Adventures in Chub

Sam-isms and Funny Moments

2012-02-05T15:31:00.000-05:00

Aaron and I don't want to forget some of the cute things Sam says or the ways he says different words. Hearing him speak is one of my greatest joys and often makes me laugh out loud. It is so fun to watch him process things and try to figure out the world around him.

Sam has taken "helping" with brother to a new level. Around Christmas, he lifted up shirt and pushed Ethan towards his chest saying "Sam feed Ethan". Yikes! Sorry buddy, that is just not possible.
Instead of spit-up, he calls it "spit-out".
Words that start with "st or tr", he replaces with a "f". So train is fain and truck is...well not pleasant word. It is quite shocking the first time he pointed to an 18-wheeler and said the "f-word".
Ethan is going to grow up thinking his first name is Baby since Sam always calls him Baby Ethan
He loves to get out of the house and do things. One of the first things he says when he gets up is "Go places, please??"
When he farts, he says he "beeped"
The boy takes after his mother in his need for a plan. Before he goes down for nap, he wants to tell me everything he is going to do when he gets up. "Watch toon, snack, go places, see friends, etc".
He thinks he can whistle for my parents dog, but instead he is merely staying "wee-oh-wee" in a high pitched voice.
He has crazy names for all of the games he plays with his daddy. These shenanigans include "naked guys" (where they run around with their shirts off like manly men), "riblets" (where they chase each other and tickle each others ribs), "monkey pound" (where one of them pretends to be a wild animal while the other one tries to catch them and put them in their animal net) and many many others. Sam and Aaron are two, crazy peas-in-a-pod.
"Daddy has glasses and Sam has eyes"

Puddle Jumpin'

2012-01-23T08:27:00.000-05:00

Family Handy Man

2012-01-06T17:15:00.000-05:00

Sam's favorite Christmas present this year was probably his big box of tools from Memaw. Here is our little "handy man" on the job. Maybe he will follow in his Pops footsteps.

Sweet Ethan

2012-01-06T17:11:00.001-05:00

Our 8 week old's main activity is growing chins! Oh, how I love fat babies!

Here is the little mister in all of his glory!

Sweet, sweet grin

This gives you a good indication of how fuzzy his head is.

Just relaxing on his playmat

Tired of pictures....

My Boys

2011-11-19T19:38:00.000-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the first time Sam held his little brother. Although this has been a difficult transition for him, he has been ever so kind and sweet with Ethan. He loves to help me with diaper changes and will often bring a toy or book to Ethan when he is crying so he will "feel better". I love the joy on his face here and pray that God would grow a deep friendship between these boys as the years go by.

Just a few random pics of Ethan this week.

My 3 favorite people in the world!

Ethan is Here!

2011-11-19T19:28:00.001-05:00

Our sweet boy is here! Ethan Michael Duffy made his appearance on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 at 4:06pm. He weighed 7lbs 9oz and was 21in long. Labor went really well that day and he is, thankfully, a very healthy boy.

The hospital took a few pictures before we left. When you compare them to Sam's infant pictures, our boys look very similar.

Halloween Monkey

2011-11-01T08:12:00.001-04:00

While we were waiting on trick or treaters to come, Sam kept yelling " 'Mon (as in come on) Kids, get candy!"

"What the heck is on your face, Daddy?"

Monkey Tail

Wish this one was up closer so you could appreciate the grin on our little monkey's face. After we left every house, he would say "More Fick or Feet!!"

Discovering the wonderful taste of Nerds with Nana

Monkey Taxi courtesy of Pop

Fick or Feet!

2011-10-31T20:36:00.001-04:00

Sam had the BEST time tonight! I think he liked giving out candy at Nana's as much as he enjoyed actually trick or treating himself. Thought I would try to get a video of him saying "fick or feet". He has been saying it for weeks and it always makes me smile. I am pretty sure we have the cutest little monkey ever!

Pre-Halloween Festivities

2011-10-31T20:27:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin Decorating

Oh the joy of sprinkles!

Hooray for Fall!

2011-10-19T19:33:00.000-04:00

Carnivore

2011-10-19T19:22:00.000-04:00

This is for you dad....Your grandson has your love for gnawing meat off of a bone. I know you are proud.

Sammy's Jammies

2011-10-02T14:37:00.000-04:00

This isn't the best video, but we had to post it. At bedtime now, we ask Sam what he is wearing and his reponse is "Sammy's Jammies" in a low, growly voice. It cracks us up! This little boy loves being a ham.

