I guess all the walking has gone to his head

We just took Sam in for his 1 year appointment.
His current stats are:
Weight: 23 lb 7 oz = 60%
Height: 30.25 in = 70%
Head Circumference: 48 cm = 90%

New post, old news

Since we are storing all of Sam's records in this virtual baby book, I thought we would put his baptism service online >>here<<.

Sam on his baptism day - October 20, 2007
with his Parents and Godparents Justin and Alex

A Good Belly Laugh

Sam and I shared a good laugh last night as he practiced using a spoon. At the end of his meal he was enjoying a few bites of cottage cheese and became particularly interested in how I was dipping the spoon into the bowl to get more. He was assisting me in maneuvering the spoon into his mouth, or doing it on his own. Then he wanted to help get more cottage cheese on the spoon. He enjoyed it so much, he kept doing it even when he wasn't hungry and just spit the cottage cheese out once he got it in. On one try to make it from the bowl to his mouth himself he accidentally flicked the spoon a little and a big glob of cottage cheese landed on his nose. We looked at each other and had a good laugh about that. Messy dinners can be fun!
-Christine

PS Hi to Sara who is reading this in N.M. Give us a call sometime.

Happy Birthday Mr. Peanut!!

Today is a birthday, we wonder for whom
We know it's for someone who's right in this room
So look around you for somebody who
Is smiling and happy, my goodness it's you!
Happy Birthday, Samuel, from all of us to you
Happy Birthday, Samuel, from mommy and daddy too
We congratulate you, and pray good luck follows you
Happy Birthday, Samuel, may all of your good dreams come true
Boop boop!

It's hard to believe that Sam has been in our life for one year. He is such a blessing to us and we feel so lucky to have his smile in our lives. We greatly look forward to the new adventures that lie ahead!

For his birthday, Sam got his own little carrot cake to do with what he would.



As it turns out, he took one swipe at the frosting and got upset at frosting sticking to his hand and didn't want to have anything to do with it. Later on, though, he did give in and eat a few bites from mom and dad's cake.

What's mine is yours

Sam is big into giving things to people these days. He picks up a toy, thrusts out his hand and arm at you, and hands it over. If you aren't looking, he patiently waits, arm extended. until you take it. If you aren't taking it, sometimes he just puts it down near you so you can have it for later. So cute!
-Christine

Messy eaters!

Sam says hello to his fans

"Baw bao baw bah ... gah guh guh guh ... baw ooh oh oh ooooo ... guh kuh kuh kah kah guh guh."
-Sam

Food prep zone

Sam felt the need to put his food on his water cup before every bite this evening. He is such a great eater these days...every thing from sloppy joe's to curried chick peas! Yum!

First Steps!

Sam just took his first three steps in a row this morning. How exciting! Pretty soon he'll be walking all over - it's obvious he wants to.
-Christine

Bathtime!

Piano lessons

Family!

So precious

There are moments when Sam is playing around me (maybe he's picking up a toy and standing up with it or using the pincer grasp to get his Cheerios or flashing me a grin) when I am inundated with just how precious he is. His little nose, his mouth, his miniature fingers, his wiggly toes, his eyes, his little ears...everything about him is just so precious. It's a feeling of cute, adorable, cuddly, darling, pure and lovable all rolled up into one.
-Christine

All I Want for Christmas...

...is my two front teeth. Sam is getting his two front teeth in but they haven't quite made it all the way through the gums. While he is still in cheery moods, it seems it does pain him at night so we're really hoping that for Christmas he gets his two front teeth!

Grandpa and Sam

Grandpa came for a short visit and entertained Sam immensely. He thought Sam has hand like an octopus as he was so good at grabbing EVERYTHING. -Dave

Standing up for himself

Sam has been practicing free-standing for the last week or so. He started letting go of what he was holding and standing for a few seconds before sitting down. Gradually he stood for longer and longer, yesterday doing 15 seconds in a row. He's been learning to sit on his knees and control his way up and down a lot more (no more falling quickly to his butt). Just today he stood up from a sitting position for the first time without holding on to anything! So cool to see. He's also taking steps while we hold his hands. Perhaps bipedal locomotion isn't too far away....

Likes and Dislikes

Sam has started to figure out that he likes certain things...and dislikes others. It goes something like this: I like playing with that magazine, I dislike it when you take it away. I like bouncing on the couch, I dislike it when you take me off of it. I like being next to mommy, I dislike it when mommy walks away. I like standing and sitting, I dislike it when I  am on my back for a diaper change. I'm sure he'll continue to let us know what he likes and dislikes...

Family walk at Torrey Pines until sunset

International Baby

At the end of September, Sam got to go to Santiago, Chile with Mom and Dad and visit his aunts, uncles and cousins down there. He fared very well on the plane ride and enjoyed meeting new people. He got to hone his skill of sitting up while there and saw a horse close up for the first time. In the middle of November, Sam got to go to Paris, France with Mom and Dad and visit aunts, uncles and cousins there too! By this trip he was loving solid foods so he ate baguettes (great for teething), crepes and even a little foie gras. He met family on his Mom's side as well as his Dad's cousins and their kids who visited from England. Then it was back home for a quiet Thanksgiving with family in San Diego.

I love pasta!

Thanksgiving with the mommies

Tough travelling

Aunt Karen!

Bouncy boys

Sam and Uncle Rick

Great grandma and Sam

Sam works out on yoga ball in innovative baby training program.

Reclin-o-luggage

Travelling in style

Sam is lounging as he gets wheeled around the airport.

Overwhelmed...

...with Love. This post has been binging around in my head for several days as I enjoy being home and raising Sam. I know it echoes sentiments that Dave feels as well. There are a dozen times a day that I look at Sam or think about Sam and am just overwhelmed by my love for him. He's a sweet, loving, happy, curious, independent, observant, funny, good-natured and adorable little angel and we are so blessed to have the opportunity to be his parents. And yes, even at 3:30am when he cries or at dinner when he doesn't want his veggies, I feel the same. What an incredible and rewarding journey we are on as parents.
-Christine