ella petting a ceramic kitty cat by the front door and ripping open presents. Mrs. Kathy even got Sammie her very own Elmo singing stocking.

Hugs and Kisses Ella

Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree...

Rub A Dub

Poor Cousin Naters is sick and we are hoping he gets better soon and that Sammie hasn't caught whatever it is. Luckily, no signs of anything but a runny nose and cutting teeth. Poor thing was up again at 3am and took a looooong nap- we had to wake her up because it was getting way passed lunch time. She was in a strange mood today: clingy, yet still wild and cool and I love when she wants to be held.
She was so funny in the bath. She's figured out that if you push on the toilet handle something happens, so I don't let her flush. Last thing we need is her to start flushing things! She also tried climbing out of the tub with a bucket on her head. All her doing! What a silly girl!

Hmm... flush!?

Rub-a-dub-dub Sammie's climbin' out the tub!

We tried taking her picture for our Christmas card today, but things didn't go so well. She was all over the place and was getting annoyed at us. Guess we'll have to try again tomorrow, but I sure am cutting it close seeing as I am making them!

A slight preview

Saints Snowman

Need I say more?

Happy Cousins :0)

Gourmet Eater

Daddy fixes the most delicious meals for us! I enjoyed it so much that I rubbed it all over my face and hair! xoxo, Sammie

Sammie and her spinach alfredo facial :)

Mommy loves when Sammie is in a good mood when she gets home from work!

Jingle (Today I am 14 Months)

Aunt Trish sent Samantha a cute story book and puppy dog named "Jingle". When you read the story the dog comes to life and barks at key phrases. Sammie loved Jingle when she saw him, but wasn't quite sure what to do when he started barking. She just doesn't get it yet... but when she does, she'll be in love with him!
Thank you Aunt Trish!

"Jingle loves to sing"

Twinkle*Twinkle

We decorated the Christmas tree last night so Sammie got to watch it light up this morning. She just stood there and looked at it, then she sat in my lap and we stared at it some more.
Since it was a yucky day, Daddy and Sammie stayed in and Grandma came to visit. Daddy sure had his hands full because when I got home, the tree was a mess and the kitchen table was full of ornaments! And I thought Ali was going to be our problem!

Facebook post of the day- 
"Thinks having decorations only on the top half of the tree is awkward but necessary. Coming home to 10 ornaments on the kitchen table (1 broken), thrown around tree skirt, and pine needles all over explains it all!"

Ooooo's and Ahhhhh's

Riding a no horse sleigh.

Tunnel Vision

Samantha loves crawling through her tunnel and chasing Ali. It was a good laugh because we haven't had it out in months.

Star Light. Star Bright.

We had brunch this morning with Mike, Lori and Nate since they are going to Indiana for the holidays. Sammie had fun playing at the kids' play table and more fun opening up presents. This was her first time opening up Christmas presents by herself.

What, Mama, just rip right here?

One of Santa's elves got Sammie a new pair of cute slippers, but the elf couldn't wait until Christmas to give them to her, so She dropped them off today for Sammie to wear... What? her feet were cold.

Hrmm... What were Maggie and I doing?

 Daddy and I picked out our Christmas tree this evening and although I thought Sammie would have a lot of input, she was more interested in potting soil and the Lowe's cart. I can't wait until she sees it all lit up and decorated! If only Sammie could be our Angel tree topper.

Come see. What about that one, Daddy?

 

Hello?! Ali? The tree's on the roof. Get the  lights, we're on our way.

Star Light!

Elllllephant

Well. Well. Well. Samantha seems back to her good ol' self again! Thank goodness for that! We are happy that she is not suffering from an ear infection and assume it was just her teeth bothering her.
Sammie and I went Christmas shopping with our friends and came home for a nap, then Mommy went out to finish up a little more. Daddy called with some horrible news, which sounded worse than it actually was (I think). Sammie had climbed on her little rocking chair which was pushed towards the tv and she fell onto the corner of the tv stand bumping her head. Daddy said she screamed, but didn't do much crying, but once he calmed her down he saw that the scratch on her head was bleeding. What a trooper.

Samantha has learned how to say "elephant" (her own way) and it is too funny when she sticks her tongue out!

Head First

Friday, December 9, 2011

Sammie went to the playground with Grandma, Grandpa, Cousin Naters and Ms. Mary, too. She went down the slide all by herself and head first nonetheless! I wish I would have seen that!

Sams likes to try and do tumbles at home.

Mommy and Daddy went out for a Christmas party and the Grans watched Samantha. She was so sweet putting all her baby dolls in Grandpa's lap.

Welcome Baby Elle! Congratulations Rebecca, Jeff and Big Brother Noah!