Mister Bubble Beard

2011-10-02T14:29:00.000-04:00

Big Boy Bed

2011-09-12T08:22:00.000-04:00

In preparation for Ethan's arrival, we got Sam a toddler bed. We were very hesitant about how he would do with this change, but his first night was a success! I think it helped that he was so proud that he "helped" put it together and then picked out his own pillow at the store. We'll see how naptime goes this afternoon, but overall, I am so proud of how he adjusted to this change.

Our Ginger Midget

2011-08-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

Our sweet boy grinning up at his daddy.

Watching his daddy bat with his "high tech" binoculars:)

Batter up!

Our redhead!

2 & 1/2 and Lovin' It!

2011-08-28T20:25:00.000-04:00

So this month our little guy turned 2 1/2. Can you believe it??? I sure can't. Sam is such a funny, curious, "spirited", and loving kid. I am afraid I will forget some of the special little moments we have with him, so I feel like I need to keep writing some of them on here. Here are just a few of my favorite things about our Sam:

He wanted to name his baby brother, Ernie-Bert. Due to our desire for our 2nd little boy to not get beat up on the playground, we decided to name him, Ethan Michael instead. Maybe Ernie-Bert can be our family nickname:)
About a month ago, he started singing along with me, particularly before nap and bedtime. "You are My Sunshine" sounds so much sweeter coming from him! He also loves doing the motions to songs like "Wheels on the Bus" or "I'm a little teapot" or "Itsy Bitsy Spider". I thank Kindermusik for helping him grow in his love of music.
He is big on counting things right now. He can count up to 13 by himself, although he thinks he is counting to 15 (the last numbers are all 13, 13, 13...I guess they all sound a little alike).
His favorite friend right now is a 21 month old named Molly from church. He talks about her daily, either by pretending to talk to her on the phone or praying for her. He might have already chosen the future-Mrs. Duffy:)
This summer he has discovered his love of swimming and is pretty fearless. It took us a while to convince him to wear water wings, but after seeing that it would give him more independence, he now loves that he can go off by himself.
Speaking of himself, Sam is BIG on doing everything by himself. I probably hear him say "Do it self" a thousand times a day
He loves our neighbor Darrell, who is like a surrogate grandparent for him. Sam rarely goes over to visit without recieving food, a book, etc. We are pretty spoiled to have such great neighbors!
He loves meeting new people. Whether it is the guy sitting on the bench outside the gym or the bagger at the grocery store, he always says "Hi" and usually introduces us by saying "I Sam" and patting me and saying "mama".
I have tried taking him on a "field trip" of sorts every week this summer, and we haven't found anything yet that he doesn't enjoy doing. Whether it is picking blueberries, running around the children's museum, feeding the ducks at the park, or frolicking around the gymnastics place, he is a willing party. I love his joy in life and the joy he finds in every new experience.
The child could eat pizza for every meal!
Some things about our little man haven't changed. Two of our favorite things about Sam that we hope will last forever are his affectionate nature and his love of being read to. He still usually greets Aaron at the end of the day by running and jumping into his arms. As for reading, he can finish the end of my sentences on some of the books we read together. Our little man is so active, it is nice to have that time to snuggle in a chair and share some stories.
He loves babies, as long as I am not holding them. We are praying this will change in 3 months when his little brother comes. Here's hoping!
Sammy loves his routines and usually has one at every place that we go on a regular basis. At my grandmother's house, before he will even say hello, he wants a Ritz cracker and to play the music on the snow globe. At my Aunt Nancy's house, he runs to the snack drawer then usually take her outside to play on the neighbor's trampoline or find kitty cats.

Fourth of July Fun

2011-07-04T19:05:00.003-04:00

Ready for a swim!

Of course one must have their tennis raquet before they enter the pool...

Can you believe how red his hair looks?? Where did this child come from?!

Kicking back and relaxing...Being a toddler is apparently exhausting work

O the joy a squirt gun can bring a little boy!

Nothing makes my mom more nervous than a flying child.

Water Play

2011-07-03T20:32:00.005-04:00

Shirtless summer play

Just gettin' a drink

Making it rain

Our cute guy with his new hair do

Using a hose is serious business

My Guys

2011-06-15T08:10:00.002-04:00

Sammy initially wanted to wear snow boots to church. Rain boots were our compromise. I guess we all have a different idea of fashion.

