8 months and feelin' great...well..not so much!

Samuel is 8 months old today...and I can't believe it! Time is flying by and I absolutely love every minute with my big boy. Crazy to think that in 4 months we will be having a big, ole' party! He woke up this morning with 2 white lines on the upper gums so he's been a little out of sorts today. He has a really runny nose with a drool rash all along his lips. Poor little boy! I expect to see two pearly whites within the next day or two.

Samuel has changed a lot in just one month. He seems like such a toddler now...even though I know he isn't. Here are some things about our little 8 month old that I want to remember:

• He is wearing size 2-3 diaper and size 9-12 month clothes
• He is very ticklish...especially under his chin
• He drinks 4 bottles a day, each 6-7 ounces
• He eats three solid meals with one snack a day. He actually likes everything now..even the greens and the weird combos like turkey/rice and chicken/apples.
• He can pick up puffs/yogurt melts with his two fingers and surprisingly put it in his mouth
• He sleeps from 7pm-7 or 7:30am every day and naps from roughly 9-10:30 am and 1:30-3:30 pm
• He has been attending the childcare at the gym and seems to be doing well without mommy
• He is getting up on all fours from tummy time but only rocks a little and then falls back down. The boy loves his tummy so I don't think he is in huge rush to crawl
• He can stand on his own at the ottoman or the leapfrog toy
• He favorite toys are his "links", his octopus, and Scout the dog. He is starting to really enjoy his basketball hoop as well
• He still LOVES bath time but hates to lay down while I wash him. He will just kick his legs like crazy and soak me until I give in and sit him up
• He loves his paci and I pretty much give it to him whenever he wants it. I'll pay the price later
• He screams at the top of his lungs ALOT
• He still isn't babbling at all..only screaming and cooing. I practice "mommy" with him all day but he just stares at me and then screams
• He laughs really hard when you blow on his belly or throw him up in the air
• He flirts with people all of the time. He does this especially at restaurants when the wait staff comes around.
• He is fascinated with the hair dryer. This works out great because he just stares at me while I dry my hair. I hope this stage lasts a while
• He still loves Praise Baby...in fact..we now own 5 videos
• He smiles really big when daddy starts chanting "Husker Power" or "Go Big Red"

What a precious boy God has blessed us with. I try not to take one second for granted with him and I want to soak in every moment. Happy 8 months Samuel...love you to the moon and back...times 100!

Loves His Daddy

These two are just so precious together! I can say that now because Samuel is only 8 months old. Ha! Samuel is completely smitten by his daddy and no one can bring on the giggles and belly laughs like Thad. Every night around 6 they watch Praise Baby together before S goes to bed and this is their time. It is very sweet and calm and just perfect! Trust me, they have their rough housing, boy times too but these are the times I just love to see. I love you Thad, thanks for being a great daddy!

Puffs, Yogurt Melts, and Sippy Cups..Oh My!

Can you say ADDICTION??? This little boy loves his food...especially when he can pick it up off of his tray and eat it like a big boy. This has posed a bit of a problem because the only thing he can seem to get down these days are puffs and yogurt melts. Now I know, he can't survive on that so about every other bite I have to force in a bite of real food. But ohh, is he cute as ever using his fat little fingers to pick up his snacks! Such a big boy and growing WAY TOO FAST!!

He is also figuring out how to use a sippy cup with water. It is hilarious! He has mastered picking it up and getting it in his mouth but hasn't learned to tip it up yet. I also think he likes to use the mouth piece as a teether! I usually have to pry it out of his mouth

Happy New Year

New Year's Eve was quite different this year. We have never been the type to go out and party all night but we usually celebrate with some friends over a game of Trivial Pursuit and a glass of Champagne. This year we decided to get some take out and watch two movies. Let me just say it was FABULOUS!!! We got some food from Central Market and just kicked back and relaxed. I had absolutely no intention of staying up until 12 but our last movie ended at 11:35 so we just turned the TV to NYC New Year's and watched the ball drop. We had a great evening. New Year's Day we just hung out around the house and let Samuel play with all of this new toys and get some rest.

Saturday night we had a babysitter and we met 6 of our friends out for dinner. This is the group that we usually spend New Year's Eve with so we all decided to wait until Saturday night to get a sitter and went out and celebrated. We went to a great restaurant called Bolsa and had amazing food...and company!!

I have given myself some goals for the 2010 year and really hope I can achieve them. They aren't really unrealistic but some will prove challenging thanks to the babe! I hope everyone had a great holiday month and I pray for blessings for the new year!

Christmas 2009

We had a wonderful Christmas vacation! Not only did we have a lot of time with family, but it was our little boy's first Christmas. It was so precious and special and I will remember it forever. We started off our week by visiting the Fayetteville Square to view the lights..and of course let the girls take a ride in the Cinderella carriage. It was pretty cold so we then headed straight over to US Pizza for some good food.

We had a great visit through the first part of the week with family and lots of relaxation for mommy and daddy. Christmas Eve was full of fun. We started off at Grandma Norma's for dinner and a good game of dirty Santa. This was great, as usual and we ended up with two great things...a stainless steel water bottle and a 30 piece Tupperware set! Woo Hoo! We then headed over to Jason and Mer's house for the night and Christmas morning. We had a great time! We bathed Samuel and got him to bed and then just relaxed and hung out.

Looks like Santa came to town!

Thad doing his Daddy Christmas Eve duties!

Oh, how I LOVE Tickle Me Elmo! Thanks mommy and daddy

Samuel with his first stocking!

All of the cousins! Just precious! Amelia and Samuel are only 4 months apart.

All of the loot!

The boys also got these great sport shirts for Christmas from Nana and Papa Schaefer! They were really excited..can you tell?

This present was from Great grandma and grandpa Langston. This is one of Samuel's favorite new toys!

Before we left for Arkansas, we took Samuel to visit Santa Claus at the downtown Neiman's in Dallas. He did so great and had no tears! We then walked over to daddy's office and visited for a while.

"No, son, you cannot be an attorney!"

This was the best shot I could get. Of course, the professional picture that cost $30 is great!

We hope everyone had a blessed Christmas! Ours was one we will never forget thanks to the little 7 month old blonde boy! Christmas is so special when you can view through the eyes of a child. We love you sweet boy...