First Trip to Oxford

This weekend Sam took his first trip to Oxford to see some Rebel baseball and to meet one of my best friends from college, Rebekah. The last time I saw Rebekah was at my baby shower this past summer. We were so excited that she moved back to Mississippi from Dallas a few months ago and we sure hope to see a lot more of her now that she is so close!

We arrived in Oxford around noon on Saturday and went to eat at Oby's. Since it was so cold outside, Sam and I dropped Dad and Bobi off at the baseball game and went to the Condo to wait for Aunt Bekah. We had a great day of visiting, shopping and eating good food at Ajax on the Square. After dinner, we all went back to the condo to visit some more and Sam could not take his eyes off of Aunt Bekah - he smiled at her nonstop and kept making sure she was watching his every move.

Sunday we were fortunate enough to have a good friend give us some sky box tickets for the baseball game so Sam and I wouldn't have to sit out in the cold. We enjoyed watching the game and even went outside for just a minute so Sam could get a better view. I am looking forward to some warm weather so we can sit outside for the whole game and enjoy some baseball!

Move Over Calvin Klein Models...

Here comes Sam in his boxers...

Green Beans, Toes & Flu Shots

What a day we had today! It started out with an innocent little appointment Sam had with a nurse to get the second dose of the flu shot and ended two hours later after seeing Dr. Sherwood and getting treated for not one but TWO ingrown toenails (he is his father's son) and eczema on his back probably due to a suspected green bean allergy (sorry about that Sam - I'm afraid that one came straight from me). Poor little guy, genetics can be tough sometimes but as you can see - he was still smiling and having a good old time playing with the paper on the exam table!

6th Place

Well, I'm sorry to report that sweet Sam did not win the weekly photo contest at Parents.com BUT he did place 6th out of 4,681 photos - way to go Sam!! Thanks so much to everyone who voted for him.

Another Tooth!

Sam's second tooth broke through today - his lower left central incisor.

Seven Months Old!

What has Sam been up to lately?

*He has one sleeve of Size 3 diapers left and then we will be moving on to Size 4.

*He is wearing mostly 9 and 12 month clothes - those sweet, big legs need lots of room!

*His morning naps are getting shorter by the day (not so good for my poor babysitters who might need a rest) but he is still taking a pretty good afternoon nap...AND once every blue moon he and Mom might sneak in a nap together =) I just can't resist snuggling with that sweet thing and I have to take advantage of this time while he still wants to snuggle!

*He is a great sleeper at night. He usually sleeps between 10-11 hours and we don't hear a peep from him. We had a few rough nights when he was teething, but you'd be crying too if those sharp things were coming through your gums!

*He is still smiling and laughing ALL the time. The funniest thing is when Adam and I laugh at something on TV or at each other he starts laughing too!

*He is rolling everywhere. I keep thinking one day he might start crawling because he will get up on all fours but then he just goes back down - I guess rolling is just easier because that is what he is used to.

*He is a jabber box and I can't wait to hear what his voice sounds like when he really starts talking. Anytime someone in the room is talking or having a conversation with somebody else he always starts "talking" and looking at them like he thinks they are talking to him.

*He still doesn't have much hair but it is growing in slowly but surely and I still think he might be a blondie.

*He is doing great sitting up by himself and is learning how to catch himself with his hands when he starts to fall over. It kind of makes me sad because he looks so big when he is sitting up and playing in his crib!

*He has 2 teeth - lower middle - and the second one just came in today!

But most importantly - he is still such a sweet little boy and brings us so much joy. What would we do without him? I can't imagine!

We love you sweet Sam!

Vegetable of the Week: Green Beans

The last green veggie for Sam to try - he loved them!

(But I guess anything is better than those nasty peas he ate last week)

Vote for Sam!

A few weeks ago, just for some fun, Adam and I entered Sam in the American Baby Cover contest. They asked that you submit six photographs (non-professional) that had been taken within the past month. Every week until the contest ends in March they select some of the pictures that have been entered in the cover contest to compete in a separate weekly contest. I received an email this morning letting us know that one of the photos we entered was in the running to become a weekly winner! Way to go Sam!

Blog Makeover

As most of you have probably noticed by now, our blog recently received a MUCH needed makeover! I wanted to say THANK YOU to my sweet friend Ashley Lancaster for designing our new header. I have known Ashley since high school and our lives have followed a very similar path since then. We both got married within a week of each other and then both had our first babies in 2009 - she had precious little Evy Kate in February & then Sam was born in July - so I can usually relate to something she is blogging about. If you haven't already done so, go check out her blog - I know you will enjoy it!

