Since You've Been Gone...

Since we've been gone..haha.. Its been so long since my last entry seems like!
The weather has a lot to do with it, and also buying another house!

We've been spending a lot of time outside, and I took these pics of Samantha in the grass last week. She used to eat the grass, but now she just picks it and hands it to me,or Grammy.







I love the side profiles of her...






And we've been taking lots of dips in the pool, and baths in Grammy's sink.
It feels like we're back in North Carolina.. the weather has been in the mid 80's and humid all week!







Grammy,Samantha and Momma even had a girls nite downtown - Sushi at Kunis and then we strolled along the Elmwood strip.







And in the midst of all the pre-summer fun, we finally bought a house! Pics will be coming soon, but it has been a long time coming...
We are so excited and I cannot wait to be all settled and most of all to give Samantha her own official BEDROOM! ... I already have decorating ideas stewing in my brain, and I cannot wait to get in there and create!

Best of all.. the house has an entire 3rd floor.. perfect for my crafting area!!! Im so so excited!

This Memorial Day weekend, Im typing from Cleveland. We decided last minute to jump in the car and head out for the weekend. Im taking lots O' pictures, but we'll have to upload and report back when we drive home on Monday.

Side Note: During our break from Blogging.. A few new things and firsts for Samantha have been: She is getting her 2nd top tooth any day now, she has been drinking whole organic milk since about 5.22.10, She is taking 10-15 steps by herself, and can "walk" along couches, tables, chairs pretty well, she's learning how to fall without hurting herself, and she LOVES blueberries recently!

xoxo
Joelle

PS... Check out my other blog for a new Canvas Bag post.

Friday Finally!

TGIF! - It seems the week went by so slow.. it always does, doesnt it?
This week was hot! Temps are getting to feel like summer! Yeay!!

Momma did some shopping this week! Which included a couple bargains for Samantha of course.. a pool for $5.00... and this chair... its a sneak peak before and after.
for her birthday of course, Im gonna paint/decorate it for her.



this is a nice pic of Grammy & Sam.. too bad her eyes are closed.



Samantha's 2 top teeth are coming in. So unlike the symptoms from the bottom 2 .. she had a fever this week, and get ready.. hasn't been sleeping well.. hmm, theres a shocker! haha.. I love my little lima bean, I just wish she was a better sleeper overall. But I shouldnt be complaining.. if lack of sleep is her biggest problem, I should shut up right now! ha!

Her teeth look so funny coming in though. Right now, only 1 has cut through the gums, so she looks like she got into a bar brawl! haha!

She is taking a good nap now though, and I already filled up a couple pails/buckets with water and set them in the sun to warm up.. so hopefully she can get in her new little pool this afternoon!

Tonight its GIRLS NITE with Grammy and Samantha Jane. We're headin' down to the very artsy trendy Elmwood Strip for some Sushi, Strollin' and Shoppin'!

This weekend we kind of have a few plans.. Farmer's Market, Flea Market, and pending Lowe's trip.

Happy Friday everyone.. if you live in WNY.. enjoy this wonderful weekend!! Ahhhh so gorgeous!

Family Vacation in the Finger Lakes!

This past weekend Mathew, Samantha and Momma decided it was time we get away just the three of us for the weekend. We havent been away just us 3 since we left North Carolina in November 2009. So we headed up to Mark and Lori's Lake house in Lake Honeyoe, NY.



We left just after Daddy got home from work, loaded up the car, and it was a quick 1.5 hr drive. We got in and got settled, and daddy fired up the grill & we ate Strip Steaks, Potatoes & Corn on the Cob! We havent been eating a lot of red meat in probably the last 4 months, so this was a treat! Samantha loves steak! ha!

Saturday we woke up and had a nice breakfast - eggs, sage sausage and bagels and juice.. again Sam loved the meat.. haha.. Samantha was pooped! So she took a LONG nap, and then when she woke up, we headed to a few antique shops in the surrounding area. Most of the antiques were really expensive, except a few things here and there.. but you need some time to look, which we were limited to with the lil bubba in tow.. but overall she did so well, everytime she saw an antique doll/baby/stuffed animal she'd shreik and get all excited.. I felt bad, cause there was NO way she could touch anything around her. So it was a lot of quick stops/looks

We found an antique copper tea kettle or $15.. Mathew and I love copper accents.. and we are already brainstorming on what to do with our kitchen, it needs a lil polish, but overall its in pretty good shape!... oh and I needed these small english plates- they were only $3.. And I also got a vintage dictionary for $2.00!



After antiquing.. we headed to Canadaigua.. about 10 miles north of where we were. There was a cute lil Main Street shopping area, so we busted out the stroller and went for a stroll. The stores were very cute.. children's clothes,kitchen stuff, decor, antiques (of course), a soap store (nothing in comparison to Out of Eden .. my FAVORITE NC store of all time.. *tear)






And there was a Salvation Army Thrift store.. I LOVE IT.. I take after my Grandpa Sam..(another post story for another day) .. But he would take me there when I was really little.. and ever since I've been a thrift store/garage sale addict.

