Housekeeping

Sam has discovered the Swiffer sweeper and spent almost 15 minutes the other day sweeping the kitchen floor. He was really serious about it and was not happy when I finally took it away (I can only take the noise for so long). Sam has also formed an attachment to a blue stuffed dog that he calls "pee-pup", which is how he says puppy. Somehow he must have reversed the syllables. It is too adorable to correct...so now Luke and I say "pee-pup" a hundred times a day. Sam is now calling me Mommy most of the time instead of Mama. It is adorable but also a reminder of how quickly he is growing up. I hope to catch some of his cute words on video soon, but for now...here is Sam the housekeeper.

18 Months

My baby boy is growing up so quickly...he is now 18 months old! He is definitely all toddler...in play and attitude. He is just the most delightful boy...smart, funny, affectionate. It is an incredible blessing to be his mama. Sam is still all about balls...soccer balls, baseballs, basketballs, footballs and golf balls. He knows each one by name and loves to throw all of them around the house. He loves to take walks around town, visit the library and play in our backyard. He loves his Pap Pap and asks for him almost everyday. Sam still loves to read and we read the same books at least twice a day. He loves to talk has a big vocabulary that he adds to daily. He now calls himself Sam and loves to identify family in pictures...especially his cousin Nik. He likes to say two syllabul words and puts a long pause between the two for emphasis (ap.....ple). Ga Ga taught him a song "I see the moon..." and he sings that throughout the day...often adding some words of his own (I see the moon...footballs...mama...dada). Sam loves to pray before meals (we sing the Johnny Appleseed song) and will remind us if we forget by singing "oh" which is the first word of the song. We are amazed daily by this boy growing up so quickly in front of us and are so thankful for every moment we have with him. Happy 18 months Sam!

Summer Food

One of my favorite things about summer is the opportunity to get fresh, local produce from the farmer's market here in town. We picked up some corn on the cob and had it for dinner the other night. Sam loves corn on the cob and does a great job of eating it. We thought it was cute enough to capture on video!

Training Camp

Sam and I decided to check out Steeler training camp today with Pap Pap Galand. It was actually my first time (and Sam's) and I was excited to see the players up close and watch them get ready for the season. It was a beautiful day for football. We found a spot and settled in to watch some drills. It just so happened that we were right near the coaches' building so we got to see Coach Tomlin walk right past us...that man was focused! Sam looked adorable in his Hines Ward jersey (courtesy of GaGa/Pap Pap Galand) and ran around after his football. When he did look at the players on the field, all he wanted to do was join them and take their footballs! Sam is going to love watching the games this fall in his new jersey...we know he will have plenty of opportunities to say "touchdown" in his oh so cute way!

Getting ready to catch the football...love the scrunched up face!

Hey Coach! We have a future player over here!

Sam's New Room

So I am about 80% done with Sam's room at the new house. I decided to put away all of the nursery decorations when we moved here and decided to go with a truck/transportation theme that will last him through his toddlers years. All we have left to do is add white wooden blinds, hem the curtains and find a nice white floor lamp (there is no over-head lighting upstairs). I lucked out and because I found some great things at yard sales, I was able to do Sam's room for very cheap!

Loving the new room!
(Helicopter picture from cousin Nik...FREE)

Train table bought at yard sale $25

Adorable Target picture $25
(safety note: we made sure Sam could not reach this picture
or that if a door was slammed, it would not fall)


Navy curtains $40 for two windows, 2 curtain rods $4 at yard sale

Shelf taken from master bedroom, painted white...FREE

Car/Truck Bookends $0.25 at yard sale

McKee Playdate, Part Two

I got the opportunity to visit with another one of my college roommates, her mother and her new baby Jack (well new to me...this was my first time meeting him). We had a great time catching up and getting to know baby Jack. These visits are so bittersweet because I wish that we lived closer so that I can watch all of these babies grow up. I am still dreaming about a summer vacation that we all take together with all of our kids in a big beach house somewhere...

Just Call Me Shoe

Sam knows his name...well, we think he does. When you ask him who he is or if you point to a picture of him he says "Shoe". Now he knows the word shoe and he actually says it plural (shoes) all of the time referring to actual shoes so I really don't think he is confusing the two. Luke and I are tempted to just call him Shoe from now on, but then it makes me think of Michael Jackson's youngest child, Blanket...and so we will keep calling him Sam!