Lets Get Movin

January 30, 2010

This is one busy little girl. Just like her Daddy, Samantha can’t sit still for 2 minutes.

For Christmas Samantha got a push walker and has put it to some good use. Trust me, she loves it so much that I have all the songs memorized. The other night I thought, just for fun, lets see if Sam will walk behind it. And on her first try she took off like Speedy Gonzales! She loved it so much, she made 4 laps up and down the room. Now Sam LOVES walking with her walker and can do it all alone with no help from mom or dad.

Look at her, she is SOOO happy!!

But of course, she still needs a bit more practice before she becomes an Olympic Champion....

I am so proud of our Sammy, she has grown so soooo much. Here are a few things she learned just in the last 2 weeks:

• Started calling Dusty "Da" “Da-da” or “Da-de”
• How to SLEEP THROUGH THE NIGHT!!! One night she slept 13 hours without a single peep!!! MIRACLE!! (As most of you know until 8 months old Samantha would wake on average 2-3 times a night, for no reason other than to torture her poor sleep deprived mother.)
• Wave “Bye Bye”
• Windshield Wiper Hands on the food tray – throwing everything to the floor. Mom’s favorite (NOT!) and the reason why I now sweep twice a day.
  
• “No No No” Head flailing – she does this when she doesn't want to eat anymore
• How to climb stairs (including one terribly sad fall, luckily only two steps high)
• Give kisses (but only on a good day)
• How to “sit”
• To pull a towel over her face when she wants to play peek-a-boo

We have been so blessed with this happy girl, she is ALWAYS smiling, even when she's sick. I love watching her learn new things every day.

SIT

Little Ashley Muggins

Can you say sit?

Little Helper

Come on over, Samantha is making breakfast..... yogurt and cauliflower

YUM!

Such a helpful girl!

Good Bye 2009!

Tuesday, January 2, 2010

I know I'm a little late on the Christmas post but it was a busy season!

This year we spent Christmas with family in Texas, and it.... was.... WONDERFUL! It was warm, sunny, amazing home cooked food, and we had plenty of things to do. Samantha and I flew home 2 weeks early to spend some extra time with my mom and my sisters. And you can bet your little squishy tushie I was NOT missing this....

Nope, I also didn't miss the 2-3 feet of snow that hit Grand Forks on Christmas day. No no, I was too busy wearing flip flops with no jacket, ridding with the windows down. It was so much fun seeing my mom and shopping with my sisters. I got some much needed girl time. Samantha had a blast playing with cousins, they were all so sweet and excited to meet her. She also met plenty of new friends including my mom's cat, Cooper, my mom's dog, Nestle and a few others.

Such a sweet kitty, Samantha pulled on his ears and whiskers and he didn't mind.
She followed him all over the house.

Dusty was very vocal over wanting a white Christmas, and I think Santa heard because Texas got a white Christmas for the first time in 20 years!

We spent Christmas Eve at the Butlers with all their traditions that I'm no good at.... singing songs. But even though I'm no good at singing it was still lots of fun and very special. I love standing around the piano while Grandma Butler plays Christmas songs and seeing the little kids run and dance. Its a little crazy but I've never seen Samantha have so much fun. Maybe I'll have to learn the piano so we can keep that tradition in our home.

Samantha with her Butler cousins.
They love her to death! She prefers love from a distance.

Christmas Day was at the Borton's with the yummiest meal I've ever tasted. The thing I miss the most is my mom's home cooking. Which, I might have gotten alittle carried away this Christmas and eaten WAY too many Christmas treats. We played games and just had fun. I LOVE spending time with my family!! Its my favorite place to be at Christmas time. And my nephews are so kind to Sam, she loves playing with them.

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Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of my nephews, they were too busy doing noisy boy stuff.

Samantha with her favorite cousin, Ashley aka "Muggins" And yes, she's eating a shoe, no idea what Muggin is doing, that's why she's a Muggin.

Sam also LOVES her cousin Sarah, but don't have any photos of them together...... maybe Amy can send me some........... because she "reads" my blog.

And of course, Christmas Day. Look what Santa brought...

Look what Santa brought Dusty.... which he later returned. Apparently it wasn't "powerful" enough. I'm a girl, like I know how to buy nerf guns!

Guess who lives at Grandma Butler's.... my Lynus. He loves it there and they spoil him rotten. Can you believe he didn't remember me when he saw me, the shame! Of course he remembered Dusty. Mira went to a new home, and lost 10 pounds. Apparently I was making her fat, too much cheddar popcorn. I miss her terribly but she is incredibly happy and has a great home.