Taking a break from "mowing" his bedroom to make muscles

No Shirt or Pants Required

2011-05-25T19:53:00.007-04:00

Guess who dressed him for playtime? (Hint: It wasn't his mom.)

Not a great picture, but he keeps walking around or sitting with his arms crossed and it cracks me up.

Droopy Diaper Butt

My redhead

Sitting "not so much" like a gentleman

Summer=Corn Time!

2011-05-25T19:48:00.003-04:00

Corn Time is a happy time!

This picture was supposed to note all of the corn juice dripping down his belly. Since you can't see it that well you will have to use your imagination. Who would have thought corn could be so messy?!?

Chowing Down

New Bathtub Ritual

2011-05-25T19:37:00.004-04:00

Sam's new bathtime ritual is laying in the water. I don't know if it is hearing how things sound underwater or what, but he loves it. I try not to let him do it too much as I am a worrier and am afraid it will cause him to get an ear ache (I know, I know...I am one of those ridiculous moms).

When I told him to sit-up, he instead put his little, chubby hands over his ears (in picture 3) to show me he could keep the water out that way. Cute but not really that effective:) By the way, sorry some of these pics are sideways. I couldn't figure out how to fix them.

Just Like Dad

2011-05-25T19:31:00.003-04:00

As if they didn't look just alike anyways, Sam loves to wear his daddy's clothes. He gets such a proud look on his face when we tell him he looks just like daddy.

Boys Will Be Boys

2011-03-16T13:54:00.003-04:00

First a little playtime in the sandtable...

Next, he is off to his jungle gym...

Of course he has to play with a ball or two....

Finally, what is more fun than splashing in a mud puddle!!

I love being a boy!

I love his giggle in this little video. Sam had such a great time playing with his Bibi this weekend.

Weekend with the Boys

2011-03-06T19:21:00.002-05:00

The Duffy Boys

Swinging with Uncle A'am (he doesn't say the "d")

One of the many things we did to torture Rufus in the name of entertainment. He was a great sport and provided much enjoyment for Sam.

Birthday sand table from Bibi & Pops

We are giving Sam a week before all of the sand is dumped out of the table:)

Our 2 year old

2011-02-22T07:55:00.002-05:00

I can't believe Sam is 2! While he looks like a "mini Aaron", he couldn't be more unique in his personality. Here are some fun facts about our little man.

Sam is happiest outside. Whether he is picking up sticks, moving around mulch, climbing on his slide, coloring the sidewalk with chalk or throwing a ball, as long as he is outside, he is happy with life.
It is only a matter of time before we will have to get him a puppy or kitty. The joy on his face is priceless when we go to Aunt Nancy's house and he sees Mimi or Gus, her cats (in fact he calls most cats that he sees in person or in a book, Mimi), or when we see the neighbor's dogs, Munchie and Bayless. We have an animal lover on our hands!
Much to our delight, Sam is still quite the snuggle bug. He usually runs to greet his daddy with a hug when Aaron comes home from work. He has also started trying to hold a few of the little girl's hands in our music class.
When he wants us to sing, Sam will making clicking noise and wave his finger like a conductor. He loves being sung to and it has become a favorite part of bedtime routine.
Veggietales, Sesame Street and Curious George are his favorite shows.
He still enjoys being read to. Dr. Suess, Curious George stories, and many of the books we get from Imagination Library, tend to be his go-to books.
Some days he can be very picky about what he will eat, then he will surprise us and eat hummus or black bean and spinach lasagna. It seems like the more I want him to try something, the less likely he is to eat it. I guess it is a "toddler thing".
Chick-Fil-A is defnitely his favorite fast food.
He refers to the color red as "Elmo"
He can probably say 50 or more words, but doesn't always use them. He has a constant stream of jabber and I often think he sounds like he is speaking Chinese.
Some kids are dumpers and some are sorters, he is a 100% dumper, which often makes is 100% sorter mom crazy!
In the art world, Sam really enjoys his sticker book and playing with play dough. He likes to color, but will usually end up spending more time dumping his crayons into different containers.
Right now, he is into giving people "assigned seats". He got very frustrated the other day when my 81 year old grandmother wouldn't sit on the floor with him.
He is very stubborn and strong-willed, but we are seeing some progress in his obedience, which gives me hope. He is usually very good about helping clean up his toys and likes to "help" me clean or cook. I learning alot about letting go of control and picking my battles. I guess that is just a normal part of parenthood.
Sam teaches Aaron and I so much about God's love and grace for our lives. We feel ill-equipped to be his parents most of the time, but we are constantly trying to remind ourselves that He will provide all we need to grow and love this little boy. Thankful that His grace is sufficient and that God can overcome all the mistakes that we will make as parents. Praying Sam will never know a day without Jesus and His love. As our little guy loves to "pray", we are hoping that is a sign of things to come.

