Festivus

As usual, the posts are few and far between. So, here are the holiday highlights.

Thanksgiving would not be complete without target practice and tractor rides. Sam seemed to enjoy his first experience on a John Deere. He was also pretty excited about Thanksgiving leftovers. Blueberry salad and sweet potatoes always bring a smile.



As you can see, Sam is Santa's number one fan. He couldn't wait to sit in his lap. After a tortuous few moments, Sam got to enjoy his first sucker and quickly forgave his parents for the traumatic event.





Evidently, Sam had been a good boy and Santa still stopped by with a few presents.





Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! May God bless you in 2009.

Sipsey Sam (10-11-08)

This was Sam's first camping trip that wasn't in the backyard. We spent a day in Bankhead National Forest (Sipsey Wilderness) where we camped, hiked, and fished.

The wildlife was very angry with us. We were ferociously attacked by alligator gar while fishing. A moccasin that I know in my heart was 12 feet long tried to carry off our kayak. Jennifer ran it off while I did my traditional native American snake deliverance dance. I found chiggars on parts of my body I have never seen without a mirror.

Sam joins me in the snake deliverance dance.


Sam loves the kayak! As long as it's not in the water.


Everyone follows Sam to the water spicket.

He hates his life jacket but this is comfortable?


I do not know what is wrong with this child.

Just another day....

I eat my breakfast.



I lay around the house til 10:00.



Then I go to daycare.



I come home and do my chores.



I eat dinner.

And before I go to bed I like to hang upside down.

A new noise....

BPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPB
BPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPB
BPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPB

BPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBPBP!!

A year and a day

Sam's birthday is today. We are having a party for him this coming Saturday. But, we went ahead and had a pre-party today. He's 366 days old today....thanks to leap year.

He loves cupcakes and his new rocking moose!

Sam of Boston

Here are some pics of Sam's favorite things from Boston.

His favorite British cannon was parked right next to the tree where George Washington took over the Army on July 3, 1775. There are some Harvard "mathletes" attempting to play sports in the background.

Obviously, MIT felt like home. Sam was overjoyed to finally see the Guggenheim Aeronautical Building.



Piccolo Nid0, "Little Nest", was one of the best Italian meals we've ever had....as good or better than what we had in Italy. The only thing Sam liked better than the gnocchi was the Russian waitress.



Sam said there was a ballpark we needed to see. Too bad it was All-Star week.



Jen was absolutely hellbent on touring the Sam Adams brewery. No one under 11 months was given a sample thank goodness.

Farewell, Mullet

Sam recently had his first hair cut. While the rattail brought back fond memories of our own childhood, it had to go. Otherwise, Sam would be required to get a "3" tatoo immediately. Unfortunately, nothing complements a muscle shirt and denim cut-offs like a rattail...so much for his favorite outfit. For those of you concerned about the fate of the rattail, it is preserved for posterity in the obligatory Baby's First Curl box.


Sorry for the time gap between posts.

Poofs Poofs Poofs!!!!

I don't know why I call them poofs. They look like poofs. Sam loves poofs! He loves them so much he glued them to his face.....

We record this in the archives of history as poofs are his first self feeding.

A comfortable life vest

We took Sam to see the Cahaba Lillies. For those that don't know, the Cahaba River is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where this flower grows.

The first time he put on his PFD, he wanted new parents. This time, he fell asleep in the kayak. So either he can tolerate the vest now, or paddling with his parents in a kayak to see one of a kind lillies bored him to sleep.

Below are some pics of the trip. Enjoy the Sammers and the Lillies.....

Who made this kid?

Some pics from this past weekend. He's almost 9 months and the time has flown. He's got new tricks:

1) Standing up and pushing his toys by himself...which looks like walking to parents. If he could just stand up on his own, we'd find him in the street.

2) Whizzing on my shirt before I go to work.....which I did not change.

3) Dumping over objects twice his size and forthwith laughing as he crawls away. ( WhewHoo!!! I found a way to use the word "forthwith")

4) Another tooth!!! An imprint of which is forever tatooed to Jen's stomach.

Sam at the beach

Jamey took me out on the skiff to fish. Sam didn't have a license so we left him on the island beach to play. He slept and played by himself until we got back. He's a trooper.




After he was awoken abruptly by the sea just months earlier, he seems to have gotten over his beach issues.





Here Sam is trying to unearth and consume a large clump of seaweed....YUM!!!

Orange Beach Fishing Trip

Last time I went deep sea fishing, I learned that even though you've puked so much that you dry heave, it doesn't mean the nausea will stop. This time, I did much better. Sam did the best of all of us though.....probably brought back old memories for him.

Here is me catching a spanish mackeral. There is also a shot of Beth and Clay Dos Equis (it's cinco de mayo).

And of course, a courtesy shot of our banshee.

Only 500 days left.

Sam has planned a trip to the Quetico. It's 500 days away the kid has already bought a sleeping bag, backpack, infant PFD, 3 bottles of JetBoil fuel and an ultralight hammock (adult size). He has lost his mind. Here he is below playing with his new toys...

Outside at dusk.

Jen has a birthday coming up so she got her present early. It's a new camera and it should be a bit better than our old point and shoot. These pics were taken at 6:45 today so the light wasn't great. Still, I think they turned out pretty good. Once we figure the thing out we should have some really nice pics.