Anyways.. I found an old milk glass container, perhaps for an herb in the kitchen or paint brushes in my craft room (coming soon!)... and a cheese dome, to be used for anything really.. these two were $1 each! - I think the thrill of the hunt, finding something and the awesome deals is why I like it so much. Why would you pay for something in a store that costs WAY WAY too much?



After our little country drive, we headed back towards the Lake House. Sam was a hot mess in the car.. I knew she was getting loopy and tired.. but she was hysterical! Not crabby...



She passed out when we got home, and Daddy and I just relaxed and layed on the couch.. something we dont do very often.. Dinner was Burgers, Fries, and Steamed Broccoli, and before dinner Samantha decided she'd like to start walking now..



It was so funny.. She was getting so excited that she could MOVE by herself .. since crawling was never her thing... She was laughing hysterically and was closing her eyes.. almost like she was excited/scared.. aww..







She took maybe 5-6 steps before we had to catch her, but Im sure it wont be long now.. Now that she knows she is getting there, her need for mobility has shifted into overdrive. So lots of walking around the house/yard these days. I only hold 1 of her hands now to make her practice balance.

Sunday morning we cleaned up everything and headed back to Buffalo.
But we couldnt leave without a few lake pictures!



look at these two.. can you tell she's her father's daughter or what?...



It was a much needed nice vacation for the 3 of us, just away from all the house talk, internet, tv (which we still watched a little).. and we just took time to enjoy being a family.. we realized we need to go on more vacations!

We had a wonderful weekend, and we didnt realize how close the lake is! And Rochester too, which we definately will be visiting in the future.

Thanks so much Mark and Lori! Your lake house is a beautiful place, we will be back!

Hello Mr. President - Thursday 5.13.10

We had our first official family vacay this weekend... so Im catching up on the events from last week. President Obama visited Buffalo on Thursday, and word on the street was.. that air force one was landing around 12:30pm at the airport.

I saw AFO once when Mathew, Sam and I were driving from NC to OH for Thanksgiving and it was enormous.. almost frightening to see something that big fly! Of course we were not that close this time, but I got a few pics.. It was so funny people were jammed into parking lots and standing on cars. It is very cool to see..

see that blob in the shape of an airplane.. haha . that was it...
we were on the wrong end of the airport - but afraid that the streets would get shut down because of the motorcade..



here are a few on the runway





I had to mark this historic occasion with a pic of my little monkey and her grammy...

While The Da-Da's Away

Daddy is in Syracuse for some computer trainin' for an overnight, so Sam and I headed out for dinner tonight with Grammy and Uncle ( As I think these will be their names)

We gave Samantha her first Buffalo Hot Dog Expeirence.. can you guess??



Teds! - She sat so nicely at the table while we scarfed down our dogs, fries and onion rings.. of course she had her share too..

She was opening and closing her little hoodie at the dinner table.. everytime we said OPEN....she would open, and CLOSE.. haha



Momma's eyes were closed.. but Sam looks cute! haah..



I never realized how nice it is to not bring her "sippy cup".. straw cup everywhere we go.. she loves drinking from a straw ... very convenient.. thank you Samantha less for Momma's cluttered brain to remember.



Then we came home, and she too TWO STEPS BY HERSELF!!!!!! I couldnt beleive it. I've been starting to hold just ONE hand while she's walking.. and she is learning to balance herself pretty well lately .. with the occaisonal BOOM, and she screams her head off.. but its a work in progress.


I did catch a shot at the two latest arrivals ...


Here they come.. the two front teeth!!

And of course Momma has SEVERAL craft projects goin on.. this sign.. which I plan on transferring to wood some day turned out pretty good dont ya think?






More pics to come on the "other blog" .. but most of them are gifts for people, so I dont want to post em before the recipient gets em! ha!

Momma's Day Weekend Re-Cap

Im a bit late with the Momma's Day stuff.
It was a good first "official" Mother's Day!

We woke up, went to church.. where it was SNOWING during Mass.. yes.. thats right. Snowing! Last week it was 76 and sunny.. this Sunday .. snow? Thats Buffalo for ya.

So it was pretty cold. We just went to church as a family, went to the market for some veggies and stuff, and then WalMart run for some soup supplies. We made a list of soups we want to make this week, we're attempting to go a little more vegetarian.. not so much meat eating anymore.. and I dont really miss the meat anyways!

Here is the soup I made for Mom's Day - French Onion mmmmmmmm....


One thing I was so excited to find at WalMart even.. was this...


I am a peanut butter conoisseur.. I have always loved peanut butter, and when I was pregnant with Samantha, it just shifted my cravings into overdrive.. I was a pb freak when I was pregnant.. This pb is awesome! and they have little sample packets too at Walmart.. hmm who woulda thought?

Anyways.. Busy last couple days with some house stuff.. but Sam has been such a good girl.. Not sleeping well at ALL .. because her upper teeth are coming through.. she just cut one last night and I felt the razor sharp edge .. eeks.. I hope she continues nursing without biting.. otherwise its Organic Milk a few weeks earlier for her! haha..



We turned her car seat around this past weekend.. so now she can see us driving, and look out her own window.. i think she likes it...