Birthday Party #2

2011-02-21T18:26:00.003-05:00

We did another birthday party for Sam at my parents house so that some of my other family could celebrate with us. We sure wish Bibi and Pops could have been there, but look forward to seeing them this weekend!

Grandpa's are great for "wrastlin'"

Birthday Hat which could probably double as a wizard hat

Sam LOVED everyone singing Happy Birthday to him.

Playing basketball with cousin Brady

Motorized car from Aunt Debby and all the cousins. He loves pressing the button, but won't sit on it yet. No one loves a good button like Sam does:)

First Step Towards Potty Training...

2011-02-21T18:21:00.003-05:00

Apparently we have given Sam the impression that you can't sit on the potty without some good reading material. :)

Birthday Fun!

2011-02-20T20:32:00.003-05:00

Birthday breakfast of blueberry scones.

Fun at the park doing his favorite activity....mulch relocation

Favorite neighbor puppy, Munchie

Happy Birthday to Me!

Birthday fun with Nana & Grandpa

Hide and Speak

2011-01-28T09:04:00.002-05:00

Sam doesn't quite get the concept of "Hide and Seek" (mostly that you aren't supposed to answer when we are trying to figure out where you are), and it is currently one of our favorite things. This little boy makes me laugh.

Everything Snow!

2011-01-09T21:38:00.004-05:00

We had a different hat on the snowman on the first day, but Sam preferred the snowman to wear his dad's favorite hat. He is such a funny little guy. It was such a blessing to watch him experience the snow via snowman, snow angel, snowballs, sledding, and of course, eating lots it:)

Faces

2010-12-04T19:35:00.003-05:00

Muppet Face

"Am I supposed to be touching this" Face

Chocolate Face

Cheesy Grin Face

Serious "Blue Steel" Face

Getting Dad in Shape

2010-12-04T19:16:00.001-05:00

Sam loves riding on his dad's back while Aaron does push-ups. Nothing like having a 30lb toddler on your back to quickly whip you into shape!

"Try pushing up NOW Dad!"

Sam has a strange ritual that we call "Dad Bridge". Before or after Aaron does push-ups, he will go under Aaron's body, head-butt his legs 2 or 3 times then turn around and give him a kiss. He does this a few times. It is really strange, but it's one of those fun memories that we don't want to forget.

Little Puppy for Halloween

2010-10-31T20:20:00.002-04:00

Cute Hat on a Cute Guy

2010-10-31T20:15:00.001-04:00

Thanks Uncle Stan and Aunt Debra for my cute hat (and awesome soccer uniform)!!

Columbian Soccer Star

2010-10-31T20:08:00.003-04:00

Helping clean out his first pumpkin

Love that belly! He definitely still has some of his baby fat:)

Our little soccer star!

Reading on the "John"

2010-10-07T14:25:00.002-04:00

Just Chillin' in the Tub

2010-10-03T19:09:00.001-04:00

Recent Shenanigans

2010-09-25T21:59:00.009-04:00

Our little boxer in the making.

No, that's not a toga. It's one of my shirts.

Sam is very serious about his mulch relocation program at the playground.

Other People's Things

2010-08-28T17:27:00.005-04:00

Sam found one of my boxing gloves and Bibi's sunglasses.

Washing Dishes

2010-08-23T20:10:00.004-04:00

Who would have thought a couple kitchen utensils and a bowl of water would have kept him so entertained so that I could cook dinner?

Throwing spoonfuls of water out of the sink. Yep...not so helpful sometimes.

I always love to see how short his legs are in relation to his torso. Cutest guy ever.

