We Couldn't Help Ourselves

The Christmas Spirit just snuck up on us. It started with this, a stocking for Sam (not yet finished):

Then we decided Mommy and Daddy needed a stocking, too, also not finished:

I wasn't going to put up our regular tree, because we just don't have a good spot for it, especially considering the fact that Sam is very adept at crawling and grabbing right now, but I couldn't not have a tree at all, so we got Sam a little table-top tree.  We had fun decorating it with garland, lights, and ornaments:

But Sam and I decided having only stockings and a little tree just wouldn't do, so that's when Mommy braved the spooky attic and found garlands, berries, lights and wreaths and VOILA!

Now it feels like Christmas!

Wednesdates

Sam and I have a standing date on Wednesdays. After he wakes up from his morning nap, we head on down to the Frisco Library on the square for their weekly storytime program called "Babies and Books". It's very well done with a weekly theme, songs, a board book story, instruments and even some sign language instruction!

After the program, Sam and I always check out a thousand board books that a thousand other kids have slobbered on that I lug around for a week until it's time to do it again. It's worth it though! It's a very nice library with lots and lots of board books, even more children's books, and great children's music CDs . And, we're lucky that we only have to be a Texas resident to use it, since we don't actually live in Frisco.

Enjoy these photos of my little bookworm and the place where you can always find us on a Wednesday, rain or shine.

Puffs, the Magic Finger Food

Look what these chubby little fingers are up to. Doc started Sam on finger foods Monday (he had his 9-month check-up). He suggested Gerber Graduates' Puffs, rather than Cheerios, to start with because they are a little bit easier to gum. He was right. I tried one (yuck) and they pretty much dissolve in your mouth. But Sam loves them, so we'll stick with these for a while. Plus, the tube they come in makes a cool sound when you shake it, keeping aforementioned fingers busy while Mommy finishes grocery shopping.

Family, Food and Fun

What a wonderful First Thanksgiving we had with our baby Sam. Happy to have Papa Emil and Grandma Jan with us, we spent the day eating, playing with Sam, chatting and eating some more! Gram and Pops prepared a great feast and Sam entertained us all. He looked so handsome, too!

Enjoy these photos and a short video of our Thanksgiving Day with our special guests and of course, Samuel!

If you listen carefully, you can hear baby Samuel snoring in the video. 

Looks like somebody had too much turkey!

Too Much Turkey from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

We Are Thankful

We are so thankful that Papa and Grandma came to visit us. It made for a very special Thanksgiving.

They arrived at our house late-morning on Wednesday. Sam was just waking up from a nap as they walked through the door, so Papa and Grandma joined us in getting Sam out of bed. He was sleepy and a little shy at first, but he really warmed up quickly.



The first order of business was opening the presents Grandma and Papa brought for Samuel.  They brought two handsome outfits - one to wear while watching baseball with Daddy - and a really colorful bag that was fun to look at!





Sam showed Grandma and Papa all his toys while I finished getting lunch ready.

Grandma was good at playing giraffe. She really kept those blocks moving!

After a yummy lunch and a tour of the neighborhood, everybody took a little snooze. Then it was time for more toys! Papa was really good at the musical keys. He just kept pushing that sunshine button and singing Sam those nursery rhymes. I'm not sure how excited Papa Emil is to have this video on the blog, but it's just too sweet to keep hidden in the camera. What a great Papa!

A Sing Along with Papa from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

After all that playing our tummies were starting to rumble so we headed to Plano and ate at Mi Cocina, (which also happens to be Uncle Jeff's favorite Texas restaurant).



The Christmas tree and lights were up and looked so pretty. Sam was such a good boy and enjoyed his baby food at the table with the grown-ups.

We took a stroll to see the lights before heading for home.
Such a fun first day with Grandma and Papa!

Scary Hair

Sam's sitting up in the bath now. Daddy got some pictures of his scary hair the other day. He was having a great time, playing with Rubber Ducky and reading his Big Bird bath book. I had to take him out because he was getting pruney.

The Kid Loves Music

Sam loves music - and shiny things.
This kept him occupied for a while in the kitchen yesterday so that I could get a start on dinner.  This bowl makes a really, unique sound when you strike it with a metal baby spoon.  Not a sound I would describe as soothing.  And yet, a sound more pleasant than a fussy baby. 
Look at those little red knees.  Poor baby.  And look at those cheeks - couldn't you just eat him up!

This Is How My Baby Sleeps

This is how my baby sleeps.
How can this be comfortable?

At The WalMart

Who knew WalMart could be so exciting?
This was the light-bulb aisle. They have celing fans, hanging above, that were running and had their lights on. Sam was in heaven.

Today You Are Nine Months

Dear Samuel,
You look like a little man in this photo. You are such a handsome guy! This month you kept us busy while you:

started creeping around the house on your tummy like a soldier
ate and ate and ate and fussed whenever we took your empty bowl to the sink
discovered your love of balloons and became our own little "balloon boy"
learned how to get yourself from a tummy to a sitting position
figured out how to rummage through your toy box, looking for just the right thing
sat in the seat of a grocery cart for the first time
suffered from an increasingly bad case of separation anxiety - even if Mommy took two steps from you, you cried...hard
played in the grass outside - you like to watch Sophie play fetch. She runs by you extra fast, just to show-off!
started sleeping in your crib with the mattress all the way down - fun!
played on the playground for the first time, swinging in the swing with Granny Nell
crawled all over Mommy, all day long...
ate some new foods
got your first card in the mail; Papa and Grandma sent it to you
became The WonderPets biggest fan
celebrated your first Halloween - you were the cutest kid in the neighborhood - moo!
pushed your first tooth through, just a little bit
became a not-so-good shopper; you want to be out of your stoller and moving around
stopped being such a good listener during storytime at the library - again, you liked to crawl all over Mama
enjoyed music - baby songs, grown-up tunes, even tv jingles make you bob up and down to the beat!