Samantha Jane 10 Months

Samantha Jane – Month 10!

You weigh about 20-21lbs

Size 3 diapers. Size 4’s in the overnights/extra protection ones.

You are in 12 and 18 month onesies.

You have 2 teeth! Both bottom ones and I think I caught a glimpse of #3 .. it’s a top tooth!




You are still loving nursing, and wake up 2-3 times still at night – momma is still tired.

But Momma has decided to let you wean yourself, since I don’t work outside the house.. and it works for us right now… so feed away my little munchkin…

But you don’t nurse as long at all I’ve noticed.You have already started weaning yourself actually.... Sometimes, I think its just the soothing you need, and not the milk anymore.. I gotta find a fake boob to give you or something.. ha!

You are an eating machine though.

Favorite Foods: Rice, Bread, Noodles, Chicken, Mandarin Oranges, Peas, Broccoli, Cheese

Foods Tried for FIRST Time this month: Eggs, Ice Cream, Asparagus, Mushrooms,

You can successfully make the following sounds: Monster, Kitty Kat, Car, Da-Da, Ba (Ball..I think)

You know so many words.. the most common ones I can think of right now are: Birds, Grammy, Puffs, Swing, Car, Dog, Cat, Mr.Bear, Books, Feed, Walk, Water, Momma, Da-Da, Ball





You love to READ! Auntie Shauna see.. Momma did good!We've been reading to you every day since you were born as Auntie has instructed!

Before naps, and before bed, you point to your bookshelf, as if saying “ok, now books! Read to me!” You love your bright baby books with real pictures. You turn the pages, and kiss the pictures of kitty’s and doggies, and If I tell you to kiss something else, like a duck, bunny.. you do. Its hysterical. You basically smoosh your face into the picture on the page and then lift your head away from the page again.

You do the same thing when you see yourself in any reflection.. a little vain are we? haha.. You will "kiss the baby" in any mirror in a book, and the standing mirror in our hallway is one of your favorites. You grab the sides of the standing mirror and make sounds while kissing yourself.. hmm... well my girl sure has a good dose of self confidence at 10 months.. haha.. good girl!


You kiss and hug a lot these days and you are loving springtime in Buffalo and the outdoors. We could spend hours outside and you love swinging and rolling around in your walker. Although you have been making a fast bee line for the street.. so we have to watch you! Haha!





You LOVE your Grammy. You cry in the morning if when you see her she doesn’t immediately come over and get you. Its so funny. You know when I say “Grammy’s Comin’ Home…” and your feet kick like crazy and you start to breathe really fast and excited. Its such a great feeling as Momma to know you love your Grammy so much. It sure does make our lives much easier knowing we can leave you with Grammy and you never ever cry or notice we are gone! Even when we come back.. you hardly notice! Grammy does so many things with you like swinging, walking you around, reading, playing, bubbles… and she cant wait till she can have sleepovers with you when you are older!


Grammy also helps out Momma, by coming home on her lunch hour to take care of you while Momma cleans up, sometimes showers, but mostly checks messages for work, etc.





You are VERY receptive to music.. you know when Im playing country music versus one of your albums, you start smiling, waving your hands! And you love your little pianos and any toy that makes music too.

You love CLOTHES.. that’s right.. you are all girl! You love when I show you the dresses I bought for you, and you love walking in your closet and looking/touching grabbing all your clothes.. ANd you love the color pink.. and I think you dig animal print too.. maybe cause I've loaded up your wardrobe with these colors/patterns..haha


Until next month.. but I know it will be here in a blink of an eye... life is going so fast these days.. but we are enjoying every minute.



You have been a blessing in more ways than one in our lives and we love you so much.

It Does Work - Prayer...

So Im gonna get a little deep with myself here..
Daily God challenges us and calls us back to him. And lately I have been too busy to answer.. I know .. bad Christian woman. But I recently picked up this book again (i have read it already once.) And I have started praying more and more... esp since we needed a few things...ha!

But I seriously can see the changes in my life after praying and reading this book. For all you wives .. even girlfriends... I highly suggest this book!



Just thought I'd throw a little faith reading into my blogs!
Samantha Jane Month 10 is coming.. Have to have Daddy upload my pics after he gets home from work!

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Climbing, Swinging and Anybody Out There?

This morning I was walking Sam around and she "ran" right for the staircase. She loves climbing Grammy's stairs. But she doesnt bend her knees, she tries to walk up them with her feet (the way adults do) - Does that make sense? Anyways I got a few shots of her little butt..




and her morning face...


Then we headed outside this morning for some swingin'...



Until tomorrow... Our big 10 Month old Birthday!

Just a sidenote - Can anyone leave comments? I got some feedback that someone who follows my blog couldnt leave comments? Can someone please leave me a comment so I can make sure I have the settings done correctly? Is anybody out there? haha..

This journal is our "scrapbook" for now.. but I just was wondering if when people do leave comments, I can get an "alert" and know, or wondering if comments can be left at all, cause if not, I need to change something in the settings..

So please Comment away -- so I can see if I have everything set up correctly.