18 Months Old

2010-08-18T21:11:00.003-04:00

We can't believe Sam is already 18 months old! He is becoming more of a little boy and less of a baby every day. Here are a few facts about him that we don't want to forget:

• At his 18 month checkup, he was 29 lbs (80th percentile) and 35 inches (97th percentile!)...we are pretty sure he could be on the Titans defensive line.
• Dude LOVES ketchup on anything. Fries, corn, cheese...you name it. My sister even claims that he dipped his blueberries in it when she was keeping him one day.
• Curious George is his favorite book right now. He also loves "Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late" and a few books that Aaron liked to read when he was little. We are so happy he loves to be read to. The highlight of my day is usually snuggling in the rocker and reading to him.
• When he gets into trouble, he usually tries to "run" from us, which usually causes Aaron and I to have to stifle a laugh. It is almost like he is thinking "I'm not in trouble if you can't catch me!". Little stinker.
• He really enjoys watering things with the hose and really just being outside in general. (It will be nice when its not 100 degrees outside so his mom feels more like getting out)
• Sam thinks anything with buttons is the greatest thing ever, especially cell phones. A few people have given us old phones or play phones, and he usually has one in each hand at all times and spends the day pretending to talk to Dada.
• When guests come, he likes to "show off" by bringing them his favorite toys or books.
• He is ALL BOY and enjoys wrestling, getting dirty, building things, etc, but his favorite pasttime is mostly destroying things, i.e. taking everything out of a drawer or off of a shelf. His type-A mom is having to learn to learn a lot of patience:)
• He knows three signs pretty well: More, All Done and Please.
• His favorite seat in the house is the window above the couch. We call it his perch.
• Despite his boyish ways, he is still quite a cuddle bug. Aaron and I are both so thankful for how affectionate he is and love all his wet kisses and little buddy hugs.

Here are a few pics we have taken lately...I will try to do better about posting more frequently.

Eating Adventures

2010-07-11T20:51:00.004-04:00

Our little man loves him some breakfast!

Trying to cover up his "bed head".

Why in the world did I think spaghetti was a good idea? So so messy, but he loves it!

Walkin' Man

2010-07-11T20:41:00.002-04:00

Other Random Pics from the Week

2010-07-03T19:32:00.005-04:00

Watching cartoons with Mama

Sam's Muppet Face

Favorite toy of the week is Aaron's carboy cleaner. Seriously, why do we buy this kid real toys?

Another picture of the fuzzy head...It's kind of my favorite.

Just Being a Boy

2010-07-03T19:16:00.002-04:00

Random June Pictures

2010-06-25T14:36:00.002-04:00

"Little Aaron" looking sharp for church

Sharing a brew with Dad on Father's Day (for those of you who might be worried...No, we are not allowing our 16 month old to drink alcohol yet :) )

"Paging Dr. Duffy."

Being a big help with laundry...if you consider helping to mean throwing all the clothes out of the basket or wearing them on your head.

Our Slug. Sam's been working on his first molars lately. He pretty much leaves a trail of saliva everywhere he goes.

Furry Friends in Nashville

2010-06-01T20:57:00.004-04:00

Rafiki was such a sweetie with Sam. Sam literally shook with joy each time he saw him.

Lots and lots of puppy licks.

Moses thinks he is a cat and likes to try to lay on Roger's shoulders.

Beginning of Summer

2010-06-01T20:49:00.003-04:00

Cool dude.

There's Jake on his "life guard" stand. Poor guy can't relax when people are at the pool.

Bibi & Pops Visit

2010-05-16T19:07:00.004-04:00

Sammy couldn't get enough of his Bibi this weekend!

Nothing like cuddling and reading a good book!

3 Generations of Duffy Men

Can't you just feel the love?

Blue-eyed, Fuzzy-headed, Busy Boy

2010-05-13T20:30:00.004-04:00

My little blue-eyed stud

This picture was taken moments before he started emptying the cabinet. Trouble is spelled S-A-M!

Sam is starting to look at books more on his own, not just when we sit down to read with him. I can't wait until we can read fun stuff like "The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe" together!

Doing what he does best....cramming food in his mouth like it is his last meal.

I love this little man.

First Haircut: Bye Bye Mullet

2010-05-06T20:40:00.005-04:00

With the help of loud toys, LOTS of snacks, and entertainment provided by my Uncle Johnny and I, Sam got his first haircut today. My wonderful Aunt Denise did a great job dealing with our wiggly guy, and with the exception of the last few moments, he was pretty cooperative. I didn't think he could look anymore like Aaron, but I was wrong. He is definitely a miniature of his daddy.

Push-ups with Daddy

2010-05-06T20:31:00.003-04:00

It is hard for Aaron to get a lot of exercising done with our little man around.

Messy Mouths and Mohawks

2010-04-27T19:24:00.002-04:00

Mmmm...I like me some ravioli!

Notice the vegetable to ravioli ratio....

Serious mohawk

"Mom, will you just get my haircut already?!?"

Forcing a smile so I will stop taking pictures and play.