Happy Valentine's Day

In honor of this "Day of Love" - I decided to dedicate a post to the two men I love most in this world!

This picture is absolutely one of my favorites. It is precious to me for many reasons, but what really stands out is the smile on Adam's face. It speaks volumes about the wonderful person he is and how much he loves his family. As most of you know, I have known/dated/loved Adam for a good portion of my life it seems, but I have never loved him more than I do now that we are parents. He is truly a wonderful father and an excellent "partner in parenting." He is so patient with Sam and always willing to help me out with things around the house. He can always make me laugh and we have fun together no matter what we are doing. I couldn't imagine my life without him and we are blessed to call him husband and father.

Now for my other main man....

Adam took this picture of me in the NICU getting to hold Sam for the first time. I have a hard time believing that very many things in this life will ever top this moment for me. The amount of love I had at that moment for someone I had JUST met is indescribable and I love him more every day (if that is possible). Being a mother is one of the best things that has ever happened to me and I am so thankful God entrusted us with this precious little boy. He has such a sweet disposition and is always happy. My favorite moments with him are at night when I am rocking him to sleep. I always look at him and tell him I love him before he falls asleep and he looks back up at me and just grins - priceless. When he smiles, his whole face lights up and it melts my heart. He can brighten any bad day that might come our way and I cherish every moment I get to spend with him because I know it will go by fast - too fast! What a blessing this little boy is to me!

Rubber Ducky...You're the One

Sam loves his new bathtub!

First Tooth

Well, it FINALLY happened. After weeks of some crazy drooling and chewing on anything he could get his hands on - Sam got his first tooth! It is his lower right central incisor. I knew it had to be getting close because for the past few days he had been pretty fussy and was waking us up in the middle of the night crying and that is VERY unlike him. He has been a much happier camper since it came through and it is just too cute to see that little bitty tooth when he opens his mouth!

Snow Day!

We woke up this morning to a world of white - everywhere - and it was absolutely beautiful! We measured in our backyard and we had about 5 inches of snow before it was all said and done. The meteorologists commented that Jackson, MS probably wouldn't see snow like this for another 30 years so we made sure to build us a great big snowman and take lots of pictures to help Sam remember his first big snow.

We went out mid-morning while the snow was still coming down but didn't stay too long. Sam wasn't particularly fond of the cold stuff falling and hitting him in the face. We decided to wait until it quit snowing to stay outside a while and play. Being that we hardly EVER see snow, we really weren't prepared to build a snowman so we had to get creative. We used two plastic cooking spoons for his arms, dog food for his eyes (yes, Rusty kept trying to eat him because he could smell his food..ha!) and we happened to have a bag of carrots in the refrigerator so those had to do for both his nose AND his mouth. He was a pretty fine looking fellow and Adam did a great job rolling the snow to make his big body.

We had a great time together playing in the snow and relaxing most of the day. Here are some pictures of our fun day!

Getting dressed

Ready to go! Poor little boy had so many layers on he couldn't even put his arms down by his side.

Mom & Sam ready to go out and play

What is this white stuff, Mom?

Rusty LOVED the snow

Our snowman

Dad & Sam

Three cute men!

Having fun outside

Our house

Look at how thick the snow is on top of the mailbox!!

Sam looks like he has had enough - take me in Dad!

Waiting for the Snow...

Sam tried so hard to stay up and see if it was going to snow, but he just didn't make it....

Vegetable of the Week: Peas

Well, we have moved right on through the fruits and yellow veggies with no problems so it was time for the first green vegetable - peas. I have to say, I felt terribly guilty feeding them to my sweet boy and even worse after he made such an awful face. I am always up for tasting anything that I feed to him, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it after smelling them!

I just don't think they are his favorite!!

First Super Bowl..Poo Dat?!

Yesterday, Adam and Eric went to New Orleans on the train for their annual "guys weekend." They usually go this time of year because it is the first weekend of Mardi Gras, but little did they know that their trip would coincide with Super Bowl weekend for the Saints! They had a great time and made it home tonight right before the game started. We all went over to Amanda and Eric's house for great food, great family time and great Saints football! We were so excited that they pulled off such a great win and what a great first Super Bowl memory for Sam! Banks and Sam enjoyed playing together and Banks was so sweet to share all of his toys with Sam. I can't wait until Sam is a little older - they are going to have SO much fun playing together.

Watch out world..here comes Sam!

He was having so much fun and was SO proud of himself.


Cousins having fun.

Sporting Dad's Saint's hat and his New Orleans bib.

"Poo Dat?" shirt that Dad brought back from New Orleans.

Vegetable of the Week: Carrots

I think Mr. Sam has yet to meet a food that he does not like!

6 Month Pictures