Thanksgiving

We have so much to be thankful for this year. We have our beautiful baby boy Sam, he has been such a blessing and each day he fills our life with joy and happiness. We also have wonderful families and friends whom we wouldn't have made it through this last year without. Thank you Mom and Dad for coming out to stay with us for so long after Sam was born. Thank you Don and Jinny for your hours spent helping Dan with the house. Let's not forget our lovely home that is new to us this year and the wonderful neighborhood we moved into, Dan and I have jobs we don't mind going to each day.

This year we spent Thanksgiving with Dan's parents and our good friend Amy, we had a wonderful dinner and great company for Sam's first Thanksgiving. We started our day with an "out of this world" breakfast for Dan and myself and then the 3 of us plopped down in front of the TV to watch some of the Macy's Day Parade. Once we got dinner in the oven we tore through the "Black Friday" ads and started making a shopping list for the following day. Jinny and I got an early start (nothing crazy - we left the house at 8am) we were able to get everything we were looking for and Sam slept through most of it. I think he will do just fine as a shopping buddy, he doesn't give much lip. I have already started the training.

Sam with his Mom, Dad, Grandpa Don and Grandma Jinny on Thanksgiving.

A happy family with a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving.

Sam hanging with Amy Foley on Thanksgiving.

We look forward to spending Sam's first Christmas in Arizona with his Grandma and Grandpa - Just a few weeks left!!! Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, let the AZ visit countdown begin.

Welcome Home Uncle Jay.T

My brother surprised us with an earlier than expected return from his latest tour of duty in Iraq. We are so happy to know he is home (Virginia Beach), safe and sound. We are getting anxious to see him, and share Sam with him. I can't wait for him to meet Sam. Sam has so much to share with him ... he can show his uncle how well he can sit, roll, talk, eat, and share a laugh or two. WELCOME HOME BUB!!! - Can't wait to see your fat head.

Do you ever wonder what you would have looked like?

My friend Anna found a website where you can download a picture of yourself and create a picture of what you would look like in that era. Thank you Anna for a good laugh!!!

This is what Sam would have looked like if he was girl in 1970...It's a good thing he is a boy!

Take a look at Sam in 1952. He kind of looks like his Great Grandpa Sutherland - Sam (it is who is named after).

You could make your own too! Email the results to me!

Rainy Day Schedule

Rainy day schedules were one of my favorite days in elementary school - Being in Arizona, it didn't happen that often, but on the days that it rained we couldn't go to the playground for recess, we would stay in the classroom and play and I remember I loved it! Well, today Sam and I had rainy day schedule. I got a call yesterday that Sam had a temperature of 102.6 (yikes!), so Dan rushed out of work to go pick him up - our little guy was as happy as clam with his little rosey red cheeks. He was not able to go to school today (because of the temperature), so I got to take today off and play with Sam ... it is a rainy day and Sam still has his rosey red cheeks and big smile on his face. I think the little man is going to pop out a few teeth pretty soon. Stay Tuned!

Photo Shoot !!!

OK, so I am trying to be ahead of the game. We took Sam out into the yard today in attempts to get a picture with him and Luke for the Christmas card. Here is how it turned out.
The baby pumpkin in the picture above was Sam's first art project at school ... Ms. Diana said Sam had a blast painting his pumpkin.

Isn't he just precious ... I think we will try another photo shoot, we would really like to get a nice shot with Sam and Luke - we will see if they can both cooperate at the same time.

It doesn't get any cuter than this ...

I just downloaded pictures from the last couple of weeks ... here are some of my favorites. Make sure and check out the video at the bottom too!!!

Sam hanging out with Luke

Sam is crashed out after taking a walk in the neighborhood
Sam and mommy hanging out in mommy's room - it's a giggle fest
My mommy is the funniest!!!

Another good joke!

Keep em comin

3 generations - Dan, Grandpa Don and Sam

Getting ready for tubby time - check out the thighs

Cool dude in his new mittens and hat

Does this hat make me look silly?

Playing peek a boo with mommy

I love this kid - listen to him laugh!!!

6 months flew by

Today we took Sam for his 6 month check up. He got 4 shots including the 1st dose of the flu shot (2nd dose at the beginning of December). He weighed in today at 19.6 (78th percentile) and was 29 inches long (98th percentile) - yes my friends I think we have a basketball player here!!! Sam is doing great health wise and does not have another check up until he is 9 months old (Sam was happy to hear that there will be NO shots at that appointment). Sam showed Dr. Kennedy all his moves - he sat up, rolled over, giggled and called out for his dada, she was impressed! Sam fell asleep shortly after we left the doctor this afternoon and slept for 3 hours, I had to wake him up so he could eat dinner.

Doll babies aren't just for girls!!!

We went to Ben and Victoria's house on Saturday afternoon. We had a nice time catching up and hanging out. Ben introduced Sam to a new friend and Sam was excited. I have never seen Sam so tickled ... he loved the doll. I think Santa will be bringing Sam a doll baby for Christmas. The video below doesn't come close to show how much Sam enjoyed playing with Ben and the doll baby.

Stink Larry on Halloween ...

Stinky Larry is one of Sam's favorite toys, he has been carrying him around since he was a wee little boy. Anyway, Sam dressed up as Stinky Larry for Halloween. We went to our neighbors house for a quick bite to eat before trick or treating ... all the neighbors were planning on venturing out together for the Halloween festivities, to put this in prospective that would be about 14 kids ranging from 6months - 13 years old with parents in tow - as you can imagine it didn't quite end up that way. As soon as everyone was ready to set out for the night, Sam fell asleep, to wake 1/2 way through trick or treating. He didn't seem to mind being pushed around in the dark neighborhood. 1 hour into it, we decided to head back home to pass out candy and feed our little monkey. We had about 20 trick or treaters and bought enough candy for 120, needless to say we have been eating our way through the leftovers. Dan was psyched!!!

This is how Sam started off his first Halloween - asleep in mummy's arms!!

Sleepy Monkey
Checking out the trick or treat - but only for a second

And he is out - again - not for the night though

Round two - it's funny what a little nap can do for you.

We tried to get a couple uses out of Sam's costume because it was so snugly. We took him to a parade in the center of town. The town blocks off 2 blocks of road so all the kids in town can walk from the library to the park in there costumes. It was such a trip to see all the little ones dressed up. Unfortunately it was too hot for Sam to wear his whole monkey suit ... I think it was in the 70's that day - but he is sporting his "I love my mummy t-shirt"


Hanging out at the town parade with his friend and neighbor Robbie

Some of the boys from the neighborhood (Jay, Robbie, Mike, Jackson, Dan and Sam)