Outside

2010-04-15T09:01:00.004-04:00

Climbing up by himself

So I got this hat for Sam yesterday because it has a strap under the chin and might actually stay on. I am afraid though that it makes him look like a female gardner. "Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?"

Thanks for the slide, Bibi! It is so fun!

Sam loves to stand on top and "steer" the wheel.

Swinging

Puppy love. Our friends' dog, Bailey, came over to run in the yard. Sam loved him and Bailey politely tolerated Sam.

Playing with People I love

2010-04-15T08:45:00.004-04:00

Sam is always excited to see his Aunt Ninny.

Cuddling with Grandpa and the beloved snack cup.

Cousin Caleb pushed Sam all around the house in the Crazy Coup. It's so fun to have cousins that live close by!

Looks of guilt on both their faces after playing "bumper cars" and running the car into the door.

Exhausted from a hard day of playing!

Easter Fun with Nana

2010-04-04T19:53:00.004-04:00

You can't tell by this picture, but this was Sam reaching towards my mom as far as he could without actually touching the grass. The dude does not like crawling on grass. It's pretty funny.

Not an amazing picture on my part, but this look of joy on our little man's face was priceless.

Sharing a snack with Nana

Sam LOVES being sprayed with a squirt bottle. We can't wait to see how he does in the pool this year.

Two peas in a pod.

Running with My Wagon

2010-04-02T08:48:00.002-04:00

Linus & His Blankie

2010-03-29T13:44:00.003-04:00

Havin' a good ol' time

2010-03-19T19:58:00.003-04:00

Did Someone Call a Plumber?

2010-03-16T14:02:00.003-04:00

Here is our little "muscle man" in his favorite room these days...the bathroom.

Nice shot of the "plumber crack".

Good side view shot of the mullet. We should probably get his haircut, but I am pretty sure this will be the only time in his life where he can have a mullet and actually look cute.

Hard at work unrolling more toilet paper.

Moved onto the shower where he enjoys a good "wallerin'" in the shower curtain.

Couple of Crazies

2010-03-04T09:49:00.002-05:00

Factoids about our 12 month old

2010-02-19T09:12:00.004-05:00

Since I am a slacker and haven't kept a baby book for Sam (yes, I know...I'm horrible). I am going to use our handy-dandy blog to document some Sam facts.

At 12 months old...

Weight: 23lbs 4oz (exactly 16lbs more than when he was born)
Height: 31 3/4 in (exactly 12 inches longer than when he was born)
First Words: momma, dada, bye-bye. He will only say "bye bye" to someone once they have left the room. He is working hard to say "puppy", but he is not there yet.
Favorite Item: definitely his knit blanket. He is now going to get it during playtime and tries to lug it around when he crawls.
Favorite Game: peekaboo. It is so cute to watch him put a blanket or stuffed animal over his head and try to "hide" from us.
First Steps: Feb 6th behind a push toy
Signs: We have been working on the sign for "please" and "more" for weeks. Today, he finally made his first attempt to sign "more".
Things he does when prompted: gives kisses, "high fives", "sings"
Favorite Songs: If Your Happy and You Know it, Ooh E Ooh Ah Ah, Wheels on the Bus, My Guy

Our Birthday Boy!

2010-02-17T21:11:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday Sam!

2010-02-17T08:51:00.002-05:00

I can't believe it has been a whole year! Every parent says that it goes by fast, but until you actually experience it for yourself, you just can't understand what they really mean. Our little Sam is not a baby anymore, but a little boy.

Being a parent has been quite a roller coaster. There are moments that I don't think could get any sweeter like when I am reading him a story before bed or when he lays his head on my shoulder. And there are moments where I don't think I have the patience and strength to get through another moment like when he throws all his food off of his tray for the 100th time or refuses to take a nap. But I know the challenging times are there to remind me that I was never meant to parent Sam on my own strength. Sam is ultimately God's child, not ours and only He can love and care for Him perfectly.

I thought for his birthday i would share some of Aaron and my favorite things about our boy. What a privalege it is to watch him grow and develop!

