While We Were Away

It's been a while since I've posted.

I'm now really behind...lots of pictures to edit, lots of stories to write.  Some funny, some happy, some not-so-much.  I've taken some time away from the blog in part because our computer was out-of-commission for the last couple of weeks which makes blogging impossible.  But the main reason I haven't been writing was because we started the new year off taking care of and worrying about our little Sophie.  After having to say goodbye to her on February 17th, I wasn't much up for blogging stories and family pictures.  We haven't been just sitting around; Brian and I both have jobs we had to show up for and Sam to take care of.  But things I usually enjoy, like sewing and photography and blogging, just weren't that appealing for a while. 

But we're feeling better now, and with the photos piling up and the "tales from the nest" that need to be told, I'm somewhat forcing myself to get caught up with my blogging.  I know how much everyone loves to read about Sam and watch him grow and this site has become very special to our family, so I'm not going to let it fall by the wayside!

You'll see some entries are "post-dated" just because I want to keep stories close to their original dates so that when Sam is older and reading these posts they are dated accurately, so keep checking February and March over the next few days to see new posts..  I have lots of posts coming up about what's been going on around our nest...like a certain someone turning TWO!

Enjoy our new photos and our new tales, and thanks for being patient while we were away.

(Brian took the picture above during our last trip to the park, Sunday, February 13th, 2011)

Big Strides






Sam's accomplished a lot of firsts this week. He pulled up on Daddy's pant leg last weekend and a few days later pulled up to the couch and cruised to the other side. Then a couple of days after that he pulled up in his play pen and crib, all before lunchtime! And today, we (finally) have the second tooth. He's my busy guy!



Pulling up in the pack-and-play for the first time.



Waving bye-bye to Mommy.  Photo by Daddy.



Pulling up in the crib, first time.









And because this poor girl never gets her picture taken, ever since we brought HIM home...

Moo. Cluck.


Happy Halloween from The Funny Farm.


Sam had a great First Halloween. Gram and Pops came over to join in the festivities. Sam dressed up as a cow - a costume I received at a shower. Sophie was a chicken, a costume that suits her perfectly.

After dinner Sam and Daddy and I went to a couple of houses, mostly neighbors that we know, while Gram and Pops passed out candy at our house. Sam was a really good boy. He just held on to whoever was holding him and took it all in. He stayed up about an hour-and-a-half past his bedtime and wasn't even too fussy. He had a great time!

Enjoy the photos and the short video at the bottom!












Pops got swamped by trick-or-treaters!


Spoiled Little Pumpkin
(this is Sam's new "I'm excited" move - more on that later...)

Sam got a ball he can hold and a (baby-safe) hammer he can bang with.



We finished off the evening celebrating Gram's birthday with presents.

Happy Halloween!

Sam's First Halloween from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

Seeing Double

Sam is a popular guy.

He's had several special visitors in the last week. First came cousins Hollie and Wayne...Hollie was so snuggly, Sam went right to sleep in her arms.

Then Jean and Alvin stopped by. Jean loved Sam's little feet, and was willing to risk missing out on a piece of Babe's pie to be just to be able to rock him a little bit longer.

And then there was someone who looks a lot

like

Granny Nell, but it wasn't Granny, it was Aunt Dell! Did you think you were seeing double Sam? Just wait till Aunt Bell comes for a visit! Unfortunately, the only picture I got of Aunt Dell was one of Puppy Sophie snuggling up to her, desperate for attention.

More visitors to come on Easter Sunday...I wonder if the Easter Bunny will be one of them?