Happy 2nd Halloween Samantha!

Happy 2nd Halloween Samantha!
Well these pics are from a few days ago at the park...the ones we took tonight are still in my camera.
These few pictures are from last year on the beach in North Carolina...



and in the condo.


She was showing off not one.. but 2 costumes last year.

We went to Chad and Julie's for their annual Halloween party. It was so much fun! They had so many great foods... Salad, Soup, Bread..mmmm....and lots of candy, donuts, caramel apples, pumpkin seeds, cider.. It was a true Halloween party the food was amazing!

Sam made it to ONE.. yes.. ONE house.. she was more interested in picking leaves outside.. and since it was around 40 degrees.. we took her back inside.. which was fine because they had boatloads of toys for her to play with.

She was a little busy bumblebee. And since we call her Beezus....or just "B"..it seemed quite perfect.

Weekend Wrap Up

We had a pretty busy weekend! It started on Thursday.. ha. Momma had a little girls night, and Friday Daddy had a boys night! Both much needed and lots of fun with friends indeed.
Saturday, we had to go to the car dealership. Mathew’s car, old faithful finally pooped out, and Daddy got a new car. So we needed to grab some things from the old car to transfer to the new.
We did a little running around, and while at one of our stops to BJ’s.. we found this adorable coat.

She could barely walk in it, even though it said 18 months.. It was a little too much for her we thought.. but we still couldn’t resist her modeling moment she had in the shopping cart.. haha..
In the afternoon we went to cousin Clare’s 1st Birthday party! It was so much fun! Pizza, Cake and lots of toys and kids. Sam was very well behaved, and showed particular interest in Joe & Clare’s play kitchen and shopping cart.. hmmm, may have to jot this down on the Santa list for sure.
I forgot my camera though!... So as soon as I see some pictures from other people, I’ll pull em and post em! It was a fun party. Clare ate her cake like a champ, all over and up her hands, arms, face.. hahah so funny.
And yesterday we headed to The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence for a little fall fun (more pics and post coming soon for that too) On the way home, we did a little grocery shopping at Dash’s, and loaded up on some meat/fish.
We had Grammy and Uncle over for a little BBQ/Fish on the Grill dinner. It was sooo good. Daddy made tuna/salmon and burger on the grill. Momma brought Mashed Taters with Melted Cheese, and we had tomato salad, and regular greens salad… and this for dessert…………..



Anderson's Ice Cream cake... ahhhhhh


Yes yes.. vastly approaching another age tomorrow… well if you don’t look/feel it.. its easier to accept it, right? Haha!

Columbus Day Weekend 2010 - belated!

I realize this post is a little late...But we had a great time in Ohio over Columbus Day weekend, and I didnt want to forget the great memories and pics we took!

We got to Ohio around 3pm ... Samantha slept for 45 minutes ... the entire day.. eeks.. butwhen she got to Papaw and Baka's house.. too much fun.. no way was she going to take a nap then!

She got so spolied as usual at Baka's and Papa's... they even got her her very own vacuum, which you'll see SJM and Papa vacuuming side by side.. haha.. it was so funny.'











We had fun in the Amish Country, and at the Apple Picking Farm.. we did a lot of traveling this weekend!









They played so nice together, they are so darn cute all together!


The girls having a snack before we hit the road

Happy Anniversary

This past weekend, we celebrated with my Uncle John and Aunt Maureen O'Brien.
40 Years.
We had mass at their house .. and it was a very moving ceremony. Not a dry eye, when they stood up and renewed their wedding vows to each other in front of all family and friends, and grandchildren.







We had a fun party and reception, even a little cake in the face!



Sisters


I made them a little gift

Feeling Better

Last week I wrote a blog entry entitled "feeling bad" ... now Im "feeling better" haha.. After Samantha was fighting a cold, she suddenly was spoiled into me rocking her to sleep every night.. no Dadda either.. just Momma. And to top this off.. she would wake up and want to come in our bed in the middle of the night..

Now, I think I would be more accepting of this, if when she was in bed with us, she didnt wake us up every 5 minutes with her turbo spinning techniques and hurricane type moves.. she is a wild sleeper! So its easy for me to not want her in bed with us.

I was pulling my hair out with frustration, emailing other Moms, calling friends.. etc. And some of the best advice was to just let her cry it out. Im not a big fan of hearing my sweet baby cry.. but I also didnt want to be rocking her to sleep till she was 12 either.

So the first night it was about 45 minutes of non-stop screaming. I had to leave the house, and I went to Grammy's and we took a walk to Walgreens, where I proceeded to get some earplugs .. to talk myself into not giving in.. and tuning her out .. thinking in my head "its for her own good".... and I stocked up on some candy for the drive to Ohio on the weekend. hha!

The 2nd night it was about 25 minutes.. and no more shreiking.. more of a whiny fake cry that would be on and off.. so MUCH easier to listen to.. cause you could hear it in her voice that she was tired, and eventually she pooped out.

Third night we were in Ohio.. visiting for the weekend. We didnt give in either just cause we were at Baka and Pa-Paws.. she was in bed by 8:15. Screamed for 20 minutes and was out. The next day... she wimpered...for 1 minute and she was out cold..

And since then it hasnt been more than 2-3 minutes of whiny.. and rustling noises..

Thank you Jesus! I have been praying for God to help not only us.. and our patience, but Samantha too.. learn that she has a bedtime, and no matter what we're stickin' to it!