Sam loves to read with us. He can be cranky all day but when we sit down to read a book together, he lays back and becomes content. Favorite books include: Any and all Dr. Suess and Eric Carle books, Llama Llama Red Pajama, Chicky Chicky Chook Chook, Skippy jon Jones, Goodnight Gorilla, etc.
Sam is very affectionate. His "buddy hugs" pretty much make us melt. And as of late, he loves to give big, open-mouthed, wet, slobbery kisses.
Our son is part wookie, part "animal" from the muppet babies. He has a crazy set of lungs and everyone at church expects to hear him squeak and squeal at some point during the service.
We are now calling him "Sam the Destroyer" because his new hobby is to take everything out of drawers, off shelves, etc. Within 2 seconds a room can go from clean to disarray. Why do I even try to put things back in order??
He is a great shopping partner as long as there is a cart for him to lounge in. I use a cloth protector so he doesn't put his mouth on it and bring a large supply of Cheerios, and he is perfectly content to people watch and make friends. We definitely have our favorite cashiers at different stores that we have to visit with. Our Kroger lady, Debbie, is practically like an aunt:)
Sammy is a pretty good eater, but the foods he gets most excited about are bananas and whole grain waffles. I am sure in just a few years this will change to Doritos and Skittles, but for now, he doesn't know any better.
He really enjoys being outside and especially going on walks or hikes. We got a hiking pack, and he is perfectly happy to ride on daddy or grandpa's back.
Our little man LOVES cats and dogs and squeals with delight as soon as he sees them. Unfortunately, the animal often runs in fear knowing Sam will try to "love" them too hard by pulling their ears or burying his face in their fur.
We are pretty sure he is going to grow up to be a dentist because of his fascination with people's mouths and teeth. He is always sticking a paw in someone's mouth to check things out.
Right now, Sam really enjoys climbing up stairs, much to my exhaustion, especially at my parents house. I guess he is just preparing me for how much I am going to have to chase him when he starts walking.

Thanks for loving our little boy and supporting him as he grows up!

Singin' & Steppin'

2010-02-09T14:38:00.003-05:00

Sam started "singing" last weekend with his Nana and Grandpa and loves it when we do it, especially in the car. I am afraid he got his musical abilities from his dad. (sorry honey!) This video also shows Sam taking a few steps with his push toy. He just started doing this on Saturday. We will try to get a better video of him walking later, but this is all we could get for now. You know how difficult cooperation can be at this age.

Bad Hair Day

2010-02-09T14:29:00.002-05:00

Sam's hair wasn't all the way dry when I put him to bed last night, so it is a little on the crazy side today. I will be so sad the day his hair decides to lay down. I love his sweet little fuzzy head.

New Car Seat

2010-02-09T14:18:00.003-05:00

We found a great deal on Sam's new car seat. After doing some research, we decided we wanted to buy the Britax Boulevard, but they normally cost around $320. Luckily, we found it for $220 on www.albeebaby.com with free shipping. Our little man loves facing forward! I am trying to enjoy these sweet moments in the car while they last.

A little mischief...

2010-01-27T20:58:00.006-05:00

Nothing much....Just being cute

2010-01-14T20:56:00.003-05:00

At first we were trying to get a video of Sam because he was talking to himself in the mirror and giving himself kisses. Of course when we got out the camera, he stopped and tried to act interested in his pajamas. He could pretty much do anything though and I would still find him entertaining and the cutest guy ever.

Crawling like a Big Boy

2010-01-14T20:45:00.002-05:00

Big Booty

2010-01-01T14:27:00.008-05:00

Sam will kill me when he is older, but I have to post these pictures. Our little man has the biggest booty that I have EVER seen on a baby before. Like father, like son.

Cute Hat

2010-01-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

This hat was a gift from Aaron's Aunt Debra and Uncle Stan who are missionaries in Columbia, South America. Sam looks pretty darn cute in it. I can't wait to see him in the little soccer uniform they got us!

Runnin' from dad

2009-12-28T19:22:00.002-05:00

Snufflin'

2009-12-16T14:59:00.004-05:00

Ever since Sam was just a few months old, Aaron and I have been "snufflin'" him like a dog to try to get a smile out of him. Now he is trying to imitate us. He is such a ham!! I could seriously watch him do this all day.

Mmm..Bananas are Tasty!

2009-12-09T09:21:00.004-05:00

Sam just couldn't get enough of this banana his daddy was feeding him the other day. He shakes all over when he gets really excited about something. It's pretty funny.

Wounded Soldier Crawl

2009-12-07T14:52:00.003-05:00

Sam has advanced from an "inch worm" type crawl to "the wounded soldier". NOTHING gets this child crawling any faster than if I get out my laptop. I forsee this causing problems in the future. but for now, it is just really entertaining watching our little guy wiggle furiously towards the glowing screen.