We love you, Samuel.
Mommy 

Baby on a Breezy Day

Cool, windy weather has arrived in Dallas. So cool in fact that Sam had to bundle up the other day. He got to wear his little pea coat and the scarf Mommy made him for the first time. We were braving the "cold" (50 degree)weather because we were on a mission - get stuff to make soup for Daddy, who's trying to fight a nasty cold and losing miserably.

Pearly Whites

Look what's poking through, there on the left. Sam's first tooth has officially come in. I ran my finger across it and it's pretty sharp and jagged. So that's why you've been crying and drooling, Sam!

Excitement

Sam likes to eat.  Yes, I know, he takes after his Momma.  Here is the new "excited" move I told you about in this picture that starts as soon as he sees me get the baby food bowls out of the cabinet and continues well into his meal.  He also does it when he gets a giant pumpkin basket for Halloween, when he sees Sophie run by, pretty much any time he's feeling extra happy.
Happy Sam from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

Oh Boy is My World About to Change...

Look who's on the move. He went from a creep to an almost-crawl so fast I couldn't get the original video up. So, here's a compilation of the last week-and-a-half of Sam, on-the-move.

Sam On the Move from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

Swingin' Sam

We took Sam to the playground this week for the first time. We put him in the baby swing and he loved it! Nell and Vic were visiting. It was a nice, fall day and everyone had a good time, especially Swingin' Sam.

The Wonder That Is WonderPets

If I need some time to get things done without a certain little monkey crawling all over me, four o'clock is the time to do it. That's when WonderPets is on, the only show Sam will sit and watch.  He pretty much ignores all other tv shows, which is good.  But there's something about those WonderPets.

"Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming, too. You're WonderPets and Sara loves you."

I don't know if he most likes the child-like voices, the combination of photographed and illustrated animation or the repetitive (very repetitive) jingle that I wake up singing at three in the morning, but whatever it is, it gets his undivided attention.

He even likes the WonderPets board books - we check them out at the library. Yeah, that's a bit tough for a former elementary school teacher. All that wonderful children's literature out there and my son likes a book with pretty much no plot based on a cartoon (eye roll). But he's enjoying a book, so I guess that's good...for now. And if his love of these three superhero critters buys me some time a few afternoons a week, I'll take it. Plus, look how cute he is in front of the giant tv.

You've Got Mail

Sam got his first holiday card in the mail today. 

It came all the way from California!  Thanks Papa and Grandma!

Moo. Cluck.

Happy Halloween from The Funny Farm.

Sam had a great First Halloween. Gram and Pops came over to join in the festivities. Sam dressed up as a cow - a costume I received at a shower. Sophie was a chicken, a costume that suits her perfectly.

After dinner Sam and Daddy and I went to a couple of houses, mostly neighbors that we know, while Gram and Pops passed out candy at our house. Sam was a really good boy. He just held on to whoever was holding him and took it all in. He stayed up about an hour-and-a-half past his bedtime and wasn't even too fussy. He had a great time!

Enjoy the photos and the short video at the bottom!

Pops got swamped by trick-or-treaters!

Spoiled Little Pumpkin

(this is Sam's new "I'm excited" move - more on that later...)

Sam got a ball he can hold and a (baby-safe) hammer he can bang with.

We finished off the evening celebrating Gram's birthday with presents.

Happy Halloween!

Sam's First Halloween from Sara Straka on Vimeo.

Facebook Friends

Sam recently met his Uncle Jeff. They became friends right away. He brought Sam a neat-o Mickey Mouse Halloween book that has cool sound effects.

Dell came over, too, and we all had a nice time, spending the day together, playing toys, reading books and eating good food. The boys watched sports while the ladies chatted and played with Sam. Sam was really good, and didn't have a meltdown until the very end of the night, when it got pretty late. Since there were quite a few pics from the night, I made a collage for easier viewing. Enjoy!

Today You Are Eight Months

Dear Samuel, You're eight months today and the cutest little pumpkin in the patch! You've been very active this month, although I know it's nothing compared to what you'll be capable of once you start crawling and walking. This past month you...

started sitting up on your own, though it never lasts for long (see previous blog entry)
decided you also like blueberries, peaches, plums and asparagus, but not so much turkey - it was a little rough on your tummy, huh?
attended your first outdoor festival - Richardson's Cottonwood - with Gram and Pops
rolled over on your tummy and fussed
met your Uncle Jeff, who promptly posted you on what Daddy affectionally calls "the Facebook", where sadly you've never been before!
rolled over on your tummy and grunted
shopped with Mommy for your first Halloween pumpkin (a little baby one)
rolled over on your tummy and cried
started playing peek-a-boo...with Mommy, Gram, and even by yourself!
rolled over on your tummy and screamed
learned how to play catch with your pretty rainbow ball; you get so excited when you "catch" it!
started bouncing up and down, like you're keeping a really cool beat, when you decide to sit on your own
sat and watched while Sophie tried to steal your socks - right off your feet - TWICE!
added "da-da" and "nuh-nuh" to your list of baby babbles
watched a helicopter take off close-up
continued to work on pushing those bottom two teeth out
began playing in your big-boy play-pen - out came the newborn mattress. You like your little baby-cave
belly-laughed at Mommy's impression of Adam Sandler impersonating Scooby Doo...ZOINKS! It's not as good as Daddy's, but it still gets you every time
tipped the scales at 19 pounds at the beginning of the month
got a big-boy umbrella stroller for quick-trips
propped yourself up from tummy position once. Please do it again! It will make my life your life so much easier!

Love you Monkey.

Love,
Mommy