Jumping for Joy

Samuel loves this jumper that was lent to us by a family friend. We only have a few doorways that we can use it in since they have to have molding around it. So here he is...jumping for joy between the laundry room and 1/2 bathroom!

Solid Foods

I have been looking forward to/dreading this day for some time now. I had moments that I couldn't wait for Samuel to try solid foods and then other moments when I wanted to cry because I can't believe that my baby is about to be 6 months old! I know that this definitely won't be the last time I feel this way. Tonight Samuel had his first bites of rice cereal (we are waiting until our doctor's appointment in a few weeks to embark on more solid foods). Recently Samuel was showing a lot of interest when we would eat or drink in front of him. There were a few times that he almost knocked the utensil or cup right out of our hands, which led me to believe that he was ready to try cereal...and he loved it! I think we are going to have a good eater on our hands. He was leaning out of the chair to get it in his mouth faster and I think he would have kept eating and eating but we stopped before the bowl was empty as I still wanted him to nurse before bed. The instructions told us to make it really watery for his first time so it was almost like eating very runny soup but tomorrow we will try to make it a bit thicker. Stayed tuned...in a few weeks I will have pictures of him eating fruits and veggies.

Vacation Recap

Well, it was quite a week in Cooperstown...the weather didn't cooperate and we spent a few days trying to stay dry but we had a lot of fun! Samuel was such a good little boy and didn't mind that we spent all day outside watching baseball. He enjoyed spending lots of time with his cousins, grandparents and aunt and uncle. My nephew Alex played some great baseball and even got to pitch for a few innings one game. We basically spent all of our time either watching baseball games or hanging out at our lake house together, but one evening Aly, Nik and I took the paddleboat out on the lake, which was a lot of fun. We really missed Luke though and hope that this is the last time we will have to go on vacation without him. Who knows, maybe one day Samuel will get to play baseball in Cooperstown! Here are some of my favorite pics from the trip. I will upload the rest to Flickr.

The boy cousins

Sam loved Aly...he likes to smile at pretty girls

Samuel had lots of admirers...these girls just loved to touch and talk to him!

Alex in his uniform and Samuel in his hat

Proud grandparents and Alex with his ring

Vacation

Well Samuel and I are off on vacation starting today. We leave for my parents' house this afternoon and then will be leaving early tomorrow morning for Cooperstown, NY for a week of fun and baseball with the family. My oldest nephew, Alex, is playing in a tournament there with his traveling baseball team and we will be there to cheer him on. This is a little different from the Galand/Rowse/Good vacations that we usually take (to the beach) but I am looking forward to it all the same. Because we are taking another vacation in October (to Florida!) Luke is not able to come with us to NY and we will really miss him! It will be the longest time we have ever spent apart...and his first time away from the baby for that long. The blog will be quiet for the next week or so but don't worry...there will be lots of stories and pictures when we get home!

A bit of a character

Samuel is one funny boy. Lately he has learned how to get his mommy's attention...mostly through fake crying and fake coughs. I probably shouldn't encourage it, but it makes me laugh. Last night he was in his bouncy seat while we were eating dinner and he would start crying and then when I looked at him he started to laugh and smile. Every time I turned away he started to cry...and then immediately laughed when I looked at him. This morning he was crying as I was trying to get him down for a nap and I was holding him in the hallway where there is a mirror that he likes to look at. He would look in the mirror and smile, look away and cry, then stop as soon as he saw himself in the mirror and smile again. Of course I can't help but laugh which only encourages him. I am in trouble with this one!

Pool party

It was a beautiful sunny day today so we figured it was a good time to try out Samuel's new baby pool. We waited until the backyard was shaded and Luke blew it up and filled it using the hose and buckets of hot water. Samuel seemed to enjoy it once he got used to the water temperature but we only played for about 20 minutes or so before we got too cold.

Making new friends

Today, Samuel and I kept up our tradition of play-dates on Thursdays...but this time we visited with Shelley and her 8 month old baby Carter. Shelley and I met through MOPS and this was the first chance we had to get together. We had a nice lunch and walk around the neighborhood and the boys enjoyed staring at each other. Samuel got to have a turn in Carter's jumper (you know, the seat that is suspended from a door way) and he LOVED it. He was smiling and laughing the whole time...so now there is another toy we need to purchase!

Laugh & Roll

Here is Samuel laughing at his silly mommy and then rolling from his back to his tummy...a new trick he has learned!

You're a Grand Old Flag...

Samuel's first Fourth of July wasn't very too eventful. We went to a picnic with some friends from church on Saturday and then today was the big church picnic. To be honest, he slept through most of it...but we had a nice time. He also slept through lots of fireworks on Friday, some that were even being set off in our neighbor's yard. We aren't talking about little, legal fireworks either...these were Zambelli style fireworks! Thankfully Samuel sleeps soundly like his Dad and didn't wake up at all! On another note, Samuel rolled over from his back to his tummy for the first time on Thursday and is starting to babble! What a big boy!

Yes, I know we match...once I realized this I didn't have the energy to find either of us a new patriotic outfit!

Finding His Voice

Samuel has discovered that he can scream...well it sounds more like a shriek! It is now his favorite thing to do. It doesn't mean that he is mad or tired or unhappy...he just likes to hear the sound of his voice. It makes me laugh as he sometimes sounds like he is losing his voice...what a funny boy. This video shows him rolling over and showing off his new scream. We are working on rolling over from back to front (he is getting close) and he is also trying to get up on his knees when on his tummy. I am amazed with how quickly he is growing.