First Snow

2009-12-07T14:48:00.003-05:00

Playing peekaboo

2009-12-05T07:56:00.003-05:00

Eating Finger Foods

2009-12-02T14:14:00.002-05:00

Sam has been eating cheerios and puffs pretty well for over a week. We tried banana a few days ago and he wasn't sure about it (even though he loves babyfood banana). Today though, it was a hit. The only problem was that he had the hardest time trying to grip the little slimey pieces. I guess that's where Moms come in handy:).

He looks pretty proud of himself.

Here he is putting banana goo in his hair. I guess that means we will be washing it tonight.

Cutest face and chubby hands ever.

The Inch Worm

2009-11-18T09:02:00.002-05:00

Sam turned 9 months old yesterday. Totally crazy to me that our little boy is growing up so fast. In this past week, he has started to develop all kinds of new skills. He is saying "dada". I don't think he is saying it to Aaron, but he is at least able to say the sound. Also, he isn't gagging every time he tries to eat a cheerio or puff. This is a big thing for us as he seems to have a more sensitive gag reflex making it difficult for him to eat anything with texture or substance. It used to be a huge success for him to get one or two puffs down at a sitting. This week he is enjoying them much more. But the biggest news though is that he is starting to crawl. Well, not so much crawl right now as just inch along, but its a start. And we are so proud of him!

First Big Boy Bath

2009-11-16T19:52:00.006-05:00

Future Beethoven...(probably not)

2009-11-08T18:41:00.004-05:00

It took me FOREVER to get a video of Sam "playing" his piano. Everytime I would start to film him, he would stop banging and just stare at me. This is the best I could get. It is so fun to watch him discover new sounds and toys. He might not have any real musical ability, but he sure is having a good time!

Rasslin' with Dad

2009-11-07T20:41:00.002-05:00

Fall Pictures

2009-10-22T13:56:00.000-04:00

I thought I would get some fall picture of Sam on our front porch. Enjoy!

Love that fuzzy head!

Trying to figure out how to put the pumkin in his mouth.

Really mom? Do you HAVE to keep taking my picture?

Getting My Church Clothes On

2009-10-22T13:44:00.001-04:00

In case you haven't met Sam's best friend yet, this is Hermie or Herms the Crab. It used to be just a bath toy, but now Hermie goes everywhere with us. Also take note of Sam's hair, these days it sticks out everywhere.

Aaron thought Sam looked like a Calvin Klein model, sporting the jeans and no top. If that is the career he is headed for, he should probably work out a little more. :)

Playtime

2009-10-07T20:16:00.000-04:00

Lizard Boy

2009-10-05T16:35:00.000-04:00

Bath Time!

2009-09-26T08:53:00.001-04:00

Link to Pictures

2009-09-09T13:52:00.000-04:00

Our wonderful friend, Charity, came to visit last week and took pictures of Sam. They are so good! (Especially considering he was teething and fussy that day!!)

http://web.sendtoprint.net/proofbook/galleries.asp?CouponID=CharityMyers

Password: duffy0903009

Enjoy!

Hiking

2009-09-04T16:11:00.000-04:00

Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and Jake took Sam on his first hiking trip.

August 2009

2009-09-04T16:02:00.000-04:00

18 lbs of Cuteness

2009-08-15T14:02:00.000-04:00

Almost Sitting Up!

2009-08-15T13:51:00.000-04:00

Sam will be 6 months old on Monday and is almost sitting up by himself. He is still a little wobbly, but I think he will get the hang of it soon.

Splish Splash

2009-08-08T19:17:00.000-04:00

Sam just didn't know what to think about the pool. He didn't cry, but seemed unsure about it all. Maybe he was just afraid that we would bring out the soap and bath him:)

I love my Nana.

Look at those muscles!

Splashing Around

The Boys

5.5 months

2009-08-01T11:45:00.000-04:00

2009-08-01T11:26:00.000-04:00

Chillin' in my Exersaucer

2009-08-01T11:07:00.000-04:00

5 Months Old

2009-07-18T13:38:00.000-04:00

Cutest "kankles" around!

"Whatcha doin' momma?"

Just chillin' in my recliner...

"Yay Feet!"

So far we have tried applesauce, sweet potatoes, squash, and carrots. He hasn't found anything he doesn't like yet.

Fuzzy wuzzy is my head...

Trying to figure out how to get this in his mouth. Story of his life these days.

Our Son, the Howler Monkey

2009-07-07T18:19:00.000-04:00