So another of many parenting hurdles we jumped over.. She was SOOO incredibly good on our little road trip this weekend. I will write more and post LOTS of fall pics tomorrow =)

Momma is extra sleepy.... nighty night

15 Months - October 5, 2010

15 Months
October 5, 2010



Samantha Jane you are 15 Months old today!


You are in size 3 diaper. Last month I wrote how you enjoyed throwing the diaper in the Garbage. That lasted about 3-4 days.. Then we had to lock it, because as you would leave your diaper, you would come back with other tasteful goodies from the trash that you could reach.

You weigh 23lbs, and some ounces.. you only gained ounces since your last checkup. Yuor legs are getting so skinny and you are loosing your bubba fat =(... Since you are constantly on the go and moving all the time.

You went to the Dr on Wed, and you got 2 more shots.. and one finger prick.. and you now know what happens at the Dr's office.. cant fool you anymore.. Im sure 18month appt will be interesting, cause you'll be smarter! ha!

The Dr says you look great! You are very smart, and she said you have a very large brain! haha.. Which is funny, because Auntie always says she loves your brain..well, all that love is making it grow! I think Samantha is in the 80-90%

You have 10 teeth right now, and some swollen bottom gums.. so I think we may be welcoming some more soon


You are wearing mostly 18-24 month clothes. You are wearing some 12 months pants though. 18 month pants are a little too long most of the time. We are starting to buy you coats and hats and boots, which you never had/needed before since we were in NC last year at this time.



I am teaching you how to say “thank you” and to say “Samantha” – which you do attempt to say.. comes out more like “dadanta”…
I guess a lot has happened last month, because I was reading the 14 month post and we had a dog.. Now we do not. Haha..No big loss.. We just wont be replacing her or any pet for that matter for a long long time.

You love when we chase you. Our new house is set up so you can run a full circle going from the living room to foyer….into kitchen.. into dining room, and back at the living room again.. You laugh so hard when you peek around the corners and we yell “ahhhhh”…
You say so many words now, but typing out how they sound and what they mean wont really make sense… ha! You say “bye” now, and know what it means to go “bye bye”.. I cannot say it unless it is true, because you get so excited you run over to the door and yell “bye bye”… more like “baba” though. You know that you put shoes on first though before going bye bye..






You are growing SO much. I look back on pictures taken just a few weeks ago, and you already look so much older and different!
Im so excited this month for your 2nd Halloween!.. You were only a little 4 month old peanut last year, but you still managed to have 2 costumes, A pumpkin and a Frog. This year you are going to be a Bumblebee.

We are starting to discipline you already. When you get mad, sometimes you hit/scratch. And I've had to "hold" you in timeout a few times. I told Daddy we have to be firm with you! hah.. You know when you are being bad, you know what not to touch , and how to test how much you can get away with ... yes ALREADY.. oh boy.. i think its going to be the terrible 1's!!!!!

Latest nickname: Booshis.. which is a derivative of Beezus, in case you were wondering

Feeling Bad

I cant help but type exactly how I am feeling for this post. Its in the moment, and I feel like hopefully I will look back and realize that it wasnt so bad.

Im listening to a mad baby Samantha cry and scream from her crib. She's been such a handful at bedtime. We dont really know how to handle her lately. She was sleeping through the night, and now she's been getting up in the middle of the night, and is a monster to put to bed at night.

So tonight .. after we had enough... we decided to let her cry it out. Now, she's only been crying for 6 minutes, but it is the longest 6 minutes and its breaking my heart.

Im so close to going up to get her, but I feel like, when I put her back down, she will start all over again and I cant handle that!... So Its a pictureless post on her 15 month birthday today.

Tomorrow she goes for her Dr's appt and shots.. so im sure bedtime will be a challenge again...

Before I Forget

I've been so busy lately.. nursing our colds, drowning in laundry, work, cooking dinners, sleepless nights, so I found a few pictures that I really want to look back on and remember:

This first one is current. It was waiting for me on the counter when I came home this afternoon. Samantha and Shea, our nanny must have taken a walk to the library or somewhere and she made this!


Oh! melted my heart... her first "official" piece of artwork. We color and scribble with crayons.. but this is the first thing she's brought home! Its proudly hanging on the fridge!

Next we have a funny.. Mat was sitting in the back seat with her and we were going somewhere (cannot remember) but she was fussing a little and he handed her a paper and said "here take a look at the sales"... just the expression on her face is priceless..

And lastly but certainly not least.. this adorable Halloween shirt came in the mail last week along with some awesome Halloween books from Samantha's fairy godmother and favorite Auntie Shauna!!!

Thank you Auntie!!!! xoxox We love you!

Pass me the Boogie Wipes.

Last week Samantha was welcoming and unwelcome cold! The weather changes, and presto...we are sick!

I was not prepared, so we needed a few things..off to Wegs

I tried these...


which are such a great product.. and I always just pass them by in the baby aisle, but they worked great, since Samantha wont let us near her with the nasal aspirator, and they smell good too.. Bonus! SO we grabbed some tissues, vicks, water, juice, boogie wipes.. haha..

She was so quiet and good in the store, and looking at her face you could see she wasnt herself. Even after her usual cookie from the bakery.


I just wanted to hug her and cuddle with her all day...


After we got in the car from our little grocery trip, she was passed out cold before we even got out of the parking lot.. bless her heart

So after the first day, she was learning to deal with feeling under the weather..and she was back to playing, screaming, yelling and of course climbing..





Its now day 4.. and Im hoping this cold is going to leave soon! But now Momma has it, and Daddy's throat is starting to feel sore too.. oh dear!